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CULTURE / Music
Nov 19, 2000

Chaotic, comedic 'Ariadne' shows lighter side of Strauss

Wiener Staatsoper Oct. 22, Filippo Sanjust directing, Giuseppe Sinopoli conducting in Kanagawa Kenmin Hall -- "Ariadne auf Naxos" (libretto by Hugo von Hofmannsthal, 1874-1929; music by Richard Georg Strauss, 1864-1949) featuring Waldemar Kmentt, Peter Weber, Agnes Baltsa, Jon Villars, Geert Smits, Heinz...
CULTURE / Music / HOGAKU TODAY
Oct 7, 2000

Tales of romance and bloodshed come alive in Shinnai song

Some of the performing arts of Japan are so spectacular that they grab your attention and immediately make you feel a part of the music. Taiko drumming is one; rhythm speaks directly to our bodies, and the beating of a stick on a drum has a physical appeal to all, regardless of language or culture.
JAPAN
Aug 13, 2000

Sleaze market festers with rip-off artists

The promise is too good to be true -- all you can drink and "excellent service" provided by "companions" for 6,000 yen in Tokyo's adult entertainment central.
BUSINESS
Jun 22, 2000

Square Co. plans network service

Square Co., a leading video game software developer, will introduce an electronic entertainment service that will take video game players to cyberspace, where they can communicate with other gamers via an online network, according to the firm's new president.
CULTURE / Music / HOGAKU TODAY
Jun 17, 2000

A tribute to Japanese world music

In two previous columns (Feb. 5 and May 20) I wrote about recently established live-music houses, WAON in Nippori and Manabiya in Yokohama, where one can hear hogaku. The familiar settings of these spaces allow for an intimate connection with the music, which ranges from relatively unknown young musicians...
COMMUNITY
Apr 4, 2000

Date club ads turn green Sendai pink with anger

SENDAI, Miyagi Pref. -- "Dial this number for beautiful office ladies." "Ring up for perky college coeds."
CULTURE / Music
Mar 14, 2000

Celtic music takes a sure-footed stand in Tokyo

For anyone interested in "world music," gigs in Japan have been comparatively thin on the ground during the last five years or so, compared to the first years of the '90s. This is a situation that is perhaps set to change.
JAPAN
Mar 22, 1999

Italian theme, cheaper goods key to joint outlet mall

Staff writer
COMMUNITY
Feb 21, 1999

Alley offers old fashioned swig and chat

While Tomomi Kahala hopefuls battle their way across Shibuya's Hachiko crossing to the nearest karaoke bar, those looking for a bit of live entertainment and a huge dollop of good-humored banter head straight for a cluster of rickety wooden watering holes that time seems to have forgotten.
JAPAN
Apr 14, 1998

Panel agrees on bill to ban officials from receiving gifts

A panel of the ruling alliance agreed April 14 on a draft bill that would, in principle, ban government employees from receiving gifts and entertainment from corporations, organizations and individuals.
JAPAN
Mar 6, 1998

Arrested Finance officials face new charges

Prosecutors charged two former Finance Ministry bank inspectors in custody Friday with taking a combined 3.8 million yen in additional bribes from four commercial banks in return for favors.
JAPAN
Dec 26, 1997

Tokyo avoids disclosure of wining and dining expenses

The Tokyo District Court rejected on Friday a lawsuit seeking to force Gov. Yukio Aoshima and other Tokyo municipal officials to make public all documents on entertainment expenses.
JAPAN
Feb 12, 1997

Sony, Namco, Polygon to unite in graphics venture

To compete with rapidly advancing computer graphics technology in the U.S., Namco Ltd., Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and Polygon Pictures Inc. announced Feb. 12 that they will jointly establish a company to produce digital contents for graphics-based films and entertainment software.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Jun 12, 2023

AEW to lean on partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling in fight against WWE

The AEW and New Japan co-branding will be put to the test later this month at a joint production in Toronto known as Forbidden Door.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Art / Longform
Jun 4, 2023

'Stakeout Diary': A killer on the run, two postwar gumshoes — noir at its finest

When a photographer was given rare permission to follow two detectives through Tokyo on a murder case, who’d have known he’d gather a legion of fans decades later.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / Wide Angle
May 27, 2023

Netflix's answer to finding love in the time of an aging population

Dating show “Love Village” and its cast of singles 35 years old and above offer the perfect bait to millennial audiences and show that entertainment can age up without losing its edge.
BUSINESS / Companies
May 18, 2023

Sony considers listing giant financial arm to aid big investment push

The entertainment conglomerate will consider such a plan over the rest of this fiscal year before making a decision.
CULTURE / Entertainment news
May 15, 2023

Major Japanese talent agency apologizes over sexual assault claims

Allegations by former entertainers against the founder of Johnny & Associates have made headlines both domestically and internationally.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
May 2, 2023

Hollywood writers go on strike, halting production

The dispute, which pits 11,500 television and screenwriters against the major studios, has shattered 15 years of labor peace in the entertainment business.
Japan Times
MORE SPORTS
Apr 5, 2023

Safety makes F1's red flag controversy a difficult debate

Sunday's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne ended behind the safety car after two late stoppages, much to the chagrin of drivers who would have preferred to race on.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Mar 8, 2023

‘A Kamigata Anthology’: Everyday enjoyments of everyday people

The collection chronicles the rise of the “commoner arts' through genres like travelogs, poetry and easy-reading books that entertained the masses during the Edo Period (1603-1867).
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Feb 9, 2023

‘The Last of Us’ shows it pays to take gaming seriously

The TV series' critical and commercial success signals the potential rise of video game adaptations.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Economy
Jun 29, 2023

From caterers to cowboy outfitters: Writers' strike hits Hollywood economy

It remains unclear how long the work stoppage will last. No new talks are scheduled between major Hollywood studios and the writers.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Jun 24, 2023

A Japanese song on the South Korean charts is more than just a viral moment

As Japan’s imase celebrates the success of his track “Night Dancer” in South Korea, it could be a further sign that relations between the two countries are getting better.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 2022 in Review
Dec 24, 2022

Everything old became new again on streaming platforms in 2022

This year, programming typically associated with traditional broadcasting — variety shows, dramas and anime — flourished on streaming platforms.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / 2022 in Review
Dec 22, 2022

Anime continued its dominance in 2022

Anime proved to be bankable content in chaotic times, with 'One Piece' and 'Dragon Ball' scoring big at the box office, while major streaming services expanded their anime offerings.
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Tech
Dec 17, 2022

A small but growing movement to make video gaming greener

While most gamers don't link the power output of their machines with environmental issues, a small group of enthusiasts are starting to think differently,
Japan Times
BUSINESS / Companies
Dec 7, 2022

Sony says it has technology for humanoid robots, needs to find usage

Honda and Hyundai have been developing humanoid robots for decades, while Tesla showed off its prototype in September.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Dec 5, 2022

Hedge fund bets next Korean pop culture hit will be webtoons

GVA Asset Management believes Americans and Europeans will soon catch onto Korea's online comics, following the lead of consumers at home and in Japan.

Longform

The byzantine process for converting a foreign driver’s license into a Japanese one entails mountains of paperwork and significant stamina — unless you're a lucky license holder from a country or region where these requirements are waived.
Driving in Japan isn’t hard. Getting the license is.