Looking back at the most influential Japanese songs of the 2010s
Given how Japanese music takes time to receive widespread recognition, what gems would the kids of the 2040s unearth from the decade that just passed?
What would a 'kanji of the decade' say about the state of Japan?
This year's kanji of the year is "令," but writer Paul Dargan posits a guess as to what the kanji of the decade might be while looking back on the annual tradition and what the top picks say about the state of the country.
The protester, the party animal, the professional millennial — it seems like the Japanese capital had a place for every foreign stereotype imaginable in the past decade. We look back on a few favorites.
Let us put an end to Haruki Murakami's decade-long Nobel Prize pilgrimage
The 2010s have flown by and still there is no end in sight for Haruki Murakami's Nobel Prize drought. William Lang offers tips to end this sorry state of affairs.
The gray wave: Japan attempts to deal with its increasingly elderly population
Eighty-one-year-old Sachiko Miura wakes up at 6 a.m. every day to prepare breakfast at her newly renovated apartment located near a large supermarket, spa and a hospital in the suburbs of Japan's third largest city. After cleaning her room and doing her laundry, she takes ...
How Japanese social media changed 2010s eating habits
Move over complicated bentos: Japanese recipes in the 2010s are all about making cozy, unfussy food that looks good online.
2010s: The decade Japanese food took over the world
Japanese food experienced an international boom in the 2010s, and now you can find everything from ramen to egg sandwiches across the globe.
Through scandal and stellar sales, AKB48 dominated the past decade in Japan
Do you know the songs? "Heavy Rotation," "Gingham Check," "Ponytail to Shushu" .... Even if you don't, you're likely aware of the sales model that AKB48 has exported to the rest of the world.
Japan's decade of 'closed country' cinema
As Japanese box office figures hit record highs in the 2010s, the country's film industry became increasingly insular
Japan saw a generational and international shift for anime in the 2010s
The 2010s were dominated by a batch of new animators, bringing success stories to the big screen in Japan and overseas, while traditional TV anime gave way to streaming productions
Mascots: The secret weapon in Japan's soft power arsenal
What makes a good mascot? It used to be that being cute was enough, but "yuru-kyara" in the 2010s needed storylines and Instagram followings if they want to make a mark.
Animals of all stripes (and spots) found their 15 minutes of fame in the 2010s
What do hamster behinds, a handsome gorilla and cats running train stations have in common? Hours of social media gold!
