Style & Design | ON: FASHION Oct 10, 2021
Anime aesthetics blur the line between real and virtual fashion
by Samuel Thomas
As some brands dip their toes into NFTs, others turn to nostalgia-with-shock-value to sell both real and virtual clothing.
Art Jul 6, 2021
From tattoos to tokens at Tokyo's first crypto art show
by Etienne Balmer
The exhibition allows digital art fans to purchase non-fungible tokens of works from dozens of artists, using cryptocurrency to buy them.
Culture Feb 4, 2021
Party's over: Pandemic forces closure of iconic Kawaii Monster Cafe
by Chris Gallagher and Irene Wang
The cafe had hoped to capitalize on strong demand during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but with the outlook still uncertain a decision was made to let the lease expire and shut down.
Style & Design | ON: FASHION Jan 9, 2021
Flashbacks and fantasy kick off Japan’s 2021 fashion scene
by Samuel Thomas
As department stores try to make up for a dismal 2020, recently released capsule collections turn to feel-good, nostalgic escapism.
Food & Drink Nov 7, 2020
Harry's Sandwich Company: Bringing familiar flavors to homesick American residents
by W. Tanner Kirk
It can be surprisingly hard to find a decent sandwich in Tokyo. Good thing Harry’s Sandwich Co. is here to fill the sub-shaped hole in our hearts.
Food & Drink | DESSERT WATCH Nov 7, 2020
Harajuku’s latest dessert trend? Taiwanese castella cake
by Patrick St. Michel
New sweets constantly emerge in Japan, and the latest fad combines the addictive texture of a souffle pancake with the taste of castella.
Business / Corporate Jun 3, 2020
Despite pandemic, Uniqlo to open new store in Tokyo's Harajuku
by Kazuaki Nagata
The opening of the shop follows a 56.5 percent plunge in Fast Retailing's domestic same-store sales in April, its worst year-on-year decline.
National Apr 27, 2020
A cut above: Tokyo barber launches 'telecut' service as COVID-19 hits business
by Tomohiro Osaki
Mr. Brothers Cut Club of Harajuku has launched what could be the industry's first online haircut service.
Business Mar 21, 2020
Harajuku Station replaced by gleaming glass box for Tokyo Games
The new version of Harajuku Station opened on Tokyo's busy Yamanote loop line Saturday as visitors in masks gathered to gawk despite the coronavirus pandemic. The new building, situated just south of the original wooden one, is a two-story structure straddling the tracks with exits ...
Food & Drink | TOKYO FOOD FILE Jan 18, 2020
Echoes of Esquisse in the elegant new Elan
by Robbie Swinnerton
Elan is the new restaurant of the young and impressive Ryoma Shida, formerly of the two-Michelin-star restaurant Esquisse. Here, Japanese ingredients meet contemporary French cuisine.
Lifestyle Dec 14, 2019
A cut above the rest: A new generation of barbers is trying to overcome an image problem
by Tomohiro Osaki
A group of men sporting tattoos and smoking cigarettes chats casually on benches outside Mr. Brothers Cut Club in Tokyo's trendy Harajuku neighborhood. Were it not for a couple of red, white and blue barber's poles hanging near the entranceway, a passerby might think they've ...
Style & Design Dec 2, 2019
Japan's end-of-year fashion ups and downs
by Samuel Thomas
As the year ends, Japan's fashion landscape finds itself facing big changes in street brands, department stores and sales tactics.