Entertainment News Mar 13, 2021
The decision came after Go Morita told the other members that he wishes to leave the agency and pursue his acting career in a new environment, the statement said.
Asia Pacific / Social Issues Feb 4, 2021
K-pop for the planet: Fans of South Korean stars take on climate change
by Beh Lih Yi
From petitioning to save forests to raising cash for disaster victims, a growing army of K-pop fans worldwide has emerged as the latest force in the global fight against climate change.
Books Feb 22, 2020
‘33⅓ Japan’ has nerdy but accessible tales of albums and artists
by Jordan Allen
With the "33⅓ Japan" series, music aficionados bring classic Japanese albums and artists to life in nerdy, but accessible, prose.
Stage Feb 13, 2020
Japanese students take idol worship to a whole new level
by Marco Christian
Take a look at the world of Unidol, in which teams of Japanese university students emulate the moves of pop groups in a battle to be the greatest idol copy dance club.
National / Media Sep 22, 2019
How virtual streamers like Kizuna Ai became Japan's biggest YouTube attraction
by Yuki Furukawa
Kizuna Ai, the most popular streamer in Japan, is an anatomically exaggerated, perpetually adolescent girl in frilly thigh-high socks and a pink hair ribbon. She's also an entirely virtual character, given life by the actions and voice of an invisible actress. In the home of ...
National / Crime & Legal Jun 7, 2019
Junnosuke Taguchi, a former member of Japanese all-male idol group Kat-tun, was released on bail Friday after he was charged with possessing marijuana. Taguchi, 33, and his partner Rena Komine, 38, who faces the same charge, each posted bail of ¥3 million the same day ...
National / Crime & Legal May 21, 2019
Man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill member of AKB48 spin-off group
A 24-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of threatening to kill a member of a sister group of the popular AKB48 girl band, police said. Kazuki Domoto was arrested Monday for threatening Yuka Ogino, a member of NGT48 based in the city of Niigata, by ...
Entertainment News May 2, 2019
Ex-AKB48 idol Minami Takahashi gets married on Day One of Japan's Reiwa Era
Singer and TV personality Minami Takahashi, a former member of Japanese all-girl pop group AKB48, ushered in the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito and the Reiwa Era by getting married on Wednesday, her agency said. "I decided to move forward with a new family at the ...
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Mar 23, 2019
Idols and agencies in Japan navigate a brand new landscape
by Philip Brasor
Television personality Masahiro Nakai made an appearance as a "surprise guest" on the March 10 installment of Nippon TV's law-related variety show, "Gyoretsu no Dekiru Horitsu Sodanjo" (“Line-up Law Office”). Earlier, guest Koji Kato had related an anecdote featuring Shingo Katori, Nakai's former associate ...
Books / Reviews | ESSENTIAL READING FOR JAPANOPHILES Mar 23, 2019
William Gibson's 'Idoru': Tokyo sci-fi becomes full-blown reality
by Stephen Mansfield
Satirical yet eerily plausible, William Gibson's "Idoru" is a complex sci-fi novel set in post-quake Tokyo that addresses the often negative impacts technology has on our lives.
Entertainment News Mar 4, 2019
Atsuko Maeda, an original member of all-girl pop group AKB48, has given birth to a baby boy, her first child, her husband said Monday. "I'd like to report that a baby boy was safely born the other day," 32-year-old actor Ryo Katsuji, Maeda's husband, posted ...
Entertainment News Feb 20, 2019
High-profile talent agency Johnny & Associates creates first virtual idols
Major entertainment agency Johnny & Associates Inc. announced Tuesday that it is creating its first virtual idols in collaboration with video streaming service Showroom. The virtual idols — all-singing, all-dancing digital performers — will be able to interact with fans during videos that started to ...