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‘33⅓ Japan’ has nerdy but accessible tales of albums and artists

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.

Japanese students take idol worship to a whole new level

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.

How virtual streamers like Kizuna Ai became Japan's biggest YouTube attraction

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 ...

Former Kat-tun idol Junnosuke Taguchi, facing marijuana charge, falls to knees and apologizes after release on bail

National / Crime & Legal Jun 7, 2019

Former Kat-tun idol Junnosuke Taguchi, facing marijuana charge, falls to knees and apologizes after release on bail

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 ...

Man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill member of AKB48 spin-off group

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 ...

Ex-AKB48 idol Minami Takahashi gets married on Day One of Japan's Reiwa Era

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 ...

Idols and agencies in Japan navigate a brand new landscape

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 ...

William Gibson's 'Idoru': Tokyo sci-fi becomes full-blown reality

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.

Former AKB48 star Atsuko Maeda gives birth to baby boy

Entertainment News Mar 4, 2019

Former AKB48 star Atsuko Maeda gives birth to baby boy

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 ...

High-profile talent agency Johnny & Associates creates first virtual idols

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 ...

Popular boy band Arashi's decision to take a break at end of 2020 shocks fans in Japan and overseas

Entertainment News Jan 27, 2019

Popular boy band Arashi's decision to take a break at end of 2020 shocks fans in Japan and overseas

In a move that shocked fans, popular Japanese boy band Arashi said Sunday that it will go on hiatus at the end of 2020. "Around the middle of June 2017, I told other members that I wanted to end the activities as Arashi for now ...

NGT48 agency removes manager from post over handling of assault on idol group member Maho Yamaguchi

National Jan 15, 2019

NGT48 agency removes manager from post over handling of assault on idol group member Maho Yamaguchi

The operator of popular all-girl band AKB48 and its sister groups said Monday it has removed one of its officials from a key post amid criticism of its handling of an assault against a member of idol group NGT48. The company, AKS, announced the change ...

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