NEWSWORTHY
World's masterpieces cast in Shigaraki ceramic at museum in Shikoku
The Otsuka Museum of Art in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, drew a lot of attention last year when popular singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu held his first live TV performance there on Dec. 31 for NHK's year-end "Kohaku Uta Gassen" ("Red and White Song Battle") music contest. Many ...
Manga and kabuki collide in an action-packed 'Naruto'
Here's a sight you may not expect at a kabuki performance: A blue-haired boy bolts toward a massive snake that writhes menacingly on stage. He brings his sword down on the beast, slicing it into sections that fall apart dramatically. I thought a kabuki ...
No right way to complete Shikoku's 88-temple pilgrimage
"Get in the car." An old woman in thick glasses and a knitted hat gestures from her seat behind the wheel. Under normal circumstances, we wouldn't consider jumping into a stranger's vehicle, especially not one that had so suddenly stopped in our path. And, in ...
Kawasaki K-1 kickboxer rescues men trapped after fiery head-on crash in Tokushima
A K-1 kickboxer rescued two men who became trapped after their vehicles collided in Naruto, Tokushima Prefecture, the police said. According to the police, K-1 fighter Kosuke Komiyama, 30, who operates a gym in Kawasaki, was passing by when a car and a truck collided ...
Tencent taps ninja Naruto to chase China's $31 billion anime market
A blue-eyed ninja with spiky blond hair and whisker marks is leading Tencent Holdings Ltd.'s campaign to capture the eyes and wallets of China's anime fans. The hero, Naruto, a keystone of manga, isn't fighting alone. He's in a stable of characters assembled by Tencent ...
