TV Jul 24, 2020
Get chills and thrills with binge-worthy miniseries on streaming
by Tom Hanaway
Summer heat and self-isolation got you down? Cool down with these six miniseries that you can stream in Japan.
Business / Corporate Jul 17, 2020
Netflix completes Hollywood transformation as Ted Sarandos becomes co-CEO
by Lucas Shaw
His ascension symbolizes the transformation of Netflix from a technology company into the world’s most valuable movie and TV company.
Business / Corporate | FOCUS Jul 12, 2020
Competition between streaming services heating up in Japan amid pandemic
Online subscription-based streaming of films and television programs has seen an uptick in Japan in recent years, and with the coronavirus pandemic keeping more people at home, that trend appears to be intensifying. The growth in the market is led by foreign companies globalizing operations ...
National / Media | MEDIA MIX Jul 4, 2020
Korean drama successfully crash lands on a Japanese audience
by Philip Brasor
A drama about a romance that bridges the gap between two countries that are still at war comes with its own interpretive pitfalls.
Film Jul 3, 2020
‘Japan Sinks: 2020’: When disaster strikes, keep your family close
by Matt Schley
Masaaki Yuasa’s new anime series about the literal sinking of Japan may hit close to home for viewers, but the main takeaway is that love is the key to survival.
Film Jun 26, 2020
Skip the trip to Italy and binge Asian cinema online
by Mark Schilling
As we head into summer, now is the time to crank up the air-conditioning, get comfortable and delve into Japanese cinema with these recommendations.
Film May 22, 2020
Torel-produced films show just why Japanese indies need support
by Mark Schilling
With the closures of small theaters threatening the survival of the indie scene, many in the industry have looked to online streaming to stay afloat.
Film May 21, 2020
Think you streamed everything? Dig deeper on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime
by James Hadfield
Cinemas have cautiously started to reopen in parts of Japan, but many of us are still having to sit tight and do all our movie-viewing at home. If, by now, you’re feeling like you’ve reached the bottom of the streaming barrel, fret not: There ...
TV May 14, 2020
'The Benza' proves that toilet humor is universal
by Matt Schley
“The Benza," a series on Amazon Prime Video about an epic quest to replace a broken toilet seat, was inspired by actor Christopher McCombs’ real-life travails in Tokyo.
Film May 14, 2020
Asia-themed film festivals migrate online amid COVID-19
by Mark Schilling
Overseas film festivals that specialize in Japanese and other Asian fare are taking their programs online to survive the coronavirus.
Business / Corporate Apr 22, 2020
Netflix promises it won’t run out of TV shows during the pandemic
Faced with an unprecedented global health crisis that has frozen businesses around the world, Netflix Inc. is reassuring customers (and investors) that it won’t run out of new TV shows or movies anytime soon. The company has already finished production on almost all of its ...