[Otaku's @ Home] #20 A Taiwanese Student's Love for Ayanami Rei

Our next guest is from Taiwan and is a fan of “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” especially the female protagonist Ayanami Rei.

"Otakus @ Home" What does the inside of an otaku’s room look like? | Japan｜ Anime｜ Hobbies｜

2013.04.23

Japanese Sake Gets a 'Moe' Makeover!

Kitakyushu releases a new collaborative brand of sake between 'moe' characters and local sake breweries. Residents of Kitakyushu, hold on to your hats as "Moe Sake" starts to hit the shelves!

Culture Watch (Latest News & Info) | Japan｜ Fukuoka｜ Manga｜ Event Reports｜ sightseeing｜ Trends｜ Hot Spot｜ Art｜ Hobbies｜ Collaboration items｜

2013.04.19

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#47 Interview with “Alice Nine” Lead Vocalist, Shou - Part One

One of the most memorable moments of my work in cultural diplomacy thus far was my 11 night, 14 day tour of four Brazilian cities (San Paolo, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Brasília) in November 2011 with the then Kawaii Amabassador, Misako Aoki.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.04.17

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#46 Training Talented Individuals to Become International Producers – An Important Issue for the Japanese Economy

I often receive a lot of inquiries from business people from various industries regarding the popularity of Japanese culture overseas and international events that showcase Japanese pop culture.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Manga｜ Anime｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.04.10

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#45 China-Japan Relations and Beijing’s Maid Izakaya, “Rojiura”

Maid izakaya, “Yaneura,” is a Japanese style pub in Beijing where the waitresses are all dressed as French maids. They’ve been featured on various TV programs and are quite well known now, even in Japan.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ China｜ Beijing｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Manga｜ Anime｜ Cosplay｜ Gourmet｜ Hot Spot｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.04.03

POWER OF GIRLS from TOKYO Vol.05 galaxxxy Director – Kishi Hiromi

The fifth member to join us on "POWER OF GIRLS from TOKYO" is none other than the director of Japanese streetwear brand and fashion icon "galaxxxy," Kishi Hiromi. The brand is fast making a name for itself all over the world and they've just launched a new addition to the shop lineup, "galaxxxy Café," in Tokyo's Hachiouji. We spoke with brand director, Kishi Hiromi, on the new "galaxxxy Café" and the path that's brought her to the helm of one of the coolest brands in Japanese street fashion to date.

POWER OF GIRLS from TOKYO | Japan｜ Tokyo｜ Trends｜

2013.04.01

[ICON]Yun*chi － The next-generation songstress bringing Japanese original culture with a soft touch

Yun*chi is under the spotlight as a next-generation artist bringing Harajuku aomojikei culture to the world. We spoke to her about pop culture, her musical roots and herself.

Icon | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ J-POP｜ Club music｜

2013.03.29

[Otaku's @ Home] #19 Student, Cosplayer, Magazine Editor - One Super-Active Otaku Girl!

In episode #19 we introduce you to a girl who's a university and perhaps one of the more active otakus out there to date!

"Otakus @ Home" What does the inside of an otaku’s room look like? | Japan｜ Anime｜ Hobbies｜

2013.03.28

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#44 Idols and Satoyama Life – Interview with Mitsui Aika, Wada Ayaka (S/mileage) and Sayashi Riho (Morning Musume)

“Ookami kodomo no Ame to Yuki” (in English: Wolf Children) was one of the big-hit anime feature films of 2012. The film depicts the story of a human woman who falls in love with a wolf-man, gives birth to two of his children and then raises them alone over a period of 13 years. The story centers on themes of childhood independence and a mother’s love for her children, and heavily features scenes of Japanese “satoyama.”

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Talent/Idol｜ Trends｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.03.27

"Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods" Release Imminent!!

It’s almost here! We’re now but days away from the release of “Dragon Ball Z: Battle of Gods.” Eighteen years have passed since the series ceased its serialization, but Dragon Ball is a masterpiece of a series that never grows old.

Culture Watch (Latest News & Info) | Japan｜ Fukuoka｜ Anime｜ Event Reports｜ Movies｜

2013.03.21

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#43 Team Sakusaku – An Online Community for Japan Fans Around the World

For the past five years working in cultural diplomacy, my schedule has required that I spend a significant number of days in the year overseas. So far I’ve visited a total of 113 cities in 24 countries.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.03.20

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#42 Video Letters From Morning Musume and JAM Project Connecting Japan to the World

I first began my work in cultural diplomacy in December 2007. In saying that though, it wasn’t until my visit to Saudi Arabia in March 2008 that I really started to grasp the significance of cultural diplomacy and feel that it was something worth devoting my life’s work to.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.03.13

There's No Stopping the Nameko!

Having gained popularity, especially among high school and university girls, is the smart phone app, ‘Touch Detective – Mushroom Garden.’
Not only has excitement over the character gained momentum app-wise, but now this very same enthusiasm has even begun to pour over into the world of goods and even CDs!

Culture Watch (Latest News & Info) | Japan｜ Game & e-Sports｜ Trends｜

2013.03.12

Let's Enjoy Fukuoka presented by Fukuoka Now

You can find easy - reporting on various hot-spots Fukuoka Restaurants in and around Fukuoka.

feature | Japan｜ Fukuoka｜ Gourmet｜ sightseeing｜ Hot Spot｜

2013.03.04

You Think That's Air You're Breathing?

News broadcasts have shown that photochemical substances spiraling across China have recently made their way to Japan, and citizens are on high alert, sending Japan's "mask culture" into overdrive!

Culture Watch (Latest News & Info) | Japan｜ Game & e-Sports｜ Trends｜

2013.03.04

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#40 BABYMETAL: The Idol Group Set to Take the World by Storm

The idol group that has caught my attention as the ones to watch in 2013 would have to be BABYMETAL. Their concept is Japanese idol group meets metal, and it reflects the unique kind of thinking that Japan has come to be renowned for.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Tokyo｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.02.27

MTV LIVEDAM Sing for Smile Tour 2013 in FUKUOKA

GENERATIONS from Exile Tribe, Miura Daichi and K-Pop group, U-KISS, in Fukuoka!

Culture Watch (Latest News & Info) | Japan｜ Event Reports｜ J-POP｜ K-POP｜ Club music｜

2013.02.25

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#39 Cultural Diplomacy with Voice Actress, Uesaka Sumire, in Qatar.

This week I’m continuing with my running series on my trip to Qatar and the Doha International Book Fair. Japan was the guest country of honor at the Fair and it was my role to organize the events to be held at the Japan booth. One of said events was a talk with Japanese voice actress, Uesaka Sumire.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.02.20

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#38 From Idols to Fashion – This Qatari Girl’s Room is Full of Kawaii

One is all it takes. Just make one friend from another country and your view of that country will change completely. That’s what I believe to be the fundamental truth behind all foreign diplomacy.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Fashion｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.02.13

Who Knew Mushroom Cultivation Could be so Therapeutic!

Know what the most popular smart phone apps for high school and university girls in Japan are at the moment? Introducing 'Nameko' and the "Mushroom Garden"!

Culture Watch (Latest News & Info) | Japan｜ Game & e-Sports｜ Trends｜

2013.02.11