[ICON] Sebastian Masuda – On a mission to bring Harajuku Kawaii Culture to the world

We talk Sebastian, the art director and producer of 6%DOKIDOKI about the beginnings and direction of HARAJUKU KAWAII culture.

Icon | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Fashion｜ Music｜ Trends｜ Art｜

2012.11.02

#23 The Nation's 'Moe' Characters Assemble for the "Moe 1 Grand Prix" in Akihabara

Without a doubt, the Japanese word to spread throughout the world more than any other in the 21st century would have to be "kawaii," but there's also another word which is fast converging on globalization in its own right. That word is "moe."

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Event Reports｜ sightseeing｜ Trends｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.10.30

Why cats are now mainstream, a pondering with many pictures...

Cat t-shirts and accessories coupled with a bag, cat ears that move based upon your brain activity, and cat tails. If you open the following link you can see a collection of cat pictures. After objective analysis, we will be exposing the reason behind why these past few years have been most ailurophilic.

Culture Watch (Latest News & Info) | Japan｜ Other genre｜ Hobbies｜

2012.10.29

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

What does the inside of an otaku’s room look like? What leads one to even become an otaku? In this installment we introduce you to an otaku who is a self-professed servant of "Tokimeki Memorial" character, Himoo Yuina.

feature | Japan｜ Manga｜ Anime｜ Hobbies｜

2012.10.26

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#22 What’s Currently the Most Popular Japanese Anime at Cosplay Events in Hong Kong?

For one day during China’s golden week at the beginning of October 2012, some local girls in Hong Kong, who I met during a visit in April the previous year, showed me around their city.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Hong Kong｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Cosplay｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.10.23

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#21 Reunions in Doha. Talking Idols and Lolita Fashion in the Middle East!

How did I get to be the one standing in this place? I could be on my way home from dinner, standing on some random street corner somewhere in the world and this thought will occur to me. The faces of numerous people come to mind when I think about the people who helped guide my life down this particular path.

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

2012.10.16

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#20 International Students’ Views on Japan and the Japanese People

I’ve met countless young people in my line of work who dream of one day living in Japan. As a Japanese, it’s something that makes me extremely grateful to hear. There are people from all over the world living in Japan, whether it be for study or for work.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ China｜ Taiwan｜ Tokyo｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Fashion｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.10.07

“Machi★Asobi vol.6” vol.2

On 2011 March 3-5“Machi★Asobi” vol.6 in Tokushima was held.This is the cosplay snap is the latter half.

COSPLAY SNAPS | Japan｜ Cosplay｜ Event Reports｜

2012.10.06

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#19 An Cafe Connecting with the World. Interview with Members, Kanon and Takuya

Globally popular J-rock band, Antic Cafe (An Cafe), held their comeback concert at Yoyogi National Gymnasium (Tokyo, Japan) on the 8th and 9th of September 2012, and it was a smashing success.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Tokyo｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.10.02

asianbeat PARTY SNAPS

【PARTY SNAPS】The club is an important culture for talking about the youth culture in Japan. It introduces the party snap that we covered in this corner.

PARTY SNAPS | Japan｜ Fukuoka｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ Club music｜

2012.10.02

"Afterschool Midnighters" - Poster Present Campaign!!

"Afterschool Midnighters" - Poster Present Campaign!!

Feature “After School Midnighters” | Japan｜ Korea｜ Taiwan｜ Fukuoka｜ Hong Kong｜ Singapore｜ Anime｜ Movies｜

2012.09.26

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]18 Taking Back Harajuku! Fans Gather for An Cafe’s First Concert in Nearly 3 Years

On the 8th and 9th of September 2012, Japanese rock band Antic Cafe (An Cafe) held a concert at Yoyogi National Gymnasium - their first since their performance at the Budokan in January 2010.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Tokyo｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.09.26

[ICON] ☆Taku Takahashi - DJ, Producer, Visionary

The music scene in Asia vs. the current situation in Japan. Talking music and club culture with multi-talented DJ, m-flo member and block.fm producer, ☆Taku Takahashi.

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

2012.09.25

"Manga Camera" - Japan's No.1 iPhone App

It’s the application that allows you to turn photos into manga (comic) images, and it’s already causing a stir across social media networks.

Culture Watch (Latest News & Info) | Japan｜ Manga｜ Other genre｜ Hobbies｜

2012.09.20

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#17 Why Young People Everywhere Want to Visit Japan.

In November 2009, I helped organize the Japan Pop Culture Festival (aka. J Fest) in Moscow, but until I stood up on stage at that event, never did I think that Moscow would become like a home to me.

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

2012.09.19

behind ASIA

In this new corner, world renowned photographer and good friend of asianbeat, Yonehara Yasumasa, will be reporting on all the latest news and info from the front line of the Asian pop cultural scene.

English | Japan｜ China｜

2012.09.18

[behind ASIA] vol.01 Yonehara desu. My journey begins in Guangzhou…

Commencing the latest serial column by Yonehara Yasumasa, “behind ASIA.” In this first installment, check out Yonehara’s photo report of Guangzhou, the first stop on his tour of China.

behind ASIA | Japan｜ China｜

2012.09.18

"Orange Caramel" - KPOP's next big act?

For their Japan debut they covered a song by a very popular Showa idol group!

Culture Watch (Latest News & Info) | Japan｜ Korea｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜ K-POP｜

2012.09.13

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#16 Idol meets Band, Harajuku meets Shimokitazawa. Collaborations unique to Japan.

I often get told by people in the music industry, “Sakurai-san, its hard believe you used to have no interest in idols whatsoever.”

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Tokyo｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Fashion｜ Music｜ Anime｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.09.12

FACo2012 -editorial department of S cawaii! China Report-

Editorial department of S cawaii! China Report about FACo2012.

FASHION SNAPS | Japan｜ China｜ Fashion｜

2012.09.11