[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#76 Kawaii Ambassadors Once More! Kawaii Culture Converges on Sapporo!

Kicking off the 2-night 3-day guided tour of Otaru and Sapporo, an event/fashion show called the “Japan Lolikawa Party in Sapporo Factory” was held in the Atrium of the Sapporo Factory on October 20th. The event showcased some of the local talent, including local idol group “Fruity,” and Misako Aoki and Yu Kimura also flew in from Tokyo to attend.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.11.06

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#75 This Will Make You Want to Pay a Visit to the Art Gallery! Wada Ayaka (S/mileage) Breathing New Life into Art Appreciation

I first learned of S/mileage leader Wada Ayaka’s love of art when I read about it in the evening edition of the Yomiuri Shimbun on February 9th, 2011.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.10.30

Kobori 's Bangkok Report

Latest reports from our correspondents around Asia

FROM ASIA - The latest in pop culture from around Asia! | INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜

2013.10.29

[Report from Kobori in Bangkok] Maid Cafes Make Their Way to Thailand!

Two months into opening the first ever subculture cafe to make its way to Thailand, business is booming

Kobori 's Bangkok Report | Thailand ｜ Bangkok｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Cosplay｜ Gourmet｜ Trends｜ Hot Spot｜

2013.10.29

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#74 “Our Cultural Diplomacy Declaration” – A Message Co-Authored by Uesaka Sumire and Sakurai Takamasa

At the end of October, a book co-authored by Uesaka Sumire and myself will be released.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.10.23

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#73 Toronto, Canada’s FAN EXPO. The Importance of Being Aware that, “People are the Same All Over the World”

My career in cultural diplomacy first started in earnest in 2008, and the 25th country that this line of work has now taken me to, is Canada.

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

2013.10.16

Aki 's Hanoi Report

Latest reports from our correspondents around Asia

FROM ASIA - The latest in pop culture from around Asia! | INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜

2013.10.10

[Report from Aki in Hanoi] Japan - Vietnam Spring Festival 2013

Hello, everyone! For the first time in our FROM ASIA column, we will be bringing you some news about Vietnam. Please have a look!

Aki 's Hanoi Report | Vietnam｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Event Reports｜

2013.10.10

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#72 Interview with Takahashi Ai – Part 2 – The Concert That Brought Japan and Thailand Closer Together. Just what did Takahashi Ai do!?

One of the most popular Morning Musume songs in Thailand is “Onna ni Sachi Are” (Good Luck, Girls).

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Thailand ｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.10.06

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#71 Takahashi Ai Performs at “Central World” Shopping Plaza in Bangkok

Ever since she graduated from Morning Musume, whenever Takahashi Ai and I get together now, we always seem to talk about overseas.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Thailand ｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.10.02

[Report from Robin in Hong Kong] The World of Miyazaki Hayao Comes to Hong Kong

"Donguri Republic" Hong Kong - the store that recreates the world of anime director, Miyazaki Hayao.

Robin’s Hong Kong Report | Hong Kong｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Event Reports｜ Hot Spot｜

2013.09.23

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#70 Public and Private Sectors Working Together to Bring Lolita Fashion to the Forefront of Tourism in Otaru and Sapporo

Otaru and Sapporo: the next lolita fashion hot spot. This is the plan for for one government-private sector joint venture project that is currently being implemented in Japan’s north.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ sightseeing｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.09.20

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#69 “Attack on Titan” Cosplay Frenzy as America’s “Otakon” Turns 20

Otakon, the event that sets the passions of Baltimore (Maryland) on America’s east coast alight, returned again this year and was held over three days from August 9~11, 2013.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Event Reports｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.09.18

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#68 Japanese Artists and Their Thoughts on “Cool Japan”

Without a doubt, “Japan Expo” is the most well-known overseas-based Japanese pop culture event in Japan, and it was held again this year from July 11th~14th.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | France｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.09.11

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#67 Kawaii! Central Bangkok Teeming with Japanese Anime Cosplay!

On May 25th 2013, a preliminary round for the World Cosplay Summit was held in central Thailand.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Thailand ｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Cosplay｜ Event Reports｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.09.04

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#66 Coming November 2013: The Live Event that Transcends Genre – A Sakurai Takamasa Production

On the 4th of November 2013, a live event will be held at Matsudo Mori Hall called, “Japan Pop Culture Carnival in Matsudo 2013,” and produced by none other than yours truly.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Event Reports｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.08.28

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#65 Live in Paris. Discussing Idol Challenges and Future Goals with °C-ute

I first met °C-ute when I saw them perform at Shibuya Public Hall in Spring 2010.

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

2013.08.19

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#64 Why Does a Local Shopping Arcade Give its Full Support to this Idol Group?

Following on from my previous article, this week I continue with my report on the Ehime prefecture “locodols” (local idols), Hime Kyun Fruit Can (or Himekyun for short) and their hometown, Matsuyama.

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

2013.08.14

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#63 Local Idols and the Potential They Hold for Japan

It has long been said that Japan is currently in a “warring idols” period, but the situation has changed drastically over the years and I believe that period is now in its second phase.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ China｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.08.07

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#62 Cultural Diplomacy in China and the Chinese Girls With a Lot of Love for Japan

In July this year, I released my new book, “Nihon ga Suki sugiru Chugokujin Joshi” (lit: The Chinese Girls With too Much Love for Japan) (PHP Shinsho), and I’ve decided to make this the theme for my article this week.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ China｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.07.31