[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#9 Idols and Anime. Berryz Kobo Talk Anime and Performing Overseas

Whenever I see idol group Berryz Kobo perform live or meet with the members in person, I’m always reminded of the Yamanote Line in Tokyo.

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

2012.07.25

[Report from Robin in Hong Kong] L'Arc~en~Ciel LIVE in Hong Kong!!

Japanese rock band L'Arc~en~Ciel have finally commenced their world concert tour. And we are pleased to announce that they kicked off the tour in Hong Kong!

Robin’s Hong Kong Report | Hong Kong｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ J-POP｜

2012.07.20

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#8 Kawaii Radio with Sakurai Takamasa and Uesaka Sumire feat. Special Guest, Michishige Sayumi

“Tokyo No.1 Kawaii Radio,” aka “Kawaraji,” is the name of the FM radio program I host with voice actress, Uesaka Sumire.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Other genre｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.07.18

[ICON] Kamiyama Kenji - Ghost in the Shell: S.A.C. Director talks Japanese Anime.

Director Kamiyama Kenji has gained high acclaim for his television animations such as the GHOST IN A SHELL: STANE ALONE COMPLEX series and EDEN OF THE EAST, a topical collaboration he worked on with Umino Chika. We talked with Kamiyama, who is at the forefront of Japanese animation, about its fascination.

Icon | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Movies｜

2012.07.13

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#7 Hironobu Kageyama – the Ani-song Artist Connecting Japan with the World!

It hasn’t been that long since I began this cultural diplomacy line of work but I’ve already managed to find my way to more than 100 cities around the world. I’ve visited a total of 23 countries and from summer I’ll add one more country to that list with my visit to the Republic of South Africa.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Other genre｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.07.11

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#6 The Kawaii Girls of Shenyang and Their Long Awaited Catwalk Debut!

Following on from last week’s article on the auditions for the Shenyang fashion show, on the 3rd of June 2012 it was show time.

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

2012.07.04

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#5 Chinese girls in their most natural form – auditions for the Japan fashion show in Shenyang

Northern China is a very special place for me. In January 2010 I visited Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning province in northeast China. It may not be as big and well known as other cities like Beijing or Shanghai, but it does have a population of 20,000,000. It even has a direct flight route to Japan.

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

2012.06.27

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#4 Do Otakus Have What it Takes to Change the World? What I learned from the Otakus in China

“Sakurai-san is an otaku’s otaku, isn’t he?” I heard a young Japanese female otaku friend say to another friend. And it was right on the mark; I am indeed an otaku’s otaku.

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

2012.06.20

#[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]3 Ai Takahashi reveals the strength behind Hello! Project's 15 year history

I've written about Morning Musume and Hello! Project's connections to the outer world on a number of occasions in my previous publication, "J Pop Culture Observations"; my interviews with Ai Takahashi in particular receiving a positive response from people in Japan and all over the world.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Talent/Idol｜ Other genre｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.06.13

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#2 Kawaii university teacher in Nanjing tells how "Slam Dunk" and sailor-fuku changed her life.

From January 2010 I began focusing my cultural diplomacy efforts on China, and since then I’ve visited the country a total of 14 times. In April I went to Nanjing to pay a visit to Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology’s Media & Art College (established in 2008) after being awarded the position of guest lecturer.

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

2012.06.06

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#1 Interview with world loved singer and voice actress, Minori Chihara.

In my new column, “Sakurai Takamasa’s JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!” I’’ll be reporting stories and episodes of Japan’s growing connections with people and countries all over the world. For this commemorative first installment: my interview with the globally popular singer and voice actress, Minori Chihara.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ Anime｜ Talent/Idol｜ Other genre｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.05.30

[ICON] Julie Watai - Gifted Creator and World Renowned Hard-Core Otaku

Julie Watai continues to express her unique view of the world as a photographer, musician and if the occasion demands, an idol. What otaku culture is this gifted creator focused on right now…Read on!

Icon | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Cosplay｜ Talent/Idol｜ Club music｜

2012.05.25

[J-Pop Culture Observations]#60 Pop Culture Diplomacy pt.2 - Touring the globe with the Kawaii Ambassadors, visits to China, and encounters with Japanese idols

Kawaii-loving French girls screaming “I want to be Japanese!” at the Japan Expo in Paris in July 2008 was one of the events that lead to the creation of the “Kawaii Ambassadors.”

J-Pop Culture Observations | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ パリ｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Fashion｜ Music｜ Other genre｜ J-Pop Culture Observations｜

2012.05.23

[J-Pop Culture Observations]#59 Pop Culture Diplomacy pt.1 – Revelations in Saudi Arabia and the “World Kawaii Revolution” in Paris

I’ve been involved in pop culture diplomacy since December 2007 and this article I would like to reflect on some of the various turning points I’ve encountered in my activities thus far. More often than not, it’s not until a certain amount of time has passed that I come to realize the true significance of past events and encounters.

J-Pop Culture Observations | Japan｜ パリ｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Cosplay｜ Other genre｜ J-Pop Culture Observations｜

2012.05.16

[ICON] Nemu Yumemi – New Generation Cultural Icon Linking Akihabara and Harajuku

Nemu Yumemi is an idol so active that there is hardly a day that goes by where you don’t see her name in some form of media. We caught up with her personal side as she brings together the cultures of Akihabara and Harajuku.

Icon | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Art｜ Club music｜

2012.05.11

[J-Pop Culture Observations]#58 Haruko Momoi in Boston

Haruko Momoi’s concerts are amazing. I’ve seen the singer/song writer and voice actor perform live in Mexico in February 2011, in Moscow in November and recently in Boston, and I have to say, her latest performance at Anime Boston was superb.

J-Pop Culture Observations | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ Other genre｜ J-Pop Culture Observations｜

2012.05.09

[J-Pop Culture Observations]#57 Anime Boston. A source of hope for the future

This year, over the three days from April 6-8, Boston held its 10th annual “Anime Boston” event. This year the event attracted a record 22,000 visitors, making it the biggest Japanese anime event in north-east America.

J-Pop Culture Observations | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Other genre｜ J-Pop Culture Observations｜

2012.05.02

[ICON] DANCEROID - The Next Wave of Pop Idols Born of a New Generation

DANCEROID was formed to dance on the Nico Nico Douga video site category “Odotte-mita” (I tried this dance). So just how did these girls rise to Nico Nico Douga fame and what does the future hold in store for them? Read on!

Icon | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Cosplay｜ Talent/Idol｜ Trends｜ Club music｜

2012.05.01

[ICON] Kalafina - The Female Unit Whose Vocals Generate a World of Fantasy

Kalafina is a musical project put together by Kajiura Yuki. All those who listen to their unique music become drawn into their world of fantasy. And their popularity has gone beyond Japan as they begin to gain recognition worldwide.

Icon | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ Anime｜ J-POP｜

2012.04.26

[J-Pop Culture Observations]#56 “Everything began with ‘Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind.’” Speaking with Japan fans in Qatar!

In March 2012, following my trip to Jordan in February, I paid a visit to another Middle Eastern country, this time to Qatar.

J-Pop Culture Observations | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Other genre｜ J-Pop Culture Observations｜

2012.04.25