#1 My interview with Morning Musume。'14 before their New York concert. Also J-MELO, the Musume and me

In 2008 I started work in earnest on the topic of cultural exchange. It's been almost 7 years since then, and during that time one group has been part of an enormous turning point for Japan's cultural image. Meeting Morning Musume。 was a turning point for me too.

Pop Culture Chronicles ～ On the Trail of Japanese Icons Around the World ～ | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜ Pop Culture Observations｜

2014.06.04

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!] #105 Overcoming Life’s Setbacks: Struggles of the Japanese Idol

Idols are one of Japan’s national treasures and ever since my life-changing encounter with Takahashi Ai, Tanaka Reina, and the other “platinum generation” members of Morning Musume at their Paris concert in July 2010, I’ve met countless more of them. And I’ve worked with many of them along the way, too.

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

2014.05.28

Interview Now ～Acid Black Cherry～

On April 9th (Wednesday), the popular artist Yasu who is also known as Acid Black Cherry came back to Fukuoka. It’s been one and a half years since his last visit so we’re very excited to see what he has to say about his new undertaking, “Project Shangri-la” and hear some anecdotes from his travels around Japan. Fans stay tuned! We will also be gifting some lucky winners with autographs from the man himself!

Interview Now | INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Fashion｜ Music｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜

2014.05.22

Interview Now ～LM.C～

Maya & Aiji, the Japanese popular visual-kei unit, "LM.C" came to Fukuoka as a part of their “LM.C TOUR 2014 PERFECT FANTASY.” This exclusive interview with them gives us insight into what their tours abroad were like and what some of their first impressions of Fukuoka were.

Interview Now | INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ Anime｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜

2014.04.24

[Report from Kobori in Bangkok] Thailand's first anime disco cosplay party! Thailand's only anime DJ makes a guest appearance and will make you a disco fan!

From Japan to Bangkok, the extremely popular "Anime Disco" pre-party was a success and many were belting out Japanese anime tunes!

Kobori 's Bangkok Report | Japan｜ Thailand ｜ Bangkok｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Cosplay｜ Event Reports｜ Trends｜ Hot Spot｜ J-POP｜

2014.04.18

Interview Now ～Mix Speaker's,Inc.～

An exclusive interview with a popular visual-kei band, "Mix Speaker's,Inc." who came to Fukuoka on Sunday, March 9th, 2014 for their “天国への階段 (Tengoku e no kaidan)～rest in peace～” tour. In this Interview, we talked about their impression of Fukuoka, what tours abroad (in Europe and America) were like for them, and what their future goals as artists are!!

Interview Now | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ Anime｜ Cosplay｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜

2014.04.17

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!] #99 “I’m Still the Same Reina that I was in Morning Musume.” Interview with LoVendoЯ One Year on from Their Forming as a Band

Almost four years have passed since Morning Musume’s Paris concert in July 2010, where I first found out about Tanaka Reina.
Of the 8 members who performed at that time, 7 have since graduated from the group, but Tanaka Reina went on to form a band and remains at the forefront of Japan’s music scene to this day

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2014.04.16

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!] #98 Alice Nine’s Tour of China will be a Decisive Test for Japan’s Music Industry

Japanese-brand entertainment on the international scene will take an important step forward this year (2014) with the launch of a concert tour kicking off in China. Beginning in June, Alice Nine will start their Asia Tour, performing in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and South Korea

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2014.04.09

Interview Now - Kensho Ono (小野 賢章) -

In this exclusive interview with Ono Kensho, who is the voice of Kuroko Tetsuya from the anime "Kukoko no Basuke (Kuroko's Basketball)," we learn some more about his new CD debut and what he has to say about his hometown - Fukuoka! For a couple lucky people we'll also be holding an autographed card giveaway, so stay tuned!

Interview Now | INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ Anime｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜

2014.03.20

[Featured] The theater release of ”The Idolmaster Movie: Kagayaki no Mukogawa e!”

The popular game, "The Idolmaster" has now also been adapted into anime. There are things about the story-line and the girls that have only been revealed at the theater release, of which we'd like to give you a brief summary along with an introduction to social games here!

anime | Japan｜ Music｜ Manga｜ Anime｜ Game & e-Sports｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜ Movies｜

2014.03.04

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!] #88 There’s More to Japan Than Just Tokyo! Loco-dols “LinQ” Sharing Their Love of Fukuoka with the World

I first began my work in cultural diplomacy in 2008, and as I discovered, the more countries I visited in this line of work, the greater my feelings towards my own country, Japan, grew.

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

2014.01.29

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#82 Breaking Down Genre Barriers with Kageyama Hironobu, Tanaka Reina, SU-METAL (BABYMETAL) and Colleagues I’ve Met Through Cultural Diplomacy – Japan Pop Culture Carnival – Part 4

This is the final installment for my series on the “Japan Pop Culture Carnival in Matsudo 2013” (herein JPCC) – an event which I produced that was held in Matsudo Mori no Hall 21 on November 4th, 2013.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.12.18

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#81 The “Urbangarde×Uesaka Sumire” Collaboration! Genre is Irrelevant! Japan Pop Culture Carnival – Part 3

This week I will follow up on the events that transpired at my self-produced, Japan Pop Culture Carnival in Matsudo 2013 (held at Matsudo Mori no Hall 21 on November 4th, 2013, herein referred to as JPCC).

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.12.11

[Photo Report] Eir Aoi's Autograph Session @ Animate Fukuoka Tenjin & asianbeat's exclusive interview

Eir Aoi, who is very popular not only within Asia but throughout the world held an autograph session in Tenjin, Fukuoka. We later had the chance to ask her for an exclusive interview. Please have a look at our photo report!

EVENT SNAPS | Fukuoka｜ Music｜ Anime｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜

2013.12.05

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#80 Dots, Lines and Shapes! From Amami Songstress to Today’s Leading Idols – Japan Pop Culture Carnival – Part 2

On November 4th 2013, a live event called the “Japan Pop Culture Carnival in Matsudo 2013” (herein JPCC) was held at Mori no Hall 21, in Matsudo, Japan.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.12.04

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#79 Voices of the Idols Fighting on the Frontlines! - Japan Pop Carnival – Part 1

November 4th 2013 – the “Japan Pop Culture Carnival” (herein JPCC), an event which I produced, was held at Mori no Hall 21, in Matsudo.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.11.27

Have you heard of the “Kagerou Project?”

The young man who has recently been releasing hit after hit song: “Jin: Natural Enemy P” has all of us captivated and wanting more!

Culture Watch (Latest News & Info) | Music｜ Manga｜ Anime｜ Trends｜ J-POP｜

2013.08.31

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#61 From Idol to Band. The First Obstacle: The Live House Dressing Room!? Interview with LoVendoЯ

My two previous articles focused on Tanaka Reina and her departure from Morning Musume – a group she has been a part of for 10 years. This time I’ll be interviewing Reina and the members of her new band, LoVendoЯ.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.07.24

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#60 Why Hello! Project is at the Forefront of Japan’s Idol Scene – Interview with Tanaka Reina – Part Two

Following on from my previous article, this is the second part to my interview with former Morning Musume member, Tanaka Reina, as she sets out on a new voyage with band, LoVendoЯ.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.07.17

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#59 “As a singer, I don’t think I will ever be completely satisfied” – Interview with Tanaka Reina – Part One

I’ve been following the progress of Morning Musume since their live performance in Paris in 2010, as it was this particular event that changed my view of Japanese idols completely.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.07.10