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July 12, 2026
 

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Alicia Haddick
The “Princess Mononoke” adaptation was created under Shochiku’s Super Kabuki initiative, a modern form of kabuki with more technology in staging and open to pop culture collaborations.
CULTURE / Stage
Jul 9, 2026
‘Princess Mononoke’ comes alive in Super Kabuki staging
Kabuki, one of Japan’s oldest performing art forms, and Studio Ghibli seek modern resonance in an everchanging landscape for arts.
Tanjiro Kamado is a likeable protagonist in the stage show, even though he sometimes takes a backseat to the stories of other characters in this installment.
CULTURE / Stage
Jun 19, 2026
‘Demon Slayer’ musical is for fans who’ve done the homework
The record-breaking anime “Demon Slayer” has been reimagined as a musical and its sixth installment premiered June 13.
Riyo, a former hitman portrayed by actress Sena, particularly stood out in her performance.
CULTURE / Stage
Jun 2, 2026
New anime adapted for stage expands what 2.5D theater can be
“Gachiakuta,” a new, award-winning anime adapted for the stage, dazzled with dynamic multilevel fight and dance choreography with cues from martial arts and breakdance.
Actor Tatsuya Fujiwara plays the protagonist Calcutec in "The End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland.”
CULTURE / Stage
Feb 7, 2026
Can Japanese theater travel? A Murakami adaptation tries.
“The End of the World and Hard-Boiled Wonderland” adaptation is part of a rising wave of contemporary Japanese theater productions that tour internationally with original casts.
After its July release, “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba — Infinity Castle,” an animated feature adapted directly from a TV arc, became the highest-grossing Japanese film ever.
CULTURE / Film
Oct 31, 2025
Anime isn’t competing with Hollywood — it’s beating it
Once a niche passion, anime has become a global obsession. “Demon Slayer” lit the fuse. “Chainsaw Man” just proved it’s unstoppable.
Virtual singer Kaf got her start in 2018 by posting songs and covers to YouTube. Now, after having performed live shows at major venues including Tokyo’s Nippon Budokan, she is turning to voice acting and starring in the new anime series “Kamitsubaki City Under Construction.”
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Aug 28, 2025
Virtual singer Kaf’s music becomes magic in ‘Kamitsubaki City Under Construction’
After evolving from an online presence into a live performer, Kaf has now stepped into voice acting as part of a multimedia project built around a supergroup of virtual artists.
China’s demand for Soviet-style apartments shows limits to revival
Apartments built during a Soviet Union-inspired construction drive in the 1970s and 1980s tend to suffer from poor insulation and outdated plumbing, but they are seeing a revival in interest due to their attractive locations.
Japanese scientists identify neural mechanism that may explain why we dislike people
The aggressive mouse (left) used in the experiment and a mouse defending itself
Japanese payment processor’s collapse hits banks and restaurants
Zentoshin served around 200,000 shops, many of which rely on early payments to maintain cash flow, raising concerns over their financial stability following the disruption.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
Lenders seek $700 million after Japanese payments firm’s collapse
The financial failure of Osaka-based Zentoshin has left 63 creditors with claims totaling ¥115.16 billion, according to Tokyo Shoko Research.
Japan’s largest exhibition of women photographers rights a wrong in cultural history
Miwa Yanagi’s “Elevator Girl House” series skewers the superficiality of gender roles through staged images.
Over 70% of accommodations in Japan say they are understaffed amid tourism influx
The number of foreign visitors to Japan reached a high of 42.68 million in 2025.
‘Princess Mononoke’ comes alive in Super Kabuki staging
The “Princess Mononoke” adaptation was created under Shochiku’s Super Kabuki initiative, a modern form of kabuki with more technology in staging and open to pop culture collaborations.
The beating heart inside ‘Human Vapor’
Different forms of love and connection form the emotional backbone of Netflix’s “Human Vapor,” says actor Shun Oguri, who plays troubled detective Kenji Okamoto.
Japan bets on character IP to drive global growth
Born on social media platforms in 2022, Opanchu Usagi has become a major hit, especially among Generation Z.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival
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