In the afterword of Jujutsu Kaisen Modulo Volume 3, Gege Akutami revealed that the story of the Simurians' canal was deeply inspired by Tetsu Nakamura, a Japanese doctor who built a 25.5km irrigation canal in Afghanistan. Known in Afghanistan as 'Kaka Murad' (Uncle Murad), here is who he was, both from Japan's perspective and from how Afghans remember him.
Kenichi Sugino, who designed the Game Boy Color, Advance, DS and 3DS over 37 years at Nintendo, and Goro Abe, who directed all 12 WarioWare titles, have joined Osaka Electro-Communication University as professors. We explore Japan's distinctive game education model, how it compares to DigiPen and USC, and the wave of generational change at Nintendo.
North West, the 12-year-old daughter of Kanye West, sampled Kikuo's Vocaloid track 'Aishite Aishite Aishite' on her debut EP N0rth4evr, released May 1. Kikuo replied: 'of course it's approved, and welcome even unauthorized.' A close read of why this is structurally unprecedented for Vocaloid in American hip-hop.
LINE Manga marked 13 years with a "Favorite Manga Election," and the 2,889,609 votes tell a story. One Piece placed in the top three of five categories; Demon Slayer and the Korean webtoon Teenage Mercenary took two each. With a voter base skewing female and under 40, Japanese manga and Korean webtoons split the categories along clean lines. Inside the hybrid platform that puts both in one app, and where international readers can find each title.
TYPE-MOON, French-Bread and Aniplex revealed MELTY BLOOD: TWI-LUMINA at EVO Japan 2026, launching early 2027 with Black Len playable at last. Refined battle systems, an eight-language launch, and what the global FGC is arguing about: rollback netcode, crossplay, and a shot at EVO Las Vegas 2027.
Tsubame Industries' Archax is a 4.5-meter, 3.5-ton piloted robot that transforms between robot and vehicle modes, priced at 400 million yen. What that buys, the CTO who engineered Yokohama's moving life-size Gundam, the Shoji Kawamori special edition, and how Unitree's $650,000 GD01 changed the competitive picture in May 2026.
Tanuki Marugoto BOOK hit #1 in twelve Amazon Japan categories on pre-orders alone before its May 1 release, and topped Rakuten Books' daily ranking. Shigaraki pottery and its eight lucky aspects, Studio Ghibli's Pom Poko, Tom Nook in Animal Crossing, and a single social post about a defeated-looking tanuki with 96.5 million views. Why this animal is loved across so many cultural layers in Japan, explained for readers who keep mistaking it for a raccoon.
On May 1, 2026, Epic Games Store and Fortnite finally returned to iPhone in Japan, ending nearly six years of exile. The launch follows Japan's Mobile Software Competition Act, but Epic accuses Apple of leaving 'barriers everywhere'—a 9-step install flow, a 5% Core Technology Commission, and transaction-monitoring rules that scared off third-party developers. Here's what it means for one of the world's largest mobile gaming markets, the global Epic vs Apple battle, and the future of iOS sideloading.
Anime!Anime! has released its post-broadcast Spring 2026 anime ranking. Daemons of the Shadow Realm by Hiromu Arakawa takes #1 in Japan, with Ascendance of a Bookworm at #2, and Dr.STONE, Nippon Sangoku, and Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun tying for #3. Meanwhile, international rankings from Anime Corner and others crown Re:Zero Season 4 and Witch Hat Atelier as the top picks. Here is the gap between Japanese and overseas reception, plus where to stream each title on Crunchyroll, Prime Video, and beyond.
On June 6, 2026, seven-member group XG became the first Japanese act to perform at Capital's Summertime Ball and the first Japanese group ever to play Wembley Stadium. They delivered three songs to 80,000 people, including a one-off cover of UK garage classic 'Flowers.' The set, the 29-year gap since Eikichi Yazawa, and how XG built up to this.
On April 29, 2026, Mobile Suit Gundam creator Yoshiyuki Tomino received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon. A guide for international Gundam fans on Japan's imperial decoration system, Tomino's global influence, the state of Gundam IP, and current games like SD Gundam G Generation Eternal.
