Japanese guitarist Masayoshi Takanaka, 73, is having an extraordinary global breakthrough: over 90%% of his streaming audience is overseas, mostly listeners in their teens and twenties. From sold-out LA shows to a 2026 world tour with $697 resale tickets, here's how a city pop and J-fusion pioneer became one of America's hottest concert tickets.
Japanese esports powerhouse REJECT has signed an MOU with RTS Management, operator of the world's largest fighting game tournament EVO. The partnership targets event co-creation, player development, and content collaboration. Plus: CAG OSAKA's SFL withdrawal, EVO Japan 2026, and more.
Japan's Anime!Anime! reader poll crowns the best of Winter 2026: Jujutsu Kaisen Season 3 and Frieren Season 2 share #1, with Tamon's B-Side at #3, Medalist Season 2 at #4, and Oshi no Ko Season 3 at #5. We compare Japanese and international rankings and break down where to stream each title.
Stellar Blade and NIKKE developer SHIFT UP has fully acquired UNBOUND, the new studio led by Resident Evil creator Shinji Mikami. With both studios developing original AAA games for global audiences, we explore Mikami's career journey, the strategic partnership with Hyung-Tae Kim, and what this mega-deal means for the future of gaming.
The Japanese government's JAPAN SUI COLLECTION project made its European debut in Paris in March 2026, showcasing Living National Treasure lacquerwork, Sendai Tansu cabinets, and a Junko Koshino fashion show at Le Royal Monceau. Here's how 'Sui', Japan's philosophy of refined elegance, captivated 200 European leaders.
Yamada Heiando, a 107-year-old lacquerware maker that supplies Japan's Imperial Household, collaborates with Pokémon to create handcrafted bowls featuring Ponyta in traditional makie gold-dust technique. Discover how Japan's ancient craft meets pop culture in this 'Only in Japan' fusion, priced at around $110.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of 'The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya,' Netflix will stream the complete 2009 broadcast version (28 episodes) and the acclaimed film 'The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya' starting April 1, 2026. The legendary Kyoto Animation series goes global under the 'Gratitude of Haruhi Suzumiya' anniversary project.
From Kyary Pamyu Pamyu to Atarashii Gakko!, FRUITS ZIPPER, and CANDY TUNE — Asobisystem CEO Yusuke Nakagawa has spent 18 years turning Harajuku's Kawaii culture into a global pop ecosystem. Discover how his KAWAII LAB. project produced two NHK Kohaku acts and a Tokyo Dome headliner in 2025.
Japanese boy group JO1 became the first Japanese artist ever nominated for World Artist of the Year at the iHeartRadio Music Awards 2026. Alongside global stars Ayra Starr, Jackson Wang, and Tyla, three JO1 members made a surprise appearance at the ceremony in Hollywood's Dolby Theatre. From their Jingle Ball debut to upcoming Tokyo Dome shows, JO1's global rise continues.
On March 24, 2026, Japanese lawmakers launched the MOKEI Culture Promotion Parliamentary League, chaired by former Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, to position plastic models as a national cultural asset. From Shizuoka's Bandai Hobby Center museum to Gundam Base Tokyo and Akihabara shops, discover why Japan's model kit culture deserves global recognition.
FF7 Remake Part 3 director Naoki Hamaguchi explains in detail why launching on PS5, PC, Xbox, and Switch 2 simultaneously won't compromise visual quality — with PC as the lead development platform and a top-down optimization approach for each console.
