Netflix's biggest Japanese title ever, "Alice in Borderland" Season 3, reached No. 1 globally in its second week with 46.3 million hours viewed. Stars Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya on the show's worldwide reach and what Japanese content means to streaming, plus how Season 3 ended up being the last.
Kenshi Yonezu's "IRIS OUT" spent 22 straight weeks at No. 1 on Oricon's streaming chart, a record for a solo artist, and topped the YouTube chart for the 21st time (V21). It peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Global 200, the highest ever for a Japanese-language song, and his tours drew 440,000 fans at home and abroad. Here is how Japanese artists are reshaping global music streaming.
The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics deploys over 810 cameras to broadcast the Games, with FPV drones chasing alpine skiers at 100mph. At the heart of this revolution? Japanese technology from Sony, Canon, and Panasonic. From cinema-grade cameras to AI-powered replays and ultra-low-latency transmission, here's how Japan's imaging expertise is redefining how the world watches winter sports.
Japan-born global HIP HOP/R&B group XG has been named Coca-Cola Japan Ambassador for FIFA World Cup 2026, appearing in limited-edition soccer jerseys in a new web movie. From closing Coachella's Sahara Stage to a 47-show world tour, here is the record that made a music group the face of a World Cup campaign.
PPAP sensation Pikotaro had a surprise encounter with world-famous DJ Steve Aoki at Tokyo's iconic Kaminarimon gate in Asakusa. Aoki approached Pikotaro first, sparking fan excitement and collaboration speculation. With Pikotaro's PPAP 10th anniversary project underway and Aoki's deep Japanese heritage, could this chance meeting lead to an epic crossover?
The world's first wired earphones using "cartilage conduction," a third hearing pathway discovered in Japan, are now on sale. How Sound Ball differs from bone conduction, its adoption by five Osaka Expo pavilions, and what it means for the future of audio.
At just 25, Japanese multi-artist Vaundy has become the youngest male solo artist ever to headline a dome tour in Japan, selling out all 7 shows and drawing roughly 350,000 fans across four cities. At his Tokyo Dome concert he announced his first Asia arena tour, covering Seoul, Hong Kong, Taipei and Shanghai. From posting songs on YouTube to Japan's biggest stages in seven years: the story behind the rise.
JAKOPS, CEO and lead producer of Japan-born global group XG, reveals plans to spend up to six months in the U.S. from spring 2026 in a Hollywood Reporter interview. Following the release of debut album 'THE CORE,' he discusses XGALX's next phase, from new artist projects to breaking idol conventions.
Pokémon GO's largest-ever real-world event, "GO Fest 2026: Tokyo," centered on Odaiba from May 29 to June 1, 2026. Tokyo Governor Koike made headlines by catching a Pokémon live during the press conference. Discover the world-first "City Exploration Ticket," event details, and what makes this 10th anniversary celebration truly historic.
Japan's anime market has reached a record $25 billion globally. While aggressive M&A deals by Sony, KADOKAWA, and others have fueled explosive overseas growth, questions remain about low animator wages, creative risk-taking, and whether the industry's real creators are seeing any of the profits. A deep dive into the boom's winners and losers.
At its first global showcase, Amazon Prime Video announced worldwide exclusives on three Japanese anime titles: a 40th-anniversary Fist of the North Star reboot, a new Ghost in the Shell TV series, and a fantasy sequel. What the deals say about Japanese IP in the streaming era.