Number_i — the J-pop trio of Sho Hirano, Yuta Jinguji, and Yuta Kishi — has signed with WME, the powerhouse agency behind Bruno Mars and Billie Eilish. From their Coachella debut to this landmark deal, we explore what this means for Japanese artists carving a global path distinct from K-pop.
Konan Women's University launches a new Faculty of Sociology in April 2026 that takes "oshi-katsu" (supporting your favorite idol/character) seriously as academic research. With Japan's fan economy now worth $23 billion, discover how this university is bridging the gap between pop culture passion and rigorous social science.
A hand stencil in a cave on Indonesia's Muna Island has been confirmed as the world's oldest cave art at 67,800+ years old, using laser-ablation uranium-series dating. Surpassing Spain's cave art by over 1,000 years, this discovery reshapes our understanding of early human artistic culture and migration routes to Australia.
Nintendo Switch has reached 155.37 million units sold, overtaking the DS to become Nintendo's all-time best-selling console. We analyze the key factors behind its 8+ year success—hybrid design, powerful IPs, pandemic boost, and indie game ecosystem—along with its impact on Japan's gaming industry.
Japan considers cutting high school baseball from 9 to 7 innings by 2028. While 70% of schools oppose the change, heat stroke concerns and player safety drive the debate. How will Japan balance tradition with modern athlete welfare?
Japan's National Archives now sells a clear file featuring "The Barbarian Woman of Utsuro-bune" - a mysterious disc-shaped vessel that allegedly washed ashore in 1803 with a foreign woman inside. Discover how this Edo-period historical document from "Kōken Zuihitsu," known globally as Japan's UFO incident, is merging Japanese mystery with pop culture.
After 55 years as Japan's beloved Sunday evening tradition, "Sazae-san" finally makes its overseas debut in Taiwan in January 2026. Discover the strategy behind the Guinness World Record-holding anime's first international broadcast, which characters experts predict will go viral overseas, and what this means for Japanese anime's global expansion.
Tokyo Disneyland announces Spring 2027 opening for new Sugar Rush attraction, alongside the $470M Space Mountain renovation. Explore Oriental Land's billion-dollar investment strategy and its impact on Japan's booming theme park industry.
Japanese high school baseball once featured grueling training methods called "hell drills." Explore why players pursue Koshien with such passion and how modern practices now prioritize athlete welfare and safety.
The Pokémon Company's licensing division has no sales targets. Decisions rest solely on whether an idea is "interesting," sometimes greenlit regardless of profitability. Discover how this brand-first philosophy, prioritizing 30-year longevity over short-term gains, built the world's highest-grossing media franchise, worth an estimated $90 billion.
21-year-old Ukrainian refugee Aonishiki (Danylo Yabgushyshin) achieved back-to-back sumo championships—a feat not seen since legendary Futabayama in 1937. After fleeing the war and arriving alone in Japan, this young wrestler's historic rise is inspiring fans worldwide. Explore his journey and the role of foreign wrestlers in Japan's traditional sport.