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.
After leaving the Japan Sumo Association, former yokozuna Hakuho unveiled his "World Sumo Grand Slam" vision, hinting at future cooperation with the JSA. Chairman Hakkaku's response reveals deep tensions. Explore how sumo's greatest champion challenges tradition from the outside.
Japan's print book and magazine sales fell below ¥1 trillion for the first time in 50 years. Yet major publishers are posting strong profits through digital, IP licensing, and gaming ventures. Crisis or evolution? A deep dive into Japan's publishing transformation with Japanese public reactions.
The Kawaru Haikyo Exhibition 2026 ran in Asakusabashi, Tokyo in February-March 2026 and in Nagoya in April. In its 11th year, the photo show reframes ruins as beauty, reflecting a distinctly Japanese aesthetic, and premiered drone footage of Gunkanjima and European ruins. A look at its links to wabi-sabi.
Discover why Japan's Unko Museum has attracted 2.5 million visitors worldwide. This unique "kawaii poop" entertainment facility transforms taboo into adorable, becoming a must-visit Tokyo attraction for international tourists.
Japanese VR startup Diver-X has acquired the business license for the force feedback device EXOS. Combined with its ContactGlove haptics, the aim reaches beyond VR and the metaverse into robot teleoperation and Physical AI. A look at the frontier of Japanese haptics.
A look back at "Moving Ukiyo-e Exhibition OSAKA," which ran at Grand Front Osaka from January 17 to March 14, 2026. Over 300 prints by Hokusai, Sharaku and others were set in motion with 3DCG and projection mapping across seven immersive spaces. The tour moved on to Hiroshima in summer 2026.