Eureka Seven turned 20. Three key staff members all making their debut, the origin stories of Mamoru Miyano and Ami Koshimizu, and proof that the Itano Circus works without missiles: five reasons to watch this underrated 2005 series, backed by the creators' own anniversary comments.
Kojima Ao's 'Hon Nara Uru Hodo', a gentle human drama set in a used bookshop, won the Manga Taisho 2026, Japan's most influential bookstore-selected manga prize, then took the Manga Grand Prize at the 30th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in April. Inside the award sweep, and whether it can travel.
Storm Labels, the music arm of STARTO ENTERTAINMENT, opened its first official online store on April 1, 2026, with international shipping and support for 5 languages. Over 700 titles from Arashi, SUPER EIGHT, Hey! Say! JUMP and others are available, a shift for overseas fans who previously relied on proxy services.
Hands-on report from the Pokémon Champions preview event, held ahead of its April 8 launch. The removal of IVs, PP adjustments, Mega Dragonite's Multiscale, Mega Froslass's Snow Warning, and producer Hoshino's plan to preserve Pokémon battles forever.
In 2026, Fujii Kaze and Creepy Nuts play Coachella, YOASOBI and Ado join Lollapalooza, and the first-ever Zipangu festival in LA showcases Ado, HANA, CHANMINA, and 10-FEET. A deep dive into how Japanese music is making its biggest mark yet on the American festival scene.
Indie studio GAZE IN GAMES' cat rescue simulator 'Cat Parents' surpassed 100,000 Steam wishlists in just 3 days after its announcement. We explore the global boom in cozy cat games and how Japan's deep cat culture connects to this viral phenomenon.
Japan-born global group XG will perform at 88rising's Head in the Clouds 2026 festival on August 8 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, on a bill headlined by KATSEYE. The lineup includes Rich Brian, UMI, and more. We cover ticket details, 88rising's role in elevating Asian artists, and the festival's first-ever Japan edition at Makuhari Messe.
About 31% of Japanese people now prefer solo cherry blossom viewing over traditional group parties. We explore how rising single-person households, the 'ohitorisama' economy, and solo activities like solo camping are reshaping one of Japan's most iconic spring traditions.
Sony has removed approximately 700 game listings from NOSTRA GAMES on the PlayStation Store, targeting low-quality titles that relied heavily on AI-generated assets and mimicked popular games. This latest purge follows similar actions earlier in 2026, signaling Sony's intensifying crackdown on shovelware flooding its digital storefront.
Shohei Hishida, a carpenter artist with over 500,000 Instagram followers and a Forbes Japan 'Culturepreneur' honoree, merges Japanese and Belgian building traditions into homes that age beautifully. His new HUIZEN brand goes nationwide as Gen-Z entrepreneur Ryuun Tsukahara advocates for 'keinen-bika'—the philosophy of beauty through aging.
KAT-TUN surprise-released all 312 songs on streaming platforms on their 20th debut anniversary, March 22, 2026. From 'Real Face' to their final album 'Fantasia,' every single and album is now available worldwide — a major milestone in the former Johnny's (STARTO) streaming revolution.
Dengeki Online's pre-broadcast popularity poll for Spring 2026 anime is out. From roughly 80 titles, the Top 10 features Re:Zero Season 4 at #1, Classroom of the Elite 4th Season at #2, and exciting newcomers including Ice Castle Wall, Witch Hat Atelier, and Daemons of the Shadow Realm. Full streaming platform guide included.
Discover the Owari Tsushima Wisteria Festival at Tennogawa Park in Aichi Prefecture. Walk beneath a 275-meter canopy of cascading purple blooms across 12 varieties of wisteria. Just 25 minutes from Nagoya by train, this post-cherry blossom spring destination features stunning water reflections and magical nighttime illuminations. Plus: the cultural significance of wisteria in Demon Slayer and Japanese tradition.
Street Fighter 6's Alex DLC revealed his marriage to Patricia, sparking massive backlash from Western fans who see it as an incestuous relationship. The controversy stems largely from translating Japanese 'sodate no oya' (a person who raised you) as 'adoptive father,' making Patricia his legal sister in English. Meanwhile, Japanese fans largely celebrate the union. We break down the cultural gap behind the divide.
16-time Grammy winner Bruno Mars has signed a global music publishing partnership with Avex Music Group. After selling out seven consecutive Tokyo Dome shows and breaking streaming records in Japan, Mars will move his publishing administration to the Tokyo- and LA-based company once his BMG/Warner Chappell deal expires. With 'The Romantic' debuting at No. 1 on Billboard 200 and 2.1 million Romantic Tour tickets sold in a single day, here's the full story.
At GDC 2026, Sucker Punch Productions revealed a unique development ritual behind Ghost of Yotei: a weekly 'Cut Ceremony' where every scrapped idea was met with applause from the entire team. Learn how this roughly 160-person studio used positive reinforcement to stay lean while building one of 2025's biggest open-world games.
To celebrate the PC launch of DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH, director Hideo Kojima and Dollman voice actor Tomokazu Sugita sat down for their first-ever joint interview. From their 18-year partnership to the 2,000 lines recorded over 27 days, discover the behind-the-scenes story of Dollman and what 'just be Sugita' really means — plus PC-exclusive features and the new 'to the wilder' mode.
At the Famitsu Dengeki Game Awards 2025, FromSoftware's Switch 2 exclusive 'The Duskbloods' won Most Anticipated Title of 2026, beating GTA VI and Fire Emblem. Directed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, this 8-player PvPvE action game reflects Japan's deep trust in the studio and Nintendo's bold exclusive strategy.
Ado debuted her new song 'Ai Ai A' on YouTube's THE FIRST TAKE on March 16, 2026, with a simultaneous surprise digital release. Written by renowned Vocaloid producer Kikuo, the chaotic carnival-like track features backup vocals from Phantom Siita, the idol group Ado herself produces. With a world tour of 500,000+ fans and a sold-out stadium show ahead, Ado continues her global dominance.
The Sony MSF-1, the earliest known development unit for the SNES CD-ROM add-on once called 'PlayStation,' has been acquired by the National Videogame Museum in Texas. As the only known surviving unit, this historic artifact sheds new light on the Nintendo-Sony partnership that reshaped gaming history.