ONE OK ROCK's 'Wherever you are' has charted for 228 weeks on the Billboard JAPAN Hot 100 — roughly 4.5 years. Originally a deep cut from their 2010 album, the ballad became Japan's most beloved wedding song after a TV commercial boosted its popularity. With 400M+ streams and 536 consecutive weeks in the streaming top 300, it's an extraordinary long-hit story. What's your favorite ONE OK ROCK song?
Vocaloid producer Rusino's 'Loop the Room (feat. Hatsune Miku)' has topped the Billboard Japan Songs chart in the US while entering the top 10 in the UK, Brazil, and South Africa. Fueled by a viral TikTok looping trend, the track proves Hatsune Miku's global relevance in 2026 and highlights how deeply Vocaloid culture has penetrated international audiences.
Riding momentum from its US expo debut, Hanamaruki's shio koji business has hit ¥2 billion ($13M). A new TV campaign starring food creator Asuka Wada introduces the reduced-sodium variety for the first time, while the company targets ¥3–5 billion ($20–33M) next. A surprising karaage technique is already generating buzz.
Japanese brand BIBILAB has released the Neko House Desk, a cat house-integrated work desk with four built-in 'nyan gimmicks' for remote workers who share their space with cats. From cat cafés to cat islands, discover how Japan's love for felines shapes everything—even office furniture.
JESU's 'Japan Esports White Paper 2025' reveals the domestic market reached an estimated $105M in 2024, projected to surpass $130M by 2026. With back-to-back Japanese winners at Capcom Cup and a fighting game-centric ecosystem, Japan's esports scene charts its own course.
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.
