A recent survey of elementary schoolers in Japan that asked “who do you admire?” had many of the results you might expect: mom, dad, teacher, a friend. But there were also some surprising entries. In third place was Ai Hoshino, the singer from the manga …Read more »
2024 is here, and that means the Year of the Dragon! Studio Ghibli rang in the New Year by sharing an online nengajo, a type of Japanese greeting card. Hayao Miyazaki drew a dragon for the card, and Studio Ghibli wrote a note about what’s …Read more »
The original anime movie SPY×FAMILY CODE: White is out now in Japan, and special new Anya Forger candy is out now in the Japanese convenience store chain Lawson. There are seven different possible Anyas you can get, and each one has a different — and …Read more »
Two big franchises, Haruhi Suzumiya and Lucky Star, are, believe it or not, 20 years old this year. The first Haruhi Suzumiya light novel was published in June 2003, while the Lucky Star manga kicked off in December of the same year. Both properties were …Read more »
A recent Japanese survey pitted otaku vs. otaku to see which type of fans spend the most time and money on their hobbies. The report, put together by Yano Research Institute, surveyed men and women who either consider themselves otaku or have been labeled as …Read more »
One hundred years ago on November 10, Japan’s legendary and most loyal pup, Hachiko was born. Hachiko, the Akita dog, who was immortalized as a statue outside Shibuya Station in Tokyo, became a national symbol of unwavering loyalty and holds immense cultural significance for the …Read more »
Ghibli Park has been open since last year, but it doesn’t mean the park is finished. Parts are being added, and now it’s been confirmed that the Valley of Witches section will throw open its doors on March 16. So what sort of stuff will …Read more »
Content Warning: Discussion of suicide Famous Kabuki actor Ichikawa Ennosuke has been sentenced in the deaths of his parents. The actor, who has appeared in a One Piece Kabuki play and was scheduled to direct and act in a Demon Slayer Kabuki play, had been accused …Read more »
If you only have Akihabara on your anime shopping bucket list, you’re missing out on the many shopping areas that are filled to the brim with every type of anime merchandise you can imagine. Gachapon? Check. Hello Kitty collab toys? Check. Themed makeup products? You …Read more »
A social media lifestyle app in Japan known as Gravity conducted a survey with women ages 20-39, asking them what they spend their money on for fun. There are plenty of necessities out there that paychecks go to—rent, groceries and bills, to name a few—but …Read more »
Hello Kitty has collabed with just about every major franchise you could think of and then some. However, there’s one area in which Miss Kitty & Friends have yet to appear in…LEGO. Are you as surprised as we are?! While it seems like a no-brainer—it’s …Read more »
Sometimes people get crushes on fictional characters, like ones from anime and manga. More rarely, sometimes people get unofficial marriages with these characters. Akihiko Kondo, a man who unofficially married Vocaloid Hatsune Miku, has created a group called Association of Fictosexuality. It is a place …Read more »
Media Do International, Clover Press and Shueisha are all working together on a Kickstarter for the English translation and publication of romance novel Love Like the Falling Petals, which has been a bestseller in Japan and received a live-action Netflix adaptation. The Kickstarter is currently …Read more »
Universal Studios Japan closed down for a while because of COVID. And after it opened its doors again, it still kept a lot of restrictions in place. This included forbidding guests from hugging or high-fiving mascots, due to sanitary reasons. However, with more COVID restrictions …Read more »
The life-size Gundam down in Yokohama — you know, the one that can move and stuff — has just been given a major upgrade: it can now play rock-paper-scissors. Now that’s impressive. To demonstrate its finger-curling prowess, the RX-78-2 will go up against, well, whoever …Read more »
Matt Schley
Danica Davidson
Brianna Fox-Priest
