Johnny Be Bad: A rare interview with Japan’s boy Idol-maker and pederast
Having decided that “Are you or have you ever been a pederast?” might be somewhat too direct a question to put to the dear old chap, I lobbed a series…
Childhood Sexual Assault Survivors Call For Action and Policy Changes Ahead of Hiroshima G7 Summit
In a move considered well overdue, Japan is raising the national age of consent from 13 years old to 16. Japan has the lowest national age of consent among G7…
The mysterious beauty of Reylia Slaby’s World
Reylia Slaby, born in Japan and well-known for the mysterious and otherworldly vistas that dominate her photography, is having her first solo exhibition from March 25th. A perfect chance to…
Japan Goes Up in Smoke
I hail from a family of smokers. My parents, their siblings, my cousins, my grandparents. New Years’ family get-togethers were marked by cramped living rooms dense with smoke, full ashtrays…
Egoism and Love: Not mutually exclusive
Egoist. The title seemingly belies this love story. From the vantage point of today’s incessantly narcissistic and increasingly toxic dating/relationship culture, Egoist is the exact opposite of what it claims to be.…
Samurai play soccer and other fairy tales: Japan and the world cup
In the early naughts an older co-worker sidled up to me one afternoon in the company corridor and told me with a mix of swagger and sincerity that if I…
“A Man” Takes Imposter Syndrome To New Dimensions
Life seems to be going incredibly well for them until Daisuke is killed in an accident. At the one-year memorial, his estranged older brother turns up from Gunma prefecture, clear…
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outstanding tokyo English Standup comedy This Friday!
ince then, the show has grown to offer an inclusive venue to comedians of all kinds, but especially to those who know what it's like to be treated as "the…
In peaceful Nara, The violent Death of ex-Prime minister Abe leaves residents shocked and saddened
Nara, once the capital of Japan, is a city known for its greenery, rolling hills, ancient Buddhist temples, friendly residents, slow-paced, languid, and peaceful life. It’s the last place one…
Tokyo Comedy Bar Opens In Shibuya
After the past couple of years, we could all do with more laughs. Yet when Ben “BJ” Fox proposed opening a comedy venue in the middle of a pandemic, many…