BABU Skateboards and Makes Art But You Can’t See His Face
Feature photo ©︎Shu Nakagawa BABU is a street artist based in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka. He skateboards in the post-earthquake disaster areas like Fukushima and Noto Peninsula. He makes art from…
Sakura and the Spirit of France: “LIGHTS OF FRANCE” Exhibition Illuminates Oji This Weekend
As Tokyo’s cherry blossoms reach their peak, the historic district of Ōji in Kita-ku offers more than just floral beauty this weekend. Nestled among the blooming sakura trees, a rare…
Pedaling Through Paradise
Cycling the Shimanami Kaido: A Sporty Journey Through the Seto IslandsBy Salomé Le Corre Pedaling Through Paradise There’s something invigorating about the crisp sea air in winter—especially when you’re experiencing…
Art and DEI Get Cozy at the agnès b. Gallery in Aoyama”
These are weird times when everyday, the news brings yet another series of incredulous, synapse-shredding headlines. One can’t be so naive as to believe that art will step in and…
The Documentary Black Box Diaries and Marriot International: Who’s Actually Protesting?
The documentary Black Box Diaries has taken the world by storm. It is the story of journalist Shiori Ito, who directed the film. In 2015, the young journalist was raped…
Coming Events
Contemporary Culture
crime
Dark Side of the Sun
Featured
Organized Crime
Photo Essays
Pop Culture
Yakuza
The Real-Life Kamurochō: A Yakuza History Lesson with Tokyo Noir’s Jake Adelstein
The Real-Life Kamurochō: A Yakuza History Lesson with Tokyo Vice’s Jake Adelstein We explore Tokyo’s Kabukicho, the inspiration behind the central setting of the series formerly known as Yakuza. (originally…
The Evaporated: 神隠し(かみかくし）Gone with the Gods –On Air now
People have a habit of vanishing in Japan---even hundreds of years ago, it happened often enough that myths were created to explain these sudden disappearances. 神隠し (kamikakushi)--to be hidden by…
You Don’t Truly Know Nagano Until You Visit These 5 Spots
Nature's canvas, landscapes shaped by mountain breezes – these 5 spots in Nagano prefecture will steal your heart in no time!
O-bon: Festival of The Dead or “Please Feed The Hungry Ghosts”
The "bon" in O-bon (盆) itself refers to the vessels (plates, bowls, tupperware etc) in which offerings are placed for the spirits of the deceased. The physical bowl has come…
Books on Japan
Contemporary Culture
Dark Side of the Sun
Featured
Jake Adelstein
News
On the Record
Organized Crime
Photo Essays
Politics
Tokyo Vice
Lessons Learned From Encounters With Clickbait Journalists
In the yakuza world they say, “As soon as you get to the top, someone will try to kick you down.” The world of journalism is, sadly, surprisingly “If you’re…