Viewed from afar, Japanese animation may appear to be populated entirely by giant-eyed, squeaky-voice schoolgirls and young men who suffer from frequent nosebleeds. Their plots, too, can seem awfully convoluted at first glance, and so anyone who didn’t grow up with anime or have the chance to catch popular series when they were just getting started may feel completely out of their depth when trying to get into it.
If you’re the kind of person who, like me, despite being into Japan and Asia, never really understood what all the fuss was about anime, or who would like to give this strange medium a chance but doesn’t know where to start, then we have a special treat for you today: no fewer than five anime recommendations from members of our very own writing staff, guaranteed to be easy for even anime-skeptics to get into. Who knows, these might just be the gateway shows you’ve been looking for!
Japanese company develops classy heavy metal band frames for glasses
Mysterious light-up rainy night-sound Totoro figure doesn’t actually show a scene from the anime
Studio Ghibli tea blends contain ingredients inspired by My Neighbour Totoro
Clever design trick means beautiful Ghibli Artboard Jigsaw Puzzles won’t have bittersweet ending
One of Japan’s rarest sweets is a sell-out hit that looks and tastes like frost
Major Japanese city is abolishing extracurricular activities at all of its middle schools
Japanese politician threatens to send bears to people, wants Loony Tunes-style anti-bear bombs
Arcade game coin slot capsule toys bring coin-op style to your home or office【Photos】
Gorgeous Sailor Moon princess dresses for all the galas in the galaxy【Photos】
Japanese breast size study shows rapid growth in previously smallest-busted region of county
Japan’s Kanji of the Year announced, shows the bright and dark spots of 2024【Video】
Japan’s tap-to-pay Suica train card system aims to go tapless with walk-through gates, location data scans
Starbucks teams up with 165-year-old Kyoto doll maker for Year of the Snake decorations【Photos】
Over 800 Studio Ghibli anime world paintings compiled in beautiful new hardcover art book【Pics】
Studio Ghibli showcases traditional craftsmanship with new wallet range
Japanese city paints well-known prostitution street bright yellow, adds fish art【Video】
Possessing Harry Potter’s Sword of Godric Gryffindor is now illegal in Japan
Uniqlo announces first-ever collaboration with horror manga master Junji Ito【Photos】
J-pop mega star Ado reveals she’s been living in the U.S., may not understand language acquisition
Starbucks Japan is calling it quits with paper straws
Studio Ghibli releases new range of cardigans for anime fans
Japan’s most popular castle raising ticket prices by up to 200 percent for non-local tourists
Furikake rice seasoning sales are soaring, which is bad news for Japan as a whole
Studio Ghibli heroine cardigans give you warmth and strength to face everyday challenges
Eight unforgettable hot springs, as recommended by Japan’s “Professor Bath”
Berserk T-shirts coming to Uniqlo for launch of new Manga Curation line【Photos】
McDonald’s new Happy Meals offer up cute and practical Sanrio lifestyle goods
Foreign tourists on Shinkansen bullet train break suitcase etiquette, angering local passengers
[Deleted] Article written for April Fool’s Day 2018
Japanese government to make first change to romanization spelling rules since the 1950s
Foreigner’s request for help in Tokyo makes us sad for the state of society
Japanese convenience store Family Mart announces abolishment of eat-in spaces
Life-size vibrating Legend of Zelda Master Sword for sale from Nintendo【Photos】
Princesses, fruits, and blacksmiths: Study reveals the 30 most unusual family names in Japan
Studio Ghibli releases free-download board game — Here’s how to play it without reading Japanese
Major Japanese city is abolishing extracurricular activities at all of its middle schools
Japanese politician threatens to send bears to people, wants Loony Tunes-style anti-bear bombs
Arcade game coin slot capsule toys bring coin-op style to your home or office【Photos】
Gorgeous Sailor Moon princess dresses for all the galas in the galaxy【Photos】
Japanese breast size study shows rapid growth in previously smallest-busted region of county
Does Japan’s T.M. Revolution J-rock cake really look like the song it’s named after?
Smoking marijuana is now illegal in Japan, can get you 7 years in prison
Tokyo’s expensive fountain construction plans making waves among the Japanese public
Senkoji: The Japanese temple that’s more like a theme park to heaven and hell
The new Simose Art Museum in Hiroshima houses a floating, futuristic surprise next to the sea
The three ways to say “love” in Japanese, and when to use them
Starbucks Japan releases a special tea latte to celebrate the Year of the Snake
Ghibli Park puts up Christmas trees and decorations, invites fans to “come search for Christmas”
The most beautiful forest in Japan? Bijinbayashi woods are stunning in every season【Photos】