pop culture
Two powerhouses of Japanese pop culture team up to fill Koda Kumi’s latest video with intergalactic 80s romance vibes!
In late November a four-day festival of music, food, fashion, and culture will be held, and anyone with a foreign passport will get some VIP treatment.
Move over water bottle panties, it’s time to dress up your drinks with a fashionable over-the-shoulder sweater that takes its styling cues from Beat Takeshi.
Comic Con, a festival of pop culture and entertainment, will be coming to Tokyo next year, and they’ve already put on a huge announcement bash!
Long before Gwen Stefani was inspired by the Tokyo neighborhood, Harajuku’s status as the center of Japanese fashion and pop culture had been well solidified. From strange footwear to unbearably cute cuisine, a visit to Harajuku is never dull and is a must-see for any tourist coming to Tokyo.
But the crowded streets, small shops and the language barrier might be a bit daunting for a first-time visitor. So to make that trip more worthwhile, a tourist organization is opening up a bilingual information booth in the heart of Harajuku to make sure visitors get the most out of their time in the exciting neighborhood.
Tony Stark is a character whose power comes from his ingenuity in designing and building his Iron Man suits and weapons. And of course having millions of dollars at his disposal helped.
Meet Kai-xiang Xhong, the Tony Stark (sans riches) of cardboard art. Some people might laugh at the phrase “cardboard art,” but this man’s sculptures are so stunning that it’s hard to believe they are made of the same stuff your Amazon purchases arrive in. Take, for instance, the life-size Iron Man suit shown above. (Did we mention it’s wearable? There is a person in that suit, walking around and bending parts without it falling to pieces!)
On 9 April the Cool Japan Promotion Conference and Pop Culture Subcommittee was assembled to discuss and strategize ways to encourage growth in Japan’s popular culture sector. The session dealt with all of Japan’s notable influences around the world from Gundams to soccer.









Three beautiful places to see Japan’s plum blossoms after starting your day in downtown Tokyo
Is China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning affecting the lines at a popular Tokyo gyukatsu restaurant?
A robot joins the team at a fast-food restaurant, but in an unlikely city in northern Japan
Nephew receives SD card after his uncle passes away, finds treasure trove of gems from the past
Studio Ghibli releases new free-to-use anime images to “use within the bounds of common sense”
12 toilet oddities around the world that surprise Japan
A spotlight on Japanese singles figure skating: Jumping into the 2026 Olympics【Pt. II】
Japanese police question man for “not looking good in a suit,” turns out he robbed an old lady
Majority of Japanese women in survey regret marrying their husband, but that’s only half the story
And now, we eat a bear paw we bought in Japan’s Chiba Prefecture【Taste test】
Yokai are descending upon Tokyo this spring in the latest immersive art experience
New Studio Ghibli stamps leave an impression on your stationery…and your heart
Cherry blossom forecasts map shows Japan’s OTHER sakura season is starting right now
Japanese women sound off on their minimum height requirements for a husband【Survey】
Japanese man gets drunk and falls asleep on Tokyo streets, then gets robbed by foreign national
Japan has a new bar just for people thinking about quitting their jobs, and the drinks are free
420 million yen in cash-filled suitcases stolen on Tokyo streets, incidents at Haneda and Hong Kong follow
Japan’s suicides fall to lowest recorded number ever, but one demographic hits all-time high
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Japan releases first official sakura cherry blossom forecast for 2026
10 times to avoid traveling in Japan in 2026
Archfiend Hello Kitty appears as Sanrio launches new team-up with Yu-Gi-Oh【Pics】
Starbucks Japan releases new Frappuccino and latte for Valentine’s Day
China’s don’t-go-to-Japan warning looks to be affecting tourist crowds on Miyajima
Our 52-year-old pole dancing reporter shares his tips for achieving your New Year’s exercise goal
Studio Ghibli releases new “komorebi” plush toys from Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away
Ramen restaurant’s English menu prices are nearly double its Japanese ones, denies discriminating
Survey asks foreign tourists what bothered them in Japan, more than half gave same answer
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Studio Ghibli releases Kodama forest spirits from Princess Mononoke to light up your home
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
No more using real katana for tourism activities, Japan’s National Police Agency says
Starbucks Japan reveals new sakura drinkware collection, inspired by evening cherry blossoms
Updated cherry blossom forecast shows extra-long sakura season for Japan this year
12 toilet oddities around the world that surprise Japan
A spotlight on Japanese singles figure skating: Jumping into the 2026 Olympics【Pt. II】
Japanese police question man for “not looking good in a suit,” turns out he robbed an old lady
Majority of Japanese women in survey regret marrying their husband, but that’s only half the story
And now, we eat a bear paw we bought in Japan’s Chiba Prefecture【Taste test】
“Office lady in heels walking on tatami”: The mysterious world of Japanese fetishism
Our lonely reporter goes searching for Japan’s search-for-a-spouse vending machine
Starbucks Japan unveils new Sakura Frappuccino for cherry blossom season 2025
Five reasons there’s no tipping at restaurants in Japan
Japanese vending machine serves up unique drinks at four Tokyo train stations
Japanese women sound off on their minimum height requirements for a husband【Survey】
Japan has abolished advance deportation notifications to foreigners’ lawyers
Kyoto planning surprise late-night inspections of Airbnb-style rentals to fight overtourism
A figure skating anime is suddenly boosting Chanel sales, and not everyone is happy