N°145 [FOCUS] A phenomenon : Forever in our memories
The monster that first appeared on screen in 1954 has become a national and international symbol. In Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out […]
The monster that first appeared on screen in 1954 has become a national and international symbol. In Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out […]
It’s the same old story: everybody knows such iconic pop culture characters as Superman, Batman, Hello Kitty and James Bond, but few people can name […]
A series of circumstances and a unique context contributed to the emergence of the famous Japanese monster. In the 1950s, Japan was a country in […]
Although the Japanese express their appreciation for Taiwan, they still know very little about their southern neighbor. What are the roots of Japan’s long relationship […]
By exploring the island since 2009, Japanese documentarian Sakai Atsuko has learned a great deal about her own country. Throughout the years, Japan and Taiwan […]
Fishing is a pastime enjoyed by millions of people in the Archipelago. And has been for a very long time. Japan is attracting millions of […]
There’s no need to move to the countryside or go out to sea to indulge your passion I’m pretty sure that when people think about […]
Founded nearly 80 years ago, the monthly magazine remains the standard reference for anglers and maintains its unique approach. To get an idea of fishing’s […]
We cannot talk about Japan’s foreign affairs without mentioning Article 9 of the Constitution. Article 9 is a clause in the Constitution of Japan outlawing […]
Back to the effects of the Covid pandemic on Japanese society. Other countries see Japan as a peaceful place where harmony is highly valued. However, […]
A leading figure in the debate about ideas, the intellectual agreed to paint an uncompromising portrait of Japan. Few people have shaped the social, political […]
With their re-translation from the English, Mariya Marie and Moriyama Megumi have broken new ground. Many people have tried their hand at translating The Tale […]
For its Sunday soap opera, this year, NHK has chosen to focus on the author of The Tale of Genji. Hikaru kimi e (Dear Radiance […]
Written by Murasaki Shikibu in the 11th century, the world’s first novel is still the subject of much debate. The Tale of Genji is a […]
Though housing was apparently less affected, the earthquake has severely damaged agricultural infrastructure. Tome, nestled in the mountains of Oku-Noto, is a succession of narrow […]
Heading north down the mountain towards the Sea of Japan, you reach Wajima and gradually discover the extent of the destruction on the plain. On […]
The memory of the Fukushima accident was rekindled by the earthquake. But the local plant was undamaged. On hearing news of the powerful earthquake on […]
As the people of Suzu and other towns celebrated the New Year, the earth shook, causing chaos. The 7.6 magnitude earthquake that rocked the Noto […]
In an exclusive interview with Zoom Japan, Hamada Seiji unveils his strategy to boost the prefecture. As it does every year on the occasion […]
The best-known museum devoted to manga has set the standard since it first opened its doors in 2006. One of the biggest and most important […]
Founded with the support of Matsumoto Leiji, the Kitakyushu Manga Museum takes a regional approach Though Tokyo and Osaka are usually seen as the main […]
Over the past two decades, dozens of museums dedicated to manga have opened their doors. Manga’s and anime’s presence in Japanese culture is so prevalent […]
In recent decades, the West has been seduced by this school of thought without always grasping its significance. Interest in all things Zen has reached […]
Zazen is one of the essential elements of Zen practice. Here are its main features. When was the last time you disconnected from all your […]
A cornerstone of Zen aesthetics, dry gardens hold many mysteries, but are a source of well-being. “To comprehend the beauty of a Japanese garden, it […]
Zen is still a well-established practice in Japan today, which is found in all aspects of everyday life. Next time you’re in a Shinkansen station, […]
By their nature, humans are omnivorous animals, and the Japanese are by no means an exception. Today’s Japanese diet ranges from meat to fish, vegetables […]
The first big sporting event of the year, the team relay marathon between Tokyo and Hakone is hugely popular. During the New Year’s festivities, a […]
A daily appointment with rajio taiso, a radio programme that encourages millions of listeners to get moving. It’s 6.30 a.m. on a muggy summer’s day. […]
In Japan, Sport Day is an institution no Japanese person can avoid. An elementary school stood above the dunes. I went around to the back […]
Amid the great loss of property and human life caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake, a particularly grisly and shameful detail that should not be […]
On 1 September 1923, at 11:58 a.m., a 7.9 magnitude earthquake shook the Kanto region encompassing Tokyo and its surrounding prefectures including Kanagawa, Saitama and […]
The Great Kanto Earthquake has generated a vast literature even in Western languages. One of the more interesting products of all the resulting research is […]
A symbol of Japanese hospitality, the traditional inn is still a great place to stay. Staying at a ryokan – a traditional Japanese inn – […]
Visiting Japan without spending a night in a ryokan is a mistake you should not make. Never without a stay at a ryokan (traditional Japanese-style […]
The prefecture’s second daily newspaper argues with passion and professionalism for a return to normality. The Fukushima Min’yu is one of Fukushima’s two main newspapers. […]
To coincide with NHK’s drama series broadcast in his honour, here is a detailed portrait of Tokugawa Ieyasu. T okugawa Ieyasu, a feudal lord who […]
The leading regional daily paper has learned from its long history that it must continue serving its readers. The Fukushima Minpo, the prefecture’s main daily, […]
Determined to get the prefecture back on track, Governor Uchibori Masao is not short of ambition. Zoom Japan had a chance to talk to Governor Uchibori […]
Rental bookshops (kashihonya) played a key role in the development of manga in Japan. Once upon a time, people used to enjoy physical goods. Now […]
Thanks to the passion and determination of Naiki Toshio, a large number of rental manga have been preserved. Nowadays, manga are popular around the world; […]
This tradition imported from the West was rapidly embraced by the Japanese who love its warmth. In December, as the days get gradually colder and […]
Even without the religious dimension it has elsewhere, Christmas is an important time for the Japanese. Foreign observers wonder why the Japanese love Christmas so […]
The commitment of small-scale producers is succeeding in attracting new customers. There’s not just one kind of soy sauce. Besides the five main types that […]
Two key ingredients of Japanese cuisine have seen their popularity wane in Japan. Washoku has conquered the world thanks to dishes such as sushi, tempura, […]
Located to the east of Tokyo, the company has become a global giant in the space of a few decades. Noda City, in the north-western […]
As Japan prepares to reopen her borders to tourists, we will guide you to some little-known places. Travelling during a pandemic is supposed to be […]
The famous cliffs on the Sea of Japan are the scene of many suicides, but their beauty is life-affirming. When I stepped out of my […]
Welcome to the hidden side of Kyoto, this often not easily accessible place is full of surprises. The coast of the Sea of Japan is […]
According to gerontology specialist Akiyama Hiroko, Japan should be a pioneer in the management of aging. As Japan and the rest of the world’s population […]
Formerly a base for day labourers, the district has undergone profound changes over the past 30 years. In Yokohama there are many districts with auspicious […]
Since it opened to trade, this port city has served as a gateway to the cuisines of the world. The Japanese are curious eaters and […]
In the opinion of Hara Takeshi, the pandemic may be the final blow for Japanese railways. Covid-19 has changed many people’s lifestyles and affected different […]
Though interest in the topic has declined over time, historian Kishi Toshihiko continues to keep it alive. What remains today of Japan’s relationship with Manchuria, […]
As Ukraine continues to dominate the news, it is worth remembering the example of Manchu. It is said that history is a series of hiccups […]
The Japanese government has finally decided to reopen the country’s borders, but for how long? In response to the situation in Ukraine after Russia invaded […]
According to writer Ito Gaichi, the spirit of closure remains deeply ingrained, especially among the older generation. Before the Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on our […]
Zoom Japan obtained an exclusive interview with Governor Tamaki Denny to discuss the situation in the archipelago. Okinawa governor Tamaki Denny likes to wear his […]
In the space of just a few years, Ishikawa Yumiko has established herself as one of its foremost experts. Okinawa stands out among Japanese prefectures […]
A titan of manga culture, Mizuki Shigeru would have been 100 years old this year. This is his story. Zoom Japan has made a habit, […]
Haraguchi Naoko, the Mizuki Shigeru’s daughter, recalls her father and what life with him was like. A lot has been written about Mizuki Shigeru’s art, […]
This fictional character created by the filmmaker Yamada Yoji has left a deep impression on Japanese society. Between 1969 (1968, if we count the TV […]
The spirit of Tora-san is ever present in this district in the north-east of the capital where he lived. Otoko wa tsurai yo (It’s Tough […]
The Liverpool band’s only tour of Japan was both a headache and a historic moment. More than 50 years after they broke up, the Beatles […]
At the age of 17 Yokokura Kunie was lucky enough to go to not one but three concerts by the Fab Four in Tokyo. When […]
At the heart of Japanese culture, today this cereal is threatened by changing eating habits. Rice and Japan are inseparable. Rice is such an integral […]
Considered the country’s leading expert on rice, the owner of Suzunobu is unremittingly enthusiastic about it. Nishijima Toyozo is arguably the best known Japanese expert […]
The sea occupies a fundamental place in the culture of the country and is an essential part of the journey wherever you go. After 27 […]
The sight of Mount Fuji always has a magical, even mystical quality. An extraordinary historical figure, the former yakuza promoted the opening up of the […]
Kutsuna Tomohiko and Kazuko set up the Shiokaze no denwa to keep in touch with lost loved ones. Faced with a school system unable to […]
The cultivation of this flower took off in the Heian period (794-1185) after being imported from China. A major shipbuilding centre, Innoshima has lost some […]
Workers at the dam construction site in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture. To avoid a recurrence of the 11 March 2011 tragedy, the Japanese authorities have undertaken […]
In the space of a few decades, animation has become a mainstay in the world of Japanese pop culture. An essential element of Japanese pop […]
The famous 34th episode of Tetsuwan Atom was produced by Studio Zero in 1963. To explain the reason behind our great love of Japanese anime, […]
Based on her long experience, TAKEUCHI Yukari analyses the prospects for the animation industry. In the coming years, the Japanese animation industry could experience a […]
According to Francesco Prandoni from Production I.g, the studio’s success is due to its maintaining the highest standards. In the vast world of Japanese animation, […]
Despite its childlike appearance, Demon Slayer has attracted a very large audience. By successfully dethroning Spirited Away, Demon Slayer has become the new phenomenon in […]
The erotic album of the Comical Cuckoo Clock or Sex Adoration of the Women of the Night (Ehon hakai yobuko-dori). Detail from the 9th print. […]
From the early 1990s, some men began to turn their back on flesh and blood women. Over the past three decades, Japanese sexual habits have […]
The sex industry represents a huge market. Benefitting from loopholes in the law, there are countless specialised establishments generating an incredible turnover. Japan has the […]
Nikita, 28, takes a break between shifts at Soapland Paradise, in Kawasaki. Despite being banned, prostitution continues to thrive with the existence of particular establishments. […]
Aged 29, this university graduate has chosen to work in one of these establishments popular with men. It’s 11:00 on an unusually warm day in […]
No other city in the world has undergone so many changes in its appearance as Japan’s capital city. In 1998, for the first time in […]
On 25 November 1970, the writer killed himself in a spectacular manner. We look back at the last years of his life. Mishima Yukio’s life […]
The Japanese love beer, but it does not always share the same characteristics as beer drunk in Europe. Though the current beer market resembles […]
Advertisement for Orion Brewery, originally established in Okinawa, which has 0.8% of the beer market. Representing 40% of the alcohol consumed in the country, […]
The microbrewery uses three brewing systems (60,10 and 2.5hectolitres respectively). Journalist Noda Ikuko’s discovery of beer mirrors the Japanese encounter with this drink. While […]
The microbrewery uses three brewing systems (60,10 and 2.5hectolitres respectively). Founded in 2000, this microbrewery’s high quality produce has been successful in Japan and […]
Founded in 1957 as the Okinawa Beer Co. Ltd., the brewery was renamed Orion in 1959. Although its strong local roots enabled it to […]
Women played a key role in the development of the consumer society in Japan Thanks to women’s magazines, people can understand the extent to […]
Launched in 1966, Heibon Panchi Joseiban led the way for An An, and MIZUMOTO Akemi became a fan. MIZUMOTO Akemi has been a fan […]
In its first issue, An An was notably able to feature a text by MISHIMA all about glamour. Both in terms of graphic design […]
Since its first appearance in 1970, An An has always reflected the development of Japanese women as they have became stronger and more independent of […]
Whatever the season, Nagaoka’s firework displays are always very impressive. The city’s firework display festival is one of the most popular in the Archipelago […]
Tourists can leave Sanjo with playing cards to collect and trade, which honour local artisans. Although it does not enjoy the same advantages as […]
Niigata, the largest city in the prefecture of the same name, is a gateway to the Sea of Japan and its immense potential. The […]
To make young people aware of the importance of reading newspapers, Niigata Nippo has opened a museum on the premises of their new printing works. […]
SUZUKI Shin’ichi was 31 years old at the time of the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games. As a privileged witness to the Olympic frenzy 56 […]
Launched in 1947 by KATO Ken’ichi, Yakyu Shonen was the first magazine for young people dedicated to baseball. Baseball plays a large role […]
Slam Dunk by INOUE Takehiko helped to promote basketball in Japan. Already avid readers of manga about sport, the Japanese are just as keen […]
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