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July 24, 2026
 

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Philip Brasor
Director Park Chan-wook and the cast of his latest film ¡°No Other Choice¡± attended the Busan International Film Festival¡¯s glittering opening ceremony where the film¡¯s lead actor, Lee Byung-hun, served as host.
CULTURE / Film
Oct 2, 2025
Revamped Busan film festival turns 30 with expanded cinematic showcase
Since its inception, BIFF has been a launchpad for Asian cinema. This year, it grew bigger and brighter with a new Competition section, 90 world premieres and high-profile guests.
In recent years, Fuji Rock has had fewer blockbuster performers and showcased more top-selling Japanese acts and international musicians' first-time performances in Japan.
CULTURE / Music
Jul 24, 2025
Behind the scenes: Inside Fuji Rock¡¯s strategy for staying on top
With younger fans, more diverse acts and rising global interest, Fuji Rock ¡ª one of Asia¡¯s biggest music festivals ¡ª is seeing its strongest turnout in years.
Fuji Rock Festival turns the green slopes of Niigata Prefecture¡¯s Naeba Ski Resort into a summer escape that offers soundtracks for every mood.
CULTURE / Music
Jul 22, 2025
JT picks: What not to miss at Fuji Rock 2025
Ready for Fuji Rock? Here are The Japan Times crew¡¯s recommendations for must-see artists at next weekend¡¯s three-day music festival.
One of the themes in American guitarist Marty Friedman¡¯s autobiography ¡°Dreaming Japanese¡± is that while he has become a star in his own right in Japan, he still feels that he doesn¡¯t ¡°belong.¡±
CULTURE / Books
Jan 1, 2025
Guitarist Marty Friedman goes to bat for J-pop in new autobiography
¡°Dreaming Japanese¡± tells the story of how the Megadeth guitarist navigated Japan¡¯s music industry.
Journalist Shiori Ito's documentary "Black Box Diaries," which follows her own investigation into her sexual assault and struggle for justice, was one of 19 Japanese films that screened at the Busan International Film Festival this month.
CULTURE / Film
Oct 18, 2024
Japan-based features generate buzz at Busan International Film Festival
With 278 films on offer, Asia¡¯s largest film festival tackled heavy themes such as assisted suicide and struggles faced by migrants.
What would the Fuji Rock Festival have looked like if it had been an urban festival? Not like this, that's for sure.
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Aug 2, 2024
The Fuji Rock experience is as much about its natural setting as it is about music
Having attended every edition of Fuji Rock except one, Philip Brasor believes the concert¡¯s natural setting is one of its best draws.
The members of Glay ¡ª (from left) Jiro, Teru, Takuro and Hisashi ¡ª are celebrating 30 years of rocking out as a band.
CULTURE / Music
Jul 12, 2024
Glay celebrates three decades of rock greatness
The band¡¯s 12-month-long Glay Expo takes the idea of a concert tour to the next level for the anniversary of its major label debut.
Tokyo International Film Festival celebrated the 120th anniversary of Yasujiro Ozu¡¯s birth with screenings of the director¡¯s films, including 1953¡¯s ¡°Tokyo Story.¡± The festival also held a symposium featuring three world-class filmmakers discussing Ozu¡¯s contributions: Kiyoshi Kurosawa, Jia Zhangke and Kelly Reichardt.
CULTURE / Film
Nov 9, 2023
Kelly Reichardt: ¡®Yasujiro Ozu truly tries to achieve stillness¡¯
The indie director discusses Ozu¡¯s cinematic impact on the 120th anniversary of his birth at the Tokyo International Film Festival.
Busan International Film Festival host Song Kang-ho presents the Asian Filmmaker of the Year award to veteran Hong Kong star Chow Yun-fat at the 2023 edition of the Asian film festival.
CULTURE / Film
Oct 18, 2023
Film fans flock to Busan festival despite scandal
Busan International Film Festival remains a prestige Asian movie event amid internal strife and budget cuts.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / Japan
May 18, 2023
How Japanese media companies enabled Johnny¡¯s abuse
The power dynamics of Japan¡¯s entertainment and media industries ultimately meant that accusations of sexual abuse were not investigated.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Mar 3, 2023
South Korean film ¡®Hommage¡¯ looks to lost names and memories
In her latest movie, director Shin Su-won illuminates the struggles women behind the camera have faced in her country¡¯s film industry.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film
Oct 21, 2022
Busan International Film Festival benefits from the ¡®Parasite¡¯ bump
Japan had a strong showing with a new section focused on the country¡¯s cinema and the closing film at the 10-day event in South Korea.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 25, 2021
COVID-19 continued to dominate media coverage in 2021. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?
Domestic papers turn their attention to the plight of foreign residents, while we hand out gongs for Japan¡¯s media personalities of the year.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 18, 2021
Sapporo faces uphill battle convincing public about 2030 Winter Games bid
About half of all respondents to a 2014 survey said they were worried about how much the Games would cost. A lot has changed since then.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 11, 2021
Media divided over impact of immigration law revisions
The business community wants the government to allow them to hire more foreign workers, but some members of the public are anxious about allowing more foreign people to live in Japan.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Media / MEDIA MIX
Dec 4, 2021
Opposition party sets sights on expense allowances
Japan¡¯s lawmakers each receive u00a51 million per month to help pay for things such as postage and transportation, regardless of how many days the recipient works.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 27, 2021
Reporter¡¯s death puts spotlight on shifting media landscape
Cash-strapped news outlets are increasingly asking staff to do more and more work, some of which has nothing to do with journalism.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 20, 2021
Lawsuit seeks to halt execution of death row inmates in Japan without advance notice
Prisoners in Japan are currently informed of their impending executions one or two hours before they are carried out.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 13, 2021
Toyota struggling to keep up with demand for electric vehicles
Toyota has been stubborn about trying to extend the life of the internal combustion engine as long as possible while other automakers are pushing electric models.
Japan Times
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Media / MEDIA MIX
Nov 6, 2021
¡®Fanatic¡¯ documentary deals with what happens when your favorite K-pop star breaks bad
A new documentary film titled ¡°Fanatic¡± explores the world of K-pop fandom. Can it also teach us something about the fans of J-pop stars?
Japan scientists identify clusters of protein believed to trigger Alzheimer¡¯s disease
A team of researchers said they found a ¡°seed¡± that accelerates the amyloid beta accumulation process in the brain, naming it ¡°Peak 1 amyloid beta,¡± as seen in a mouse's brain.
Indian brothers make manga debut in Japan
Two Indian brothers made their manga debut in Japan with "Kung Fu Kung Fool" ¡ª an action-comedy series that follows the adventures of a notorious thief and a young boy.
Japan weighs regulating Pokemon cards amid trading mania
A Pokemon event is held in Jakarta on July 11
Low-income families in Japan cut food and air conditioning during summer break
Yumiko Watanabe, the chairperson of nonprofit Kidsdoor, explains the results of a survey in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward on July 1.
Iran strikes on CIA facilities prompt questions about possible Russian role
Iranian drones are displayed in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on Jan. 13, 2025.U.S. officials have acknowledged that Russia has ?provided targeting ?and other support for Iran in its drone strikes on U.S. targets in the Persian Gulf region.
The sci-fi sensibilities of electronic trio Black Boboi
Black Boboi was formed in 2018 when solo artists Julia Shortreed, Utena Kobayashi and Ermhoi came together under Kobayashi¡¯s newly founded label, Bindividual.
A perfect storm: Kaze Fujii fans flock to Fuji Rock
Okayama-born singer-songwriter Kaze Fujii has carved out a distinctive place in Japanese pop since his major-label debut in 2019.
Can Japanese comedy get laughs in English? Yoshimoto Kogyo lets the jokes rip
Wes-P has millions of followers and his viral clips made him recognizable out of Japan.
The 180-day locals: Life on Japan¡¯s digital nomad visa
Christopher Flinn works remotely from Tokyo earlier this month. Japan issued 646 digital nomad visas in 2025, but tourism officials are hoping to increase that figure in the coming years, with Japan's relatively cheap cost of living and the weak yen seen as potential draws for young professionals.
Japan reveals hint of new defense spending target in fiscal blueprint
The Self-Defense Forces' Type 16 mobile combat vehicle fires during a joint live-fire drill with U.S. Marines as part of the annual Resolute Dragon exercises in Yufu, Oita Prefecture, on June 28.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo¡¯s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo¡¯s ¡®stadium of desire¡¯

Longform

For many people, utility poles and power lines have become such a familiar part of Japan¡¯s landscape that they often go unnoticed.
Why Japan¡¯s utility poles won¡¯t be disappearing anytime soon
By Alex K.T. Martin

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