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July 24, 2026
 

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Howard Chua-Eoan
A statue of Godzilla outside Toho's head office building in Tokyo
COMMENTARY / World
May 15, 2026
How many Godzillas is too many Godzillas?
Over the last decade, there have been two cinematic ¡°Godzillas¡± roaming the planet ¡ª one based in its native Japan, the other out of America.
Ramen is a versatile global dish, ranging from traditional tonkotsu broth to innovative mazemen and whole-grain noodles, enjoyed for its endless variations and worldwide appeal.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Nov 17, 2025
How Japanese does that bowl of ramen need to be?
Ramen purist argue about what¡¯s orthodox and what¡¯s allowable, while cooks who love to experiment and improvise push those boundaries.
Peruvian chef Mitsuharu Tsumura¡¯s restaurant Maido in Lima was named the best restaurant on the planet on June 19 by the influential ¡°World's 50 Best Restaurants¡± list.
COMMENTARY
Jul 21, 2025
Why there isn¡¯t a best chef in the world
Awards are one thing but the culinary universe has no real center. For that you can thank two chefs.
In a world rocked by war and shifting power, Pope Leo XIV steps into the global spotlight, seeking unity and moral authority for a diverse and wounded flock ¡ª not with force, but through tradition, saints and patience.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 25, 2025
How many saints can Pope Leo add to his army?
When the world goes off kilter, words from the Vatican can seem toothless. But don¡¯t underestimate the power of the Church¡¯s long game.
American faithful celebrate after Pope Leo XIV appeared at the central balcony of the Vatican's St. Peter¡¯s Basilica following his election on Thursday.
COMMENTARY / World
May 9, 2025
The new American pope can take Catholics in three directions
Americans (and Donald Trump) may want to stake their claims on him, but he now belongs to a much bigger organization.
Members of the clergy celebrate Mass in memory of Pope Francis, following the death of the pontiff, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, in La Paz, Bolivia, on Monday.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 22, 2025
A conclave to test Pope Francis¡¯ legacy
Francis unraveled many knots after his elevation in March 2013, leaving the question of whether he did enough to secure his legacy now that he¡¯s passed.
Relatives and friends of prominent Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina, who died after she was injured by a Russian missile strike in the city of Kramatorsk, attend her funeral in Kyiv on July 4, 2023.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 31, 2025
Contemplating victory and defeat in Ukraine
Ukrainians and their friends still cling to hope for victory ¡ª some are idealistic, others just fueled by anger.
The Marquis de Sade¡¯s original rolled manuscript called Le Rouleau de la Bastille of ¡°Les 120 jours de Sodome ou l¡¯ecole du libertinage¡± (¡°The 120 Days of Sodom, or the School of Libertinage¡±) is displayed before being auctioned in Paris in November 2017.?
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 10, 2025
The Marquis de Sade¡¯s guide to cancel culture
The Marquis de Sade¡¯s legacy proves that even the most reviled figures can outlast cancellation.
The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, also called the Chinese Six Companies, formed in San Francisco in 1882, was a unifying umbrella organization for immigrant associations, becoming one of the first such influential community advocacy groups in America.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 2, 2025
America versus China, the troubling prequel
A forthcoming book details the horrific experience of Chinese immigrants in the U.S. in the 19th century. Is it an omen for the future?
It¡¯s easy to forget that not too long ago, the horse was crucial to the way wars were fought and daily life was lived, echoing today¡¯s reliance on semiconductors.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 19, 2025
A history of globalization on horseback
The animal has been part of Western imagination since Paleolithic humans painted the Lascaux caves around 20,000 years ago.
Tokyo Comic Con took place at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on Dec. 6, 7 and 8.
CULTURE
Dec 18, 2024
Comic cons are far more than just cosplay
The conventions allow fans of comics to meet their heroes ¡ª?both actors and authors ¡ª with manga and anime playing an increasingly bigger role each year.
Should Trump-o-phobes emulate Ellen DeGeneres, the comedian and ex-talk show host, who has apparently bolted for Britain to avoid the incoming administration?
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 27, 2024
Do you dislike Trump so much you¡¯d quit the U.S. like Ellen?
DeGeneres¡¯s escape from Trump may look like a political statement, but she¡¯s not really a desperate pilgrim in reverse, risking all for new beginnings.
The theft of ?300,000 worth of top-grade British cheddar serves as a reminder of the quality and joy British cuisine offers, particularly through its artisanal products like cheese.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 11, 2024
The great British cheese heist gets personal
A slice of Brightwell Ash cheese serves as a reminder of the quality and joy British cuisine offers, particularly through its artisanal products like cheese.
The film character Godzilla poses on the red carpet during a ceremony to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California, in November 2004. ?
COMMENTARY
Nov 6, 2024
After nearly three-quarters of a century, Godzilla¡¯s monstrous empire is thriving
The famed Japanese monster went from serious metaphor for nuclear destruction to a kitschy pop culture icon.
The emotional impact of constant news about wars and disasters is weighing heavily on many in the younger generations, causing them to seek ways to cope with their distress and anxiety.
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 21, 2024
Is the apocalypse making you too anxious to work?
A poll reveals that a significant portion of the Gen Z and millennial generations feel unable to function at work due to distress over current events.
The history of cooking shows that no country can claim exclusive ownership of a dish, as many iconic foods like kabobs, pizzas, or pad thai have international roots shaped by cultural exchanges.
COMMENTARY
Oct 11, 2024
A battle over the kebab¡¯s nationality
National dishes are often recent constructs, with many foods evolving across regions and influenced by various cultures.
Henry VIII had to deal with xenophobic mobs in England too ¡ª and he did so harshly and imperfectly. But there¡¯s an abiding lesson to be learned.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 14, 2024
The U.K. riots and an evil day 500 years ago in London
The enmity focused on the foreign-born may have been sparked by misinformation, but that doesn¡¯t disguise the fact that the tinder was waiting to be lit in Britain.
Chelsea defender Alfie Gilchrist celebrates after scoring the club's sixth goal during their English Premier League football match against Everton on April 15.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 25, 2024
Arsenal? Liverpool? Chelsea? Help me pick my ¡®football¡¯ team
This writer¡¯s been in England for six years. It¡¯s time he backed a club.
Tourists wearing rented 'maiko' costumes stroll down a street in Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Mar 18, 2024
Kyoto and the hard part of soft power
Kyoto has the kind of soft power few cities ¡ª and countries ¡ª possess.
While privilege may always exist to some extent, efforts can be made to create a more equitable and humane society.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 29, 2023
We can move toward a post-privilege era. Who¡¯s in first?
Privilege should be earned and shared, and it¡¯s not something that can be confined to a quiet street or an isolated island.
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.
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.
Intervention is the word after yen moves beyond ?163 and sits there
The government could prop up the yen at any moment, though its signaling is hard to read.
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.
Summer has arrived in Japan and so have hot sleepless nights
Amid the heat and humidity in Japan, a good night¡¯s sleep is growing increasingly elusive without the heavy use of air conditioning.
Maya Ongaku¡¯s DIY dream is getting bigger
The members of Maya Ongaku ¡ª (from left) Tsutomu Sonoda, Shoei Ikeda and Ryota Takano ¡ª grew up on the Shonan Coast south of Tokyo and have been friends since their school days.

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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