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July 24, 2026
 

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CULTURE

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How ¡®The Solitary Gourmet¡¯ became one of Japan¡¯s most enduring TV hits
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
How ¡®The Solitary Gourmet¡¯ became one of Japan¡¯s most enduring TV hits
The understated TV series has won devoted fans by celebrating Japan¡¯s neighborhood eateries and the quiet pleasures of dining alone.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
The beating heart inside ¡®Human Vapor¡¯
Director Shinzo Katayama and actor Shun Oguri discuss the cross-cultural collaboration behind Netflix¡¯s ¡°Human Vapor.¡±
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
¡®Human Vapor¡¯ brings blockbuster energy to the small screen
Striking visuals and solid performances make the Netflix limited-series adaptation of a classic 1960 sci-fi movie well worth a watch.
Shota Sometani (left) and Masaki Okada play brothers on a quest for vengeance in the TBS detective drama ¡°Tagusari Bros.¡±
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Jun 20, 2026
¡®Tagusari Bros.¡¯ searches for the meaning of justice
By Gabriella Geisinger
Themes of vengeance and closure are nothing new in the world of crime dramas, but few tackle them with the emotional nuance of TBS¡¯ ¡°Tagusari Bros.¡±
Detective Aki Suzumiya (Anne Watanabe) teams up with Finnish counterpart Jon Laine (Jasper Paakkonen) in a gritty drama that spans geography and time.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
May 23, 2026
Nordic noir meets Japanese occult in ¡®Blood and Sweat¡¯
By Gabriella Geisinger
The Finnish-Japanese coproduction evolves from a classic detective drama into a fun, pulpy thriller, blending Japan¡¯s folklore with sharp plotting.
Netflix limited series ¡°Soul Mate¡± stars Hayato Isomura (right) and Ok Taec-yeon as two men whose friendship unfolds from a chance encounter in Berlin.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
May 21, 2026
¡®Soul Mate¡¯ reaches for pathos but remains hollow
By Mike Fu
With a globe-spanning story and plenty of melodrama, Netflix¡¯s queer-themed limited series ultimately falters under the weight of its own ambiguity.
Season Two of ¡°Monarch: Legacy of Monsters¡± raises the stakes with bigger creature battles and expanding Monsterverse lore.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
May 7, 2026
¡®Monarch: Legacy of Monsters¡¯ loses its human touch in sprawling second season
By Gabriella Geisinger
The Apple TV series lets bloated and unwieldy storytelling overwhelm the sharp character work that once set it apart.
Erika Toda brings force but limited nuance to her portrayal of Kazuko Hosoki in "Straight to Hell."
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Apr 28, 2026
¡®Straight to Hell¡¯ gets stuck in purgatory
By James Hadfield
Lies and lurid twists stack up in Netflix¡¯s take on fortune teller Kazuko Hosoki, but when it reaches her empire and influence, the story feels rushed and insight runs thin.
Fans gather at a Netflix-sponsored World Baseball Classic event at Tokyo Skytree on March 6.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Mar 26, 2026
The WBC was a hit in Japan. Watching it wasn¡¯t.
By Gabriella Geisinger
Netflix¡¯s WBC streaming push included ¡°Hometown Hero¡± viewings, but many fans in Japan still lacked easy access to games.
¡°One Piece¡± cast members (from left) Jacob Romero Gibson, Mackenyu, Inaki Godoy, Emily Rudd and Taz Skylar attend a Netflix fan event ahead of the show¡¯s Season Two premiere.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Mar 19, 2026
Fans find their crew in Tokyo as ¡®One Piece¡¯ sets sail again
By Gabriella Geisinger
Netflix brought the Straw Hat spirit to Tokyo with a celebration that drew devoted fans and underscored the live-action series¡¯ global popularity.

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.

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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