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Tag - 2025-in-review

 
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July 24, 2026
 

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2025 IN REVIEW

Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani jogs off the field prior to a game against the Cubs at Tokyo Dome on March 19. MLB opened its season in Japan, with Ohtani and Dodgers teammates Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki taking on the Cubs, including slugger Seiya Suzuki and pitcher Shota Imanaga.
SPORTS
Dec 31, 2025
2025 in pictures: Sea change for sumo, Olympic do-over and Ohtani¡¯s star shines brighter
The emergence of three young stars shook up the world of sumo, while it was more of the same in MLB as Ohtani and the Dodgers continued their reign at the top.
Sanae Takaichi receives a round of applause in the Japanese parliament after being voted the country's first female prime minister on Oct. 21.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Dec 31, 2025
2025 in pictures: Bear attacks, an expo and a cracked glass ceiling
Japan still found reasons for optimism in 2025: It swore in its first female prime minister, the stock market hit record highs and the Osaka Expo was deemed a financial success.
President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he delivers his inaugural address at his inauguration as the 47th president in the Rotunda at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20.
WORLD
Dec 29, 2025
2025 in pictures: The great global shakeup
The world felt newly unsettled this year as Donald Trump¡¯s return reshaped the global dialogue and the rapid advance of artificial intelligence inspired both optimism and anxiety.
The 2025 Aichi Triennale took place in several locations, including a former bathhouse where Rui Sasaki's ¡°Unforgettable Residues¡± was exhibited.
CULTURE / Art / 2025 IN REVIEW
Dec 29, 2025
A year of plenty: Endless art shows, subtle curation of themes
Japan¡¯s art scene was bursting with public enthusiasm, overflowing exhibition halls and more art festivals vying for attention.
Houses burned down by the Palisades Fire in Malibu, California. The widespread wildfires represented the most costly climate-linked disaster of 2025, in financial terms.
ENVIRONMENT / Climate change / OUR PLANET
Dec 28, 2025
In 2025, climate policy was shoved aside even as extreme weather intensified
This year was not a good one for environmentalists or climate scientists as action against warming faced headwinds around the world.
A cel animation from the first episode of ¡°Neon Genesis Evangelion¡± is among the many original materials exhibited in ¡°All of Evangelion,¡± a show to mark the 30th anniversary of the cult anime franchise created by Hideaki Anno.
CULTURE / Art / 2025 IN REVIEW
Dec 27, 2025
From trash to treasure: How anime became a museum staple
Anime- and manga-related art exhibitions are now one of the pillars propping up the industry.
In 2025, the 20 Questions column had 26 total interviews that offered insights into the professional, creative and personal backgrounds of people from various careers and walks of life.
COMMUNITY / Our Lives / 20 QUESTIONS
Dec 27, 2025
Finding a balance between tradition and innovation in 2025
With more than two dozen interviews throughout the year, our 20 Questions column highlighted diverse views on creativity, tradition and cultural hybridity.
Sushi, such as this Kyoto-style "saba b¨­zushi" (rolled sushi with vinegared mackerel) at Kibun, stood out in Tokyo's dining scene in 2025.
LIFE / Food & Drink / TOKYO FOOD FILE
Dec 26, 2025
Tokyo dining in 2025 was defined by sushi and cutting-edge fare
The city¡¯s restaurant scene had no shortage of drama this year as culinary stars set up new shops, Italian stalwarts left and iconic establishments reemerged from their renovation.
While new installments in franchises like ¡°Gundam¡± and ¡°Detective Conan¡± and manga adaptations like ¡°100 Meters¡± did well at the box office in 2025, risk-taking films like ¡°Scarlet¡± struggled to find the same love.
CULTURE / Film / 2025 IN REVIEW
Dec 26, 2025
In 2025, anime tightened its grip abroad ¡ª and played it safe at home
As anime conquered overseas markets, the industry doubled down on known IP and left innovation on shakier ground.
¡°Dai Pinchi Zukan 3¡± is part of a series of illustrated kids' books; all three books have been immensely popular, selling a cumulative 2.7 million copies in four years.
CULTURE / Books / 2025 IN REVIEW
Dec 21, 2025
Life lessons from bestselling kids¡¯ book about making mistakes
The top-selling book of 2025, ¡°Dai Pinchi Zukan 3,¡± is a children¡¯s book about a cloddish kid forever falling into mishaps or ¡°big pinches.¡±
Butoh dancer Kana Kitty performed at this year's multimedia event Sento Sensations, held at bathhouse Denki-Yu in Tokyo's Sumida Ward.
CULTURE / Stage / 2025 IN REVIEW
Dec 20, 2025
Butoh fit itself into odd spaces in 2025
Though it has no permanent ¡°home,¡± butoh¡¯s creativity saw it stretch out to unlikely venues and collaborators this year.
Across genres, performing arts this year were collaborating, experimenting and touring the world.
CULTURE / Stage / 2025 IN REVIEW
Dec 19, 2025
Tradition, remixed: A year on Japan¡¯s stages
From kabuki¡¯s newfound fans to experimental theater¡¯s widening scope, Japan¡¯s performing arts scene spent 2025 reaching outward.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Ghost of Yotei and Assassin¡¯s Creed Shadows were among the most prominent video games of 2025 to draw heavily on Japanese aesthetics, history and genre traditions.
LIFE / Digital / 2025 IN REVIEW
Dec 19, 2025
In 2025, Japan became the canvas for the year¡¯s best video games
From Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 to Ghost of Yotei, Japan served as both inspiration and setting for many of the year¡¯s most notable releases.
Japanese literature in translation abroad has only grown in popularity with every year, resulting in a wide variety of titles available in English, from cozy fiction to crime and horror.
CULTURE / Books / 2025 IN REVIEW
Dec 14, 2025
In 2025, Japanese literature took a turn for the weird
As expected, women writers raked in successes and cozy cat fiction kept its popularity, with two big surprises from male authors ¡ª Uketsu and Osamu Dazai.
A sign in the woods uses the kanji for "bear" to warn hikers of their presence in the area.
LIFE / Language / 2025 IN REVIEW
Dec 14, 2025
The ¡®bear¡¯ defined kanji in 2025. The internet defined almost everything else.
Japan¡¯s kanji and buzzwords of 2025 reveal a split: old-media traditions colliding with the chaotic, meme-driven language of new media.
Despite long lines and occasional issues with transportation, the Osaka Expo earned top honors in the Nikkei Marketing Journal's annual ranking of products, services and topics that captivated Japanese consumers.
LIFE / Lifestyle / 2025 IN REVIEW
Dec 13, 2025
Osaka Expo and ¡®Kokuho¡¯ top 2025¡¯s sumo-style consumer interest rankings
The expo¡¯s ?3 trillion economic impact and the three-hour kabuki film captivated shoppers in Japan this year.
Seihan Mori, chief priest of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, writes the kanji "kuma," which was chosen by the public as the character that best represents 2025, at the temple on Friday.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Dec 12, 2025
¡®Kuma¡¯ selected as kanji of the year after surge in bear sightings and attacks
The character for bear, or ¡°kuma,¡± has been selected as kanji of the year for 2025, after a surge in bear sightings and attacks.
Rock trio Mrs. Green Apple celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, and did so by largely dominating the nation¡¯s music space. Meanwhile, singer-songwriter Kenshi Yonezu¡¯s ¡°Iris Out¡± broke Spotify Japan¡¯s record for most streams by a song on its release day.
CULTURE / Music / 2025 IN REVIEW
Dec 12, 2025
J-pop found new ways to diversify in 2025
Anime, social media and ad campaigns help, but can they take you global?
In 2025, ¡°Demon Slayer¡± and ¡°Kokuho¡± broke box-office records, while films such as ¡°Renoir,¡± A Pale View of the Hills¡± and ¡°Two Strangers, Two Seasons¡± garnered acclaim on the international film festival circuit. The year¡¯s biggest loss was the death of Tatsuya Nakadai, an highly regarded actor who had worked with nearly all of the top directors of Japanese cinema¡¯s postwar golden age.
CULTURE / Film / 2025 IN REVIEW
Dec 4, 2025
2025 was the year Japan¡¯s box office returned
Anime ruled the screens once again, but a kabuki drama surprised us all.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi attends a ceremony Monday in Tokyo after her comment referring to her determination to work hard as president of the Liberal Democratic Party was awarded buzzword of the year for 2025.
51³Ô¹ÏÍø / Society
Dec 1, 2025
Takaichi¡¯s work ethic sound bite wins Japan¡¯s buzzword of the year
¡°Work, work, work, work and work¡± was named 2025¡¯s buzzword of the year.
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

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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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