'My Neighbour Totoro' play wins six prizes at Britain's Olivier Awards

Apr 03 (NHK) - A stage adaptation of the Japanese animated film "My Neighbour Totoro" has won six prizes at the Olivier Awards, Britain's most prestigious theater honor.

The Royal Shakespeare Company performed the play at a London theater between October 2022 and January, based on a film by Japanese anime giant Miyazaki Hayao.

The stage adaptation on Sunday won in six categories: best entertainment or comedy play, best director, costume design, sound design, set design, and lighting design. It had been nominated in nine categories.

Nakano Kimie, a Japanese designer, won the best costume design award.

British playwright Tom Morton-Smith adapted the film for the stage. ...continue reading

New Japanese Passport Applications to Go Online

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has unveiled a new passport design set to be issued from March next year. The new system will allow online applications not only for renewals but also for new passport requests. Submitting an original family register certificate will no longer be required for online applications.

Future of Solar Power: Japan's Breakthrough Technology

The next generation of solar cells, known as perovskite solar panels, are ultra-thin, lightweight, and bendable. The Japanese government has set a goal of achieving the equivalent of the energy output from 20 nuclear reactors with perovskite solar cells by 2040. With their use set to expand in various locations next year, 2024 is being called "the dawn of domestic perovskite."

Record 7,000 Teachers in Japan on Leave Due to Mental Health

The number of teachers taking mental health leave reached a record high of 7,119 in the 2023 fiscal year at public schools across Japan.

Japan Reports 60% Rise in Non-Consensual Intercourse Cases

Japan's Ministry of Justice has released this year’s crime white paper, revealing that the number of recognized penal code offenses increased for the second consecutive year.

Giant Dragon Removed from Osaka Ramen Shop

The operating company of 'Kinryu Ramen' in the bustling district of Minami, Osaka, announced on Thursday that the iconic giant dragon sign was being removed as part of the process to rebuild the aging store.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Entertainment NEWS

SAKAMOTO DAYS | Trailer

The story follows Taro Sakamoto, a former legendary hitman who once struck fear into the underworld but has since retired to lead a quiet life as a family man. Overweight and unassuming, Sakamoto now runs a small convenience store with his wife and daughter. (Netflix Anime)

DAN DA DAN: Season 2 | Official Teaser

As Momo, Okarun, and Turbo Granny investigate what happened to Jiji's family, they find themselves facing a series of bizarre encounters! (Netflix Japan)

The Battle Against Majin Buu | Dragon Ball DAIMA | Clip

Gomah and Degesu watches the intense battle against Majin Buu through a monitor in a mysterious world. (Netflix Anime)

Trailer Released for the Film 'Sunset Sunrise'

The novel Sunset Sunrise by Shuhei Nire has been adapted into a live-action drama starring Masaki Suda, known for works such as Cloud. The story follows a young man who relocates from Tokyo to a small town in the Sanriku region of northeastern Japan after his workplace adopts remote work policies.

A Battle in the Ōoku | Mononoke The Movie: The Phantom in the Rain | Clip

As the mononoke's attacks become increasingly dangerous, the Medicine Seller must find the Reason before it's too late. (Netflix Anime)

Nara Faces Backlash Over K-Pop Concert

Nara Prefecture is under fire for allocating 270 million yen ($1.75 million) in taxpayer money to host a free K-Pop concert at Nara Park next October. The event, expected to attract 9,000 attendees, will feature South Korean artists, with their fees and travel expenses covered by the Korean side. However, Nara will shoulder the operational costs.

A Look at the Kyoto Kaomise

This week, we turn to the December program at the Minami-za in Kyoto. (Kabuki In-Depth)

Tokyo Godfathers: Kon Satoshi’s Anime Christmas Classic

In 2003, anime auteur Kon Satoshi released Tokyo Godfathers, an anime Christmas classic. Find out more about this socially and seasonally relevant film. (Unseen Japan)

< 2 3 4 5 >