The winner of the 2026 Japan Booksellers Award, in which bookstore staff across the country vote for the book they most want to sell, was announced on April 9th, with Ryo Asai, 36, receiving the top prize for the novel "In the Megachurch," published by Nikkei Publishing.
Athletes from across Japan boasting finely trained physiques are set to gather in Okinawa for a major fitness competition, as more than 300 participants prepare to compete in the "Muscle Gate" body make contest, marking the event’s first-ever staging in the prefecture.
This video focuses on the outstanding playwright Chikamatsu Hanji, who contributed countless works to the repertoires of kabuki and the puppet theatre. (Kabuki In-Depth)
Dolls modeled after individuals expected to shine this year, including Shohei Ohtani and other prominent figures, have gone on display at a doll shop in Kasuga, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Posts using vegetable and broccoli emojis—commonly seen on social media—are in fact coded messages referring to cannabis, as authorities warn that such disguised posts are contributing to a rapid increase in drug use among young people.
Times Square in New York, a major tourist destination that draws visitors from around the world, has been filled with works by a Japanese contemporary artist, with large-scale visuals taking over its iconic screens.
An elementary school cheer dance team from Okinawa delivered a strong performance at a national competition in March as it aimed for a third consecutive national title, ultimately finishing fourth before disbanding.
Kabuki actors including Ganjiro Nakamura and Koshiro Matsumoto toured the Dotonbori district on Saturday by rickshaw and greeted crowds in front of Osaka Shochikuza ahead of the opening of its farewell performances in April, marking the theater’s final run before closure.
Today we go back to the masterpiece history drama Ichi-no-Tani Futaba Gunki ("Chronicle of the Battle of Ichi-no-Tani") to cover its third act, known as Kumagai Jin'ya ("Kumagai's Battle Camp"). (Kabuki In-Depth)
Japan has long been recognized as a global powerhouse in the development of electronic entertainment. From the early days of arcade cabinets to the sophisticated consoles found in homes today, the nation’s influence on how people spend their digital time is undeniable.
BS TV Tokyo and BS Fuji announced plans to end their BS4K broadcasting services, marking a shift away from satellite-based ultra-high-definition programming.
A new immersive digital art exhibition in Tokyo is bringing to life yokai—supernatural beings born from human fear and imagination—through cutting-edge technology, offering visitors a dynamic way to experience Japan’s cultural heritage and folklore.
A projection mapping event showcasing the history and traditional culture of Edo and the Higashi-Ginza area began on the evening of March 27th on the exterior walls of the Kabukiza theater in Tokyo’s Ginza district.
Japan’s culture of passionately supporting favorite idols and anime characters—known as “oshi-katsu”—has expanded rapidly in recent years, with around 20 million people now actively engaged, as virtual avatar performers emerge as a driving force behind a market that has grown to 100 billion yen a decade after the birth of the world’s first VTuber, Kizuna AI.
News On Japan has been publishing more stories about cashless payments, digital services, and the way online spending is changing in everyday settings.
Japan’s culture of devoted fan support, known as "oshi-katsu," has expanded rapidly in recent years, with around 20 million people now actively engaging in the practice, while virtual YouTubers—online personalities who stream using digital avatars—have emerged as a central force behind the growing enthusiasm.
The entertainment landscape in Japan is going through a very significant transformation phase, driven by changes in consumer lifestyles and rapid technological advancements.
Around the early 1600s, following the Battle of Sekigahara, some defeated samurai began behaving wildly. They were known as kabuki-mono—eccentric troublemakers who dressed in outrageous clothing, sometimes even wearing women’s kimono in unconventional ways, forming gangs and causing disturbances. (Japanese Comedian Meshida)
A final screening and award ceremony for the talent discovery audition Bishoujo Zukan AWARD 2026, known for launching actors such as Maika Yamamoto and Hinako Sakurai, was held in Tokyo on March 21st, where Ayano Enomoto, a 14-year-old second-year junior high school student from Fukushima and a member of the local idol group my coffret, was selected as the grand prize winner.
A media preview was held ahead of the reopening of Toei Kyoto Studio Park, where a large-scale renewal is set to transform the site into a hub for immersive historical experiences and nighttime tourism.
Mos Food Services held a media preview in Yokohama on March 17th for its new immersive dining concept, combining meals with puzzle-solving in an interactive setting, ahead of the limited-time launch running from March 20th to May 6th.
An immersive dining experience combining art and fine cuisine is drawing attention at a hotel in Kobe, where guests can step into the world of famous paintings while enjoying a full-course meal enhanced by cutting-edge visual technology.
As Japanese novels gain wider recognition through translation overseas, an Akutagawa Prize-winning author appeared at one of the world’s largest book fairs held in the United Kingdom, highlighting the growing global appeal of Japanese literature.
Osaka’s latest official land price survey highlights a significant shift in the city’s real estate landscape, with the Minami district reclaiming the top position for the first time in six years, overtaking Kita, the long-dominant commercial hub centered around Umeda.
Tokyo police announced that a total of 112 women and girls were arrested over the past year for allegedly soliciting customers for prostitution on the streets of Kabukicho, one of the capital’s largest entertainment districts.