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.
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.
Today we explore the promising March show at the Kabuki-za theatre in Tokyo! (Kabuki In-Depth)
The head family of the Ikenobo school of flower arrangement has opened its annual Spring Ikebana Exhibition, showcasing works gathered from across Japan beginning on March 13th.
An exhibition aimed at promoting Japanese women artists internationally is currently being held at a gallery in Tokyo’s Omotesando district, drawing attention to the persistent gender gap in the global art world.
Once known as a “3K” job—dangerous, demanding and poorly paid—the taxi industry in Japan has long struggled with labor shortages, but drivers’ incomes have improved significantly in recent years, rising by roughly 40 percent compared with 2020 during the COVID-19 downturn.
In early 1900s London, a young Japanese woman enrolls in a famous art school, only to be surprised when rivalry with a gifted classmate becomes romance. (Netflix Anime)
Members of the idol group Sakurazaka46, including Morita Hikaru, appeared as presenters at the AnimeJapan 2026 “Manga Fans Want to See Animated Ranking 2026” award ceremony held in Tokyo on March 4th.
Shogakukan has come under mounting criticism after it was revealed that its manga app “Manga One” appointed a male manga artist as the original author of a new serialized work despite being aware of his past sexual misconduct, prompting the publisher to apologize and announce on March 2nd that it would establish an independent third-party committee to investigate the matter.
AKB48 set out to uncover examples of digital transformation in everyday settings, visiting a golf course in Ibaraki Prefecture and a long-established Japanese confectionery shop in Nihonbashi, where cutting-edge technology is reshaping both leisure and tradition.
As the number of foreign visitors to Japan continues to rise, two uniquely Japanese cultural phenomena — food replicas and capsule toys, known as gacha — are drawing growing attention as unexpected tourist attractions and potential new souvenir staples.
Strap in for more adventures this March! See the emotional finale of BEASTARS, and witness an epic journey begin in STEEL BALL RUN JoJo's Bizarre Adventure! (Netflix Anime)
This week, we study the art of the popular onnagata Bandō Tamasaburō V through some of his most successful roles. (Kabuki In-Depth)
In today's video, we talk about the recent changes at Xbox. (Lady Decade)
Japan byFood and Shizuka try a new, luxury yakitori restaurant tucked away on a backstreet in one of Tokyo’s most popular entertainment hotspots, Shibuya’s Dogenzaka area.
Yuki Nishimiya, 45, a member of the music duo Def Tech who was arrested and indicted for possessing dried cannabis, has been released on bail from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s Mita Police Station.
Today, we have a look at the performances of the Kabuki-za's Saruwaka Festival. (Kabuki In-Depth)
Shinya, drummer for the popular rock band LUNA SEA, died on February 17 at the age of 56, after battling illness for several years and diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer in 2020 and a brain tumor last year.