Arts, Culture & Fashion

This article is a web originalMark Christensen (Fukuoka) Among the various arts and crafts, one of the most unique to arise in recent years is the hobby of cosplay. Sometimes associated with extreme fans, cosplay ...
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This article is a web originalMarco Cian Peter Mak’s The Wicked City (not to be confused with the anime film of the same name, on which this is based) is one of those movies like ...
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This article is a web original.Monica Narang (Osaka) As I stood in the middle of the crowd of two hundred thousand people, I felt amazed that I was attending one of the oldest and most ...
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The science behind rice cultivation in Japan Daniel Kowalski (Kumamoto) Whether amidst towering mountains or one of the rare, flat floodplains that speckle the coastline, one constant feature defines the Japanese landscape. In a country ...
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Everything you need to know about Japan’s favorite religious collectible Chloe Holm (Tokyo) If you’ve visited a temple or shrine in Japan, chances are you’ve walked right past a goshuin stand without even knowing. These ...
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This article originally appeared in the April 2024 issue of CONNECT. Holly Walder (Gunma) Japanese fashion has moved on, why then, had “J-fashion” not followed suit? What comes to mind when you hear “J-fashion”? Literally ...
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This article originally appeared in the April 2024 issue of CONNECT. Mark Christensen (Fukuoka) In a media world flush with the adventures of super heroes, demon slayers, and immortal elves, it might come as a ...
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This article originally appeared in the April 2024 issue of CONNECT. Dylan O’Connell (Hyogo) On a peaceful sunny day in 1946, the minesweeper conducts its patrol in the Pacific Ocean. The vessel’s arm severs the ...
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This article originally appeared in the April 2024 issue of Connect. Jon Solmundson (Hokkaido) When talking about board games, American games are often thought of in terms of big, fantastical conflicts; while European games have ...
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An interview with brand Abilletage This article is a web original Holly Walder (Gunma) While the storefront in Ura-Harajuku opened in Febuary 2023, the history of Abilletage spans over a decade. The creator, Designer Bambi, ...
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