Fashion! Art! Culture! Satisfy your artistic and cultural mind with articles curated to tickle your fancy and understand Japan more.

 

Harajuku is Not Dead

International Fans Keep the Community Alive This article was originally featured in the October 2024 issue of Connect. Sabrina Greene (Chiba)Rey Takahashi (Chiba) “Harajuku Is Not Dead,” declare four kanji—原宿不滅 (harajuku fumetsu)—hand-cut and pasted with care on ...

Vintage Shopping Gets Tech-Savvy

E-Commerce and Tokyo’s Changing Vintage Scene This article was originally featured in the October 2024 issue of Connect. Samuel Eng (Tokyo) When it comes to Japanese fashion in Tokyo, beloved shopping districts have drawn much attention online ...

From Miko to Monster Hunter: The Journey of WCS Representative Nanasemeron

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 ...

Reviews and Recommendations (The Wicked City)

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 ...

The Wonderful World of Summer Festivals in Japan

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 ...

Paddy Power:

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 ...

Goshuin:

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 ...

J-fashion at “Home” and Abroad: A Decade of Fashion Evolution

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 ...

acosta! The Story Behind “Dress Up Darling”

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 ...

Godzilla Minus One: The First Godzilla Movie to Win an Academy Award

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 ...