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Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
May 22, 2020

Ep. 42 ‘Woman Who Makes Everyone Dream’

I enjoy a good cliffhanger as much as the next person, but I wasn’t eager to see how Toshiyuki and Yume’s night in Sapporo would unfold. When we last saw these two, they were sitting close to each other in a dark bar. Toshiyuki was urging Yume to drink more alcohol as he mustered the courage to express...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
May 16, 2020

Ep. 41 'Life-Threatening Date'

After announcing that production on “Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020” was going on hiatus and then going quiet on us for a few weeks, Netflix released a brand new episode like a gift from the television gods offering some small relief from the current pandemic.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
May 8, 2020

Live music needs structural change to survive COVID-19

With footfall having dropped dramatically at Japan's live music venues, many are turning to crowdfunding. But whether this will help mid-sized spaces remains to be seen.
Japan Times
WORLD / Society
Apr 20, 2020

People are paying real money to get into virtual Zoom nightclubs

It’s only 5 p.m. on a Saturday in Los Angeles, but the Zone — a 16-room virtual club on the videoconferencing app Zoom — is already in full swing.
Japan Times
LIFE / Travel / A Weekend In
Apr 18, 2020

A weekend inside: Toy art, 'Tiger King' and a candle-lit bubble bath

Ideas to keep you entertained over a weekend indoors.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music
Apr 17, 2020

Naoki Kobayashi: A J-pop star jumps to a new stage

Having already tasted success in the world of J-pop, Naoki Kobayashi has now set his sights on an acting career overseas.
Japan Times
BUSINESS
Apr 12, 2020

Japan's nightlife entertainers head to cyberspace to dodge virus, host clients online

Hosts and hostesses in Japan's famous nightlife industry are turning to remote entertainment sessions as the COVID-19 pandemic forces them to create a safer environment to survive the public safety crisis.
COMMENTARY / Japan
Apr 11, 2020

Can esports save post-Olympics Japan?

The government recently announced an ambitious plan to nurture Japan’s nascent esports industry. And both gamers and business leaders alike were left with a simple question:
LIFE / Language / MORNING ENGLISH
Apr 7, 2020

Let's discuss panic-buying at the supermarket

An English lesson looks at what you do to prepare for a weekend at home.
PODCAST / deep dive
Apr 6, 2020

Episode 45: Ken Shimura — Japan loses a comedy legend

On March 29, Ken Shimura, one of Japan's most celebrated comedians, passed away after testing positive for COVID-19. JT entertainment writeru00a0Patrick St. Michelu00a0discusses Shimura's life and death with host Oscar Boyd.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Apr 3, 2020

Ep. 38 'Case of The Costume Incident'

We at The Japan Times have described “Terrace House” on multiple occasions as the ultimate show to help you unwind after a long day. That's mostly because there's none of the intense, emotionally triggering drama that other reality TV shows tend to rely on.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / Sound Off
Apr 3, 2020

Ensuring live music survives the pandemic

While the COVID-19 pandemic has all but shut down Japan's live music scene, innovative acts and labels are still reaching fans in the country.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Mar 13, 2020

Ep. 36 'Angel'

It looks like romance is in the air for the “Terrace House” housemates, and just in time for the new year! A few of them, including Yume and Shion, already have some dinner plans, but Toshiyuki Niino isn’t wasting any time and squeezes in one last date with Yume before 2019 ends.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Feb 21, 2020

Ep. 33 'Half Blue'

Official couple alert!! It has taken 33 episodes but we finally have our first pairing in Emika and Tupas. I'm not counting Risako and Kenny because ol' Riri insisted they were still in the "talking" phase of their relationship when they moved out of the house together. Yama-chan, the resident cynic...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Jan 31, 2020

Ep. 31 'Publicity Stunt'

After weeks of eavesdropping, listening to second-hand accounts of conversations and dropping very obvious signals, Hana and Vivi finally come face to face with some harsh truths about their respective crushes on Ryo. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like there's going to be a happy ending for either one...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / Wide Angle
Jan 31, 2020

Netflix and Hulu unleash Japanese travel shows with improved mileage

Streaming services in Japan offer two very different approaches to travel shows, with 'Ainori Love Wagon: African Journey' and 'Kiko's Infinite Journey'
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Jan 10, 2020

Ep. 28 'Starving for Affection'

This week's episode of "Terrace House" was all about love — showing it, fighting for it and accepting it — and it marked quite a change from previous kitchen table talks that revolved around mundane topics like Instagram or making carbonara.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Media / Japan Pulse
Jan 4, 2020

Predicting Japan's digital trends of the next decade

Last year was all about looking back. Between the end of the Heisei Era (1989-2019) and the decade coming to a close, people appeared to go to extra lengths to reflect on the recent and not-so-recent past (this column included). Now that we’ve entered 2020, though, it’s time to leave the highlights...
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Dec 27, 2019

Ep. 27 'I Can't Be Here'

Last episode, we were bombarded with new roommates joining the house, and now it's time to see how Vivi, Tupas and Kai are settling in. It's clear that everyone loves Vivi, and who can blame them? Well, everyone but Hana, probably, because that ray of sunshine is after her man.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Stage / 2019 in Review
Dec 20, 2019

The year that musicals took on Japanese stages

While song and dance kept audiences flocking to theaters in Japan in 2019, the non-musical side was kept afloat by established dramatists rather than new faces
Japan Times
CULTURE / Film / 2019 in Review
Dec 19, 2019

2019 saw just a few glimmers of hope in an otherwise mediocre year for Japanese film

The year predictably saw new iterations of long-running anime favorites top the box office, but the year's truly interesting films lay much further down the financial rankings.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Dec 13, 2019

Ep. 25 'The Girls Can't Do It'

Part 3 of "Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020" is not messing around. The most recent episode was filled to the brim with surprising moments and it's hard to know what to expect in the weeks ahead.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Nov 29, 2019

Ep. 24 'Pink Rose'

This week's episode of 'Terrace House' treated us to two roommate pairings, two dates and two very different outcomes.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Nov 22, 2019

Ep. 23 'Friendship Between Men and Women'

I propose a very low-stakes drinking game for watching the recent episodes of "Terrace House" — you'll probably be parched by the end credits, though. Whenever Ruka appears on screen, take a sip of your beverage of choice. His appearances have become so rare lately that he's basically making cameos...
Japan Times
CULTURE / Music / 2010S: DECADE IN REVIEW
Nov 15, 2019

Through scandal and stellar sales, AKB48 dominated the past decade in Japan

Do you know the songs? 'Heavy Rotation,' 'Gingham Check,' 'Ponytail to Shushu' .... Even if you don't, you're likely aware of the sales model that AKB48 has exported to the rest of the world.
JAPAN
Nov 8, 2019

Japan's rugby, disasters and social change generate buzzwords in 2019

The 2019 Rugby World Cup, natural disasters and cashless payment inspired a large portion of the nominations for the annual buzzword of the year awards.
Japan Times
CULTURE / TV & Streaming / 'Terrace House Tokyo 2019-2020' Recaps
Nov 8, 2019

Ep. 21 'Too Shy Girl'

Hold on, are we watching "Terrace House" or a spinoff of "The Bachelor"? Because it looks like everyone is receiving a rose this week, as Haruka, Emika and Hana — who all have flower kanji in their names (hence the previous episode's title "The Third Flower") — come clean about their respective crushes....

Longform

Visitors walk past Sou Fujimoto's Grand Ring, which has been recognized as the largest wooden structure in the world.
Can a World Expo still matter? Japan is about to find out.