Animage is an influential anime magazine that began publication in 1978. One of the early editors was anime producer Toshio Suzuki, who collaborated with Ghibli director Hayao Miyazaki on articles and manga for the magazine. The subtitle of the exhibition […]
For three days in July, for the last 300 years, the people of Narita and surrounding towns have gathered in the plaza in front of Shinshoji Temple in Narita to celebrate summer planting and ask for blessings from the Buddha […]
This is a celebration of the Tanabata legend, which originated in China. There are several interpretations of the legend but this is how the story is commonly told in Japan: Orihime, the daughter of the Emperor of the Universe Tentei, […]
Japan has great festivals ranging from fight festivals and firework festivals to ones celebrating fertility and scaring children into being good. In the little sleepy village of Kashimo in Nakatsugawa is one about slugs. Yes, slimy slugs. Though it is […]
To celebrate their anniversary, the Museum of Emerging Science and Technology (Miraikan) opens their doors for free on July 9th. They have a few different free entry days based on age, but this one is open to everyone. Note that […]
Mizudome-no-mai is a traditional spiritual event that is known to “stop rain”, which has been around for about 680 years. It takes place after the rainy season is well and truly over, which heralds the beginning of summer. People at […]
The Yasukuni Shrine is notable for many things: its history, its purpose, and the intense political controversy surrounding it. For a few nights each summer, however, many people put aside their political stances and enjoy the wonderful Mitama Festival. "Mitama" […]
Over 700 years old, noh theatre interspersed with the comic performances of kyogen, is the world's oldest theatre art. Enigmatically beautiful, both theatre styles maintain their appeal with a unique combination of cultural story, dance, music and costume. The National […]
The Kokura Gion festival is a frenzy of mid-summer community drumming in northern Kyushu and is held annually over three days from the third Friday through Sunday of July. Kokura Gion Festival Report In the middle of July, I took […]
Ever since Roast Battle Tokyo started, it's brought to the city's comedy fans a succession of riotous sold out shows, entertaining them as Tokyo's best comedians have traded body-blows with jokes as savage as they're hilarious. July 15th sees the […]
Walking the narrow streets of small town Akaoka at night with nothing illuminating the way but candlelight and paper lanterns strung up above, one instantly notices this is not your typical festival. Feeling a little more like Halloween, Ekin Festival […]
This year, Kansai beach town Shirahama is doing something different with its summer fireworks program. Instead of one big show, it’s doing six small shows on different Sundays throughout the season. Dates: July 17th, 24th, and 31st and August 7th, […]