Kaiju No. 8 DJ Event in Tokyo: Hearing the Soundtrack Differently
Explore Kaiju No. 8’s December 5 DJ event through its composer’s ideas, artist comments and practical ticket, ID and viewing questions for Tokyo visitors.
The archive
Art & Culture
Browse art & culture in the Akihabara archive.
2.5D Theatre in Japan and the Character on Stage
What is Japanese 2.5D theatre? Explore manga, anime and game adaptations through actors’ voices and gestures, contrasting Japanese fan accounts and first-visit questions.
MUTTONI Box Theatres in Hachioji
Discover MUTTONI’s mechanical box theatres at Hachioji Yume Art Museum, November 14, 2026–January 11, 2027, with visitor details and Japanese perspectives.
SANUKI X GAME 2026 in Takamatsu Shopping Streets
SANUKI X GAME brings games into Takamatsu’s shopping streets on November 15, 2026. Explore the programme, shop hours and Japanese exhibitors’ perspectives.
Garage Kits Explained: Why a Figure Arrives Unfinished
What is a Japanese garage kit? Understand the parts, the builder’s creative role, coloured-resin options and two Japanese hobbyists’ accounts of finishing one.
Design Festa 64: Meeting the Makers Behind Original Art
Visit Design Festa 64 in Tokyo on November 14–15, 2026: tickets, a current artist preview and Japanese makers’ perspectives on looking, talking and discovering.
Ita-Bags Explained: Fan Display, Friendship and Comparison
What is an ita-bag, and why repeat the same badge? Explore Japanese fan perspectives, display choices and a practical way to plan your first arrangement.
Digi Game Expo 2026: Games, Tools and Makers in Akihabara
Digi Game Expo 2026’s public hours have ended. Explore its announced indie games and tools, Japanese maker perspectives and the work behind a playable demonstration.
Amusement Expo 2026: Tokyo’s Arcade Public Day
Amusement Expo 2026’s public day has ended. Explore its arcade machines, concert distinction and Japanese accounts of making and visiting the show.
BEYOND THE STRAND 2026: Kojima’s Creative Process in Tokyo
A guide to Kojima Productions’ Tokyo exhibition: standard admission from November 4, Death Stranding production materials and Japanese creators’ design decisions.
Kanda Myojin IT Charms Explained
Why does a Tokyo shrine offer an IT charm? Explore Kanda Myojin’s history, Japanese workplace rituals, the ¥1,000 offering and how to visit respectfully.
Animate Girls Festival 2026 First Visit Guide
AGF 2026’s scheduled hall and stage dates have passed. Explore the hall/stage distinction, historical ticket rules and a Japanese fan’s experience.
2k540 Crafts Beneath the Railway in Akihabara
Explore 2k540 through its makers, materials and workshops, with Japanese perspectives, current shop examples and practical access from Akihabara.
Art Week Tokyo 2026: From Zines to Sculpture
Art Week Tokyo 2026’s shuttle window has ended. Explore zines and sculpture through two exhibitions with published runs beyond AWT and gallery-specific visiting hours.
Tokyo Game Dungeon 14: What a Demo Can Teach Its Maker
Japanese creators’ lessons from playtesting at Tokyo Game Dungeon: what a short demo can reveal, with edition 14’s October 2026 information now archived.
Nuikatsu Explained: Why Fans Take Plushies Out
What is nuikatsu? Explore Japan’s plush-companion hobby through Japanese fan experiences, creative choices and practical tips for a first outing.
Roppongi Art Night 2026: Choose Your Night of Art
Explore Roppongi Art Night 2026 through its archived programme and Japanese perspectives on looking at art; October–November visit and booking details are retired.
Ikebukuro Halloween 2026: A First-Timer’s Cosplay Guide
An archive of Ikebukuro Halloween 2026, with Japanese participants’ perspectives on costumes, photography and preparing for a first cosplay event.
Shojo Manga Infinity in Tokyo: Three Artists, Original Pages
Meet Moto Hagio, Ryoko Yamagishi and Waki Yamato through Tokyo’s Shojo Manga Infinity exhibition: original artwork, Japanese perspectives and visitor details.
DREAMSCAPE #5: Discovering Indie Games in Tokyo
Understand DREAMSCAPE’s themed indie-game exhibitions through art, puzzle and action examples and Japanese participant perspectives. The October 2026 edition has ended.
Doujin Music Explained: Japan’s Creator-Run Music Scene
Understand Japanese doujin music, circles and music markets through creator and listener perspectives, with historical context from M3 Autumn 2026.
Machi★Asobi 2026: Tokushima’s Town-Wide Anime Festival
Explore Tokushima’s town-wide anime festival through its October 2026 programme and Japanese fan perspectives. Main festival dates have passed.
Japan’s Cheering Screenings: Why Fans Go and What to Expect
Discover Japan’s cheering screenings, why fans join in, what Japanese viewers love or dislike, and how to enjoy your first visit without knowing every call.
Kirby’s Adventure – 1993 Developer Interview
—How did you come up with the idea for the adorable character of Kirby? Sakurai: Just after I joined Nintendo, they were accepting game design plans for “a game that anyone could enjoy.” That go…
Mozu Studios creates impressive tiny rooms full of details
led by a young japanese artist, mozu studios creates incredible tiny rooms that are full of details. the initiative started as a class project where mozu did a tiny replica of his own room which took…
Art Student’s 407-Piece Hand-Carved Wooden Clock Literally Writes The Time
Suzuki Kango is a 22-year-old senior student in product design from Zao City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, close to Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture, where the university is located. After h…
Mile-Long Wooden Xylophone Plays Bach in Japanese Forest
While music and design may not seem to go hand in hand at first glance, a giant mile-long xylophone certainly fits the bill for both. After all, it’s likely the only instrument on the planet tha…
Stump Chair by Satoshi Itasaka
Designer Satoshi Itasaka has created Stump Chair, a highly durable, functioning chair made entirely from excess fabric from the fast fashion industry. This excess fabric is typically disposed of at b…
“Morisada’s Sketches”: A One-Man Encyclopedia of Edo-Period Cultural Differences
Japan’s long-running rivalry between the west of the country, including the old capital of Kyoto, and the new capital of Edo (now Tokyo) in the east has fostered regional cultural differences. K…
Aomori Art and Archeology
Aomori’s artistry thrived all the way back in the Jomon period (13,000–300 BC). This era was named for the cord markings on its pottery, a decorative practice that would develop into intricate variat…
Design Art Tokyo kicks off this week, transforming the city into an open air museum
Beginning this Friday, October 23, 2020, the annual Design Art Tokyo descends upon the city, transforming retailers and cafes and all sorts of venues into galleries. For 12 days, Tokyo becomes an ope…
Seasonal Winds of Change Blow Through the Colorful Paintings of Ayune Shojima
Japanese painter Ayune Shojima creates colorful oil paintings filled with flora and fauna that seemingly overflow from the canvas. In her new series titled “Circle of Wind,” Shojima illustrates the s…
Kenzo Takada remembered for style that meant 'freedom for the woman’s body'
The fashion world has paid tribute to the Japanese designer Kenzo Takada, who has died aged 81 after contracting Covid-19 in France, describing him as a man of “energy, kindness and talent” whos…