Boys (and girls), be ambiguous!

When Japanese leaders wade into the culture wars, pop culture suffers.

Nov 22 • 

Matt Alt

31

7

5

October 2025

Super Galapagos

In a world driven mad by tech disruption, Japan’s having fallen behind is a superpower

Oct 23 • 

Matt Alt

51

17

9

Why Hollywood stars are saying “F*** anime”

And why they’re right to be scared

Oct 10 • 

Matt Alt

58

13

13

Dollars and Demons

Demon Slayer's success shouldn't surprise. We're all otaku now.

Oct 2 • 

Matt Alt

29

21

3

September 2025

Anime activism

Global protest movements are relying on imagery from Japan. Here's why.

Sep 22 • 

Matt Alt

32

13

6

Politics, Chaos, and Cup Noodles

The eerie parallels between Japan's Sixties and America today

Sep 16 • 

Matt Alt

32

13

5

No Labubus please, we're Japanese

Why a toy craze isn't finding traction in a toy-crazed country

Sep 1 • 

Matt Alt

49

2

7

August 2025

Inside the manga hit machine

How Weekly Shonen Jump became a global cultural juggernaut

Aug 25 • 

Matt Alt

33

1

6

Head in the Clouds

A repost from the archives about Nizo Yamamoto, who transformed anime from fantasy into an all-enveloping reality for fans.

Aug 16 • 

Matt Alt

20

5

3

July 2025

Chemtrails over Kyoto

What stops conspiracies from hijacking the conversation in Japan?

Jul 30 • 

Matt Alt

21

21

2

Pop and Populism

Japan’s far right won big in yesterday's elections. What's it mean for pop culture?

Jul 21 • 

Matt Alt

57

27

6

June 2025

Japanese TV vs American Reality

America turned itself into a reality show. Why didn’t Japan?

Jun 30 • 

Matt Alt

26

6

6