Matt Alt
The Shock of Japan’s Extreme Heat
The unprecedented high temperatures this summer have been devastating to the nation’s elderly population and have also altered Japan’s culture in unexpected ways.
Anime Confronts a New Apocalypse
In the postwar era of plenty, a master storyteller took anime to the stars. But now the art form is turning inward, reflecting the diminished horizons of a younger generation.
A Mini Moon Rover from the Toy Company That Created Transformers
Japan’s space agency, JAXA, hired Takara Tomy to design a rolling lunar robot called SORA-Q. It’s now en route to the moon.
A Tribute to the Nintendo Engineer Masayuki Uemura
His game consoles linked the Japanese and Western imaginations, with repercussions that are still being felt today.
Tokyo’s Olympics Have Become the Anger Games
The Olympics are supposed to be a symbol of global togetherness, but Tokyo’s are shaping up to be the least wanted in history.
“Demon Slayer”: The Viral Blockbuster from Japan
How an anime franchise captured the world’s imagination during the pandemic.
Japan’s Olympic-Sized Problem
The government’s inept response to the coronavirus pandemic has led to widespread discontent about hosting the Games.
The Flashing Warning of QAnon
The embrace of apocalyptic memes is a symptom of hyperconnected societies in distress.
Do “Murder Hornets” Really Exist?
The answer hinges on a peculiarity of the Japanese language.
From Japan, a Mascot for the Pandemic
A nineteenth-century talisman for disease finds new relevance in a virus-weary country.
The United States of Japan
Hit Japanese products, from the Walkman to Pokémon, have long captivated us, but Japan’s most influential export might be its own lived experience.
The Shock of Japan’s Extreme Heat
The unprecedented high temperatures this summer have been devastating to the nation’s elderly population and have also altered Japan’s culture in unexpected ways.
Anime Confronts a New Apocalypse
In the postwar era of plenty, a master storyteller took anime to the stars. But now the art form is turning inward, reflecting the diminished horizons of a younger generation.
A Mini Moon Rover from the Toy Company That Created Transformers
Japan’s space agency, JAXA, hired Takara Tomy to design a rolling lunar robot called SORA-Q. It’s now en route to the moon.
A Tribute to the Nintendo Engineer Masayuki Uemura
His game consoles linked the Japanese and Western imaginations, with repercussions that are still being felt today.
Tokyo’s Olympics Have Become the Anger Games
The Olympics are supposed to be a symbol of global togetherness, but Tokyo’s are shaping up to be the least wanted in history.
“Demon Slayer”: The Viral Blockbuster from Japan
How an anime franchise captured the world’s imagination during the pandemic.
Japan’s Olympic-Sized Problem
The government’s inept response to the coronavirus pandemic has led to widespread discontent about hosting the Games.
The Flashing Warning of QAnon
The embrace of apocalyptic memes is a symptom of hyperconnected societies in distress.
Do “Murder Hornets” Really Exist?
The answer hinges on a peculiarity of the Japanese language.
From Japan, a Mascot for the Pandemic
A nineteenth-century talisman for disease finds new relevance in a virus-weary country.
The United States of Japan
Hit Japanese products, from the Walkman to Pokémon, have long captivated us, but Japan’s most influential export might be its own lived experience.