KIMONOS ARE HOT
A kimono boom is spreading among young women in Japan. Antique kimonos that are available at affordable prices have arrived on the market, and women are enjoying wearing them in casual, nontraditional ways.
(March 24, 2003)

WINTER WEAVES
Scanning the scene on the streets of Japan, one is struck by the many shapes and colors of knits being worn by young people these days. From knit caps of various designs to coarsely woven cardigans, mufflers, and stoles, knit trappings are definitely in fashion this winter.
(March 7, 2003)

A FILM LEGEND
As 2003 is the 100th anniversary of legendary film director Yasujiro Ozu's birth, as well as the 40th year since he passed away, a number of commemorative events have been planned both in Japan and around the world.
(February 28, 2003)

HOT TOYS IN JAPAN
Competition in Japan's toy market is intense. Many of the hot toys recently fall into one of three categories: those operated by remote control, those that allow children to make things by hand, and those that relate to pets.
(February 27, 2003)

EAT UP!
Theme parks of a new kind have lately been springing up across Japan. The new parks, which have made the novel choice of food as their theme, are whetting the appetites of the food-curious Japanese.
(February 17, 2003)

CENTER STAGE
Japanese musicians attracted a great deal of attention on the world stage during 2002. Seiji Ozawa began work as the musical director of the Vienna State Opera, young Japanese took top honors at international competitions, and a blind pianist made his debut at Carnegie Hall.
(January 29, 2003)

HOT THIS WINTER
Boots have long been a staple item on the winter fashion scene. But today accessorizing boots is all the rage among people who want to wear something stylish on their legs.
(January 15, 2003)

THE RING
Four years since Godzilla, a remake of a more recent Japanese horror film has Americans quivering in fear once again. The movie is The Ring, based on the 1998 Japanese hit film Ringu.
(January 9, 2003)

MANGA GOES INTERNATIONAL
A steady stream of English translations of Japanese manga (comics) and magazines on anime (animated films) have made their way across the Pacific to the United States.
(January 7, 2003)

30 YEARS OF FRIENDSHIP
On September 29, 1972, Japan and China signed a joint declaration normalizing their diplomatic relations. This year the nations marked the thirtieth anniversary of that historic moment.
(December 4, 2002)

SKIRT ON PANTS
The "skirt on pants" style of wearing a skirt or one-piece dress over a pair of pants is in.
(November 25, 2002)

A HERO FOR ALL AGES
Kamen Rider (Masked Rider) is a superhero fantasy that has been popular with children since the first television series based on the comic was released in 1971.
(November 5, 2002)

LICENSED TO ENTERTAIN
With just a license, musicians, pantomimes, and other artists can now perform in specially designated public locations without first receiving permission from the police and local government.
(October 25, 2002)

MAKING THEIR MARK
Recently, a new generation of Japanese actors and actresses has been appearing in foreign movies, and it seems that the world of movie stars is undergoing globalization.
(September 3, 2002)

YOU GOTTA HAVE A YUKATA!
The popularity of yukata (lightweight cotton summer kimono) continues unabated. This summer has seen the emergence of a more mature style reminiscent of Taisho era romanticism.
(August 29, 2002)

CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT MAYONNAISE
There has recently been a marked increase, particularly among young people, in the number of mayonnaise fanatics who cannot help adding mayonnaise to everything they eat.
(August 9, 2002)

LOCAL MOVIES MAKE NATIONAL IMPACT
For a movie to be seen by 12,000 viewers in the week after it opened would be quite a poor performance for a major film shown in Tokyo. In a provincial town with a population of 37,000, however, it is quite a feat.
(August 5, 2002)

MANGA GURU'S CREATIONS GO LIVE
The trend for drawing on popular comic books for movie plots can be seen both in Japan and the United States.
(July 16, 2002)

AN ISLAND SONG GOES BORDERLESS
A decade since its creation, a hit song by the popular Japanese band The Boom has become a bestseller in Argentina.
(July 3, 2002)

GATHERING STEAM
Public baths have been a fixture of Japanese life since the mid-sixteenth century. Now that most people have bathtubs or showers in their own homes, however, public baths are a less common sight. Recently these baths have been enjoying something of a revival, appearing in books, photographs, movies, and even plays.
(June 14, 2002)

LACE AND FRILLS
This spring, women's clothing embellished with frills and lace are gracing the streets of Japan. Not only clothes but also accessories, such as bags and belts, have taken on a soft, feminine note, and floral designs are particularly popular.
(June 5, 2002)

TSUGARU SHAMISEN
The tsugaru shamisen, a traditional Japanese instrument, is now the height of "cool" and has made stars of some young players.
(March 25, 2002)

TRIUMPHANT HOMECOMING
Mariko Mori has been distinguishing herself in the New York art world since the mid-1990s and is now a superstar of the American and European pop-art scene. From January 19 through March 24 she is having her first major solo exhibition in Japan, a retrospective titled "Pure Land."
(March 15, 2002)

MY NEIGHBOR, MY FRIEND
Recently Japanese and South Koreans have been getting better acquainted with each other's cultures. Personal interchanges are also growing, and the upcoming 2002 FIFA World Cup will provide an opportunity for many more.
(March 14, 2002)

WALTZING MAESTRO
For Japan's classical music fans, it was a triumphant beginning for the New Year as Seiji Ozawa conducted the Vienna Philharmonic on January 1.
(February 1, 2002)

SOUL MEN
In contrast to energetic young female pop stars like Hikaru Utada and Ayumi Hamasaki, who have dominated the charts in recent years, lately the Japanese pop music scene has seen the arrival of a new corps of young male vocalists boasting a smooth, melodic, soulful style.
(January 24, 2002)

ALL BUNDLED UP
This winter, young women are wearing bulky, long knit mufflers and leg warmers. One explanation for the popularity of mufflers and leg warmers is that they solve women's winter fashion dilemma by being both warm and fashionable.
(January 16, 2002)

FEELING LIKE AN ARISTOCRAT
Gagaku, or imperial court music, one of Japan's traditional arts, is quietly gaining in popularity as more and more people are discovering the soothing qualities of its elegant tones.
(December 10, 2001)

FOLK DANCES FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Japan's love affair with dance never seems to end. Recently, the dance scene has been getting a colorful new infusion in the form of folk dances from around the world.
(December 4, 2001)

ETHEREAL NOTES
What is a theremin? Most readers may have never heard the word, but to answer the question, a theremin is a musical instrument that originated in Russia. It is known as the father of electronic musical instruments.
(November 6, 2001)

COZY CAPS KEEP OUT THE COLD
The latest headwear this fall and winter is the "casket," a visored cap with a somewhat retro, boyish rounded dome that fully covers the head. Even people who have never heard the word "casket" used in a fashion context before will probably become well-accustomed to it before the season is out.
(November 2, 2001)

EXPORTING TV PROGRAMS
An increasing number of Japanese television programs are being packaged and exported overseas, including their concept (format), presentation, art, and production know-how.
(October 30, 2001)

WITH JUST ONE SHEET OF PAPER
Making things from paper is a craft that Japanese people have long excelled at and a hobby that brings pleasure to many. The Internet and personal computers have made it possible for all kinds of people to enjoy this activity, raising the profile of paper crafts among both young and old.
(October 4, 2001)

DAFT ANIME?
The French techno duo Daft Punk has been enthralling fans--particularly those in Japan--with their collaboration with manga (comic) and anime (animation) legend Leiji Matsumoto in the production of their music video clips.
(September 5, 2001)

BLACK PARASOLS
This summer, one of the hottest-selling items is the parasol. Japanese women have long used umbrellas for sun protection. Once upon a time, parasols were typically made of white or pink lacy fabric that gave an appearance of coolness; By contrast, the "in" color for parasols this year is jet black.
(August 29, 2001)

BACK TO THE EIGHTIES
Styles from the 1980s are in. The fads in colors, patterns, and designs are said to revolve in a 20-year cycle, and sure enough, the fashion world at the start of the new century seems to have time traveled backward by two decades. This retrospective tendency is particularly apparent in footwear and belts.
(July 25, 2001)

ANCIENT WAYS TO SAY IT
Hieroglyphics are enjoying a quiet boom in Japan. Young people feel that the decorative designs of hieroglyphics allow them to express feelings that are not easily conveyed with words alone, and they have been using these symbols in letters and even on business cards.
(July 25, 2001)