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Pop Culture 2012-2013
Ever-Evolving Karaoke
(March 2013)
In its birthplace of Japan, karaoke is evolving further, with more advanced karaoke machines harnessing web technologies to broaden the scope for fun, including dubbing of anime scenes and singing duets with strangers.
Ekiben: Train Bento Boxes
(March 2013)
Ekiben (train bento boxes) sold on trains or at stations are packed with the sensitivity, creativity and technology of Japanese people as well as with regional specialties across Japan.
Sento: Public Bath
(January 2013)
Sento is an easily accessible public bath in Japan, boasting giant bathtubs. Featuring unique architectural designs and styles of public bathing, sento has been passed down to date as the “culture of the general public.”
Novelty Cafes
(January 2013)
In Japan, novelty cafes are popular and constantly opening up because of the diverse nature of consumer demand. These include cafes where you can watch cats and rabbits, or where you can enjoy rakugo storytelling or model railways.
Food Replicas
(October 2012)
Restaurants in Japan often display tasty-looking food in their windows. These food models are replicas, peculiar to Japan, and surprisingly realistic, produced by expert craftsmen with sophisticated techniques.
Japan's New Subculture Hubs
(July 2012)
Akihabara (also known as Akiba for short) is about synonymous with Japanese subculture and hallowed ground for anime and manga comics and character figures. And there are a number of such spots in Japan other than Akiba.
A Manga Loverfs Paradise
(July 2012)
In Japan there are countless manga kissa, or manga cafes, that cater to customers seeking to refresh with a comic book or wanting some downtime.
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