Godzilla Turns 50 | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Godzilla, the world-famous Japanese movie monster, has turned 50. In November 2004, Hollywood marked this great occasion by giving Godzilla a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Howl's Moving Castle | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Howl's Moving Castle, the spectacular new animated film directed by Miyazaki Hayao and produced by Studio Ghibli, is breaking records at the box office.

Making Music the Easy Way | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The path to musical proficiency has been considerably shortened in the last few years, thanks to the introduction of a new generation of instruments that make playing music a lot easier than ever before.

Battle of the Beetles | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
An arcade game called Mushiking, in which players battle for supremacy using cards featuring pictures of fierce-looking beetles from around the world, has captured the imagination of elementary-school boys across Japan.

Full Metal Fantasy | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Recently the comic and anime titled Hagane no Renkinjutsushi (Fullmetal Alchemist), popularly known as "Hagaren," has gained a huge following among children and adults alike.

Manga for Girls | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Nana is the title of the latest hit manga to take Japan by storm, and unlike in most comic success stories, a large proportion of Nana fans are female.

For Mind and Body | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Arts and Entertainment Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Scien

Taking a Local Look | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Arts and Entertainment Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Scien

Pure Love | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Japanese women are being swept up in an unprecedented craze for jun'ai (pure, innocent love). A South Korean TV drama series titled Winter Sonata and the novel Sekai no Chushin de, Ai o Sakebu (Crying for Love at the Heart of the World) by Katayama Kyoichi are among the catalysts for this boom.

Coredo Nihonbashi | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The year 2004 marks the 401st year since the construction of the Nihonbashi Bridge across the Nihonbashi River in Edo (now Tokyo) by the Tokugawa shogunate. Fittingly, the area enters its fifth century boasting a large, new commercial facility, Coredo Nihonbashi, which opened in March.

World-Class Virtuosity | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
As the physiques of Japanese people Westernize, Japanese ballet dancers are rising up the ranks of top ballet companies of the world as principals and soloists.

Local Festivals Go National | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Recently festivals rich in local color are being held not only in their regions of origin but in localities all across Japan.

Acting Local | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
In Japan, there's no such thing as a typical film festival. A rapidly increasing number are being held in provincial areas throughout the country.

Temple Treasures | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Arts and Entertainment Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Scien

Gifu Looks to the Future | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Arts and Entertainment Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Scien

Silver Screen Success | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Arts and Entertainment Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Scien

Museum in the Sky | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Arts and Entertainment Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Scien

Puppet Masterpiece | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Arts and Entertainment Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Scien

Show Me | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Arts and Entertainment Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Scien

90 Magical Years of Takarazuka | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Trend in Japan Web Japan Arts and Entertainment Select Archives -- 01-03 Feature Business Science Society Sports Fashion -- 99-01 Business Science Society Sports Fashion Arts -- 97-99 Business Scien