Sea Life as Nightlife | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
One of Tokyo's newest attractions is an amusement center on the grounds of an exclusive hotel, combining a public aquarium with a concert hall, a bowling alley, a movie theater, and restaurants.

Drawing Acclaim | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
The Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) is given annually to authors, illustrators and storytellers who help stimulate and promote interest in children's and youth literature around the world. This year, one of the two recipients was picture book author Arai Ryoji, the first Japanese to receive the prize.

Cartoon Tourism | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Manga and anime are leading a global boom in popular Japanese culture. Now some enterprising travel agents are cashing in on this trend by organizing trips to Japan specifically for manga and anime fans.

Samurai Samba | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
"Matsuken Samba II," a song and dance act by a TV star who is best known for his samurai roles, is riding a wave of popularity. The act is by Matsudaira Ken, a veteran entertainer who dresses as a samurai to perform the song.

Kabuki Meets Shakespeare | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Kabuki began about 400 years ago. At around the same time in Britain, William Shakespeare was turning out plays and sonnets. Now Ninagawa Yukio, a theater director known for his Japanese productions of Shakespeare's works, has fused the two classical styles together.

Michelin in Japan | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
A Japan edition of the Michelin Guides, travel books famous all over the world for their ratings of hotels and restaurants, will be published in February 2007.

Taking Part in Art | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
From September 28 to December 18, 2005, Yokohama is hosting an ambitious arts festival featuring the works of around 80 artists from around the world and located along the port city's spectacular waterfront.

Manga For Grown-Ups | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Hachimitsu to Kuroba (Honey and Clover) is a serialized manga (comic) that follows the lives of five young people attending an art college as they deal with unrequited love and other life issues. It has recently been turned into a TV anime series, and a big-screen version is now planned.

Movies In Your Pocket | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
A growing number of people have begun to take advantage of video on the go, watching movies or television programs while riding the train or relaxing in a cafe. And among the most popular devices for portable video playback are handheld gaming consoles.

Germany In Japan | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Over 1,000 events are being held throughout Japan between April 2005 and spring 2006 as part of Deutschland in Japan 2005/2006.

Gundam Plastic Models | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
More than twenty years after the TV anime (cartoon) series Kido Senshi Gandamu (Mobile Suit Gundam) was first broadcast in 1979, it remains hugely popular. Many fans collect plastic models of Gundam characters, and limited-edition models have recently become hot items among collectors.

A Fresh Look at Traditional Art | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Tenmyouya Hisashi is one of a group of young and highly acclaimed Japanese artists who borrow styles and ideas from Japan's artistic history.

Cultural Treasures Go on Show | Arts and Entertainment | Trends in Japan | Web Japan
Yokoso! Japan Weeks lasts from February 5 to 20, 2005. It coincides with the opening of Central Japan International Airport, located near the city of Nagoya, a development expected to draw significant numbers of Chinese and South Korean visitors to Japan.

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.

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