Community Dec 17, 2016
Charity in Japan begins at home
Domestic nonprofit organizations face a number of obstacles in their attempts to make a difference in people's lives.
Film Dec 8, 2016
Ishizaki switches guitars for scripts in his on-screen debut
Making his on-screen debut in Daigo Matsui's multistranded, disorderly and, at times, moving film "Japanese Girls Never Die" ("Azumi Harako wa Yukie Fumei"), singer Huwie Ishizaki admits that he was nervous prior to stepping in front of the cameras. The 32-year-old solo artist is ...
Film Oct 3, 2016
Takumi Saitoh: Growing up with film
As a former model and in-demand actor, it's no surprise that Takumi Saitoh has a sizeable fan base. A Google image search of the Tokyo native produces a large number of photos in which his smoldering gaze locks eyes with the viewer. The 35-year-old may ...
Film Sep 8, 2016
Actress Nanami weighs the pros and cons of going it alone
It has been estimated that around 1 in 10 actors are working at any given moment. For the other nine, that can make for a constant hustle — a Woody Allen character once described the film industry as being "worse than dog-eat-dog, it's dog-doesn't-return-other-dogs-phone-calls." Japan ...
Music Jun 19, 2016
Yuya Uchida on music, media and Madonna
Strolling in late for our meeting, his shoulder-length white hair lightly flowing, trademark cane in hand and sunglasses on, Yuya Uchida may now be in his mid-70s, but he still carries himself with the air of a rock star. Uchida has been a colorful and ...
Language | BILINGUAL Jun 6, 2016
Trilingual actress Yuho Yamashita proves that sheer drive can bring fluency
Yuho Yamashita, who has acted in Japanese, English and German during her career, talks about her approach to learning languages.
Film May 19, 2016
Japan's 'gatekeeper to Hollywood' Yoko Narahashi brings a playwright's final tale to the big screen with 'Hold My Hand'
Yoko Narahashi might just be the most powerful Japanese woman in Hollywood thanks to her work in casting blockbusters such as "The Last Samurai" and "The Wolverine." Her new film as a director, however, shuns special effects and battles, and focuses on a more ...
Music Mar 6, 2016
Silent Siren delivers a dose of idol-pop pep on 'S'
With a proliferation of idol-pop groups in the music scene these days, getting a start in the industry isn't always easy — even for a band made up of former models. "We started out in 2010 playing in front of five or six people, 10 ...
Stage Mar 3, 2016
Ryohei Suzuki beefs up for a kingly role in Mishima-penned play 'The Terrace of the Leper King'
Ryohei Suzuki's body has been put to the test over the past 12 months. Last spring, the Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture-born entertainer shed 20 kilograms to prepare for the role of a tuberculosis patient in the TBS drama "Tenno no Ryoriban"("The Emperor's Cook"). Shortly afterward, he ...
People Feb 5, 2016
Chiaki Hara reaches out to cancer survivors
Things were looking good for Chiaki Hara at the start of 2005. She was an accomplished actress, having starred in the 1997 tragic romance "Shitsurakuen" ("Lost Paradise") and 2002' drama "Aiki," and her profile as a social commentator was also on the rise. Then, ...