INSIDER
Maiko: I Tried to Leave the Geisha World. They Sent Me a Bill
A former maiko who says she was harassed and abused in Japan's geisha world is now telling her story, including the enormous…
manga
INSIDER
INSIDER
How “Cool Japan” Ruined Japan’s Cool
Japan could have won big by embracing "Otaku Japan." Instead, it tried to redefine a cool it already had. Here's how it…
INSIDER
The Yani Neko Mirror: Why Japan Won’t Look at Poverty
A new anime tells a complex story of addiction and discrimination. It also sheds a light on a problem many in Japan…
ENTERTAINMENT
20% of Japan’s Manga Artists and Illustrators Say AI Has Cut Their Income
A new Nikkei survey finds that roughly one in five Japanese manga artists and illustrators say generative AI has already cut into…
ENTERTAINMENT
Are Japanese Teens Leaving Manga Behind?
One prominent journalist argues the youth market is slipping away. Others say they've heard this false cry before.
TECHNOLOGY
Japan’s Anime and Manga Industries Are Feeling the AI Squeeze
Japan's anime and manga industries are growing wary of the impact of GenAI on their bottom line - but don't have any…
NEWS
Victim Speaks Out Over Manga Publisher Shogakukan Sexual Assault Controversy
The manga publisher has come under fire for allowing two authors to work under pseudonyms without divulging their crimes.
TRAVEL
Anime Pilgrimage in Japan: From Fandom to Infrastructure
How anime pilgrimage in Japan has evolved from a fan ritual into a coordinated regional strategy to boost tourism.