“The Walking Major”: Yujiro, Mifune & Young Sinatra
Mifune could play military men in his sleep – from Admiral Togo, who destroyed the Russian fleet, to Minister of War Anami, who committed seppuku the day after Japan’s surrender.
The Salesman from Hell: Fujiko A.’s Dark Masterpiece
Essentially a variation on the Faust story set in the world of office workers and hostess bars, it is emphatically for adults
Review: Surviving the New Era of Great Power Conflict
Hard power always has the capacity to dominate soft power. Left unaddressed, might trumps right.
Why has the World Gone Dotty Over Yayoi Kusama? Ask Mark Zuckerberg and Jay Powell!
She staged orgies and a gay wedding in her studio and stripped naked in anti-war demonstrations
Five Shocking Scenarios for the Year of the Tiger
Remote conferences lack the one thing that makes conferences worthwhile: networking over drinks in the hotel bar.
Witches and Demons on the Road to Olympic Glory
The witches were mostly war babies. One was born in an air-raid shelter.
Goodbye to the Future: The Last Days of the Nakagin Capsule Tower
Hugh Jackman could hardly fit into a Nakagin capsule, let alone perform a credible fight or love scene inside one…
Remembering 3.11: Faces and Voices of Resilience Part 1
Shoko Hashimoto’s face is a map of his life. It radiates intensity, strength, humour and boundless curiosity
Burn On, Joe! A 1960s Manga Icon Lifts Spirits Today
“Old man, I’m begging you… let me carry on… until there’s nothing left of me but white ashes,..”
The Gambler Vs. The Bodybuilder: Shuji Terayama Meets Yukio Mishima
Strangely enough, it is the approach of the iconoclastic Terayama that seems more in tune with traditional Japanese aesthetics