In February 2022, I had the pleasure to interview Matt Ketchum from Akiya & Inaka, and he shared his expertise on vacant houses in Japan. During the course of that conversation, he mentioned his passion and involvement with the Japanese underground music scene, and drew some unexpected parallels with the vacant houses problem. The Japanese…
Chanmina is the Culture-Challenging Musician We Should All Be Listening to
Chanmina is a Korean-Japanese rapper and musician bending, blending, and breaking culture and borders. You may have already heard of her–since her debut in Japan in 2016, much of her music has peaked on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 charts and sometimes even international charts. Born in South Korea to a Korean ballerina mother and…
Guy Perryman: Positivity, Persistence, and the Power of Music
For those of us living in Japan, Guy Perryman, the omnipresent radio DJ, voice actor, event producer, and writer needs little introduction. Since 1990, Guy has been sending good vibes over Japan’s airwaves via interfm radio programs and commercial narration work for major brands such as NHK, Uniqlo, Sony, and Honda. Even if you live…
Japan’s Train Station Songs Are More than Mere Melodies
As an endless sea of people funnel through long, narrow corridors, the din of marching feet is drowned out only by an endless stream of megaphone announcements. As you approach the ticket gates a new sound permeates the atmosphere—the incessant digital beeps of electronic commuter passes being swiped over sensors. Finally, upon reaching the platform,…
Yosakoi, A Japanese Dance For All
Have you ever heard of yosakoi? It is a Japanese dance performed in festivals all around Japan and in many other countries too. How did this dance originating from Kochi Prefecture (Shikoku island) manage to spread so far? The answer lies in its welcoming spirit and easy principles. On July 4, I was invited to…
Japanese Shinto Priest Explains His Religion in a Fun Way
Soushi describes himself as a pioneer among Shinto priests. During the day, he performs his duties at 17 different shrines. At night, he becomes the “Singing Shinto Priest,” a pop musician whose mission is to make basic Shinto principles more accessible to the public. According to Soushi, although the Japanese often go to shrines, most…
Discover Japanese Arts and the People Who Make Them
Japan is home to numerous passionate artists. Some express themselves through traditional painting, calligraphy, traditional dances, or music, while others do it through modern means like animation or modern theater. Read our interviews of inspiring artists in Japan: their personal connection to their art, their place in Japanese society, and the messages they want to…
This Shamisen Player and Mangaka Draws People’s Portraits While Singing
Chie is a nagashi artist: her job consists of wandering the streets of Arakicho (a part of Shinjuku ward), going from tavern to tavern to play and sing to entertain the customers. She’s also a mangaka and draws people’s portraits while singing. I met Chie by chance at the Ringo no Hana tavern in Arakicho back in 2018, and we talked…