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June 30, 2026
 

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CULTURE

TV & Streaming

Film
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Entertainment news
‘Tagusari Bros.’ searches for the meaning of justice
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
‘Tagusari Bros.’ searches for the meaning of justice
Themes of vengeance and closure are nothing new in the world of crime dramas, but few tackle them with the emotional nuance of TBS’ “Tagusari Bros.”
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Nordic noir meets Japanese occult in ‘Blood and Sweat’
The Finnish-Japanese coproduction evolves from a classic detective drama into a fun, pulpy thriller, blending Japan’s folklore with sharp plotting.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
‘Soul Mate’ reaches for pathos but remains hollow
With a globe-spanning story and plenty of melodrama, Netflix’s queer-themed limited series ultimately falters under the weight of its own ambiguity.
Season Two of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” raises the stakes with bigger creature battles and expanding Monsterverse lore.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
May 7, 2026
‘Monarch: Legacy of Monsters’ loses its human touch in sprawling second season
By Gabriella Geisinger
The Apple TV series lets bloated and unwieldy storytelling overwhelm the sharp character work that once set it apart.
Erika Toda brings force but limited nuance to her portrayal of Kazuko Hosoki in "Straight to Hell."
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Apr 28, 2026
‘Straight to Hell’ gets stuck in purgatory
By James Hadfield
Lies and lurid twists stack up in Netflix’s take on fortune teller Kazuko Hosoki, but when it reaches her empire and influence, the story feels rushed and insight runs thin.
Fans gather at a Netflix-sponsored World Baseball Classic event at Tokyo Skytree on March 6.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Mar 26, 2026
The WBC was a hit in Japan. Watching it wasn’t.
By Gabriella Geisinger
Netflix’s WBC streaming push included “Hometown Hero” viewings, but many fans in Japan still lacked easy access to games.
“One Piece” cast members (from left) Jacob Romero Gibson, Mackenyu, Inaki Godoy, Emily Rudd and Taz Skylar attend a Netflix fan event ahead of the show’s Season Two premiere.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Mar 19, 2026
Fans find their crew in Tokyo as ‘One Piece’ sets sail again
By Gabriella Geisinger
Netflix brought the Straw Hat spirit to Tokyo with a celebration that drew devoted fans and underscored the live-action series’ global popularity.
Half-siblings Issei Tomine and Camille Leger (Tomohisa Yamashita and Fleur Geffrier) come to terms with their father’s death in the second season of “Drops of God.”
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Mar 18, 2026
‘Drops of God’ decants a quiet, perfect ending
By Gabriella Geisinger
After all the rivalry, wine quests and family wounds, the Apple TV show’s second season ends on a note of perfect balance — like a great vintage.
From left: Anna Sawai, Takehiro Hira, Ren Watabe and Kiersey Clemons star in the Apple TV series “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters,” which returned for its second season last month.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Mar 16, 2026
‘Monarch’ unleashes more monster mayhem
By Gabriella Geisinger
Godzilla may loom large in the latest season of “Monarch: Legacy of Monsters” — but the real battles are between family.
In the first season of “Drops of God,” Camille and Issei competed to inherit the wine legacy of Alexandre Leger.
CULTURE / TV & Streaming
Feb 13, 2026
Season Two of ‘Drops of God’ serves a dark swirl of sibling drama
By Gabriella Geisinger
In its second season, “Drops of God” shows that characters don’t need to be likable to be compelling.

Uruguay federation reportedly cancels charter flight after World Cup exit
Uruguay's Jose Maria Gimenez reacts after the team's loss against Spain at the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Friday.
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
India’s gig workers pay the price for exposure to New Delhi’s hazardous air
Rohit Kushwaha waits for a customer as he delivers his last parcel of the day, in New Delhi in January. His work as a delivery driver has helped pay the family’s bills, but has had a significant impact on his health.
Chinese and Russian bombers and fighter jets stage joint patrol near Japan
A Chinese Air Force H-6 bomber is seen during a joint patrol with Russian military aircraft on Saturday.
U.S. missile moves in Japan send China clear message: A new era has arrived
Soldiers conduct the first Typhon midrange capability live-fire exercise outside of the continental United States, firing an SM-6 missile in July last year in Australia's Northern Territory during Exercise Talisman Sabre.
Inside Japan’s rigid adoption system, a British family finds a way
James Benstead, his wife, Jesse, and their three children. Their adopted son is in the rear stroller.
A French ship with close ties to Japan combines arts and sciences on the high seas
Romain Troublé, the executive director of Tara Ocean Foundation, speaks to visitors aboard the Tara during a rare port call in Tokyo in April.
LGBTQ+ families are building lives Japanese lawmakers still struggle to see
Haru Ono founded Nijiiro Kazoku in 2010 after forming a same-sex stepfamily. She said the impetus for founding the organization was that she couldn’t find much reliable information out there for families such as hers in Japan.
In Kyushu’s far south, Senti.U sparks a culinary destination
Chef Yasuhiko Uchida was born in Saga Prefecture but has made his home in Kanoya, Kagoshima Prefecture, since 2012.
‘The colors speak for themselves’: How Japan’s chroma bible went global
“A Dictionary of Color Combinations” is meant to function as a quick-reference guide for artists, designers and anyone with a passing interest in aesthetics as a quantifiable pursuit.

Podcast

One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward.
Kabukicho: Tokyo’s ‘stadium of desire’

Longform

The Terasaka Rice Terraces are seen with Mount Buko in the background.
What Yokoze can teach Japan about rural revival
By Alex K.T. Martin

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