It's PURE JIMBOCHO as @patrickmacias.bsky.social & I broadcast from the heart of Japan's "coolest" (according to a certain foreign magazine) neighborhood -- Jimbocho, Tokyo's used and new book district. Listening to us talking about reading is fundamental: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...

The latest episode of the PURE TOKYOSCOPE Podcast is live! This time, Matt Alt (mattalt.bsky.social) and I celebrate our 150th episode with a visit to Jimbocho, recently voted The Coolest Neighborhood in the World by Time Out. Listen now at www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...

The latest episode of the PURE TOKYOSCOPE Podcast is live! This time, Matt Alt (mattalt.bsky.social) and I celebrate our 150th episode with a visit to Jimbocho, recently voted The Coolest Neighborhood in the World by Time Out. Listen now at www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...

The #Gamera Expo is coming to Marui Yurakucho in #Tokyo. Here's the official poster. cinemakadokawa.jp/gamera/news/...

The Akiba Fan Cube store in Akihabara #Tokyo is hosting a Perfect Blue #anime pop-up shop from 10/3 to 10/26 in time for the new screenings in the US and #Japan akiba-fancube.tokyo

There are 10,000 manga artists working in Japan today. The extraordinary success of "Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle" is due to Shonen Jump's knack for spotting talent. Its success abroad is due to a more singular factor. We're all otaku now. blog.pureinventionbook.com/p/dollars-an...

TokyoScope News: #Shibuya #Tokyo is stepping up Halloween rules this year. Street drinking is banned, 58 shops will pause alcohol sales, 125 guards are on patrol, and even the Hachiko statue will be sealed off to keep things under control. Full story: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/shibuya-de...

Is everything OK with Burger King #Japan?

Turning Japanese: Japan-style "conbini" in the US, Japan-style "anime" sweeping the US, and Japan-style "horror" shaking up US, all brought to you by.... US, me & @patrickmacias.bsky.social! www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...

Episode 149 of the Pure TokyoScope Podcast is live! This time, Matt Alt (mattalt.bsky.social) and I discuss the $13 billion plan to export #Japan style 7-Elevens to the USA! Also: spoiler-free reviews of the new Demon Slayer #anime film and Exit 8! Listen now at www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...

Episode 149 of the Pure TokyoScope Podcast is live! This time, Matt Alt (mattalt.bsky.social) and I discuss the $13 billion plan to export #Japan style 7-Elevens to the USA! Also: spoiler-free reviews of the new Demon Slayer #anime film and Exit 8! Listen now at www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...

Japanese fashion brand TENDER PERSON is doing a line of items inspired by Toei's Truck Yaro films www.fashionsnap.com/article/tend...

Prince's 1987 concert film Sign "☮︎" the Times is getting an IMAX re-release in #Tokyo and the rest of #Japan in November. Everyone has (or should have) a favorite Prince-era and this (plus Lovesexy) is mine.

#Japan 1984

TokyoScope News: Hideo Kojima’s studio #KojimaProductions marked 10 years in #Tokyo with George Miller, Guillermo Del Toro, and Mamoru Oshii on stage. Stars from Death Stranding joined as fans worldwide watched new projects teased. Full story: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/kojima-pro...

TokyoScope News: #Japan’s purikura sticker photo booths turn 30 this year. Once a 100 billion yen market, they remain a teen favorite with 86% of girls still using them to shoot, edit, and print stickers. Full story: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/purikura-a...

The protest movements of the world are increasingly rallying around anime imagery. Is the US next? blog.pureinventionbook.com/p/anime-acti...

Legendary special effect artist Screaming Mad George (The Guyver, Society) and others are having an art show in #Tokyo in October

"Sister Street Fighter" herself, Etsuko Shihomi, will appear for a 3-film screening and talk show event in Ichinohe, Japan on 10/12.

TokyoScope News: #Japan’s capsule toys have spun into a 140 billion yen (920M USD) market. Chains like Gachagacha no Mori turn malls into treasure hunts where adults line up to crank, collect, and chat. What was once child’s play is now big business. Full story: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/how-japans...

Q&A: James Aquilone, Patrick Macias, Samuel Sattin, and Itaru Kinoshita Discuss MONSTROUS: THE KAIJU ISSUE, Now on Kickstarter! www.kickstarter.com/projects/man... @jamesaquilone.bsky.social @patrickmacias.bsky.social @samuelsattin.bsky.social @kurinosukeboy.bsky.social @zacatkinson.bsky.social

There are some intriguing similarities between the political chaos in Japan in the late Sixties, and the political chaos unfolding in America today. I wonder if there is anything to learn from that. blog.pureinventionbook.com/p/politics-c...

Podcast drop! Japan's long known toys aren't just for kids. In this episode, @patrickmacias.bsky.social and I explore how adult collectors are transforming global markets! www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...

TokyoScope News: 20 years after its debut, Ai Yazawa’s #NANA is back in #Japan. Revival screenings, new merchandise, and its mix of music, fashion, and raw emotion are drawing younger fans into the story. Full story: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/why-is-ai-...

Episode 148 of the PURE TOKYOSCOPE Podcast is live! This time, Matt Alt (mattalt.bsky.social) and I talk about the rise of “kidult” collectors in #Japan, who are pushing the toy biz to new levels of fun and profit. Also, Cheap Trick returns to Budokan! Listen at: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...

Episode 148 of the PURE TOKYOSCOPE Podcast is live! This time, Matt Alt (mattalt.bsky.social) and I talk about the rise of “kidult” collectors in #Japan, who are pushing the toy biz to new levels of fun and profit. Also, Cheap Trick returns to Budokan! Listen at: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...

TokyoScope News: #Japan's hit indie horror game The Convenience Store is getting a live-action film in 2026. With 60M+ YouTube views and 2,700 Steam reviews, director Jirō Nagae says, “If anyone was going to direct it, it had to be me.” Full story and teaser: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/japanese-h...

The #Godzilla x #Lacoste collaboration launches in #Japan on Sept 19. natalie.mu/eiga/news/63...

TokyoScope News: #Japan’s legendary actress #MeikoKaji reflects on 60 years in cinema, saying her killer roles made men too scared to approach her. “That is why I am still single.” Full story: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/meiko-kaji...

Hot new looks for fall: PLEASURES × DAFTPUNK INTERSTELLA button up shirt, 24200 JPY (about US$164). tinyurl.com/5n8zwj8n

TokyoScope News: Horror hasn’t been big in #Japan for years, but Exit 8 just broke through. The viral game adaptation turned its eerie subway setting into a phenomenon, opening to ¥950M ($6.5M) in 3 days and setting a new live-action high for 2025. Full story: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/how-exit-8...

TokyoScope News: 7-Eleven #Japan is testing #AI avatars to ease labor shortages. Remote clerks serve customers, while robots stock shelves and clean floors. With wages rising and foreign workers limited, the chain aims to cut daily labor by 30%. Full story: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/7-eleven-j...

Chargeman Ken returns in new #anime commercials for Cup Noodle youtu.be/USquo6HbDQk?...

Great episode — adds a lot of context and behind-the-scenes tidbits to Matt’s recent New Yorker piece. And thanks for the shoutout, guys!

Join @patrickmacias.bsky.social and I in a discussion about AnimeNYC, Shonen Jump, and my article about Kagurabachi for the New Yorker, on the latest PURE TOKYOSCOPE! www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...

Episode 147 of the Pure TokyoScope Podcast is live! This time, Matt Alt (mattalt.bsky.social) takes us behind the scenes of Shōnen Jump, #Japan’s No. 1 #manga magazine. Also, an #Anime NYC report and chaos at the post office! Listen to the full episode: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...

Episode 147 of the Pure TokyoScope Podcast is live! This time, Matt Alt (mattalt.bsky.social) takes us behind the scenes of Shōnen Jump, #Japan’s No. 1 #manga magazine. Also, an #Anime NYC report and chaos at the post office! Listen to the full episode: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...

atmos in #Japan is releasing an #anime collab with Satoshi Kon’s PERFECT BLUE. Four T-shirts featuring key visuals and cell scans hit Sept 12 at atmos URAHARA and online. Each shirt is ¥8,800 (about $60). www.fashionsnap.com/article/2025...

TokyoScope News: The new Angel’s Egg #anime 4K remaster trailer has been released. Director Shunji Iwai calls the cult classic “a time capsule of an era’s hope” as it heads to theaters in #Japan and the US this November. Full story: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/angels-egg...

TokyoScope News: #Japan’s gummy game is stronger than ever. Sales hit 66.5 billion yen (about 443 million dollars), passing candy for the first time. With chewy tech, wild flavors, and souvenir appeal, gummies are now the boss of the sweets aisle. Full article: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/japans-gum...

I came to #Japan for the traditional art and culture you can't get anywhere else and wow I am not disappointed

TokyoScope News: Chainsaw Man – Reze Arc aims for billion-yen box office in #Japan with a tight 99-minute runtime and expanded premium screenings. After Demon Slayer changed the game, insiders say this could be the year’s biggest #anime film. Full article: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/could-chai...

Disk Union, you’re alright, but at some point we need to sit down and talk about "Indie and Alternative Rock."