Pop Culture6 min
One Piece: why this manga became a phenomenon
Twenty-eight years of serialisation, more than 500 million copies, a single author: what really explains the longevity and the grip of One Piece on pop culture.
Read
JournalJapan Japan
Japan
Japan
Japan
The Kotoba Interactive journal.
Editorial features on the cultures, history and languages of Asia. Filter by culture, by topic, or search for what inspires you.
7 articles
Society9 min
Yuru-chara: Kumamon and the Empire of Japanese Mascots
Kumamon, Funassyi, Hikonyan: a deep dive into yuru-chara, the regional mascots worth billions of yen that embody Japan's brand of place marketing.
Read
Pop Culture9 min
Light novel: the Japanese illustrated novel explained
The light novel (ライトノベル), a manga-styled illustrated Japanese novel: origins, the Haruhi and Sword Art Online turning points, the narou pipeline and media mix explained.
Read
Arts11 min
Seinen vs Shōnen: Understanding Manga Demographics
Seinen or shōnen? Decoding manga's demographic categories: target ages, tone, magazines, examples and false friends. What truly decides the label.
Read
Society14 min
Maid Café: Origins and Codes of the Japanese Meido Kafe
History and rituals of the Japanese maid café (メイドカフェ): birth in Akihabara, moe culture, the okaerinasaimase welcome, cheki photos, etiquette and variants.
Read
