Diletta F.

7 Best Spots to Buy Toys in Japan | All About Japan

7. Themed Character Shops First of all, if you're particulary obsessed with a specific character or series, chances are there's a shop dedicated to it in Japan. Some examples include: Pokémon Centers Come here for all your poké needs! You can find plushies, all kinds of merchandising and even clothes in these stores.

【アンバサダーコラム】欧米におけるビジュアル系ライブ文化について

イタリア出身のコ・フェスタアンバサダー、ディディが欧米における「ビジュアル系」について語ります！ ポイント・ビジュアル系は、日本でも欧米でもニッチなジャンルに属しているものの、ライブでの立ち振る舞いは日本と欧米で大きく異なる。日本では、他のライブにはない細かい不文律が数多くあり、それがライブの一部となっている。一方で、欧米では通常行われるロックのライブの一つとして捉えられている。 しかし、日本にはあまり見られない欧米のビジュアル系ファンの特徴として、ライブに行く際の服装が挙げられる。一部のファンにとって、「ビジュアル系ライブへ行く」と「ゴスロリやデコラといった日本独特のコーデを着る」は同義であり、ライブと日本発ファッションを同時に楽しむカルチャーがある。 欧米では（ロジスティクスの問題もあり）ワンマンショーが基本のため、日本のように複数のビジュアル系アーティストがステージを共有することはほとんどない。無名アーティストのワンマンショーであっても、「ビジュアル系」のジャンルそのもののファンは欧米に多く、うまくPRすれば集客出来る可能性がある。 ---- Hello everyone!...

Alice Nine 11th Anniversary Live「Re:birth -Hishou -」at Toyosu Pit, August 23rd 2015

Alice Nine fans had eagerly been waiting for August 23rd, a date that marked not only the band's 11th anniversary, but also their official comeback after leaving their previous label. When the lights went down at Toyosu Pit, the audience cheered in delight: lights turned on behind the white screen hiding the stage, and the silhouettes of the members appeared in rhythm with the introductory music of [PRAY].

BRADIO Funkasista Tour 2016 "Rainbow Big Bang Edition"

J-funk might not be as known as J-pop or J-rock outside Japan but it's undoubtedly the same level of fun, as BRADIO demonstrated in a packed Akasaka Blitz on July 17th.

DIR EN GREY - FROM DEPRESSION TO ____ [mode of VULGAR] at Shinkiba Studio Coast

With long-career acts like DIR EN GREY, it can be hard to choose which songs best represent the band's image and world view at lives; with that in mind, the band has been having a series of concerts focusing on specific eras and albums of their history, as it was the case with the "TOUR 16-17 FROM DEPRESSION TO ____ [mode of VULGAR]", ending at a sold-out Shinkiba Studio Coast on July 2nd .

MUCC Tour 2016 Go To 20th Anniversary- June 25th Hibiya Kokaido Outdoor Theater

MUCC fans must have prayed for a sunny day, and their prayers were probably strong enough to be answered; after a morning with on and off rain, the live at Hibiya’s Outdoor Theater was blessed with clement weather.

cali≠gari Tour 2016 (Doukei, Suiren to Himawari) at Ex Theater Roppongi

People who like Visual Kei will have heard of cali≠gari, at least by name: the band underwent several member changes but has been around since 1992 (with a pause from 2003 to 2009), as one of the most well-known acts in the genre.

Interview with WagakkiBand

After their successful show at Zepp Diver City and before their US tour, we had the chance to interview vocalist Yuko. Read on to find out about the band\'s creation and background and their experiences abroad! source for japanese music

WAGAKKIBAND - Kenran Wasou Enbukai- at Zepp Tokyo

Nippon Project visits WagakkiBand again this year: after the stellar success at Nippon Budokan this winter (read the report here), the band prepared an intense two-days marathon for their fans at Zepp Diver Tokyo.

Glutamine at Akasaka Blitz, April 29th

The interesting thing about visiting lives as press is discovering artists that you would not be seeing otherwise. This is the case with Glutamine (ぐるたみん for his Japanese fans ), a male pop-rock artist that is surrounded by mystery even in his motherland.

Live report：Mrs. GREEN APPLE at Akasaka Blitz (written for Cofesta Ambassadors)

Mrs. GREEN APPLE is your signature happy-go- lucky Japanese pop-rock act. Famous for their song "Speaking", ending theme of the anime "Yu-Gi- Oh! Arc-V", they had their major debut in July 2015 with EMI Records. They are cute, bright, light-hearted and their songs feature clean-cut, high-pitched male vocals with female intermissions.

LOKA & KRA - "New Bond" at Shibuya Take Off 7

LOKA and Kra. Attendees in the venue surely asked themselves: "who thought about this?" . On one side a loud, energetic rock band, and on the other a well-known Visual Kei act on the lighter end of the spectrum - "New Bond", never a title was more apt. Fans were undoubtedly looking forward to an evening of good music and surprise, while they slowly trickled down the stairs leading to Shibuya Take Off 7.

[CD Review] DECAYS - Red or Maryam

DECAYS is a project founded in 2015 by DIR EN GREY's legendary guitarist Die (on guitar and vocals) and rock bandMOON CHILD's drummer and leader Kashiyama Kei on drums.

WAGAKKI BAND -AKATSUKI NO UTAGE- AT NIPPON BUDOKAN

Creating a fusion of East and West is something that many Asian bands have done over the years, with fluctuating results. Wagakki Band takes this concept to the next step, with a comprehensive and impressive line-up including flute, koto, shamisen, taiko and rock guitar and drums; the formula clearly wins, as the band was able to fill a venue as large as Nippon Budokan.

MAVERICK DC Presents BATTLE ARENA in Budokan

Nippon Budokan is one of the biggest arenas in Tokyo, and all that space proved to be necessary for the grandiose MAVERICK DC presents BATTLE ARENA, which saw the label's top six bands challenging each other on three stages.

Avanchick - Jibaku

It’s the first time for Avanchick to appear on Nippon Project, and what better way to introduce them than their music? Their 4th maxi single, titled [Jibaku], was released In October 2015 in three versions. All types included the title track [Jibaku] and [Seiten no Hekireki], but while Type B also included [JK], Type C featured [Ikebukuro Shinjuu] instead.

WING WORKS Oneman 'The Futuristic Field' at Shinjuku Reny

Date of Concert: 2015.12.20 Shinjuku Reny is one of the newest live venues of Tokyo, featuring a mix of history and future through chandeliers and a led-powered balcony of rolling scripts. Undoubtedly this was the best place for WING WORKS oneman tour final, titled "The Futuristic Field".

Mail Interview with URBANGARDE

We had the chance to interview URBANGARDE upon the release of their new album. Read on to find out more about this unique band! Nippon Project: First of all, thank you for finding the time for this interview!

VAMPS LIVE 2015-2016 JOINT666 at Zepp Tokyo,November 19th 2015

Date of Concert: 2015.11.19 Nippon Project would like to thank VAMPS Management and the METI "Cofesta Ambassadors" initiative for making this report possible. Check out VAMPS Facebook page for the latest news on the band!

World Visual Festival at Shibuya Sound Museum Vision

An event that features Visual Kei bands from different cities in Japan is quite common, but if you add to that Visual Kei bands from all over the world, then the story changes. World Visual Festival, organized by Visual Unite, took place on October 18th at Shibuya Sound Museum Vision.

[Review] MeteoroiD - Tori Kago no Sarasoju wa Shika no Hana

When guitarist Yutori left the band in 2014 and the new member Mikado joined in, MeteoroiD switched to a darker and more somber image, and this change is also reflected in the two tracks of their latest single [Tori Kago no Sarasoju ha Shika no Hana].

Alice Nine 11th Anniversary Live「Re:birth -Hishou -」at Toyosu Pit, August 23rd 2015

Alice Nine fans had eagerly been waiting for August 23rd, a date that marked not only the band's 11th anniversary, but also their official comeback after leaving their previous label. When the lights went down at Toyosu Pit, the audience cheered in delight: lights turned on behind the white screen hiding the stage, and the silhouettes of the members appeared in rhythm with the introductory music of [PRAY].

KYO'S EXHIBITION "GASOU"

From August 19th to August 23rd, DIR EN GREY and sukekiyo's vocalist Kyo opened to the public a special exhibition titled "Gasou", located at the fancy yet intimate Gallery Le Deco in Shibuya. The exhibition included an eclectic mixture of art forms, displaying the wide range of Kyo's artistic endeavors.

COMMUNE.Vol. 1 in Tokyo

Sponsored by Danger Crue Records, the COMMUNE event lives brought together several big names of Visual Kei, for an unforgettable two days full of music. The first show took place in Osaka, while the second and last was hosted at the well-known Shinkiba Studio Coast in Tokyo.

SILHOUETTE FROM THE SKYLIT, SILHOUETTE FEST vol.8　～Aosugiru sora wo tsukinukeru tour encore 3MAN...

Silhouette from the skylit prepared an unforgettable show for their fans. With bands like , Septaluck and ROOKieZ IS PUNK'D warming up the atmosphere, the small and packed Shibuya Milkyway was soon transformed into a furnace, packed with fans getting wild even in the back rows.

DIV oneman live 2015 SUMMER MEGURO THREE DAYS - Day One

July 21st at Meguro Rockmaykan This year, the summer's highlight for DIV fans was certainly the three days long, sold-out show at the intimate Meguro Rockmaykan. Each day had a dress code, and as it could be guessed by the crowd's attire, "yukata" was chosen for the first day.

LUNATIC FEST at Makuhari Messe - DAY 2 (June, 28th 2015)

If you haven't heard about LUNATIC FEST, you probably have been living under a rock or on another planet for the last few months.

LUNATIC FEST at Makuhari Messe - DAY 1 (June, 27th 2015)

If you haven't heard about LUNATIC FEST, you probably have been living under a rock or on another planet for the last few months.

SEASON OF GHOSTS - The Human Paradox

SEASON OF GHOSTS is the new music project of Sophia, former vocalist of the Japanese band BLOOD STAIN CHILD. The project's first album, The Human Paradox, was released at the end of 2014.

[Concert Report] NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST Oneman Live "Juusou", 2015/06/20 at Akasaka Blitz

NOCTURNAL BLOODLUST, formed in 2009, while the band's appearance is undoubtedly Visual Kei, with costumes rich in black leather, layers and belts, and elaborate hairstyles and make up, their sound is closer to metal core band, and enhanced by the ubiquitous presence of English lyrics.

Mail interview with WING WORKS

This year, Nippon Project had the chance to attend WING WORKS' oneman at Shibuya WWW (you can find the report here). It was the first time for us to cover a live by RYO:SUKE, vocalist and founder of the project, and eventually we also got the chance to interview him!

[Review] Sebastiano Serafini - Never Walk Alone

Artist: Sebastiano Serafini Date of Release: 2014.12.19 [Never Walk Alone] is Sebastiano Serafini's second digital single. For those of you who don't know him, Sebastiano is currently a member of the Japanese Visual Kei band Ecthelion as manipulator, but is also pursuing a solo career as a singer, in addition to being a model.

[Review] Sebastiano Serafini - Fallen

Sebastiano Serafini is a musician, model and actor and based in Tokyo. Currently a member of Japanese Visual-kei band Ecthelion in the role of manipulator, the upcoming single [Fallen] marks his solo debut.

[Concert Report] Anabant Fulls - "Boys" Release Tour Final

Date of Concert: 2014.11.27 Tokyo's indie rock scene is as alive and thriving as ever, and several bands assembled at cozy Tsutaya O-Crest for Anabant Fulls 's sponsored live on November 7th, 2014.

[Concert Report] KAMIJO Special Limited Live -Prologue- at Club PHASE

Before leaving for his world tour, KAMIJO met the fans for a last oneman live at Takadanobaba Club Phase; it was a great chance to see the artist in an unusually small venue, and no one wanted to let it pass, resulting in a tightly packed floor.

Interview with KAMIJO before the World Tour

Date of Interview: 2015.02.15 Nippon Project had the chance to sit down with KAMIJO for a brief interview before his European tour. Read his interesting answers below! We will also release a report of the following live that he held at Takadanobaba Club PHASE, so keep on checking back!

[Concert Report] GYZE Oneman Tour

While idols, shiny pop music and Visual Kei probably enjoy the widest international recognition, Japanese music scene has much more to offer. Every genre can show off its own talented bands that can compete on an international stage, and such is the case with metal act GYZE.

[Review] SCANDAL - Hello World

Hello World] is the latest album work by SCANDAL, an all girl rock group formed in 2006 by four talented beauties. The combo of attactiveness, cool fashion sense and upbeat tunes gained them a lot of recognition at home, and [Hello World] is the last record to be released before their first world tour.

[Concert Report] LUNA SEA 25th ANNIVERSARY TOUR THE LUNATIC –A Liberated Will- at Tokyo...

There's a lot and at the same time not much to say when one has to report a live by legendary band LUNA SEA. Their tour, titled "25th ANNIVERSARY TOUR THE LUNATIC –A Liberated Will- " spanned on two days, February 28th and March 1st, with several representatives of the foreign online press being invited on the first day. The tour final was then held in Osaka on March 14th.

2014 V-kei Indie Discoveries Recap + 5 new bands for 2015!

Some readers might remember that last year, we published an article about 10 indie Visual Kei bands that we thought would be worth keeping an eye on. A year has passed and it\'s a time for an update!

[Review] G.L.A.M.S. - Under The Moon

UNDER THE MOON] is the first release of Mikaru, vocalist of Black Line, in the realm of his synthetic art project G.L.A.M.S., which aims at creating a complete work of art including music, paintings and fashion .

[Concert Report] YELLOW STUDS - Alarm Release Tour Final

Date of Concert: 2014.11.01 Yellow Studs' final at Shimokitazawa Garden was the adequate conclusion of an overall sold-out tour for this amazing alternative rock band. Pumped up by a skilled DJ, at the appointed time the crowd welcomed the band with cheers; on the stage back screen, a video introduced the members' faces and names, and then the real thing appeared.

[Concert Report] INORAN B-DAY LIVE CODE 929/2014 – B-DAY BASH!!!- at Shibuya Public Hall

Fans patiently waited and then slowly but steadily filled Shibuya Public Hall (previously known as Shibuya C.C. Lemon Hall) for the birthday party of the year, Inoran's "B-DAY BASH". People of all ages flocked in, ready to rock out with LUNA SEA's legendary guitarist and enjoy a full night of his solo works.

[Review] HITT - Melancholy to Boku

5 years after his first European concert, HITT makes a comeback to Europe with a new tour in September and October, and with the new album [Melancholy to Boku]. The record opens with the title track [Melancholy to Boku]: starting with a nostalgic guitar riff, the song keeps faith to its name, delivering a fresh yet sentimental and evocative mood, enhanced by the delicate violin by JILL (from Rose Noire).

[Concert Report] Hollow Mellow at Ikebukuro Live Inn Rosa

Hollow Mellow appeared on stage at the end of the "Tokyo Gantai Arisu Shoukougun 30" live, a show packed with energetic band enthusiastic fans. Fired up by the previous acts, the audience eagerly awaited for the three-member band to rock the underground Ikebukuro Live Inn Rosa, ready and willing to be transported in their dark, fairytale-like world.

[Review] ADAMS - Akisame

ADAMS ' new single [Akisame], released on September, 24th 2014 will be the last song by the band in the J-rock/J-pop genre. While fans wait for the band's upcoming, new sound, [Akisame] (lit.

[Review] Anabant Fulls - Visions

Visions] is Anabant Fulls first single; released in July 2013 only for live-house purchase, its three tracks are the first step into the raw, engaging rock sound of this young band.

[Review] ADAMS - SIXNINE

SIXNINE] (69 in the Japanese version) is the new full-length album by "neosexual" rock duo ADAMS. The band is currently on tour in Europe, and although the album will be released in Japan only on June 9th, Nippon Project had chance to listen to it before the official release date.

[Concert Report] MUCC 2DAYS CIRCUIT

[my report is Day 1 only! Day 2 was covered by a different person.] Shibuya AX might be closing down next year, but the two-days circuit delivered by MUCC will surely remain in the hearts of the fans even after that date. The title of the two-days oneman live circuit was " Hypnos & Thanatos": these names, respectively belonging to the twin Greek gods of Sleep and Death, are meant to underline the different concepts of the two lives.

[Concert Report] LOKA presents Sexy,Bad and Heavy ~~produced by STAND MARIA~~ at Shibuya Milkyway

If you think about parties, what are the first things that pop up in your mind? Most readers would probably think about good music, beautiful people and lots of alcohol, and we have to say that LOKA got it down for their "Sexy, Bad and Heavy" live.

[Review] ANSIA - Nanairo Hearts/ Soubou Chakushin

ANSIA is a Tokyo-based, relatively new band, formed in 2013; relatively because this band starts off where the rather popular Auncia had ended in 2011, after losing bassist Yosuke (now in ALSDEAD). With a sparkling new formation, ANSIA members are back in full power with their engaging, vivid and upbeat music.

[Review] MEJIBRAY - Messiah.bat mini album

MESSIAH.bat, released on May 1st 2013, is the second mini-album for the uprising 4 members band MEJIBRAY. Coming as the first “lengthy” release of 2013 for the quartet, Messiah.bat is a solid work that fully portrays the spirit and colors of MEJIBRAY.

[Concert Report] Jrock Explosion 2013 Vol.7 -Tokyo Side- at Harajuku Astro Hall

Every year, the Jrock Explosion live series sponsored by Danger Crue is an important event for both fans and band alike. Growing indie bands are given the chance to perform at big venue if they win the competition, and fans can show their love for their favorite band through voting on the web and during the lives!

[Review] The 3rd Birthday – God Bless You / Gokuchuu Orchestra

The 3rd Birthday is an emerging band from Nagoya: formed three years ago, they have been slowly but steadily forming a name in the scene thanks to their peculiar way of handling music, namely coupling dark atmospheres with appealing, vibrant bites for an ever-winning formula.

[Concert Report] MY little HEARTS. Special Edition Vol.5 at Zepp Tokyo

[Wrote the following parts: introduction, MEJIBRAY, THE KIDDIE, baroque, D, vistlip, An Cafe] To any visual-kei lover who has visited Tokyo, the name little HEARTS. will sound more than familiar, as it is associated a well-known Visual-kei music store located in Shinjuku. Music enthusiasts will also know that the shop promotes a series of live events all around Japan, under the name "MY little HEARTS.".

10 indie Visual Kei bands to discover for the New Year

The end of the year is a time for balance and the beginning of a new year is a time for new things, so at Nippon Project we decided to treat you with this special article.

[Review] Ghost Write Dazzle - fade/Vulgar Trance & Outlaw

Ghost Write Dazzle (GWD for short) is a brand new band, born this year in Tokyo. As you read this, the band will be on hiatus starting from the end of 2013 due to their bassist's departure, however we're looking forward to see them soon back on stage with a renewed full formation!

[Concert Report] LOST ASH TV PRESENTS- Valentine's day gift from LOST ASH at Shibuya REX

Many of our readers may not be familiar with the way Valentine's Day is celebrated in Japan: for those who don't know, it's usually customary for girls to give chocolate and gifts to guys, and not the other way around.

[Review] I-アイ- Crystallize

I-アイ (I-AI) is an interesting Japanese rock band that is going to set foot on the European soil in January 2013 for a series of live dates. Mixing piano harmonies with electronica and pop-rock sounds, the duo manages to create a peculiar, catchy amalgam of seemingly far-off elements in its fascinating records.

[Interview] Guitar Wolf, Rome, 26/06/2013

Visual Kei: the next 10 big things?

The beginning of a new year is a time for novelties and discovery, hence here at Nippon Project we decided to treat you with a special article.

[Concert Report] Guitar Wolf at Sinister Noise Club, Rome

In his interview, vocalist Seiji from Guitar Wolf told us that, to his eyes, every country has a color. We didn’t have the chance to talk to him after the concert, but if we had to choose a color for the concert that took place on June 26th at Sinister Noise Club in Rome, it would be red.

[Concert Report] Promic TV presents TarO&JirO at Shibuya The Game

Nippon Project's partner Promic Tv is a web portal dedicated to J-pop music and culture, featuring exclusive content such as the popular "J-POP NEWS" program on their Youtube Channel. On February 27th, Promic TV coupled with rock duo TarO&JiRO to deliver a great, energy-filled free show at Shibuya The Game.

[Concert Report] JAPAN NIGHT – Move with the music of Japan at Tokyo National Stadium, May 29th

Tokyo's clear sky greeted the fans on National Stadium's last day of activity: opened in 1958, after serving the country through the 1964 Summer Olympics and several other great sports and cultural events, Kokuritsu Kyogijo (the original Japanese name) will be closed, demolished and subsequently renovated for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

[Concert Report] Loka - Deva's EX Tour Final at Shimokitazawa Garden

Date of Concert: 2013.12.20 On a rainy evening at Shimokitazawa Garden, LOKA wrapped up the months-long tour "DEVA" that brought them all around the world, from Europe to Southeast Asia. Fans eagerly waited for the band in the packed and cozy venue, entertained by a video documentary that showed the band's adventures throughout the tour.

[Review] IIII-ligro- Ideological Suicide

IIII-ligro-'s first full album, Ideological Suicide, may not be the most peculiar work of the band; however, it's the perfect introduction for those who don't know their great music, and a reaffirmation of the band's great talents.

[Press Conference Report] girugamesh at Anime Boston : Signing Session and Press Conference

[Concert Report] girugamesh at Anime Boston : three days just for fans!

Tokyo Dirty Cheap Clothes Shopping Tour | All About Japan

Depending on the day you choose for your shopping tour, you might be able to start hunting at one of Japan's many flea markets. These are good places if you like digging-a.k.a., the art of wading through a pile of clothes to snatch that one deal!

20+ Free Museums & Art Galleries in Tokyo | All About Japan

All the culture you can get without spending a dime!

4 Very Creepy Ryokan | All About Japan

4. Hototogizu Ryokan (Hannan City, Osaka) For some reason, Osaka seems to be a very good place for haunted ruins, and Hototogizu Ryokan is another example of a supposedly haunted relic. The area around Yamanakadani Station used to be bustling with business activities related to hot springs, but all of them have closed by now.

Get Your Fish Burger Fix at 6 Japanese Chains | All About Japan

Tired of the usual meat patty? How about a fish or shrimp burger!

4 Beautiful Castles Home to Terrible Ghosts | All About Japan

4. Hachioji Castle (Hachioji, Tokyo) There isn't much left of Hachioji Castle today, but it has a storied history. It was built on a strategic mountain location in the 1570s by Hojo Ujiteru, and in 1590 it became the scene of a bloody episode in the conflict between Toyotomi Hideyoshi and the mighty Hojo family.

8 Accommodation Options in Japan | All About Japan

So, you're planning your first trip or long-term move to Japan and you're afraid you'll end up under a bridge, alone and cold, unable to find a roof? This article is for you!

Internet on Your Phone: A Guide for Residents | All About Japan

In Japan, connecting your phone to the internet is almost easier as a tourist! Once you're a resident, it can quickly become a frustrating experience. However, there are several options out there, and you'll surely be able to find a suitable one.

Stay Connected! Phone Service for Tourists | All About Japan

Ask About Roaming Charges Before doing anything, don't forget to ask your current service provider about options for overseas travel. For example, Vodafone offers global roaming options you'll be charged a fixed amount, either per call or per day, and with that you will be able to enjoy the similar costs as you would in your home country.

8 Unique Rules of Japanese Public Spaces | All About Japan

7. Keep That Elevator Door Open When riding an elevator, the person closest to the buttons will usually keep the door open for others when they enter and exit, until they reach their own floor. They might also press floor buttons for other people if they're too far from the door and the elevator is crowded.

Top 6 'Hanami' Spots in Shikoku | All About Japan

6. Ritsurin Garden (Takamatsu City, Kagawa) Ritsurin Garden is a gorgeous park located near Takamatsu City, and it's been awarded three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan . Among its many natural beauties, the park includes around 350 cherry trees, which can be seen reflecting on the surface of some of the park's six ponds.

How to 'Hanami' Like A Pro | All About Japan

The first thing to carefully choose is the date, since you want the flowers to be at their full bloom for the best view: luckily, the Japan Weather Association has you all sakura lovers close to heart and yearly releases a "Sakura Blossoming Forecast" with the dates for the full bloom in all the various areas of Japan.

7 Best Spots to Buy Toys in Japan | All About Japan

7. Themed Character Shops First of all, if you're particulary obsessed with a specific character or series, chances are there's a shop dedicated to it in Japan. Some examples include: Pokémon Centers Come here for all your poké needs! You can find plushies, all kinds of merchandising and even clothes in these stores.

Eyeliner Power, Make Up! | All About Japan

3. 'Urusei Yatsura' Love Darling Eyeliner Written and illustrated by Rumiko Takahashi, Urusei Yatsura was quite popular from the late '70s to late '80s, so some of you youngsters might not be familiar with it.

10 Fancy Chocolates For A Sweet Valentine's | All About Japan

Some of you may know that Valentine's Day in Japan is different than in the West. While there is lots of chocolate being sold everywhere, it's customary for women to give the chocolates and not the men. They don't give chocolate only to their lovers, but also to their male co-workers or even to their special female friends!

10 Japanese Home Remedies to Fight Any Cold | All About Japan

You should really drink green tea as much as possible for prevention of colds anyway, but it's even more important when you're already sick. It's full of antioxidants and it helps your metabolism, but most of all it can kill harmful bacteria of all kinds, keeping you young, skinny and healthy.

Better Know Your Shochu | All About Japan

Kyushu, and more specifically Kagoshima, has long been associated with the origin of shochu. The first known appearance of the word is some 1559 graffiti written by construction workers on the roof of the Koriyama Hachiman Shrine that says, "The high priest was so stingy he never once gave us shochu to drink.

Eat the Future with Automated Sushi | All About Japan

Conveyor belt ( kaiten, literally "rotating") sushi restaurants are already great, and they're one of the staples of Japanese culinary culture. While the best sushi is undoubtedly expensive, sometimes you just want your fix of fresh fish without breaking the bank, and that's when this kind of restaurant comes to your rescue.

Suntory & Nikka: 6 Whiskys to Die For | All About Japan

Whisky started being produced in Japan around 1870, but commercial production only began in 1923 when the first distillery, Yamazaki, was opened. Shinjiro Torii (pictured above) and Masataka Taketsuru (pictured below with wife Rita) are considered the founding fathers of Japanese whisky.

Spoil Yourself with New Year's Mystery Bags | All About Japan

1. What's a 'Fukubukuro'? The Japanese term 福袋 (fukuburo) comes from the union of two kanji: fuku, or good fortune, and fukuro, meaning bag. Fukubukuro typically appear in Japanese shops on New Year's Day: they're closed grab bags, randomly filled with a shop's products sold for a substantial discount-usually 50 percent or more.

Japan's 8 Creepiest Shrines & Temples | All About Japan

8. Sogenji Temple (Tokyo) If you're familiar with Japanese mythology and folklore, you surely know about the kappa. According to the Shintoist tradition, they're part of the water deity family, mischievous creatures who inhabit ponds and rivers and are generally prone to pranks.

How to Use Karaoke to Improve Your Japanese | All About Japan

There is extensive research on how music can be efficiently used to learn languages; it's especially useful to memorize vocabulary, one of the biggest challenges for intermediate learners. So the good news is, even science says you can actually use karaoke to learn Japanese!

Do You Know Your 4 (+1) Bento Types? | All About Japan

4. Kyaraben (or Charaben), the 'Character Bento' To foreign eyes, kyaraben (or charaben) is one of the most famous incarnations of bento: the food takes the shape of cute animals and anime characters, transforming the meal in a joy for the eyes.

Japan's 4 Scariest Themed Restaurants | All About Japan

4. Alcatraz E.R. (Shibuya) The oldest prison/hospital-themed restaurant in Tokyo, Alcatraz E.R. will welcome you behind its bars with lovely waitresses dressed as nurses. You'll be quickly locked behind bars, your cell nicely decorated with blood, ominous handprints and weird graffiti.

Feel Like a Feudal Lord in Ritsurin Garden | All About Japan

There isn't just one reason why Kagawa Prefecture's Ritsurin Garden has been awarded three stars in the Michelin Guide-there are thousands of them!

The 11 Spookiest Spots in Japan | All About Japan

11. Round Schoolhouse Ruins (Bibai City, Hokkaido) These school ruins in Hokkaido are already creepy without adding anything at all. But to spice things up a bit, let's mention the legend that whoever enters disappears or comes back insane.

Toto's Toilet Museum is Flush with History | All About Japan

The name may not ring any bell for Western readers, but if you've ever lived in Japan you must have experienced a Toto toilet at least once: founded in 1917, Toto has been responsible for some of the most iconic features of Japanese toilets, including much-lauded the washlet system (For those of you who are not familiar with this magic, it refers to heated, electric toilet seats with water spray features to clean your intimate bits, as illustrated most dynamically below).

8 Free Things to Do on a Rainy Day in Tokyo | All About Japan

8. See the View From the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building (Shinjuku) This is a bit of a classic, but if you've never gone on a rainy day, why not? The view will be an interesting change from the standard sunny panorama-and rain does little to dull the lights of the night.

【アンバサダーコラム】欧米におけるビジュアル系ライブ文化について

イタリア出身のコ・フェスタアンバサダー、ディディが欧米における「ビジュアル系」について語ります！ ポイント・ビジュアル系は、日本でも欧米でもニッチなジャンルに属しているものの、ライブでの立ち振る舞いは日本と欧米で大きく異なる。日本では、他のライブにはない細かい不文律が数多くあり、それがライブの一部となっている。一方で、欧米では通常行われるロックのライブの一つとして捉えられている。 しかし、日本にはあまり見られない欧米のビジュアル系ファンの特徴として、ライブに行く際の服装が挙げられる。一部のファンにとって、「ビジュアル系ライブへ行く」と「ゴスロリやデコラといった日本独特のコーデを着る」は同義であり、ライブと日本発ファッションを同時に楽しむカルチャーがある。 欧米では（ロジスティクスの問題もあり）ワンマンショーが基本のため、日本のように複数のビジュアル系アーティストがステージを共有することはほとんどない。無名アーティストのワンマンショーであっても、「ビジュアル系」のジャンルそのもののファンは欧米に多く、うまくPRすれば集客出来る可能性がある。 ---- Hello everyone!...

【アンバサダーコラム】 「ファミレスは、意外な訪日観光客向けスポット！」 コ・フェスタアンバ...

【アンバサダーコラム】 「ファミレスは、意外な訪日観光客向けスポット！」 コ・フェスタアンバサダーでイタリア出身のディディが、欧州からの訪日観光客にとっての日本のファミレス（＝ファミリーレストラン）の魅力について語ります！ぜひご一読ください。 ■ポイント ・欧州からの訪日観光客にとって、子供から大人向けで料理ジャンルが縛られない日本のファミレスは珍しく、また、ウケがいい。 ・ファミレスの人気には、メニューの見やすさ、和食・中華・西洋料理などの選択肢の多さ、良心的な価格など、多くの理由がある。 ・可処分所得が決して高くない20～30代の訪日観光客にとって、日本のファミレスは食事スポットとして有用な選択肢になり得る。（全員が全員、銀座の最高級の寿司を堪能出来るわけではない。）ファミレスが来客数を増やすのに、より訪日観光客に着目してはいかがだろうか？ --- Hello everyone! Didi from Italy writing for all of our readers. Today, I would like to talk to you about an...

Waseda QuonNet "International Students' Diary" Contributor

Regular blogger on Waseda's QuonNet Network, talking about life in Japan as an international student. Topics range from academic life to free-time, cultural aspects etc. Participation is sponsored by Waseda University Academic Solutions Corporation（WAS）.

Contro la violenza sulle donne - Voci dall'Ateneo di Bologna

Partecipazione all'antologia (sponsorizzata dal Comitato Pari Opportunità dell'Università di Bologna ) con la poesia "Vergogna". La violenza di genere ha molte facce, molti luoghi, e dagli innumerevoli volti del silenzio è ancora avvolta e protetta. Nell'estate del 2010 il Comitato Pari Opportunità dell'Università di Bologna ha voluto affrontare questo dramma sociale chiedendo a coloro che nell'Ateneo studiano e lavorano di rompere il silenzio attraverso la loro scrittura.

AA.VV. - Lavoricidi

Partecipazione al romanzo cooperativo "Lavoricidi" con il racconto "Game Over". Lavoricidi è un romanzo cooperativo scritto da 15 giovani autori marchigiani che hanno sviluppato altrettanti personaggi, le cui vicende si intrecciano in quei dolci e stretti appezzamenti di Marche che si estendono da Ancona a Macerata a Fermo, nella tragedia quotidiana oggi nota con la dicitura MERCATO DEL LAVORO. Disponibile nelle migliori librerie regionali ed online.

AA. VV. - Altri mondi possibili

Antologia del concorso letterario "Cavastorie". Vincitrice del concorso con il racconto fantasy "Lupi". Dieci testi magici, selezionati dalla giuria del Premio Letterario Cavastorie, in cui la sospensione dell'incredulità trasporta il lettore fino all'ultima pagina e lo spinge a dar maggior credito alla propria immaginazione. Perché immaginare non è fuggire, non è il gioco di un bambino solitario, piuttosto è un libero viaggio che racchiude in sé tutto il valore della scoperta.

[Report Concerto - ITA] X Japan (New York)

[Conferenza Stampa - ITA] girugamesh all'Anime Boston: sessioni di autografi, domande e risposte...

[Report Concerto - ITA ] girugamesh all'Anime Boston: tre giorni solo per i fan!