Hey Japan!

A canalside building in Tokyo illuminated at night by projection mapping. The facade displays yokai figures on a blue-purple background beneath a full moon, including a gashadokuro skeleton and a chochin-obake lantern ghost, reflected in the water below. ©HITOHATA,INC.

A canalside building in Tokyo illuminated at night by projection mapping. The facade displays yokai figures from Japanese art on a yellow-green background, including a large skeleton, a crouching demon, a white beast, and a kappa, reflected in the water below. ©HITOHATA,INC.

Yokai from ukiyo-e and the Hyakki Yagyo scroll will be projected across the buildings and waterway of Tennozu Canal East in Tokyo. The free outdoor projection mapping event runs March 20-23, 18:30-21:00.

Yupiteru presents Odaiba Itasha Heaven – Spring, Tokyo | Hey Japan! Approximately 1,000 itasha from across Japan gather in Odaiba on March 29, for a day of anime car displays, cosplay, live stages, and more.

"Yupiteru presents Odaiba Itasha Heaven" is a popular event held twice a year in Odaiba, Tokyo, celebrating itasha culture — vehicles decorated with anime, manga, and game characters. The Spring 2026 edition takes place on March 29.

Just beginning to bloom – Nemophila flowers beginning to emerge across the green hillside of Miharashi Hill, with sparse blue blooms scattered among the foliage and a lone pine tree visible to the right. ©Parks Japan.F

Near-peak bloom (70% open) - Miharashi Hill covered in a soft blue-white carpet of nemophila at near-peak bloom, with the lone pine tree standing to the right and the gently rolling hill stretching toward a pale blue sky. ©Parks Japan.F

Full peak bloom – Miharashi Hill transformed into a sweeping sea of vivid blue nemophila at full peak bloom, with visitors dotting the hillside paths and a lone pine tree standing against a clear blue sky. ©Parks Japan.F

Peak bloom last year (April 30, 2025) – crowds of visitors walk through a vast hillside blanketed in blue nemophila flowers in full peak bloom at Miharashi Hill, Hitachi Seaside Park, under a vivid blue sky. ©Parks Japan.F

Hitachi Seaside Park is famous for its colourful flowers throughout all four seasons. Spring brings nemophila, daffodils, and tulips — and this year, the nemophila at Miharashi Hill are forecast to reach near-peak bloom (70% open) around April 11, with full peak bloom around April 16.

Ojigadake – cherry blossoms in full bloom in the foreground overlooking the calm Seto Inland Sea, scattered islands, and the Seto Ohashi Bridge stretching across the misty horizon. ©Okayama Prefecture Tourism Federation

Tsuyama Castle / Kakuzan Park – hundreds of cherry blossom trees in peak bloom cascade down the stone walls of Tsuyama Castle (Kakuzan Park) beneath a vivid blue sky, with the white castle tower visible at the top of the hill. ©Okayama Prefecture Tourism Federation

Okayama Korakuen Garden – cherry blossoms frame a traditional two-storey wooden pavilion at Okayama Korakuen Garden, with manicured pine trees and a wide open lawn in the background under a bright blue sky.©Okayama Prefecture

Okayama Korakuen Garden – a vivid pink weeping blossom tree reflected in the still pond beside a traditional wooden bridge, with a classic Japanese hall visible in the background. ©Okayama Prefecture

Cherry blossom viewing is a big thing in Japan — it's called "hanami". It's one of the most beautiful times of year, and people even take time off work to enjoy it. These images are of famous cherry blossom spots in Okayama. This year, Okayama blossoms are expected to begin around March 27.

Shingen-ko Festival, Kofu | Hey Japan! The Shingen-Ko Festival brings Takeda Shingen's Sengoku campaigns to life with 1,000 armoured warriors parading through Kofu.

The Shingen-Ko Festival takes place in Kofu, Yamanashi, from 3 to 5 April. Now in its 52nd edition, it commemorates feudal lord Takeda Shingen and is recognised as one of Japan's largest historical reenactment events.

The pick is purely based on personal preference and does not reflect any charts or other metrics. Our “Song of the Week” showcases a variety of Japanese artists and genres, ensuring there’s something for everyone!

Shounanno Kaze - Junrenka ℗ 2006 134RECORDINGS / TOY'S FACTORY

We present our Song of the Week! #HeyJapanSOTW

Shounanno Kaze - Junrenka

Listen on Apple Music: music.apple.com/song/junrenk...
Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/1VJVtU...

GACKT 魔王シンフォニー 2026 -INFINITY- organized by billboard classics | Billboard-CC billboard CLASSICS（ビルボードクラシックス）の公式サイトのコンサート情報の詳細記事ページになります。

GACKT's full orchestra tour "Maou Symphony 2026 -INFINITY-" visits 8 cities across Japan, July–August 2026. Featuring band YELLOW FRIED CHICKENz and a 70-piece orchestra. Tickets on sale now.

Key visual for the Itagaki Paru Exhibition featuring a group of characters from BEASTARS, SANDA, and Taika no Risei in a dynamic, energetic composition. Newly drawn illustration by Itagaki Paru. © Itagaki Paru / Akita Shoten

Cover art for volumes 1 and 2 of the manga SANDA by Paru Itagaki, published by Shonen Champion Comics. © Itagaki Paru / Akita Shoten

Cover art for volumes 1 and 2 of the manga Taika no Risei by Paru Itagaki, published by Shonen Champion Comics. © Itagaki Paru / Akita Shoten

Interior view of the Itagaki Paru Exhibition showing life-size character standees of Haru, Legosi, and Louis from BEASTARS alongside framed original manga manuscripts on the walls, with a brick archway leading to a further gallery space. © Itagaki Paru / Akita Shoten

"The Itagaki Paru Exhibition" runs Mar 7–29 at Terrada Warehouse G3-6F in Tokyo. Original manuscripts from BEASTARS, SANDA, Beast Complex, Taika no Risei, Paruno Graffiti, and Ushimitsu Gao on display. BEASTARS Final Season now streaming on Netflix.

The Mysterious Candy Shop Zenitendo is a place that appears only to those destined to find it. The shop owner Beniko guides each visitor to the one sweet that was meant for them — but every treat holds the power to bring fortune or misfortune, depending on how it is used.

A life-size figure of Beniko, the shop owner of Zenitendo, dressed in a traditional red kimono decorated with gold coin motifs, displayed at Miraiya Shoten Marinpia alongside the Zenitendo candy corner. © 廣嶋玲子, iyaiya / Miraiya Shoten Co., Ltd.

The Zenitendo-themed candy corner at Miraiya Shoten Marinpia, featuring shelves stocked with a wide variety of traditional Japanese sweets and a decorative shop front inspired by the book series. © 廣嶋玲子, iyaiya / Miraiya Shoten Co., Ltd.

Cover of the children's book series 'Fushigi Dagashiya Zenitendo' (The Mysterious Candy Shop Zenitendo), written by Reiko Hiroshima and illustrated by jyajya, featuring Beniko behind her candy shop counter. © 廣嶋玲子, iyaiya / Miraiya Shoten Co., Ltd.

A candy corner inspired by the popular children's book series "Fushigi Dagashiya Zenitendo" opens on March 13 at Miraiya Shoten Marinpia in Chiba, featuring nostalgic classics and unique sweets. Mysterious shop owner Beniko will also be there to meet visitors on March 14-15.

Anime Japan 2026, Tokyo | Hey Japan! AnimeJapan brings AJ Stages, studio exhibitions, and global cosplay to Tokyo Big Sight. Everything fans need to know.

"AnimeJapan 2026", one of the largest anime conventions held annually, takes place at Tokyo Big Sight on March 28-29. Bandai Namco, MAPPA, Toei Animation and more will exhibit. Business Days follow on March 30-31.

Exterior view of "sanrio house" at Lumine Shinjuku, featuring Hello Kitty and My Melody figures flanking the storefront entrance. © Mash Holdings Co., Ltd. © '26 SANRIO ® SANRIO CHARACTERS

Interior display cases with Sanrio character plush toys, character-branded tote bags, and canned merchandise on shelves. © Mash Holdings Co., Ltd. © '26 SANRIO ® SANRIO CHARACTERS

Wide interior shot of "sanrio house" showing product shelves stocked with plush toys, stationery, and Hello Milk packaging along the walls. © Mash Holdings Co., Ltd. © '26 SANRIO ® SANRIO CHARACTERS

Bakery-style display case filled with bread-shaped Sanrio character plush toys, with a My Melody figure standing alongside. © Mash Holdings Co., Ltd. © '26 SANRIO ® SANRIO CHARACTERS

Sanrio-supervised brand "sanrio house" by Mash Group opens today, March 6, on the 2nd floor of Lumine Shinjuku Lumine 2 in Tokyo.

Exhibition poster for "Think with Pokémon: Art & Environment Education 4" featuring an upcycled Gengar sculpture made from a helmet, spikes, shoe keepers, CDs, and cards, set against a yellow background. The event runs March 26–April 6, 2026 at Tokyo Midtown Design Hub. ©Tama Art University ©Pokémon ©Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc.

Exhibition poster variant featuring an upcycled Tinkaton (Dekanuchan) sculpture made from a metal pot, computer mouse, ball, spray can, and rubber gloves, shown against the yellow background with event details. ©Tama Art University ©Pokémon ©Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc.

Exhibition poster variant featuring an upcycled Aron (Kokodora) sculpture made from a helmet, computer mouse, cup, and miniature sandals, displayed against the same yellow background with event details. ©Tama Art University ©Pokémon ©Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc.

Interior view of the exhibition space showing rows of upcycled Pokémon sculptures displayed on cardboard pedestals, with colorful creations made from recycled everyday objects. Shelves of smaller works and a wall of student sketches and sticky notes are visible in the background. ©Tama Art University ©Pokémon ©Nintendo/Creatures Inc. /GAME FREAK inc.

“Pokémon × Art & Environmental Education Exhibition 4”, organised by Tama Art University at Tokyo Midtown Design Hub (Minato City, Tokyo), will run from March 26 to April 6 and feature 91 upcycled Pokémon sculptures on display. Admission is free.

The sketchbook is a 400-page full-colour volume containing approximately 900 sketches and will be republished on March 19.

Cover of "Masaaki Yuasa: Sketchbook for Animation Projects" — a yellow spiral-bound notebook filled with colorful watercolor and ink character sketches, including whimsical figures, a pig, robots, a mandala-like design, and dynamic action poses in Yuasa's loose, energetic style. ©Masaaki Yuasa

Two-page spread from the sketchbook showing vibrant watercolour poster roughs for Crayon Shin-chan, featuring the iconic character surrounded by chaotic, action-packed compositions in bold reds, greens, and blues. ©臼井儀人／双葉社・シンエイ・テレビ朝日・ADK / Masaaki Yuasa

Two-page spread with expressive watercolour concept art from Mind Game (2004), depicting characters flying outward against radiating green, blue, and pink stripes, with a close-up of a wide-eyed face and a Japanese text column alongside. ©2004 MIND GAME Project / Masaaki Yuasa

Dense two-page spread of concept art for the anime Kaiba (2008), featuring watercolour environment designs of blue caverns and archways, character sketches, a colourful peacock-like motif, golden ring props, and handwritten Japanese production notes. ©2008湯浅政明・マッドベラス／カイバ製作委員会 / Masaaki Yuasa

Sketches from Masaaki Yuasa’s "Sketchbook for Animation Projects". Yuasa is an acclaimed Japanese animation director known for The Tatami Galaxy, Ping Pong the Animation, and Devilman Crybaby. He began his career working on Chibi Maruko-chan and Crayon Shin-chan before making his feature debut.

Oversized Nikkorino plush characters of a smiling orange octopus-shaped wiener and a cream soda parfait with a cherry on top displayed on the Ikebukuro Station concourse, with an onigiri and other character pillars visible behind them. ©Qualia Co., Ltd.

Giant Nikkorino plush figures shaped like a smiling broccoli and carrot wrapped around pillars inside Ikebukuro Station, with a pink patterned pillar and a "Happy 3rd Anniversary" banner visible in the background. ©Qualia Co., Ltd.

A collection of small Nikkorino capsule toy plushies arranged on a red-and-white checkered cloth, featuring kawaii food characters including broccoli, onigiri, pancakes, cream soda, tamagoyaki, and more, all with simple smiling faces. ©Qualia Co., Ltd.

The 3rd anniversary celebration of the plush capsule toy brand “Nikkorino” is currently being held at Ikebukuro Station (Tokyo). Oversized plush displays have been installed inside the station as part of the commemorative promotion. The installation will be on view through March 8.

The Osaka City Central Public Hall glows in purple, gold, and pink hues as a dazzling projection mapping display transforms its neo-Renaissance facade, with snowflake-like patterns drifting across the surface while a crowd captures the spectacle on their phones. ©HITOHATA,INC.

A side-angle view of the hall bathed in a stained glass-inspired projection, with intricate kaleidoscopic patterns in rich jewel tones covering every surface of the building's facade, from its arched entrance to the twin towers. ©HITOHATA,INC.

A dramatic scene of purple, red, and gold projections depicting flowing floral and cosmic imagery across the hall's classical architecture, with a large audience silhouetted in the foreground enjoying the winter light show. ©HITOHATA,INC.

The building's facade is transformed by a warm golden and amber stained glass motif with spiraling rosette designs, as spectators gather in the plaza to watch the illumination against the Osaka city skyline. ©HITOHATA,INC.

There are numerous illumination events held across Japan in winter, and seasonal light displays have become an enjoyed part of winter culture. Here are images of the “OSAKA Hikari no Renaissance” projection mapping at the Osaka City Central Public Hall, held in December.

Hifuri Shinji Fire Swinging Ritual, Aso | Hey Japan! Aso's Fire-Swinging Ritual - Spectacular night ceremony during Tatsukuri Festival every March.

Hifuri Shinji (Fire-Swinging Ritual) takes place on March 23 at Aso Shrine in Aso, Kumamoto. Part of the centuries-old Tatsukuri Festival, it features residents swinging flaming grass bundles in a spectacular nighttime display symbolising purification, fertility, and renewal.

For physical and digital releases, check out Bandcamp's japanoise section (bandcamp.com/discover/japanoise) and Disk Union (diskunion.net). For events and venues, Clubberia (clubberia.com) is the go-to resource.

Es gibt immer ein nächstes Mal 😆

A wide view of the immersive teamLab Sketch Umwelt space, where colorful hand-drawn airplanes and sea creatures fly across massive projected walls. Visitors explore the room surrounded by a vibrant digital landscape of mountains, pink cherry blossoms, cityscapes, and a starry sky, with drawing stations lit up in the centre. ©teamLab

A close-up of the drawing experience — a visitor colours a dolphin with oil pastels on a provided template sheet, which will then be scanned and transformed into a 3D creature that joins the immersive projected world. ©teamLab

A visitor reaches up toward a brightly coloured dolphin gliding through projected clouds and a starry sky, surrounded by pink crystal-like formations, palm trees, and other hand-drawn sea creatures brought to life in the digital space. ©teamLab

A child uses a smartphone to interact with the projected artwork up close, as a colourful hand-drawn airplane soars overhead and a giant spotted whale breaches from digital waves beside them. ©teamLab

The popular interactive digital art installation “teamLab Sketch Umwelt” runs Mar 20–Apr 19 at the Museum of Aeronautical Sciences next to Narita Airport. Drawings of airplanes and sea creatures are transformed into 3D forms that move through the space and can be controlled via smartphone.

The pick is purely based on personal preference and does not reflect any charts or other metrics. Our “Song of the Week” showcases a variety of Japanese artists and genres, ensuring there’s something for everyone!

Hibari Misora - Kawa No Nagare No Youni ℗ 2021 Nippon Columbia Co., Ltd./NIPPONOPHONE

We present our Song of the Week! #HeyJapanSOTW

Hibari Misora - Kawa No Nagare No Youni

Listen on Apple Music: music.apple.com/song/kawa-no...
Listen on Spotify: open.spotify.com/track/6iRM3c...

Matsumoto Castle bathed in dramatic red projection mapping, viewed from behind the illuminated red Uzumibashi bridge spanning the moat, with the castle and bridge reflected in the still water below. ©HITOHATA, Inc.

Matsumoto Castle illuminated by colourful projection mapping featuring swirling Japanese umbrella (wagasa) patterns in green, blue, pink, and orange, with the vibrant display reflected symmetrically in the castle moat. ©HITOHATA, Inc.

Matsumoto Castle transformed by projection mapping displaying flowing white Japanese calligraphy characters against the dark castle walls, with the glowing text reflected in the moat below. ©HITOHATA, Inc.

Matsumoto Castle covered in a blue-and-white projection mapping design resembling traditional Japanese porcelain (sometsuke) floral patterns, mirrored perfectly in the dark moat waters. ©HITOHATA, Inc.

The 2025–2026 winter projection mapping at Matsumoto Castle (Nagano Prefecture). Matsumoto Castle, a National Treasure, has the oldest surviving five-story, six-floor tenshu (main keep) in Japan.

Cover of "Ultra Mecha Design Art Collection 1971–2025," featuring various iconic Ultraman series attack jets and vehicles flying in formation against a blue sky, with the large silver-and-red MAT Arrow 1 prominently centered. Supervised by Tsuburaya Productions, edited by TARKUS, priced at ¥4,950, with the Ultraman 60th anniversary logo. ©TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION / TARKUS

Sample spread from the 1971 "Return of Ultraman" section showing original design art for the MAT Arrow 1 and MAT Arrow 2 attack jets. Includes hand-drawn concept sketches with designer signatures, internal cockpit illustrations, and specification notes detailing dimensions and capabilities. Watermarked "SAMPLE". ©TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION / TARKUS

Sample spread from the 2001 "Ultraman Cosmos" section featuring detailed mechanical design drawings of the Troi Total large carrier aircraft and Tech Thunder 1 fighter jet. Includes multiple engineering views, separation/transformation sequences, core module schematics, and handwritten production notes. Watermarked "SAMPLE". ©TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION / TARKUS

Sample spread titled "Defense Team Equipment Design Collection" showcasing uniform and gear designs for MAT, ZAT, and MAC defense teams across multiple Ultraman series. Features costume illustrations, helmet concepts, early sketches, and weapon designs including the MAT Shoot, MAC Blaster, and Atomic Laser 5, with both male and female suit variants. Watermarked "SAMPLE". ©TSUBURAYA IMAGINATION / TARKUS

Ultra Mecha Design Art Collection has been released. Supervised by Tsuburaya Productions, it features mecha designs from "Return of Ultraman" (1971) to "Ultraman Omega" (2025), including first-time illustrations, concept sketches, and defense team designs. A4, full colour.

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Left: A red-toned anatomical illustration of a creature resembling a grotesque tanuki or raccoon-dog elder god, shown in cross-section. Right: A massive green, bulbous earth deity clings to the mountainside as Edo-era pilgrims in straw hats scramble along the rocky path of Mt. Fuji, rendered in Hokusai's ukiyo-e style with warm earth tones. ©Goki Yamada

Left: Vertical panels showing detailed, richly colored anatomical illustrations of Cthulhu mythos creatures with the title "Cthulhu Mythical Creatures Anatomy Encyclopedia" in Japanese and English. Right: A teal-green Cthulhu-like sea monster with clawed limbs and writhing tentacles crashes through Hokusai's iconic Great Wave off Kanagawa, dwarfing the fishing boats and Mt. Fuji beneath. ©Goki Yamada

A massive, toad-like Lovecraftian creature with wrinkled pink-purple skin, red eyes, and coiling tentacles rises from a canal in Edo-period Nihonbashi. Merchants and townspeople flee in panic among overturned goods and boats, rendered in Hokusai's woodblock print style. Japanese text reads about a hideous giant toad emerging from the water's depths. ©Goki Yamada

Left: A grid of black-and-white anatomical illustrations from the "Cthulhu Mythical Creatures Anatomy Encyclopedia" showing cross-sections of various Lovecraftian beings. Right: A purple, jellyfish-like elder god with a single yellow eye and dripping tentacles hovers over a Hokusai-style landscape of Shichirigahama beach with Mt. Fuji in the background. ©Goki Yamada

Hokusai Meets Cthulhu: Postcards featuring illustrations from Goki Yamada’s "Evil Gods in Thirty-Six Views" and bookmarks featuring illustrations from Yamada’s "Cthulhu Mythos Creature Anatomy Encyclopedia". Both books are currently available only in Japanese.

A close-up of a circular-framed lithograph print of Giorno Giovanna and Gold Experience in loose ink-line style, displayed in a white gallery space with another framed artwork visible in the background corridor. © Hirohiko Araki & LUCKY LAND COMMUNICATIONS / Shueisha Inc.

Three black-and-white lithograph prints by Hirohiko Araki laid out on a wooden table, each depicting a JoJo's Bizarre Adventure character in dynamic ink-line style with Araki's signature, from the "JOJO / Lithograph works 2" limited edition series. © Hirohiko Araki & LUCKY LAND COMMUNICATIONS / Shueisha Inc.

A lenticular print of Giorno Giovanna and Gold Experience mounted on a gallery wall with a red-to-gold gradient border, the black-and-white manga artwork showing the Stand and user mid-attack with bold Japanese sound effects. © Hirohiko Araki & LUCKY LAND COMMUNICATIONS / Shueisha Inc.

A dramatically lit entrance corridor with radiating threads of light in warm gradients of red, gold, and green, leading to a hanging Nishijin-ori textile scroll displaying "Hirohiko Araki / JoJo's Bizarre Adventure" at the Shueisha Manga-Art Heritage Tokyo Gallery. ©Shueisha Inc.

The Hirohiko Araki “JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure” exhibition at Shueisha Manga-Art Heritage Tokyo Gallery (Tokyo) will be held Mar 3–Apr 19. Among the exhibits is a Nishijin-ori hanging scroll version of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, presented as a multimedia installation combining sound and video.

Giant red strawberry-shaped buildings with white polka dots and green leaf tops at the Ichigo no Ouchi exhibition outside DiverCity Tokyo Plaza. © Sanrio Co., Ltd.

The curved pink interior of the strawberry house displaying Ichigo Shimbun newspaper covers on the left wall and illustration artwork on the right, with a doorway leading to the Strawberry King display. © Sanrio Co., Ltd.

Limited-edition Sanrio character plushies dressed in strawberry costumes with golden crowns, alongside a drawstring bag and acrylic keychain featuring the Ichigo no Ouchi design. © Sanrio Co., Ltd.

Inside the strawberry house, a colorful pink room filled with Strawberry King figures, strawberry decorations, and whimsical wall art. © Sanrio Co., Ltd.

Sanrio will open the limited-time exhibition “Ichigo no Ouchi” from 6 Mar–12 Jul at DiverCity Tokyo Plaza in Odaiba. The strawberry-shaped venue marks the 50th anniversary of Ichigo Shimbun and features displays of Strawberry King and the Angels, photo spots, and limited-edition goods.