Artist Tetsuya Umeda held a unique art project called “Zero-Tai,” composed of a film, map, and radio last winter. He’s also planning on publishing a book to add further clues about said project. I spoke to him to discover more.

UKICO, who spent time in Paris, New York, and Japan, creates a unique sonic world. From songwriting to music engineering her journey has just begun.

Self-taught artists in Japan are winning international praise for the imagination, innovation, and skill with which they make their unusual paintings, drawings, and mixed-media works.

An independent publisher Funsho-sya publish books of artists with strong and rare charisma based on music.Hajime Matsushita, who runs this independent publish label with members from diverse backgrounds talks about the true picture.

BIGYUKI is a Japanese keyboardist and producer who goes beyond the definition of jazz. He released an EP last December for the first time in a while, and CHAI released a song he produced for them in February. Music critic Masaaki Hara asks the artist about where he’s at today.

The comedy duo Kuuki Kaidan on their live conte show, anna.

The next generation singer/songwriter, Grace Aimi, challenges the world together with Chaki Zulu. Zooming in on the birth of the new Gen Z icon.

This is a documentary film had its world premiere at the Rotterdam International Film Festival, held online in February 2021. It is scheduled to be released in Japan early this summer.

Tomo Kosuga, an art producer living in Amsterdam, explores photography around the world today in this series of columns. In the fifth installment of this series, the author visits a gallery for the first time in four months and writes about leading Dutch photographer Erwin Olaf.

“Manucurist” is an environment-friendly and clean nail polish brand born in Paris. About the commitment to clean beauty from the birth of the brand.

How did the representative of shoegaze, My Bloody Valentine, give an impact on the Japanese music scene? The author of My Bloody Valentine Koso Subete, Takanori Kuroda, elucidates the question.

Hana Yagi is a fashion designer gaining global attention. This article unveils the sentiments toward fashion, internal conflict, and next challenges of the artist.

VIDEOTAPEMUSIC samples VHS tapes and home videos to create music and films. In part 1 of this interview, TOKION talks to VIDEOTAPEMUSIC about the appeal of VHS tapes and gets a closer look at the thought behind his past music videos.

Leading ambient unit UNKNOWN ME reveals how they found ambient/new age music, and their new album on beauty

Inspired by Tokyo lifestyle, the two Parisians who launched “Jitensha” in Paris talk about the charm of Japanese bicycles and culture.

Music recommendations on Twitter “#内山結愛一日一アルバム” and music reviews posted on note by Yua Uchiyama from Japanese idol group RAY, is earning a cult following. This is the first episode of her serial article on Japanese music, featuring “Psychedelic Japanoise”.

This series introduces up-and-coming beauty brand founders in Japan. The second installment features TV personality and poet Hanna Kang. She talks to TOKION about Mirari, the cosmetic brand she started in November 2020.

Yoshifumi Hashimoto, producer of “After 6 Junction,” which is broadcast on TBS Radio from 18:00 to 21:00 on weekdays, talks about program production.

The pottery collection designed by graphic artist YOSHIROTTEN is now available at TOKION.

What connection did “Ankoku” critic Mamoru Goto discover between Japan and black metal?

Drawing Orchestra is a project where diverse artists partake in a drawing session. We look at the project’s whole picture and possibilities with a discussion between the two founders and testimonies from the participating artists.

Producer Chikara Ito is striving for new structures and initiatives in which anyone can be fascinated with film production. What are the challenges and solutions so far, and what is the future of the film?

Cunimondo Takiguchi (aka Ryusenkei), a key figure in today’s city pop scene, talks about the origins of his career to where he is now, his thoughts on the scene, and his vision for the future.

Their indie drama “HodoBuzz” that deals with Japan’s social issues are streaming on 12 platforms in Japan and is available on Amazon Prime in the U.S. and England.

Makoto Ueda speaks about the theatre company EUROPE KIKAKU’s first-ever feature-length film Beyond the Infinite Two Minutes (Droste), for which he wrote the script.

Rie Harui, a jewelry designer who produced showpieces for “Yohji Yamamoto” Fall-Winter 2021/22 collection, talks about her brand philosophy.

Recorded last summer, Ayano Kaneko’s new album Yosuga is finally out after a year and a half. We asked her about the thoughts behind her songwriting during an extremely confusing 2020.