The country’s aesthetics and inventions have spread far. It still remains a singular place.

From Hello Kitty to Pikachu, the country changed what the world considers adorable. But do these characters represent joy — ...

The latest Sanrio crossover is with Capcom's Monster Hunter franchise, and Hello Kitty and her friends are getting an ...

FUBUKI ～zero in on Holoearth～, an action-packed pixel platformer featuring characters from the Hololive universe, is now ...

Despite puzzled reactions when it was unveiled, the mascot has since become popular among social media users in Japan, and ...

Never mind that Studio Ghibli director and founder Hayao Miyazaki famously denounced AI-generated art as “ an insult to life ...

Nearly 18 years ago, in Sapporo, Japan, a digital girl with two turquoise pig-tails was born. Hatsune Miku is the personification of a virtual idol developed by Crypton Future Media as a voicebank for ...

Tariffs to Cause ‘Short-term Bumps,’ Trump Economic Adviser Tells Fox Business Trump’s Auto Tariffs to Cover Hundreds of Billions of Dollars Worth of Vehicle, Parts Imports Bank of Japan Gov. Ueda ...

Osaka, Japan (CNN) — At Katsuo-ji Temple, Daruma dolls watch from every corner. They peer between tree branches, cluster around altars, and dot winding pathways, flashes of bright red among the ...

However, the famous Phoenix Suns Gorilla, who originated by happenstance in 1980, has proven to be among the most athletic of just about any mascot in pro sports. Of course, he's a character.

In 2024, Japan saw a record 36.8 million overseas visitors, a 15% increase from pre-pandemic levels. And while Osaka is the second most popular prefecture for overnight stays, Katsuo-ji is rarely ...