Japanese screenwriter Makiko Uchidate, known for writing scripts for many television drama series in the country, died of acute left-side heart failure at a hospital in Tokyo on Dec. 17. She was 77. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/12/26/entertainment-news/screenwriter-makiko-uchidate-obituary/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #makikouchidate #obituary #japanesetv #sumo
Japanese film director Masato Harada, known for socially conscious works including "Climber's High," died on Monday at the age of 76. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/12/14/entertainment-news/masato-harada-obituary/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #masatoharada #obituary #japanesefilm
American playwright and actor Jeremy O. Harris has been released three weeks after his arrest in Okinawa on suspicion of drug smuggling while prosecutors investigate. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/12/10/entertainment-news/jeremy-o-harris-drug-release/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #emilyinparis #jeremyoharris #drugs #okinawa #smuggling
Studiocanal, Heyday Films and Sanrio are set to bring the Mr. Men and Little Miss characters to the big screen for a new era of storytelling. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/12/05/entertainment-news/mr-men-little-miss-film/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #mrmen #littlemiss #children039sbooks #filmadaptations
The latest film adaptation of the “Demon Slayer” manga series has become the first Japanese movie to gross more than ¥100 billion worldwide, its distributors have said. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/11/18/entertainment-news/demon-slayer-first-hundred-billion/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #demonslayer #anime #manga #japanesefilm #sony
For this year’s New Year’s Eve “Kohaku” broadcast, Okinawan rockers Orange Range are back after 19 years, while new-kawaii J-Pop group Fruits Zipper are set to make their debut. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/11/14/entertainment-news/kohaku2025-masaaki-sakai-j-pop/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #kohakuutagassen #nhk #idols #jpop #japanesetv #newyear #oshogatsu #chanmina
Renowned actor Tatsuya Nakadai, best known for his role in Akira Kurosawa’s “Ran,” has died at the age of 92. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/11/11/entertainment-news/tatsuya-nakadai-obituary/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #tatsuyanakadai #mumeijuku #obituary #akirakurosawa #japanesefilm
Annemarie Jacir’s “Palestine 36,” about a Palestinian uprising in the 1930s, took home the Tokyo International Film Festival’s top prize as the event drew to a close Wednesday. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/11/07/entertainment-news/film-tiff-closing-ceremony/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #filmfestivals #tiff #tokyo
An opera exploring the life of Japanese ukiyo-e traditional woodblock print artist Katsushika Hokusai will premiere in Scotland next February. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/11/04/entertainment-news/opera-hokusai-scotland/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #scotland #hokusai #opera
Rock legend Ace Frehley — Kiss’s original “Spaceman” — has died at 74. The guitarist helped define the band’s explosive sound and look, which had a huge impact on rock music. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/10/18/entertainment-news/ace-frehley-kiss-dies/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #kiss #obituary #heavymetal #hardrock
Sam Fender took home the 2025 Mercury Prize for "People Watching," with the Newcastle crowd erupting in joy as the ceremony left London for the first time. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/10/18/entertainment-news/sam-fender-mercury-prize/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #musicawards #mercuryprize #samfender #cmat #pulp
Rest in power, D’Angelo. The Grammy-winning neo-soul pioneer behind "Brown Sugar" and "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" has died at 51 after a battle with cancer. His music reshaped R&B and inspired generations of artists. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/10/15/entertainment-news/dangelo-rb-obituary-music/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #d039angelo #obituary #rb
Move over, “Spirited Away.” The new “Demon Slayer” film just cut its way into Japan’s all-time No. 2 box-office spot. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/09/17/entertainment-news/demon-slayer-opening-weekend/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #demonslayer #japanesefilm #anime
Robert Redford, the American actor and director who was an influential supporter of independent cinema, has died at his home in Utah at the age of 89. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/09/16/entertainment-news/robert-redford-obituary/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #obituary #robertredford
Fifteen-year-old Owen Cooper made Emmy history as the youngest male winner, while “The Studio” took home a record 13 awards. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/09/16/entertainment-news/emmys-2025-adolescence-studio/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #emmys #television #awards
The live-action Japanese movie "Kokuho" has made over ¥10.5 billion in box office revenue in a feat not achieved in Japan since "Bayside Shakedown 2" in 2003. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/08/19/entertainment-news/kokuho-revenue/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #kokuho #japanesefilm #film #kabuki
Akira Otani’s “The Night of Baba Yaga” is a genre-bending novel of violence and tenderness that defies easy categorization. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/07/04/entertainment-news/akira-otani-the-night-of-baba-yaga-crime-writing-award/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews#japaneseliterature #akiraotani #sambett #thenightofbabayaga #translation #lgbtq #yakuza
Male pop-rock group Tokio announced it will be disbanding after more than three decades of activity. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2025/06/25/entertainment-news/tokio-disband/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #culture #entertainmentnews #tokio #japanesetv #taichikokubun #celebrities