I guess not many of you know where, what, or why Koenji is. It's a district of Tokyo, located right in the middle of Suginami, which you can find on the Western end of Shinjuku. Around 1980, quite a lot of apartment buildings were set up there, which caused the number of stores, bars, and cafes to skyrocket. Today you can find cute little stores in Suginami, as an alternative to the hustle and bustle of Shibuya, Akihabara, or Shimokitazawa. If you want a shopping exp…

As a protégé of the famous scandal photographer Terry Richardson, Keiichi Nitta, born in 1975 in the Japanese capital of Tokyo, enjoyed what we might call an alternative education in the midst of a microverse dominated by sex, drugs and rock music. So it's no great wonder that he continues to tread the path of his master even after finishing his studies, combining his work with Far Eastern flair and creating from it the skillful composition of perfectly shot photos…

If you're not careful, it's suddenly there and shortly thereafter it's already over: the last summer. The never-returning days of a time when you could still escape from the real world. Together with your friends you scurried through the city, across the fields, into the cooling lake, past those who were already stuck and wished for nothing more than to be a part of these reality-denying rebels again. Tokyo-based photographer Shiori Ikeno captured her last summer on…

If you're flying to Japan for the first time, you'll soon feel like you're being followed as you make your way through Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto. Because regardless of whether you're in the middle of the colorful big city or in the idyllic countryside, during the day or at night, in crowded shopping streets or on deserted hiking trails. They really are everywhere: beverage vending machines. „Japan has the highest number of beverage vending machines in the world in…

Welcome to Thailand, the beautiful, natural, and sometimes downright mysterious kingdom in southeast Asia. Travelers who find their way to the nation once known beyond the borders of Asia as Siam are rewarded with stunning hospitality, insane landscapes and loving people. Thailand has always been a fascinating paradise, with its unique characteristics, dangers and curiosities. Photographer Duran Levinson, who has worked for big names like Vice, Red Bull and BMW, flew…

Founded in 2005 by Yasushi Akimoto, the Japanese band AKB48 is one of the most successful artists of the present day. With songs like Beginner, River, and Heavy Rotation, the members led by Atsuko Maeda sang, danced, and jumped their way into the hearts of East Asian residents overnight and triggered puberty in many a teenager with a revealing music video or two. Andrew Joyce and Kenneth Maxwell of the Wall Street Journal once described AKB48's works as „sugary…

The self-titled debut album of the Japanese band Millennium Parade is on repeat since release on my phone. After all, there are only absolute bangers on there. Bon Dance? Great! Fly With Me? Stunning! Familia? Fabulous! Just the genre is difficult to explain, because Millennium Parade simply throw everything available, such as pop, hip hop, electro, dance, rock, funk, jazz and rap, into a pot, stir vigorously and then slap the motley mash against the wall. „The…

Japanese singer and rapper Daoko began her career at the age of fifteen by uploading her own music clips to the video platform Nico Nico Douga. She started writing and recording songs with her family's shared iMac in the living room, using the computer's GarageBand software and built-in microphone to record her voice. Daoko selected various free tracks, such as Vocaloid songs, from the Internet and tried to reshape them in her own style by following the melody and ly…

Japan is a fascinating destination with a rich culture and breathtaking landscapes. It offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity and has something for everyone. One of the main attractions in Japan is undoubtedly the rich culture. Visitors can visit ancient shrines and temples, meet geishas in Kyoto or experience the traditional tea ceremony. Japanese cuisine is famous worldwide and offers a variety of delicious dishes such as sushi, ramen and tempura. In addi…

I am quite simple-minded. The more colors someone uses in their art, the more I'm willing to look at them. This could be due to the fact that I am a very visual person, or because I have remained a child in my head who simply does not want to grow up. The South Koreak artist Adehla Lee was born in Busan in 1983. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts at Hongik University in Seoul and then her Master of Fine Arts at the School of Visual Arts in New York. So you…