Have you checked out the Hello! Study Abroad channel? 📚 Follow former Hello! Project members Moe Kamikokuryo and @rika_shimakura share overseas life, language learning, and cultural experiences 🔗 #StudyAbroad# #JapaneseCulture# #LanguageLearning# #JPOP#

🌸 Tsubaki Factory's new song "鼓動OK？" MV is out now! Feel the rhythm of the heartbeat with this vibrant and energetic track. Don’t miss it! 🎵✨ #TsubakiFactory# #NewRelease# #JPOP# #IdolMusic# #JapaneseCulture# #JapanesePop# #JapanIdols# @tsubakifac_uf

It has been announced that the "Cool Japan" fund—a public-private partnership that has long faced harsh criticism in Japan—will be abolished. Established to promote Japanese culture—including anime and manga—to the world, the fund has accumulated massive debt due to numerous unprofitable ventures, and there is a possibility that taxpayer money will be used to cover these losses. The Japanese government has now launched a new five-year plan, aiming to transform the nation into a "Storytelling Powerhouse" (*Monogatari Taikoku*) to market content culture—such as anime and manga—globally. Key policies include injecting funds into video productions, developing international distribution platforms, and eradicating piracy. Japanese fans remain skeptical of this new plan, however, citing concerns that the failures of Cool Japan were never properly scrutinized and that accountability remains vague (including rumors that executives from Cool Japan are set to transfer directly into leadership roles for the new initiative). While I share these concerns, I also hold out hope for Japanese-led platforms that can deliver Japanese works directly to overseas audiences, thereby avoiding issues related to censorship or localization practices imposed by foreign platforms. That said—and it bears repeating—government support for content culture has its downsides, so we must keep a close watch on how things unfold. How successful is public support for content culture (including anime, manga, and live-action works) in your country? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Sakana Namazu by @SakanaAILabs is live on OpenRouter. Built on Kimi K2.6, Sakana Namazu is a specialized model that combines a deep understanding of Japanese culture with high-performance reasoning capabilities, integrating web search and code execution to handle complex tasks within a business context.

🍵Tea Ceremony Day 2 at #WebX2026# It's the final day of #WebX2026#. Treat yourself to a bowl of matcha and experience a piece of Japanese culture. 🗓July 13–14, 2026 📍The Prince Park Tower Tokyo

In Forza Horizon 6 players can smash through most objects like fences, signs, and trees while racing but Cherry blossom trees are the exception and cannot be destroyed. Developers at Playground Games made them unbreakable because they are an iconic part of Japanese culture. Shrines and temples receive similar protection.