Top New Music Releases From Japan: May 2023

As our monthly music column officially enters the rainy season and as our time indoors increases, it’s more important than ever to have a good selection of music. Get comfortable with these new albums, singles and EPs. They give listeners the opportunity to feel like they’ve been transported to far away lands. There are new releases by Maya Ongaku, Cyber ​​Rui and more. Plus, Maika Loubte and Cornelius return.

Albums

Maya Ongaku — Approach to Anima

Out on Guruguru Brain, our new favorite label, is the debut album by Enoshima trio Maya Ongaku. In some parts, it sounds like a stroll down the beach and in others, it feels like being hypnotized by a snake charmer. Approach to Anima is certainly an album that makes everything sunnier.

The band’s lack of a formal drummer smooths out any hard edges, gently guiding the listener via

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Tokyo Islands: Bringing Together the Islands of Tokyo

When most people think about Tokyo, they envision the hustle and bustle of the Shibuya Scramble Crossing, the neon lights of Akihabara, or the towering skyscrapers of Shinjuku. But Tokyo is so much more than the mainland metropolis that first springs to mind, and its reach stretches to incorporate far more than you might think, surprising even long-term residents of the capital.

Some of these lesser-known locations that fall within the bounds of Tokyo are the Izu and Ogasawara Islands. This archipelago, often collectively referred to as the Tokyo Islands, incredibly consists of over 200 individual islands of varying sizes, many of which feature scenery that rivals even the more famous tropical locations of southern prefectures such as Okinawa.

Being completely disconnected from mainland Japan, the Tokyo Islands are home to their own range of nature, wildlife and even weather that is unique to each location. This includes Miyakejima, an

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These 7 Locations Have Just Been Named The Best Places In The World To Visit

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US News & World Report just released its annual rankings, highlighting 16 categories of destinations to help travelers find the best place for their vacation plans.

One list stands out as the best of the top destinations worldwide, listing 30 of the best places to visit around the globe for an epic vacation this year.

Bora Bora luxury hotel vacation tourist woman relaxing by ocean beach with view of Mt Otemanu in Tahiti, French Polynesia copy

The “World’s Best Places To Visit” list is geared towards every type of traveler this year, from bucket lists of beach trips to national parks, mountains, and popular city breaks. With choices from around the globe, an overall top list, including 30 destinations, is ranked. Readers can then vote to add certain shortlisted destinations to the list as well.

Rankings are determined by equal parts user score and editor score, looking at expert opinions, votes from readers, and overall current trends for destinations around the world.

Additional

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Ceramics, Shrines and Pine Forests in Colorful Karatsu

Saga’s charming coastal city of Karatsu is only two trains — with amazing views of Karatsu Bay along the way — and a 1.5-hour trip from Fukuoka’s JR Tenjin Station. Often overshadowed by Arita and Imari cities when it comes to ceramics, Karatsu stands out in other ways.

Kith and Kilns

Kyushu’s long history of foreign trade over the centuries is to thank the region’s diverse ceramic culture. Every prefecture is home to one or more distinct varieties of earthenware; Hasamiyaki in Nagasaki and Ontayaki in Oita are just two of many options. Alongside Arita and Imari, Karatsu figures as part of what is often cited as Kyushu’s “pottery trifecta.”

Karatsu ware is characterized by its earthy yet soft colors, round edges and classic patterns. Its rustic elements are perhaps more attractive to those who find themselves drawn to cottage or country farm-style interior design. For an overview of

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History of Karaoke in Japan

These days, karaoke is everywhere. In the West, it is rightfully considered very Japanese, although Western visitors are often surprised to find it is practiced differently in its country of origin. The Japanese are not inclined to embarrass themselves drunkenly before a considerable audience of equally drunk strangers. Instead, they find privacy in so-called karaoke boxes, where one can face the music alone or among a select number of friends and family members. That wasn’t always the case, though.

The Word Came First

It is hard to pin down the one definite point in history when karaoke, as we know it, was invented. Technical systems that might be considered predecessors of modern karaoke hardware were developed independently in at least five different parts of Japan during the 1960s. The word itself, which is a composite of ‘kara’ (empty) and a shortened version of ‘orchestra,’ had then already been in use

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New Demon Slayer Villain Offers Valuable Lessons About Japanese Culture

Demon Slayer, also known as Kimetsu no Yaiba, has become one of the biggest media franchises in the world. What is the secret of this deceptively simple anime about a young boy hunting human-eating demons to avenge his family? Well, it might be the fact that it is is strangely educational. For one, it takes place in Japan during the Taisho period (1912–1926). This is a setting we rarely see in anime. The country at the time had settled down after the turmoil of the Meiji restoration and dedicated itself to modernization and Westernization. This is all addressed in the fantasy series. A recent addition to the show, however, goes further, offering lessons in Japanese mythology, history and language. Here’s what audiences can learn from the Demon Slayer characters, Hantengu.

Half-Tengu’s Full-on Lesson About Japanese Folklore

Hantengu is a demon and one of the main antagonists of the third season.

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What Travelers Need To Know About Spain’s New Rules For Visitors

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Spain is one of Europe’s most popular vacation destinations and the second-most visited country in the world. More than 49 million foreign tourists visited Spain in 2022.

Flamenco dancers dancing on the street in Seville, Spain.

It’s easy to see why. Spain boasts year-round sunshine, a rich cultural heritage, and some of the world’s best beaches. But with so many people visiting Spain each year, locals often feel frustrated by the noise and mess they generate.

In a bid to combat this, many of the 17 autonomous communities in charge of governing Spain have introduced new rules and regulations aimed specifically at tourists.

A view overlooking a beach in La Granadella, Spain

From bans on smoking in public to strict dress codes and noise control limits, here’s everything visitors to Spain need to know:

Carry Enough Cash

Visitors to Spain from outside of the EU must be able to demonstrate that they have enough money to support themselves for the whole duration of their trip

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