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Miami Herald
3 days ago
- Miami Herald
Drunk American Tourist Wrecks Ancient Japanese Temple
An American tourist on Tuesday caused significant damage to a 761-year-old temple in Japan. The unnamed suspect, described as intoxicated, forced his way inside Shoden Eigen‑in Temple through a rear kitchen door on the southern side of the building, according to the Tokyo Weekender. After walking through the garden, he attempted to scale the wooden railing that encircles the main hall. In doing so, he caused visible damage, scraping and compromising the surface of the historic structure. The wooden railing sustained cracks and abrasions and a nearby wooden door was destroyed. Newsweek contacted the Japan National Tourism Organization for comment via email on Friday. Founded in 1264, Shoden Eigen‑in Temple, a subtemple of Kennin-ji Monastery, in Kyoto, where the incident took place, was officially designated as a Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Heritage Site in 2015. According to the Tokyo Weekender, the structures there are architecturally fragile, historically significant and irreplaceable. The head priest of the temple, Keinin Magami, noticed the intrusion when the man knocked on the door of his adjacent residence, The Mainichi Shimbun reported. Police were called but a damage report was not filed. There was no permanent damage to the residence. Kennin-ji, established in 1202, is considered the oldest Zen training monastery in Kyoto, with deep historical ties to Oda Urakusai, brother of famed warlord Oda Nobunaga. The man apologized in person to the head priest through a translation app, saying: "This is the biggest mistake of my life. I am truly sorry." According to reports, when asked why he had come, he said, "I wanted to see the temple." Unlike tourist-heavy areas, the subtemple is intentionally low‑profile and wasn't equipped with major security measures, making it easier for the visitor to enter unnoticed. Head priest Keinin Magami, as reported by The Mainichi Shimbun: "We have reached a point where we need to be careful in our daily lives as well. We are seeing the negative effects of overtourism, so I would like measures to be taken." Japanese news outlet the Tokyo Weekender: "Shoden Eigen-in will mend the damage. The priest will move on. The tourist will fly home. But there will be more issues in the future." As reported by the Tokyo Weekender, Magami told reporters he accepted the man's apology. The railing will likely be repaired with traditional methods. Japan's reliance on tourism revenue is at risk of clashing with the unexpected costs and threats posed by what is seen by some as irresponsible tourists and a growing trend of disrespect by foreign visitors regarding the protection of Japan's cultural treasures The incident adds to a growing roster of mishaps involving ill‑advised tourist behavior, from carving names into Nara's ancient temples to vandalism at Tokyo shrines, raising questions about the balance between open access and cultural preservation in Japan's tourism-driven era. Related Articles Key US Ally Quietly Prepares for China's Pacific War With AmericaJapan Calls China's Latest Sea Move 'Extremely Regrettable'-Tensions RiseUS Ambassador Calls Out Chinese Counterpart Over X Post: 'Untrained Puppy'Mapped: How China Staged Double Aircraft Carrier Show of Force in Pacific 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
3 days ago
- Newsweek
Drunk American Tourist Wrecks Ancient Japanese Temple
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. An American tourist on Tuesday caused significant damage to a 761-year-old temple in Japan. The unnamed suspect, described as intoxicated, forced his way inside Shoden Eigen‑in Temple through a rear kitchen door on the southern side of the building, according to the Tokyo Weekender. After walking through the garden, he attempted to scale the wooden railing that encircles the main hall. In doing so, he caused visible damage, scraping and compromising the surface of the historic structure. The wooden railing sustained cracks and abrasions and a nearby wooden door was destroyed. Newsweek contacted the Japan National Tourism Organization for comment via email on Friday. Why It Matters Founded in 1264, Shoden Eigen‑in Temple, a subtemple of Kennin-ji Monastery, in Kyoto, where the incident took place, was officially designated as a Kyoto Prefectural Cultural Heritage Site in 2015. According to the Tokyo Weekender, the structures there are architecturally fragile, historically significant and irreplaceable. A three-thatched roof pagoda in Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan, on September 23, 2024. A three-thatched roof pagoda in Kiyomizu-dera Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan, on September 23, 2024. Pascal Schmidt / Hans Lucas via AFP viaWhat To Know The head priest of the temple, Keinin Magami, noticed the intrusion when the man knocked on the door of his adjacent residence, The Mainichi Shimbun reported. Police were called but a damage report was not filed. There was no permanent damage to the residence. Kennin-ji, established in 1202, is considered the oldest Zen training monastery in Kyoto, with deep historical ties to Oda Urakusai, brother of famed warlord Oda Nobunaga. The man apologized in person to the head priest through a translation app, saying: "This is the biggest mistake of my life. I am truly sorry." According to reports, when asked why he had come, he said, "I wanted to see the temple." Unlike tourist-heavy areas, the subtemple is intentionally low‑profile and wasn't equipped with major security measures, making it easier for the visitor to enter unnoticed. What People Are Saying Head priest Keinin Magami, as reported by The Mainichi Shimbun: "We have reached a point where we need to be careful in our daily lives as well. We are seeing the negative effects of overtourism, so I would like measures to be taken." Japanese news outlet the Tokyo Weekender: "Shoden Eigen-in will mend the damage. The priest will move on. The tourist will fly home. But there will be more issues in the future." What Happens Next As reported by the Tokyo Weekender, Magami told reporters he accepted the man's apology. The railing will likely be repaired with traditional methods. Japan's reliance on tourism revenue is at risk of clashing with the unexpected costs and threats posed by what is seen by some as irresponsible tourists and a growing trend of disrespect by foreign visitors regarding the protection of Japan's cultural treasures The incident adds to a growing roster of mishaps involving ill‑advised tourist behavior, from carving names into Nara's ancient temples to vandalism at Tokyo shrines, raising questions about the balance between open access and cultural preservation in Japan's tourism-driven era.
Tokyo Weekender
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
Iconic City Pop Songs Covered or Sampled by Overseas Artists
With it being Retro Week at Tokyo Weekender, we are focusing on city pop for our latest List of 7 . Considered more of a vibe associated with the 1970s and 1980s in Japan than a strict musical genre, it experienced a revival in the late 2010s. Its popularity also spread overseas, influencing foreign musicians. Here's a look at some of the most iconic city pop hits that have been covered or sampled by overseas artists. List of Contents: Tatsuro Yamashita: Christmas Eve Miki Matsubara: Mayonaka no Door (Stay With Me) Tomoko Aran: Midnight Pretenders Anri: Last Summer Whisper Kingo Hamada: Machi no Dorufin Hi-Fi Set: Sky Restaurant Mai Yamane: Tasogare More From This Series Tatsuro Yamashita: Christmas Eve Covered by the Commodores and Pentatonix The best place to start is with the man known as the 'King of City Pop.' Tatsuro Yamashita, who will make his Fuji Rock debut this July, has released 13 original studio albums, five cover CDs and two live records. His most successful track, 'Christmas Eve' (1983), was Japan's best-selling single of the 1980s. It also holds the record for the most consecutive years — 39 and counting — to appear on the Oricon Chart Top 100. Given its popularity, it's no surprise that several artists have covered the song, including overseas acts. American funk and soul group, the Commodores, included it on the Japanese edition of the band's 1992 album, Commodores Christmas . Cappella group Pentatonix did likewise on their 2014 LP That's Christmas To Me . Miki Matsubara: Mayonaka no Door (Stay With Me) Covered by Rainych, Sampled by 1nonly A domestic hit in 1979, Miki Matsubara's debut single, 'Mayonaka no Door (Stay with Me),' became an international one four decades later due to platforms such as TikTok and YouTube. Written by famed composers Tetsuji Hayashi and Tokuko Miura, it's a sad song about lost love, yet has an upbeat sound and catchy chorus. Matsubara, who was also known for singles such as 'Neat na gogo san-ji' and 'The Winner,' sadly passed away in 2004 at the age of just 44. Sixteen years after Matsubara's death, Indonesian YouTuber Rainych uploaded a cover of her most famous track to her YouTube channel, which garnered millions of views. 'Stay With Me,' the breakout single from Korean-American rapper 1nonly (Nathan Scott Fuller), also sampled the song. Tomoko Aran: Midnight Pretenders Sampled by the Weeknd Embodying the spirit of the 80s, Tomoko Aran — birth name Tomoko Yamaguchi — is known for her distinctive vocals and catchy melodies. Between 1981 and 1990, she released nine albums, including More Relax (1984) and Last Good-bye (1986). Her most celebrated album, though, is the 1983 LP, Fuyu Kukan , meaning 'floating space.' A synth-heavy record, it features two standout tracks: 'I'm in Love' and 'Midnight Pretenders.' The latter, in particular, has garnered a lot of attention in recent years due to the rising popularity of city pop. A laid-back track with a seductive, dream-like quality, 'Midnight Pretenders' was heavily sampled by four-time Grammy Award-winning Canadian artist the Weeknd (Abel Makkonen Tesfaye) for his song 'Out of Time' from the album Dawn FM. Anri: Last Summer Whisper Sampled by Jenevieve Mariya Takeuchi is widely referred to as the 'Queen of City Pop,' though for many, Anri — birth name Eiko Kawashima — is just as deserving of that title. During her career, which has spanned more than four decades, she has released over 40 albums. Her most successful LP, Timely , released in 1983, featured 'Cat's Eye.' Used as the opening track for the anime series of the same name, it topped the charts for four weeks. The previous year, Anri worked with Toshiki Kadomatsu for the first time on her fourth studio album, Heaven Beach . Kadomatsu wrote and composed 'Last Summer Whisper,' a bittersweet song about a fleeting summer fling. The catchy hit was sampled by American R&B artist Jenevieve Johnson — known professionally as Jenevieve — for her song, 'Baby Powder.' Kingo Hamada: Machi no Dorufin Sampled by Engelwood A violinist as a child, Kingo Hamada switched to the guitar as he got older and then joined the folk band Craft in 1974. When the group disbanded, he launched his solo career, releasing his debut album Manhattan in the Rain in 1980. Over the next five years, he recorded another six original LPs. The one that garnered the most attention was Midnight Cruisin' , which is known for its smooth and funky sound. Highlights include the title track, 'Yokogao no Taxi Driver' (A Taxi Driver's Profile) and 'Machi no Dorufin' (City Dolphin), which is his most famous song. Matt Engels, known by his stage name Engelwood, sampled Hamada's track for his popular future-funk song 'Crystal Dolphin.' The electronic music producer also sampled Yamashita's hit 'Sparkle' on another track. Hi-Fi Set: Sky Restaurant Sampled by J. Cole and Chris Brown In 1974, the folk group Akai Tori disbanded due to musical differences. Three of its members — Junko Yamamoto, Toshihiko Yamamoto and Shigeru Okawa — subsequently formed a new group called Hi-Fi Set. The name was suggested by the influential musician Haruomi Hosono. Performing as a trio for two decades, many of the group's biggest hits came in their first 10 years, including 'Sotsugyo Shashin' (Graduation Photo), 'Tsumetai Ame' (Cold Rain) and 'Sunao ni Naritai' (I Want to Be Honest). The group's catchiest tune is arguably 'Sky Restaurant' (1975), written by legendary artist Yuming (birth name Yumi Arai). Jermaine Lamarr Cole, known professionally as J. Cole, sampled the intro for his track 'January 28th' in 2014, as did Chris Brown for his song 'Moonlight' on his 2023 album 11:11 . Mai Yamane: Tasogare Sampled by Playboi Carti and Young Nudy A talented performer with a husky voice, Mai Yamane is most well-known for her collaborations with Yoko Kanno on various soundtracks for the Cowboy Bebop anime series, including the first ending theme, 'The Real Folk Blues,' released in 1998. Yamane launched her music career almost two decades earlier with her debut album, Tasogare (1980), meaning 'twilight.' Produced by Makoto Matsushita, it's considered a city pop masterpiece, especially the title track, which incorporates elements of funk. 'Tasogare' garnered global attention in the late 2010s after Playboi Carti and Young Nudy utilized the intro of the song for the recording of their track 'Pissy Pamper.' Leaked in 2019, it proved very popular online, but as the sample wasn't cleared, it was never officially released. More From This Series Japanese Films That Influenced Quentin Tarantino Legendary Figures From Osaka Recommended Japanese Documentaries
Tokyo Weekender
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
The Kimono-Wearing Snowboarder Carving a New Path for Japanese Crafts
On a slope blanketed with powdery snow, a young woman glides gracefully downhill in a flash of red, the long sleeves of her kimono billowing behind her like streamers in the wind, her snowboard carving elegant, meandering arcs into the mountainside. The snowboarder, Sumire Morino, had come to the mountain that day for a special reason: to celebrate Coming of Age Day, a Japanese national holiday that honors the transition into adulthood, traditionally considered to be at age 20. Across the country, it's marked by formal ceremonies and gatherings where newly minted adults come together, often at local town halls or shrines. The men generally wear tailored suits; the women, furisode — a traditional kimono distinguished by its long, flowing sleeves and vivid patterns. But Morino wanted to mark the milestone in her own way. A short video of the ride, which Morino posted on Twitter (now X) in January 2023, captivated viewers in Japan and beyond. It resulted in a flurry of media attention; to date, it's been viewed nearly 20 million times. 'Now, furisode snowboarding has become one of my signature pieces,' she tells Tokyo Weekender. Rooted in Snow and Craft Furisode-clad runs aren't the only way that Morino puts a unique spin on Japanese tradition: As part of her graduation thesis for art school, she creates one-of-a-kind artworks on the surface of snowboarding and ski equipment, decorating them with urushi lacquer. This traditional Japanese craft involves applying refined tree sap in multiple layers to create a durable, glossy finish; it's typically seen on bowls, boxes and other household items. Instead of furniture or ceramics, Morino chose the unconventional surface of high-performance snow sports gear, made from materials like fiberglass and carbon fiber. Her designs are distinctly contemporary and often whimsical — opalescent whales, for instance, or patterns of skiers nestled in swirling puffs of snow. A bold, red board is emblazoned with a smattering of fried eggs and a frying pan. The 'egg whites' are made with quail eggshells, painstakingly glued on one fragment at a time, while the 'yolks' are glazed with a shimmering finish made of silver powder. 'My graduation project happened to focus on winter sports because they were familiar to me,' Morino explains. Her relationship with snow began in childhood, shaped by her time in Aomori Prefecture, known for its long winters and deep snowdrifts. She often visited her grandmother's house, which was filled with traditional Tsugaru-nuri lacquerware, recognizable by its vivid layered patterns and rich, textured finish — her first introduction to lacquerware and traditional arts. Before becoming a lacquer craftswoman and snowboarder, Morino's formative years were far from smooth. By fourth grade, she began struggling with a health condition that made mornings nearly impossible and school attendance sporadic. Her mental health also deteriorated after her parents' divorce, and all these challenges eventually led to her withdrawing from traditional education entirely. 'I sat alone in an empty auditorium at my graduation. No one wrote in my yearbook. My report card had blank spaces where grades should've been,' Morino recounts in a post on her personal blog. But instead of closing her off, these isolating experiences ended up widening her world. Tradition Meets Terrain In high school, while enrolled in a nontraditional learning program, Morino spent her days camping, riding her bike and taking up part-time jobs. One winter, she decided to take a position at a ski resort in Nagano — a decision that would forever alter the trajectory of her life. It was here that she first tried snowboarding, and here that she discovered a subculture of snowboarding cosplayers and enthusiasts creating custom 'ita snowboards' — creations in the same vein as 'ita bags' or 'ita cars,' where everyday objects are heavily decorated with anime art, like decals, badges or stickers. Morino was hooked. She invested nearly all her earnings in her first snowboard and boots. What began as a seasonal escape evolved into a passionate pursuit and, eventually, a canvas for her artistic expression. In college, she began studying urushi techniques, and instinctively brought them out of the classroom into her daily life. In place of anime decals, she began ornamenting her boards with mother-of-pearl, gold leaf and layers of red and black lacquer. 'To me, traditional crafts aren't 'old' — they're just cool,' she says. 'I don't feel bound by tradition, nor do I see pop culture as something radically new. Both occupy the same space in my mind as things I like, so combining them feels natural.' She approached snowboarding in an elaborate furisode with the same mindset: 'I'd already been snowboarding in cosplay … so it didn't feel like I was doing anything particularly unusual. It started from a playful idea: Wouldn't this be fun? ' The Beauty of Inefficiency Morino is still studying urushi lacquer techniques at school, and later this year, she'll hold a solo exhibition in Tokyo. In her Instagram bio, she describes herself simply as 'an artist and a craftsperson.' Though deeply committed to traditional crafts, she has a clear-eyed perspective on why many in her generation are drifting away from them: 'I think crafts feel distant because they're not part of most people's daily lives. They're unseen, unconsidered. But crafts have always evolved with the times. It was only when they began to be labeled as 'traditional' that they started feeling frozen in time.' She doesn't see herself as a preservationist so much as a catalyst: 'Rather than a decline in artisans, I think the real issue is a drop in demand — fewer buyers. Without demand, it's hard to sustain a craft. So I hope to contribute by creating that demand.' Objects made with beauty and care, using techniques passed down through generations, carry an inherent value that can't be rushed or replicated. Morino believes this timeless quality will endure. 'In an age of AI and industrial automation, crafts can seem like bundles of inefficiency,' she muses. 'But especially with urushi, which is a uniquely Japanese technique, that inefficiency is what makes it valuable. It's handmade, it's irreplaceable, and that makes it the ultimate luxury.' More Info Follow Sumire Morino on Instagram at @ morinosumire . Her solo exhibition runs in the Art Mall in Nihonbashi, Tokyo from June 24 to 29, 2025. Address: 1 Chome-13-10 Nihonbashimuromachi, Chuo City, Tokyo 103-0022 Related Posts The Beauty of Broken Things: The Artist Using Kintsugi To Heal Emotional Wounds A Complete Guide to Skiing in Japan: Where To Find the Best Powder 5 Best Prefectures in Japan for Skiing and Snowboarding
Tokyo Weekender
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tokyo Weekender
A Chat With Hyde, Japan's Biggest Rock Star
Hyde is arguably the biggest rock star in Japan. For over three decades, he has navigated the shifting currents of rock, pop and visual culture with remarkable fluidity. In the early 90s, as the enigmatic frontman of L'Arc-en-Ciel, he helped define the visual kei movement. For most artists, that alone would be a career-defining achievement — but for Hyde, it was just one chapter in a life defined by reinvention and experimentation. From fashion design to film, he's a boundary-pushing force, continually challenging himself through new creative ventures. I first discovered Hyde in a Japanese 101 course during my freshman year of college. I was working on an assignment where we had to translate a Japanese song to English and present the lyrics along with the music video to the class. It had been well over 20 years since L'Arc-en-Ciel debuted, and when I first heard the group's soaring melodies and distinctive vibrato and saw its members' punk getups and spiky bleached hair, I didn't quite know what to make of it. It didn't seem, at first, particularly my style. But it left a lingering impression on me — one strong enough that I found myself listening to that same song later that week, and then a few more songs the following week, then the entire album the next. Before I even knew it, Hyde's unmistakable voice and L'Arc-en-Ciel's style had won me over. As I followed Hyde's career over the next decade and a half, what struck me most was his constant evolution — from emotionally charged ballads to hard rock anthems to pop hits and anime openings, from frontman to soloist, director to actor. So perhaps it's only natural that his latest endeavor takes yet another unexpected turn: a bespoke vodka brand, eye-catchingly called Psycho Love. On a recent afternoon in Tokyo, Tokyo Weekender met with the legendary rock star to discuss his artistic path, his newest project and what's next for him. List of Contents: A Life Without Regrets Hyde's Psycho Love Related Posts A Life Without Regrets Born Hideto Takarai in Wakayama Prefecture in 1969, Hyde initially had a strong interest in design and drawing. In fact, before he was selling out Tokyo Dome and playing to hundreds of thousands of adoring fans, his earliest aspiration was to become a manga artist. He still cites To-y , a manga about an underground punk rock band aiming for fame, as having had a strong influence on his music career, particularly his style. L'Arc-en-Ciel was formed in Osaka in 1991 by bassist Tetsuya, with Hyde joining shortly after. As lead singer, he was all razor-sharp cheekbones, smeared eyeliner and gothic romance — a striking, androgynous figure who blurred the lines between beauty and danger. Over time, L'Arc-en-Ciel became one of Japan's most commercially successful rock bands, and Hyde's image matured. He went on to establish himself as a solo artist and later co-founded the darker, harder-edged project Vamps, pushing his sound and image into more provocative territory: leather-clad, vampiric and raw, drawing from Western hard rock influences. Across his career, Hyde has proven himself to be endlessly adaptable. He's played sold-out domes, collaborated with international artists and cultivated a fiercely loyal fan base both in Japan and abroad. Hyde himself admits that constantly venturing into new sounds and styles can be challenging; there's always a risk in drifting away from one's niche and leaving fans feeling isolated. But to never attempt anything new would be a greater risk. 'Given that life happens only once, I want to try all sorts of things. Deciding on just one thing and having your life end with only that feels regrettable,' he says. 'I want to live in a way that when I come to the end of my life, I have no regrets. 'When I try new things, there's a little bit of pressure,' he continues. 'Personally, I'm already thinking about what I want to do next, and if I lose fans because of it, I think that's just how it is … Challenging myself with new things is essential for me to have no regrets in the end.' Hyde's Psycho Love For Hyde, new ventures aren't just meant to be a departure from the familiar. Rather, they're a way of carrying forward what's always defined him — taking the elements that resonate and reworking them into something new, yet unmistakably his. His foray into spirits, too, is done in a distinctly Hyde fashion. His signature product is emblazoned with gothic font and a skull logo, but there's something soft about it, too — it has a lower alcohol content than most vodkas, making it smoother, lighter and less caloric. The name Psycho Love is an interlinguistic play on words: The Japanese word ' saikou ,' meaning 'the greatest,' is pronounced the same as the English word 'psycho.' As for the 'love' part — Hyde liked the layered meaning of psycho/saikou, but felt that 'psycho' on its own might sound too harsh in English. The addendum makes it feel a little less intimidating and gives it a delightful second meaning. Thus, Psycho Love becomes 'the greatest love.' For Hyde, getting into vodka just made sense. His motivation was simple: a love of the spirit and a lack of high-quality options in his home country. 'Originally, I liked vodka and drank it often in America, but when I came back to Japan and drank it, there weren't many good ones,' he says. 'There were many times I thought, 'This isn't good. This isn't good.' I thought that if I made it myself, I might be able to drink delicious vodka in Japan.' His instinct was right. Since launching in 2023, Psycho Love has claimed over a dozen accolades, including gold in the 2024 L.A. Spirits Awards, and it's managed to put vodka on the map in a country where sake and whisky often reign supreme. What's next for Hyde? He's currently working on a new album — one he describes as 'completely different from anything I've made until now.' And yet, there's little doubt it will find the mark with listeners. After all, it's Hyde's relentless drive to evolve that has kept him at the forefront of Japanese music for more than 30 years. So pour yourself a glass of Psycho Love (Hyde takes his with soda water and lime), sit back and let the music play. More Info Keep up with Hyde's latest projects at . Learn more about Psycho Love at . Related Posts A Complete Guide to 50 Years of Music in Tokyo (1970–2020) Rock Around the Clock: The Stories of Tokyo's Rockabillies Yoshiki: Rediscovering the X Factor
