Reflecting on the treatment of food and obento in the films of Studio Ghibli, Anja Gogo explores the significance the Japanese packed lunch in a wider social context, delving beyond its surface function as a vehicle of nutrition.

In this article, Romano Tucci looks at the birth and rise in popularity of city pop, a genre and audio-aesthetic that grew out of 1970s Japan, and shares with readers a few unmissable tracks to add to any city pop playlist.

In the second instalment of his article, Sam reflects on the rehabilitation and reassessments of the First Emperor in the 20th century, spearheaded by Mao Zedong and continuing on after his death into late 1990s cinema.

In this two-part article, Sam Meston explores the reasons behind the recent historiographical reevaluations of China’s First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, beginning with a deep-dive into how he earned his title.