Japan on Vice

Munchies

Hatos Bar

Our buddies from VICE Japan hung out with the crew from Hatos Bar in Tokyo's Naka-Meguro neighborhood. Hatos Bar serves up American-style pit barbecue at its best. Owners Sou Ieki and Dubrai showed us their favorite places to go out and then got wasted before cooking up some barbecue. Full story

The Future of Japan Is 'Very Dark,' Says Ryu Murakami

Ryu Murakami is one of Japan’s most celebrated and controversial authors. 'From the Fatherland with Love,' published in 2005 and now being translated into English for the first time, envisions a Japan wrecked by complete economic collapse, abandoned by the international community… Full story

Life with Shisei - Horiyoshi III

Our buddies at VICE Japan launched their YouTube channel last year, and the videos have been amazing. Here's an episode of their tattooing show about Horiyoshi III, one of Japan's most beloved and enigmatic tattoo artists. He specializes in full-body tattoo suits, often says myst… Full story

Are Visual Novels Just Porny, Boring Video Games?

Visual novels are like choose-your-own-adventure books that you play on your computer, if choose-your-own adventures ended not in the Gypsy woman’s curse coming true, but in graphic, porny sex scenes. They can be gay themed or set in a lusty fantasy world; they can be sweet and r… Full story

The Cute Show

Capybara Bathhouse!

The capybara at Nagasaki Bio Park in Japan love to take dips in the park's hot springs. The park allows visitors to get up close with the animals, so we tried our best to make friends with these shy little beasts. Full story

How Deep-Sea Mud Found Off a Tiny Japanese Island May Change the Gadget Economy

China pretty much dominates the world market for rare earth elements, but a huge find underneath Japan's seas may now help break that stranglehold. Full story

HI Shredability

Typhoon Surfers

California-based pro surfer Alek Parker travels the world in search of monster waves caused by hurricanes. He recently visited Japan to catch the big waves that only happen once a year during typhoon season, and we followed him around with a camera. Full story

VICE News

Alone in the Zone

Today marks the second anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Japan and caused one of the most serious nuclear disasters in world history. The surrounding towns were evacuated in a rush, leaving empty homes and uncared-for animals. In the small town of Tomioka, however, le… Full story

Radioactive Man

Today marks the second anniversary of the earthquake that devastated Japan and caused one of the most serious nuclear disasters in world history. The surrounding towns were evacuated in a rush, leaving empty homes and uncared-for animals. In the small town of Tomioka, however, le… Full story

Inside the Abandoned Radioactive Towns of Japan

Photographer Toshiya Watanabe's family lived in Namie, a town in the fallout zone of the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant meltdown, which is now abandoned two years later. Toshiya has gone back to document the changes, or lack thereof, that he sees in his forgotten hometown. Full story