Kitchen Crusaders

From high-end Japanese cuisine to crowd-pleasing Italian, these four chefs have added a dash of excitement to Tokyo's restaurant scene

Director of Chaos

After tantalizing Japanese audiences in films like Suicide Club and Love Exposure, director Sion Sono makes his scariest move yet: a big-budget Hollywood production

Jaime Pastor

Japan is just beginning to discover the delights of Iberico ham, says the Asia rep of a renowned Spanish food company

Tall Order

Some of Tokyo's iconic buildings are being lost to zoning laws that were intended to improve the city

Fish Stories

A simple set of rules for pairing sushi and wine

Siam Thai Cuisine

Enjoy the flavors of Bangkok in an unlikely location

Band of Sisters

After finding fame as otaku idols, the Nakano Fujoshi Sisters are striking gold as a boy group

Guido per Eataly

This Italian transplant puts an unpretentious spin on fine dining

Beating Them at Their Own Game

As Japan's first foreign mahjong professional, Jenn Barr has become a force on the local gaming scene

On the Cards

The government says its new registration system for foreign residents will make our lives easier. But some lawmakers and privacy rights activists claim that Big Brother lurks around the corner

Pescaderia

Mission: find the best oysters in town. Mission status: accomplished

Marijuana Underground

Celebrity busts and student smokers have Japan's authorities in a tizz. But what do users make of Japan's ganja explosion? Shaun Davies delves into Tokyo's marijuana subculture to find the answer