For our last episode of the year, we’re summing up the year in culture with Matt Schley, Alyssa I. Smith, Thu-Huong Ha and Owen Ziegler, who tell us why anime dominated in 2023, which books stood out among a lackluster crowd and why the Zelda franchise is experiencing a renaissance.
Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.

On this episode:
Shaun McKenna: Articles | X 
Matt Schley: Articles | X 
Alyssa I. Smith: Articles
Thu-Huong Ha: Articles | X 
Owen Ziegler: Articles 

Read more: 

• The year that defined the post-Miyazaki era (Matt Schley, The Japan Times)
• J-pop's global ambitions came closer to reality in 2023 (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times)
• ‘The Great Reclamation’ details the horrors of the foreign occupation in Singapore (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times)
• Saou Ichikawa’s 'Hunchback': A darkly funny portrait of disability (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times)
• Understanding the LDP political funding scandal and its implications (Kanako Takahara, The Japan Times)

Get in touch: Send us feedback at [email protected]. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!  

Photo: A still from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom| NINTENDO