Japanzine
Encyclopedia
Japanzine is a Japan
-based English-language magazine, published by Carter Witt Media. Now 20 years in publication, it is the successor magazine to "The Alien" and caters largely to the expatriate community in Japan. Each edition of the magazine contains a map of various Japanese cities and an entertainment guide, as well as several articles - both satirical and serious - on Japanese life. The comic strip character Charisma Man
first appeared in The Alien and later in Japanzine.
In May 2008 the magazine introduced Gaijin Sounds, a national music competition for foreign artists in Japan, due to the lack of press coverage given to "home-grown" artists . Twelve artists from around Japan were selected as winners with music ranging from techno to indie-pop to rap. The popularity of the contest meant another competition, Gaijin Sounds Vol. 2, was launched the following year, featuring in the May 2009 issue. The competition soon expanded to the live arena, with 2 live "finals" in Osaka
and Tokyo
in autumn 2009, featuring over 8 bands such as Fukuoka outfit, Nanbanjin; Tokyo-based Kev Gray & The Gravy Train - both who had won the award twice - and the former Matsuyama indie rock band The Watanabes
, also based in Tokyo.
The competition returned in 2010, where winners included Andy Tyrone Rogers and The Mootekkis, who featured on the cover.
In 2011, Japanzine opened up the competition to all-Japanese line-ups with a national Battle of the Bands contest.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
-based English-language magazine, published by Carter Witt Media. Now 20 years in publication, it is the successor magazine to "The Alien" and caters largely to the expatriate community in Japan. Each edition of the magazine contains a map of various Japanese cities and an entertainment guide, as well as several articles - both satirical and serious - on Japanese life. The comic strip character Charisma Man
Charisma Man
Charisma Man is a fictional character in a comic strip of the same name. "Charisma Man" first appeared in the February 1998 issue of The Alien , a monthly magazine for expatriates in Japan....
first appeared in The Alien and later in Japanzine.
In May 2008 the magazine introduced Gaijin Sounds, a national music competition for foreign artists in Japan, due to the lack of press coverage given to "home-grown" artists . Twelve artists from around Japan were selected as winners with music ranging from techno to indie-pop to rap. The popularity of the contest meant another competition, Gaijin Sounds Vol. 2, was launched the following year, featuring in the May 2009 issue. The competition soon expanded to the live arena, with 2 live "finals" in Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
and Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in autumn 2009, featuring over 8 bands such as Fukuoka outfit, Nanbanjin; Tokyo-based Kev Gray & The Gravy Train - both who had won the award twice - and the former Matsuyama indie rock band The Watanabes
The Watanabes
The Watanabes are a Tokyo based indie pop rock band with members from the UK, New Zealand, Sweden and Japan. Their sound has drawn comparisons to melody driven British indie bands such as Belle and Sebastian and Teenage Fan Club as well as 1980's Liverpool band The Pale Fountains.In August 2009...
, also based in Tokyo.
The competition returned in 2010, where winners included Andy Tyrone Rogers and The Mootekkis, who featured on the cover.
In 2011, Japanzine opened up the competition to all-Japanese line-ups with a national Battle of the Bands contest.