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Lisa Katayama

Kawaii Kurt

Arts, Culture & Media

The motto of a fictional character of mine was All Cliches Are True. As I was reminded twice, spectacularly, during my first full day in Tokyo. Of course I knew about the (cliche of the) Japanese schoolgirl subculture, and its devotion to cuteness, uniformity, pinkness, intense girl-to-girl friendliness, technology, and so on. But my visit […]

She looks like an axelotl?

Arts, Culture & Media

See Kurt Become a Beautiful Girl

Arts, Culture & Media
The World

Love Virtually

Arts, Culture & Media

Japanese Schoolgirls Grow Up

Sticker Me Beautiful: Purikura

Kurt Andersen lands in Tokyo’s Shibuya – glitzy and bustling, it makes Times Square look quaint, and it’s the epicenter of teen culture. Kurt meets up with blogger Lisa Katayama, who takes Kurt to a girl haven: the sticker picture booth. Striking poses against glittery pink and purple backdrops just might be Japan’s secret to […]

The World

Watching the Watchers

Global Politics

The Bay Area artist Trevor Paglen calls himself an experimental geographer. For one project, Paglen has been tracking secret government spy satellites and taking photos of them.

The World

Watching the Watchers

Conflict & Justice

The Bay Area artist Trevor Paglen calls himself an experimental geographer. For one of his latest projects, Paglen’s been tracking secret government spy satellites and taking photos of them. Reporter Lisa Katayama caught up with Paglen on the roof of his loft in West Oakland.

The World

Remembering Michael Jackson

Arts, Culture & Media

It’s been a year since the death of the King of Pop. Singer-songwriter Judith Hill was hired to perform with Michael Jackson on his never-realized tour. She could make a career in Jackson’s shadow, but she’s ready to step out on her own. Produced by Lisa Katayama.

The World

Schoolgirls Grow Up

Arts, Culture & Media

The Japanese schoolgirl image was made famous by comic books and cartoons. But not everyone thinks they’re so kawaii (cute). What do Japanese women make of this archetype? Lisa Katayama met three young art stars whose work reclaims and re-invents female pop imagery, in some disturbing ways. But don’t call them feminists.

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Studio 360 in Japan