Entertainment
National Symphony cancels Japan concerts due to virus
The National Symphony Orchestra canceled the five remaining performances in Japan of its Asian tour because of a new virus epidemic. The orchestra originally was to play eight concerts in its first international tour with music director Gianandrea Noseda. On Feb 4, the NSO called off shows in Beijing on… Read
Nazi cautionary dramas wade into political, factual disputes
Hollywood mustered its creative forces in the 1940s when Adolf Hitler's Nazi Germany sought to conquer the world, with Humphrey Bogart standing up to the fascist regime in "Casablanca" and director Ernst Lubitsch mocking it and its dictator in "To Be or Not to Be." More than 70 years later,… Read
Polanski wins best director at Cesars, prompting walkout protest
Roman Polanski cast a shadow over France's Cesar Awards on Friday even as he won best directing for his film "An Officer and a Spy," with several women in the audience walking out in protest at honoring a man facing rape accusations. The French-Polish director's dozen nominations had divided opinion… Read
'Amazing Race' suspends filming as virus precaution
The globe-trotting reality series “The Amazing Race” is taking a breather as a precaution due to the virus outbreak affecting several countries. CBS said in a statement Friday that it had temporarily suspended production and was sending contestants and crew members home as a precautionary measure. Filming on the show’s… Read
Steven Seagal fined in U.S. over cryptocurrency promotion
U.S. securities regulators have fined actor Steven Seagal and suspended him from investment promotions over charges he hawked a cryptocurrency venture without disclosing compensation. The "Under Siege" actor pitched the initial coin offering, Bitcoiin2Gen, on social media, urging followers not to "miss out" on a venture hailed as the "next… Read
Idol group charges extra for photos with fans not wearing masks due to cornoavirus
Idol groups in Japan, and particularly underground idols (chika idols, 地下アイドル) offer a service to fans referred to as cheki. They're essentially Polaroid/print-out camera shots of the fan and a member of the group for set price. Because of concerns about the spreading coronavirus in Japan, many idol groups that… Read
Taylor Swift takes on toxic masculinity as 'The Man'
Taylor Swift dropped her directorial debut Thursday, releasing the music video for her song "The Man" in which she stars as, quite literally, the man. In heavy prosthetics and convincing drag, the 30-year-old pop juggernaut parades through the video as an obnoxious man who skates through life to success thanks… Read
Domingo says apology gave 'false impression;' drops Spain show
Scandal-hit opera star Placido Domingo on Thursday said his apology over sexual harassment allegations had given a "false impression" but cancelled his appearance in an upcoming performance in Madrid. "I feel I have to issue another statement to correct the false impression generated by my apology," he said. The statement… Read
Top nominee Polanski to skip French Oscars after rape claim
Filmmaker Roman Polanski is skipping the awards ceremony for France's equivalent of the Oscars — where his latest movie leads this year's nominations — because of protests prompted by a new rape accusation against him. Women's rights activists have called for a boycott of Friday's Cesars ceremony in Paris, and… Read
Does anime need to start being more politically correct for overseas audiences?
Anime used to be conceived, produced, and consumed pretty much all within the confines of Japan. Sure, the occasional series would get licensed for overseas distribution, but with its story and characters so thoroughly rewritten, and its visuals so extensively re-cut, as to have little to no relation to the… Read
