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.

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)

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