183: Big in Japan 2023: Anime, Murakami and Legend of Zelda

<div>For our last episode of the year, we’re summing up the year in culture with <strong>Matt Schley</strong>, <strong>Alyssa I. Smith</strong>, <strong>Thu-Huong Ha</strong> and <strong>Owen Ziegler</strong>, 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.<br> Hosted by <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/shaun-mckenna/">Shaun McKenna</a> and produced by <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/david-cortez/">Dave Cortez</a>.<br> <br> <strong>On this episode:</strong><br> Shaun McKenna: <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/shaun-mckenna/">Articles</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/jt_sloosh">X</a> <br> Matt Schley: <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/244/matt-schley/">Articles</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/rhymeswithguy">X</a> <br> Alyssa I. Smith: <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/2576/alyssa-i-smith/">Articles</a><br> Thu-Huong Ha: <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/4754/thu-huong-ha/">Articles</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/thu">X</a> <br> Owen Ziegler: <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/3107/owen-ziegler/">Articles</a> <br> <br> <strong>Read more:</strong> </div> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2023/11/30/film/anime-studio-ghibli-post-hayao-miyazaki/">The year that defined the post-Miyazaki era</a> (Matt Schley, The Japan Times)</li> <li> <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2023/12/08/music/yoasobi-idol-imase-xg-atarashii-gakko/">J-pop's global ambitions came closer to reality in 2023</a> (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times)</li> <li> <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2023/04/18/books/book-reviews/the-great-reclamation/">‘The Great Reclamation’ details the horrors of the foreign occupation in Singapore</a> (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times)</li> <li> <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2023/09/02/books/saou-ichikawa-hunchback-review/">Saou Ichikawa’s 'Hunchback': A darkly funny portrait o