Snow-covered cherry blossom trees and a castle moat in this northern Japan city are currently lit up in pink in the evenings, ...

Fans of the Japanese pop culture are finding connection and love through a common interest. Bookstore owners say the trend has had staying power, and more people are taking Japanese language classes.

In fact, there's an entire genre of anime known as "iyashikei," meaning "healing," referring to anime meant to have a soothing effect on viewers. These series make up for what they lack in conflict ...