iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Michael Vito・マイケルヴィート @michaelvito.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Today's "discourse" was illuminating. <points to the sign>

Michael Vito・マイケルヴィート @michaelvito.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

I was added to a "bad people" moderation list after I reposted two articles by Matt Alt about a certain technology as it relates to Japan and pop culture, but which apparently didn't pass someone's purity test. -->

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Christian Dimmer @remmid.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Tokyo’s walkable neighbourhood streets blur the line between road and gathering place, belonging to everyone.

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リジス @lidges.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

【 #C108新刊告知】夏コミ2日目(8/16) 東3マ-26b「つればし」にて、蓮ノ空聖地巡礼本の新刊「蓮旅2026～蓮ノ空舞台案内～」を頒布します！ 105期までの舞台情報に対応しており、特集は「能登の旅」です。初めての方からリピーターまで、石川県を楽しめるフルカラー80Pです！メロンブックス様にて委託中です！ www.melonbooks.co.jp/detail/detai... #蓮ノ空 #C108

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おおいしげん @genoishi.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

今日は、「おおかみこどもの花の家」で、クラウドファンディングの準備をしております。

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おおいしげん @genoishi.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

築140年を超える「おおかみこどもの花の家」は、大規模な修繕が必要になりました。そこで皆様のお力をお借りしたく、クラウドファンディングに取り組むことにいたします。 2026年8月3日からの開始で、詳細は近日公開（ただいま準備中）。ご協力よろしくお願いします。

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q87 @q87.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

It's that day of the year again. tbh: It still hurts and I feel sad every time I remember what happened. The people we lost brought so much joy into many of our lives. I will always be grateful for the encouragement and kindness they showed through their works. That's how I want to remember them.

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ベンチ兄さん @jpdmam23.bsky.social · 18/07/2026

武本監督から石原監督へ。まずは東の聖地、朧塚こと越谷からスタート。

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Michael Vito・マイケルヴィート @michaelvito.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

I refused to update to iOS 26 on an iPhone SE3 after I saw it on other devices and it triggered eye strain/dizziness. After patiently waiting over half a year, they finally restored the option to install the latest iOS 18 security update. I won this round, Apple.

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Michael Vito・マイケルヴィート @michaelvito.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Night-blooming cat tree looking good this year, too bsky.app/profile/mich...

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Michael Vito・マイケルヴィート @michaelvito.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

Ramen Manji / Ramen Mitsuyoshi, Guangyuan Xi Lu shop

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Matt Alt @mattalt.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

So let’s take a little look under the hood of the New Cool Japan Strategy: blog.pureinventionbook.com/p/meet-the-n...

blog.pureinventionbook.com

Meet the New Cool Japan Strategy

Same as the old Cool Japan strategy

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Zack Davisson @zackdavisson.com · 06/07/2026

Here is a cultural thing. In Japan, there are things called "Kisha clubs" (Reporter clubs). Companies give access to these kisha clubs with the understanding they will be able to vet and edit anything published. Otherwise access is pulled Many JP pubs expect things to run the same way here Nope

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Banshee Lover's Rage @annlynzee.bsky.social · 06/07/2026

Fandom outlets: if you cave under pressure from Japanese companies when reporting on PUBLIC EVENTS, you're not doing journalism. You're playing fanboy access games.

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Yuri Kageyama @yurikageyama.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

Tokyo Today

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q87 @q87.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

I think I need to revisit Iwakiyama-jinja next time I am in Hirosaki. Unfortunately this won't happen before spring of next year. The cover art for the new #FlyingWitch volume seems to be inspired by a place just one stop down the line from the shrine on the No. 30 bus (百沢東口).

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Patrick Macias @patrickmacias.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Update: KADOKAWA president Takeshi Natsuno survived today’s shareholder showdown, but barely by corporate #Japan standards. His reappointment passed with 59.68% support, down from 90.25% last year, after activist investor Oasis pushed for his removal over weak performance and governance concerns.

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Patrick Macias @patrickmacias.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Today in #Japan, KADOKAWA faces a shareholder showdown over its “mass-produce IP” strategy. Activist investor Oasis is pushing to oust president Takeshi Natsuno, while critics point to falling profits, fewer manga and anime hits, and a 7000-title target that may have stretched the company too thin.

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Patrick Macias @patrickmacias.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Analysts in #Japan are asking why the Cool Japan Fund struggled even as #anime and #manga boomed overseas. The answer: it tried to do too much. Only 27% of investments went to media/content while lifestyle + food took larger shares. Talent shortages + unclear accountability helped sink the project

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Patrick Macias @patrickmacias.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

The much-mocked and derided Cool Japan Fund may finally be running out of steam. The public-private fund’s cumulative losses reportedly topped ¥50 billion (about $310 million) in FY2025, missing government targets, and officials are now preparing to consider abolition or a merger with another fund.

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Patrick Macias @patrickmacias.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

TokyoScope News: Japanese social media is reacting to the coming closures of Hands and Seibu in #Shibuya, with users debating whether #Tokyo’s famous district is losing the stores and street culture that made it feel unique. Full story: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/shibuya-fa...

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Patrick Macias @patrickmacias.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Lots of shock + disbelief from netizens in #Japan over the planned closing of Shibuya Hands, formerly Tokyu Hands, after 48 years. Most point to Amazon + the proliferation of 100 yen shops as the cause of its demise. Hands was ground zero for crafts + DIY projects for decades. But what about Donki?

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Matt Alt @mattalt.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Hear me out. It's time for an UNCOOL Japan Fund. Who's in? blog.pureinventionbook.com/p/make-japan...

blog.pureinventionbook.com

Make Japan Uncool Again

Japan's best pop culture isn't "cool." It's dorky, weird, and out-there.

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Matt Alt @mattalt.bsky.social · 28/05/2026

The Japanese government is intent on creating the world’s first fantasy-industrial complex, an economy built atop content production and export. It has zero idea of the trouble it is about to get into. blog.pureinventionbook.com/p/hug-of-death

blog.pureinventionbook.com

Hug of death

Will Japan's content industries survive the government's efforts to promote them?

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Matt Alt @mattalt.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

I've been noticing that Japanese seem more inclined to see AI tools positively than Westerners, and wanted to figure out why. The answers have less to do with the tech than they do with Japan still having a functioning society. blog.pureinventionbook.com/p/japans-ai-...

blog.pureinventionbook.com

Japan's AI Affinity

The reasons many Westerners despise AI explain why Japanese don't

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Matt Alt @mattalt.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

Sanae Takaichi won her snap election by a landslide. What does this mean for pop culture in Japan? blog.pureinventionbook.com/p/sanae-vs-a...

blog.pureinventionbook.com

Sanae vs. Anime

What does Prime Minister Takaichi’s landslide mean for Japan's pop culture?

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kViN @yuyucow.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

(Even though it's lowkey the department that's been hit the most by various industry trends, there are many more than 3 studios/teams that produce analog anime backgrounds. Sayonara Lara's are painted @ Studio Pablo, who also do digital work even if they opted not to for this project. Use your head)

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Michael Vito・マイケルヴィート @michaelvito.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

The boy and are are still going through the archive of NES co-op games. Even excluding arcade ports, I had no idea they made so many of them. We also started looking at SNES co-op, but I never had a console between NES and Switch, so I am learning everything for the first time. -->

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青空のヨーク @york21e.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

北宇治OBさんのファンコンでした日帰りだったけど、1日の充実感は３週間前みたいな感じ。歳食って、顔見知りさんのおめでたい報告を聞く機会が増えたけど、他人の幸せを素直に喜べるよう在りたいと思います「でも幸せならOKです」

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Alicia Haddick/アリシア🔜Tokyo Game Show @aliciahaddick.com · 28/06/2026

This felt way cooler to drive than the vid admittedly makes it look, especially with the music, but hell yea

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Alicia Haddick/アリシア🔜Tokyo Game Show @aliciahaddick.com · 27/06/2026

Managed to drive to and from Gunma to drive an Initial D pilgrimage that felt incredible, caught up with amazing friends who are so talented and make me feel so lucky to be where I am right now, and made it home on last train Beautiful day, grateful day, wonderful day

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Joseph Luster @subhumanzoids.bsky.social · 05/03/2026

I'd love to know what I sent them, but here's the type of snail mail reply you'd get from Nintendo back in 1991

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うきやね @ukiyane.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

「上伊那ぼたん、酔へる姿は百合の花」舞台探訪 at 西池袋公園

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うきやね @ukiyane.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

「上伊那ぼたん、酔へる姿は百合の花」舞台探訪 at 富士見通り

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Michael Vito・マイケルヴィート @michaelvito.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

"The last days of social media might be the first days of something more human: a web that remembers why we came online in the first place — not to be harvested but to be heard, not to go viral but to find our people, not to scroll but to connect."

noemamag.com

The Last Days Of Social Media | NOEMA

Social media promised connection, but it has delivered exhaustion.

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Michael Vito・マイケルヴィート @michaelvito.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

The post-credits bit in Kamiina Botan episode 10 is kind of brilliant. Up there with the Dynazenon churro scene. Had to put my mug down, before I end up snorting coffee.

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うきやね @ukiyane.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

「上伊那ぼたん、酔へる姿は百合の花」舞台探訪 at 雑司が谷旧宣教師館（旧マッケーレブ邸）