Metropolis Japan

📖📚
10 Must-Read Japanese Novels Set for Release in 2026

From noir crime and speculative fantasy to quiet literary meditations and rediscovered classics, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for Japanese fiction in translation. Some of the titles below are brand-new releases in Japan, while others are long-revered works finally receiving fresh English translations.

Here are 10 books across genres to watch out for in 2026.

By Tamaki Hoshi .hoshi

💄🪞
What J-beauty items do international and Japanese makeup artists use?

Japanese makeup led the beauty scene in the 80s and 90s, before “J-beauty” was even a term.

When Asian beauty was not a category as it is today, Shiseido was already behind department store counters in Paris and New York by the 80s, Shu Uemura had become a professional standard in fashion capitals, and Inoui was appearing on runway faces during the era of Linda Evangelista in the 90s.

From Hollywood to K-pop, these are the products that continue to show up in their kits.

We look to artists like Lisa Eldridge and Pati Dubroff, as well as Maeng, known for her work with Blackpink, Lee Nakyeum, who has worked with NewJeans, and Hiro Odagiri.

Here are 10 Japanese makeup products worth checking out.

🎤🎭

Our Metropolis Spring 2026 Issue is out now and the theme is “Drama”！

This spring, we turn the spotlight on drama in all its forms. From the stage to the street, from ancient wooden theaters to late-night comedy clubs, drama shapes how Japan tells its stories and how we tell our own. In this issue, we explore the full spectrum of performance and emotion that defines the season.

We sit down with comedian Yurié Collins to talk timing, truth and what it means to build a voice across cultures. Plus, step into the world of Kabuki and Noh theater, peek into the real drama and dilemmas from Metropolis readers in our agony aunt feature, and see your fresh lineup of events, festivals and performances across Tokyo and beyond.

We showcase local businesses to help international residents, top spots for tourists to visit, trendsetters in the spotlight and much, much more in Metropolis Spring 2026.

Whether you’re a new reader or you’ve been picking up Metropolis since we first launched, we wish you a warm welcome to our Spring Issue.

Read this issue’s stories by picking up a magazine copy around Tokyo or online.

—

【Cover】
Model: Yurié Collins
Photography: Alex T Thomas