In 2025, Japan featured a vibrant cultural landscape alongside a quiet tension between cosmopolitan ideals and resurgent conservatism. The Japan Times' 20 Questions column highlighted diverse views on creativity, tradition, and cultural hybridity through more than two dozen interviews this year.
The Japan Times' year-end feature reflects on 2025's cultural dynamism, exploring the balance between tradition and innovation. This year brought shared insights into creative careers, everyday inspiration, and the interplay between tradition and innovation.
For instance, YouTuber Shogo Yamaguchi, in a March 29 interview, highlighted the tea ceremony as an underrated aspect of Japanese culture. "The main purpose of the tea ceremony is to show hospitality and peace and allow people to communicate without weapons. The whole concept of the tea ceremony itself is just really, really beautiful."
In an October 24 interview, Shinto priest Florian Wiltschko discussed how Shinto adapts to modern life. "Shinto continually adapts. Past, present and future connect through the concept of nakaima—literally 'inside now.' Every moment is inside now. Each past moment was, the current moment is, each future moment will be nakaima. The teachings guide us to act responsibly today—especially regarding AI, environment and sustainability—in order to leave a good legacy."
These perspectives illustrate how Japan navigated cultural hybridity in 2025. Keywords include expats, living in Japan, women’s issues, Japanese crafts, Shinto, anime, and mixed relationships.