| Japanzine | |
| Editor: | Doug Breath |
| Editor Title: | Editor |
| Frequency: | Monthly |
| Circulation: | 52,000 |
| Category: | Newsmagazine, Local interest magazine |
| Company: | Carter Witt Media |
| Publisher: | Carter Witt |
| Firstdate: | April 1990 (as The Alien) |
| Country: | Japan |
| Language: | English |
| Website: | japanzine.jp |
Japanzine is a Japan-based English-language magazine, published by Carter Witt Media.
Japanzine is the successor magazine to The Alien.
In May 2008 the magazine introduced Gaijin Sounds, a national music competition for foreign artists residing in Japan, created as an attempt to counteract the lack of press coverage given to "home-grown" artists. Twelve artists from around Japan were selected as winners with music ranging from techno to indie-pop to rap. Gaijin Sounds Vol. 2, was launched the following year, featuring in the May 2009 issue.[1] The competition soon expanded to the live arena, with 2 live "finals" in Osaka and Tokyo in autumn 2009, featuring over 8 bands such as Fukuoka outfit, Nanbanjin; Tokyo-based Kev Gray & The Gravy Train - both who had won the award twice[2] - and the former Matsuyama indie rock band The Watanabes, also based in Tokyo.
The competition returned in 2010, where winners included Andy Tyrone Rogers[1] and The Mootekkis, who featured on the cover.
In 2012, Japanzine opened up the competition to all-Japanese line-ups with a national Bands of Japan contest.
Publications on Japanzine stopped, and Carter Witt and Doug Breath moved on to develop Nagoya Buzz.[3]
Japanzine caters largely to the expatriate community in Japan. Each edition of the magazine contains a map of various Japanese cities and an entertainment guide,[4] as well as several articles - both satirical and serious - on Japanese life.
The comic strip character Charisma Man first appeared in The Alien and later in Japanzine.[5]
The magazine provided a regular gig guide for music lovers in Tokyo with a mix of international and up and coming local artists.[6]