Skip to Main Content
The Student News Site of The American School in Japan

HANABI

The Student News Site of The American School in Japan

HANABI

The Student News Site of The American School in Japan

HANABI

Image from Kai Socco

Whiplash—An Excellent Movie about Excellence

Article by Shiwhan Kim, Writer September 20, 2025

It’s easy to overlook abuse when it leads to excellence, because with the lash of a whip, perfection can be within reach. The complex relationship between obsession, abuse, and idolization is explored...

Photo by Ryan Stone on Unsplash

Why Dog Movies Make Us Cry So Much

Article by Christina Samson, Writer March 8, 2024

Marley and Me, Hachi: A Dog’s Tale, A Dog’s Purpose, A Dog’s Journey, and just when you thought there couldn’t be any more iterations of titles starting with  “A Dog’s,” there is A Dog’s...

Black History in Media

Black History in Media

Article by Sam Quade, Writer March 10, 2023

Although Black History Month has ended, a look back on recent events can be enlightening. The Black Lives Matter movement, ignited by the unjust murder of George Floyd in 2020 and similar instances of...

Pulled from DreamWorks Website

Confronting Mortality in a Children’s Movie

Article by Ren Topping, Editor-in-chief March 8, 2023

Puss in Boots appears to be an utterly playful character. The boot-wearing, rapier-touting, Spanish-speaking anthropomorphic orange tabby was initially a side character in Shrek 2 (2004). He would seem...

A Disney Princess for Black History Month

A Disney Princess for Black History Month

Article by Gigi Isenberg, Writer February 24, 2023

A Disney Princess for Black History Month During Black History Month, we recognize what African-Americans have gone through throughout history. We learn and talk about the most famous Black people who...

RRR: An Overlooked Blockbuster

RRR: An Overlooked Blockbuster

Article by Arnab Karmokar, Writer February 15, 2023

RRR (2022), directed by S.S. Rajamouli, has created a worldwide sensation, breaking box office records and receiving positive reviews. It is set in British-ruled India in the 1920s and features fictionalized...

Image credits to Warner Bros. Pictures

The Morality of The Dark Knight

Article by Joseph Barboriak, Writer June 8, 2022

Disclaimer: The following article contains spoilers for the movie The Dark Knight Directed by Christopher Nolan, the second installment of his Batman series was released on August 2, 2008. In The Dark...

Generation Z, Go Watch “A Ghost Story”

Generation Z, Go Watch “A Ghost Story”

Article by Momo Horii, Writer October 8, 2021

Famous directors are often predictable. With Martin Scorsese, we expect macho posturing films or sweet coming-of-age movies about a lanky boy. Turn to Quentin Tarantino for the nonlinear storylines, quick-paced...

Load More Stories