F ew companies have grown to have the impact Studio Pierrot has had on the anime industry. Not only has it been a massive ...

Fans of the Japanese pop culture are finding connection and love through a common interest. Bookstore owners say the trend has had staying power, and more people are taking Japanese language classes.

In fact, there's an entire genre of anime known as "iyashikei," meaning "healing," referring to anime meant to have a soothing effect on viewers. These series make up for what they lack in conflict ...