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Welcome to Tokyo Calling
Tokyo Calling is a newsletter about culture, travel, urban exploration, the joys of slow life, and all things Japanese, of course.
Here you will find interviews, original articles and essays by me, Gianni Simone.
I am a Japan-based writer from Italy who regularly contributes to many English, Italian and French publications including The Japan Times, Zoom Japon, Vogue Italia and Playboy Italia.
Tokyo Calling content
From politics to sports, travels and culture in all its forms, I regularly cover every aspect of Japanese society. I also blog about otaku culture at Otaku Tokyo.
So far, Tokyo Calling has featured, among other things, stories and interviews about Japanese music
immigration and refugees
Tokyo cinemas
interesting Tokyo neighborhoods
the sex industry
and even my close encounter with COVID-19
Greetings from the suburbs (check the right-hand sidebar) is a series of dispatches from my home and surroundings in the deep Yokohama suburbs, with plenty of photos, diary entries, quotes, excerpts, and social commentary. It’s a unique chance to learn about Japan not from academic essays but “frontline” posts that show you what it’s like to live here.
Yamanote Line is my newest series, devoted to Tokyo’s most popular railway line. In 2025 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its completion, I follow the circular line on foot, exploring the districts on both sides of the tracks and highlighting Tokyo’s lesser-known spots and hidden stories.
All these articles are free.
Premium content for paid subscribers
If you like what I do and would like to support my newsletter, please consider choosing a paid subscription. Apart from earning bonus Karma points and my everlasting gratitude, you will be rewarded will exclusive access to special content. Not only that: paying subscribers can download free PDFs of books related to the subjects I cover in Tokyo Calling.
1. Premium Articles
Once a week (usually in the weekend) I publish a post only for paid subscribers.
In particular, Yamanote Line PLUS features more photos and information related to my walks around the Yamanote Line and the Tokyo districts I explore in the process.
2. PDFs
You can also download FREE subscriber-only PDFs:
My works:
On Japan:
Otaku Special:
Tokyo Geek’s Guide (by Gianni Simone)
Depending on your subscription plan, you can get two, four, or seven books for free.
For more details, check out this post (scroll down to the free book sections).
⭐ WAIT A SECOND! ⭐
For just a short period, I’m offering a special 80% discount on annual paid subscriptions.
$30 → $6 (see link above)
If you want to support my writing, here’s a chance to do it for cheap.
Join Tokyo Calling today!
Please consider supporting my newsletter and joining our community.
In addition to accessing interesting content, you are directly supporting my efforts to run this newsletter, fund my research trips, and develop content for several publications.
Thank you for your support! It truly means the world to me, and I will do my best to provide you with as much high value content as possible.
Until next time,
Gianni