Troublemakers 2
Delivered to Stack subscribers in
Aug 2025
A beautifully quiet magazine that tells the stories of so-called “misfits”, Troublemakers paints a carefully critical picture of life in contemporary Japan’s strictly ordered society.
Name
Yuto Miyamoto
Job title
Editor-in-chief
What is Troublemakers?
Troublemakers is a Tokyo-based bilingual (English/Japanese) magazine that tells stories of misfits. I run it with my partner Manami Inoue, and I’d say we both fit that description too. Together, we use the magazine as a way to approach misfits we want to meet, telling their unique stories and amplifying their voices so they can be heard by a wider audience.
What makes it different to the rest?
We use the word “troublemakers” in a positive context, redefining it (or positively misunderstanding it) to mean someone who speaks up for their own identity or their own life. Additionally, Troublemakers is a rare title where you can feel contemporary Japanese society through people’s everyday life experiences.
Who makes Troublemakers?
I edit the magazine and Manami is the art director. Our core team includes English proofreader Susie Krieble, along with a group of wonderful translators, photographers, writers, and novelists.
Who reads it?
Our readers are those who see themselves as misfits or who support the idea of our strapline: “embracing misfits”. Having said that, what we want to do through the magazine is not to distinguish between misfit people and non-misfit people. We believe that everyone can be a misfit, so everyone who is interested in personal stories from Japan can be our reader!
Why do you work in magazines?
Because we love magazines. And telling stories through a print magazine perfectly matches what Troublemakers wants to achieve: sharing in-depth personal interviews with intimate photography. I still believe that print is the best medium for appreciating long-form articles without distraction.
Aside from the magazine, what else are you involved in?
I’m a freelance journalist, editor, and translator who works with other magazines and brands. Manami and I also work as Troublemakers Studio, helping like-minded brands tell their stories.
What would you change about Troublemakers if you could?
I hope to open up Troublemakers to other writers in future issues. All the interviews have been conducted by Manami or me for now, but I would like to see interviews by contributing writers with a person whom they are curious to listen to.
Where do you see Troublemakers in five years?
We hope Troublemakers will be a catalyst for changing people’s perceptions of troublemakers and misfits into something more positive.
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