What IS "Soft Power?" Video of latest Japanamerica presentation at Temple University Japan, Tokyo

The truth was unavoidable here in Tokyo at last month's Tokyo International Film Festival and Marketing Fair TIFFCOM: Asian content is the future, and Japan is now "Asia's premier IP jewel," the epicenter of the region's Soft Power boom. 

But what IS "soft power," exactly? Harvard prof Joseph S. Nye coined the phrase in 1979 to explain the superiority of US cultural appeal (Hollywood and rock 'n' roll) vs the USSR (vodka). But is it real and quantifiable, or a mere measure of pop whimsy? And whatever its strengths, can soft power survive today's hard surges in nativism? 

I explore this tricky terrain in my latest presentation at Temple University, Japan Campus in Tokyo, just posted here:


In less than 6 months Japan will be the "Country of Honour" at the 2026 Marché du Film - Festival de Cannes. Unless nativistic knots with China tighten, expect the global IP frenzy over Japan to crest into hysteria -- albeit checked as always by Japan's ever-Byzantine contract negotiations.

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