japanamerica

In answer to two of my most Frequently Asked Questions: Is Japanese Pop Culture really Japanese? And does it actually turn foreigners onto Japan? From The World by PRI , an interview with Patrick Cox.

I was interviewed by Dana Goodyear this fall for a story that is just out in this week's New Yorker magazine, about Japan's rising tribes of cell phone novelists (online here): "I (Heart) Novels." Dana very skillfully balances skepticism with curiosity--and manages some fine reporting on a difficult subject for any journalist to pursue (accidental authors who opt to remain both pseudonymous and anonymous), let alone a non-Japanese journalist who neither lives in Japan nor speaks the language. Kudos to Dana and to her encyclopedic assistant on the ground in Tokyo, the ever-brilliant David d'Heilly. My passage begins thusly: "Roland Kelts, a half-Japanese writer born in the United States and the author of “Japanamerica,” sees the Internet as an escape valve for a society that can be oppressive in its expectation of normative, group-minded behavior. 'In Japan, conflict is not celebrated—consensus is celebrated ... '"

My friend, literary translator, author and Tokyo University scholar Motoyuki Shibata, launched his literary journal Monkey Business at a rooftop party last spring in Roppongi, Tokyo. The latest two issues, nos. 3 and 3.5, are focused on J.D. Salinger's Nine Stories . Issue 3 carries Moto's translation of the entire book; 3.5 features a segment about the stories. I first read Nine Stories when I was in my mid-teens. Like many young American boys, I was deep into the Salinger world, feeling both drawn to it and a part of it at once. I discussed this former obsession with Moto over dinner one evening in Tokyo, and he subequently invited me to contribute an essay to Monkey Business 3.5. I was honored, and am even more so now that issue 3.5 has been released. My work appears alongside a 'taidan' (scholarly discussion) about Salinger between Moto and Toshiki Okada, and a prose poem about Nine Stories by Mieko Kawakami. If you read Japanese, you can find the full table o...

Earlier this week, Amelia Newcomb, senior editor at The Christian Science Monitor , published a series of articles under the rubrik, JAPAN INFLUENTIAL. The series is probing and thorough, covering Japan's overseas pop juggernaut, the nation's new efforts to exert 'soft power,' the rise of female voices via new technologies in contemporary Japanese literature, Japan's eco-friendly culture and more. I and my dear friend Bruce Rutledge of Chin Music Press were interviewed by the amicable and very well-versed Newcomb for the stories, the first of which ran on page 1 of Monday's issue (above), and can be read HERE . The second, about blogger-turned-novelist Mieko Kawakami and other innovative young female writers, features insights from another dear friend, Motoyuki Shibata, and can be read online HERE . Yokatta !

My dear friend Leo and I penned a story that is just out in the new 2009 Adbusters magazine: "Big In Japan." It's about the surge of interest in a long forgotten novel, first published in 1929, about socialist sentiment in Japan.

Michael Arias, the lone American in the Japanese animation and film industries, is about to release his new film: Heaven's Door (out in Japan on Feb. 7, 09). I talked with him for hours in Tokyo last week for my latest column in Japan's Daily Yomiuri .

Writer and photographer Tony McNicol skillfully hammers home the current arc in the story of Japanamerica in this relatively brief December 08 feature. I'm impressed by both his concision and graphics. He called me in New York this fall for an interview. I think he got it right.

I recently gave a talk and signed books for students and faculty at Seikei University in western Tokyo, introducing both the ideas examined in the book and the latest happenings in the trans-cultural exchange between Japan and the U.S. These events are in some way refreshing exceptions in my life to the rule of writing, reading, interviewing, revising, editing and, these days, recording (for NPR). It's nice to get out in front of friendly faces. Now, one might anticipate that a large audience of Japanese listening to a half-Japanese American carry on about their own cultural output would be a tad blase. But not so, at least not in my experience. Both the students and their professors at Japanese universities I've visited have been unwaveringly attentive, curious and even startled by what I say, filling the allotted Q&A sessions with probing questions and pursuing me afterward to continue the discussion during book-signings. For me, of course, it's invigorating, and f...

Among many current projects, I've been working on a program for National Public Radio--specifically, WNYC's Studio 360 , a show that explores cultures via their artists. The crew was here in Japan last month, and the photos above capture them recording me and host Kurt Andersen recording a segment in Akihabara--right at the corner of the intersection in which Tomohiro Kato went on a knifing spree this past June. The middle photo is of my interview with Ryu Murakami, novelist of Japan's uglier sides ( Almost Transparent Blue , Coin Locker Babies , and In the Miso Soup ), cultural commentator on youth pathologies, and film director provocateur ( Tokyo Decadence ). This is hard work. I have gained an appreciation for the radio hosts, producers and narrators who make what we hear in our cars and living rooms. It's like writing a story, but with sounds taking the place of language and ideas. Oh, it's radio. Duh.

Earlier this fall, on the day when then candidates Barack Obama and John McCain were visiting the campus of one of my old schools, Columbia University, I was visiting with nonfiction author and CU journalism professor David Hajdu in his festooned campus office to talk comics and culture. NYC was cloud-covered and felt ominous and edgy--entirely apt, as it was another September 11, seven years after the act. I had to navigate police and media phalanxes to get to David, but his energetic conversation made the trek well worth it. I first read Hajdu's work via my dear pal Paul, author and editor at FSG, who sent along a copy of David's first book, Lush Life , about the excruciating genius of Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington's largely unsung collaborator, in 1997. Over ten years ago. Yeesh. When I heard that Hajdu's latest book, The Ten Cent Plague , was about the birth and aborted growth of American comics, I was immediately interested, given my own study of Japan's ...

I'm giving another talk based on Japanamerica--and the whole digital gestalt--in Tokyo this Friday, November 28th, from 3 to 4 p.m., in a big hall at Seikei University. It's open to the public, I'm told, and I've got loads of new stuff to reveal--from Crunchyroll, to Afro Samurai 2 and Astro Boy, and recent encounters with Haruki Murakami, Pete Townshend, Hayao Miyazaki and Ryu Murakami, not to mention the latest tales from anime-land. I've been trekking around with The Who and National Public Radio, hence my recent silence. I will also be showing some new vids, and I hope you'll join us in Kichijoji on Friday, after your Thanksgiving feast in Japan.

Latest musings from my column in the Daily Yomiuri, "Soft Power, Vague Thoughts"--er, Hard Truths : Here . I began following progress on both Afro Samurai and Imagi's CGI Astro Boy years ago, while conducting research for Japanamerica , and I'm relieved to see that both are well on track, whatever the results.

Fell behind amid the worthy distraction of the US election but am gradually recovering. I posted below entries H-N of "The Japanamerican Devil," modeled (very loosely, and with humble apologies) on Ambrose Bierce's "The Devil's Dictionary" of 1911. The idea was cooked up by my editor at Kodansha Box, the estimable Shibayama-san, with illustrations by Taketomi-sensei and translations by Kobayashi-san. The Japanamerican Devil appears in issues of Pandora , whose cover has also been posted. Needless to say, I'm honored to have my work in such a great looking and lovingly produced publication. As part of the re-emergence, my band in Tokyo, ALi-MO, will be taking the stage tomorrow evening in Nishi-Azabu. Details are here . We are debuting our smart, young bassist in a post-election bash/blowout in the heart of the city. Please join us if you're here.

I am interviewed in this brief but astute radio story on Haruki Murakami's recent appearances in New York and California. The show aired yesterday on PRI's "The World," and was broadcast on NPR. It can be heard here .

This one is about the vast effort here in Tokyo to finally acknowledge America's online fans.

Back in Tokyo. Spoke at Barclays last week, as markets crashed and burned next door. New Yomiuri column out today: here .

I am in Tokyo tonight, but will be flying tomorrow to San Francisco, where I will converse with a man I deeply admire, a stellar writer and gentle friend: Haruki Murakami. Please join us at UC Berkeley on Saturday night. Info here . Forgive me this jet lagged cliche: It's an honor. Incidentally, the photo above was taken years ago, as you can see by the dateline. Helplessly, I have aged since then. Haruki, it seems, has become younger. Keep on working.

The leaves had turned, winds gusted and rains slashed--then a clear-skied chill settled and we had a lovely eve, pre-Palin, in the Berkshires. Many thanks to all who attended, and to Danielle and Natasha for the lovely dinner. Met some sharp and very kind students from Williams and MCLA, in addition to faculty and local residents at the book-signing. Honto-ni arigato. Berkshire Eagle published a very friendly preview here . The amassed trailers a few miles away were busy shooting "Woodstock," the feature film, and I heard from my driver that one scene involves a gaggle of 18 year-olds galloping naked through a nearby field. Power to the peeps. Off to Tokyo and San Francisco next week .

Join us on Thursday amid the lilting hills of the Berkshires for this-- Japanamerica! See you soon?

NYAF was awesome on Sunday, though it sucked being there on two hours' sleep from the red-eye from San Francisco. Still, my cohorts were sharp as missiles.

I became a Jedi, or an Ewok, among my esteemed colleagues--Susan Napier, Fred Schodt and Ian Condry at the West Coast launch of Anime Masterpieces on Saturday afternoon. (Man, try flying across country in two days. Does something fresh to your head and bowels.)

I followed the Kinokuniya gig the next night with a one-off appearance at the glorious Amanda Stern project called The Happy Ending Reading Series . I was unkempt and disheveled, as was the audience, but this was a fresh opportunity to bring the book downtown, where other nightliners giggled and encouraged, albeit sarcastically.

Years ago there was a runty little advert from Schlitz Beer (remember it?) about how it takes a lot of people to put The Who on tour. Oh, it's right here: Schlitz & The Who . I remember thinking: ya, right! Because it was a piss-lame beer company sponsoring a rock band whose members (aside from the now-late bassist) had given up drinking entirely, or nearly so, and would never drink Schlitz. But now we're all a lot older, and I do recognize that it takes a lot of good people to make book tour(s) work, and I've just finished a string of engagements that would not have happened without generous support from great folks--sans beer. We started last week at Kinokuniya NYC for the launch of a gorgeous book, Art Space Tokyo , with an illustrious panel whose pic you can see above. I remain honored to have been invited, and can only hope that my middling comments on Takashi Murakami added to the better parts of the evening.

Taro Aso, Mr. Manga, or Rozen Aso , is Japan's next PM. Some thoughts on his ascendancy and soft power in my latest column for the Daily Yomiuri here . From sun-swept San Francisco.

Many thanks to those of you in attendance at Kinokuniya last night--terrific crowd, and as I suspected, I learned a good deal more from my co-panelists than they probably learned from me. It was also a pleasant surprise learning that so many in the audience had actually been to Tokyo, and lovely meeting friends new and old and signing some books. I'm now prepping for the Happy Ending Reading series this evening at 302 Broome Street, info is HERE . Starts at 8, doors at 7. If you're in town and near Soho, do swing by for a drink, some language and live music. Tomorrow I'm off to San Francisco to launch Anime Masterpieces at UC Berkeley. Info is HERE . And then, "with blood in [my] eye" ( P. Townshend), it's back to NYC for the New York Anime Festival on Sunday: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, JAVITS CENTER, MANHATTAN State of the Anime Industry , Roland Kelts, Moderator, 12:15 PM - 1:15 PM, Anime Panel Room (1A06) Japanamerica , Roland Kelts, Featured Speaker, ...