Rockin’ in Rhythm: Japan’s Battling Big Bands
Jazz was not merely a music to be accepted or reviled, but rather a metaphor for Japan’s participation in global cultural trends.
Journey to Disaster: Toshiro Mifune in “Band of Assassins”
He asked to be shaved because he knew exactly what was going to happen to his head
A Kurosawa Christmas: When the Turkey is Really Chicken
A glittering star appears amongst the reeking slime
Salute to Toshiro Mifune: Japan’s Greatest Movie Star
When Hideyoshi orders his soldiers to cut off the man’s nose and ears, he fights back
Rock Gods in Japan: Who’s Appropriating Who?
A famous number of theirs compares a girlfriend’s physical attributes to those of a high-performance sports car.
Blowback: Sunak, Kishida & the Supercompetitive Yen
Large currency moves always create winners and losers: the losers complain loudly while the winners count their profits and keep quiet.
Currency Crunch: The Yen is massively mispriced
Deflation could easily return
Reflections on a Funeral
I’m glad the protesters were there and glad they got some feedback
Shinzo Abe’s Legacy Part 2: A More Comfortable, Confident and Asian Japan
The era of the blonde English language teacher as neighbourhood celebrity is over.
Bopping and Bathing in Beppu
Ichiro has never left his hometown. He has his pick of the local females