Feb 23

Soft Power, Hard Truths: From Akihabara to Katsucon

The latest Soft Power, Hard Truths Daily Yomiuri column from Roland Kelts (author of Japanamerica) in which he describes taking his Tokyo U. students on a field trip to Akihabara (i.e., the heart of otaku culture) reflecting on their reactions.


Nov 21

Roland Kelts Daily Yomiuri column: Soft power evolution from Perry’s day to Obama’s

************* Here’s the latest SOFT POWER/HARD TRUTHS column in the Daily Yomiuri by Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, this one about Obama’s recent visit, Perry and the new Asia. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20091120TDY13001.htm FYI, images below are 1) Commodore Perry’s bow, 2) Obama’s bow and 3) Political commentary from Perry’s day. ***** ******


Mar 25

Roland Kelts recent articles in The Daily Yomiuri and Adbusters

Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has two recent articles published. Daily Yomiuri:  Soft Power Hard Truths / American anime fans party, but don’t pay On the widening gap between Japanese and American fandom:  http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20090320TDY13002.htm Adbusters:  Dame-Ren (No Good People) – A glimpse into Japan’s embrace of Western-style capitalism On Japan’s new generation of […]


Nov 15

  By Rafael Villadiego (Nagasaki-ken, 2010-13) for JQ magazine. A member of JETAA New South Wales, Rafael is a collector of words on a journey still searching for a destination, who has a tendency to forget, we are all sometimes like the rain… Lee-Sean Huang (Oita-ken, 2003-06) was an ALT in Nakatsu City. Upon returning […]


Jul 29

********* JET Return on Investment (ROI) is a category on JetWit intended to highlight the various economic, diplomatic and other benefits to Japan resulting from its investment in the JET Program.  Why is this important right now?  Because the JET Program and JET Alumni Association may be cut by the Japanese government, as explained in this […]


Mar 19

Roland Kelts column in Daily Yomiuri: Censorship of manga – What’s ok?

Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has published his latest SOFT POWER/HARD TRUTHS column for The Daily Yomiuri–this one about last month’s sentencing of American Chris Handley for possession of ‘obscene manga’ in Iowa–and this month’s proposal by the Tokyo Government to censor ‘virtual porn’ (read: manga and anime) in Japan. Is this another […]


Feb 26

Roland Kelts sought as commentator on Toyota by major media outlets

If you’ve been following Toyota’s problems of late, then you may have also noticed JET alum Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, popping up a lot as a commentator. He recently appeared on ABC’s World News Tonight.  And even more recently he was commissioned to write an op-ed for the Christian Science Monitor to […]


Feb 3

Roland Kelts column in Daily Yomiuri: Is this the year Japan jumps the shark?

Here’s the latest SOFT POWER/HARD TRUTHS column in the Daily Yomiuri by Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, this one whether Japan, like Fonzie in the epic sitcom Happy Days, has “jumped the shark.” http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20100122TDY11003.htm Also, fyi, Roland is now down in Miami for the Super Bowl (his sister works for the NFL!) hanging […]


Dec 19

Roland Kelts column in Daily Yomiuri: Our hybrid future is here

************* Here’s the latest SOFT POWER/HARD TRUTHS column in the Daily Yomiuri by Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, this one about hybrid people, hybrid music and hybridization as a trend. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20091218TDY11001.htm ******************


Oct 26

Roland Kelts on Japanese pop music in Daily Yomiuri column

Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has another SOFT POWER/HARD TRUTHS column in The Daily Yomiuri (and also re-printed in 3:AM Magazine) about J-Pop music in America, featuring interviews with Miho Hatori, formerly of Cibo Mato, and Reni-chan, a recent NYC transplant from Tokyo, plus reflections on AKB48. Daily Yomiuri SOFT POWER/HARD TRUTHS:  Japan’s […]


Sep 24

Roland Kelts column in Daily Yomiuri and appearances at the NY Anime Festival this weekend

**************** Here’s the latest Daily Yomiuri column from Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, from his “Soft Power, Hard Truths” series for the Daily Yomiuri.  This one about the giant robot Gundam and AKB48 girl-power at this year’s New York Anime Festival, kicking off tomorrow: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20090925TDY13001.htm Also, Roland will be at the New York […]


Jun 12

Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has been keeping busy.  JetWit just hasn’t been able to keep up.  So here are some recent highlights: A recent Daily Yomiuri SOFT POWER/HARD TRUTHS column about a symposium on the state of the anime/manga industry and some of the challenges it faces, which you can see on […]


May 18

Roland Kelts on “Redline” director Takeshi Koike

In his latest Daily Yomiuri column, “Soft Power/Hard Truths,” Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, sits down with “Redline” director Takeshi Koike to discuss his latest work and delve further into the heart of manga and anime.


Feb 27

Daily Yomiuri: Roland Kelts comments on Haruki Murakami’s Israel speech

In a special column in today’s Daily Yomiuri (“Haruki Murakami:  Japan’s 21st-Century Cultural Ambassador“), Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, comments on Haruki Murakami’s speech regarding his recent acceptance of a literary award in Israel. Roland also has a new “Soft Power/Hard Truths” column out today, this one titled “Cosplayers a breath of fresh […]


Jan 24

******* In his latest recurring column “Soft Power/Hard Truths” for the Daily Yomiuri, Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99) attempts to explain the phenomenon that is Afro-Samurai. See his column here:  http://japanamerica.blogspot.com/2009/01/afro-samurai-anime-and-game-follow-soft.html


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