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 13

Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, is interviewed on ABC’s “World News Tonight” with Brian Ross and Diane Sawyer.


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 […]


Jan 5

Roland Kelts on Confucianism in Japan, in AdBusters, Big Ideas of 2010 Issue

After the Walkman and the Prius, Is it time for the West to adopt the Confucianism from the East?  Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the US, asks that in the latest issue of AdBusters. As a part of the magazine’s Big Ideas of 2010 issue, Kelts challenges […]


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 ******************


Dec 16

Roland Kelts’ Japanamerica reviewed by Fan-to-Pro blog

Here’s a nice review of Japanamerica (by Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99) on the blog Fan-to-Pro:  The Blog of Professional Geekery, which describes itself as “a blog about jobs, career and economics for ambitious fans, progeeks, Otariimen and other members of the Modern Literati.” http://www.fantopro.com/blog/2009/12/book-review-japanamerica.html Just in time for the holidays, in case you’re looking for […]


Dec 11

Roland Kelts article in PaperSky–in Japanese–on hybridization and travel

Here’s a column by Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, in the Japanese-language travel magazine, PaperSky (http://www.paper-sky.com/blog/).  It’s a “mediation on hybridization and travel” and includes photos of the Tokyo, Sydney and NYC skylines.


Dec 7

Roland Kelts article in “Psychology Today”

Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, wrote this story about Japan’s unique generation gap for Psychology Today.  According to Roland, “things keep changing, but the fundamentals remain the same.  Japanese youth are enacting a kind of Bartelby Rebeillion–checking out, passively, to check in.” Here’s the link to the post:  http://japanamerica.blogspot.com/2009/12/psychology-today.html


Dec 2

Here are two videos of Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, from a keynote speech he gave at the University of Missouri in St. Louis back in October. In the first, he talks about the connection between manga and anime and traditional Japanese line-based aesthetics–or what Takashi Murakami now calls “Superflat”: And in the […]


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. ***** ******


Nov 16

Roland Kelts radio interview with Tyler Brule of Monocle Magazine on manga and Japanamerica

*********** Here’s a radio interview Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, did in Tokyo this past weekend with Tyler Brule, founder and editor of the UK-based Monocle magazine, about manga in Japan and overseas, and Japanamerica: http://www.monocle.com/The-Monocle-Weekly The Japanamerica segment is introduced at 1:00 and starts at 22:00


Nov 10

*************** Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, was interviewed by Japan Society of New York at the New York Anime Festival 2009 which was held September 25-27 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center.  Let’s go to the video tape: Part 1 of the interview: Part 2 of the interview:


Nov 6

*************** A story just published in the new December issue of VANITY FAIR chronicles the way Japanese kawaii, or super-cuteness, has conquered America: http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2009/12/cuteness-200912 Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, is quoted fairly liberally via an interview with Vanity Fair writer Jim Windolf.  Here’s a sample: “There’s no doubt that cuteness has been a […]


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 […]


Oct 20

Roland Kelts article in Adbusters: Private Worlds

Roland Kelts (Osaka-shi, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has a good article out in Adbusters magazine. Private Worlds:  Lives spent lurking too long in the shadows of the virtual https://www.adbusters.org/magazine/86/private-worlds.html Also, Roland is traveling to Korea soon to do give some talks there.  If you’re a JET alum living in Korea and you go, make sure […]


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