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


Jan 17

******Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica and frequent lecturer on the topic of Japanese pop culture, was interviewed recently on Tokyo FM. Below is the link to the post on his blog (japanamerica.blogspot.com) as well as links to the interview clips. Interviewed in New York, Aired in Tokyo, on Tokyo FM The interview is […]


Dec 19

Listen to Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99) being interviewed on NPR’s “The World.”  http://www.theworld.org/?q=node/23341 Summary below: As a global power, Japan is fading, but increasing numbers of people outside the country are opting to learn Japanese. What’s fueling the new interest is a growing obsession with Japanese Manga comics and Japanese animation. The World’s Patrick Cox […]


Dec 16

Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, was quoted or mentioned this week in articles in: The New Yorker magazine, in the “Letter from Japan” article by Dan Goodyear on cellphone novelists (subscription required) Asahi Shimbun – Roland’s contribution to the Japanese literary journal, MONKEY BUSINESS, is highlighted in this article featuring editor and literary […]


Dec 12

Here’s the latest update on JET alum Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica and professor at Tokyo University: ADBUSTERS: A feature story, co-written with Leo Lewis of the Times of London, about signs of socialism and unrest among Japanese youth and the Kanikosen phenomenon is now online: http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/81/big_in_japan.html (On a related topic, Stacy Smith […]


Dec 8

Roland Kelts Update: Studio360 in Japan and Interview in Brooklyn Rail

Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), author of Japanamerica, has a few new things going on since we last checked in with him. Studio360 – See some photos and read about Roland working with the Studio360 folks in Japan on an upcoming radio program.  (Studio360 is a great show that runs on NPR and explores cultures via […]


Dec 3

Update: Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99)

After chaperoning Pete Townsend and The Who around Japan for a couple weeks, having a press conference with Hayao Miyazaki and interviewing both Murakamis (Haruki and Ryu), Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99) pauses to reflect on the interactions as well as some new perspectives on “pop culture” in his latest SOFT POWER, HARD TRUTHS column in […]


Nov 17

Roland Kelts Update – 11/17/08

Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99), the author of Japanamerica and a professor at Todai, is back in Japan and up to some interesting things. NPR: He’s putting together a program about Japan’s generation gap and disaffected youth culture for WNYC’s Studio 360. It will likely air in January. Anime Masterpieces: Creating and editing a Study Guide […]


Oct 31

Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99) just got back to Tokyo and shared this NPR clip about Haruki Murakami which includes some comments from Roland.  Have a listen.


Oct 27

Daily Yomiuri Column by Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99)

There’s a new Daily Yomiuri column out today by Japanamerica author Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99).  In his periodic column (“Soft Power/Hard Truths”), he comments on American perceptions of Japan and of foreigners, touching on his recent on-stage interview with Haruki Murakami in San Francisco as well as the recent matchup of the Rays’ Akinori Iwamura […]


Oct 20

Interview with Roland Kelts in Consulate e-Newsletter

I get the Consulate of Japan’s (NY) monthly e-newsletter, and in the October issue I noticed they have a nice interview with Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-99) about Japanese pop culture and his book Japanamerica. Published by the Consulate General of Japan in New York / Japan Information Center Japanese Pop Culture Japanese pop culture, such […]


Sep 28

Roland Kelts Column in Daily Yomiuri

Roland Kelts (Osaka, 1998-1999), author of Japanamerica:  How Japanese Culture Has Invaded the U.S., has an article in this weekend’s Daily Yomiuri entitled Soft Power, Hard Truths:  Japan’s Global Power:  Soft or Wilted? You can keep up on Roland on his blog at http://japanamerica.blogspot.com.


Mar 4

***************************** Big news to announce.  This event is a direct outgrowth of the Writers Interpreters Translators (WIT) Group and JetWit.com. Click on image to go to jetaany.org/authors to access full-size PDF of the poster. Read on for more details about the event and the authors.


May 30

JQ Magazine: Book Review — ‘Monkey Business Volume 6’

By Rashaad Jorden (Yamagata-ken, 2008-10) for JQ magazine. A former head of the JETAA Philadelphia Sub-Chapter, Rashaad is a graduate of Leeds Beckett University with a master’s degree in responsible tourism management. For more on his life abroad and enthusiasm for taiko drumming, visit his blog at www.gettingpounded.wordpress.com. Upon picking up the sixth volume of Monkey Business: […]


May 3

By Julio Perez Jr. (Kyoto-shi, 2011-13) for JQ magazine. A bibliophile, writer, translator, and graduate from Columbia University, Julio has had experience working at Ishikawa Prefecture’s New York office while seeking opportunities with publications in New York. Follow his enthusiasm for Japan, literature, and comic books on his blog and Twitter @brittlejules. A Professor Emeritus of Harvard University, Jay Rubin has also served […]


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