[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#4 Do Otakus Have What it Takes to Change the World? What I learned from the Otakus in China

“Sakurai-san is an otaku’s otaku, isn’t he?” I heard a young Japanese female otaku friend say to another friend. And it was right on the mark; I am indeed an otaku’s otaku.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ China｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Other genre｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.06.20

#[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]3 Ai Takahashi reveals the strength behind Hello! Project's 15 year history

I've written about Morning Musume and Hello! Project's connections to the outer world on a number of occasions in my previous publication, "J Pop Culture Observations"; my interviews with Ai Takahashi in particular receiving a positive response from people in Japan and all over the world.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Talent/Idol｜ Other genre｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.06.13

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#2 Kawaii university teacher in Nanjing tells how "Slam Dunk" and sailor-fuku changed her life.

From January 2010 I began focusing my cultural diplomacy efforts on China, and since then I’ve visited the country a total of 14 times. In April I went to Nanjing to pay a visit to Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology’s Media & Art College (established in 2008) after being awarded the position of guest lecturer.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Other genre｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.06.06

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#1 Interview with world loved singer and voice actress, Minori Chihara.

In my new column, “Sakurai Takamasa’s JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!” I’’ll be reporting stories and episodes of Japan’s growing connections with people and countries all over the world. For this commemorative first installment: my interview with the globally popular singer and voice actress, Minori Chihara.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ Anime｜ Talent/Idol｜ Other genre｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.05.30