[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#42 Video Letters From Morning Musume and JAM Project Connecting Japan to the World

I first began my work in cultural diplomacy in December 2007. In saying that though, it wasn’t until my visit to Saudi Arabia in March 2008 that I really started to grasp the significance of cultural diplomacy and feel that it was something worth devoting my life’s work to.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.03.13

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#41 Cosplay in the Middle East – Japanese Cosplay Uniting Nations

“I just love manga and cosplay. Manga is now sold all over the world and I want to go and see people in other countries cosplaying Japanese manga and anime characters for myself.”Soon after meeting Kanna, this is the email she sent me.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Manga｜ Anime｜ Cosplay｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.03.06

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#39 Cultural Diplomacy with Voice Actress, Uesaka Sumire, in Qatar.

This week I’m continuing with my running series on my trip to Qatar and the Doha International Book Fair. Japan was the guest country of honor at the Fair and it was my role to organize the events to be held at the Japan booth. One of said events was a talk with Japanese voice actress, Uesaka Sumire.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.02.20

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#38 From Idols to Fashion – This Qatari Girl’s Room is Full of Kawaii

One is all it takes. Just make one friend from another country and your view of that country will change completely. That’s what I believe to be the fundamental truth behind all foreign diplomacy.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Fashion｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.02.13

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#37 Kawaii Fashion Show in Qatar!

As I wrote in my previous article, in the lead up to the close of the 2012 Doha International Book Fair, the “Japan booth” at the event hosted its own “Kawaii Fashion Show” – the first fashion show of its kind to be held in the city of Qatar!

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Fashion｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.02.06

Japanese Denim Makes its Debut in Singapore!

Japan's "Okayama Denim" is considered among the highest quality denim in the world. An event was held in Singapore recently to showcase Okayama Denim to a broader Asian audience and show the people of Singapore why this Japan-made product has come to be labelled a world-class brand in its own right.

Culture Watch (Latest News & Info) | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ Fashion｜

2013.01.31

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#36 Lolita Fashion Starlet, Aoki Misako – a big hit in Qatar!

I first met Aoki Misako in February 2009. At the time I was on a panel of advisers to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, searching for candidates for the “Kawaii Ambassador” project and Aoki Misako just happened to be one such candidate who seemed perfect for the role.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Fashion｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.01.30

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#35 Fahion, Beauty and the Moscow J FEST

Moscow's "J FEST" has become a signature event of the winter season in Moscow and is now in its fourth year – the most recent installment being held in December last year (2012). It’s the largest Japanese pop culture event of its kind in Moscow and the main attraction has remained constant from the very beginning: the fashion show.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Fashion｜ Manga｜ Anime｜ Cosplay｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.01.23

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#34 Makino Yui Performs Live and a Special Message from Uesaka Sumire to Her Fans – Moscow J FEST 2012

“When I stood up on stage, I found out just how much love for Japan there is.”
That’s what singer and voice actress, Makino Yui, said to me backstage after her performance at J FEST in Moscow.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.01.16

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#32 Why is Cosplay so Important to Anime Cultural Diplomacy? – Russia's “J FEST”

What is it about cosplay that is so important to anime cultural diplomacy? That’s what I want to talk about this week.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Cosplay｜ Event Reports｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2013.01.02

asianbeat 4Koma Manga Contest

Manga is not only a global phenomenon; it’s a medium that fosters shared values and mutual understanding amongst teenagers and young adults all over the world. Thus, in hopes of further cultivating a common awareness and understanding among the youth in Asia, asianbeat will attempt to harness the power of manga culture and host the ‘4koma’ (four cell) Manga Contest!

Award | Japan｜ China｜ Fukuoka｜ Other Areas｜ Manga｜ Event Reports｜

2012.12.05

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#21 Reunions in Doha. Talking Idols and Lolita Fashion in the Middle East!

How did I get to be the one standing in this place? I could be on my way home from dinner, standing on some random street corner somewhere in the world and this thought will occur to me. The faces of numerous people come to mind when I think about the people who helped guide my life down this particular path.

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

2012.10.16

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#19 An Cafe Connecting with the World. Interview with Members, Kanon and Takuya

Globally popular J-rock band, Antic Cafe (An Cafe), held their comeback concert at Yoyogi National Gymnasium (Tokyo, Japan) on the 8th and 9th of September 2012, and it was a smashing success.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Tokyo｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.10.02

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]18 Taking Back Harajuku! Fans Gather for An Cafe’s First Concert in Nearly 3 Years

On the 8th and 9th of September 2012, Japanese rock band Antic Cafe (An Cafe) held a concert at Yoyogi National Gymnasium - their first since their performance at the Budokan in January 2010.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Tokyo｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Music｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.09.26

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#17 Why Young People Everywhere Want to Visit Japan.

In November 2009, I helped organize the Japan Pop Culture Festival (aka. J Fest) in Moscow, but until I stood up on stage at that event, never did I think that Moscow would become like a home to me.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Tokyo｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ sightseeing｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.09.19

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#15 My First Visit to the Republic of South Africa

Generally speaking, I can probably divide the cultural diplomacy work that I do into two categories.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.09.05

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#13 Interview with Voice Actor, Uesaka Sumire - Her Love of Russia and Aspirations for the Future

Of all the places I’ve visited in my line of work Moscow is somewhat special.
One thing that my work in cultural diplomacy has taught me is that some things you just have to go and experience for yourself.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Talent/Idol｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.08.22

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#10 Embodying all that is Japan. Kyary Pamyu Pamyu Live in Paris

In July 2012, I attended the Paris Japan Expo for the first time in two years. This time I wasn’t one of the producers of the event, I was able to take in the scenery just like all the other visitors, just like I did the first time I attended the event in 2008.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ France｜ パリ｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Event Reports｜ Talent/Idol｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.08.01

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#9 Idols and Anime. Berryz Kobo Talk Anime and Performing Overseas

Whenever I see idol group Berryz Kobo perform live or meet with the members in person, I’m always reminded of the Yamanote Line in Tokyo.

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

2012.07.25

[JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!]#7 Hironobu Kageyama – the Ani-song Artist Connecting Japan with the World!

It hasn’t been that long since I began this cultural diplomacy line of work but I’ve already managed to find my way to more than 100 cities around the world. I’ve visited a total of 23 countries and from summer I’ll add one more country to that list with my visit to the Republic of South Africa.

JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN! | Japan｜ Other Areas｜ INTERVIEW / SERIALS｜ Anime｜ Other genre｜ J-POP｜ JAPAN! JAPAN! JAPAN!｜

2012.07.11