Author Archives: philipbrasor

Media Mix, May 5, 2013

Posted on May 5, 2013

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, which is about the government’s proposal to boost English language proficiency, mainly through utilization of TOEFL. Near the end of the column I mention the “parochial” nature of Japan’s world view, a stereotype I normally … Continue reading →

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The pursuit of happiest: Will and Jaden Smith in Tokyo

Posted on May 4, 2013

In his newest sci-fi blockbuster, After Earth, Will Smith plays a man who is incapacitated during a crash landing on earth some thousand years into the future and in order to survive he has to send his own son, played … Continue reading →

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May 2013 albums

Posted on April 27, 2013

Here are the album reviews I wrote for the May issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last Thursday. Old Sock -Eric Clapton (Bushbranch/Universal) Electric -Richard Thompson (Proper/P-Vine) Though he’s still God to some boomers, Eric Clapton hasn’t … Continue reading →

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The Selector, Apr. 25

Posted on April 26, 2013

Here’s the playlist for the InterFM show I programmed last night, with links where available. Sarcasm & Sincerity: Songs I think would sound good on the radio M1. “Old World,” The Modern Lovers (1973) An anti-hippie without being a jerk … Continue reading →

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May 2013 movies

Posted on April 25, 2013

Here are the movie reviews I wrote for the May issue of EL Magazine, which is being distributed in Tokyo today. Ek Tha Tiger Former documentary filmmaker Kabir Khan has become successful in Bollywood with socially charged subjects that don’t … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, Apr. 7, 2013

Posted on April 7, 2013

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, which is about the current administration’s attitude toward the constitution as demonstrated by its handling of the vote disparity issue. This attitude might have met with more criticism from the media if the judiciary were … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, Mar. 31, 2013

Posted on March 31, 2013

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, which along with another article we posted on our JT blog completes a double this week on public transportation. Though the two pieces address different news stories, both bring up the issue of what sort … Continue reading →

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April 2013 albums

Posted on March 28, 2013

Here are the album reviews I wrote for the April issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo on Monday. Amok -Atoms For Peace (Hostess) Evidence -John Foxx and The Maths (MSI) However one interprets the work of Thom … Continue reading →

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April 2013 movies

Posted on March 26, 2013

Here are the movie reviews I wrote for the April issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo on Monday. Anna Karenina Arguably the greatest novel ever written and one of the few whose scope translates easily to the … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, Mar. 24, 2013

Posted on March 24, 2013

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, which is about coverage of a new prenatal screening test and the attendant discussion of abortion in Japan. The general opinion, both here and abroad, is that abortion is legal in Japan, but while it … Continue reading →

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