About

Philip Brasor is a Tokyo-based writer-for-hire who, for the moment, makes his living writing about entertainment, the Japanese media, and money issues.

(header photo by Masako Tsubuku)

10 Responses to About

  2. Jeff Cobb's avatar Jeff Cobb says:
    July 17, 2018 at 12:22 am

    Greetings. I read your story today on Yuka Sekiguchi WRT demenita taking the headlines (Dementia is pushing cancer out of the medical spotlight) and discovered something intriguing: her assessment of dementia being a form of liberation blew me away because I thought I was the only one with that crazy idea. You see, I am dying of Lewy Body Dementia which is like a mix of AD and Parkinsons. Point is, I get first-hand tastes of what dementia is like and I saw this same possibility earlier in my progression (http://livingwithlewybodies.blogspot.com/2018/05/next-stop-undiscovered-country.html). I present this simply to demonstrate my sincerity when I ask if you had any way to contact Yuka Sekiguchi because I could love to compare notes. She is probably too important to waste time with this, I get that but I have nothing to lose by asking. Cheers on a fine story that pulled me right in! I apologise for contacting you in this manner; I have exhausted my own efforts to locate her….

    Reply
  3. David Anderson's avatar David Anderson says:
    April 2, 2022 at 6:07 am

    Hi Philip,

    Miss you in the Japan Times. When are you coming back?

    Reply
    • philipbrasor's avatar philipbrasor says:
      April 2, 2022 at 6:40 am

      If you’re talking specifically about Media Mix, the Japan Times’ management decided they didn’t want it any more.

      Reply
      • David Anderson's avatar David Anderson says:
        April 4, 2022 at 7:05 am

        That is a shame. I always looked forward “reading you” in the Saturday edition and have been enjoying your writing since you used to have the column about house hunting.

      • philipbrasor's avatar philipbrasor says:
        April 4, 2022 at 7:14 am

        Well, we still cover media on this site and at Number 1 Shimbun, and still have the housing blog (catforehead.com), which we’re trying to turn into a book. So I hope you keep reading.

      • David Anderson's avatar David Anderson says:
        April 4, 2022 at 7:06 am

        That is a shame. I always looked forward “reading you” in the Saturday edition and have been enjoying your writing since you used to have the column about house hunting.

  4. scottdrad's avatar scottdrad says:
    April 22, 2024 at 10:49 am

    Love your writing, your selection of issues to comment on and your perspectives. You seem to have a strong understanding of common sense, please keep on exploring Japanese society. Your work is very valuable! Looking forward to the book, would be very useful for all of those people thinking about buying an Akiya as there is an alternative of buying land and building that maybe more cost effective in the long run.

    Reply
  5. yenaroali's avatar yenaroali says:
    June 8, 2025 at 12:32 am

    Dear Mr. Brasor,

    I recently read your article published in The Japan Times back in 2002, titled “Can You Celebrate? Not Yet, Amuro-chan.” I found it truly insightful, as it offered a unique perspective on the challenges Namie Amuro faced in her career. Your reflections also helped me better understand the possible reasons behind her early retirement, even at the peak of her success, I think she simply wished to spend more time with her family and son.

    After all these years, I would be very interested to hear your thoughts on whether you believe Amuro-chan now has reasons to celebrate. She has had an incredibly successful career, and her legacy is remarkable. Still, I feel that her personal life has been marked by deep sorrow — from the loss of her mother (and grandmother shortly before that), to a divorce, and ultimately stepping away from her career so early.

    I would love to know your perspective on her story now, and how her journey is seen in Japan today.

    Thank you very much for your time and for your writing — it has had a lasting impact.

    Warm regards,Yenaro Ali RodriguezSanto Domingo, Dominican Republic

    Reply

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