Author Archives: philipbrasor

Media Mix, Nov. 19, 2017

Posted on November 19, 2017 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix about the hold that nationally famous plastic surgeon Katsuya Takasu has over the media. The doctor’s comments about Nazis were what brought me to discuss his career, which I’ve followed since the 90s, at least, … Continue reading →

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October 2017 albums

Posted on November 6, 2017 by philipbrasor

Here are the albums I reviewed for the October issue of EL magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo on September 25. The Nordic Mellow -Siv Jakobsen (P-Vine) Lovers -Anna of the North (Different/Hostess) When we think of Scandinavian pop, Sweden … Continue reading →

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October 2017 movies

Posted on November 5, 2017 by philipbrasor

Due to a truckload of work and other commitments I wasn’t able to upload the reviews I wrote for the October issue of EL Magazine when the issue was released, so here they are, late by more than a month. … Continue reading →

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The 30th Tokyo International Film Festival

Posted on November 5, 2017 by philipbrasor

I once again worked for the Tokyo International Film Festival, covering events for their website. Here are the (unattributed) articles I wrote for the festival. Thanks to Karen Severns for the great editing work. “Sparring” press conference “Aqerat” press conference … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, Oct. 29, 2017

Posted on October 29, 2017 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix about progress in organ transplants in Japan. Generally speaking, I don’t think the media is the real reason behind the lack of public knowledge about transplants and organ donation, but by and large what tends … Continue reading →

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BIFF 2017

Posted on October 22, 2017 by philipbrasor

Here is my Japan Times story about this year’s Busan International Film Festival. As is always the case, space restrictions prevented me from writing all I wanted to write about the festival and the movies I saw, though, for the … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, Oct. 8, 2017

Posted on October 8, 2017 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, about Twitter’s seeming reluctance to address messages that contain hate speech. An issue discussed briefly on the Democracy Times program mentioned in the column but one that I didn’t touch on is sexist language. Kayoko … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, Sept. 24, 2017

Posted on September 24, 2017 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix about junior high schools that received protesting postcards because of a history textbook they chose to use. The media that covered this story stated that the book published by Manabisha is the only one written … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, Sept. 3, 2017

Posted on September 3, 2017 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, which is about the rest of Japan’s reluctance to “accept” any of the U.S. military bases on Okinawa. As suggested by the media coverage of this issue, the protest movement against the Okinawan bases is … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, Aug. 13, 2017

Posted on August 13, 2017 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, which is about the map recently published by METI of “suitable” areas for repositories of nuclear waste. The article’s main theme, in accordance with several media outlets’ coverage of the map, is that METI and … Continue reading →

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