Author Archives: philipbrasor

July 2013 movies

Posted on June 25, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here are the movie reviews I wrote for the July issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo today. After Earth At the press conference for After Earth last month, producer-star-story creator Will Smith bragged about talking M. Night … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, June 23, 2013

Posted on June 23, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, about NHK’s nightly series Heart Net TV and its occasional coverage of sexual minorities. Since the show is on NHK’s education channel, its purposes are nominally didactic. Many of the problems faced by LGBT individuals … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, June 16, 2013

Posted on June 16, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, which is about coverage of Yoichiro Miura’s record-breaking climb to the top of Mt. Everest in late May. The gist of the Shukan Bunshun article I refer to is that Miura and his family make … Continue reading →

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June 2013 albums

Posted on May 27, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here are the album reviews I wrote for the June issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo last weekend. Nocturnes -Little Boots (On Repeat/Hostess) Girl Who Got Away -Dido (RCA/Sony) As the pop music cycle goes round and … Continue reading →

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June 2013 movies

Posted on May 24, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here are the movies reviews I wrote for the June issue of EL Magazine, which will be distributed in Tokyo tomorrow. Celeste and Jesse Forever Though ostensibly a two-hander, this melancholic romantic comedy is mainly a showcase for Rashida Jones, … Continue reading →

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The “comfort women” issue in 1997

Posted on May 21, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here is a column I wrote in 1997 about the “comfort women” issue, which was still relatively new at the time. In light of the controversy sparked by Mayor Toru Hashimoto’s comments, I thought it might be instructive to see … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, May 5, 2013

Posted on May 5, 2013 by philipbrasor

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 by philipbrasor

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 by philipbrasor

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 by philipbrasor

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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