Category Archives: Media

Media Mix, Aug. 18, 2013

Posted on August 18, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, which is about discussions surrounding Japan’s collective self-defense capabilities. At the end of the column I express doubt that the Japanese public really agrees with the government’s plan to join such collective military activities, but … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, Aug. 4, 2013

Posted on August 4, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, which is about the LDP’s lack of a popular mandate despite its overwhelming victory in the recent Upper House election. Regardless of the numbers—whether we’re talking ballots counted or voter turnout—the tone of the campaigns … Continue reading →

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The “placard” video

Posted on July 14, 2013 by philipbrasor

 I heard about this video last week, when it had only received about 400 hits. Then Tokyo Shimbun ran an article about it and the number of views went up considerably. At the time of this writing the number of … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, July 7, 2013

Posted on July 7, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, which is about TV personality Rola. When the story of her father’s alleged crimes broke I noticed at least one person on Facebook question the Japanese media’s obsession with Rola’s mixed-blood heritage. For the record, … Continue reading →

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Media Mix, June 30, 2013

Posted on June 30, 2013 by philipbrasor

Here’s this week’s Media Mix, about the documentary Tous Cobayes? and the twin controversies of nuclear power and genetically modified organisms, though mostly the latter since it hasn’t received much attention in the Japanese media. Last winter I wrote a … 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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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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