Matt Alt's Pure Invention

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Japan's Moonshot
Japan has long reached out to the world through its toys. Now it’s sending them to the stars.
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2
Tokyo Heat
More thoughts on how climate change is reshaping Japanese culture
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5
Head in the Clouds
Anime lost a legend this week: art director Nizo Yamamoto. His work transformed the medium from fantasy into an all-enveloping reality for fans.
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4
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In America, “Barbenheimer” is a success. In Japan, it’s a scandal.
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12
Japan failed at social media
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An American Icon, Made in Japan
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10
Did Mario teach Zuckerberg everything he knows?
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How Do You Live, Mr. Miyazaki?
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2
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An American Icon, Made in Japan
Barbie has a secret: she may have been dreamed up in the US, but she came to life in a Tokyo hotel room.
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Matt Alt
10
In America, “Barbenheimer” is a success. In Japan, it’s a scandal.
The linking of nuclear holocaust to summer entertainment is backfiring spectacularly here
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Matt Alt
12
Manga is the Rock 'n' Roll of Gen Z
And the biggest hits come from Shonen Jump, which turns 55 this month
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Matt Alt
When Japan cool meets American violence
The bizarre confluence of a Japanese toymaker and an online agent of chaos.
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Matt Alt
1
Osamu Tezuka's "Com"
A revolution in storytelling that played out against an actual revolution.
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Matt Alt
Making Out in Japanese: An Oral History of a Seminal Text
A repost of an interview with the creators of a hugely influential guidebook series.
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Matt Alt
2
A Package of Pure Invention-related Podcasts
Tune in to a trio of appearances
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Matt Alt
Matt Alt's Pure Invention
Matt Alt's Pure Invention
Dispatches from the front lines of Japanese pop culture.
Recommendations
Make Believe Mailer
Make Believe Mailer
Patrick St. Michel
The Magnet
The Magnet
Mark Frauenfelder
TokyoScope by Patrick Macias
TokyoScope by Patrick Macias
TokyoScope
Mountains of Wisdom
Mountains of Wisdom
Tim Bunting - Kiwi Yamabushi
R
Robert Whiting's Japan
Robert Whiting

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