The “View from the West” column takes a light-hearted examination of all things Japanese through the prism of current events, pop culture, movies, books, and any other Japan-centric content Western audiences may come across. Mark Hersberger is an active Japan commentator and author of the mystery novel Tokyo Lives (see 'Website' link).
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- In Appreciation of the Nadeshiko
- July 22nd, 2011Category: Events
- In the Land of the Rising Son, it was the rising daughters who came through and stole—and rescued—our hearts. With kickoff occurring just head of 4 a.m. in Japan, the daughters even began their rise before the sun’s. For any Japanese who insisted on a full night’s sle ... » Continue Reading
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- Septuagenarian Sex Star Still On Top
- June 3rd, 2011Category: Uncategorized
- He looks like you’d expect a 76-year-old Japanese man to look: Balding, what’s left of his hair streaked with silver; drooping jowls; a stern, wizened look. He walks with a lethargic, ambling gait, and appears ready for a nap at any time. But Shigeo Tokuda’s dreams tu ... » Continue Reading
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- View from the West: Japanese Band Makes It Mark at Rose Parade
- January 13th, 2011Category: Uncategorized
- The Tournament of Roses Parade is one of the most famous parades in the United States, a New Year’s Day tradition dating back to 1890. Enthusiasts spend up to a whole year decorating elaborate floats with only one rule: They must be completely adorned by roses! Each N ... » Continue Reading
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- View from the West: Prisons to Double as Retirement Homes?
- December 21st, 2010Category: Culture
- It’s quite well known that Japan’s rapidly aging population is taking its toll on many facets of polite society. But what is the toll on not-so-polite society? According to a recent AP article, Japan’s population of elderly inmates is also growing fast. And prison fa ... » Continue Reading
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- Japan Thanksgiving Survival Guide
- November 22nd, 2010Category: Uncategorized
- What to do when faced with celebrating Thanksgiving abroad? It’s a quandary I’ve pondered on three occasions. The first was seamless. Flash back to November 1999, and imagine the snow-capped Alps surrounding Grenoble, France, glistening in the background as Turkey Day ... » Continue Reading
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- Musings on Japanese Miso
- November 15th, 2010Category: Uncategorized
- Not long ago I read a delightful piece in the L.A. Times that profiled a traditional koji-ya, or “mold maker.” Bizarre as it may seem, koji is the particular mold used to ferment rice and soybeans to make miso, among other things. And this is where East and West dive ... » Continue Reading
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- Enter the Ninja: Please Exit Stage Left
- November 10th, 2010Category: Arts & Entertainment
- As Enter the Ninja (1981) opens and you peer into Franco Nero’s tired, Caucasian eyes peaking through a white ninja suit, you’re convinced it’s a comedy. The only funny thing is that Enter the Ninja is not a comedy. Nero, whose character’s name is Cole, darts through ... » Continue Reading
