Jero - African American Enka singer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEmeVeQe56U

A new enka singer has debuted just recently. His debut song is Umiyuki or "ocean snow". He is all over the Japanese music scene. His debut song was the 4th most popular song in a recent weekly ranking in Japan. This is the highest ranking an enka song has reached There is something distinct about him. He is an African-American from Pennsylvania. His Japanese grandmother sparked his interest in enka, traditional japanese songs. He has marked a new era for the enka genre. His name is Jero.

A lot of Japanese people are shocked, surprised, excited, and flattered as they watch an African-American sing an enka song in perfect japanese. His music video is highly amusing. Dressed in hip-hop, wearing a new-era cap, dancing to his own enka song, American style graffiti, and more.

What does this pose for the interesting fusion of tradition and modernity? A minority in Japan singing a traditional Japanese style music. Is it problematic? controversial? normal?

Because it's good to stay informed...

MOFA: Speech by Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs

Arc of Freedom and Prosperity: Japan's Expanding Diplomatic Horizons

Today I am going to be speaking on the topics of "value oriented diplomacy" and the "arc of freedom and prosperity." Both of these are new bases for our foreign policy and new expressions at that, but I very much hope that you remember these two phrases when you leave here today.

The basis of Japan's foreign policy is to strengthen the Japan-US alliance, as well as a strengthening of our relationships with our neighboring countries, such as China, ROK, and Russia. Now, this is, of course, not in need of being repeated here. What I would like to tell you today is that beyond that, we are aiming to add a new pillar upon which our policy will revolve.

First of all there is "value oriented diplomacy," which involves placing emphasis on the "universal values" such as democracy, freedom, human rights, the rule of law, and the market economy as we advance our diplomatic endeavors.

And second, there are the successfully budding democracies that line the outer rim of the Eurasian continent, forming an arc. Here Japan wants to design an "arc of freedom and prosperity". Indeed, I believe that we must create just such an arc...

Rest of speech found here:

http://www.mofa.go.jp/announce/fm/aso/speech0611.html

National Chauvinistic Association

Japanese salarymen form a club to learn the three principles of a good marriage. Among them: "To say 'I love you' without being shy."

I kid you not -- click here for proof.

Live Action Anime

So, Professor Ian Condry, of MIT, specializes in contemporary Japan in the context of pop culture and globalization. It's very cool -- literally, he's part of the Cool Japan Program, co-sponsored by MIT and Harvard's Reischauer Institute. You can hear him speak next weekend (late notice -- apologies), when MIT's dance theater ensemble will be putting on "Live Action Anime 2007: Madness at Mokuba".

What is "Live Action Anime", you ask. It seems part homage to anime culture and part MIT psychosis. I quote from the event description: "this original theatrical production features giant robots, a Japanese schoolgirl, a lovelorn otaku, a masterless samurai, a gamer woman, evil media magnates, and a vengeful deathgod who all battle for truth, justice, and the anime way." In sum, it's a good show if the theatrical ensemble knows what it's doing and an even better one if it doesn't.

The spectacle runs Thursday through Saturday (Nov. 29 - Dec. 1), at 8:00 pm in MIT's Kresge Theater. Admission is free and open to the public. I am very interested in going. It's an excellent opportunity to scout out Professor Condry and see what MIT's crazed genius offers. Anyone interested (and on the East Coast) is enthusiastically invited; my dorm room misses JASCers and, incidentally, Jessica never reclaimed her sleeping bag.

For more on Professor Condry, click here.
For more on Live Action Anime, click here.