Tommy Lee Jones reflects on the Heisei era.
Tag: Japan
Mr. Jimmy
One of the highlights of SXSW 2019 that I want to expand on a bit was seeing the premier of Mr. Jimmy, a documentary film about the Jimmy Page tribute artist, Akio Sakurai. The film is a loving appreciation of…
Grandma’s Recipes
Izumi turned me on to a YouTube channel she’s discovered that features lovingly documents the kitchen recipes of an older, sometimes forgotten, generation in Japan. Each short vignette explores the life of these women who fed their family with what…
Personalized Discovery
When asked what we’re trying to build at SmartNews, I sometimes explain it with a department store metaphor. When algorithms are applied to online shopping, they are optimized to show you exactly what you are looking for. Amazon and Netflix…
Japanese TV News
Television news programs in Japan are famously entertaining. The sets are more interesting and the hosts are much more physically involved with the story-telling. Below are some screenshots of a lengthy and incredibly detailed explanation of the sport of speedskating.…
Kasou Taishou
We spent this morning looking at YouTube videos of Kasou Taishou. These are short skits that re-create special effects using charmingly amateur stage effects. Think of it as a mashup between traditional Japanese kabuki stage-craft and a high school play.…
All Blacks in Shibuya
Japan is rugby-crazy so what better way to promote insurance than to feature one of the most famous rugby teams as saviors running through the streets in the middle of Tokyo? h/t AdWeek And if you like that one, be…
Japan’s view of celebrity
With the Oscars coming up tomorrow, I thought it would be fun to share this performance by Japanese comedian Yuriyan Retriever where she nails (as in totally skewers) the genre of the overly emotional acceptance speech.
Baseball Opening Day
It’s the first day of the Japanese baseball season today which gives me occasion to share this excellent commercial from last year.
My Pushcart in Yokohama
When I was a sophomore in college, I took a year off to teach English in Japan to help pay for tuition. Having experienced taco truck street food while attending Occidental College in Los Angeles, I yearned for the late night…