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Podcasts

BOA Podcast 42: Igor Prusa “Scandal in Japan”

April 2, 2025


Igor Prusa, Ph.D. and Czech scholar in Japanese and media studies, is currently affiliated with Ambis University Prague and Metropolitan University Prague. Prusa received PhDs in media studies at Prague’s Charles University and his second at the University of Tokyo. His research interests include media scandals in Japan and anti-heroism in popular fiction. Today we’re going to talk about his new book, Scandal in Japan: Transgression, Performance and Ritual (Routledge, 2024). He recently started teaching a course at the University of Vienna on the subject.

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Author Igor Prusa and BOA podcast host Amy Chavez talk about some Japanese scandals that have gone global, and why: the Unification Church scandal (2022) that brought to the forefront the assassination of former PM Abe Shinzo; the Olympus scandal (2011) triggered by the British CEO Michael Woodford; and the Nissan scandal (2019) involving CEO Carlos Ghosn. So get ready to join the wild and crazy ride with Igor Prusa in this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast.

Show Notes

Prusa explains his definition of a scandal, emphasizing its public revelation and media framing. He highlights the Unification Church scandal involving former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, noting its unique trigger by a tragedy and the role of foreign media in revealing information. Prusa also discusses narrative aspects and media event characteristics of Japanese scandals, concluding that while contorversies often serve as rituals, they rarely lead to fundamental societal improvements.

They then mull over two major Japanese scandals. The first is the Olympus scandal of 2011, exposed by CEO Michael Woodford, involved hiding company losses for over 20 years through creative accounting and mergers. The scandal was initially covered by outside media, with the Financial Times playing a crucial role. The Nissan scandal, involving CEO Carlos Ghosn, revealed millions in personal financial gains and a conflict between Japanese and French governance. Ghosn’s extravagant lifestyle and a planned merger with Renault, further fueled public outrage. This conversation also highlights the role of media in scandal coverage and the cultural nuances of whistleblowing in Japan.

Lastly, Prusa tells what his 3 favorite books on Japan are:

1. Shimbun Kisha (新聞記者) by Isoko Mochizuki  (望月衣塑子)- Written in Japanese, this book provides insights into the role of journalists in Japan and how they have helped expose various scandals, including the Moritomo Gakuen and Shiori Ito rape cases. The book inspired a 2019 Japanese film by the same name.

2. Media and Politics in Japan edited by Susan Pharr and Ellis Krauss -With a chapter on political scandals by Maggie Farley. This is a classic introduction to understanding the relationship between media and politics in Japan.

3. Idols and Celebrity in Japanese Media Culture edited by Patrick Galbraith and Jason Karlin – Offers valuable insights into the role of idols and celebrities in Japanese media and culture, and how scandals can emerge in this context.

Be sure to check out Igor Prusa’s book Scandal in Japan: Transgression, Performance and Ritual.

Visit him on social media at the following links:

The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of quality books on Japan and Asia for over 30 years. Go to their website at www.stonebridge.com

 

Podcasts

BOA Podcast 41: Baye McNeil talks about his New Book and Racism in Japan

February 20, 2025


As a writer, columnist, and activist, Baye McNeil writes about diversity and inclusiveness. McNeil is a columnist for The Japan Times (English) where he writes the monthly column called “Black Eye” about the African American experience living in Japan and also writes for Toyokeizai Online (Japanese) where he shares reflections on life and race, as well as profiling people of color who are reshaping Japan’s cultural landscape. He is author of two previous books: Hi! My Name is Loco and I am a Racist and Loco in Yokohama, both of which offer accounts of life as a visible minority in Japan. Today he’s going to talk about his just-released book Words By Baye, Art By Miki: Crafting a Life Together with Affection, Creativity, and Resilience.

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Ep 41 Show Notes:

In this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, Amy Chavez talks with Baye McNeil talk about being a black minority in Japan, Japanese views of black people, the “African Samurai,” the arrival of Commodore Perry in 1854 (who brought a minstrel show with him who performed “black face,”), and some of the media’s portrayals of black people in both the US and Japan. He also discusses his latest book: Words By Baye, Art By Miki: Crafting a Life Together with Affection, Creativity, and Resilience.

Visit Baye on social media at the following links:

Website www.bayemcneil.com

Amazon

Goodreads

Facebook

LinkedIn

Instagram @bayemcneil

The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of quality books on Japan and Asia for over 30 years. Go to their website at https://www.stonebridge.com/

 

Podcasts

BOA Podcast 40: Michael Pronko’s New Books: Shitamachi Scam and Tokyo Tempos

January 28, 2025

Podcast host Amy Chavez talks with Michael Pronko, a Tokyo-based writer of murder, memoir, and music and professor of American Literature at Meiji Gakuen University. During his 20 years plus in the country, he has written for Newsweek Japan, The Japan Times and Artscape Japan, and has been featured on NHK TV and Nippon television. He also runs the website Jazz in Japan, which covers the vibrant jazz scene in Tokyo and Yokohama. Today, we’re going to talk about Pronko’s fiction, as well as his nonfiction books, including his most recently released Tokyo Tempos.

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Pronko’s “Detective Hiroshi” series includes:

Pronko’s “Tokyo Moments” series includes:

Pronko’s favorite books on Japan are:

You can find Michael Pronko online at his website (http://www.michaelpronko.com) and at the following links on social media:

The Books on Asia podcast is produced and edited by Amy Chavez and Michael Palmer, and is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years. Amy Chavez is author of Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.

Subscribe to the Books on Asia podcast.

Podcasts

BOA Podcast 39—Paul Martin on Japanese Swords and Armor

December 17, 2024

 

In this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, Amy Chavez talks with Paul Martin about his new book Japanese Swords and Armor: Masterpieces from Thirty of Japan’s Greatest Samurai Warriors.

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Show Notes:

Paul Martin is a Japanese sword expert who has worked at the British Museum and traveled extensively in Japan to study swords and armor. Martin’s new book Japanese Swords and Armor covers 30 famous samurai warriors and their swords, armor, and other artifacts associated with them, each with its own historical and cultural significance. The book was originally published in both Italian and French, and is now available in English from by Tuttle Publishing (Oct. 2024).

Martin discusses the history and significance of Emperor Gotoba, who was exiled to the Oki Islands but continued making swords there. The swords he crafted were marked with a chrysanthemum, which became the basis for the current Imperial seal.

In this podcast episode, Paul Martin highlights some of the most notable pieces in his book, including a wooden sword made by Miyamoto Musashi and sword fittings attributed to him. Martin also provides recommendations on the best places in Japan to see historical Japanese swords.

Emperor Gotoba was known for his poetry, much of it written while in exile on Oki Island. One particular poem involves the poet banishing the frogs from a nearby pond:

“Frogs, croaking in the pond
Go away, banish your noise;
In this world of sorrow,
There’s no need for your song.” (translation generated from ChatGPT)

Gotoba was very sensitive to noises, and the frogs’ croaking disturbed his sleep. Apparently, the frogs have been silent ever since.

Martin also talks about the beginning lines of the Tale of the Heike, an epic that recounts the history of the late Heian period, including the life and exile of Gotoba:

“The sound of the Gion Shoja temple bells echoes the impermanence of all things; the color of the sala flowers reveals the truth that to flourish is to fall. The proud do not endure, like a passing dream on a night in spring; the mighty fall at last, to be no more than dust before the wind.” -_Helen Craig McCullough

Lastly, Paul Martin’s favorite books are:

1. They Came to Japan by Michael Cooper, a collection of Jesuit records from the 17th century.

2. The Tale of the Heike, (version translated by Helen Craig McCullough) a classic Japanese epic poem that reflects the concept of impermanence.

3. The documentary “The Emperor’s Naked Army Marches On” by Kazuo Hara, which explores the ambiguities of Japanese culture and the horrors of war.

Be sure to pick up his book: Japanese Swords and Armor: Masterpieces from Thirty of Japan’s Greatest Samurai Warriors.

 

You can follow Paul Martin by clicking on the following links:

Website: The Japanese Sword (thejapanesesword.com)

YouTube: Paul Martin: The Japanese Sword

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The.Japanese.Sword

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejapanesesword/

Twitter: @thejapaneseswrd (https://x.com/thejapaneseswrd)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejapanesesword/

Listen to this episode of the BOA podcast at this permalink, or subscribe

The Books on Asia podcast is produced and edited by Amy Chavez and Michael Palmer, and is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years. Amy Chavez is author of Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.

Subscribe to the Books on Asia podcast.

Podcasts

BOA Podcast 38: Burritt Sabin on Yokohama and Kamakura

November 1, 2024

Burritt Sabin is a Yokohama-based author. He was born in New York City and came to Japan as a naval officer in 1975. His professional career in Japan started as a journalist, and he quickly moved into writing and historical research. The first book we’re going to talk about today is about Yokohama, a city known for being one of the first Japanese ports to open to foreign trade in the 1850s. A Historical Guide to Yokohama: Sketches of the Twice-Risen Phoenix is a window into a time when Japan was rapidly opening up to the world.

The other book we’ll talk about is Kamakura: A Contemplative Guide which highlights the first samurai capital in the 12th century. Shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo chose this city for the seat of his military government, which ushered in the Kamakura Period in 1185.

Subjects covered in the podcast:

1. Townsend Harris and the opening of Japan (Yokohama)
2. The Hotel New Grand in Yokohama

3. The Great Buddha of Kamakura
4. Natsume Soseki’s and Suzuki Daisetz’s sojourn at Kigen-in, Kamakura
5. The Kamakura bunshi

Lastly, Sabin discusses his three favorite books on Japan.

“Here are three books that gave me pleasure and helped me write my own:”

1. The Death of Old Yokohama in the Earthquake of 1923 by Otis Manchester Poole
A gripping account in real time of a man navigating the post-quake hellscape in an attempt to reach his family.

2. Aru Shisei no To: Koshikata wa kanashiku mono kiroku (A Waif of the Streets: Record of a Sad Passage) by Hasegawa Shin
Hasegawa Shin recounts growing up in poverty in late-19th century Yokohama, teaching himself to read and write, and becoming a leading popular playwright.

3. Sugao Kamakura (The True Face of Kamakura) ed. by Osaragi Jiro
An insightful collection of essays on Kamakura by writers who have made the city their home.

Be sure to check out Burritt Sabin’s books A Historical Guide to Yokohama: Sketches of the Twice-Risen Phoenix (2002) and Kamakura: A Contemplative Guide (2021) available on Amazon or at your favorite books store.

The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of quality books on Japan and Asia for over 30 years. Visit their website.

Podcasts

BOA Podcast 37: Lesley Downer, The Shortest History of Japan

September 25, 2024

Our guest today is author Lesley Downer an expert on Japanese culture and history. She writes both fiction and non-fiction. Her novels transport readers to the intriguing world of 19th-century Japan, while her non-fiction takes us along on the Narrow Road to the Deep North with poet Matsuo Basho; behind the scenes of the Geisha community; and into the intrigues of the richest family in Japan. Oh, and she also writes fiction! Today, she discusses her just-released The Shortest History of Japan: From Mythical Origins to Pop Culture Powerhouse, which provides a concise yet detailed account of Japanese history.

Show Notes:

Downer highlights the significance of historical figures like Himiko, the shaman queen who unified Yamatai, and Empresses Suiko and Koken, who ruled Japan in their own right. She also touches on the feminist movement in Japan, particularly the contributions of Hiratsuka Raicho and Akiko Yosano. Lastly, she shares insights into her writing career, including her transition from nonfiction to fiction and her research on geisha.

Lesley mentions Yosano Akiko’s poem “Until Death Do Us Part” (“Shini tanoma”) which Akiko wrote before her brother went off to war:

Until Death Do Us Part
by Yosano Akiko

Though my body dies,
My soul will remain with you.
Until the end of time,
Let us pledge to be together,
Until death do us part.

(translation: ChatGPT 4o)

Downer’s three favorite books on Japan:

1. Japan Journal, 1855-1861 by Henry Heusken, which covers the author’s experiences during his time as the secretary and interpreter for Townsend Harris, the first U.S. Consul General to Japan.

2. As We Saw Them: The First Japanese Embassy to the United States by Masao Miyoshi, about the first Japanese diplomats who visited the United States in 1860.

3. Taiko by Yoshikawa Eiji, a historical novel that tells the story of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Japan’s greatest warlords and unifiers during the Sengoku period.

You can visit Lesley Downer at the following links:

The Books on Asia podcast is produced and edited by Amy Chavez and Michael Palmer, and is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years. Amy Chavez is author of Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.

Subscribe to the Books on Asia podcast.

Podcasts

BOA Podcast 35—The Healing Power of Poet Ōtagaki Rengetsu

July 31, 2024

In this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, host Amy Chavez talks to author John Stevens about his latest book The Lotus Moon: Art and Poetry of Buddhist Nun Otagaki Rengetsu (Floating World Editions, Aug. 2023).

Book’s Features:

The most comprehensive English-language presentation of the work of famed nun and artist Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875)

• Presents 90 of Rengetsu’s painting and pottery works in over 242 full-color photos

• Written by Professor John Stevens, the foremost Western authority on Rengetsu

• Includes Japanese kana, romanization, and English translations, with commentary for all entries

• Provides an intimate portrait of the life and work of one of the most remarkable women in Japanese culture

• Offers insights into significant thematic and cultural concerns of 19th-century Japanese art

 

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Ep 35 transcript:

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Podcasts

BOA Podcast 34—Angus Waycott Walks Sado Island

December 14, 2023


Author and travel-writer Angus Waycott talks about his book Sado: Island of Exile based on his 8-day walk around the island off Niigata Prefecture in the Japan Sea. He gives us in-depth accounts of: a mujina (tanuki-worshipping) cult, funa-ema (literally “ship horse pictures”), exile (including those of Zeami and Buddhist priest Nichiren), and the controversy behind the Kinzan gold mine and its “slave labor,” all topics which he recorded in his book Sado: Japan’s Isand of Exile originally published by Stone Bridge Press in 1996, and re-issued as an e-book by the author 2012, and 2023.

Book Description: “Given the choice, no-one ever went to Sado. For more than a thousand years, this island in the Sea of Japan was a place of exile for the deposed, disgraced or just plain distrusted — ex-emperors, aristocrats, poets, priests and convicted criminals alike. This book rediscovers the exiles’ island, explores the truth about its notorious gold mine, tracks down a vanishing badger cult, and drops in on the home of super-drummer band Kodo. Along the way, it paints a vivid picture of one of Japan’s most intriguing backwaters, now emerging from a long exile of its own.”

 

Show Notes:

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Podcasts

BOA Podcast 33—Ai and the Future of Books

November 17, 2023


Publisher Peter Goodman and author/translator Frederik Schodt talk about artificial intelligence as it relates to writing and publishing books.

Schodt’s book Astroboy Essays: Osamu Tezuka, Mighty Atom, and the Manga/Anime Revolution was recently listed as one of the books used to train generative AI. Peter Goodman is publisher of Stone Bridge Press (our podcast sponsor), and released Schodt’s Astroboy Essays in 2007. Both of these guests are going to give us their views on AI, the use of published books to train artificial intelligence, the issues of copyright, fair use and plagiarism, and what the AI industry should be doing to move forward and make the advancements beneficial for everyone involved.

If you’re an author and would like to find out if your book was one of 183,000 used to train AI, see this article in The Atlantic:

Link to The Atlantic
The search engine The Atlantic devised to use to see if particular titles were used to train generative AI.

Frederick Schodt is author/translator of  The Osamu Tezuka Story (Stone Bridge Press, 2016), Manga, Manga!: The World of Japanese Comics (Kodansha, 2013) The Astro Boy Essays (Stone Bridge Press, 2007) and My Heart Sutra: The World in 260 Characters (Stone Bridge Press, 2020, read our review), Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe: How an American Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan and Japan to the West (Stone Bridge Press, 2012) and Native American in the Land of the Shogun: Ranald MacDonald and the Opening of Japan (Stone Bridge Press, 2013).

(Note: Since this podcast recording, Frederik Schodt has been inducted into the Manga Publishing Hall of Fame)

You can find Schodt on his Website, on Twitter(X) @fschodt and on Facebook

You can listen to our podcast with Schodt, where he talks about Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe and Native American in the Land of the Shogun, at BOA Podcast 32: Frederik Schodt and Historical Non-Fiction on Japan.

The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher’s website.

Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy’s Guide to Best Behavior in Japan (Stone Bridge Press, 2018) and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island (Tuttle Publishing, 2022)

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