Books.

 
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Narrative non-fiction.

Taking its name from a quote by Oscar Wilde (“The whole of Japan is a pure invention”), Pure Invention is a sprawling and timely tale of Japan’s rise from the ashes of World War II to become a forge of dreams. As we consumed Japan’s packaged fantasies, they transformed our realities in ways not even their own creators could have imagined.

 
 
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Illustrated Folklore.

The Attack! series, produced in concert with some of Japan’s top manga artists, introduced English-speaking readers to the concept of yokai (creatures from Japanese folklore), ninja as seen by the Japanese themselves, and tales of terror from a bygone era. They distill centuries of literature, fairy tales, and sagas into a format easy to understand for Western readers of all ages.

 
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Expert analysis.

I contributed the first chapter, “A Soft Superpower: The Pivot From Manufacturing to Pop Culture,” for this book published by the Asia-Pacific Initiative.