Books.
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.
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.
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.