Writing

I have written for several publications, including The Japan Times, The Financial Times, Metropolis, Monocle, The Face, and Black+White. I generally write on Japanese art, culture, and now wine. This a selection of my articles:

The Japan Times (online)

Japan’s first master sommelier dreams of Hokkaido wine glory

Interview with Toru Takamatsu MS, the youngest person to reach the rank of Master Sommelier (at just 24), and the first Japanese person to do so. (January 21, 2024)

Takashi Murakami: The face of Japanese contemporary art abroad, underappreciated at home

Profile of Japanese artist Takashi Murakami for the Heisei Icons series (October 9, 2019)

Takashi Murakami: A reluctant homecoming

Interview with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami on the occasion of his exhibition “500 Arhats” at Mori Art Museum (November 19, 2015)

Eating the dreams of Keiichi Tanaami

Review of Japanese artist Keiichi Tanaami’s exhibition at Nanzuka gallery (July 4, 2017)

Ebisu Food Grand Prix: Searching for the taste of Ebisu

Article on the annual Yebisu Beer x Ebisu Food event. (October 9, 2019)

Inside author David Mitchell’s metaphysical mind

Interview with British author David Mitchell (August 30, 2014)

‘Battle Royale’ wins the game for hungry fans

Review of the fifteenth anniversary edition of “Battle Royale” by Koushun Takami. (June 7, 2014)

A volunteer’s journal of hope for Tohoku

My personal account of volunteering in Ishinomaki after the earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011. (May 8, 2011)

The complete archive of my writing for the JT can be found here

Metropolis magazine (print version PDF)

Sword Play

Interview with “Afro Samurai” creator Takashi “Bob” Okazaki (October, 2007)

The Financial Times (print version PDFs)

Problem Children

Interview with Japanese artist Yoshitomo Nara (with David Pilling. August 5, 2006)

Japan Through Hollywood’s distorting lens

Opinion piece on the film “Memoirs of a Geisha” (December 13, 2005)

Hello Kitty and associates are suppliers of style to the globe

FT Special Report on Japan (October 12, 2005)

Ties that bind

Interview with photographer Nobuyoshi Araki on the occasion of his exhibition “Araki: Self. Life. Death” runs at the Barbican Art Gallery. (October 22, 2005)

Kamikaze Kittens

Article on the state of Japanese art on the occasion of the exhibition “Little Boy: The Arts of Japan’s Exploding Subculture” (July 9, 2005)

Black+White magazine (print version PDFs)

Hello Naked Kitty

Article on the eropuri (erotic print club) phenomenon and magazines for teenage girls in Japan. (July 2006)

Shintaro Shiratori

Interview with Japanese photographer. (June 2006)