44 From Nintendo to Hello Kitty, Chatting About Japanese Pop Culture w. Matt Alt

44 From Nintendo to Hello Kitty, Chatting About Japanese Pop Culture w. Matt Alt

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, localizer and author Matt Alt stops by to discuss the influence Japanese pop culture has had on the world.

About Matt Alt

Matt Alt is a localizer of Japanese games and manga. Together with Hiroko Yoda he founded the localization company AltJapan and has authored multiple books on Japanese folklore and history. Matt's latest book was published in June of 2020 by Crown and is titled Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World.Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World.

Topics Discussed
  • Localization and how the industry has evolved over the past few decades
  • Matt Alt's experience learning Japanese in high school
  • How Matt almost got to meet Osamu Tezuka
  • Anime in the U.S. in the '70s, '80s, and '90s
  • The kawaii aesthetic of Super Mario and other classic video games from Japan
  • Visiting Sony's extensive archives
  • The popularity and influence of Sanrio's Hello Kitty
  • How it was that Matt came to work on his well-known book Yokai Attack!
  • The increasing adoption of the term yokai over the past couple decades
  • Using one's dissatisfaction with translations as motivation to learn Japanese
  • And much more!
Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

Links, Videos, Etc.

You can purchase Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World via the Amazon affiliate link below.

If you're interested in any of Matt Alt's other books, please consider using the affiliate links below in order to support Japan Station.

You can follow Matt Alt on Twitter.

To learn more about AltJapan, visit their website via the link below.

Here is Matt Alt's Tofugu.com interview article.

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Matt Alt

Follow Japankyo on Social Media Full Show Notes

Jaksot(214)

What the hell does "depakosu" mean? | Japan Station 195

What the hell does "depakosu" mean? | Japan Station 195

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about two peculiar words depakosu and puchipura. Also i talk a bit about the origin of the name of the anime Odd Taxi. 👉Topics Discussed What depakosu (デパコス...

7 Helmi 16min

Why life in Aomori is so DIFFERENT | Japan Station 194

Why life in Aomori is so DIFFERENT | Japan Station 194

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about some of the unique aspects of living in Aomori Prefecture. 👉Topics Discussed What it's like living in Aomori Prefecture About the Shimokita Peninsula...

1 Helmi 1h 3min

The CRAZIEST Taishō era slang EXPLAINED! | Japan Station 193

The CRAZIEST Taishō era slang EXPLAINED! | Japan Station 193

On this episode of Japan Station, we go through a list of some of the most unique and interesting slang of Japan's Taishō period (1912-1926). 👉Topics Discussed Popular Taishō era slang How polie du...

21 Tammi 1h 4min

10 Reasons You'll Hate Living in Japan. Really? | Japan Station 192

10 Reasons You'll Hate Living in Japan. Really? | Japan Station 192

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: 10 Reasons You'll Hate Living in Japan. Really? Topics Discussed Reasons why you may hate living in Japan No trash cans Why there are few public trash cans in...

14 Tammi 1h 14min

Okuribito: Mortician or millionaire? What does it mean? | Japaan Station 191

Okuribito: Mortician or millionaire? What does it mean? | Japaan Station 191

On this episode of Japan Station, I break down the two very different meanings of the word okuribito. 👉Topics Discussed About the 2008 Japanese film Departures (Okuribito) What does okuribito mean...

7 Tammi 14min

How charcoal is saving this rural Japanese town (Ami Eldridge of Sumizumi LLC) | Japan Station 190

How charcoal is saving this rural Japanese town (Ami Eldridge of Sumizumi LLC) | Japan Station 190

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to Ami Eldridge, the co-founder of Sumizumi LLC, a company in rural Kochi Prefecture trying to revitalize the area through charcoal production. 👉Topics Discus...

5 Tammi 32min

Why "religion" in Japan doesn't make sense (to Westerners): A Talk with Hiroko Yoda | Japan Station 189

Why "religion" in Japan doesn't make sense (to Westerners): A Talk with Hiroko Yoda | Japan Station 189

On this episode of Japan Station, author Hiroko Yoda joins us to talk about the complexities of religious and spirituality in Japan, a topic she covers in her new book Eight Million Ways to Happiness....

31 Joulu 202557min

What you should know about KUMAMON (+ my CRAZY Kumamon story) | Japan Station 188

What you should know about KUMAMON (+ my CRAZY Kumamon story) | Japan Station 188

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk all about Jaan's most famous "local mascot" Kumamon. We cover everything you should know about Kumamoto's most beloved bear. I also share an absolutely crazy ...

20 Joulu 20251h 4min

Suosittua kategoriassa Koulutus

rss-murhan-anatomia
psykopodiaa-podcast
voi-hyvin-meditaatiot-2
adhd-podi
rss-narsisti
rss-rahamania
rss-vapaudu-voimaasi
psykologia
aamukahvilla
rss-liian-kuuma-peruna
rahapuhetta
rss-valo-minussa-2
kesken
jari-sarasvuo-podcast
mielipaivakirja
rss-tietoinen-yhteys-podcast-2
uskonnon-pitka-oppimaara
rss-eron-alkemiaa
rss-koira-haudattuna
rss-arkea-ja-aurinkoa-podcast-espanjasta