Benjamin outlines how an early love of Japanese manga, anime and video games led him to study Japanese, move to Japan, and eventually publish a manga of his own with a major Japanese publishing house, Shogakukan. Along his journey Benjamin also petitioned his high school for its first ever Japanese language classes, competed in international mahjong championships, turned his research on the Japanese gaming world into a Fulbright Fellowship and was eventually appointed the official tourism ambassador for Tokyo’s Nakano Ward, (the best ward in the entire world). Benjamin will also discuss how his personal experiences as an author, martial arts trainee and Japanese government “Cool Japan Ambassador” have impacted his impressions of Japanese organizational behavior.

日本人の気づかないクールジャパンがここに

4歳でスーパーマリオにはまり、14歳で’らんま’に初恋、日本語のマンガ・ゲームを楽しむためにアメリカの高校で日本語クラスを創設、そして、20歳のときチベットで麻雀と出会い、東大・京大大学院で麻雀研究論文執筆。

こんなユニークな経歴を持つ、存在自体がマンガみたいなインテリ・オタクのアメリカ人が、どのようにして日本のポップカルチャーにはまり日本の魅力に目覚めていったか。そして、好きなものに出会い、それらを通じてどうやって日本文化と日本語を学んでいったか。

日本の漫画やゲームを通じて日本外からどのように見られているかは、2020年のオリンピックに向けてゲーム世代もそうでない世代も気になるところです。

ベンジャミン・ボアズが語ります。

Japan Society Member 無料！ディナー付き。皆様のご参加をお待ちしております。

Benjamin Boas is the author of the Japanese-language books Learning about Japan Through Manga and Video Games and Re- Learning English, both published by Shogakukan. An 11-year resident of Japan, Benjamin’s essays have appeared in Japanese and English in The Japan Times, The Yomiuri Shimbun and Studio Ghibli’s monthly magazine, Neppu.

He currently serves as a cultural ambassador for the Japanese government’s “Cool Japan” program and Tourism Ambassador of Tokyo’s Nakano Ward. He is also a researcher with the anthropology department at Keio University’s SFC campus. Boas makes regular appearances on Japanese television, including NHK programs Tokyo Eye 2020 and Journeys in Japan. Originally from the New York area, Benjamin moved to Japan on a Fulbright Fellowship after graduating from Brown University in 2007.

Japan Society Members FREE!  Students $10 / Non-Members $20.  Register now or pay $20 at the door.

Event venue generously provided by Chartboost