The Squid Game Phenomenon (Looking to the East)
How Has the Korean Squid Game Gone Global. The host for this show is Stephen Zurcher. The guest is Ingyu Oh. We discuss the recent online series called the Squid Game from Korea and why it has become a worldwide smash hit. We discuss its roots in Japanese anime and the program itself to help […]
Karen Kelley USA Consul General in Osaka (Looking to the East)
Interview with Karen Kelley Former CG. The host for this show is Stephen Zurcher. The guest is Karen Kelley. We discuss the career development of Karen Kelley who recently retired from the State Department. Her last role was as the Consul General for the USA in the Osaka/Kobe USA Consulate for three years ending in […]
President Biden Six Month Review (Looking to the East)
View from Japan, Europe on Biden Presidency. The host for this show is Stephen Zurcher. The guests are Paul Scott, Jiri Mestecky, Seung-Young Kim and Jonson Porteux. Three current or ex-Professors of International Relations at Kansai Gaidai along with one former American Chamber of Commerce Japan Kansai Vice-President and Partner in a local law firm […]
Mental Health Issues in Japan (Looking to the East)
Japan’s Slow Recognition of Mental Health. The host for this episode is Stephen Zurcher. The guest for this episode is Reggie Pawle. Japan has slowly been addressing the challenges of mental health in the country over the recent period whereas in the past the topic was stigmatized to some extent. With the recent pandemic the […]
Who is Shohei Otani and why he so important (Looking to the East)
The USA gets Otani fever! The host for this episode is Stephen Zurcher. The guests for this episode are Jim Allen and John Gibson. The USA baseball world and in general has discovered the two -way phenomenon Shohei Otani. Who is he and what are his origins here in Japan? We discuss Otani with two […]
Tokyo Olympics: 11 days and counting (Looking to the East)
Fear and Loathing in Japan. The host for this episode is Stephen Zurcher. The guests for this episode are Jim Allen and Jake Adelstein. We look at the current conditions in Japan and specifically the Tokyo area as we draw near to the start of the Tokyo Olympics on Friday July 23. ThinkTech Hawaii streams […]
The Geisha – Evolution in Current Japan (Looking to the East)
Explore the world of Japanese Geisha. The host for this episode is Stephen Zurcher. The guest for this episode is Arif Iqball. Models to Picasso and Rodin, entertainers to royalty, yet the Geisha have often been misinterpreted outside Japan and have shaped stereotypes about Japanese women. Closed in secrecy, not many outsiders have access to […]
Venture Capital in Japan (Looking to the East)
How venture capital is done in Japan. The host for this episode is Stephen Zurcher. The guest for this episode is Aruna Basnayake. We look at how a well regarded venture capitalist got started in Japan and what he does to find and fund investments of companies in the country. ThinkTech Hawaii streams live on […]
Rahm Emanuel, USA Ambassador to Japan? (Looking to the East)
Is the Rahmanator the right man for Japan? The host for this episode is Stephen Zurcher. The guests for this episode are Paul Scott, Jiri Mestecky, Jonson Porteux and SY Kim. The show has a panel discussion with three international relations Professor and one lawyer active in Democratic politics (and a Chicago resident for many […]
Japan’s Continuing Nuclear Disaster (Looking to the East)
Dumping Nuclear Water into the Pacific. The host for this episode is Stephen Zurcher. The guest for this episode is Michael Penn. The show covers the Fukushima nuclear disaster that occurred over then years ago that has now lead to Japan announcing it will let treated nuclear waste water be released into the Pacific Ocean […]