We’ve never met him, but we know a lot about Roland Kelts, an author and professor at the University of Tokyo, and a friend of one of Design Kompany’s collaborators, Chin Music Press.
Roland flies in from Japan this week to talk about how Japanese pop culture and the American mainstream influence each other. For example, he’ll tell us how Pac Man was inspired by a Shakey’s pizza.
One day, Design Kompany’s Akira Morita and Dipika Kohli were picking out fun stationery from the Japan-focused bookstore Kinokuniya in the International District. We stumbled across the hardback Japanamerica that Roland’s coming Stateside to promote. My impression from browsing this? Lots of detail, lots of research. A person who takes time to get all the details right.
“I write, read, sail, ski and drum,” Roland says about himself. “I also like sports, especially if they are combative and unruly.”
On Thursday, March 29, Roland will read from his new book Japanamerica to the Japan America Society in Bellevue. He’ll also be on KUOW’s The Beat the same day.
“It looks like there will be a segment with Roland talking about the Japanese community in Seattle, Sakura Con and the anime and manga boom,” says Bruce Rutledge of Chin Music Press.
Roland wrote a story for Chin Music Press’s Kuhaku, an anthology of stories about life in Japan.
This from the Japan America Society:
If you still think manga is just comic books and anime is strictly for kids, Japanamerica will open your eyes to an art form that embodies all realms of emotion and intricate story-lines — this is part of the appeal to Western fans who’ve grown tired of the standard Hollywood fare. –Japan America Society
Roland Kelts
Japanamerica:
How Japanese Pop Culture Has Invaded the U.S.
Thursday, March 29
Networking starts at 5:30pm
Program at 6pm
Reception at 7pm
Room 1029, Administrative Building
City University
150 120th Ave. N.E.
Bellevue, WA 98005
$25/Students $15
Register by 5pm, March 26
Oh, and if you happen to be a few hours south of here, Roland will also read at Powell’s in Portland on March 27 at 7:30pm.
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