Showtime at Japan Expert Insights

This week, we feature Jeffrey Rowe, a Canadian actor, voice actor, and producer. He splits his time between Okinawa, Tokyo, and Vancouver. Rowe has appeared in nearly 50 films and TV projects, including the NHK Taiga dramas Ryomaden and Seiten wo Tsuke, Prime Video's The Silent Service, and numerous Japanese documentaries where he served as narrator. As the founder of Mirus Pictures, he produced R...

This week have Daniel L. Smith, an award-winning director, producer, and journalist, and co-founder of Aurora Borealis Entertainment. He has produced numerous TV series and documentaries for major U.S. and Japanese media companies, including FOX, NBC-Universal, and Amazon. Smith is a leading producer of original content from Japan and Asia, highly sought after for Hollywood and international film...

Get ready for a special recap episode of "Showtime at Japan Expert Insights"! This week, we're taking a nostalgic and celebratory look back at the past twelve episodes of our show. It's been an incredible journey, and we're excited to revisit some of the most memorable moments and profound insights shared by our incredible guests. Join us as we highlight our most renowned guests, from industry lea...

This week, we have Mayu Nakamura, a lifelong traveler and storyteller from Japan, who left home at 16 to study in the U.K. and eventually moved to New York City to pursue a career in filmmaking. She earned her MFA from NYU’s Graduate Film Program and now creates both fiction and documentary films while splitting her time between Tokyo and NYC. Her fiction feature Intimate Stranger premiered at the...

This week’s guest is Fujiko, a vibrant and rising Japanese comedian based in Chicago who brings laughter, insight, and a unique cross-cultural perspective to the stage. Originally from Osaka, Japan, Fujiko discovered her passion for comedy through her gift for connecting with audiences, delivering joy with her positive energy, sharp wit, and empowering humor. From her roots in Osaka to the vibrant...

This week, we welcome Donie Ordiales and Sho Ikushima—two dynamic voices in contemporary Japanese cinema. Donie Ordiales is an independent director and screenwriter from the Philippines, a graduate of the prestigious Tokyo Film Center School of Arts, where he majored in film directing. Joining him is Sho Ikushima, a multifaceted Japanese actor, producer, and choreographer known for his compelling...

This week, we have Kei Kurosawa, a Filipino-Japanese actress, singer-songwriter, dancer, and content creator. She is known for the Japanese indie horror film, The Red Dress (2023), the Filipino youth-oriented series, Zoomers (2024), and the international Japanese action-drama film, Crosspoint (2024). She has also made guest appearances in several hit television series in the Philippines. In 2024,...

We are thrilled to share that Michael recently sat down with director Jun'ichi Yasuda and acterss & assistant director Yuno Sakura to discuss their breakout film A Samurai in Time (侍タイムスリッパー)—a fantasy comedy that has captured the hearts of Japanese moviegoers. Made on a modest budget of 26 million yen and initially screened in just one theater, this indie gem has won several awards,...

This week, we have Moeka Iida, a reporter and researcher at The Economist’s Tokyo bureau, covering Japanese politics, society, business, and culture. With a keen interest in subcultures and social trends, she has written about host clubs in Tokyo’s red-light district, the rise of female writers in Japan’s literary scene, and the changing face of masculinity. She also contributes to The Economist’s...

This week, we have Chiaki Yanagimoto, a Japanese-born, Los Angeles-based producer with many award-winning features. After producing a series of genre films, Chiaki switched gears to documentaries, including “KAMPAI! For the Love of Sake,” which premiered at the San Sebastian International Film Festival and was released by IFC Films/Sundance Selects. She is also a founder of SAKKA, a US-based distr...

Mark Schilling is a reporter, critic, and author who specializes in Japanese films and popular culture. Since 1989, Mark has been a regular film critic for The Japan Times and has covered the Japanese film industry for Screen International (1990–2005) and Variety (2005–present). Mark has written or contributed to several books, including The Encyclopedia of Japanese Pop Culture (1997), Contemporar...

In the fourth episode, we’re excited to welcome Susan Miyagi McCormac, the founder and Editor-in-Chief of JapanCulture NYC, a website that introduces New Yorkers to Japanese culture and promotes Japanese-related events. In addition to her work with JapanCulture NYC, Susan is a Vice President of the Japanese American Association of New York, serves on the JET Alumni Association of New York’s Board...

In the third episode of Showtime at Japan Expert Insights, we’ll chat with Tetsuki Ijichi about his extensive experience in the entertainment industry and the valuable advice he has for those just starting. With over 45 years in the field, especially independent film world. Tetsuki is an acclaimed film distributor and producer, having distributed more than 200 films locally and worldwide. As the f...

In the second episode, we’re thrilled to welcome Douglas Montgomery, founder and CEO of Global Connects. Douglas will share his insights on the urgent need for Japan to leverage more data in the entertainment industry, while also exploring the dynamic intersection of media and technology. Actively engaged with the Asian community in Los Angeles, Douglas serves on the Board of Directors for the Jap...

In this premiere episode, guest Waka (Konohana) Ikeda will discuss the rise of Japonism in the 20th Century and the problems facing Japan that have been revealed through recent international co-productions. Then, she’ll make insightful suggestions on how the Japanese entertainment industry can move forward. Waka san has interviewed countless numbers of Oscar-winning and highly acclaimed artists in...