Foreign Perspectives

🚨NEW🚨: Despite my initial reservations, I was completely wrong about Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser. In my latest piece, I discuss what it gets right about Japan and how it's a surprisingly moving film about humanism. foreignperspectives.net/p/rental-famil…

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Avatar: The Last Airbender was a special show made at the right time. Despite current plans to expand the franchise into more sequels, the original was lightning in a bottle. foreignperspectives.net/p/avatar-the-l…

Exit 8 is unexpectedly one of the best film adaptations of a video game, being both true to the source material and compelling on its own. “Director Genki Kawamura wisely chooses to focus on the inner psychology of his characters.” foreignperspectives.net/p/exit-8-is-un…

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My latest on Rental Family: "Rental Family isn’t attempting to make preachy or deeply profound statements, which is probably why I found myself enjoying it so much. It is first and foremost a humanist story in the vein of old-fashioned tearjerkers." foreignperspectives.net/p/rental-famil…

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The above piece is exclusively for paid members of Foreign Perspectives. I'm getting back into more regular pieces and reintroducing paid content, so take 20% off via my Welcome Back Spring Sale until April 30! Thank you for your support🙏 foreignperspectives.net/subscribe?coup…

🚨NEW🚨: Despite my initial reservations, I was completely wrong about Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser. In my latest piece, I discuss what it gets right about Japan and how it's a surprisingly moving film about humanism. foreignperspectives.net/p/rental-famil…

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Should you live in Japan? “If you’ve arrived in Japan and you’ve figured out how to stay, you now have to deal with the realities of life here beyond just a few years.” foreignperspectives.net/p/should-you-l…

Went to see The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants with Minori, which released this week in Japan. I've always believed that SpongeBob is something adults can enjoy just as much as kids and I'm happy to say that this film actually reminded me of the show's classic era. An instrumental version of the Dead Kennedys' "Holiday in Cambodia" even makes an appearance, which is a reference almost no one below a certain age would get. I saw the first SpongeBob movie with my family in 2004 when I was 7 and the second one in 2015 with my mother when I was 17. The third one never had a theatrical release due to COVID, so this is the first time I've seen a SpongeBob film in cinemas in over a decade. Today was a very nostalgic experience for me and I actually ended up feeling a bit wistful at the end upon reflecting how much time had passed. I still can't believe SpongeBob has been around for over 25 years. While the quality has obviously varied, it's the only "classic" Nicktoon from the 1990s and early 2000s that's still in production. Stephen Hillenburg brought joy to so many people across the world and I think he'd approve this film. It's funny and heartfelt in the same way that made the earlier seasons so memorable. I suppose the show will go on for as long as the principle cast is still alive. I'm glad that kids are watching are least one show that I myself grew up on and I hope to introduce it to my own eventual children. They're only showing Search for Squarepants dubbed in Japanese, but the current cast did a good job. It took a bit getting used to hearing Koki Miyata voicing SpongeBob since his previous voice actor Taiki Matsuno played the character for so long before he sadly passed away in 2024. It also took me awhile to realize that Mark Hamill was the one who played the Flying Dutchman, even in the live-action sequences. Will have to revisit the original English dub when it comes out on Blu-ray. Japanese cinemas often sell merchandise related to the films being shown and Minori ended up picking up a clear folder set, a handkerchief, a Gary plushie, and a beautifully organized pamphlet that includes artwork and interviews. She's become just as much a fan of SpongeBob as I am now. So yes, I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm an adult who decided to go to the cinema this evening to watch a SpongeBob movie. My wife and I had a great time. This franchise has always been a comfort to me and it never ceases to make me laugh. I'm pleased that it's still a part of my life all these years later even after moving to Japan.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Pizza has a long and tasty history in Japan. “The first ‘real’ pizzeria in Japan is commonly associated with Italian-American GI Nick Zappetti, who opened his restaurant, Nicola’s, in Roppongi in 1954.” spectator.com/article/japans…

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Dragon Quest might as well be a religion for Japanese gamers. “The series has captured hearts and minds overseas in addition to the vice grip it has long held over Japan.” japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/01/2…

Been rewatching the SpongeBob movies. While it’s not as classic as the first one, I think Sponge Out of Water is underrated. It has some of the best 2D animation the franchise ever got with really gorgeous hand painted backgrounds. Pretty funny jokes and references too.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles is an underrated TV prequel that deserves another look. Shot across the world and full of interesting stories that flesh out Indy’s backstory, it’s arguably George Lucas’ most accomplished work. foreignperspectives.net/p/revisiting-t…

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Professor Layton and the Eternal Diva remains one of the best movies adapted from a video game. "The film’s ultimate message is a surprisingly moving one about accepting the finite nature of life." foreignperspectives.net/p/professor-la…

Got a few Substack columns planned, but now that interest in Japan appears to be higher than ever here, are there any topics about the country you'd like to know more about? Thinking of eventually doing a piece clearing up misconceptions around Japanese citizenship.

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Grave of the Fireflies is a harrowing masterpiece, but director Isao Takahata never viewed it as "anti-war." "[It's] a war film that defies genre conventions and is subject to frequent misinterpretations on both sides of the Pacific." asiatimes.com/2021/05/grave-…

FROM THE ARCHIVES: In 2017, I was one of the last people to meet this American soldier who lived in North Korea for almost 40 years. My piece for @nknewsorg covers the strange, tragic, and fascinating life of Charles Jenkins. nknews.org/2019/11/from-n…

FROM THE ARCHIVES: Dejima is an artificial island in Nagasaki that was once the only place where Westerners could visit Japan. “It’s an island that has never existed naturally, being in a constant state of renovation and expansion to fit with the times.” foreignperspectives.net/p/a-visit-to-d…

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