23 August 2012 ~ 19 Comments

As Featured In The Japan Times: From “Underground” to “Un-obscure”

Misc.

Just in case you missed it, (and if you don’t live in Japan, it’s a good chance you did)  The Japan Times, top of the food chain as far as national English language Newspapers in Japan go, did a feature on Loco in Yokohama with an interview of yours truly! 

I even made the cover, in color!

Topics of discussion included blogging, the whole ”microaggression” debate, the challenges of self-publishing, and even a bit about my book, Hi! My Name is Loco and I am a Racist.

Here’s a link to the online version of the article: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nc20120821br.html

Out celebrating the article last night

Just wanted to take a moment to thank the good people over at The Japan Times for boldly going where precious few other mainstream national publications have dared to go to date, and for having the courage to give  not only a blog with a raw, unadulterated yet  fair and balanced perspective of life in Japan for a foreigner, but a self-published book that presents a complicated, contentious and challenging point of view (and self-publishing as a whole, for there have been a slew of self published books coming out of the Gaijin community here in Japan of late, with more to follow I’m sure) a moment of national mainstream exposure (where, btw, it is most needed).

Kudos!

Well Done!

*****

Well, so much for being underground and blogging in obscurity…

Not that I ever wanted to be underground and obscure…but as of yesterday, and not to overstate it, Loco in Yokohama is officially, ummm…let’s just say “un-obscure” and leave it at that, for now.

So, to all of you folks coming to Loco in Yokohama via The Japan Times article and the buzz surrounding it: Welcome to Loco in Yokohama!

You’ve caught me at a very unsettling transitional period in my life, however. I’ve yet to find the balance between being an author, blogger and teacher. With the marketing and promotion of my book in full swing and the writing and editing of the second taking up a majority of the rest of the time, blogging has been reduced to drips and drabs. But, lucky for you guys (not so much for my long time readers) I have almost four years of archival posts for your reading pleasure. Please check them out and let me know what you think.

You can start with this link which contains a list of ten of the more popular posts: http://www.locoinyokohama.com/readers-choices-for-1st-time-or-new-visitors/

Peace and Love,

Loco

 

 

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  • Nkognyto

    Congratulations! Glad to see you’re starting to get the exposure you deserve. Even happier to hear you’re working on your second book.

    • Locohama

      Thanks Niko-san!
      Yeah, I’m a hard act to follow lol But I’m giving it the ole college try!

  • Jacob

    Hey Loco

    I started reading your blog a few weeks ago, and have finally made my way from your first post to here.

    I’ve rarely read an entire blog from beginning to end, but I found your’s to be riveting, both in regard to content and writing style.

    Being a longtime Japanophile – but having never been there – it shattered a lot of illusions I had about Japan and the Japanese, and gave me a more realistic picture.

    I’ve enjoyed reading your blog, as I’m sure I’ll enjoy reading your book.

    • Locohama

      “Being a longtime Japanophile – but having never been there – it shattered a lot of illusions I had about Japan and the Japanese, and gave me a more realistic picture.”

      What a nice thing to say…thank you! Makes me feel like my time and efforts have not been wasted.

      Read my blog from beginning to end? wow! How long did that take? What were your favorite posts?

      • Jacob

        Your effort was definitely not wasted. Part of my motivation for reading your blog, was that I’m considering studying Japanology when I’m eligable to attend university in a few years. Your blog gave me, as well as many others I’m sure, a lot to think about.

        Took me a couple of weeks to read it all… I checked the “web timer” extention on my browser, and my record was 8 hours spent on your blog in one day. If that’s not a testament to the quality of your blog, I don’t know what is.

        There were so many good posts, that I liked for different reasons. I think I enjoyed your posts about your students the most. It was clear in reading them that you have a lot of love for those kids, and that you have made a big difference in their lives.

        I also liked your series about the more sensitive subjects, such as “why do gaijin clash…?”, “acts of retaliation” and “Hi! My name is Loco…and I am a racist!”. Being part of the ethnic majority in a country that’s 90% homogenous (Denmark), I’ve never had to deal with racism. Your posts on the subject were eye-opening.

  • Momotaro

    Nice work Loco, glad everything’s working out for you.

    • Locohama

      Thank You, Sir! So far so good,..it’s mostly been an exercise in patience and trial and error. Set my goals pretty high but I’ve learned you gotta celebrate all the accomplishments along the way, and learn from all the failures as well…balance is key (-;

  • Ozball

    Saw this on the Japan Times website the other day. Congrats Loco! Now more of the world will be able to join us in enjoying your awesome writing.

    • Locohama

      Thanks Ozball! yeah, the streets is watching (-;

  • http://badboyinjapan.blogspot.jp/ chris

    “Being a longtime Japanophile – but having never been there – it shattered a lot of illusions I had about Japan and the Japanese, and gave me a more realistic picture.”

    @ loco

    I have read that comment I quoted 5 times. It looks nicer each time.

    Big ole’ smile holding that paper! In the end the boosters and the busters including me don’t mean shit. It’s about how your feelin’. How you feelin’ Loco? Looks like your feelin’ gooood!!!

    Everything else is gravy.

    • Locohama

      BB, what up!
      Gravy, indeed!
      How I’m feeling? I’m feeling like this:
      “I spent time in the game, kept my mind off fame…”
      “More success to you, even if you wish me the opposite”
      “I live it then I write it down and watch it blow up! You know what I’m like, you play it in your system every night!”
      (-;
      Something like that…I know YOU feel me!

  • http://heartblessings.org Kathleen Ellis

    My son Rob Nugen flagged your book so now I’ve read it and enjoyed it very much! He lives in Kawasaki now but started out teaching English for Nova about 10 years ago. So I learned a lot about his entry into Japanese culture as a white American. I’ve been grappling for years about white racism and yes, I’m a racist, too. Thanks for pushing the conversation into the public square in a way in which we can see ourselves more clearly.

    • Locohama

      Hey Kathleen! Wow, Robb’s moms! Your welcome and thank you for understanding what I’m trying to do here and for your support! This is very cool!

  • redlandcannibal

    Congratulations again, Loco!! I’m so happy for you and glad that you’ve hit the big time. You deserve every bit of this fame and attention, so live it up! :)

    • Locohama

      Thank you!

  • dwayne2d3d

    well we be moving on up……..

    Fish don’t fry in the kitchen;
    Beans don’t burn on the grill.
    Took a whole lotta tryin’,
    Just to get up that hill.
    Now we’re up in the big leagues

    congrats loco….

  • http://jaydeejapan.wordpress.com Jay Dee

    Congrats! You’re getting famous. How does it feel? A bit surreal at the moment? I need to get to work on reading your book more quickly. It’s my night time read :)

  • http://www.tokyojoeknowstokyo.blogspot.com Joe

    Keep up the good work there Loco. You are featured on the site and please contact me so we can do an interview, and I will feature you on the next podcast. Peace. Tokyo Joe.

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