ELLA KELLEHER WRITES (in the first of three reviews of new Japanese books) — The title of the novel itself poses a compelling question: does pregnancy and what comes with it (having both breasts and eggs) determine the destiny of the female body? Breasts and Eggs (2020) tells the story…
Full Article BOOK REVIEW: BREASTS AND EGGS BY MIEKO KAWAKAMI
TOM PLATE WRITES – The first major American post-election-result return is being able to feel that the ground under your feet isn’t always shaking and your head isn’t always aching. Yes, US President Joe Biden is doing that for us, especially in this early wave of foreign-policy appointments. He is…
Full Article US-CHINA RELATIONS: WILL BIDEN REIN IN AMERICA’S DEBILITATING DELUSIONS OF MORAL SUPERIORITY?
ABOUT THE EVENT China Studies Forum 3 Date: Thursday, February 4, 2021 Time: 7 pm – 8.30 pm PT Zoom Link: https://lmula.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwuf-uvrDkiH9Pc3jBI64b4cbOcmlhgC-Zy Flyer credited to Professor Li Yu, who is in charge of the Chinese Language Program at Loyola Marymount University’s Modern Languages & Literatures department.
Full Article UPCOMING EVENT: CHINA STUDIES FORUM 3
JOSEPH LITTAUA WRITES – It was a year ago when I was getting ready to go to mass on a Sunday morning when the news broke on Twitter about Kobe Bryant and a helicopter ride that seemed very ill-advised. I still remember it vividly, looking angrily at news outlets and…
Full Article KOBE BRYANT: A YEAR GONE, NEVER FORGET
KISHORE MAHBUBANI WRITES — “Ask not what America can do for you! Ask rather what you can do for America.” If US President Joe Biden were in a position to send a sincere and honest message to the rest of the world in his recent inaugural address, these are the…
Full Article ASIAN PERSUASION: THE US NEEDS HELP
REI KITAGAWA WRITES – Japan Rearmed, authored by the renowned Sheila A. Smith (and recently published by Harvard University Press), offers an extensive and intimate account of U.S.-Japan relations, arguing that the Japanese government is reconsidering its dependence on the United States amidst increasing threats from North Korean missiles and…
Full Article BOOK REVIEW: THE POLITICS OF JAPAN REARMED
TOM PLATE WRITES — It’s embarrassing. Like some televangelist preacher caught with his pants down at an out-of-town house-of-pleasure, America has been caught with its democracy down. Point one: a scary but also confused and confusing coup d’etat – another to come? Point two: A Republican president who should never…
Full Article US-CHINA RELATIONS: HOW BEIJING CAN LEAD AFTER THE CAPITOL CHAOS
ELLA KELLEHER WRITES — It was announced on January 5th that the popular singer from Kazakhstan, Dimash Kudaibergen, will perform at the celebration of US President-Elect Joe Biden’s 2021 inauguration. Kudaibergen is best known for his show-stopping performances in China and on The World’s Best, a talent show from the…
Full Article KAZAKHSTAN: KAZAKH POP STAR TO PERFORM AT BIDEN’S 2021 INAUGURATION