Hey Ivan,

Maybe it’s because of my position in the academy, but I tend to reject any blanket statements like “Japanese people think X” or “Japanese culture is Y.” There’s so much diversity in Japan it’s hard to pin down any one strain of thought as being essentially ‘Japanese.’ I suspect the same is true for your own country.

Having said… Read more

Hey Ivan,

Before I answer your question, let me give you a bit of background information about myself so you can understand where I’m coming from.

I’m a visiting researcher at the University of Tokyo. My work focuses on the history and politics of disability in Japan over the last one-hundred years. I’ve traveled back and forth between Japan… Read more

Hey Alisa,

I’m not Josh, but I’m friends with him. I’d be happy to reach out and make sure he sees this.

By the way, I am also a foreigner with a physical disability living and working in Japan. In fact, I’m currently a visiting research at the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology. My research focuses on… Read more