Author

Benjamin is an author, short-form writer, editor, and translator with content specializing in Japanese language and culture. As a black belt in Aikido, Cool Japan ambassador, and competitive mahjong player he has a wealth of interesting knowledge and experience to draw upon.

He works with renowned publishers including Kawai Juku, Shogakukan, Tokyo University, and Tokyo Institute of Technology, and has contributed to media outlets including Netflix, Studio Ghibli, CNN English Express, The Yomiuri Shimbun, Metropolis Magazine, The Japan Times, English Journal, and TimeOut Tokyo.

Notable Essays

Benjamin had the honor of writing for Studio Ghibli’s monthly magazine, Neppu. In the essay titled “Cool Japan isn’t cool!?” he respectfully wrote about how Japan is perceived by the international community and how the country could market itself to future generations. The essay reached a wide number of domestic readers, and shared an outsider’s valuable perspective with a largely domestic audience. He also wrote for CNN’s English language learning magazine, with his article “My 30 year love-affair with Japan.” This article not only taught important key words to Japanese citizens, but also connected with them about how Japan is perceived across the world.

Cool Japan

As a Cool Japan Ambassador for the Japanese government, Benjamin has written a number of articles for outlets such as the Japan times. By sharing his perspectives in both Japanese and English, Benjamin can cross cultural divides and physical borders to connect people.

For nearly 20 years, Japanese people have been asking themselves "Is Japan Cool? Yet everyone outside of the country doesn't need to ask this question because they already know its answer: Yes.
Why, after decades, does the Japanese government continue to have issues marketing one of the strongest brands in the world? Benjamin tackles this question with his experience of living in Japan for 15 years and working as an official Cool Japan Ambassador. Instead of trying to determine what's "Cool," he instead suggests moving to a different paradigm of "My Japan" and "Your Japan," referring to domestic and international perspectives on the country respectively. The nuances of these viewpoints are explained in a easy-to-understand style, with specific examples of business and communication strategies.

Follow Benjamin's journey as he navigates Japanese culture through Mario, Ranma, manga, and Mahjong. Over nine manga format essays, read how Benjamin fell in love with Japanese pop culture by throwing himself into a world full of charm and challenges. Learn Japanese with helpful furigana characters for all the kanji!

Learning a new language can be a difficult task for anyone. Learning how to speak that language the way native speakers do is almost impossible. In this book, Benjamin takes a playful and compassionate approach to sharing tips and guides to using English as a native speaker would. With a custom built learning method based on phonetic training that American students use, and practical advice for every day English conversation practice, this book is a shortcut to re-learning English.

• Kinokuniya Books, Shinjuku South Store

• The American School in Japan

• Meiji University

• Platform for International Policy Dialogue

• The Rotary Club of Tokyo West

• Cool Japan high school story contests 2019 / 2020, Tokyo

• European Mahjong Championship 2010, Austria