Date/Time: Monday, February 28, 2011, 6:30 p.m.
Place: 2F Wesley Center, 6-10-11 Minami Aoyama; a map is here, or on their website.

Put your thinking cap on for our next seminar as we discuss modern-day corporate leadership and what it means in the age of social media. We’ll even take a stab at handling our own mini-crisis scenario. What can and should you do to avoid a media blamestorm? How do you divert attention and energy away from a crisis and stay “on message”?

Imagine, for example, that you’re the CEO of a popular airline. A crewmember and an elderly passenger get into an altercation on one of your flights, and the passenger has a heart attack and dies in mid-flight. You learn that shocked and distraught passengers on the plane have already taken to the social networks with YouTube videos and hot Twitter feeds, pointing the finger at your crew for initiating and escalating the altercation. Moreover, every cranky, unsatisfied customer who’s ever had a bad holiday is blaming your company.

In today’s world, where the public demands vision, accountability and social responsibility from major corporate brands, it’s no longer possible for CEOs to merely make pro forma apologies at press sessions. Join us for an enlightening look at how today’s CEOs and companies must deal with customers who are watching their every move.

Combination Plates #1 & #2

“How Not to Get Blown Away by the Media Blamestorm”

The line separating traditional media and social media is blurred at best. How organizations should manage the line, combined with how to control “netizen” journalists, makes media management a challenge. The rules are still being written. But the reality is clear: Many firms are not adequately prepared or taking advantage of the changes.

David Wagner and Shoji Nozomu will discuss these issues as well as challenge the audience to manage a mini-crisis. David will give us a brief look at the TRUST study Edelman has just released, focusing on how trust is viewed from the CEO level. We’ll learn how “public engagement” is being used and how technologies (particularly social networking and social media) are changing traditional ways of corporate communications. Shoji will tell us how various companies are dealing with the realities of an interconnected and vocal customer base. Come prepared to work on your own crisis scenario, as we break into small groups and then come together to discuss what we need to keep in mind as we try to maneuver the new media blamestorm.

Speaker Bios:

David Wagner, who first came to Japan in 1982, is director of the Communications Training Group at Edelman Japan. Prior to that, he headed up the training team at financial PR firm Kreab Gavin Anderson. David has conducted over 4,000 communications skills sessions in Japan, the Asia Pacific, North America and the Middle East for 340 organizations. David is also a writer, having published 19 books for the Japanese market.

Shoji Nozomu is a digital communications consultant at Edelman Japan, where he drives the development and localization of new digital solutions for various clients, leveraging his experience in product marketing and general marketing communications using social media. Before joining Edelman, Shoji worked at Fleishman-Hillard Japan, where he launched the company’s Digital Integration team and developed integrated digital solutions such as corporate/campaign website development, online focus group interviews, community development, SEO/SEM and risk management. Prior to Fleishman, Shoji worked at MySpace Japan where he was responsible for product marketing and overall marketing communications and research for localization and the launch of the mobile version of MySpace.

Be sure to RSVP soon, and plan to arrive early to enjoy the always-delicious culinary creations of To the Moon and Back.

Give us a call if you have trouble finding the venue: 090-2451-0697.

The Media Tectonics Team

========================================================

Date: Monday, February 28, 2011
Time: 6:30 p.m. – dinner and networking (catered by To the Moon & Back); 7 p.m. – seminar begins
Location: Wesley Center, 2F, 6-10-11 Minami-Aoyama
Cost: 3,500 yen (prepaid, by February 23); 4,500 yen at the door

Be sure to take advantage of the prepayment discount, and let us know you’re coming so we can make an accurate food order!

RSVP by sending an email here, and transferring funds (by Feb. 23) to:

Resona Bank
Shibuya Branch: 473
Account Type: Futsu
Account Number: 1804222
Account Name: 4M Associates

Or pay via Paypal:

========================================================

Community News & Updates

We have some incredibly talented members in our Media Tectonics community, so we’ve set aside this space for you to let us know what you’re up to or to keep you informed about what’s going on in Tokyo or other cities in Japan. Send submissions well in advance of your event, and we’ll do our best to promote it for you here. Contact i...@mediatectonics.com.

Upcoming Media Tectonics Seminar

Moved to April 18 – Independent Business Roundtable – The Entrepreneurial Wordsmith

A recent prediction of trends to watch for in 2011 by a major ad agency said, “Journalists [and writers] will need to be more entrepreneurial.” What do you mean, entrepreneurial? We’re creatives, for heaven’s sake. But it’s now clearer than ever that writers, designers, producers, and consultants of all sorts need the tools to grow their businesses exponentially and create long-term passive income with the words they use.

Have you ever thought about quitting your day job? Starting your own business? But you don’t know where to start and have too many questions with which to pummel your friends? We’re putting together a panel of professionals who have “been there, done that” and are more than happy to answer any questions you throw their way. We’re even requiring them to share some secrets that are guaranteed to save you time, money, gray hairs, and hair pulling. Send in your questions early to info@mediatectonics.com and we’ll do our best to have them answered. Surprise us!

Date/Time: Monday, January 24, 2011, 6:30 p.m.
Place: 2F Wesley Center, 6-10-11 Minami Aoyama; a map is here, or check out their website.

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for a stunningly successful Year of the Rabbit! We’re looking forward to the next gathering of our  Media Tectonics community! We hope you were able to relax and re-energize over the holidays and are ready for an exciting and profitable year ahead. Come and help us celebrate the possibilities a new year holds, as we welcome veteran journalists Martyn Williams (IDG) and Tomoko Hosaka (AP), for an evening of thought-provoking and challenging content, delicious food and drink, and networking with an audience that is always as fascinating as our speakers (self-introductions are always a highlight of the evening).

Media Tectonics seminars are designed to be not only informative and helpful to your work and career but also to inspire you to think outside the box, make new connections, risk playing a bigger game, and take the action necessary to realize your long-held dreams. You are the only one who can take your life and career to the next level, and our plan for 2011 is to introduce you to a host of professionals who have done just that. And they are generous enough to share trade secrets and tips on how you can do the same, even though it may need to be “off the record.” (Check out the community news section below for a preview of upcoming events you don’t want to miss.)

So bring your questions on the 24th and hear what our speakers have to tell us about the state of journalism, international news gathering, and how digital technologies are changing the ways we all work with words. What tectonic shifts will we see in 2011? Exciting times, indeed!

Combination Plate #1

“Wither the foreign correspondent? International news in the age of digital technology”

Much has been said lately of the impending demise of the foreign correspondent. Faced with the rise of digital technology and social media, foreign correspondents are fading in relevance, one recent study says. So what does the future hold for international news? Is foreign correspondency really dying, or merely evolving? Tokyo-based journalists Martyn Williams and Tomoko A. Hosaka will lead a wide-ranging discussion on the ways in which digital technology is changing how news is gathered, distributed and consumed, and how journalists themselves are reshaping their still-vital roles as global communicators.

Combination Plate #2

“The Hack’s Toolbox: Tips for effective online searching”

In this practical session, Martyn Williams offers some valuable tips and tricks to maximize your online searches. From Google to Flickr to Twitter, discover advanced techniques to find what exactly you’re looking for.

Speaker Bios:

Martyn Williams is multimedia editor and Tokyo bureau chief for IDG News Service, a global newswire feeding tech publications such as PC World and Macworld. Over the last 15 years, he has covered many of the largest stories in tech, both in Japan and worldwide, and has reported from countries across the region. As he likes to note, Martyn began covering the Internet before anyone knew what it was. He launched IDG’s video wire in 2006 and also shoots, produces and edits “Akibatteru,” a monthly video program on Japanese geek and pop culture. A deep professional and personal interest in North Korea led him to start a blog, northkoreatech.org. Martyn originally hails from outside London and is a former president of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan. You can find him on Twitter @Martyn_Williams.

Tomoko A. Hosaka is a Tokyo-based reporter for The Associated Press, covering business, economics and anything else that catches her fancy. She serves on the national board of the Asian American Journalists Association, through which she is engaged in a number of media industry issues, and is a former member of the FCCJ board of directors. Raised in California, her love of newspapers led her to Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and then to a political reporting job at The Oregonian in Portland, Oregon. Tomoko landed in Japan almost nine years ago. She holds a master’s degree in international relations from Waseda University and previously worked for Dow Jones Newswires. You can find her on Twitter @TomokoHosaka.

We look forward to seeing you on January 24. Be sure to RSVP soon, as the number of chairs is limited. You’ll want to arrive early to enjoy the always-delicious culinary creations of To the Moon and Back.

Give us a call if you have trouble finding the venue: 090-2451-0697.

The Media Tectonics Team

========================================================

Date: Monday, January 24, 2011
Time: 6:30 p.m. – dinner and networking (catered by To the Moon & Back); 7 p.m. – seminar begins
Location: Wesley Center, 2F, 6-10-11 Minami-Aoyama
Cost: 3,500 yen (prepaid, by January 21); 4,500 yen at the door

Be sure to take advantage of the prepayment discount, and let us know you’re coming so we can make an accurate food order!

RSVP by sending an email here, and transferring funds (by Jan. 21) to:

Resona Bank
Shibuya Branch: 473
Account Type: Futsu
Account Number: 1804222
Account Name: 4M Associates

Or pay via Paypal:

========================================================

Community News & Updates

We have some incredibly talented members in our Media Tectonics community, so we’ve set aside this space for you to let us know what you’re up to or to keep you informed about what’s going on in Tokyo or other cities in Japan. Send submissions well in advance of your event, and we’ll do our best to promote it for you here. Contact i...@mediatectonics.com.

Support Independent Filmmaking!

Ready for a creative-kick-ass year of the rabbit? Our friend, Jamie Morris, is. He has launched a kickstarter.com campaign to get finishing funds for his documentary about the bosozoku (motorcycle gangs) in Japan. Check out the video and writeup at  http://kck.st/h6lMIP. There’s even a chance to get Executive Producer credits, so take a look and help support the creative arts. We did!

This is a great way for INDY producers to fund projects. Jamie writes, “I have been fairly successful thus far and I would be happy to offer anybody advice (or a talk) on how to get a successful project on the site – we just made the main page on kickstarter.com!”

Upcoming Media Tectonics Seminars

February 28 – Crisis Communications and Risk Management

We’ve moved our usual meeting date to the 28th to coincide with the upcoming trip to Japan of a very special guest, which will be confirmed after February 1. Already confirmed speaker, David Wagner, will scare us into managing our crises and our communications more effectively, to avoid those risky media interviews when things go wrong (among other things).

David first came to Japan in 1982 as an exchange student in Osaka.  It was then his interest in Japan would become a life-long endeavour. Having decided to specialize in Japan’s political system, he obtained a Master’ degree in Policy Studies from the Monterey Institute of International Studies in 1987 and moved to Tokyo, where he developed an interest in using his knowledge of Japanese studies to bridge the cross-cultural divide between Japan and the United States. His first professional trainings began as a cross-cultural instructor for the Fuji Xerox Learning Institute where he facilitated hundreds of business seminars for Japanese venturing overseas. Over the past 25 years, David has conducted over 4,000 communications skills sessions in Japan, APAC, North America and the Middle East for 340 organizations. He is currently Director, Communications Training Group, at Edelman Japan.

David is a prolific writer, having published 19 books for the Japanese market. Sign up early to hear how he (and hopefully our special guest) has used his skills with words to build a business that spans continents.

March 21 – Independent Business Roundtable – The Entrepreneurial Wordsmith

A recent prediction of trends to watch for in 2011 by a major ad agency said, “Journalists [and writers] will need to be more entrepreneurial.” What do you mean, entrepreneurial? We’re creatives, for heaven’s sake. But it’s now clearer than ever that writers, designers, producers, and consultants of all sorts need the tools to grow their businesses exponentially and create long-term passive income with the words they use.

Have you ever thought about quitting your day job? Starting your own business? But you don’t know where to start and have too many questions with which to pummel your friends? We’re putting together a panel of professionals who have “been there, done that” and are more than happy to answer any questions you throw their way. We’re even requiring them to share some secrets that are guaranteed to save you time, money, gray hairs, and hair pulling. Send in your questions early to info@mediatectonics.com and we’ll do our best to have them answered. Surprise us!

Our December seminar should give you that extra boost of creativity and inspiration you need before the busy holiday season. We present two irrepressible forces in the media and publishing realms whose work has impressive reach and purpose. If you’ve got lofty goals for changing the world or just wondering how you can make the most of your talents, come hear what they’ve got to say.

Combination Plate #1

“Innovate, Create and Thrive: Music to the Ears of a Media Entrepreneur”

With 30 years’ experience in the radio and entertainment industry (20 of those in Japan), Guy Perryman has witnessed the highs and lows of media mergers, technology shifts and the easily reversed fortunes of one on-air talent after another. How do you keep your bearings in the midst of rapid change and fickle entertainment fads? Guy has some unique insights to share about the need to continually evolve as a creative entrepreneur in order to survive in this ever-changing media world. Through his broadcasts, he has interviewed a galaxy of stars over the years, so he might even share a few of his best (and worst) moments, too.

More About Guy: In 1990 Guy Perryman came to Japan with a three-month DJ contract for the launch of the first Virgin Megastore in Tokyo. Twenty years later he has become a prominent personality in Japanese media and entertainment.

While DJ and program manager for over 30 Virgin Megastores across Japan, he started a satellite radio network for the Virgin Group and has worked closely with Virgin Atlantic Airways, producing in-flight programs and events. Guy’s voice is recognized from many years of hosting prime time programs on Tokyo’s international language music radio station Inter FM and the Japan-wide Mega Net FM network. His celebrity interviews have included Sting, Sir Paul Smith, Richard Branson, Gwen Stefani and many more. His voice has been heard on numerous TV commercials for major brands like Suzuki and Calvin Klein, as well as on animations and games. Guy has also become well known as an event DJ, MC and producer, working with clients like the British Embassy, Park Hyatt Hotel and Moet & Chandon. He created radio:on, a DJ team who launched a nation-wide cable radio station with a studio/bar event space in Tokyo’s swank Aoyama.

Guy is English, was born in Scotland and raised in Singapore and Australia. He continues to explore new media and entertainment with programs and blog reports on his website, www.guyperryman.com.

Combination Plate #2

“Sharing the Ways and Means of Green”

Can you make a difference and a living and have fun doing it? Reina Otsuka certainly does in her role as the founder and editor-in-chief of Eco+waza, a bilingual magazine that shares green trends, knowledge and products from Japan. Eco+waza welds together two ideas—“eco” for ecology and the environment, and “waza” (meaning skill, art or technique in Japanese). Reina and her staff also produce a lively website (www.greenjapan.com) that broadens eco+waza’s audience and markets selected green products. The online newsletter they launched earlier this fall adds another “touch point” with their followers. That’s vital, because according to Reina the green concept is all about sharing and networking.

Reina will tell us how she expresses her vision through the magazine, website and newsletter, how to build a network by mixing analog and digital tools, and how to solve environmental issues by sharing ideas and networking. She’ll also walk us through the eco+waza website and some examples of green innovations from Japan. She mentions, by the way, that eco+waza is looking for freelance writers interested in the ways and means of green. Reina and her team are happy to post eco-related articles and network with writers willing to share inspirations!

More About Reina: Reina is a Japanese national who spent her childhood in the United States and has traveled to around thirty countries. Her goal is to build a bridge between the hidden knowledge Japan holds and the rest of the world. And just before going to press, we watched as Reina accepted the U.S. Ambassador’s Entrepreneur Award at the Entrepreneurship Mentor Initiative (EMI) Roundtable and First Annual “The Entrepreneurs Awards Japan” (TEAJ) on Monday, November 22, at the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Chinzan-so. Congratulations, Reina! Read all about it at Impact Japan.

We look forward to seeing you on December 13. Be sure to RSVP soon. To the Moon and Back Caterers have some special treats lined up.

And please give us a call if you have trouble finding the venue: 090-2451-0697.

The Media Tectonics Team

========================================================

Date: Monday, December 13, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m. – dinner and networking (catered by To the Moon & Back); 7 p.m. – seminar begins
Location: Wesley Center, 2F, 6-10-11 Minami-Aoyama
Cost: 3,500 yen (prepaid, by December 10); 4,500 yen at the door

Be sure to take advantage of the prepayment discount, and let us know you’re coming so we can be kind to the environment with an accurate food order!

RSVP by sending an email here, and transferring funds to:

Resona Bank
Shibuya Branch: 473
Account Type: Futsu
Account Number: 1804222
Account Name: 4M Associates

Or pay via Paypal:

========================================================

Community News & Updates

We have some incredibly talented members in our Media Tectonics community, so we’ve set aside this space for you to let us know what you’re up to or to keep you informed about what’s going on in Tokyo or other cities in Japan. Send submissions well in advance of your event, and we’ll do our best to promote it for you here. Contact i...@mediatectonics.com.

Recent Launch of Impact Japan

We’re pleased to introduce the new “IMPACT Japan, Impact the World” website, an Innovators Movement with Passion, Action & Collaboration for Tomorrow. The organization is sponsored by the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), 21Foundation, TEDxTokyo, IdeaSpaceGlobal, and the Kauffman Foundation.

The strategic objectives are to:

* Develop an Impact Platform for Entrepreneurs & Innovators
* Activate Untapped People & Passion
* Create Impact Research to Support National Policy & Initiatives, and
* Connect the Dots

There are a number of ways to get involved. And we encourage everyone in our Media Tectonics community to stay informed about events and initiatives and to find ways to unleash your own potential to impact the world around you. Impact Japan was one of the sponsors for the very first Entrepreneurship Mentor Initiative (EMI) Roundtable and “The Entrepreneurs Awards Japan” (TEAJ) on Monday, November 22, at the Four Seasons Hotel at Chinzan-so. Business plans for next year’s Entrepreneurship Mentor Initiative will be accepted in the spring. It’s a great opportunity to get professional advice and networks for your own startup or business venture, if less than 10 years old.

Some travel and logistical details delayed our announcement, but our program for the 18th promises to be well worth the wait — and the distance — since our first speaker for the evening has just arrived from sunny Barcelona, Spain. And our second speaker drew such a large crowd and positive response last year that we’ve asked him to come back for a 2.0 encore.

So come to our new venue, the almost brand-new Wesley Center, meet some incredibly talented people who will undoubtedly inspire you, and enjoy the mouth-watering treats and libations from To the Moon and Back Catering! It’s always a fun night of networking with some amazingly creative people. It is our hope that you’ll find that extra bit of “oomph” you need to make your long-held creative dreams and visions a reality. You never know who you’ll meet sitting next to you, or who you will inspire in some way just by showing up!

Combination Plate #1

“Masters of Manga and Learning How to Draw a Crowd”

Lots of us have long-term projects that seem to have no end. For some, that may be a trial and a burden. But writer, translator and videographer Marc Bernabe is perfectly content, because his magnum opus involves interviewing scores of creative titans in the art of drawing manga and conveying their skills, inspirations and fantastic visions. His growing list includes Takao Saito (Golgo 13), Tetsuya Chiba (Ashita no Joe) and Gosho Aoyama (Detective Conan).

Marc will describe how he’s going about this multi-year book project, including how he chronicles and promotes his interviews along the way through his website www.mastersofmanga.com. His campaign includes the “big canvas” vehicles of social media like Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Vimeo. Anyone involved in the creative process that wants a mass audience for their work should be here to follow Marc’s storyline. A recent article in The Japan Times says the Japanese government is hoping pop culture will become a key export. Come find out why anime, manga, fashion, food and other “Cool Japan” items are driving profits from “soft power.”

And in the interest of full transparency, we should mention that Media Tectonics’ own Cindy Mullins is Marc’s literary agent for worldwide rights, and is looking for publishers who can handle the cool, total integration of print, ebook, video, and webisode, and give these masters of their craft a fitting platform to share the joy of their art.

About Marc: A translator and interpreter of Japanese from Spain who’s in love with the comic form, Marc Bernabe focuses on manga and anime translation and has worked on hundreds of manga volumes and anime episodes. After earning a master’s degree in Japanese language teaching from the Osaka University of Foreign Studies, he went on to become the author of the bestselling “Japanese in Mangaland” series, among other books. Marc is also the founder and head of Daruma Serveis Lingüístics SL, a Barcelona-based translation and interpreting company from which he coordinates his own translations and those of a sizable team of fellow scribes.

Combination Plate #2

“Open Journalism / Freelancing in Japan (2.0)”

Freelance writer and blogger Rick Martin will discuss his strategies for finding work in Tokyo and how to adapt to the current media climate. Rick will also talk about the importance of collaboration, gaining competence with different tools and platforms, and touch upon the recent revolution in data journalism. For a primer, see his last Media Tectonics presentation here.

Update: As an added bonus, journalist Richard Smart will discuss some of his experiences, working as a writer and reporter in Japan, as well as his own thoughts on new journalism.

About Rick: A technology (and sometimes sports) writer who contributes to Gizmag.com, The Japan Times, and various other publications, Rick occasionally makes websites and is also a wannabe programmer, currently facilitating the course Open Journalism & the Open Web, which examines the intersection of programming and journalism.

About Richard: A freelance journalist who has been based in Japan for more than eight years, Richard Smart writes for both print media and online publications in Japan and abroad. His interests include politics, society and music. In his free time he tries to master Japanese and overcome his technophobia.

We look forward to seeing everyone on October 18, and hope you will find some new ways to increase your own income online!

Feel free to give us a call if you have trouble finding the new space: 090-2451-0697

The Media Tectonics Team

========================================================

Date: Monday, October 18, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m. – dinner and networking (catered by To the Moon & Back); 7 p.m. – seminar begins
Location: Wesley Center, 2F, 6-10-11 Minami-Aoyama
Cost: 3,500 yen (prepaid, by October 15); 4,500 yen at the door

Be sure to take advantage of the prepayment discount, and let us know you’re coming so we can be kind to the environment with an accurate food order!

RSVP by sending an email here, and transferring funds to:

Resona Bank
Shibuya Branch: 473
Account Type: Futsu
Account Number: 1804222
Account Name: 4M Associates

Or pay via Paypal:

========================================================

Community News & Updates

We have some incredibly talented members in our Media Tectonics community, so we’ve set aside this space for you to let us know what you’re up to or to keep you informed about what’s going on around our exciting city of Tokyo. Send submissions well in advance of your event, and we’ll do our best to promote it for you here. Contact meg...@mediatectonics.com.

Learn More About How You Can Improve Your Business Skills in Japan

The Japan Market Expansion Competition information sessions give potential participants the opportunity to find out more about the JMEC program, to ask questions and to speak with program alumni. We highly recommend those interested in JMEC to attend one of these sessions. There is no fee to attend, but registration is required. The following are the upcoming information sessions for JMEC 17 (2010-2011):

* Thursday, October 14th, 8:00 – 9:00am*, Temple University Japan Campus, Mita Hall, Room 503 (map)

* Tuesday, October 19th, 19:30 – 21:00, Temple University Japan Campus, Mita Hall, Room 503 (map)

* Please note, this is a morning session.

All sessions are free but registration is required. To register for a session, please fill out the form on the JMEC website.

That media coup thing? You can do it, you know. The radio and TV broadcast paradigm is being knocked aside by Internet radio, YouTube, and an array of other outlets just waiting for people with the right creative stuff. And if you’re in business, the opportunities to advertise and market what you’ve got are without limit.

Richard Kipnis of virgin earth, inc. says there are lots of creative videos on the Web now where the product—say the Lexus car—is the star of the show. He’ll talk about the changes and lowered barriers to entry for homegrown video content and anyone with a flair for filmmaking in any genre. Even better, Richard will give us a rare backstage tour of our special venue for the night—his satellite-connected TV sound stage in Minami-Aoyama.

And for a stellar talent on the other side of the mike and lens, we know we couldn’t do any better than freelance broadcaster Peter Barakan. Peter will chronicle what he’s picked up during three decades in the music, radio and TV industries, including what it takes to do a virtual show via the Interwebs.

If you’ve got questions on how to take your words and images live, these are the guys to ask!

About Richard: The master eye, executive producer and CEO of Japan’s oldest, most respected foreign-run TV and film production company—virgin earth, inc.—Richard Kipnis has had a lens trained on the TV production world in Japan since 1977. As videotape editor for ABC News Tokyo and editor/producer at NBC’s Tokyo bureau and then director of network operations in Asia for Reuters Financial Television, he filmed some of the biggest news stories in recent history, including the Tiananmen Square uprising in Beijing, an assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II in Manila and the Kobe earthquake. At virgin earth, he and his expert crew have filmed artists like Coldplay, Yo Yo Ma and Beyonce, shows like The Next Iron Chef America and The Amazing Race in 2005, 2007, and 2009, and produced documentaries on Hiroshima for National Geo and the Lucy Blackman murder case for Discovery Channel, amongst many others.

About Peter: Peter Barakan left London on a whim to work for a music publisher in Japan back in 1974. He segued into radio in 1980, and three decades later he’s still on the air spinning tracks on his “Barakan Morning” InterFM (76.1) music show and via the Internet. Although radio remains his main media squeeze, Peter also appears on-screen as the host of NHK’s Weekend Japanology and as the co-host of CBS Document, the Japanese version of 60 Minutes. A self-described ‘music-nut,’ Peter has also written several books, including a beginner’s guide to soul music, and an album guide covering black music from Africa to the Americas.

We’re looking forward to seeing you on September 14, and hope you’ll be inspired to imagine lots more possibilities for your creative talents when this evening is over.

Feel free to give us a call if you have trouble finding the venue: 090-2451-069

The Media Tectonics Team

========================================================

Date: Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m. – dinner and networking (catered by To the Moon & Back); 7 p.m. – seminar begins
Location: virgin earth’s Aoyama Earth Studio, Gaienmae Station, Ginza Line
Cost: 3,500 yen (prepaid, by September 9); 4,500 yen at the door

Be sure to take advantage of the prepayment discount, and let us know you’re coming so we can be kind to the environment with an accurate food order!

RSVP by sending an email here, and transferring funds to:

Resona Bank
Shibuya Branch: 473
Account Type: Futsu
Account Number: 1804222
Account Name: 4M Associates

Or pay via Paypal:

========================================================

Community News & Updates

We have some incredibly talented members in our Media Tectonics community, so we’ve set aside this space for you to let us know what you’re up to or to keep you informed about what’s going on around our exciting city of Tokyo. Send submissions well in advance of your event, and we’ll do our best to promote it for you here. Contact Cindy at i...@mediatectonics.com.

Freelancing in Tokyo Networking Night

Yes, it’s hot and many of you are on holiday, but for those who have decided to tough out the summer, please join us on Thursday, August 19, from 7:30-10:30pm at the Kimono Wine Bar (3 min. from Nogizaka Station) for our monthly Freelancing in Tokyo networking night.

This is a great chance to meet new people, exchange meishi, and expand your contacts. You don’t have to be a freelancer to join us. For 2,000 yen there will be fun, food and drinks.

RSVPs ARE NECESSARY, so please email lauren@kimonowinebar.com at your earliest convenience. Thank you and I hope to see you soon!

David Chester

Our last Combo Plate for the summer features two presenters well versed in the arcane arts of online business. Tech master Lem Fugitt, who runs a highly rated YouTube channel and an equally popular blog about robots, will tell us how the iPad has changed his professional life and bank balance for the better. Our second speaker, James B. Allen, has been making a living off online ventures for years, and recently released two iPhone apps through his intriguingly named Bikini Sushi website. He’ll reveal insider tips, tricks and techniques that will help you generate passive income online and pump up the volume on your business and pet projects.

So come to our stylish new venue, the Wesley Center, meet some amazing people, sample our tasty July Combo Plate, and enjoy an equally mouth-watering obento from To the Moon and Back Catering!

Combination Plate #1

“The iPad—Passing Fad or Mighty Portent?”

Whether you’re an enthusiastic early adopter of tech, a battle-scarred IT skeptic or a confirmed Luddite, you can’t ignore the enormous buzz and debate surrounding the debut of Apple’s iPad. With over three million sold within months, the iPad clearly appeals to more than just Apple fanboys, fangirls and ubergeeks. So why has this device suddenly become a “must-have” personal appliance for so many? Is the iPad only a passing fad, or does it embody a major shift in the way we live and work?

Lem Fugitt will not only tell us what he thinks, he’ll show us how he has integrated the iPad into all aspects of his professional and personal life, and how Apple’s device has boosted his productivity, content creation, income, and quality of life.

About Lem: Lem arrived at Narita in September 1982 to install CAD/CAM (computer aided design/manufacturing) systems at a Japanese factory. After running McDonnell Douglas’s computer business in Asia and marketing at Sun Microsystems in Japan, he took over Seiko Instruments’ printer business for North America.

Lem returned to Japan in 1999 to run global strategic planning for Seiko Instruments. He later went independent, establishing a consulting business that serves major Japanese and foreign corporate clients. A prolific writer, he contributes regular feature articles to ROBOT and other technology publications and produces Robots Dreams, a popular blog that attracts 100,000 unique visitors every month.

Combination Plate #2

“Revving Up Your Own Online Revenue Machine”

James B. Allen calls himself an “Internet lifestyle evangelist,” and he’s been a living example of how it’s done for the past seven years. James will be discussing various models for creating income online based on his own online ventures. James calls these his “STORMs”—Simple-To-Operate Revenue Machines. He will reveal what these systems are and how he sets them up, with a focus on how you can monetize your own content.

About James: James has been making his living online through a combination of website creation, direct response copywriting, affiliate marketing and online educational courseware development. He focuses on search engine optimization and social media engagement that generate conversions and increase profits, and teaches these skills at international seminars and workshops to help others tap into the power of online marketing. James lives in Chiba and runs Genki Marketing, his online venture incubator.

We’re looking forward to seeing you on July 20, and are hoping you will find some new ways to increase your own income online!

Feel free to give us a call if you have trouble finding the new space: 090-2451-069

The Media Tectonics Team

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Date: Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m. – dinner and networking (catered by To the Moon & Back); 7 p.m. – seminar begins
Location: Wesley Center, 2F, 6-10-11 Minami-Aoyama
Cost: 3,500 yen (prepaid, by June 18); 4,500 yen at the door

Be sure to take advantage of the prepayment discount, and let us know you’re coming so we can be kind to the environment with an accurate food order!

RSVP by sending an email here, and transferring funds to:

Resona Bank
Shibuya Branch: 473
Account Type: Futsu
Account Number: 1804222
Account Name: 4M Associates

Or pay via Paypal:

========================================================

Community News & Updates

We have some incredibly talented members in our Media Tectonics community, so we’ve set aside this space for you to let us know what you’re up to or to keep you informed about what’s going on around our exciting city of Tokyo. Send submissions well in advance of your event, and we’ll do our best to promote it for you here. Contact Cindy at i...@mediatectonics.com.

FASHION-PHOTOGRAPHY. REBEL MODE.

A dynamic bilingual 2-day workshop, designed to unleash the rebel-fashionista inside of you.

Always been interested in Fashion? Secret passion for Photography ? Want to know what it is like to be a Model ? Here is your chance to get to know how the industry REALLY works. Learn from people INSIDE the industry, working on the highest level.

“I’ve had numerous requests from aspiring photographers and models to help them get started in the industry. Therefore, I am very pleased to present this intensive course on how things are really working in the Fashion biz. Everything I teach, I use in my own work and it has helped me to build a solid career.”
– Marc Albert

Date: Saturday-Sunday August 7-8, 2010
Time: 10.00 am.- 17.00 pm.
Venue: Wesley Center, Minami Aoyama, Tokyo.
Fee: 38.000 yen for both days; 20.000 yen for a single day
Maximum participants: 25 per day (We will need a minimum attendance of 10 participants per day)

RSVP REQUIRED ! For RESERVATIONS please contact Marc at: rebe...@live.com

About Marc Albert:
Fashion and Celebrity photographer Marc Albert was born in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and graduated in Advertising at the Nimeto School of Arts, Utrecht. Following a brief career as an assistant Art-Director at the Dutch advertising giant: FHV/BBDO,
Marc traveled the world for years as a Fashion model, before giving way to a longtime passion: “Communicating Through Images.”

Since 2000 he has done an array of high-profile assignments, including magazines such as Harpers Bazaar, Fader, Versatille, Glamorous, Navi, Cover, Men`s Joker, Sense, VIVI, and has shot a variety of International A-list celebrities: Beyonce Knowles, Jennifer Lopez, Avril Lavigne, Niki Hilton as well as the Japanese mega-stars B`Z (CD-Jacket), and Bonnie Pink.

The interesting thing about Marc`s career is that he has actually been on both sides of the camera, undoubtedly helping him to direct his “subjects” like no other …

About Lisa Lynn Holmes:
Born to a Canadian father and Japanese mother, Lisa has had an outstanding career as a Fashion-Model. At the tender age of 14, she was already scouted by a local model agency, and things excelled quickly when she landed a contract by one of Tokyo`s top-agencies, when she was just 17. From there, Lisa went on to become an established International model, working for big Cosmetics manufacturers gracing her beauty, and in campaigns and major Fashion brands like Wacoal. Lisa was also featured in the “Firefly” music-video by the Canadian band Delirium, which was nominated for best video at the Canadian Music Awards. Her extensive career has brought her the industry-knowledge most people can only dream of. Currently Lisa is represented by Agence Presse in Tokyo.

For more details, visit the official website at Marc Albert Photo.

AN UPDATE AND SPECIAL OFFER FROM AUTHOR HUGH ASHTON

In my talk to Media Tectonics last month, I mentioned Smashwords as a good way of getting your ebooks out there. Recent events have done nothing to change my opinion of them.

I uploaded a Word file of the final version of At the Sharpe End, after reading through the formatting guide carefully (I’d already done it for Beneath Gray Skies, but it changes a little from time to time, so I thought it was time to read it again). It went through on the first try, so I’d obviously done everything right. It’s also worth mentioning that the Smashwords documentation is obviously not written by a computer geek, but by an ordinary person, and even non-techies should find it easy enough to get on with.

A few days later, I was having lunch with Cindy and a friend who owns both an iPad and a US iTunes account. Just for fun, I wanted to see my first book in the iBooks store, but to my surprise, when I searched for my name, the book I’d uploaded just three or four days previously was also there. It’s not in all the iBooks stores yet – for some reason that takes a little time to happen – maybe three weeks from the US store stocking, it seems.

Kindle is a different matter. Amazon being Amazon, everything has to be done their way (Amazon’s reputation is one of bullying publishers to accept their way of doing things). There is a Kindle version of Beneath Gray Skies and another of At the Sharpe End, but they’re not on the Amazon Kindle store. According to Mark Coker, who runs Smashwords, negotiations are proceeding. In the meantime, if you want the Kindle versions, go to Beneath Gray Skies and At the Sharpe End , both on Smashwords, and download from there (one purchase of the book allows you to download in all formats).

There’s a coupon code generator as part of the Smashwords service, which allows you to give discounts to selected people – Media Tectonics readers can quote TP95J and download in all formats for $3.99 instead of $5.99 (expires end of July 2010).

The only thing that Smashwords does not do well is creating PDFs – since the Word file needed is “lowest common denominator.” the resulting PDF looks like … a Word file (i.e., pretty horrible). Bearing that in mind, I am accepting PayPal (somehow I seem to be accepted as a merchant, so the customer-to-customer PayPal prohibition within Japan isn’t applicable) on my site for At the Sharpe End. You can pay the full price of $5.99 or quote the coupon code for $3.99 or, if you’ve already bought the book from Smashwords, quote a couple of magic words to me (see the site at http://AtTheSharpeEnd.com/Ordering.html) and I’ll send you the “pretty” PDF for free.

But all of this, though it looks reasonably impressive, is much easier than you might think, thanks to Smashwords.

You can divide the writers of this world into two camps: the ones who actually produce books, scripts, articles, essays, poetry, blogs and so on, and those who hoard the magic and insights in their heads and seldom—or never—let it out into the real world.

Newsflash: If you’re stuck in the second camp, don’t you think it’s time to be bold and let the good stuff flow.

We bet best-selling author Dr. James W. Heisig will inspire you to do just that. FYI, just listing his various publication credits takes over fifteen pages. So will our second presenter, Hugh Ashton, who took an alternative route to publishing his “alternative past” novel Beneath Gray Skies, which included getting it into the e-reader realm. And our own Cindy Mullins will be on hand to answer questions about the traditional book publishing route. It’s a rare opportunity to get your questions answered about the potential of your own publishing project. At least we’ll try!

Remember that we’re at our stylish new venue, the Wesley Center, and serving up delicious obento from To the Moon and Back.

Combination Plate #1

“Boys and Girls, Be Prolific!”

When you know just how much literary work Jim Heisig has produced, you wonder how he does it and whether he ever sleeps.

That’s because good-humored professor of the Faculty of Arts and Letters at Nanzan University has written, edited or translated nearly sixty books in ten languages, along with literally hundreds of other pieces. That output includes the 19-volume Nanzan Studies in Religion and Culture and Essays in Japanese Philosophy series, A Study of C. G. Jung’s Psychology of Religion, and his acclaimed Remembering the Kanji series. Around two hundred thousand copies of the latter books are already out—including French, German and Spanish versions—and Portuguese, Dutch, Italian, Hungarian and Polish editions are on the way. (Proposed translations into Esperanto and pig Latin, he notes, were unceremoniously rejected.)

Dr. Heisig will describe his working process, including how he teams up with translators to devise just the right examples and mnemonic devices for each language. He’ll also tell us some fascinating stories about what he does with his royalties.

Combination Plate #2

“Publishing in the Post-Kindle Age”

Getting published for the first time has never been more difficult, as publishers refuse to take any risks with new authors. Or, paradoxically, have ebooks made it easier for new authors to publish than ever before? For the past year or so, Hugh Ashton has been experiencing the pains and perils of independent publishing, and discovering the quirks and the hassles of the move from paper to ebooks, as he brings his novel, Beneath Gray Skies, to the public. He will be talking about what he has learned from his experiences and will attempt to answer questions, along with literary agent Cindy Mullins, in this round table discussion.

Hugh Ashton came to Japan over 20 years ago as a technical writer, and has been writing ever since in a variety of business and creative fields. He is a regular contributor to various magazines, and writes on his blog www.beneathgrayskies.com about the wide range of matters that catch his interest from time to time.

Cindy Mullins has worked with authors and global publishers in seven countries on four continents, and is shamelessly using the MT seminars to meet with authors and answer questions, because she can no longer respond to every request for coffee and a chat about a book. Nice problem to have! Storytellers are among her favorite people.

We’re looking forward to seeing you on June 21!

The Media Tectonics Team

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Date: Monday, June 21, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m., dinner (catered by To the Moon & Back) and networking; 7 p.m., seminar begins
Location: Wesley Center, 2F, 6-10-11 Minami-Aoyama
Cost: 3,000 yen (prepaid, by June 18); 4,000 yen at the door

Be sure to take advantage of the prepayment discount, and let us know you’re coming so we can be kind to the environment with an accurate food order!

RSVP by sending an email here, and transferring funds to:

Resona Bank
Shibuya Branch: 473
Account Type: Futsu
Account Number: 1804222
Account Name: 4M Associates

Or pay via Paypal:

========================================================

Give us a call if you have trouble finding the new space: 090-2451-0697

We’ve got another stellar lineup for you, and a brand-new venue—the beautiful new Wesley Center, just off Roppongi Dori near the intersection with Komazawa Dori (directions below). Along with Hollywood writer/director Doug Campbell (and back by popular demand), we’ll also hear from other talented members of our community. In the spirit of TEDxTokyo, Pecha Kucha Night and Tokyo BarCamp, our Media Tectonics devotees will have ten minutes to show off recent projects and works in progress. Read on to find out more!

Combination Plate #1

“How New Technology Turns Writers into Filmmakers”

Newsflash: “Film budgets skyrocket! “Avatar” cost $300 million dollars! Making movies is getting more expensive every day!” Not true. For many, film production has never been cheaper. Join writer-director Doug Campbell as he discusses his work over the past 23 years, both inside the Hollywood system and independently. Thanks to the HD revolution, writers are now able to turn screenplays into affordable movies, without sacrificing quality.

About Doug: Doug has written and directed features and television for CBS, HBO, Lifetime, Showtime, Fox, PAX-TV, The Family Channel, A&E, NHK and others. He’s earned a reputation as a solid writer and one of the fastest, most efficient directors in the business. Independently, Doug has self-financed features and seen the technical requirements change overnight. Also, Doug will share his experiences on deal-making—the ever-challenging game of “finding the money” to make your film.

Combination Plate #2

“MT Smorgasbord–Show Us What You’ve Got!”

Every person who walks through our door is a storyteller in some way, and the new technologies and social media tools and networks have opened up a host of options for sharing your vision or corporate message with others. See what some of our Media Tectonics devotees have been up to.

Jason Hall is an IT generalist with an arts, science, and business education; an interest in communication; and a desire to help make the world a better place. The right mix of interests eventually landed him with the Media Studio at the United Nations University in Tokyo, where he serves as the resident technical/Internet/community engineer. Jason will talk about the Media Studio’s bilingual, multimedia, environmental web magazine (http://ourworld.unu.edu), and how it employs a variety of social media systems to grow its traffic. He’ll also give us his take on how and why we can remake this world into a newer, better version.

Martin Burns is a professional actor from Scotland with over 20 years’ experience in all types of media outlets for acting – film, TV, radio, commercials, theatre, corporate role-play as well as convincing mum he didn’t do whatever he was accused of! He recently ran a successful workshop teaching “Acting for the Camera” here in Tokyo. The workshop mixed theory with practical exercises, workshop situations with work! The idea was a two-day workshop and film combination – first day theory and practical exercises, second day make an actual short film. He had 8 students and 4 hours each day to accomplish it all … he’ll explain exactly how he did it!

Rick Martin is a Canadian freelance writer who has covered tech news in Japan for publications like Gizmag, CNet Asia, The Japan Times, and CNNgo. When he moved to Tokyo in late 2008 after a 5-year stint in China, he was surprised to find few English-language websites that provided the information he wanted to know about the city. There were huge blind spots on a local level. Having co-founded a website about the city of Dalian while in China, he hopes to port this experiment in local publishing to Tokyo. He believes that journalist/programmer hybrids are the key to saving the news, and to that end he desperately aspires to be one someday. In the meantime Rick will share what he has learned so far about building locally, with a focus on the Drupal content management system, geo-location, and content architecture. He invites you to come steal his ideas so we can all make Tokyo more accessible.

Verònica Calafell has been a translator and interpreter from Japanese into Spanish and Catalan for over 10 years. She is co-founder and director of the leading translation and localization agency of Japanese leisure contents – mainly manga, animation and movies – in the Spanish market, Daruma Serveis Lingüístics (www.daruma.es). She is also coauthor and adaptator of a number of books on Japanese language, both from the Mangaland series (with Marc Bernabé) and the Remembering the Kanji series (with Marc Bernabé and James W. Heisig) (www.nipoweb.com). Vero will tell us about the manga boom in Spain and Europe in the past few years and how it relates to a growing interest in and awareness of Japanese language and culture in young generations in the Western world. Media Tectonics seminars are designed to introduce you to new opportunities, new career options, and inspiring people you may not have had a chance to meet otherwise. We’re hoping for collaborative sparks and more, so step out of your comfort zone, find collaborative partners and resources, and take action toward realizing that long-held dream of yours. We know you’ve got a story to tell, and we’ve got big ears! So let us know if you’d like to share your own story at our next smorgasbord in the fall.

We’re looking forward to seeing you on May 24!

The Media Tectonics Team

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Date: Monday, May 24, 2010
Time: 6:30 p.m. dinner and networking (catered by To the Moon & Back); 7:00 p.m. seminar begins
Location: Wesley Center, 2F, 6-10-11 Minami Aoyama
Cost: 3,000 yen (prepaid, by May 21); 4,000 yen at the door

Be sure to take advantage of the prepayment discount, and let us know you’re coming so we can be kind to the environment with an accurate food order!

RSVP by sending an email here, and transferring funds to:

Resona Bank
Shibuya Branch: 473
Account Type: Futsu
Account Number: 1804222
Account Name: 4M Associates
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Community News

May 15, 2010: TEDxTokyo

Don’t forget to watch the live feed of TEDxTokyo, coming to you from the Miraikan in Odaiba. Check out the program at TEDxTokyo.com and be prepared to be inspired!

June 19-20, 2010: TWO-DAY WRITING-DIRECTING WORKSHOP

You’re passionate about movies. You’ve got a great idea for a film. You want to make your first feature . . . but how? What’s the first step? Is your script the best it can be? Are you prepared to direct actors and crew? Is your production plan solid?

Doug Campbell will be running a two-day Writing-Directing Workshop, in association with Screenwriters in Tokyo, and co-sponsored by Media Tectonics. Joining Doug for this dynamic, bilingual (English-Japanese) workshop will be Shika MacKenzie, resident interpreter at Tokyo Film Center and translator of the best-selling Japanese version of Stella Adler’s “The Art of Acting.”

Date: Saturday-Sunday, June 19-20, 2010
Time: 10:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Venue: Wesley Center, Minami-Aoyama
Fee: 38,000 yen for the weekend; 20,000 for a single day
Maximum participants: 25
RSVP REQUIRED! For more info, contact David Chester: davi...@gmail.com. More information about Doug Campbell and the contents of the workshop can be found on the Screenwriters in Tokyo website. ==========================================================

Directions to the new venue: Wesley Center, 2F 6-10-11 Minami Aoyama Minato-ku, Tokyo

From Shibuya Station:

• By taxi: 710 yen and simply give the address to the driver. When you see the ENEOS gas station or Monsoon Restaurant on the right, you know you have gone far enough.

• By bus: At the East Exit, go to bus stop #51 and board the #1 bus headed for Shimbashi Station (but DON’T take the express bus to Roppongi Hills). Exit at the first bus stop (Aoyama chutobumae) and bear right and walk toward Roppongi. From Aoyamachutobumae, it is a quick 3-minute walk along the lefthand side of the expressway. (You will pass Infinity Apartments, cross a couple of small streets, pass a Pay Parking, etc.) On the righthand side of the expressway, you will see an ENEOS gas station and Monsoon restaurant. On “your” side of the expressway, note the entrance to a road under construction. This is the access street to Wesley Center. Turn left onto this construction zone, and the Wesley Center is the 2nd building on the right.

• Walking: 20 minutes approx. Walk through the Cross Tower complex and then along the lefthand side of the expressway from Shibuya to Roppongi. When you see the ENEOS gas station, look for the road access on the lefthand side of the expressway, which leads to the Wesley Center. It is the 11-story next door to New City Residence.

From Omotesando Station Take the Spiral Museum Exit. Continue straight after you exit to the street until you see Max Mara on the corner of Aoyama Dori and Kottoh Dori. Turn left at Max Mara onto Kottoh Dori, and walk on the right side of the street. At the 3rd traffic light after Max Mara, you will notice Hunting World. Turn right there. Take the next left, and then the next right. You’ll notice the green “tennis” fence and pay parking in front of the 11-story Wesley Center. There’s a path around the fence, or you can walk out to Roppongi Dori and left around the 3-story Faith Management building to the road under construction in front of Wesley Center. For a quieter walk, cross the Kottoh Dori from Max Mara to Kua Aina and take the next street to the left. Continue straight on that street until it “empties” onto Roppongi Dori and the expressway. Turn left until you see ENEOS gas station on the opposite side of the street. That is where you look for the road construction in progress on your side of the street. Wesley Center is the 2nd building from the expressway and is 11 floors high.

From Ebisu Station:

It is possible to take a cab from Ebisu Station. Ask the driver to let you off at the ENEOS gas station, which is where Komazawa Dori dead-ends onto Roppongi Dori, and across the street from Monsoon Restaurant. Approximately 800 yen.

MAP: This map was made for Tokyo English Life Line, which happens to be in the same building. If you get lost, call us at 090-2451-0697.

After gazing at the ephemeral beauty of cherry blossoms and raising a glass or three under the trees this season, we hope you are ready to get back to business at our next monthly meeting—the business of writing, that is.

Media Tectonics loves talented and inventive wordsmiths, and this month we’ll have two of the finest in the land on hand—Angela Jeffs and Burton Blume. They’ll delve into the writing process, including creative writer’s block and the potency of language in branding, and unlock some doors you may not even realize were closed.

Combination Plate #1

“Drawing on the Writer Within”

Everyone writes lists, reminders, reports, e-mails, blogs and even the occasional letter, yet most people believe they cannot write. What scares them? The idea of Words as Art.

Angela Jeffs wants to banish that fear forever. She’ll introduce us to the transformational creative writing program she devised over the last five years, called Drawing on the Writer Within. Angela will explain why she started DOTWW, how the program has developed, and how its various therapeutic elements form what has been described as “an organic process of growing confidence, skill, authenticity and self-awareness.”

She’ll also give us a simple, interactive demonstration of the DOTWW concept. To make this work, she’s asking everyone to bring something picked up along the way—a leaf, a flower, a scrap of rubbish, or whatever catches your eye and resonates—and some paper and a pen or pencil.

About Angela: Before Angela came to Japan in 1986 she was a London-based freelance editor, consultant editor, and consulting development editor and book packager. Angela reinvented herself here as a journalist—including writing a weekly interview for The Japan Times for 22 years—covering topics such as travel, money and women’s issues. Her last book, Insider’s Tokyo, came out in 2001. Her latest work, completed last autumn, is still in search of a publisher, but Angela has already moved on to a new project.

Combination Plate #2

“The Value of Words—Building Strong Brands Through Verbal Identity”

Far too many people focus on a company’s logo and other visual cues and neglect its verbal identity—the accumulation of words and phrases that define an organization’s brand and culture. That power shouldn’t be slighted. Veteran copywriter, marcom director and brand strategist Burton Blume of Interbrand will tell us why, and walk us through various types of verbal identities, including brand names, slogans and messaging systems as well as the related realm of trademarks.

Burton will also use a case study to illustrate just how crucial research is to crafting strategic messages. He’ll address the rising role of blogs and social media as marketing mediums, the new rules governing corporate engagement, and the critical function language plays.

About Burton: Born in Los Angeles, Burton attended Cal State L.A. and the University of Iowa, where he was a member of the famed Writer’s Workshop. A longtime Japan resident, he was international creative director at Hakuhodo Inc. and the director of marketing communications for IBM Asia Pacific before joining branding powerhouse Interbrand in 2001, where he is the executive strategy director for the Asia-Pacific region. At Interbrand, Burton has handled branding projects for companies such as ANA, Mizuho Bank, Thai Air, Honda, Sony, and Singha Corporation. He’s also a published poet whose creative work has won several gold and silver prizes at the Tokyo Ad Show and a CLIO in 1988.

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Cost: 4,500 yen (prepaid); 5,500 yen at the door

Be sure to RSVP early and take advantage of the prepayment discount.

RSVP: Send us an email, and we’ll send you the bank transfer details.

We’ve tried to keep the costs low, but based on your valuable feedback we’re adding a meal this time so there will be plenty of time to network, and no one will go home hungry. If you come early, drinks can be ordered in the lobby from 6:00 p.m. Feel free to tell the I-House staff you are with MT in order to get the member’s rate.
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Media Tectonics seminars are designed to introduce you to new opportunities, career options, and people you may not have had a chance to meet otherwise. Be inspired, and challenge yourself to play a bigger game this year in your life and in your career. We look forward to seeing you on April 19!

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Community News

Fujisawa Beach Cleaning Project 2010

This Project is an environmental, educational and intercultural initiative that brings foreigners and Japanese together in a do-good, feel-good project. It involves a fun, family-friendly, tangible community beach clean-up and an aperitif buffet after-party in Fujisawa. This year, there will be an Earth Day clean-up on April 18th (raindate May 23rd), and a Fall Shonan Coastal Clean-up. Sponsors usually participate via in-kind or cash contributions, and encourage their staff and families to volunteer. This local community initiative has a relatively large impact. The area in Fujsawa (Kugenuma Kaigan and the coast) attracts over 14 million visitors annually; while Kamakura (6km away) attracts 19 million. Last October, 100 volunteers cleaned and sorted 42kg of beach debris. Ten companies made in-kind or cash contributions. Media coverage included Yokohama FM, the American Chamber of Commerce Japan, WIFM, Outdoor Japan, Metropolis, Tokyo Families. For your convenience, a link to last October’s clean-up is included at the end of this message. The Project is listed with the American Chamber of Commerce (Japan) on their Community Events notice board, and the French and Canadian chambers are also aware of the Project. For this spring’s clean-up, since we expect over 200 volunteers, we held a March 14th Wine and Cheese Charity Fundraiser. Information is also included in the links below. I know that you are quite busy. But, my hope is that you could share some ideas, re: getting the word out about the Charity Fundraiser and the Fujisawa Beach Cleaning Project, or even pass the information/links along. With kind regards, Alana Bonzi

Last October Beach Clean-up
March 14th Fundraiser

Special Invitation to an FCCJ Book Break: The Six Immutable Laws of Mobile Business

In the spirit of introducing you to new people and new places, even if you aren’t a member of the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Japan, here is your opportunity to attend one of their regular events and learn something about business applications for the mobile phone at the same time. Mobile content providers are often looking for writers, creative programmers, game developers, innovative thinkers and daydreamers. Authors Philip Sugai, Marco Koeder and Ludovico Ciferri interviewed some of the biggest names in the mobile business, and they can tell you about what’s coming next in the mobile landscape. Check out the event notice on the FCCJ website.
To sign up, send an email to Cindy at info(at)mediatectonics(dot)come, and your name will be added to the guest list. Dinner is included for 1,875 yen (including tax), and you can pay cash at the Reception Desk on the 20th floor of Yurakucho Denki Building (North Tower). A map is available on the FCCJ website. The book was published in January by John Wiley & Sons, so come help us celebrate. Authors and their agent, Cindy Mullins, are able to bring an unlimited number of guests, so please contact Cindy to make a reservation, NOT the Club, unless you are a member of the FCCJ.

Women Writers’ Festival in Tokyo – CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS

Do you have writing or publishing expertise you would like to share? A book you’re launching? A great new piece of writing you would like to share? A performance you know people will love? Then complete an application to participate as a presenter, reader or workshop facilitator in the first annual International Women Writers’ Festival in Tokyo. (Presenters can be male or female but participants at this event will be female.)

This year, as we launch this new, ambitious annual gathering, the Festival will be held all day on Sunday, May 23. We need people who would like to facilitate a workshop, participate in or propose a panel discussion, host a storytelling session, discuss the profession, art, or craft of writing. You can also apply to give a reading or a performance at the reception.

The only criterion is that applications should relate in some way to writing and be geared in part towards celebrating and supporting international women writers in Japan. Beyond that, the sky’s the limit – writing poetry, novels, or short stories, running a writer’s group, writing for children/teens, freelance writing, business writing, making a living from writing, screenwriting, song writing, writing for the Internet, blogging, inspirational writing, self-help books, how to blast writer’s block, self-publishing, traditional publishing, marketing and promoting writing, the role of the writer and reader, storytelling-you name it!

Presenting in the Festival is a volunteer endeavor but we will have an exhibition area where you can sell your books, or other materials. We cannot pay speakers at this event but we will promote them widely in all our PR materials and publications. Also presenters will not be required to pay the attendance fee for the festival. And their lunch and snacks will be provided as a thank you for their efforts. The deadline for applications is March 10th. To apply answer the questions on this link http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/V58782V

If you have any questions or require more information, please contact Lauren Shannon at tlgtokyo@gmail.com. If you can help on the festival committee, volunteer on the day or would like to offer other support or sponsorship please contact me via email asap. We are looking for sponsors from companies or individuals that would like to support women writers and help us defer the cost of the day. We will be hosting the event in Minami Aoyama at the new Wesley Center. And the planned time is from 10am-6pm with a reception following.

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About Media Tectonics

The rise of new media is rocking the ground beneath us, affecting the bottom line of industries like publishing, journalism, film, advertising and public relations, not to mention numerous major brands. That’s why Media Tectonics–a subsidiary of 4M Associates–is presenting workshops on publishing, social media and online technologies designed to:

• reveal the best ways to navigate the new landscape and save you time, resources and money;

• explore ways that you can create multiple (and passive) streams of income; and

• supply the support, networking, mentoring and inspiration you need to do your best work yet, in whatever new or old media outlet suits your talents and expertise.

Tectonics is from the Greek “to build.” Media Tectonics is committed to helping you build up your new media skills, expand your career options, stay ahead of the learning curve and get prepared for what’s coming next!

Some exciting collaborations have already taken place, or are in the works, and you never know what valuable contacts you can make just by introducing yourself to the person sitting next to you.

Don’t forget to become a fan of Media Tectonics on Facebook! And follow us on Twitter. You can also subscribe to the Media Tectonics Channel on YouTube. We also have the beginnings of a website and we look forward to your contributions to this work in progress. Check us out at MediaTectonics.com! The first part of our interview with thriller author Barry Eisler is up. Check it out!

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We look forward to seeing you on April 19 at I-House.

The Media Tectonics Team

Our smorgasbord plate of presenters is officially full, and we’ve got some tasty morsels for you to sample. Along with the film production adventures of Deborah DeSnoo, you’ll also hear from five other talented and passionate members of our Media Tectonics community.

Read on to find out who! And don’t forget to take advantage of the prepayment discount. See you Tuesday!

Combination Plate #1: The Windup and the Pitch—Selling Great Big Ideas

So you’ve got a great big idea. Congrats. But do you know how to pitch your project, ensure that you’re considered absolutely essential to its success, and snare the financial backing to make everything real?

Award-winning producer, director, writer and actor Deborah DeSnoo knows how, and she’ll describe her approach to the pitch, specific selling points, and the hurdles she overcame during three recent high-profile projects:

• Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire – a three-part film series commissioned by PBS and broadcast internationally that was nominated for an International Documentary Award Limited Series Award in 2004.
• The “Hip Korea” series on Discovery Channel – Hip Korea: Seoul Vibes, which featured Korean pop star Rain, was nominated for 4 Asian TV Awards and won Best Cross Platform Content. The second, Hip Korea: Seoul Savvy, spotlighted international film star Lee Byung Hun.
• Skeletons in the Closet – a cross-platform documentary/drama production that explores the history of Japan’s supernatural culture and will be broadcast in March 2010 on NHK.

Along the way, Deborah will tell you how to locate international funding and some new options out there for producing and distributing your projects.

About Deborah: An award-winning theater director and acclaimed performer in both Japan and the U.S., Deborah DeSnoo dove into the international documentary scene when she partnered with award-winning filmmaker Lyn Goldfarb to produce, direct and write Japan: Memoirs of a Secret Empire for PBS. Parts 1 and 2 were shown in conjunction with the special exhibition “Art of the Samurai: Japanese Arms and Armor, 1156–1868” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

In her most recent venture, Deborah partnered with NHK producer Takahiro Hamano to write, direct and produce Skeletons in the Closet, an exploration of the supernatural side of Japan’s culture. She is a member of the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America, and The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Combination Plate #2: MT Smorgasbord–Show Us What You’ve Got!

Every person who walks through our door is a storyteller in some way, and the new technologies and social media networks have opened up a plethora of options for sharing your vision with others–in books, film, audio/video, music, corporate communications, and digital products that combine old media with the new.

In the spirit of TEDxTokyo, Pecha Kucha Night and Tokyo BarCamp, we put out a call for a max of five Media Tectonics devotees to stand up and show off recent projects and works in progress. Books, blogs, multimedia, short films and more—we asked you to tell us what you have in mind, and you overwhelmed us with your response. We already have a waiting list for another smorgasbord later on.

Each person will have a maximum of ten minutes to present and answer questions. We’re hoping for collaborative sparks and more. Media Tectonics seminars are designed to show you new opportunities, career options, and people you may not have had a chance to meet otherwise. We want to challenge you to play a bigger game this year, in your life and in your career, and we’ve got a lineup to inspire the socks off of you. Our presenters include:

• Andrew Houston came to Tokyo from Los Angeles in 2003 to teach video production to dreamers and malcontents. Since then he has worked as a freelance video producer, photographer, translator and on-set interpreter, and held several exhibitions in smoky watering holes and other dens of ill repute. Andrew will tell us what makes a story powerful. Hint: it doesn’t rest with a single character, scene, or plot point, but with the way everything is stitched together. Meaning in art and life is born through context, he says, springing from the bonds between formerly disparate symbols and ideas. Like hip-hop beats are a patchwork of sampled sound, taken from anywhere and everywhere, and sewn together with a rhythm. It’s magical when done well, a completely new work that bears no strong resemblance to any of its elements.
• Lauren Shannon is an entrepreneur, jill of all trades. She works inthe food and beverage business but incorporates IT, social media,writing, creating and project management into each and every day. She is from the USA and has made Japan home for the last 13 years. She is president of Sapphire Restaurant Management group and is also a published writer. Lauren will tell us about the creative community being formed at TokyoHackerSpace, and about the worldwide DIY movement.
• Nhat Vuong is a Vietnamese war refugee who grew up in Switzerland. After working in Japan’s IT sector for three years, he decided to put his energies into improving the lives of others through mobile technologies. Nhat will tell us about his ambitious project ikifu.org, a future social network designed to reduce the gap between NPOs and their supporters like never before. For the first time in Japan, concerned people will be able to donate to the organizations of their choice using their mobile phones. Ikifu.org also upgrades the communications, access and profile of NPOs, all traditional weak points.
• Paul Leeming is the CEO of Visceral Psyche, Japan’s most experienced Red digital cinema camera production and rental company. He’s a director, cinematographer and avid photographer whose passions in storytelling are technology and science fiction. Paul will talk about the Red digital cinema camera, its benefits, what the next generation of cameras offers and how Visceral Psyche can help you meet your production needs with efficient, affordable packages that don’t compromise on production values in any way, by using only the highest quality image acquisition and post-production workflows.
• Ruskyle Howser is a business presentation and speech consultant at R. L. Howser Communications. He writes, coaches his clients to give dynamic English presentations and teaches dynamic speaking skills. He writes about dynamic speaking at www.presentationdynamics.org. Russ will talk about how to make your business and personal presentations more powerful, effective and yes, dynamic.

If you aren’t inspired by these talented pros, then you better check your pulse.

The room opens at 6:30. Talks begin at 7:00.

Location: International House of Japan, 4th floor; here’s a map:

http://www.i-house.or.jp/en/ihj/access.html

Cost: 3,000 yen (prepaid); 4,000 yen at the door

Be sure to RSVP early and take advantage of the prepayment discount! Space is limited, so people who register ahead of time will be given priority if we run out of seats.

RSVP: Send an email to i...@mediatectonics.com, and we’ll send you the bank details.