Meet Mike Rogers, author of "Schizophrenic in Japan: An American Expat's Guide to Japanese and American Society"
TOKYO -- Meet Mike Rogers. You might as well meet him now, in this interview, because he's just published a book and it's available on amazon.com right now. The book is about Japan [and America], and as anyone knows who has evertried to understand and write about Japan, the country almost defies understanding. Almost.
A few people do manage to penetrate the varietyof cultural do's and dont's there, and a few writers have actually put pen to paper and come up with some very insightful works.
Rogers, the son of an American father and a Japanese mother, came to Japan in 1984, and never looked back. He makes his home in Tokyo and calls Japan his home now. The book? Titled "Schizophrenic in Japan: AnAmerican Expat's Guide to Japanese and American Society". Rogers' very readable and insightful take on Japan (and America) is well worthreading.
BOOK LINK:http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0595346626/qid%3D1120694130/sr%3D2-1/ref%3Dpd%5Fbbs%5Fb%5F2%5F1/103-8244214-8833413
"I meet foreigners all the time who like to brag to other foreignersthat they are experts on all things Japanese," Rogers, 49, wrote in an online essay at lewrockwell.com earlier this year. "They claim to be Japanophiles. And the foreigners that they brag to, believe them because they know nodifferent, and the self-proclaimed Japanophile can usually speak someJapanese, has read many books on Japan, or has been here or lived herefor a while. I should say right here and now that I've never met aforeigner who I would consider a real expert on Japan. I guess I mustinclude myself, too. The reason I don\'t consider any of theseforeigners real experts is that they don\'t play pachinko."
Pachinko?
Yes, Rogers goes on to explain, noting that "pachinko is the game ofchoice for the average Japanese. It dwarfs all other forms ofrecreation in this country in terms of money spent. The pachinkoindustry claims 110 million Japanese play pachinko per year. That\'salmost the entire population of Japan of 125 million. I think thosenumbers are wrong. I would guess it to be closer to 200 million peryear. When I go to pachinko I always see the same people as well asnew faces."How can any foreigner claim to be an expert on Japan if they don\'tplay pachinko with any regularity? I don\'t think they can.Unfortunately, even though I don\'tbelieve that there could ever be an expert on all things Japanese --myself included -- I do play pachinko regularly. I say unfortunatelybecause, as is true with any form of gambling, I usually lose when Iplay pachinko -- just like everybody else."
Now that you know a bit about Mike Rogers, here is a brief online interview with him, conducted by email and now posted for the entire world to see:
When asked what his name is in Japanese, Mike answered: "My name in Japanese is 'Mai-ku Rojya-su', but the locals here all call me, but the locals here all call me
'Mike-san'. 'That gaijin who is always playing pachino' probably works
for most folks around here.
We asked Mike-san when he first started writing the book -- and why...
"I suppose I first started writing this particular book in December of2003," Rogers replied by email from his office in Setagaya-ku,Tokyo."I actually wrote another book before that for a Japanese company --in Japanese -- that was never released. Why? Well, the title of thatbook (translated into English) was "All Foreigners in Japan are Nuts".It was all true stories about many weird things that I had seen andexperienced here -- you name it: Drug deals, bizarro foreigners, drugrehab, a real life exorcism (for lack of a better term), things likethat. I guess I wrote that book as a sort of spiritual cleansing formyself. I wanted to reveal my soul and start living a "good life". Thereason that it wasn\'t published is that the Japanese publisher didn\'tseem to believe that what I had written was all true. I was a bitangry at their response, but then again, I didn\'t really write it forthem. I wrote it for myself. That book, in English form andre-written, might be my next book."
Rogers continued: "For \'Schizophrenic in Japan\', I never reallystarted off with the intention of writing a book. I had been writing for Japanese publications for years -- mostly music-business articles",how stifled Japan can be about creativity -- and I do mean that in avery broad sense. So I started sending out articles to many magazines and publications in the United States only to be get a few rejections",1]
-- CD reviews, -thing like that -- and had gotten really bored withhow stifled Japan can be about creativity -- and I do mean that in avery broad sense. So I started sending out articles to many magazinesand publications in the United States only to be get a few rejectionletters for over 100 articles I sent. Most magazines didn't even
- Show quoted text -respond with a \'Get lost!\' -- which would have been better than beingignored."
"This cycle went on for about 2 years until one day, I wrote anarticle and sent it out to all the usual suspects -- expecting to berejected. Which, like I said, I wasn\'t usually rejected, I wasignored. Then, as an after-thought really, I sent it off toLewrockwell.com. Lewrockwell.com has many fantastic writers and Inever dreamt that they\'d accept an article of mine. Why? I had beenhere in Japan for 20 years and my English had gotten really bad --still is, I think. But after I sent it, within an hour or so, I got ane-mail from Lew Rockwell himself and he accepted my article. This wason 12/31/03 (Japan time) by the way (the best time to submit to USsites for new writers, I\'d like to add).""Then I started writing a lot for Lew Rockwell.com and got a goodreception there. One day, out of the blue, a gentleman by the name ofGary North wrote to me and told me that I should write my own book.Well, Gary North is a great writer and has released probably over 100books -- some of them bestsellers, so how could I argue with a guylike that? And, to top it off, he even offered to help me. So onething led to another and now here I am, a published author with a booklinked to amazon.com! Life is wonderful!"When asked how long it took him to write the book, and get itpublished, Rogers replied: "Well, I guess once I decided to do it, ittook about 8 or 9 months in all, editing, re-writing and re-writing",
respond with a 'Get lost!' -- which would have been better than beingignored.""This cycle went on for about 2 years until one day, I wrote anarticle and sent it out to all the usual suspects -- expecting to berejected. Which, like I said, I wasn't usually rejected, I wasignored. Then, as an after-thought really, I sent it off toLewrockwell.com. Lewrockwell.com has many fantastic writers and Inever dreamt that they'd accept an article of mine. Why? I had beenhere in Japan for 20 years and my English had gotten really bad --still is, I think. But after I sent it, within an hour or so, I got ane-mail from Lew Rockwell himself and he accepted my article. This wason 12/31/03 (Japan time) by the way (the best time to submit to USsites for new writers, I'd like to add).""Then I started writing a lot for Lew Rockwell.com and got a goodreception there. One day, out of the blue, a gentleman by the name ofGary North wrote to me and told me that I should write my own book.Well, Gary North is a great writer and has released probably over 100books -- some of them bestsellers, so how could I argue with a guylike that? And, to top it off, he even offered to help me. So onething led to another and now here I am, a published author with a booklinked to amazon.com! Life is wonderful!"When asked how long it took him to write the book, and get itpublished, Rogers replied: "Well, I guess once I decided to do it, ittook about 8 or 9 months in all, editing, re-writing and re-writing
wanted to say \'fuck this!\' many many times and drop the entire thing.I think other writers who embark on these kinds of project willunderstand exactly what I mean. But....I didn\'t give up, I soldieredon, and finished the text."How did you find a publisher with iUniverse.com, we aked Mike-san."Somebody recommended them to me,"he said."I did send the manuscriptto a few companies, but they all rejected me. So what\'s new, eh? ButiUniverse.com has served me well."When asked who his target audience of readers is, Rogers replied: "Mytarget audience is Americans, mostly. They are the ones who need towake up and see what they are doing to themselves. They have becomelike the boisterous rowdy drunk in a bar -- no one respects them, buteveryone fears them. I wish this cycle would stop, but I\'m afraid thatwe are witnessing right now, before our very eyes, the decline andfall of the United States. I guess that\'s good in the long run for alot of people -- Americans included. The USA today (well, actuallysince 1840) is an imperial nation and is not what the founding fathersof that nation set it out to be. Americans are ill-educated andcouldn\'t care less about it, too. So yes, this book is for Americans.I hope they read it."Rogers said that a Japanese edition of his book will be published next year.Rogers came to Japan in 1984 and has been working in the musicbusiness, mostly radio and TV, ever since.So who is Mike Rogers and what does he do in Tokyo?"I produce a nightly TV show in Tokyo (Tuesdays to Fridays at 11:00PM to 12:00 PM) called "Hi-Fi Zone" that is on Sky Perfect TV, channel731. I also appear as a comedian on that show nightly," Rogers said.",1]
again. At a few points along the way, during the process, I justwanted to say 'fuck this!' many many times and drop the entire thing.I think other writers who embark on these kinds of project willunderstand exactly what I mean. But....I didn't give up, I soldieredon, and finished the text."How did you find a publisher with iUniverse.com, we aked Mike-san."Somebody recommended them to me,"he said."I did send the manuscriptto a few companies, but they all rejected me. So what's new, eh? ButiUniverse.com has served me well."When asked who his target audience of readers is, Rogers replied: "Mytarget audience is Americans, mostly. They are the ones who need towake up and see what they are doing to themselves. They have becomelike the boisterous rowdy drunk in a bar -- no one respects them, buteveryone fears them. I wish this cycle would stop, but I'm afraid thatwe are witnessing right now, before our very eyes, the decline andfall of the United States. I guess that's good in the long run for alot of people -- Americans included. The USA today (well, actuallysince 1840) is an imperial nation and is not what the founding fathersof that nation set it out to be. Americans are ill-educated andcouldn't care less about it, too. So yes, this book is for Americans.I hope they read it."Rogers said that a Japanese edition of his book will be published next year.Rogers came to Japan in 1984 and has been working in the musicbusiness, mostly radio and TV, ever since.So who is Mike Rogers and what does he do in Tokyo?"I produce a nightly TV show in Tokyo (Tuesdays to Fridays at 11:00PM to 12:00 PM) called "Hi-Fi Zone" that is on Sky Perfect TV, channel731. I also appear as a comedian on that show nightly," Rogers said.
old, and I also have three daughters, 12, 16 and 21."",1]
);
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"My Japanese wife is 36, and we have a little boy who is 20 monthsold, and I also have three daughters, 12, 16 and 21."
"I live in Setagaya-ku in Tokyo, and I met my wife when she was a discjockey at HMV," Rogers explained. "She used to have lots of TV andradio shows she was involved with -- and she was pretty famous here --until she married me."When asked what kind of book publicity he was planning to do for hisnew book, in Japan or in the USA, Mike-san said: "Honestly, I am a bitafraid to go back to the USA. Four people who I would imagine wouldknow what they are talking about have told me that I am "on a list."Go figure. A list. So no. I shant (Rogers chuckles to himself here,online) be going back to the USA in the foreseeable future. Or atleast not until that nut-case Bush gets kicked out of office or putinto jail where he belongs. I am doing a few in-store signings here inJapan, but when I have the access to the mass media, I figure I shoulduse that. I would like to go to more book signings and travel aroundmore. That\'s fun.""The feedback on the book so far has been great," Rogers explained."The only complaints I\'ve gotten were about the cover art. Some peopletold me that it\'s too whimsical. I love the cover. I think it capturesmy personality and my relationship with all things Japaneseperfectly."",1]
);
//-->
"I live in Setagaya-ku in Tokyo, and I met my wife when she was a discjockey at HMV," Rogers explained. "She used to have lots of TV andradio shows she was involved with -- and she was pretty famous here --until she married me."When asked what kind of book publicity he was planning to do for hisnew book, in Japan or in the USA, Mike-san said: "Honestly, I am a bitafraid to go back to the USA. Four people who I would imagine wouldknow what they are talking about have told me that I am "on a list."Go figure. A list. So no. I shant (Rogers chuckles to himself here,online) be going back to the USA in the foreseeable future. Or atleast not until that nut-case Bush gets kicked out of office or putinto jail where he belongs. I am doing a few in-store signings here inJapan, but when I have the access to the mass media, I figure I shoulduse that. I would like to go to more book signings and travel aroundmore. That's fun.""The feedback on the book so far has been great," Rogers explained."The only complaints I've gotten were about the cover art. Some peopletold me that it's too whimsical. I love the cover. I think it capturesmy personality and my relationship with all things Japaneseperfectly."
Mike-san, who still holds a US passport and has permanent residency inJapan,",1]
);
//-->
When asked about his feelings toward the USA now in his life,Mike-san, who still holds a US passport and has permanent residency inJapan,
said: "I don\'t really feel any affinity for the USA anymore -- noticeI never call it "America." America is dead. The American ideal isdead. Yes, I lived there for 27 years and went to university there,but the American educational system -- run by the state -- is afarce.""Once you get out of the USA, and if you can read, you\'ll realize thatthe schools had lied to you about many things all your life. I reallydespise being lied to or being called a liar. I did studycinematography and television in my college and university days. And,after screwing around there for 6 years, I can only remember oneexcellent teacher who made an impression on me: Mr. Al Miller.""But, to tell the truth, the best education I ever got in my life waswhen I put my sorry ass into Matsuzaka Hospital in Japan about 10years ago for drug rehabilitation. A doctor told me there: "95 percentof all people who leave this hospital come back. Now, if you can leavehere and never come back, that is just like graduating from TokyoUniversity -- very few people can do it.\' And I did it!""I\'ve never been back even once. I will never risk my life again bydoing what I was doing -- and I will most certainly not take thechance of going back to that place again. I learned so very much aboutthe world and life from just 5 weeks in that hospital. Five weeks indrug rehab (and that\'s a very short time, actually) is a bettereducation than 10 years of school... Hell, 20! It totally changed myview of myself and life."",1]
said: "I don't really feel any affinity for the USA anymore -- noticeI never call it "America." America is dead. The American ideal isdead. Yes, I lived there for 27 years and went to university there,but the American educational system -- run by the state -- is afarce.""Once you get out of the USA, and if you can read, you'll realize thatthe schools had lied to you about many things all your life. I reallydespise being lied to or being called a liar. I did studycinematography and television in my college and university days. And,after screwing around there for 6 years, I can only remember oneexcellent teacher who made an impression on me: Mr. Al Miller.""But, to tell the truth, the best education I ever got in my life waswhen I put my sorry ass into Matsuzaka Hospital in Japan about 10years ago for drug rehabilitation. A doctor told me there: "95 percentof all people who leave this hospital come back. Now, if you can leavehere and never come back, that is just like graduating from TokyoUniversity -- very few people can do it.' And I did it!""I've never been back even once. I will never risk my life again bydoing what I was doing -- and I will most certainly not take thechance of going back to that place again. I learned so very much aboutthe world and life from just 5 weeks in that hospital. Five weeks indrug rehab (and that's a very short time, actually) is a better education than 10 years of school... Hell, 20! It totally changed my view of myself and life."
Rogers, who is fluent in both Japanese and English, of course, says, when asked what language he dreams in: "Mostly Japanese now. I often dream about the ocean and fishing. Really. Before I came to Japan, I used to go fishing 4 or 5 times a week. I had my own "secret"fishing "hole" on the Pacific Ocean. It was only a 30 minute drive from my house. I loved it. So, seriously, I often dream about fishing. In Japanese."
As a final question, we asked Rogers what brought him, a Japanese-American, to Japan in the first place. He replied: "In 1984,at that time in my life, I was getting fed up with US nationalism (wehad just invaded Grenada). I was getting fed up with the dishonest people at work -- I worked for Prudential. And I was just getting fed up with everything about life in the USA. I longed for the excitement that, I felt, everyday life should offer everyone. I just wasn't satisfied with the USA. So I came to Japan, and here I am, 21 years later, and I hope you enjoy reading my book. Thanks for this online interview."
Thank YOU, Mike Rogers!
[And now you know, the rest.....of the story!]
TOKYO -- Meet Mike Rogers. You might as well meet him now, in this interview, because he's just published a book and it's available on amazon.com right now. The book is about Japan [and America], and as anyone knows who has evertried to understand and write about Japan, the country almost defies understanding. Almost.
A few people do manage to penetrate the varietyof cultural do's and dont's there, and a few writers have actually put pen to paper and come up with some very insightful works.
Rogers, the son of an American father and a Japanese mother, came to Japan in 1984, and never looked back. He makes his home in Tokyo and calls Japan his home now. The book? Titled "Schizophrenic in Japan: AnAmerican Expat's Guide to Japanese and American Society". Rogers' very readable and insightful take on Japan (and America) is well worthreading.
BOOK LINK:http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0595346626/qid%3D1120694130/sr%3D2-1/ref%3Dpd%5Fbbs%5Fb%5F2%5F1/103-8244214-8833413
"I meet foreigners all the time who like to brag to other foreignersthat they are experts on all things Japanese," Rogers, 49, wrote in an online essay at lewrockwell.com earlier this year. "They claim to be Japanophiles. And the foreigners that they brag to, believe them because they know nodifferent, and the self-proclaimed Japanophile can usually speak someJapanese, has read many books on Japan, or has been here or lived herefor a while. I should say right here and now that I've never met aforeigner who I would consider a real expert on Japan. I guess I mustinclude myself, too. The reason I don\'t consider any of theseforeigners real experts is that they don\'t play pachinko."
Pachinko?
Yes, Rogers goes on to explain, noting that "pachinko is the game ofchoice for the average Japanese. It dwarfs all other forms ofrecreation in this country in terms of money spent. The pachinkoindustry claims 110 million Japanese play pachinko per year. That\'salmost the entire population of Japan of 125 million. I think thosenumbers are wrong. I would guess it to be closer to 200 million peryear. When I go to pachinko I always see the same people as well asnew faces."How can any foreigner claim to be an expert on Japan if they don\'tplay pachinko with any regularity? I don\'t think they can.Unfortunately, even though I don\'tbelieve that there could ever be an expert on all things Japanese --myself included -- I do play pachinko regularly. I say unfortunatelybecause, as is true with any form of gambling, I usually lose when Iplay pachinko -- just like everybody else."
Now that you know a bit about Mike Rogers, here is a brief online interview with him, conducted by email and now posted for the entire world to see:
When asked what his name is in Japanese, Mike answered: "My name in Japanese is 'Mai-ku Rojya-su', but the locals here all call me, but the locals here all call me
'Mike-san'. 'That gaijin who is always playing pachino' probably works
for most folks around here.
We asked Mike-san when he first started writing the book -- and why...
"I suppose I first started writing this particular book in December of2003," Rogers replied by email from his office in Setagaya-ku,Tokyo."I actually wrote another book before that for a Japanese company --in Japanese -- that was never released. Why? Well, the title of thatbook (translated into English) was "All Foreigners in Japan are Nuts".It was all true stories about many weird things that I had seen andexperienced here -- you name it: Drug deals, bizarro foreigners, drugrehab, a real life exorcism (for lack of a better term), things likethat. I guess I wrote that book as a sort of spiritual cleansing formyself. I wanted to reveal my soul and start living a "good life". Thereason that it wasn\'t published is that the Japanese publisher didn\'tseem to believe that what I had written was all true. I was a bitangry at their response, but then again, I didn\'t really write it forthem. I wrote it for myself. That book, in English form andre-written, might be my next book."
Rogers continued: "For \'Schizophrenic in Japan\', I never reallystarted off with the intention of writing a book. I had been writing for Japanese publications for years -- mostly music-business articles",how stifled Japan can be about creativity -- and I do mean that in avery broad sense. So I started sending out articles to many magazines and publications in the United States only to be get a few rejections",1]
-- CD reviews, -thing like that -- and had gotten really bored withhow stifled Japan can be about creativity -- and I do mean that in avery broad sense. So I started sending out articles to many magazinesand publications in the United States only to be get a few rejectionletters for over 100 articles I sent. Most magazines didn't even
- Show quoted text -respond with a \'Get lost!\' -- which would have been better than beingignored."
"This cycle went on for about 2 years until one day, I wrote anarticle and sent it out to all the usual suspects -- expecting to berejected. Which, like I said, I wasn\'t usually rejected, I wasignored. Then, as an after-thought really, I sent it off toLewrockwell.com. Lewrockwell.com has many fantastic writers and Inever dreamt that they\'d accept an article of mine. Why? I had beenhere in Japan for 20 years and my English had gotten really bad --still is, I think. But after I sent it, within an hour or so, I got ane-mail from Lew Rockwell himself and he accepted my article. This wason 12/31/03 (Japan time) by the way (the best time to submit to USsites for new writers, I\'d like to add).""Then I started writing a lot for Lew Rockwell.com and got a goodreception there. One day, out of the blue, a gentleman by the name ofGary North wrote to me and told me that I should write my own book.Well, Gary North is a great writer and has released probably over 100books -- some of them bestsellers, so how could I argue with a guylike that? And, to top it off, he even offered to help me. So onething led to another and now here I am, a published author with a booklinked to amazon.com! Life is wonderful!"When asked how long it took him to write the book, and get itpublished, Rogers replied: "Well, I guess once I decided to do it, ittook about 8 or 9 months in all, editing, re-writing and re-writing",
respond with a 'Get lost!' -- which would have been better than beingignored.""This cycle went on for about 2 years until one day, I wrote anarticle and sent it out to all the usual suspects -- expecting to berejected. Which, like I said, I wasn't usually rejected, I wasignored. Then, as an after-thought really, I sent it off toLewrockwell.com. Lewrockwell.com has many fantastic writers and Inever dreamt that they'd accept an article of mine. Why? I had beenhere in Japan for 20 years and my English had gotten really bad --still is, I think. But after I sent it, within an hour or so, I got ane-mail from Lew Rockwell himself and he accepted my article. This wason 12/31/03 (Japan time) by the way (the best time to submit to USsites for new writers, I'd like to add).""Then I started writing a lot for Lew Rockwell.com and got a goodreception there. One day, out of the blue, a gentleman by the name ofGary North wrote to me and told me that I should write my own book.Well, Gary North is a great writer and has released probably over 100books -- some of them bestsellers, so how could I argue with a guylike that? And, to top it off, he even offered to help me. So onething led to another and now here I am, a published author with a booklinked to amazon.com! Life is wonderful!"When asked how long it took him to write the book, and get itpublished, Rogers replied: "Well, I guess once I decided to do it, ittook about 8 or 9 months in all, editing, re-writing and re-writing
wanted to say \'fuck this!\' many many times and drop the entire thing.I think other writers who embark on these kinds of project willunderstand exactly what I mean. But....I didn\'t give up, I soldieredon, and finished the text."How did you find a publisher with iUniverse.com, we aked Mike-san."Somebody recommended them to me,"he said."I did send the manuscriptto a few companies, but they all rejected me. So what\'s new, eh? ButiUniverse.com has served me well."When asked who his target audience of readers is, Rogers replied: "Mytarget audience is Americans, mostly. They are the ones who need towake up and see what they are doing to themselves. They have becomelike the boisterous rowdy drunk in a bar -- no one respects them, buteveryone fears them. I wish this cycle would stop, but I\'m afraid thatwe are witnessing right now, before our very eyes, the decline andfall of the United States. I guess that\'s good in the long run for alot of people -- Americans included. The USA today (well, actuallysince 1840) is an imperial nation and is not what the founding fathersof that nation set it out to be. Americans are ill-educated andcouldn\'t care less about it, too. So yes, this book is for Americans.I hope they read it."Rogers said that a Japanese edition of his book will be published next year.Rogers came to Japan in 1984 and has been working in the musicbusiness, mostly radio and TV, ever since.So who is Mike Rogers and what does he do in Tokyo?"I produce a nightly TV show in Tokyo (Tuesdays to Fridays at 11:00PM to 12:00 PM) called "Hi-Fi Zone" that is on Sky Perfect TV, channel731. I also appear as a comedian on that show nightly," Rogers said.",1]
again. At a few points along the way, during the process, I justwanted to say 'fuck this!' many many times and drop the entire thing.I think other writers who embark on these kinds of project willunderstand exactly what I mean. But....I didn't give up, I soldieredon, and finished the text."How did you find a publisher with iUniverse.com, we aked Mike-san."Somebody recommended them to me,"he said."I did send the manuscriptto a few companies, but they all rejected me. So what's new, eh? ButiUniverse.com has served me well."When asked who his target audience of readers is, Rogers replied: "Mytarget audience is Americans, mostly. They are the ones who need towake up and see what they are doing to themselves. They have becomelike the boisterous rowdy drunk in a bar -- no one respects them, buteveryone fears them. I wish this cycle would stop, but I'm afraid thatwe are witnessing right now, before our very eyes, the decline andfall of the United States. I guess that's good in the long run for alot of people -- Americans included. The USA today (well, actuallysince 1840) is an imperial nation and is not what the founding fathersof that nation set it out to be. Americans are ill-educated andcouldn't care less about it, too. So yes, this book is for Americans.I hope they read it."Rogers said that a Japanese edition of his book will be published next year.Rogers came to Japan in 1984 and has been working in the musicbusiness, mostly radio and TV, ever since.So who is Mike Rogers and what does he do in Tokyo?"I produce a nightly TV show in Tokyo (Tuesdays to Fridays at 11:00PM to 12:00 PM) called "Hi-Fi Zone" that is on Sky Perfect TV, channel731. I also appear as a comedian on that show nightly," Rogers said.
old, and I also have three daughters, 12, 16 and 21."",1]
);
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"My Japanese wife is 36, and we have a little boy who is 20 monthsold, and I also have three daughters, 12, 16 and 21."
"I live in Setagaya-ku in Tokyo, and I met my wife when she was a discjockey at HMV," Rogers explained. "She used to have lots of TV andradio shows she was involved with -- and she was pretty famous here --until she married me."When asked what kind of book publicity he was planning to do for hisnew book, in Japan or in the USA, Mike-san said: "Honestly, I am a bitafraid to go back to the USA. Four people who I would imagine wouldknow what they are talking about have told me that I am "on a list."Go figure. A list. So no. I shant (Rogers chuckles to himself here,online) be going back to the USA in the foreseeable future. Or atleast not until that nut-case Bush gets kicked out of office or putinto jail where he belongs. I am doing a few in-store signings here inJapan, but when I have the access to the mass media, I figure I shoulduse that. I would like to go to more book signings and travel aroundmore. That\'s fun.""The feedback on the book so far has been great," Rogers explained."The only complaints I\'ve gotten were about the cover art. Some peopletold me that it\'s too whimsical. I love the cover. I think it capturesmy personality and my relationship with all things Japaneseperfectly."",1]
);
//-->
"I live in Setagaya-ku in Tokyo, and I met my wife when she was a discjockey at HMV," Rogers explained. "She used to have lots of TV andradio shows she was involved with -- and she was pretty famous here --until she married me."When asked what kind of book publicity he was planning to do for hisnew book, in Japan or in the USA, Mike-san said: "Honestly, I am a bitafraid to go back to the USA. Four people who I would imagine wouldknow what they are talking about have told me that I am "on a list."Go figure. A list. So no. I shant (Rogers chuckles to himself here,online) be going back to the USA in the foreseeable future. Or atleast not until that nut-case Bush gets kicked out of office or putinto jail where he belongs. I am doing a few in-store signings here inJapan, but when I have the access to the mass media, I figure I shoulduse that. I would like to go to more book signings and travel aroundmore. That's fun.""The feedback on the book so far has been great," Rogers explained."The only complaints I've gotten were about the cover art. Some peopletold me that it's too whimsical. I love the cover. I think it capturesmy personality and my relationship with all things Japaneseperfectly."
Mike-san, who still holds a US passport and has permanent residency inJapan,",1]
);
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When asked about his feelings toward the USA now in his life,Mike-san, who still holds a US passport and has permanent residency inJapan,
said: "I don\'t really feel any affinity for the USA anymore -- noticeI never call it "America." America is dead. The American ideal isdead. Yes, I lived there for 27 years and went to university there,but the American educational system -- run by the state -- is afarce.""Once you get out of the USA, and if you can read, you\'ll realize thatthe schools had lied to you about many things all your life. I reallydespise being lied to or being called a liar. I did studycinematography and television in my college and university days. And,after screwing around there for 6 years, I can only remember oneexcellent teacher who made an impression on me: Mr. Al Miller.""But, to tell the truth, the best education I ever got in my life waswhen I put my sorry ass into Matsuzaka Hospital in Japan about 10years ago for drug rehabilitation. A doctor told me there: "95 percentof all people who leave this hospital come back. Now, if you can leavehere and never come back, that is just like graduating from TokyoUniversity -- very few people can do it.\' And I did it!""I\'ve never been back even once. I will never risk my life again bydoing what I was doing -- and I will most certainly not take thechance of going back to that place again. I learned so very much aboutthe world and life from just 5 weeks in that hospital. Five weeks indrug rehab (and that\'s a very short time, actually) is a bettereducation than 10 years of school... Hell, 20! It totally changed myview of myself and life."",1]
said: "I don't really feel any affinity for the USA anymore -- noticeI never call it "America." America is dead. The American ideal isdead. Yes, I lived there for 27 years and went to university there,but the American educational system -- run by the state -- is afarce.""Once you get out of the USA, and if you can read, you'll realize thatthe schools had lied to you about many things all your life. I reallydespise being lied to or being called a liar. I did studycinematography and television in my college and university days. And,after screwing around there for 6 years, I can only remember oneexcellent teacher who made an impression on me: Mr. Al Miller.""But, to tell the truth, the best education I ever got in my life waswhen I put my sorry ass into Matsuzaka Hospital in Japan about 10years ago for drug rehabilitation. A doctor told me there: "95 percentof all people who leave this hospital come back. Now, if you can leavehere and never come back, that is just like graduating from TokyoUniversity -- very few people can do it.' And I did it!""I've never been back even once. I will never risk my life again bydoing what I was doing -- and I will most certainly not take thechance of going back to that place again. I learned so very much aboutthe world and life from just 5 weeks in that hospital. Five weeks indrug rehab (and that's a very short time, actually) is a better education than 10 years of school... Hell, 20! It totally changed my view of myself and life."
Rogers, who is fluent in both Japanese and English, of course, says, when asked what language he dreams in: "Mostly Japanese now. I often dream about the ocean and fishing. Really. Before I came to Japan, I used to go fishing 4 or 5 times a week. I had my own "secret"fishing "hole" on the Pacific Ocean. It was only a 30 minute drive from my house. I loved it. So, seriously, I often dream about fishing. In Japanese."
As a final question, we asked Rogers what brought him, a Japanese-American, to Japan in the first place. He replied: "In 1984,at that time in my life, I was getting fed up with US nationalism (wehad just invaded Grenada). I was getting fed up with the dishonest people at work -- I worked for Prudential. And I was just getting fed up with everything about life in the USA. I longed for the excitement that, I felt, everyday life should offer everyone. I just wasn't satisfied with the USA. So I came to Japan, and here I am, 21 years later, and I hope you enjoy reading my book. Thanks for this online interview."
Thank YOU, Mike Rogers!
[And now you know, the rest.....of the story!]
posted by DANIELBLOOM at 8:30 PM
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