Pure Invention, Matt Alt

How Japan’s Pop Culture Conquered the WorldHow Japan’s pop culture quietly took over the world—one gadget, game, and cartoon at a time.In Pure Invention: How Japan’s Pop Culture Conquered the World, Tokyo-based writer and cultural insider Matt Alt explores how Japan’s quirky, colorful, and wildly imaginative creations—from the Walkman and Hello Kitty to Pokémon and emoji—reshaped global culture. This is not just a book about toys and trends; it’s a deep dive into how a nation’s fantasy exports became tools for emotional survival and identity in the modern world.Blending cultural history, technology, and sociology, Alt traces how Japan’s postwar economic boom and subsequent “lost decades” gave rise to a unique creative explosion. As the West looked to Japan for the future, Japan responded with a wave of pop-cultural innovation that was as playful as it was profound. Through vivid storytelling and profiles of artists, inventors, and oddballs, Pure Invention reveals how Japan’s soft power didn’t just entertain—it transformed how we communicate, connect, and dream.Genre: Cultural history, pop culture, Japanese studies, globalizationThemes: Japanese innovation, consumer culture, media, identity, globalization, nostalgiaA must-read for fans of Japanese culture, tech history, and anyone curious about how the world became obsessed with kawaii, consoles, and karaoke.This book is in stock at our warehouse in the Netherlands and available for fast delivery (no customs fees for orders within the Netherlands and the EU).About the author(s):Matt Alt is a Tokyo-based writer, translator, and reporter with deep roots in Japanese media and culture. He has contributed to The New Yorker, CNN, Wired, Slate, The Economist’s 1843, and Newsweek Japan. He is also the co-author of six illustrated books about Japan and co-founder of AltJapan Co., Ltd., a localization company specializing in Japanese entertainment. Product Information:Title: Pure Invention - How Japan’s Pop Culture Conquered the WorldAuthor: Matt AltEditor/Introduction by: Not applicableTranslator: Not applicableBook design: Not specifiedPublisher: Crown Publishing GroupISBN: 9780593236741Language: EnglishBinding: PaperbackNumber of pages: 356Illustrations: Yes Edition: International edition, 2020Dimensions: 23.1 x 15.4 x 2.4 cmWeight: 272 gramsCondition: Like newEAN: 9780593236741 Price without shipping costs