Matt Alt's Pure Invention
@pureinvention.skystack.xyz
Dispatches from the front lines of Japanese pop culture.
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This is an automated Substack Account of https://pureinvention.substack.com
Discover more/Create at: @skystack.xyz
Altered States • America's in trouble. Where are the artists?
Altered States
America's in trouble. Where are the artists?
blog.pureinventionbook.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Altered States • America's in trouble. Where are the artists?
Sony Goes for Peanuts • Some thoughts on Japan's acquisition of an American icon
Sony Goes for Peanuts
Some thoughts on Japan's acquisition of an American icon
blog.pureinventionbook.com
December 25, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Sony Goes for Peanuts • Some thoughts on Japan's acquisition of an American icon
A History of the World in Japanese Toys • Can you decipher the 20th century by looking at Japanese toys? I can try!
A History of the World in Japanese Toys
Can you decipher the 20th century by looking at Japanese toys? I can try!
blog.pureinventionbook.com
December 14, 2025 at 2:27 AM
A History of the World in Japanese Toys • Can you decipher the 20th century by looking at Japanese toys? I can try!
Boys (and girls), be ambiguous! • When Japanese leaders wade into the culture wars, pop culture suffers.
Boys (and girls), be ambiguous!
When Japanese leaders wade into the culture wars, pop culture suffers.
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Boys (and girls), be ambiguous! • When Japanese leaders wade into the culture wars, pop culture suffers.
Super Galapagos • In a world driven mad by tech disruption, Japan’s having fallen behind is a superpower
Super Galapagos
In a world driven mad by tech disruption, Japan’s having fallen behind is a superpower
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Super Galapagos • In a world driven mad by tech disruption, Japan’s having fallen behind is a superpower
Why Hollywood stars are saying “F*** anime” • And why they’re right to be scared
Why Hollywood stars are saying “F*** anime”
And why they’re right to be scared
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Why Hollywood stars are saying “F*** anime” • And why they’re right to be scared
Dollars and Demons • Demon Slayer's success shouldn't surprise. We're all otaku now.
Dollars and Demons
Demon Slayer's success shouldn't surprise. We're all otaku now.
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Dollars and Demons • Demon Slayer's success shouldn't surprise. We're all otaku now.
Anime activism • Global protest movements are relying on imagery from Japan. Here's why.
Anime activism
Global protest movements are relying on imagery from Japan. Here's why.
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Anime activism • Global protest movements are relying on imagery from Japan. Here's why.
Politics, Chaos, and Cup Noodles • The eerie parallels between Japan's Sixties and America today
Politics, Chaos, and Cup Noodles
The eerie parallels between Japan's Sixties and America today
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Politics, Chaos, and Cup Noodles • The eerie parallels between Japan's Sixties and America today
No Labubus please, we're Japanese • Why a toy craze isn't finding traction in a toy-crazed country
No Labubus please, we're Japanese
Why a toy craze isn't finding traction in a toy-crazed country
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
No Labubus please, we're Japanese • Why a toy craze isn't finding traction in a toy-crazed country
Inside the manga hit machine • How Weekly Shonen Jump became a global cultural juggernaut
Inside the manga hit machine
How Weekly Shonen Jump became a global cultural juggernaut
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Inside the manga hit machine • How Weekly Shonen Jump became a global cultural juggernaut
Head in the Clouds • A repost from the archives about Nizo Yamamoto, who transformed anime from fantasy into an all-enveloping reality for fans.
Head in the Clouds
A repost from the archives about Nizo Yamamoto, who transformed anime from fantasy into an all-enveloping reality for fans.
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Head in the Clouds • A repost from the archives about Nizo Yamamoto, who transformed anime from fantasy into an all-enveloping reality for fans.
Chemtrails over Kyoto • What stops conspiracies from hijacking the conversation in Japan?
Chemtrails over Kyoto
What stops conspiracies from hijacking the conversation in Japan?
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Chemtrails over Kyoto • What stops conspiracies from hijacking the conversation in Japan?
Pop and Populism • Japan’s far right won big in yesterday's elections. What's it mean for pop culture?
Pop and Populism
Japan’s far right won big in yesterday's elections. What's it mean for pop culture?
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Pop and Populism • Japan’s far right won big in yesterday's elections. What's it mean for pop culture?
Japanese TV vs American Reality • America turned itself into a reality show. Why didn’t Japan?
Japanese TV vs American Reality
America turned itself into a reality show. Why didn’t Japan?
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Japanese TV vs American Reality • America turned itself into a reality show. Why didn’t Japan?
Hell is Other People • The real reason the Japanese government is so obsessed with tourism
Hell is Other People
The real reason the Japanese government is so obsessed with tourism
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Hell is Other People • The real reason the Japanese government is so obsessed with tourism
America is burning. Why isn’t Japan? • A voice actress has a very bad week.
America is burning. Why isn’t Japan?
A voice actress has a very bad week.
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
America is burning. Why isn’t Japan? • A voice actress has a very bad week.
Empire of Monsters • The rural fantasies that made Japan a global superstar
Empire of Monsters
The rural fantasies that made Japan a global superstar
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Empire of Monsters • The rural fantasies that made Japan a global superstar
Japan doesn’t give a **** about you • And that’s the real secret to global pop-cultural success
Japan doesn’t give a **** about you
And that’s the real secret to global pop-cultural success
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Japan doesn’t give a **** about you • And that’s the real secret to global pop-cultural success
Boys vs Girls, Japan vs America • Japan doesn't have a "manosphere." The reasons why might surprise.
Boys vs Girls, Japan vs America
Japan doesn't have a "manosphere." The reasons why might surprise.
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Boys vs Girls, Japan vs America • Japan doesn't have a "manosphere." The reasons why might surprise.
Ghibli, glibly • What does Hayao Miyazaki really think about AI?
Ghibli, glibly
What does Hayao Miyazaki really think about AI?
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Ghibli, glibly • What does Hayao Miyazaki really think about AI?
The revolution will be... illustrated? • What a terrorist incident from 1970's Japan tells us about American politics today
The revolution will be... illustrated?
What a terrorist incident from 1970's Japan tells us about American politics today
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
The revolution will be... illustrated? • What a terrorist incident from 1970's Japan tells us about American politics today
Chinpokomon Diplomacy • In a post-rule of law world, Japan bets on fantasies to see it through
Chinpokomon Diplomacy
In a post-rule of law world, Japan bets on fantasies to see it through
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Chinpokomon Diplomacy • In a post-rule of law world, Japan bets on fantasies to see it through
Why didn’t Japan invent generative AI? • Today's "AI arms race" is a sequel. The first played out between the US and Japan. And it isn't over yet.
Why didn’t Japan invent generative AI?
Today's "AI arms race" is a sequel. The first played out between the US and Japan. And it isn't over yet.
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 20, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Why didn’t Japan invent generative AI? • Today's "AI arms race" is a sequel. The first played out between the US and Japan. And it isn't over yet.