Matt Alt
@mattalt.bsky.social
Tokyo-based writer, localizer, cultural consultant. Author of Pure Invention, Yokai Attack, and more.
https://www.mattalt.com/
https://blog.pureinventionbook.com/
https://linktr.ee/mattalt
https://www.mattalt.com/
https://blog.pureinventionbook.com/
https://linktr.ee/mattalt
Congratulations to @hirokoyoda.bsky.social on the publication of her new book! Find your way to happiness here: www.amazon.com/Eight-Millio...
December 31, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Congratulations to @hirokoyoda.bsky.social on the publication of her new book! Find your way to happiness here: www.amazon.com/Eight-Millio...
Reposted by Matt Alt
Japan’s 7 Lucky Gods come from different religions, but they’re all seen as kami. The Shichifukujin show just how blurred spiritual boundaries are in Japan.
From our latest ep w/ @hirokoyoda.bsky.social!
🎧 krewe-of-japan.simplecast.com/episodes/spi...
🔗 linktr.ee/kojpodcast
📺 youtu.be/prMPNJWeY5E
From our latest ep w/ @hirokoyoda.bsky.social!
🎧 krewe-of-japan.simplecast.com/episodes/spi...
🔗 linktr.ee/kojpodcast
📺 youtu.be/prMPNJWeY5E
December 30, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Japan’s 7 Lucky Gods come from different religions, but they’re all seen as kami. The Shichifukujin show just how blurred spiritual boundaries are in Japan.
From our latest ep w/ @hirokoyoda.bsky.social!
🎧 krewe-of-japan.simplecast.com/episodes/spi...
🔗 linktr.ee/kojpodcast
📺 youtu.be/prMPNJWeY5E
From our latest ep w/ @hirokoyoda.bsky.social!
🎧 krewe-of-japan.simplecast.com/episodes/spi...
🔗 linktr.ee/kojpodcast
📺 youtu.be/prMPNJWeY5E
Reposted by Matt Alt
Learn more about this and so much more not only in our full length episode... but in Hiroko's book "Eight Million Ways to Happiness", which released today! Get your own copy! 👇
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735293...
@hirokoyoda.bsky.social @mattalt.bsky.social
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735293...
@hirokoyoda.bsky.social @mattalt.bsky.social
Eight Million Ways to Happiness by Hiroko Yoda: 9780593474433 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
A Japanese cultural historian shares a path to joyful living drawn from her nation’s unique approach to spirituality and nature, offering a “fascinating” (Wintering author Katherine May)...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Learn more about this and so much more not only in our full length episode... but in Hiroko's book "Eight Million Ways to Happiness", which released today! Get your own copy! 👇
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735293...
@hirokoyoda.bsky.social @mattalt.bsky.social
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735293...
@hirokoyoda.bsky.social @mattalt.bsky.social
Japan is often described as having “spirituality without religion,” but what does that actually mean? @hirokoyoda.bsky.social joins the the Krewe of Japan to explain Japan’s unique approach, and her upcoming book Eight Million Ways to Happiness! krewe-of-japan.simplecast.com/episodes/spi...
December 28, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Japan is often described as having “spirituality without religion,” but what does that actually mean? @hirokoyoda.bsky.social joins the the Krewe of Japan to explain Japan’s unique approach, and her upcoming book Eight Million Ways to Happiness! krewe-of-japan.simplecast.com/episodes/spi...
A talk with @hirokoyoda.bsky.social about her new book about Japanese spiritual traditions, which drops in just a few days!!!
Episode 159 of the PURE TOKYOSCOPE Podcast is live! This time, Matt Alt (mattalt.bsky.social) and I are joined by author Hiroko Yoda (hirokoyoda.bsky.social) who talks about her new book Eight Million Ways to Happiness! Listen to the full episode NOW at www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...
December 26, 2025 at 11:13 PM
A talk with @hirokoyoda.bsky.social about her new book about Japanese spiritual traditions, which drops in just a few days!!!
A story about that time I almost liberated Lafcadio Hearn’s whiskey glass for a drink with his ghost: allabout-japan.com/en/article/1...
Seeker of Japanese Spooks: Lafcadio Hearn’s Life in Matsue | All About Japan
The Greco-Irish writer became Japan’s master of macabre storytelling—and the city of Matsue is the perfect place for a close encounter.
allabout-japan.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:25 AM
A story about that time I almost liberated Lafcadio Hearn’s whiskey glass for a drink with his ghost: allabout-japan.com/en/article/1...
Happy holidays! (Pic from 1967, Japan’s Year of the Kaiju!)
December 24, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Happy holidays! (Pic from 1967, Japan’s Year of the Kaiju!)
Would Hello Kitty exist without Charlie Brown? Maybe. Would Hello Kitty exist without Snoopy? Absolutely not. blog.pureinventionbook.com/p/sony-goes-...
Sony Goes for Peanuts
Some thoughts on Japan's acquisition of an American icon
blog.pureinventionbook.com
December 21, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Would Hello Kitty exist without Charlie Brown? Maybe. Would Hello Kitty exist without Snoopy? Absolutely not. blog.pureinventionbook.com/p/sony-goes-...
It’s finally here. After the loss of her mother, Hiroko climbed mountains, plunged into caves, ascended waterfalls, and interviewed holy folk to write a memoir about healing, and a cultural history of Japan’s modern spiritual landscape. On sale Dec 30! www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735293...
December 17, 2025 at 10:16 AM
It’s finally here. After the loss of her mother, Hiroko climbed mountains, plunged into caves, ascended waterfalls, and interviewed holy folk to write a memoir about healing, and a cultural history of Japan’s modern spiritual landscape. On sale Dec 30! www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735293...
On any given weekend evening, Shibuya is this crowded now.
December 14, 2025 at 8:43 AM
On any given weekend evening, Shibuya is this crowded now.
Honored to see "Pure Invention" included alongside so many heavy-hitters here!
New post just out:
My Top Ten Books of the Year for 2025
Hopefully lots of ideas for late presents. And links to all my previous lists too.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/b...
My Top Ten Books of the Year for 2025
Hopefully lots of ideas for late presents. And links to all my previous lists too.
(Free to read)
open.substack.com/pub/samf/p/b...
Books of the Year - 2025
It’s that time of year when I reveal my top ten books and hopefully give a bit of help to late present buyers.
open.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Honored to see "Pure Invention" included alongside so many heavy-hitters here!
Reposted by Matt Alt
Excited to announce that @hirokoyoda.bsky.social's solo debut is finally going on sale Dec 30th! It is a beautiful, moving, and essential guide to Japan's spiritual terrain, modern & traditional. Pre-order here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735293/eight-million-ways-to-happiness-by-hiroko-yoda/
Eight Million Ways to Happiness by Hiroko Yoda: 9780593474433 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
A Japanese cultural historian shares a path to joyful living drawn from her nation’s unique approach to spirituality and nature, offering a “fascinating” (Wintering author Katherine May)...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
December 10, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Excited to announce that @hirokoyoda.bsky.social's solo debut is finally going on sale Dec 30th! It is a beautiful, moving, and essential guide to Japan's spiritual terrain, modern & traditional. Pre-order here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735293/eight-million-ways-to-happiness-by-hiroko-yoda/
New ep of Pure Tokyoscope! @patrickmacias.bsky.social and I invite @wdavidmarx.bsky.social to discuss his helming the first-ever English language issue of Japan’s legendary “Popeye” fashion magazine: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...
Pure TokyoScope Podcast 158: W. David Marx on Popeye's Hello, Tokyo! English Edition!
Patrick Macias and Matt Alt bring you pop culture direct from Japan!
www.tokyoscope.blog
December 13, 2025 at 12:17 AM
New ep of Pure Tokyoscope! @patrickmacias.bsky.social and I invite @wdavidmarx.bsky.social to discuss his helming the first-ever English language issue of Japan’s legendary “Popeye” fashion magazine: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...
Excited to announce that @hirokoyoda.bsky.social's solo debut is finally going on sale Dec 30th! It is a beautiful, moving, and essential guide to Japan's spiritual terrain, modern & traditional. Pre-order here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735293/eight-million-ways-to-happiness-by-hiroko-yoda/
Eight Million Ways to Happiness by Hiroko Yoda: 9780593474433 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
A Japanese cultural historian shares a path to joyful living drawn from her nation’s unique approach to spirituality and nature, offering a “fascinating” (Wintering author Katherine May)...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
December 10, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Excited to announce that @hirokoyoda.bsky.social's solo debut is finally going on sale Dec 30th! It is a beautiful, moving, and essential guide to Japan's spiritual terrain, modern & traditional. Pre-order here: www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735293/eight-million-ways-to-happiness-by-hiroko-yoda/
@hirokoyoda.bsky.social goes on the Thought Echoes podcast to discuss her upcoming book Eight Million Ways to Happiness: Wisdom for Inspiration and Healing from the Heart of Japan. It goes on sale December 30th -preorder at your favorite bookstore! youtu.be/RQavmMSNCu0
Hiroko Yoda: what does it mean to be grateful?
YouTube video by Beth Bonness
youtu.be
December 6, 2025 at 3:12 AM
@hirokoyoda.bsky.social goes on the Thought Echoes podcast to discuss her upcoming book Eight Million Ways to Happiness: Wisdom for Inspiration and Healing from the Heart of Japan. It goes on sale December 30th -preorder at your favorite bookstore! youtu.be/RQavmMSNCu0
When I was a child, I had a fever… and my head felt a lot like it did it the Yoshikazu Yasuhiko exhibition in Shibuya. The original paintings used on so many posters of my childhood, rough sketches, manga, more… @patrickmacias.bsky.social and I talk about it here! www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...
Pure TokyoScope Podcast 157: The Yoshikazu Yasuhiko Anime Art Gallery Experience!
Patrick Macias and Matt Alt bring you pop culture direct from Japan!
www.tokyoscope.blog
December 6, 2025 at 2:11 AM
When I was a child, I had a fever… and my head felt a lot like it did it the Yoshikazu Yasuhiko exhibition in Shibuya. The original paintings used on so many posters of my childhood, rough sketches, manga, more… @patrickmacias.bsky.social and I talk about it here! www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...
Reposted by Matt Alt
Seriously, it is pretty mind-bending seeing Big Pharma using anime style to peddle their anti-depressants.
November 29, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Seriously, it is pretty mind-bending seeing Big Pharma using anime style to peddle their anti-depressants.
I don’t like the drugs but the drugs like me?
November 29, 2025 at 2:12 AM
I don’t like the drugs but the drugs like me?
On the latest episode of Pure Tokyoscope, up right now: @patrickmacias.bsky.social and I talk about the glorious 4K remaster of “Angel’s Egg,” and China’s banning of Japanese film releases due to a diplomatic spat: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...
Pure TokyoScope Podcast 156: China Declares War on Japanese Pop Culture! Angel’s Egg 4K Anime Review!
Patrick Macias and Matt Alt bring you pop culture direct from Japan!
www.tokyoscope.blog
November 29, 2025 at 12:10 AM
On the latest episode of Pure Tokyoscope, up right now: @patrickmacias.bsky.social and I talk about the glorious 4K remaster of “Angel’s Egg,” and China’s banning of Japanese film releases due to a diplomatic spat: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...
Join @patrickmacias.bsky.social and I on a magical mystery tour of recent pop cultural highlights, ranging from the Bandai Tamashii Nations Expo 2025, Godzilla Fest, and more! www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...
Pure TokyoScope Podcast 155: Godzilla Fest and Tamashii Nations 2025 Reports!
Patrick Macias and Matt Alt bring you pop culture direct from Japan!
www.tokyoscope.blog
November 22, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Join @patrickmacias.bsky.social and I on a magical mystery tour of recent pop cultural highlights, ranging from the Bandai Tamashii Nations Expo 2025, Godzilla Fest, and more! www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...
"Strategic ambiguity" is the term for hiding your intentions to achieve a goal. Japanese leaders have long been masters of it. From the Prime Minister's statements about Taiwan to a Toyota chairman going full MAGA, why are they suddenly dropping the ball? blog.pureinventionbook.com/p/boys-and-g...
Boys (and girls), be ambiguous!
When Japanese leaders wade into the culture wars, pop culture suffers.
blog.pureinventionbook.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:32 AM
"Strategic ambiguity" is the term for hiding your intentions to achieve a goal. Japanese leaders have long been masters of it. From the Prime Minister's statements about Taiwan to a Toyota chairman going full MAGA, why are they suddenly dropping the ball? blog.pureinventionbook.com/p/boys-and-g...
Reposted by Matt Alt
Episode 155 of the PURE TOKYOSCOPE Podcast is live! It’s an otaku double whammy as Matt Alt (mattalt.bsky.social) and I bring you reports on Godzilla Fest 2025 and the Tamashii Nation Expo! Expect kaiju, robots, and Labubus?! Listen to the full episode at: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...
November 21, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Episode 155 of the PURE TOKYOSCOPE Podcast is live! It’s an otaku double whammy as Matt Alt (mattalt.bsky.social) and I bring you reports on Godzilla Fest 2025 and the Tamashii Nation Expo! Expect kaiju, robots, and Labubus?! Listen to the full episode at: www.tokyoscope.blog/p/pure-tokyo...
Reposted by Matt Alt
It has been ten years since the release of my first novel Cash Crash Jubilee. In the latest edition of Almost Real, I look back on how I wrote the Jubilee Cycle trilogy:
open.substack.com/pub/elikpwil...
#writingcraft #writing #creativeprocess
#dystopian #cyberpunk #sciencefiction #scifi #trilogy
open.substack.com/pub/elikpwil...
#writingcraft #writing #creativeprocess
#dystopian #cyberpunk #sciencefiction #scifi #trilogy
Writing the Jubilee Cycle Trilogy
Ten years after my novelistic debut
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:20 AM
It has been ten years since the release of my first novel Cash Crash Jubilee. In the latest edition of Almost Real, I look back on how I wrote the Jubilee Cycle trilogy:
open.substack.com/pub/elikpwil...
#writingcraft #writing #creativeprocess
#dystopian #cyberpunk #sciencefiction #scifi #trilogy
open.substack.com/pub/elikpwil...
#writingcraft #writing #creativeprocess
#dystopian #cyberpunk #sciencefiction #scifi #trilogy