Final Thoughts - The Global Salon: Cities in Japan in The Greene Space

The Global Salon: Cities in Japan presents compelling stories of courage and resiliency, while the country continues to face unprecedented hardships of increased suicidal rates and unemployment, before and after the Tsunami of 2011. Host Eddie Robinson engaged the audience and esteemed guests through captivating dialogue and enchanting musical themes about the country's economic future, advances in technology, and the preservation of its remarkable culture.

Here panelists explain what they want the audience to walk away knowing and thinking about Japan.

The event featured conversation and performance with:

Keiko Matsui An icon of contemporary jazz. With nearly 1.2 million units sold in the U.S. alone and packed concert halls, she is one of the most recognized artists in the genre. Her elegant piano melodies and gentle jazz grooves have enormous appeal.

Akiko Yano, Japanese pop singer, has recorded with Pat Metheny, Thomas Dolby, The Chieftains, and The Yellow Magic Orchestra. Her singing style has been compared to contemporary English singer, Kate Bush.

Ian Buruma, British-Dutch writer and academic who worked as a journalist, and spent much of his early writing career travelling and reporting from all over Asia. He has written such books as "God's Dust: A Modern Asian Journey," "Behind the Mask" and "The Wages of Guilt: Memories of War in Germany and Japan."

Roland Kelts, half-Japanese American writer, editor and lecturer, lives half of each year in Tokyo and New York. He is the author of "Japanamerica: How Japanese Pop Culture has Invaded the US," writes about contemporary Japan for several publications in the US and Japan, and is a frequent commentator on Japan for National Public Radio and the BBC.

Mr Yasuhisa Kawamura, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Consulate General of Japan in New York. He began his foreign service career in Washington D.C.(1984-6), and since then served in various countries, including Geneva, Jakarta (Indonesia), Brussels. Since his arrival in New York in 2010, he has played a crucial role working as a bridge between New Yorkers and the Japanese community.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Japan
• discussion
• the greene space
• Keiko Matsui
• Akiko Yano
• Ian Buruma
• Roland Kelts
• Mr Yasuhisa Kawamura