Mark Kennedy
(He/Him)
- Contributor, Japan Insider
- Writer, Real Gaijin
- Country Head - Business Development, Nexdigm - Japan, Nexdigm
- Freelance Writer, Freelance
Japan
As seen in:
Japan Insider,
Real Gaijin,
Substack,
Kiplinger,
KOCO-TV (Oklahoma City, OK),
WARC,
RecentlyHeard,
The Northside Sun
Covers:
Commentary and analysis from the perspective of a long-term expat with 30+ years living, studying, and working in Japan.
Unveiling the Real Japan: An American Expat's Inside Look | Hot takes, commentary, and unfiltered insights on life as a foreigner in Japan.
Interview
What was your first job as a journalist?
Freelance writer for Gaijin Pot.com (while running my firm's Japanese subsidiary)
Have you ever used a typewriter?
Yes
How is social media changing news?
SEO seems to be reducing content down to a series of mini headlines. Local stories are often lost among national and international news.
Who's your favorite fictional journalist?
Ron Burgundy
What does it mean to be a journalist?
Having an acute sense of the 5Ws and 2Hs to make sense of a given situation to be able to deliver true insight.
What's the funniest news-related #hashtag you've seen?
How do you prefer to be pitched on stories?
E-mail to begin followed by a brief telephone call to confirm the details.
What tools and software do you use to do your job?
WordPress, Android phone, Substack's cloud-based editing system
What's your favorite social network?
Instagram
Who do you wish followed you?
James Clavell
Why did you become a journalist?
To provide alternative perspectives and explore Japan
Did you work for your high school newspaper? If so, what did you do there?
No
What story are you most proud of writing or working on?
What is it like to retire to the Japanese countryside?
What advice can you offer to aspiring journalists?
Don't be shy
When's the best time to pitch you?
During the day (Japan Standard Time)
What's the best pitch you ever got?
Just write anything, and we'll be in touch!
What's the worst pitch you ever got?
An urgent request to provide time slots (in the middle of the night) for an interview only to never hear back from the potential employer
What's your favorite drink?
Yoohoo
When you're not at a computer, where are you most likely to be?
Sailing in Japan's Inland Sea
Aside from your own, what's your favorite publication to read?
New York Times
What's the most common misperception about your beat?
Japan is a much more diverse place than just its mega cities and Kyoto.
Would you like to take the Muck Rack Interview?
Create a Muck Rack profile.