About: TokyoScope + Patrick Macias
In 2018, I moved from San Francisco, California to Tokyo, Japan with my wife and daughter. It was fun for a while. Then the pandemic struck, and everything changed… The mood was bleak. It was a weird time…
And now, as I sit here typing this? The city of Tokyo and Japanese pop culture in general, is in the process of rebooting or redefining itself. Now that some of the dust has settled, there are lots of new people and places to discover and celebrate.
I wanted to start a new blog to track some of these emerging currents and trends: to single out new voices, and to catalog how Tokyo and the pop culture it contains is changing, and how it has always been in a state of change.
With some encouragement from friends like Noah Smith, Matt Alt, and Tokyo Fashion, I’ve launched this Substack blog under the banner of my personal brand: TokyoScope.
Free subscribers have access to
Multiple News and Feature posts per week, covering new and old currents and trends in Japanese pop culture!
Paid subscribers receive all free content plus
Exclusive posts only for paid subscribers!
The ability to leave comments on posts!
Early access to new podcasts and works in progress!
My deepest thanks and gratitude for helping to sponsor my work as a writer and editor. It means everything to me!
About Me
My name is Patrick Macias. I’m an author and editor living in Tokyo, Japan…
I started out as a writer for Pacific News Service at age 19. Since then, I’ve written and co-written numerous books about Japanese pop culture focusing on topics like anime, cult films, travel, and fashion for publishers such as Hachette and Chronicle Books.
In between, I’ve worked for companies such as Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Viz Media.
I’m currently the editor in chief of Otaku USA magazine, a bi-monthly print publication that I helped to found in 2007.
In 2017, I wrote the original stories for two anime productions, URAHARA and HYPERSONIC music club. I also began writing an experimental science fiction novel called Paranoia Girls.
I’ve also done a ton of blogging and podcasting, including the ongoing Pure TokyoScope podcast with Matt Alt.
Additional Services
My decades of work dealing with Japanese pop culture has resulted in an extensive network of connections across a wide range of industries. Whether you need market research for your company, a location scout for your film, casting help for your film or TV show, editing assistance for your upcoming Japan-related book, a VIP guided tour of Tokyo toy or record stores, someone to connect you with industry insiders, or something else Japan related, I may be able to help. Send me details and hopefully we can work together to make your Japan-related project or visit a success.
Also, if you have a movie, book, TV show, podcast or other media project that needs a Japan expert or talking head, feel free to contact me with details. In addition to my publishing history, I've done DVD/Blu-ray commentaries, liner notes, TV interviews, documentary films, podcasts, YouTube interviews, and more.
What readers say
"Patrick has a unique eye for unearthing long-buried gems from Japanese pop culture, and the skill to bring them to life for readers. I found myself surprised, charmed, and even laughing out loud at his wild journey. "
- Hiroko Yoda, author of Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide
“This is the great journey of a crazy gaijin that didn’t get lost in translation. It is a deep dive into chaotic, cool, fun and sexy subculture of modern-day Japan.”
- Ryuhei Kitamura, film director of Versus, Godzilla: Final Wars, The Price We Pay
