Alien Humor

In the 1990s, there was a magazine for foreigners in Japan called "The Alien." It was known for its humorous pieces and a slightly different take on Japan than one could find in the regular mainstream press. Starting out as a four-page flier in Nagoya, "The Alien" grew into a national magazine with separate editions for Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. In 2000, it changed into Japanzine, but now continues just as a website.

The newly released "Alien Humor" book is a collection of the humor pieces that co-founder Neil Garscadden wrote while editor of the humor section in the 1990s. These include probably most of the humor pieces that readers might remember from back in "The Alien" days - including such titles as: "Why It’s Hard to Explain Life in Japan," "Inventions You’re Surprised Haven’t been Invented Yet," "Uses and Abuses of Obaasans," and "What Not to Do at an Omiai."

A large majority of the pieces are accompanied by fantastic comic graphics by Wayne Wilson, who was the magazine’s resident artist – and who also drew the stunning 1990s images mural that appears on the first pages of the book (designed by Martin Langer).

"Alien Humor" is a great mix of various funny material, so eclectic in form, that it is difficult to properly describe fully - but almost every joke is a winner, and you are sure to have at least a giggle from every page. Even though some time has passed since the pieces originally appeared, most of the humor still resonates, and the beautifully designed book captures a lot of the weird and funny stuff that one will find in Japan.

Highly recommended for anyone who visited, worked, or lived in Japan during the 1990s, but also an excellent laugh for current residents. The book is now on sale at bookstores nationwide, and can also be bought at www.the-alien.com.

Published by Treasure Productions, 140 pages, softcover, 1,400 yen.

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