A Foreign Place
In life there are many paths to follow, but why go on the well-trodden? With Foreign Perspectives, I aim to give readers my thoughts on a variety of cultural and historical topics they may otherwise not encounter in their daily lives.
From hidden travel destinations in Japan to films that resonate with me, Foreign Perspectives is always a grab bag of whatever’s holding my interest each week.
If you’re tired of the endless noise on social media and the feeling that everything in our world is getting worse, then you’re in good company. This Substack newsletter is about everything that I feel makes life worth exploring and contemplating. You may not always agree with me, but what you won’t find here is cheap engagement bait or a political grift.
The impetus for starting this page originally came from my active use of X, formerly known as Twitter. Having amassed over 50,000 followers, much of what I posted got a decent level of traction, but the ephemeral nature of the platform meant that my detailed threads were gone into the algorithmic ether as soon as they were posted. Writing full columns on the topics that I’m passionate about ensured that they would be preserved for the long-term.
Apart from updates related to my writing and business, I decided to largely withdraw from personal social media. Instead, anything I have to say publicly about my hobbies and interests will be posted here on Foreign Perspectives. Anyone can spend a few seconds drafting a tweet, but taking the time to sit down and write an article means you truly care.
In the end, I hope that there will be something here for everyone and I thank you for taking the time to read this far. Join me as we journey into uncharted waters at Foreign Perspectives!
About Me
Oliver Jia is a writer and small business owner based in Kyoto, Japan. He previously worked as a scholar on Japan-Korean Peninsula relations.
His work has appeared in The Dispatch, The Spectator, UnHerd, NK News, The Japan Times, Quillette, and other outlets. He has also made the occasional podcast, YouTube, and television appearance.
Follow him on Twitter @OliverJia1014 and read his film reviews on Letterboxd.
Substack artwork by @Ritualist_dA on Twitter
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If you like what you see, please subscribe and consider supporting it! There will always be regular articles available for free, but I will also be publishing content exclusively for paying subscribers which you won’t want to miss. Your backing of Foreign Perspectives is greatly appreciated and a strong motivator for me to continue my work. Thank you for reading!
