Lisa Katayama

The Bay Area artist Trevor Paglen calls himself an experimental geographer. For one of his latest projects, Paglen’s been tracking secret government spy satellites and taking photos of them. Reporter Lisa Katayama caught up with Paglen on the roof of his loft in West Oakland.

It’s been a year since the death of the King of Pop. Singer-songwriter Judith Hill was hired to perform with Michael Jackson on his never-realized tour. She could make a career in Jackson’s shadow, but she’s ready to step out on her own. Produced by Lisa Katayama.

The Japanese schoolgirl image was made famous by comic books and cartoons. But not everyone thinks they’re so kawaii (cute). What do Japanese women make of this archetype? Lisa Katayama met three young art stars whose work reclaims and re-invents female pop imagery, in some disturbing ways. But don’t call them feminists.

Kurt lands in Tokyo’s Shibuya – glitzy and bustling, it makes Times Square look quaint, and it’s the epicenter of teen culture. Kurt meets up with blogger Lisa Katayama, who takes Kurt to a girl haven: the sticker picture booth. Striking poses against glittery pink and purple backdrops just might be Japan’s secret to happiness.

Take a Mormon from Utah, teach him Japanese, send him to Australia, and what do you get? For David Boyle, enough material for two feature films about the Japanese culture set both in the U.S. and Japan. In November, Boyle’s latest movie, “White on Rice,” won the audience award at the San Diego Asian Film […]