Author and translator Matt Alt runs AltJapan, an entertaining and informative blog launched in 2006. Calling it a "digital scratchpad," the Maryland native writes about a wide variety of Japan-related subjects, ranging from the role of Lolita girls in military simulations to the majesty of Japan's toy robot culture. His topics may be off beat but weirdness for the sake of weirdness is not his goal.
AltJapan is also the name of the translation/localization company Matt runs with his wife, Hiroko, in Mitaka, Tokyo, and the books that the two co-authored include "Hello, Please! Very Helpful Super Kawaii Characters from Japan" and "Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide."
In this interview with The Japan Times Online, Alt talks about his love of Japanese toys, the explosion of otaku culture abroad and trying not to focus on some fat guy dressed as Pikachu.