[2] In his first ethnographic book entitled Hip-Hop Japan: Rap and the Paths of Cultural Globalization, Condry explores issues of race, gender, language, musical history, and contemporary cultural politics, all as they relate to the Japanese rap music scene.
He argues that performance sites, such as recording studios and nightclubs, are the specific paths that lead to cultural globalization.
[3] Condry believes that by viewing such locations more closely, we can then understand the specific dialogue that occurs between global/local, producer/consumer, and artist/industry.
He describes screenwriting meetings, toy design sessions, and fan practices in an effort to show that solitary genius is less important that cross-industry collaborations.
In addition, the work of fans, including fansubbers who are often regarded as simply pirates, are also integral to the dynamics that lead to the global spread of Japanese animation.