Somewhere in the Dallas area, a retired man sitting in a home office is making social media videos backing Japanese right-wing views that have made him a celebrity among hawks in the Asian country.
Hardly known in the United States, Tony Marano, 66, is called the "Texas Daddy" in Japan, where he has spawned a small industry that includes books, speaking tours, T-shirts emblazoned with his cartoon likeness and scores of videos, some of which have been viewed more than 300,000 times.
To his critics, however, he is a mouthpiece for Japanese nationalists.
"I am just expressing my opinion," said Marano in an accent that gives away his Brooklyn upbringing. "Why are they fearing this little guy? I don’t mean any harm to them."
He is one of a small group of Westerners embraced by Japan's right wing, but stands out with his jocular demeanor and sharp tongue.
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Videos he posted from Texas made their way to Japan, where they developed a following.
He became more intrigued about Japan, conducting more research and posting more videos. His notoriety snowballed as more people began paying attention.
A publishing deal followed and within a few years, his Japanese supporters set up an office called the Texas Daddy Japan Secretariat. He has published seven books in Japanese and is set for more exposure with another three books this year, the office said.
Marano is a former telephone company employee who has spent about half of his life in Texas and put together a YouTube video channel called "PropagandaBuster." He speaks little Japanese.
Marano says his mission is to bolster a military alliance among the United States, South Korea and ally Japan, and to speak truth to power.
He has released more than 80 videos in the past year that run with Japanese subtitles provided by the Secretariat, which has seven translators and three editors to prepare the works for the Japanese audience.
Fuggedaboudit!!
At least he's highly qualified to speak on these issues.
