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15 Sep 202175 The Untidiness of Marie Kondo & Shinto: A Chat w. Kaitlyn Ugoretz of Eat Pray Anime00:52:33

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Kaitly Ugoretz of the YouTube channel Eat Pray Anime discusses the allure and eclectic spirituality of Marie Kondo, as well as online Shinto communities.

About Kaitlyn Ugoretz

Kaitlyn Ugoretz is a Phd candidate at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her primary area of research is online religious communities, in particular Shinto communities. She is also the author of a recent article about Marie Kondo titled The Untidiness of Marie Kondo's Eclectic Spirituality. Kaitlyn also runs the YouTube channel Eat Pray Anime.

Topics Discussed

  • About Marie Kondo/KonMari
  • About the "untidiness" of Marie Kondo
  • How people have tried to connect Marie Kondo and her ideas to Shinto
  • Marie Kondo's website
  • The "Danshari" method of tidying up
  • The prevalence of so-called tidying gurus in Japan and in the West
  • The "Japanese-ness" of Marie Kondo as a marketing tool
  • How Marie Kondo appears to be far more popular in the US than in Japan
  • The allure of Marie Kondo
  • The Netflix show Tidying Up with Marie Kondo
  • The narrative of self transformation found in Marie Kondo's shows and others like it
  • About Marie Kondo's second Netflix show Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo
  • About Kaitlyn Ugoretz's research on online Shinto communities
  • What Shinto practice looks like
  • About Shinto practice outside of Japan
  • Practitioners of Shinto outside of Japan
  • What attracts people outside of Japan to Shinto
  • About the YouTube channel Eat PrayAnime
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

To read Kaitlyn Ugoretz's article about Marie Kondo, use the link below.

To check out Kaitlyn's YouTube channel, Eat Pray Anime, use the link below.

Here is one of the Eat Pray Anime videos that was mentioned during the episode.

You can follow Kaitlyn Ugoretz on Twitter as well.

To check out the previous episode of Japan Station, use the link below.

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Kaitlyn Ugoretz

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

 

29 Feb 202033 Learning Japanese While Legally Blind (Tony Vega)00:19:14

On this special solo episode of the Japan Station podcast, I discuss being visually impaired and how my decision to study abroad in Japan helped me realize that I wasn't limited by the loss of my eyesight.

About Tony Vega

Tony Vega is a writer, editor, and podcaster. He has lived in Japan as both a student and participant of the JET Programme. He possesses an M.A. in Japanese language and linguistics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Tony is the creator of Japankyo.com and he produces both the Japan Station Ichimon Japan podcasts. Tony enjoys pizza, sushi, burritos, puns, and overanalyzing absurd things.

Topics Discussed

  • The process of becoming legally blind due to Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON)
  • Deciding to study Japanese in college
  • The first time Tony went to Japan
  • Difficulties adjusting to life with low vision
  • Deciding to study abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata City, Osaka
  • Tony's decision to study Japanese every single day before leaving to study abroad
  • How studying abroad in Japan made Tony realize that he was capable of much more than he thought he was
  • And much more!

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Images: Courtesy of Susan Spann

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Support Japan Station

Aside from subscribing to Japan Station, the next best thing you can do to support the show, is using the Amazon affiliate link below to do your shopping. Best of all, it doesn't cost you anything extra.

 

 

01 Dec 2024What is Dreamlapse Japan? A Talk with Photographer Gavin Heffernan | Japan Station 14000:37:48

On this episod eof Japan Station, we talk to filmmaker and dark sky photographer Gavin Heffernan about his recent Japan-focused project Dreamlapse Japan.

👉Topics Discussed

  • About Dreamlapse Japan
  • About shooting photos and video in Tokyo and other parts of Japan
  • Thoughts on visiting Japan
  • And more!

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

Here's the links for all three installments of Dreamlapse Japan.

👉Follow on Social Media

14 May 201913 Crystal Kay00:25:30

The one and only Crystal Kay is the guest today in this very special episode of the Japan Station podcast.

A singer, songwriter, and actress, Crystal Kay has been singing for just about as long as she's been able to speak. In fact, her first credit is at the age of four when she used her vocal talents in a song for a commercial promoting the PC Engine Duo game console (known as the TurboDuo in the U.S.). Crystal released her debut single in 1999 at the age of 13 and in the two decades since then she's sold millions of albums and produced numerous chart-topping singles. Her positive attitude, incredible talent, and status as one of the earliest artists of mixed race to rise to mainstream fame in Japan have earned Crystal many fans around the world and turned her into a role model for many.

In this episode we discuss:

  • When it was that Crystal realized she was a source of inspiration for other mixed race individuals in Japan
  • How Crystal deals with negativity
  • Crystal's relationship with her mother
  • Crystal's thoughts on the 20th anniversary of her major debut as a singer
  • Crystal's connection to the legendary Japanese singer Misora HIbari
  • Crystal's daily routine
  • And more!

You won't be able to help feel positive after listening to this episode.

01 Feb 202158 Trapped in Japan: A Chat w. Kevin O'Shea of the Just Japan Podcast00:59:49

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Tony  Vega talks to Kevin O'Shea, host of the Just Japan Podcast, about the unique experience he had in 2020 when he got stuck in Japan due to the coronavirus pandemic.

About Kevin O'Shea

Kevin O'Shea is a content creator, educator, and longtime resident of Japan. Aside from producing over 200 episodes of the Just Japan Podcast, Kevin is also known for his work on YouTube and various podcasts and blogs. His latest podcast is called the Munzee Maniacs Podcast and is about the mobile game Munzee.

Topics Discussed

  • When and why Kevin lived in Kobe
  • Life on Kobe's Port Island
  • Some places to visit in Kobe
  • The nice and convenient aspects of living in Kobe
  • Working at an international school in Japan
  • Working as a teacher in Japan versus working in other countries
  • How many international schools in Asia outside of Japan are offering better salaries and benefits than those in Japan
  • The intangible allure of Japan
  • Living in Beijing and having to deal with air pollution
  • Living and working as a teacher in Shenzhen, China
  • The benefits of lifing and working in rural Japan as opposed to cities
  • Being in China during the start of the COVID19 global pandemic
  • The regulations put in place in China during the beginning of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic
  • Deciding to leave China and go back to Japan in February of 2020
  • Arriving in Japan during early 2020 before entry restrictions and quarantines were put into place
  • The challenges Kevin faced when trying to get back to China during the pandemic
  • What Kevin had to go through in order to enroll his kids in school in Osaka
  • Arriving and quarantining in Shenzhen, China during the coronavirus pandemic
  • Dealing with internet trolls
  • Kevin's first podcast: Looks Like Canada
  • Kevin's decision to start the Just Japan Podcast
  • The Making Better Teachers Podcast
  • Kevin's interest in geocaching and the mobile game Munzee
  • What Munzee is
  • The Munzee Maniacs Podcast
  • Kevin's interest in nature photography
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

Here's all the social media channels you can find Kevin O'Shea on.

To listen to the Munzee Maniacs Podcast, look it up on your podcast app of choice or use the links below.

You can find the Just Japan Podcast on just about any podcast platform. If you would like to check it out, you can use the links below.

To check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

To get your own "tree climbing bag bear" t-shirt, use the link below. T-shirt sales are used to help fund this show and other JapanKyo.com projects.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Donna Burke

Featured image: Courtesy of Kevin O'Shea

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

 

15 Sep 201922 Discovering Buddhist Sculptures w. Michael VanHartingsveldt00:56:20

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast we're digging deep into the world of Japanese Buddhist statues and iconography.

Michael VanHartingsveldt is an expert on Buddhist art and iconography. In 2016, Michael obtained a Master's degree in East Asian Art Business through a joint program offered by the Sotheby's Institute of Art and Claremont Graduate University. He then went on to work as a Collections Management Technician at the Los Angeles Country Museum of Art (LACMA). At LACMA Michael worked in the East Asian Art Collection and handled everything from ukiyo-e woodblock prints to Buddhist statues. Michael has also curated art exhibits and given lectures at the Japan Foundation in Los Angeles. In the fall semester of 2019, Michael entered into a PhD program at the University of Kansas. There he will further his research on Japanese Buddhist art and statues.

In this episode we discuss:

  • How backpacking around Japan led to an interest in the art and history of Buddhism (and Shinto) in Japan
  • A few tipes for visiting Fushimi Inari Taisha (an important shrine in Kyoto dedicated to the fox god, Inari)
  • Nara's famous Tōdai-ji temple
  • Who the Niō (Two Benevolent Kings) at the entrance of Tōdai-ji are
  • The hierarchy of celestial beings in Buddhism
  • Who Fudō Myōō is
  • What Shugendō is
  • The statues of Zaō Gongen that are at Kinpusen-ji temple on Mt. Yoshino in Nara Prefecture
  • Sanjūsangen-dō in Kyoto and its many statues
  • The bodhisatva Kannon
  • The origins of Amida Nyorai
  • The origins of the Nami-kiri Fudō
  • Who Takuma Kamine is
  • And much more!
22 Mar 2025What it's like running a bar in TOKYO! (Pintology Craft Beer & Whisky) | Japan Station 15000:43:09

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to Kyle Broyles of Pintology Craft Beer & Whisky in Tokyo. In this interview we talk about what it's like running a bar in Tokyo, starting a business in Tokyo, Japanese craft beer and more.

👉Topics Discussed

  • About Pintology Craft Beer & Whisky
  • About running a craft beer bar in Tokyo
  • Japanese craft beer in Tokyo
  • Growing a business in Tokyo
  • Organic marketing
  • And more

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

Here's the Pintology Tokyo Instagram https://www.instagram.com/pintologytokyo/?hl=en

👉Follow on Social Media

15 Nov 2022Japan Nature Caught On Camera! A Chat w Japan Trail Cam | Japan Station 10200:41:05

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we talk to Wombat, one of the creators of Japan Trail Cam.

About Wuon-Gean Ho

Wombat spends his day in Kyushu hiking and setting trail cams in order to capture footage for the YouTube channle channel/Twitter/Instagram account Japan Trail Cam.

Topics Discussed

  • Wombats in Hawaii
  • How Japan Trail Cam got started
  • About capturing nature footage in Japan
  • What animals tend to be roaming the wild in Japan
  • About the process of leaving trail cams in the Japanese wilderness
  • Where Japan Trail Cam places their cameras
  • About finding good places to film in Japan
  • About filming bears in Hokkaido
  • About getting footage of the monkey queen in Oita
  • Funny/memorable trail cam videos
  • Places to hike in Fukuoka
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

You can find Japan Trail Cam below.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

15 Jan 201907 The Wacky World of Japanese Mascots (Chris Carlier)00:52:57

Episode seven of the Japan Station podcast is here and this time we're taking a deep dive into the crazy world of Japanese mascots.

Chris Carlier runs the blog Mondo Mascots and the very popular Twitter and Instagram accounts of the same name. On Mondo Mascots Chris documents Japan's many, many, many mascots. From the bizarre to the cute, Chris covers them all. In this episode we discuss the history of Japanese mascots, the origins of the term yuru kyara  (yuru chara) and how it is different from go-tōchi kyara, the voting scandal at the 2018 Yuru Chara Grand Prix, whether the popularity of Japanese mascots is on the decline, Chris' desire to get a yuru kyara designed by him turned into a costume, and, of course, we talk about a whole lot of odd mascots, including the infamous algae ball with an erection from, Marimokkori. So yeah, this one's a pretty silly one.

15 Mar 202287 Uncovering the World's Oldest Shark Attack: A Chat w. J. Alyssa White00:54:08

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about archaeology in Japan and the case of Tsukumo No. 24, the world's oldest known shark attack. Our guest for this episode is J. Alyssa White from the University of Oxford.

About J. Alyssa White

J. Alyssa White is a PhD candidate in Archaeology at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on. Her research focuses on the trauma found in skeletal remains from the southwestern Japanese archipelago during the end of the Jōmon hunter-gatherer period through the early Yayoi agricultural period (ca. 2500 BC – 250 AD). She is also one of the researchers who worked ont he fascinatingly unique case of Tsukumo No. 24 (the world's oldest known shark attack).

Topics Discussed

  • How J. Alyssa White became interested in archaeology, Japan and the Japanese language
  • Kyoto University's collection Jōmon era remains
  • How J. Alyssa White got started in the fields of Japanese archaeology and biological anthropology
  • About Japanese archaeological site reports
  • Discovering the remains of Tsukumo No. 24
  • Archaeological sties in Japan
  • Characteristics of archaeological sites in Kyushu
  • Burial practices (pit burials, shell mounds) in prehistoric Japan
  • Archaeology in Japan
  • What we can learn from skeletal remains
  • About the case of Tsukumo No. 24
  • How it was determined that Tsukumo No. 24 was likely killed by a shark attack
  • What injuries the remains of Tsukumo No. 24 exhibits
  • Jōmon era ritual tooth extraction
  • J. Alyssa White's research on the changes and violent conflict seen during the transition from the Jōmon to the Yayoi periods
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

The original article about Tsukumo No. 24 can be found via the link below. Unfortunately, it is behind a pay wall.

Here's a free article about Tsukumo No. 24 in case you would like to read more.

Use the link below to view the 3D model of Tsukumo No. 24.

Here is the episode of the Beyond Japan podcast in which J. Alyssa White is interviewed.

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi’s music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of J. Alyssa White

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

01 Mar 201909 Ghosts of the Tsunami (Richard Lloyd Parry)00:54:39

Episode nine of the Japan Station podcast is here and this time we're talking about the devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Japan's Tohoku region on March 11, 2011.

Richard Lloyd Parry is an award-winning foreign correspondent, the Asia Editor at The Times of London in Tokyo, and author of the book Ghosts of the Tsunami: Death and Life in Japan's Disaster Zone. In this episode we talk about the experiences of people that lived through the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, the tragedy at Okawa Elementary School where 74 of the 78 students present when the tsunami struck died, the reports of possessions and ghosts that arose in the months after the tsunami, whether Japanese society has learned anything from this tragedy, and more.

Note: In the episode Richard states that Okawa Elementary School is four miles away from the coast. It appears he mistakenly said miles instead of kilometers because all information found online indicates that Okawa Elementary School, which is now a memorial, is roughly 4-5 kilometers from the coast.

13 Apr 2025Eikaiwa vs JET vs University Teaching: Which is the better English teaching job in Japan? | Japan Station 153 (Rebroadcast)00:57:05

Originally released on 3/21/2024 as pisode 80 of Ichimon Japan.

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we talk about what the best kind of English teaching in Japan is: Eikaiwa, JET Programme (ALT) or university teacher.

Topics Discussed

  • What it is like working in an eikaiwa school in Japan
  • What the salary is for an eikaiwa teacher
  • The good and bad about working at an eikaiwa school (private language school)
  • What it is like being an assistant language teacher (ALT) on the JET Programme
  • How much you can earn while on the JET Program
  • The good and bad about being on the JET Program
  • What it is like teaching english at a college in Japan
  • What the requirements are for becoming an English teacher at a university in Japan
  • What the salary is like for an English teacher at a university in Japan
  • Which job pays more: Eikaiwa, JET or university teacher
  • What vacation is like for English teachers at Japanese univesities
  • What the contract/term limits are like for English teaching positions at universities/colleges in Japan
  • And much more!

Listen to Ichimon Japan on

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Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

  • Support on Patreon
    https://patreon.com/japankyo
  • Support on Ko-fi
    https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

Links, Videos, Etc.

None.

We Want Your Questions

Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr)

Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

 

07 Aug 2023She Learned Japanese By Being On Japanese TV (Jessica Gerrity) | Japan Station 11100:52:10

Jessica Gerrity, a TV personality working in Japan, martial artist, pracitioner of kyudo (Japanese archery),and writer!

Topics Discussed

  • Jessica' work on Japanese TV
  • How she became interested in Japan
  • Why she first went to Japan
  • How she got into the Japanese entertainment industry
  • Working with SMAP
  • Learning Japanese
  • How being on TV helped her learn Japanese
  • The behind the scenes of Japanese TV About how Japanese TV is scripted
  • The good and bad on working on Japanese TV
  • About kyudo (Japanese archery)
  • How much it costs to get into kyudo
  • About yabusame (horseback archery) Places to do horseback archery in Japan
  • About her work as a writer focusing on archery and martial arts
  • And much more

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

Check out Jessica's linktree below to find the links mentioned on today's episode.

  • https://linktr.ee/jessintokyo
  •  

Follow JapanKyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

15 Feb 202032 Chatting About Shinobi Mysteries w. Susan Spann00:56:08

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about ninjas, the judicial system of 16th century Japan, and more with Susan Spann, author of the Hiro Hattori "shinobi mystery" series of books.

About Susan Spann

Susan Spann is the award-winning author of the Hiro Hattori series of mystery books. The novels follow the adventures of Hiro Hattori, a ninja from the famous Iga clan, and Father Mateo Avila da Silva, a Portuguese Jesuit priest, as they travel through 16th century Japan solving murders and avoiding danger. Though originally from the U.S., Spann now lives in Japan. She practices traditional Japanese calligraphy and used to raise seahorses.

Topics Discussed

  • How Susan Spann got the idea to write books about a ninja detective
  • What Susan Spann likes about writing the Hiro Hattori books
  • The evolving relationship between Hiro Hattori and Father Mateo
  • The judicial system of 16th century Japan
  • The social caste system of 16th century Japan
  • The different types of police seen in 16th century Japan
  • The difference between a yoriki and dōshin
  • Whether there were lawyers in 1500s Japan
  • Jails in 16th century Japan
  • Oda Nobunaga and when he will appear in the Hiro Hattori books
  • Where actors stood in the social hierarchy of 16th century Japan
  • How difficult it is to verify information about ninja
  • Whether shuriken were mainly used as "throwing stars" or not
  • The city of Iga in Mie Prfecture
  • Susan Spann's experience climbing 100 mountains in one year and her upcoming book Climb
  • Places in Japan Susan Spann would like to visit in Japan
  • The challenges of raising seahorses
  • Why male seahorses can seem to be shier than female seahorses
  • And much more!

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Images: Courtesy of Susan Spann

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Check out Ichimon Japan

The two latest episodes of the Ichimon Japan podcast can be accessed via the links below.

 

24 Oct 202051 Kyoto Metal City (Takuya Yada & Joe of Cosmic Earth)00:33:43

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast two members of the Kyoto-based metal band Cosmic Earth stop by to talk about their new album inspired by the Tokyo Olympics, the Kyoto heavy metal scene, and more.

About Cosmic Earth

Cosmic Earth is a Kyoto-based doom metal/stoner rock/heavy blues rock band founded by guitarist Takuya Yada in 2017. Cosmic Earth is part of Cosmic Frequency Records and is in the process of writing original music to release an album in the near future.

Topics Discussed

  • Takuya Yada's decision to go to England to study English and become a guitarist
  • How Takuya Yada managed to become a guitarist of the heavy metal band Stuka Squadron
  • Joe's connection to music and how he became interested in metal
  • How Takuya Yada and Joe met
  • The formation of Cosmic Earth
  • The story behind Takuya Yada's heavy metal album inspired by the Tokyo Olympics: Stonolympic
  • Some of the concepts and themes explored in Stonolympic
  • Rock Bar Crunch in Kyoto
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

To support the Stonolympic album Kickstarter campaign, check out the link below.

For more information on Takuya Yada's many projects, visit the Cosmic Frequency Records website.

You can find Takuya Yada's solo album 7 Fragments of the Unconscious on both the Cosmic Frequency Records website and Bancamp (link below).

You can follow Takuya Yada and Cosmic Frequency Records on social media.

The name of the heavy metal/hard rock bar in Kyoto that was mentioned during this episode is Rock Bar Crunch. You can find their website here. The address for Rock Bar Crunch can be found below.

Rock Bar Crunch Address
138 Universe Kaikan (Yunibāsu Kaikan), Tominagacho, Higashiyama Ward
Kyoto, 〒605-0078

For more information on BlueEyes Kyoto, you can visit their Facebook page. The address for BlueEyes Kyoto can be found below.

BlueEyes Kyoto Address
93 Kyoto Wasō Bldg. B1F (京都和装ビル), Goboomiyacho, Shimogyo Ward
Kyoto, 〒600-8385

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, check out the link below.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Zack Davisson

Featured image: Courtesy of Takuya Yada

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

02 Feb 20253 Obscure Japanese Dishes You MUST Try! | Japan Station 14500:44:23

 

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about three obscure Japanese dishes you need to try next time you're in Japan.

👉Topics Discussed

  • What is teppan spa (teppan supa, 鉄板スパ)?
  • What is teppanyaki naporitan
  • About the history of teppanyaki spaghetti
  • About the origin of Nagoya's famous teppanyaki naporitan
  • About Osaka teppanyaki spaghetti
  • About the origin of Japan's infamous napolitan pasta (naporitan pasuta)
  • What is ebimeshi?
  • How ebimeshi became famous in Okayama
  • About the different varieties of ebimeshi
  • About Torkish Rice/toruko raisu (トルコライス)
  • What is toruko raisu?
  • About the time I interviewed the owner of the shop where toruko raisu was invented
  • Why the descendant of the creator of toruko raisu hates toruko raisu
  • What is in toruko raisu
  • Why toruko raisu should not be called toruko raisu
  • What is in toruko raisu?
  • About different variations of toruko raisu
  • About Hiroshima tsukemen
  • About Nagasaki's famous Sasebo burger
  • And more

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

No links this time.

👉Follow on Social Media

01 Sep 202174 In Search of the Japanese Wolf (Alex K.T. Martin)00:45:00

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we talk about the probably extinct (but maybe not?) Japanese wolf with journalist Alex K.T. Martin.

About Alex K.T. Martin

Alex K.T. Martin is a feature writer for the Japan Times. He is also the author of a recent five-part feature about the Japanese wolf (nihon ōkami) titled In Search of Japan's Lost Wolves.

Topics Discussed

  • Whether the Japanese wolf (nihon ōkami) is considered a cryptid
  • How Alex Martin became interested in researching the Japanese wolf
  • Who Hiroshi Yagi is
  • How Alex Martin got in touch with Hiroshi Yagi
  • About Chichibu's connection to the Japanese wolf
  • How Hiroshi Yagi became interested in looking for the Japanese wolf
  • Hiroshi Yagi's 1996 encounter with an animal resembling the Japanese wolf and the famous 19 photographs that he took of said animal
  • The process taken by Hiroshi Yagi in his hunt for the Japanese wolf
  • Who might take over Hiroshi Yagi's hunt for the Japanese wolf when he retires
  • Hiroshi Yagi's personality
  • About Naoki Maruyama, founder of the Japan Wolf Association
  • The effort to reintroduce wolves into Japan and the troubles it faces
  • The allure and mystery of the Japanese wolf
  • Alex Martin's articles about Tokyo post-Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
  • Japan's declining population
  • The smaller size of a Japanese wolf
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

Use the link below to access the landing page for In Seart of Japan's Lost Wolves, the five-part series of articles about the Japanese wolf by Alex K.T. Martin.

To read Alex Martin's articles about post Olympics Tokyo, use the links below.

To listen to the Deep Dive podcast episode about the Japanese wolf use the link below.

You can follow Alex Martin on Twitter.

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Alex K.T. Martin

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

01 Aug 202044 From Nintendo to Hello Kitty, Chatting About Japanese Pop Culture w. Matt Alt00:48:26

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, localizer and author Matt Alt stops by to discuss the influence Japanese pop culture has had on the world.

About Matt Alt

Matt Alt is a localizer of Japanese games and manga. Together with Hiroko Yoda he founded the localization company AltJapan and has authored multiple books on Japanese folklore and history. Matt's latest book was published in June of 2020 by Crown and is titled Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World.Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World.

Topics Discussed

  • Localization and how the industry has evolved over the past few decades
  • Matt Alt's experience learning Japanese in high school
  • How Matt almost got to meet Osamu Tezuka
  • Anime in the U.S. in the '70s, '80s, and '90s
  • The kawaii aesthetic of Super Mario and other classic video games from Japan
  • Visiting Sony's extensive archives
  • The popularity and influence of Sanrio's Hello Kitty
  • How it was that Matt came to work on his well-known book Yokai Attack!
  • The increasing adoption of the term yokai over the past couple decades
  • Using one's dissatisfaction with translations as motivation to learn Japanese
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

Links, Videos, Etc.

You can purchase Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World via the Amazon affiliate link below.

If you're interested in any of Matt Alt's other books, please consider using the affiliate links below in order to support Japan Station.

You can follow Matt Alt on Twitter.

To learn more about AltJapan, visit their website via the link below.

Here is Matt Alt's Tofugu.com interview article.

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Matt Alt

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

 

15 Nov 202053 The Inspiring Journey of Kofi Manga01:03:12

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, manga creator and boxer Kofi Bazzell-Smith (a.k.a. Kofi Manga) stops by to discuss manga, the Japanese language, and the importance of perseverance.

About Kofi Manga

Kofi Bazzell-Smith is an American manga creator and boxer. He is active on YouTube and Instagram under the name Kofi Manga.

Topics Discussed

  • The anime/manga Hajime no Ippo
  • How it was that Kofi started studying Japanese
  • How Kofi checks the Japanese that writes for his manga
  • Lang-8 and HelloTalk
  • The story of how Kofi was able to go to Japan for the first time
  • Working as a video game tester for Deep Silver Volition
  • Studying Japanese in Fukuoka for a month
  • Getting one-on-one manga storytelling classes from a manga artist in Japan
  • The importance of making mistakes when learning a new language
  • How Kofi ended up going to Kansai Gaidai University
  • How Kofi earned money in order to get back to Japan
  • Kofi's quest to study at Kyoto Seika University
  • Kansai Gaidai and its dorms
  • Taking a manga production course at Kansai Gaidai University
  • The time Kofi had his portfolio reviewed by professional manga editors at the Kyoto International Manga Museum
  • The important advice that Kofi received from a Kodansha editor
  • Why Kofi decided to draw a boxing manga
  • Studying under Professor Akira Sasō at Kyoto Seika University
  • Osamu Tezuka's old apartment Tokiwa-sō
  • Getting accepted to participate in the Tokwa-sō Project
  • The importance of perseverence and being a nice person
  • What Kofi is currently working on and future plans
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

Check out the links below to keep up with Kofi's work.

For more information on the United States-Japan Bridging Foundation, the scholarships they offer or to donate, visit their website via the link below.

To learn more about Kansai Gaidai University, visit their website via the link below.

For more information on Professor Akira Sasō, visit the Wikipedia page below.

To watch Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams, use the link below. It will premiere on November 20th, 2020.

In case you missed it, here is a link for episode 33 of Japan Station.

If you enjoyed this episode of Japan Station, then you'll also probably enjoy the episodes below.

Also, don't forget to check out the latest episode of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

If you would like to check out the Kimito Designs shop, then use the link below. Remember to use the coupon code OPENING10 when you check out to get 10% off (valid until the end of 2020).

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Kofi Bazzell-Smith

Featured image: Courtesy of Kofi Bazzell-Smith

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

 

01 Nov 201925 The Japanese Red Army (Dr. Patricia Steinhoff)01:04:01

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast we are talking about the Japanese Red Army (Nihon Sekigun, 日本赤軍), a Japanese militant communist group established in 1971 with the intent of overthrowing the Japanese government and taking down Japan's monarchy.

About Dr. Patricia Steinhoff

Dr. Patricia Steihoff is one of the world's leading experts on the topic of Japanese social movements. With a career spanning more than five decades, Dr. Steinhoff has researched a wide range of topics, including the Japanese justice system, Aum Shinrikyo, and the radical left groups that emerged out of the Japanese protest cycles of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Her work on the Japanese militant group known as the Japanese Red Army is particularly comprehensive and has been extremely important for shedding light on the topic. Dr. Steinhoff retired from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in Honolulu at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.

Topics Discussed

  • How Dr. Steinhoff became interested in researching the Japanese Red Army
  • The phenomenon of tenkō (転向, literally, changing direction)
  • The 1972 terrorist attach on Lod Airport in Israel
  • What it was like going to Israel to interview Kozo Okamoto, the only Japanese Red Army member to survive the Lod Airport attack
  • What exactly the Japanese Red Army was
  • What led to the creation of the Japanese Red Army
  • The role of Fusako Shigenobu
  • Some of the guerrilla tactics the Japanese Red Army would use
  • The 1970 plane hijacking that would result in the "Yodogo Exiles"
  • The student protests that occurred in Japan during the 1960s and '70s and how authorities in Japan reacted to them
  • What became of the Japanese Red Army
  • The impact the Japanese Red Army had on Japan and its judicial system
  • And much more!
30 Jul 2021ANNOUUNCEMENT I (Co)Created a Manga Crypto Universe (About B & B Bad Sisters)00:08:12

For more information on B & B Bad Sisters, check out the official website.

Here's the link for the B & B Bad Sisters NFT shop.

Follow B & B Bad Sisters on social media.

Here's affiliate links for cryptocurrency exchanges. If you use any of these links to purchase cryptocurrency you might get a sign up bonus. Typically, these sign up bonuses are free Bitcoin. However, each exchange does things a bit differently so you may want to check what is required in order to receive the sign up bonus. Also if you use these affiliate links and receive the bonus, then I would receive a small referral bonus as well.

01 Apr 2023Working as an Animator in Japan's Anime Industry (Kushagra Kushwaha) | Japan Station 10701:03:54

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Kushwagra Kushwaha, an animator working in Japan's anime industry tells us how he got to Japan, how he got his break in the Japanese anime industry, what it's like working as an anime animator in Japan and more.

About Kushagra Kushwaha

Kushwagra Kushwaha is a professional animator working in the anime industry in Japan. He has worked on well known shows like Yowamushi PedalJoJo's Bizarre AdventureDanmachiYuGiOh and more.

Topics Discussed

  • Kushwagra's interest in animation and Japan
  • How Kushawagra went about studying Japanese
  • About how Kushwagra broke into the animation industry in Japan
  • The low wages in the anime industry in Japan
  • The challenges of working in the anime industry in Japan
  • The various anime Kushwagra has worked on
  • The changing style of anime in Japana nd it's trend towards uniformity
  • About working on JoJo's Bizarre Adventure as an animator
  • Advice for people hoping to work as animators in Japan's anime industry
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

All relted links are below.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

01 Nov 201801 The Behind the Scenes of Top Knot Detective (Aaron McCann & Dominic Pearce)00:51:57

Celebrate the official start of the Japan Station podcast with not one, but two amazing guests!

This episode I'm joined by filmmakers Dominic Pearce and Aaron McCann, the creators of the hilarious mockumentary Top Knot Detective.

In the episode Aaron and Dominic talk about what inspired them to make Top Knot Detective and the challenges they had to overcome to make their vision a reality. We also discuss bad '80s action movies (specifically, the hilariously bad 1987 "masterpiece" Miami Connection), how you film in Japan without a permit, how they got the legendary Guitar Wolf to make an appearance in Top Knot Detective, Japanese talk shows where guests get to pet cats, and miniature ponies. If you're confused, don't worry. It will all make sense after you listen to the episode. So go do that now!

15 Jul 202043 Talking Translation w. Sarah Moon00:53:14

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Sarah Moon teaches us a bit about what it's like being a translator of anime and games.

About Sarah Moon

Sarah Moon is a professional translator (Japanese to English) who has experience localizing both video games and anime. On YouTube Sarah manages two channels: Sarah Moon and Sarah Loves Food. Her videos on Sarah Moon focus on teaching Japanese, what it's like being a translator, and the Japanese language. On Sarah Loves Food, Sarah focuses on cooking and general food-related content.

Topics Discussed

  • The various ways one can translate the word aho
  • The tendency of beginning Japanese learners to think they know more than they actually know
  • Some of the assets and procedures involved in translating anime and games to English
  • Literal translations versus localized translations
  • How translators deal with original terms/words and character names
  • Whether AI might be eliminating the need for anime translators
  • What simulcast anime translation is and how it is done
  • The "high context" nature of the Japanese language
  • Sarah's food focused YouTube channel
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

Links, Videos, Etc.

You can find Sarah Moon on all of the platforms below.

You can use the link below to check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan. This episode is focused on the city of Osaka.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Sarah Moon

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

 

01 May 202038 Understanding Idols and the Success of AKB48 (Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith)01:12:19

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're exploring the history of Japanese aidoru (idols) and discussing the dynamics behind one of Japan's most popular idol groups: AKB48.

About Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith

Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith is a lecturer at Senshu University in Tokyo. He is one of the world's leading experts on the topic of Akihabara and the related subcultures that are often associated with this famous district of Tokyo. Galbraith is the author of man y books and articles, including Tokyo Realtime (2010), The Otaku Encyclopedia: An Insider's Guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan (2014), The Moe Manifesto: An Insider's Look at the Worlds of Manga, Anime, and Gaming (2017), and others. His most recent book, published by Duke University Press Books in 2019, is Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan.

Topics Discussed

  • The emergence of idols (aidoru) in Japan during the 1970s
  • Japan's Golden Age of idols (1980s)
  • Seiko Matsuda
  • The role Yasushi Akimoto played in the evolution of the modern idol
  • The importance of Onyanko Club in the history of Japanese idols
  • What led to the end of Onyanko Club
  • How the Latin boy band Menudo helped inspire the interchangeable idol system employed by idol groups such as Morning Musume and AKB48
  • The success of Rino Sashihara
  • The ingenious marketing strategy of Yasushi Akimoto that has led to the massive success of AKB48
  • AKB48's General Election and how it drove CD sales during a time when CD sales were on the decline
  • What idols do
  • Whether we should think of idols as musicians/singers
  • What it means to "idol"
  • The connection between idols and fans
  • The peculiar location and composition of the AKB48 Theater in Akihabara
  • How the success of AKB48 helped spark a surge in the number of independent and "underground" (chika) idols
  • The massive variety that exists in the independent idol scene
  • How the coronavirus pandemic has affected idol groups and how idols are adapting
  • What a chekki is
  • Th effects of the coronavirus pandemic on maid cafes in Akihabara
  • AKB48 and the Tokyo 2020/2021 Olympics
  • How Yasushi Akimoto's idol groups have been evolving in recent years to appeal more to women
  • Overwork and exploitation in the world of idols
  • The case of Maho Yamaguchi
  • Why so many idols have great difficulties after they "sotsugyō" (leave the group)
  • The success of Atsuko Maeda
  • The short-lived Pink Lady show that aired in the U.S. on NBC in 1980
  • And much more!

Note: The conversation on this episode was recorded on April 24, 2020 (JST).

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

Links, Videos, Etc.

The book on which much of the conversation heard during this episode was based is called AKB48 and was written by Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith and Dr. Jason G. Karlin. You can purchase it via the Amazon affiliate link below. A Kindle version is available.

AKB48 is part of a series of books published by Bloomsbury that is called 33 1/2 Japan. If you would like to purchase any of these, you can use the Amazon affiliate links below.

If you would like to purchase Dr. Galbraith's most recent book--Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japani--you can use the Amazon affiliate link below.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Patrick W. Galbraith

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

 

01 Nov 202052 Tokyo Before Tokyo: Exploring Edo w. Dr. Timon Screech01:02:20

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about the history and layout of Edo with one of the world's foremost experts on the subject: Dr. Timon Screech.

About Dr. Timon Screech

Dr. Timon Screech is a professor of the history of art at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. He is a specialist in the art and culture of the Edo period and has written extensively on the subject. His most recent book is titled Tokyo Before Tokyo: Power and Magic in the Shogun's City (Reaktion Books).

Topics Discussed

  • The story behind Dr. Screech's latest book Tokyo Before Tokyo: Power and Magic in the Shogun's City of Edo
  • The history of Nihonbashi (日本橋) in Tokyo
  • Nihonbashi as the city center of Edo
  • The possible etymological origin of Nihonbashi
  • What was in and around the original Nihonbashi bridge when it was built
  • Nihonbashi's status as the start of the famous Tokaido highway
  • The mountainous geography of Japan and how it made it challenging to keep the country united
  • Edo era maps, their evolution, and how reliable they were
  • Why certain areas of Edo's maps were often blocked out
  • Early Edo Period maps and how usable they would have been
  • The extensive documentation of urban ephemera of the Edo Period
  • How folding screens intended for the elite would depict areas of Edo that commoners were not supposed to be able to see
  • The amusing story of the peculiar way Emperor Go-Mizunoo is said to have had his portrait paited
  • Portrait drawing customs in Japan versus the West
  • The official name of Edo Castle
  • Why Edo Castle was officially names Chiyoda Castle
  • The location of Edo Castle
  • The Shogunate's decision to not choose Kamakura as their base of power
  • About the destruction of Chiyoda Castle/Edo Castle and reasons for why it was never reconstructed
  • The recently restored paintings of Kyoto's Nijo Castle
  • Edo's 40 meter tall Buddha made of wicker (Kappa Ōbotoke)
  • Dr. Timon Screech's recommendations for temples to visit in Tokyo
  • The story of the Octopus Medicine Buddha at Tako Yakushi Jōjuin Temple in Meguro
  • The Temple of the 500 Arhats in Meguro (Gohyaku Rakanji)
  • The deification of Tokugawa Ieyasu
  • How Tokugawa Ieyasu's body was moved a year after his death
  • Disagreement over where Tokugawa Ieyasu's body is today
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

You can use the link below to purchase Tokyo Before Tokyo: Power and Magic in the Shogun's City of Edo on Amazon. The link is an Amazon affiliate link so using it will support the show without costing you anything extra.

You can use the Amazon affiliate link below to purchase The Shogun's Silver Telescope and the Cargo of the New Year's Gift: God, Art, and Money in the English Quest for Japan, 1600-1625.

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

And here are the two episodes of Japan Station mentioned at the end of this episode.

If you would like to check out the Kimito Designs shop, then use the link below. Remember to use the coupon code OPENING10 when you check out to get 10% off (valid until the end of 2020).

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Dr. Timon Screech

Featured image: Courtesy of Dr. Timon Screech

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

 

16 Nov 2023MAID Massage in AKIHABARA: My Review | Japan Station 11700:17:12

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about what it was like getting a massage by a maid in Akihabara.

Topics Discussed

  • About Akihabara Maid Reflexology Felicie
  • About what it was like getting massaged by a maid in Akihabara
  • About how much it costs to get a massage by a maid in Akihabara
  • About getting a foot massage by a maid in Akihabara
  • About whether you should get a massage by a maid in Akihabara
  • And much more

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

  • Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
  • Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

Links, Videos, Etc.

See below for the link to Felicie

 

Follow JapanKyo on Social Media

For More Visit JapanKyo.com

For more of my Japan-focused content, visit the JapanKyo website JapanKyo.com

21 Sep 2024The Etymology of TAMAGO and Other Egg Stuff (Japanese Plus Alpha 01) | Japan Station 13500:19:24

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about the etymology of the Japanese word for egg (tamago) and other interesting quirks of this word! Note: This is actually an episode of Japanese Plus Alpha.

👉Topics Discussed

  • The phrase ~no tamago
  • The etymology of the word tamago 
  • kaigo vs tamago 
  • The difference between tamago written with one kanji (卵) and tamago written with two kanji (玉子)
  • And more!

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👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

No links

👉Follow on Social Media

21 Feb 2025This CLOSED Kyoto Hotel Let Me Stay the Night! Here's What Happened! | Japan Station 14600:13:31

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about what it was like staying at a new Kyoto hotel before it opened.

👉Topics Discussed

  • About Fushigina Yado
  • Where Fushigina Yado is located
  • About the theme and concept of Fushigina Yado
  • About what it was like staying in Fushigina Yado
  • Why I got to stay at Fushigina Yado before it opened
  • About the shops and restaurants near Fushigina Yado
  • And more

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

You can also watch the video version on YouTube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWVYM8n3Psw

  • Fushigina Yado on Instagram
    https://www.instagram.com/fushigina_yado_kyoto/
  • Fushigina Yado on X
    https://x.com/fushiginayado
  • Fushigi na Yado on Expedia
    https://www.expedia.co.jp/en/Kyoto-Hotels-Fushiginayado.h110823050.Hotel-Information?chkin=2024%2F12%2F22&chkout=2024%2F12%2F23&rm1=a1®ionId=6131486&searchId=de5bc926-6dd2-44da-8f9f-52136e8bed0b&chain&daysInFuture&destination&group&guestRating&hotelName&latLong&poi&neighborhood&roomIndex&selected&sort=RECOMMENDED&stayLength&theme&useRewards&userIntent&misId&vacationRentalsOnly=false&expediaPropertyId&highlightedPropertyId&showFilterNotification=false&ai_search_query&endDate=2024%2F12%2F23&startDate=2024%2F12%2F22&petsIncluded=false&bedroom_count_gt&us_bathroom_count_gt&pricing_group&bed_count_ge&children

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01 May 2023Researching Forgotten Japanese Archives: Translator & Researcher Eric Shahan | Japan Station 10800:47:38

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, independent researcher and translator Eric Shahan joins us to talk about his work translating forgotten Japanese books on topics like martial arts, tattoos, ropes, ninja and more.

About Eric Shahan

Eric Shahan is an independent translator of Japanese books on a variety of topics mainly Jujutsu, sword techniques, police manuals, Karate, Ninja related, travel guides, Edo Era Manga, rope binding, tattooing in all areas of Japan and Seppuku.

Topics Discussed

  • About how Eric learning Japanese
  • Tips for people studying Japanese
  • How Eric got started in translation
  • The first book he translated
  • About the history of tattoos in Okinawa
  • About tattoos as punishment in Japan
  • What it's like translating old Japanese books
  • About Japanese rope techniques
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

If you are interested in Eric Shahan's work and would like to pick up any of the books mentioned in the episode today, please check out the link below.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

20 Aug 202173 You Know What I Mean? On Translating Japanese Fiction (Allison Markin Powell Part 2)00:19:12

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, translator Allison Markin Powell talks about translating Japanese fiction.

About Allison Markin Powell

Allison Markin Powell is a literary translator, editor, and publishing consultant. The most recently published book she translated is Black Box: The Memoir That Sparked Japan’s #MeToo Movement (The Feminist Press at CUNY) by Shiori Ito.

Topics Discussed

  • How Allison Markin Powell became a translator of Japanese literature
  • Getting started as a manga translator
  • Translating the book Sensei no Kaban (The Briefcase/Strange Weather in Tokyo) by Kawakami Hiromi
  • What is challenging about being a translator
  • About fighting to be credited as a translator
  • Allison Markin Powell's style of translation
  • A tricky aspect of translating The Nakano Thrift Shop
  • About translating Lady Joker by Takamura Kaoru
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

To purchase a copy of Black Box: The Memoir That Sparked Japan’s #MeToo Movement, consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. It won't cost you anything extra and it will support the show.

Here are links to other books Allison Markin Powell has translated. These are Amazon affiliate links as well.

To listen to the first part of the conversation with Allison Markin Powell, use the link below.

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Allison Markin Powell

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

01 Dec 201804 All About Trying to Become Big in Japan (David Elliot-Jones)00:51:55

Japan Station episode 4 is here and this time we're talking all about one man's mission to achieve the heights of fame in the land of the rising sun.

In this episode David Elliot-Jones talks about the crazy journey he went on as the star of the ridiculous but thought-provoking documentary Big in Japan. Dave discusses why he and his two friends (Lachlan McLeod & Louis Dai) chose to leave their homes in Australia and spend two years of their lives in Japan chasing fame, what it was like working in Japan's entertainment industry, the dread he felt when having to do crazy stunts like walking around almost naked in Shibuya, the good and bad side of fame, how his soccer teammate's "penis ring" landed him in the news, what it was like asking Japanese people if they've ever had sex with a rice ball, and much more. Dave also offers a bit of advice for people hoping to make it break into the Japanese entertainment industry.

15 May 202166 From YouTube to Oxford: Discussing Japanese, Gendered Speech & More w. YouTuber MissHanake (Hannah Kentridge)00:48:41

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're joined by Hannah Kentridge of the popular YouTube channel MissHanake.

About Hannah Kentridge

Hannah Kentridge is a content creator with over 100,000 subscribers on YouTube. Known as MissHanake on YouTube, Hannah has spent over 10 years producing videos in Japanese about her life and the Japanese language.

Topics Discussed

  • Hannah's perennially popular "Hiragana Song" video
  • The origins of the MissHanake YouTube channel
  • How creating YouTube content in Japanese motivated Hannah to keep learning Japanese and improving
  • Receiving constructive criticism via YouTube comments
  • How listening to herself speak in Japanese helped Hannah keep improving her Japanese
  • Hannah's time at Kobe University
  • Hannah's decision to go to graduate school
  • On learning the kind of advanced Japanese that is usually not taught in the classroom
  • About the MPhil in Japanese Studies at Oxford University
  • What onee kotoba is
  • On doing research on the way some gay men speak in anonymous online situations
  • Using language to construct one's identity
  • Hannah's plans for her master's research
  • Japanese internet slang
  • Gendered language in Japanese
  • Hannah's tentative plans for after completing her master's program
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

To check out Hannah on YouTube use the link below.

You can watch Hannah's "Hiragana Song" video below.

To follow Hannah on Twitter use the link below.

To listen to Hannah on the KoreKara Podcast see below.

Use the link below to check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Dr. Katarzyna Cwiertka

Featured image: Courtesy of Hannah Kentridge

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

01 Feb 202284 Discussing Hiroshima, Hawaii, & Akiya (Abandoned Japanese Houses) w. J.J. Walsh of Seek Sustainable Japan00:56:42
On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're joined by J.J. Walsh of the Seek Sustainable Japan podcast/YouTube talk show and we're talking about Japanese influences in Hawaii, life in Hiroshima and the ever-popular topic of remodeling akiya (abondoned homes in Japan).

About J.J. Walsh

J.J. Walsh is the host of the podcast/YouTube talk show Seek Sustainable Japan. Along with her husband she also runs the website gethiroshima.com. J.J. is also known for her knowledge of abandoned Japanese homes (akiya) and what goes into remodeling them.

Topics Discussed

  • Life growing up in Hawaii
  • On the Japanese influence present in Hawaii
  • Why J.J. Walsh decided to go to Japan
  • About gethiroshima.com
  • About the Seek Sustainable Japan show
  • On moving to Hiroshima
  • About akiya and minka remodeling in Japan
  • J.J.'s experiences remodeling her old Japanese home in Hiroshima
  • How much abandoned houses in Japan can cost
  • On buying a house in Japan as a foreign national
  • Recommendation on where to visit in Hiroshima
  • About Hiroshima's Rabbit Island
  • About the history of Hiroshima
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

Check ou tthe Seek Sustainable Japan YouTube channel via the link below.

Check out gethiroshima.com via the link below.

Follow J.J. Walsh on Twitter.

Don't forget to check out the episode of Seek Sustanable Japan where J.J. Walsh interviews Tony Vega.

Please check out the JapanKyo Docs YouTube channel and don't forget to subscribe!

Don't forget to listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of J.J. Walsh

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

09 Nov 2023I Got HARASSED in Japan! | Japan Station 11600:15:01

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about the time I was harassed in Japan..

Topics Discussed

  • Getting harassed in Japan
  • How I dealt with being harassed at a Japanese train station
  • And much more

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

  • Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
  • Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

Links, Videos, Etc.

To find out more about the Tokaido Challenge, check out the link below

  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeJUpY7aJN0

 

Follow JapanKyo on Social Media

For More Visit JapanKyo.com

For more of my Japan-focused content, visit the JapanKyo website JapanKyo.com  

15 Mar 202162 The Challenges of Post-Fukushima Japan: Immigration, Population Decline & Nuclear Safety (Dreux Richard)01:02:02

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, journalist Dreux Richard stops by to discuss his new book Every Human Intention: Japan in the New Century.

About Dreux Richard

Dreux Richard is a writer and journalist. He has written extensively about Japan for publications such as The Japan Times, Metropolis Japan, and The New York Times. Dreux is also the author of a new book based on much of his work in the years following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. Called Every Human Intention: Japan in the New Century, the book focuses on the experiences of Nigerian immigrants in Japan, the shrinking city of Wakkanai in Hokkaido, and Japan's ongoing struggle with nuclear safety in the decade after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown.

Topics Discussed

  • Who Ian Hideo Levy is
  • Dreux Richard's time studying under Ian Hideo Levy
  • What led to Dreux Richard working for The Japan Times
  • Africans working in Tokyo's red light districts
  • Dreux Richard's time covering the Nigerian community in Japan
  • Some of the factors that led to individuals from Nigeria going to Japan in the '80s
  • Louis Okoye
  • About writing for The Japan Times while on a tourist visa
  • About the city of Wakkanai in Hokkaido and why Dreux Richrd decided to go there
  • Covering the Karafuto breed of dog in Wakkanai
  • Covering the census in Wakkanai
  • Covering population decline in Japan
  • The mayor of Wakkanai's decision to use part of a new building at a JR train station to create a nursing care facility for the elderly
  • How it was that Dreux Richard came to cover nuclear safety issues in Japan
  • Japan's itinerant nuclear industry workers
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

To pick up a copy of Every Human Intention: Japan in the New Century, please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. It will support the show and it won't cost you anything extra.

You can find more information on Dreux Richard on his website.

Here is a link to the Metropolis Japan article about the Karafuto dog breed that Dreux mentioned during this episode.

To watch Ian Hideo Levy's 2010 lecture, click on the link below.

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

Here is a link to episode 33 of Japan Station.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Donna Burke

Featured image: Courtesy of Dreux Richard

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

15 Apr 202036 The Delicious World of Soba Noodles (Dr. Lorie Brau)01:05:45

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about the fascinating history and culture of soba noodles.

About Dr. Lorie Brau

Dr. Lorie Brau is an assistant professor at the University of New Mexico where she teaches courses on Japanese literature and culture. Dr. Brau has conducted research on a variety of topics, including rakugo and the history and culture of soba noodles. Her research on soba noodles resulted in Soba, Edo Style: Food, Aesthetics, and Cultural Identity, an article which appeared in the book Devouring Japan: Global Perspectives on Japanese Culinary Identity. Currently, Dr. Brau is working on a book called Gourmanga, which focuses on food manga..

Topics Discussed

  • What soba is
  • Soba's usage as a general word meaning "noodles"
  • What distinguishes soba noodles from udon and ramen
  • What an Edokko is
  • Some of the places soba is closely tied to
  • A brief history of soba noodles
  • Okinawa soba
  • Izuomo soba
  • Nishin soba
  •  
  • Soba's emergence as street food during the Edo period
  • Soba's ties to the pleasure quarters of Edo
  • The "proper" way to eat soba noodles
  • Soba's evolution from street food to refined Japanese cuisine
  • What a sobalier (sobarie) is
  • What it was like dining at a members-only soba restaurant in Tokyo
  • Soba's ties to kabuki
  • What iki is
  • Soba's link to the concept of iki
  • Dr. Brau's research on manga centered around food
  • Whether there is a difference between chūka soba and ramen
  • Why the word soba can be used to refer to ramen but not udon
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Image: Japankyo.com

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

 

09 Apr 2025How a J-Pop Star's Stomach Hair Resulted in a NEW Japanese Word (The Origins of Gyarandu/ギャランドゥ) | Japan Station 15200:23:48

On this episode of Japan Station, I dig into the history of a fascinating example of Japanese slang: gyarandu (ギャランドゥ). This is a Japanese word that means refers to the patch of hair some people have between their belly button and public area. Often called "happy trail" or "belly/stomach hair," in English, gyarandu has a really interesting history that goes back to one of Japan's most popular 1980s male pop stars: Hideki Saijo. Listen to the episode to learn more!

👉Topics Discussed

  • What does gyarandu (ギャランドゥ) mean?
  • About the meaning of the 1983 Hideki Saijo song "Gyarandu"
  • What the 1983 Saijo Hideki song "Gyarandu" is about
  • How Saijo Hideki's song "Gyarandu" resulted in the creation of the Japanese slang term gyarandu
  • About the etymology/word origin of gyarandu
  • Who coined the term gyarandu
  • Who wrote the 1983 song "Gyarandu"
  • About Monta Yoshinori and his explanation of what "Gyarandu" means
  • And more

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

If you'd like to listen to a full version of Saijo Hideki's 1983 song "Gyarandu" (ギャランドゥ) you can do so below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yXpgBUshz8

👉Follow on Social Media

15 Dec 201928 Evangeline Neo of Evacomics00:58:24

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast I'm talking with popular webcomic creator Evangeline Neo about her career and her travels in Tokyo.

About Evangeline Neo

Evangeline Neo is an illustrator and comic creator from Singapore. She is best known for her webcomic which has developed a large following and often touches on Japan-related topics. To date she has published four books, including her latest A Manga Lover's Tokyo Travel Guide: My Favorite Things to Do and See in Japan. Put out by Tuttle publishing earlier this year, A Manga Lover's Tokyo Travel Guide is a unique spin on a travel guide that uses comics drawn by Evangeline Neo to present useful information for travelers in Japan.

Topics Discussed

  • When Evangeline got interested in anime and manga
  • The first time Evangeline got her work published
  • Evangeline's art style
  • Going to art school in the US
  • Evangeline's time working on her MBA at Waseda University
  • Traveling in and around Tokyo
  • How Evangeline was able to grow the following of her webcomic
  • A funny experience at a cosplay photo studio
  • Evangeline's experience at Swallowtail Butlers Cafe in Ikebukuro, Tokyo
  • The origins of the term fujoshi
  • The wheelchair accessibility of Meiji Shrine in Tokyo
  • The challenges of writing a travel guide
  • What Evangeline did when she found out her work was being used in Vietnam without her permission
  • And much more!
15 Mar 202034 The Japanese Intelligence Community & Espionage (Dr. Richard Samuels)00:47:59

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're digging into the world of Japanese spycraft and the history of Japan's intelligence community with one of the world's leading experts on the subject: Dr Richard Samuels.

About Dr. Richard Samuels

Richard Samuels is Ford International Professor of Political Science and director of the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a highly distinguished scholar whose research has focused on Japanese intelligence and security, Japan's relationship with the U.S. and China, energy-related policies in Japan, and more. His latest book was published  in 2019 and is title Special Duty: A History of the Japanese Intelligence Community.

Topics Discussed

  • Whether Japan has an equivalent intelligence agency to the CIA
  • The composition of Japan's intelligence agencies
  • The biggest problem Japan's intelligence agencies have had to deal with
  • What stovepipring is
  • How people working in intelligence in Japan were sometimes looked down on in the past
  • How spycraft training in Japan has changed from pre-World War II to today
  • How losing to the U.S. impacted Japan's intelligence capabilities and its focus
  • How 9/11 and Shinzo Abe becoming prime minister in 2012 affected Japan's intelligence community
  • The States Secrets law of 2013
  • The creation of the National Security Council in 2013
  • The push and pull in Japan's government between those who want to be closer to China and those who prefer to be closer to the United States
  • Why Japan's intelligence community became known for information leaks
  • The Musashi Kikan
  • The history and importance of the Nakano School
  • Akashi Motojiro
  • Hirō "Hiroo" Onoda and his connection to the Nakano School
  • The early history of Japanese espionage and the so-called tairiku ronin (continental adverturers)
  • Whether Japan has an equivalent to D.A.R.P.A. (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)
  • And much more!

Links, Videos, Etc.

You can purchase a copy of Special Duty: A History of the Japanese Intelligence Community via the link below. It is an Amazon affiliate link, so using it will support the show and won't cost you anything extra.

Follow Dr. Richard Samuels on Twitter via the link below

Here are a few of some of Dr. Samuel's other books in case you are interested. These are also Amazon affiliate links.

If you're interested in the book about the Nakano School that Dr. Samuels mentions, you can get it via the affiliate link below.

The links below are for the two episodes of the Ichimon Japan podcast that were mentioned during this episode

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

 

15 Apr 201911 Sacred High City, Sacred Low City (Dr. Steven Heine)01:14:31

Episode 11 of the Japan Station podcast is here and this time we're exploring the city of Tokyo.

Dr. Steven Heine is the director of the Asian Studies Program at Florida International University and author of the book Sacred High City, Sacred Low City: A Tale of Religious Sites in Two Tokyo Neighborhoods. In this episode we talk about:

  • The history of Tokyo
  • Why Tokyo is laid out the way it is
  • The differences and similarities between the Shitamachi and Yamanote areas of Tokyo
  • The differences and similarities between the Inarichō and Akasaka neighborhoods of Tokyo
  • Why Inarichō is the "Akihabara of butsuden" (Buddhist altars)
  • What a gendai (contemporary) butsudan is
  • The relationship between the fox god Inari, the legendary creature tengu, and the Sōtō sect of Zen Buddhism
  • Whether Japanese people are religious
  • The 1984 Juzo Itami film Osōshiki (The Funeral)
  • Some not so well-known sites to check out during your next visit to Tokyo
  • And much more!

By the end of this episode you'll have a newfound appreciation for the city of Tokyo.

01 Jan 2023Inside Shinjuku Ni-chōme, Japanese Gay Media & More (Dr. Thomas Baudinette) | Japan Station 10400:59:53

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Dr Thomas Baudinette talks about Shinjuku's Ni-chome district and Japanese media as it relates to queer individuals/gay men in Japan.

About Dr. Thomas Baudinette

Dr. Thomas Baudinette is Senior Lecturer in Japanese and International Studies in the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Languages and Literatures at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. He is a cultural anthropologist whose work has explored consumption of popular culture among queer communities in Japan, Mainland China, Thailand, and the Philippines. He has a particular interest in the transnational spread of Japanese queer popular culture and its impacts on conceptualisations of gender and sexuality. He also investigates K-pop fandom in Japan and Australia. He is also the author of the book Regimes of Desire: Young Gay Men, Media, and Masculinity in Tokyo.

Topics Discussed

  • About Dr. Thomas Baudinette's interest in Japan and research
  • About Regimes of Desire: Young Gay Men, Media, and Masculinity in Tokyo (Volume 93) (Michigan Monograph Series in Japanese Studies)
  • About Shinjuku's No-chome district
  • About researching depictions of queer individuals and gay men in Japanese media (tarento)
  • About the social pressure experienced by gay men in Japan
  • About Johnny's & Associates
  • And much more!

Listen to Japan Station on

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Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

To check out Regimes of Desire, you can use the Amazon link below.

More links below.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

01 Apr 202035 Jidori and the Chicken Industry in Japan (Dr. Benjamin Schrager)01:05:45

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're exploring the history of chicken production in Japan and the fascinating world of artisan jidori chicken.

About Dr. Benjamin Schrager

Dr. Benjamin Schrager is an expert on Japanese food systems and heritage cuisine. He completed his PhD at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2019. His doctoral dissertation--titled Placing Trust: The Political Ecology of Chicken Meat in Japan--focused on the Japanese chicken industry and jidori chicken, with particular emphasis on the Miyazaki Jitokko brand of jidori. Currently, Dr. Schrager is a postdoctoral researcher at Kyoto University's Graduate School of Agriculture.

Topics Discussed

  • What broiler chicken is and what Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) jidori chicken is
  • Chicken Nanban and its origins
  • The many regulations that the Japanese government has implemented to determine what qulifies as JAS jidori chicken
  • The Onagadaori breed of chicken and its incredibly long tail
  • The Tennen Kinenbutsu (Natural Monument) standard
  • How Miyazaki Jitokko compares in terms of its standards to that of other brands of JAS jidori
  • The problems jidori breeders face
  • A brief overlook of the history of chicken breeding in Japan
  • The connection between samurai and chicken breeding
  • What a Native Heirloom Breed is
  • The industrialization of chicken breeding in Japan
  • The introduction of Western chicken breeds into Japan in the 1960s
  • The phenomenon of regional cuisines and specialties in Japan
  • Meeting Emperor Akihito
  • The Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship
  • Chicken sashimi from Miyazaki
  • Health concerns over chicken
  • The experience of talking to Japanese men taking part in a cooking class
  • The difficulty explaining the difference between jidori and broiler chicken to the average person
  • The various meanings of the word jidori
  • Tsukada Nojo
  • Jidori in Hawaii
  • Sumibiyaki chicken
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Images: Courtesy of Benjamin Schrager. Image shows Benjamin Schrager holding a Natural Monument Jitokko.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

 

01 Jun 2023Road Cycling in Japan & Life on the JET Programme (Zeb Ramsbotham) | Japan Station 10901:06:59

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, road cycling in Japan, life on the JET Programme and more with Zeb Ramsbotham.

About Zeb Ramsbotham

Zeb Ramsbotham is experienced road cyclist living in Japan. He competes in cycling events as part of the Japan Bicyclist Club Federation (JBCF). He is also currently on the JET Programme and along with his wife produces the Japan-focused podcast Rambling Ramsbothams.

Topics Discussed

  • Zeb's interest in Japan
  • What road cycling is
  • About road cycling in Japan
  • What it's like competing in the Japan Bicyclist Club Federation (JBCF)
  • About cycling around Japan
  • About the benefits of seeing Japan on bicycle
  • About the JET Programme
  • What it's like getting into the JET Programme
  • The unique aspects of getting to see Japan via the JET Programme
  • And much more

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

To learn more about Zeb, cycling in Japan and life on the JET Programme, check out Zeb's podcast, Rambling Ramsbothams. Links are below.

Follow JapanKyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

01 Sep 2023Seeing Japan While Blind (Maud Rowell) | Japan Station 11200:56:39

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to Maud Rowell, a freelance journalist and writer who spent a year traveling around Japan.

Topics Discussed

  • About Maud Rowell
  • About traveling around Japan as a person with a visual impairment
  • About Blind Spot
  • About becoming interested in Japan
  • About getting a scholarship to travel around a Japan for a year
  • About visiting Hachijojima (青ヶ島) and Aogashima
  • About public transportation in Japan
  • About tactile paving/yellow braille blocks
  • About accessibility for the blind in Japan
  • About doing the 88 Temple Pilgrimmage in Shikoku
  • And much more

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

  • Support on Patreon
    https://patreon.com/japankyo
  • Support on Ko-fi
    https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

Links, Videos, Etc.

 

Fore more on Maud Rowell

  • Blind Spot - Maud Rowell: https://www.404ink.com/store/inklings-blind-spot
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/where.birds.wont.go/

Follow JapanKyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

20 Apr 2025Supernatural Stories from JAPAN (Kevin O'Shea) | Japan Station 15400:47:46

On this episode of Japan Station, supernatural stories, Japanese folklore, Japanese urban legends and more with Kevin O'Shea, host of the Supernatural Japan podcast.

👉Topics Discussed

  • About the Supernatural Japan podcast
  • About Ikuta Shrine's ghost story
  • About the forest behind Ikuta Shrine in Kobe
  • About exploring spooky places in Japan
  • About the Hakkoda Mountain incident
  • About auspicious animals like swallows and owls
  • About Japanese urban legends like Kuchisake Onna and Teketeke
  • About Hibagon
    About Japanese cryptids
  • About Mossie, Japan's Lochness monster
  • And more

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

Links for the Supernatural Japan podcast.

To listen to Kevin O'Shea's previous appreance on Japan Station, check out the link below.

 

If you'd like to listen to a full version of Saijo Hideki's 1983 song "Gyarandu" (ギャランドゥ) you can do so below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yXpgBUshz8

👉Follow on Social Media

08 Mar 202161 How did you become so familiar with Japan? (Bonus Solo Episode)00:16:47

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Tony answers the question: How did you become so familiar with Japan?

About Tony Vega

Tony Vega is a writer, editor, and podcaster. He has lived in Japan as both a student and participant of the JET Programme. He possesses an M.A. in Japanese language and linguistics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Tony is the creator of Japankyo.com and he produces both the Japan Station and Ichimon Japan podcasts. Aside from his work on JapanKyo.com, he is the editor in chief of Wasabi magazine and the producer of the Transmissions from Hawaii podcast. Tony enjoys pizza, sushi, burritos, puns, and overanalyzing absurd things.

Topics Discussed

  • Learning about Japan and the Japanese language
  • Tips for becoming knowledgeable about Japan and the Japanese language
  • The importance of persistence and patience
  • The importance of staying humble
  • The importance of learning the Japanese language in order to better understand all aspects of Japan
  • Graduate school
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

If you enjoyed this solo episode, then you'll probably enjoy episode 33 of Japan Stationi.

Here are the Japan Station episodes that were mentioned in this episode.

If you're interested in checking out Lang-8, you can use the link below.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: JapanKyo.com

Featured image: Courtesy of Romulus Hillsborough/Tuttle Publishing

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

14 Dec 201805 Rakugo Performer, Ventriloquist & Comedian Showko Showfukutei00:40:38

Episode five of the Japan Station podcast is here and this time I'm joined by comedian Showko Showfukutei.

Originally from Kobe, Japan, Showko is a rakugo (Japanese traditional comic storytelling) performer, ventriloquist, and stand up comedian living in Melbourne, Australia. She is the only fully trained rakugo performer living outside of Japan and her unique brand of comedy has taken her all over the world and even the finals of Australia's Got Talent.

In this episode Showko talks about rakugo, the epic tale of how she convinced her rakugo teacher to take her on as his student, the surprising way in which she learned ventriloquism, doing comedy on the streets of London, and much more.

01 Apr 2024How Akira Toriyama Changed the World & My Life | Japan Station 12200:17:20

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about the manga creator Akira Toriyama and his impact on the world and my life.

Topics Discussed

  • About the passing of manga creator Akira Toriyama
  • About the impact and influence of Akira Toriyama on the US and the world
  • About the impact of Dragon Ball and Dragon Ball Z
  • About the popularity of the Dragon Ball franchise around the world
  • About discovering Dragon Ball in Peru
  • And more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

  • Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
  • Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

Links, Videos, Etc.

The Tokaido Challenge Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYU41Z0G4Uc&list=PL7ALB_S1KyWunL6kIbGu_Vtmswe1qxlHq

For More Visit JapanKyo.com

For more of my Japan-focused content, visit the JapanKyo website JapanKyo.com

01 Jun 202167 The Kimono Tattoo: Discussing Kyoto, Kimono & More w. Dr. Rebecca Copeland00:47:11

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about Kyoto, kimono and more with Dr. Rebecca Copeland.

About Dr. Rebecca Copeland

Dr. Rebecca Copeland is a professor of Japanese language and literature at Washington University in St. Louis. Her research specialties include modern and contemporary women's writing in Japan, modern literature, and translation studies. Dr. Copeland also writes fiction and just published her first novel called The Kimono Tattoo (Brother Mockingbird).

Topics Discussed

  • About Dr. Copeland's new novel The Kimono Tattoo
  • Some of the aspects of Dr. Copeland's life that influenced and appear in The Kimono Tattoo
  • On spending time in Kyoto
  • Some of Dr. Copeland's favorite places in Kyoto
  • About Tanukidani-san Fudō-in Temple
  • Exploring Kyoto and going off the beaten path
  • The canals that run along the Philosopher's Path
  • What inspired the "cursed kimono" that is one of the focuses of The Kimono Tattoo
  • The recycling of kimono fabric
  • How valued items such as kimono are sometimes thought to be imbued with the spirit of its creators
  • About studying traditional Japanese dance (Nihon Buyō)
  • About the classic strict student-teacher dynamic often see in traditional Japanese arts
  • On Dr. Copeland's transition to writing fiction
  • The long process of writing The Kimono Tattoo
  • On future plans for a sequel to The Kimono Tattoo that furthers the story of Ruth Bennett
  • About Yamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain Witch and Dr. Copeland's story Blue Ridge Yamamba
  • What the yamamba is
  • About the experience of teaching inmates at the Missouri Eastern Correctional Center about Japan
  • On how getting to learn about Japan and the Japanese language is a privilege
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

To pick up a copy of The Kimono Tattoo, please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. It will not cost you anything extra and it will support the show.

To pick up a copy of Yamamba: In Search of the Japanese Mountain Witch, consider using the Amazon affiliate link below.

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Dr. Rebecca Copeland

Featured image: Courtesy of Rebecca Copeland

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

21 Jun 2024Osaka ComicCon: Should You Go? | Japan Station 12900:29:14

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about Osaka ComicCon. Is worth attending? What should you expect? Listen to find out!

👉Topics Discussed

  • About Osaka ComicCon
  • What you should expect at Osaka ComicCon
  • Where Osaka ComicCon was held
  • And more!

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

 

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

  • None

👉Follow on Social Media

01 Jul 202293 Kitano Takeshi, Zatoichi & Japanese Movies (Dr. Jonathan Wroot)01:23:40

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Dr. Jonathan Wroot tells us about the movies of Ktano Takeshi, the fascinating history of the Zatoichi films, and more..

About Dr. Jonathan Wroot

Dr. Jonathan Wroot is a senior lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Greenwich and the author of the book The Paths of Zatoichi: The Global Influence of the Blind Swordsman.

Topics Discussed

  • About the boom in Japanese films in the early to mid 2000s
  • About Kitano Takeshi and his films
  • On studying Asian cinema
  • About Kitano Takeshi's Violent Cop
  • About Kitano Takeshi's remake of Zatoichi
  • About the Zatoichi films and their history
  • Jidaigeki vs chanbara
  • About the influence of Zatoichi on film and pop culture around the world
  • The influence of Zatoichi on Daredevil
  • About Shintaro Katsu
  • About some of the differences int he Zatoichi films
  • The Zatoichi TV show
  • The original Zatoichi short story in which Zatoichi first appears
  • The crazy finale of the Zatoichi film directed by Hiroshi Teshigahara
  • About dubs and subtitling
  • Voice actors in Japan that always do the same voices of Western actors
  • Crazy Japanese commercials featuring Western celebrities
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

To pick up a copy of The Paths of Zatoichi, you can use the link below. Remember to use the discount code LXFANDF30 to get 30% off (valid until the end of 2022).

The link below is for the list of blog articles about Dr. Wroot's experience watching 30 Zatoichi films in 30 days.

Here is Dr. Wroot's ranking of the Zatoichi films.

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

01 Mar 2023Extreme Weather in Japan (Storm Chaser James Reynolds) | Japan Station 10600:50:18

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, James Reynolds tells us about documenting extreme weather in Japan and around the world..

About James Reynolds

James Reynolds is a professional storm chaser who spends his days documenting extreme weather events in Japan and around the world.

Topics Discussed

  • About moving to Japan and learning Japanese
  • How James Reynolds got started chasing storms and documenting extreme weather in Japan
  • Extreme floods in Kyushu
  • Typhoons in Japan
  • Extreme weather in the Ryukyu Islands/Okinawa
  • The architecture in Okinawa and how it holds up against in extreme weather
  • Landslides and flash floods in Kyushu
  • The extreme cold and snow conditions seen in Japan in January of 2023
  • The large amounts of snow some areas of Japan get
  • Covering Japan's most active volcano Sakurajima in Kagoshima
  • Covering volcanoes in Indonesia
  • Covering the 2011 Tohoku earthquake & tsunami
  • About traveling
  • About James' YouTube channel
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

Check out James Reynolds' work on Twitter and YouTube.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

23 Oct 2018Episode 0 Welcome to Japan Station00:03:30

This is a quick preview of Japankyo.com's new podcast: Japan Station. On this episode host Tony Vega talks a little bit about himself and what to expect in this podcast.

Features clips of Dominic Pearce (Episode 1), Ann Lethin (Episode 2), and Jonathan Clements (Episode 3).

New episodes will be coming out on the first of every month with occasional bonus episodes dropping on the 15th. The first episode comes out on November 1st, so subscribe now and don't miss it!

Enjoy!

21 Feb 2025What is ODEN? A Deep Dive into a Classic Japanese Winter Food | Japan Station 14700:47:12

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about oden, one of Japan's most popular winter foods.

👉Topics Discussed

  • What is oden?
  • Where to buy oden in Japan?
  • What are the common igredients of oden?
  • The history of oden
  • Where the name oden came from
  • About dengaku
  • About regional varieties of oden
  • Whether oden tastes good
  • Should you try oden?
  • What is konjac?
  • Our favorite oden ingredients
  • About the infamous 2016 "oden tsun tsun otoko" (oden poke man) convenience store incident
  • And more

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

No links

👉Follow on Social Media

23 Oct 2021ANNOUNCEMENT: JapanKyo Docs Now On YouTube!!!!00:02:36

Tony Vega has teamed up with Kyle from the Tokyo Splosion podcast to launch a new YouTube channel called JapanKyo Docs.

On the channel we will be introducing people to doing interesting things in Japan via documentary style videos!

Click on the link below to check it out. Please subscribe and support us in this endeavor!

And in case you haven't listened to the Tokyo Splosion podcast, here's a link! It's a really fun show.

21 Jul 2024Japan's UNBELIEVABLE DOG Pilgrimages | Japan Station 13100:30:54

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about how dogs in Japan used to go on religious pilgrimages (maybe?).

👉Topics Discussed

  • About religious pilgrimages in Japan
  • About the 88 temple pilgrimage in Shikoku
  • About Konpira/Kotohira
  • About Konpira inu
  • About the supposed history of dogs going on pilgrimages to Konpira Shrine in Kagawa Prefecture
  • About the story of Shiro the dog from Fukushima who supposedly traveled to Ise Shrine and back
  • About Ise Jingu
  • About the Ise Pilgrimage
  • How likely it is that dogs in Japan actually went on religious pilgrimages
  • About okage inu
  • About the statue of Shiro the dog in Junenji Temple in Sukakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture(福島県須賀川市池上町・十念寺)
  • About Shiro's owner Ishihara Sadaemon Tsunashige (市原貞右衛門綱稠)
  •  
  • And more!

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

 

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

👉Follow on Social Media

15 Nov 202179 The Green Tea History You Didn't Know: About the History of Green Tea in Japan & the U.S. (Dr. Robert Hellyer)00:44:34

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Dr. Robert Hellyer stops by to discuss the shared history of green tea in Japan and the U.S., as well as his new book Green with Milk and Sugar: When Japan Filled America’s Tea Cups.

About Dr. Robert Hellyer

Robert Hellyer is associate professor of history at Wake Forest University. He is the author of Defining Engagement: Japan and Global Contexts, 1640–1868 and coeditor of The Meiji Restoration: Japan as a Global Nation. His latest book is Green with Milk and Sugar: When Japan Filled America’s Tea Cups.

Topics Discussed

  • The various kinds of green tea
  • The popularity of maccha
  • About William Alt's success in Japan as a tea trader during the 1800s
  • About Hellyer & Company
  • Why Dr. Hellyer became interested in Japan and green tea
  • How drinking green tea was not strange or uncommon in the U.S. in the late 1800s and early part of the 1900s
  • Old American advertisements from the 19th century
  • How Japan would send delegations to World Fairs starting in the late 19th century to promote tea consumption
  • The shift from Chinese style Japanese green tea to Japanese style Japanese green tea
  • American tea culture fromt he 19th century
  • American tea parties
  • How green tea was also thrown into the harbor during the Boston Tea Party
  • Racism and xenophobia throughout the history of green tea the in the U.S. 
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

If you would like to pick up Dr. Hellyer's book, you can purchase it from Columbia University Press or via the JapanKyo Amazon Affiliate link below.

Checkout the JapanKyo Docs YouTube channel!

Use the link below to check out the latest episode of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Chelsea Szendi Schieder

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

15 Oct 202050 Yūrei, Ghosts & Yōkai, A Chat w. Zack Davisson01:07:12

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about creepy apartments and Japanese ghosts with Japanese folklore expert, writer, and translator Zack Davisson.

About Zack Davisson

Zack Davisson is an award-winning translator, writer, and lecturer whose work focuses primarily on Japanese folklore. Davisson has written extensively about yōkai and Japanese ghosts (yūrei), as well as translated the works of renowned Japanese writers and manga artists such as Shigeru Mizuki and Satoshi Kon.

Topics Discussed

  • Zack Davisson's time living at Kishigami Bunka in an apartment that was thought to be haunted
  • The process you typically go through when trying to find an apartment in Japan
  • What reikin is
  • How Zack Davisson became interested in folklore and the supernatural
  • Japan's relationship with the supernatural
  • What Obon is and its connection to ghosts/spirits
  • Zack Davisson's advice for those studying Japanese
  • What reikan is
  • What a yurei is
  • Documenting yokai in early modern Japan
  • Differing views on whether yūrei are a type of yōkai
  • The English term "ghost" and how its meaning has changed
  • The Japanese drama Yōkai Sharehouse (Yōkai Sheahausu)
  • The characteristics that make yūrei distinct from other ghosts/sporits
  • The historical origins of the visual characteristics of yūrei
  • Maruyama Okyo's influential depiction of yūrei
  • Kabuki's connection to and influence over the popular conception of what a yūrei looks like
  • Unfulfilled desire as the fuel and reason for existence of a yurei
  • The peace and prosperity of the Edo Period
  • The boom in ghost stories during the Edo Period
  • Cursed productions
  • The updated edition of Yurei: The Japanese Ghost
  • Recent projects that Zack Davisson has been working on
  • Shigeru Mizuki's adaptation of Tono Monogatari by Yangagida Kunio
  • The Amabie and its rise to prominence during the coronavirus pandemic
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

You can use the link below to purchase Yurei: The Japanese Ghost on Amazon. The link is an Amazon affiliate link so using it will support the show without costing you anything extra.

Follow Zack Davisson on Twitter.

Read Zack Davisson's article about Shigeru Mizuki.

If you'd like to check out Kimito Designs, use the link below. Reminder: the 10% discount code is OPENING10 (valid until the end of 2020).

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Zack Davisson

Featured image: Courtesy of Zack Davisson

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Full Show Notes

15 Apr 202164 Yuji Dreams of Noodles: Chatting About Ramen, Fish & Osakana w. Restaurant Owner & Fish Expert Yuji Haraguchi00:49:07

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Yuji Haraguchi--owner of multiple Japanese restaurants and the Osakana fish market in Brooklyn, New York--talks about his interest in food, his career, fish, ramen, and more.

About Yuji Haraguchi

Yuji Haraguchi has started and owned multiple Japanese restaurants in the United States and Japan. He is based in Brooklyn, New York where he owns and operates Okonomi/Yuji Ram and the popular Japanese-style fish market Osakana.

Topics Discussed

  • About Yuji Haraguchi's early life in Japan
  • How Yuji became interested in cooking
  • Leaving Japan for Boston
  • How Yuji got into selling fish
  • Learning about fish and the fish industry
  • On selling and marketing Japanese fish and seafood to restaurants in Boston
  • The rising popularity of Japanese food in the US through the 2000s
  • Getting into the ramen business
  • On trying to make ramen more appealing to Americans unfamiliar with ramen
  • Creating Tuna-kotsu (tuna bone) ramen
  • Opening Yuji Ramen in 2012
  • Creating a carbonara inspired bacon & egg mazemen (brothless ramen)
  • Starting the Osakana fish market in  Brooklyn
  • The concept and motivation behind Osakama
  • The success of Osakana
  • The educational videos Yuji makes for the Osakana YouTube channel
  • The misconception that wild fish is always better than farm raised fish
  • Yuji's approach to teaching people about fish and how to handle fish
  • The factors that distinguish "sushi grade fish" from non-sushi grade fish
  • On opening restaurants in Japan
  • The dangers of expanding a restaurant franchise too quickly
  • The current potential of Japanese food in the United States
  • The booming popularity of ramen in Southeast Asia
  • On getting Japanese ingredients
  • About Sun Noodle
  • How Yuji adapted to doing business during the coronavirus pandemic
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

Below is a list of links for the websites and social media accounts of Yuji Haraguchi's businesses.

Below is the link to the Osakana YouTube channel. There you will find educational videos about how to handle and prepare fish, as well as other useful information about Japanese cuisine.

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Dr. Katarzyna Cwiertka

Featured image: Courtesy of Yuji Haraguchi

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Full Show Notes

23 Apr 202037 Anthony Joh of Tokyo Podcast00:56:22

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're joined by Anthony Joh of Tokyo Podcast.

About Anthony Joh

Anthony Joh is an entrepreneur, digital marketing consultant, and longtime podcaster. After moving to Thailand about a decade ago Anthony helped start The Bangkok Podcast. He then started the long-running Tokyo Podcast after relocating to Japan. He recently started releasing episodes of Tokyo Podcast again after an extended hiatus.

Topics Discussed

  • Some of the most memorable episodes of Tokyo Podcast
  • How and why Anthony decided to start podcasting while living in Thailand
  • What led Anthony to move to Japan
  • What frustrated Anthony about working in Japan
  • Why Anthony decided to move back to Canada
  • Life in Victoria, Canada
  • Why Anthony decided to go back to Japan
  • Anthony's plans for Tokyo Podcast
  • And much more!
  • Note: The conversation on this episode was recorded on April 20, 2020 (JST).

Note: The conversation on this episode was recorded on April 20, 2020 (JST)

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

Links, Videos, Etc.

To listen to Tokyo Podcast, check out the links below

Here are the episodes of Tokyo Podcast that were mentioned during this episode.​

Follow Tokyo Podcast on Twitter.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Anthony Joh

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

 

 

15 Jun 2022Transmissions from Hawaii: Kauai's Wild Chickens00:47:25

Transmissions from Hawaii on Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transmissions-from-hawaii/id1540385139

Transmissions from Hawaii on Google Podcasts

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly90cmFuc21pc3Npb25zZnJvbWhhd2FpaS5saWJzeW4uY29tL3Jzcw

Transmissions from Hawaii on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh-K2F3zUNLkRszPE92EYJQ

14 Jan 202030 Understanding "Otaku" and Akihabara w. Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith01:12:24

On This Episode of Japan Station

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about "otaku," the history of the anime "holy land" of Akihabara, and a whole lot more.

About Koichi

Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith is an lecturer at Senshu University in Tokyo. He is one of the world's leading expert on the topic of Akihabara and the related subcultures that are often associated with this famous district of Tokyo. Galbraith is the author of man y books and articles, including Tokyo Realtime (2010), The Otaku Encyclopedia: An Insider's Guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan (2014), The Moe Manifesto: An Insider's Look at the Worlds of Manga, Anime, and Gaming (2017), and others. His most recent book, published by Duke University Press Books in 2019, is Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan.u,

Topics Discussed

  • Dr. Galbraith's first visit to Akihabara
  • Hayao Miyazaki's complicated relationship with fandom during the early part of his career
  • The character Clarisse de Cagliostro from the 1979 film Lupin Third: The Castle of Calgiostro
  • The different waves of anime fandom in Japan
  • The lolicon/rorikon Boom of the first half of the 1980s
  • The word lolicon/rorikon and its various meanings
  • The connection of the character Lum Invader from Urusei Yatsura and her connection to the cocept of lolicon/rorikon
  • How computers and adult computer games (eroge or erogē) helped transform Akihabara into what it is today
  • The ongoing struggle between the "otaku" of Akihabara and the Japanese government
  • What the future holds for Akihabara
  • What the current status of maid cafes in Akihabara is
  • The tendency of trying to link anime and manga back to ukiyo-e woodblock prints from the Edo period
  • The problematic idea that tentacles are a uniquely "Japanese" thing
  • And much more!

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02 Jan 2024Happy New Year 2024! | Japan Station 118.500:18:02

Subscribe to the JapanKyo YouTube

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Watch the Tokaido Challenge video series

Part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYU41Z0G4Uc&t=6s

Part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-1WTOptzYY&t=18s

Part 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMFnK5sN9mI&t=5s

 

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01 Dec 201927 The Bells of Old Tokyo (Anna Sherman)01:04:23

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast we're talking about the city of Tokyo and its "bells of time."

About Minami Sakai

Anna Sherman is an editor and writer living in Oxford, England. Sherman spent many years living in Tokyo and used many of her experiences there to write her first book: The Bells of Old Tokyo: Meditation on Time and a City. Published earlier this year by Picador, The Bells of Old Tokyo is a unique and thoroughly captivating book that uses Tokyo's "bells of time" as jumping off point to explore both the history of the city and the very nature of time itself.

Topics Discussed

  • Studying Greek and Latin
  • How Anna ended up in Japan
  • What led Anna to write The Bells of Old Tokyo
  • What Tokyo's "bells of time" (toki no kaneare and what their function was
  • The Kokucho bell of time in Nihonbashi
  • The Tenmacho prison (Tenmachō Yashiki) and efforts to preserve it.
  • The missing bell of Mejiro
  • The constantly changing nature of Tokyo
  • How Japan reacted to Einstein's general theory of relativity
  • Anna's relationship with a mysterious woman named Shoko Takahashi
  • The nature of time and what working on The Bells of Old Tokyo taught Anna
  • And much more!

For full show notes visit https://www.japanstationpodcast.com

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/japankyonews

Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews

01 Jun 2024Walking Historical Kyoto with Phillip Jackson | Japan Station 12800:50:29

On this episode of Japan Station, writer and Kyoto expert Phillip Jackson tells about some great walking areas in Japan's ancient capital city. WARNING: This episode will make you want to go to Kyoto!

👉Topics Discussed

  • About Phillip Jackson
  • The fascinating history of Kyoto
  • Lesser known places to visit in Kyoto
  • A trail in Uji you should check out
  • And more!

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

 

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

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01 Jun 201914 Documenting the Lives of Brazilians in Japan (Aaron Litvin, Ana Paula Kojima Hirano, Marlom Meirelles)00:48:03

Episode 14 of the Japan Station podcast is here and this time we're learning about Brazilians in Japan.

Released in 2017, One Day We Arrived in Japan is a gripping documentary that follows the lives of three Brazilian families who move to Japan in search of a better future. Ten years in the making, One Day We Arrived in Japan is a truly unique documentary that sheds light on the often overlooked and misunderstood community of Brazilians that call Japan home.

This episode of Japan Station features the three core members of the team that made One Day We Arrived in Japan. These include: Aaron Litvin (director, producer, cinematographer), Ana Paula Kojima Hirano (director, cinematographer, editor), and Marlom Meirelles (producer, creative consultant, editor).

In this episode we discuss:

  • What led to the creation of One Day We Arrived in Japan
  • The history of Brazilian immigration to Japan and its status today
  • Ana Paula's experiences in both Japan and Brazil as a Brazilian of Japanese descent
  • How Aaron and Ana Paula found families willing to be filmed
  • The difficult editing process that Marlom went through
  • Why it is so difficult for Brazilians to adjust to life in Japan
  • And more.
01 Sep 2024The Tale of Genji Explained (Dr. Lynne Miyake) | Japan Station 13400:53:49

about, it's its significance and its fascinating manga adaptations.

👉Topics Discussed

  • What The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) is about
  • The historical significance of The Tale of Genji
  • The influence of The Tale of Genji 
  • About the ending of The Tale of Genji
  • About the English translations of The Tale of Genji and their differences
  • About the many manga adaptations of The Tale of Genji
  • About the manga II ne, Hikaru Genji
  • About what is so interesting about The Tale of Genji
  • About how The Tale of Genji is taught in schools in Japan
  • About the versions of The Tale of Genji that are cleaned up and adapted for children
  • About tourist sites related to The Tale of Genji
  • About Dr. Lynne Miyake's book: The Tale of Genji through Contenporary Manga
  • And more!

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

 

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

👉Follow on Social Media

01 Feb 2023Behind the Scenes at a Ryokan: Understanding Japanese Inns (Dr Chris McMorran | Japan Station 10501:00:03

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Dr. Chris McMorran talks about what it's like working at a rural ryokan (Japanese inn).

About Dr. Chris McMorran

Chris McMorran is Associate Professor of Japanese Studies at the National University of Singapore. He is a cultural geographer of contemporary Japan focusing on the geographies of home across scale, from the body to the nation. He is the author of Ryokan: Mobilizing Hospitality in Rural Japan (University of Hawai’i Press), an ethnography of a Japanese inn, based on twelve months spent scrubbing baths, washing dishes, and making guests feel at home in Kurokawa Onsen. He also researches tourism, disasters, gendered labor, area studies, field-based learning, and popular culture, including as co-editor of Teaching Japanese Popular Culture. Finally, Chris co-produces the Home on the Dot podcast with NUS students. The podcast explores the complex spaces and meanings of home in Singapore, through the lives of young people.

Topics Discussed

  • About Dr. Thomas Baudinette's interest in Japan and research
  • About ryokan (Japanese inns)
  • About what it's like to work at a ryokan
  • About the tasks expected of a ryokan employee
  • About who works at ryokans
  • About genered labor at ryokan
  • Whether you should leave a tip at a ryokan
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

To get a copy of Ryokan: Mobilizing Hospitality in Rural Japan you can use the link below or check wherever books are sold.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

 

15 Jul 202294 Japan's Digital Economy: On Women & Labor in the Digital Age (Dr. Gabriella Lukacs)00:53:02

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Dr. Gabriella Lukacs joins us to talk about some early internet history in Japan and the role of women in Japan's digital economy.

About Dr. Gabriella Lukacs

Dr. Gabriella Lukacs is a professor in the department of Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh and the author of the book Invisibility by Design: Women and Labor in Japan's Digital Economy.

Topics Discussed

  • About the book Invisibility by Design
  • How Dr. Lukacs got interested in researching women and digital labor in Japan
  • Tech and digital economy trends in Japan
  • Mixi & Nico Nico Douga
  • The rise & fall of Japanese ell phones
  • About the rise of "girly photography" in the 90s
  • About Hiromix
  • About Net Idols (netto aidoru)
  • About the rise of blogs and blogging platofrms in Japan
  • About the bijin trader boom (female day traders)
  • How women were marketed as financially savvy and excellent day traders
  • Labor and the digital economy in general
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

To pick up a copy of Dr. Lukacs book, consider using the affiliate link below.

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

 

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

15 Apr 2024The Real Reason I Walked from Kyoto to Tokyo | Japan Station 12400:19:37

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about why I decided to walk the old Tokaido Road in 2023 and the impact it had. This episode features a speech I did for the 2024 state convention of the Hawaii Association of the Blind.

Topics Discussed

  • Why I walked the Tokaido in 2023
  • What my goal was
  • How I raised awareness of the blind & visually impaired community by walking from Kyoto to Tokyo
  • And more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

  • Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
  • Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

Links, Videos, Etc.

Subscribe to JapanKyo on YouTube

JapanKyo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews

For More Visit JapanKyo.com

For more of my Japan-focused content, visit the JapanKyo website JapanKyo.com

15 Jan 2024Why there's a DOGE statue in Japan! | Japan Station 11900:31:30

On this episode of Japan Station, we learn about the new statue of the famous Kabosu the shibainu (a.k.a. Doge) that was erected in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture. Are you ready to go on "the Doge Pilgrimage?"

Topics Discussed

  • About the history of Kabosu the Shibainu and the Doge meme
  • About the process of creating the Doge statue that is in Sakura City in Chiba Prefecture near Narita Airport
  • About how the creation of the Doge statue was funded
  • How the Own the Doge organization created the bronze Doge statue
  • About connecting and communicating with the mayor of Sakura City in Chiba Prefecture
  • About the Own the Doge organization
  • About Atsuko Sato
  • About auctioning off the couch seen in the original photo used in the Doge meme
  • About the big unveiling ceremony of the Doge statue in November of 2023
  • About John Monarch's (creator of the Doge meme) role in the Own the Doge and Bronze Doge pprojects
  • And much more

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

  • Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
  • Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

Links, Videos, Etc.

Here's all the relevent links

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For More Visit JapanKyo.com

For more of my Japan-focused content, visit the JapanKyo website JapanKyo.com

29 Oct 202410 Japanese Abbreviations & Contractions To Know! | Japan Station 13700:44:02

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about Japanese abbreviations/contractions, give 12 examples and discuss their origins.

👉Topics Discussed

  • About abbreviations and contractions in Japanese
  • About waseieigo (made in English)
  • About the origins of the Sharp company
  • About the Japanese word wanchan 
  • About the possible origin of the word potation in Japanese: jagaimo
  • And more!

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

Today's words

  • Kyōkasho
    • 教科書 【きょうかしょ】 (n) textbook; coursebook; schoolbook
  • karaoke
    • カラオケ : 空オケ 【からオケ; カラオケ(P)】 (n) (uk) (from 空 and オーケストラ) karaoke
  • dentaku
    • 電卓 【でんたく】 (n) (abbr) (See 電子式卓上計算機) calculator (electronic); pocket calculator
  • sofutokurīmu
    • ソフトクリーム : ソフトクリーム; ソフト・クリーム (n) {food} soft serve ice cream (wasei: soft cream)
  • bōrupen
    • ボールペン : ボールペン(P); ボール・ペン (n) ball-point pen (wasei: ball pen)
  • shāpen
    • シャーペン : シャーペン; シャープペン; シャアペン(sk) (n) (abbr) (See シャープペンシル) mechanical pencil; automatic pencil; propelling pencil
  • chūhai
    • 酎ハイ 【ちゅうハイ; チューハイ(P); チュウハイ】 (n) (uk) (abbr) (See 焼酎ハイボール) shōchū highball; cocktail of shōchū with tonic water
  • purikura
    • プリクラ (n) (abbr) photo booth that prints out cards and stickers of the resulting photograph, which are then traded among friends (wasei: print club)
  • ワイシャツ
    • ワイシャツ : Yシャツ 【ワイシャツ】 (n) (uk) (formal) shirt (eng: white shirt); dress shirt; business shirt; button-up shirt
  • densha
    • 電車 【でんしゃ】 (n) train; electric train
  • wanchan
    • ワンチャン (n) (1) (abbr) (See ワンチャンス) one chance; only opportunity; (n) (2) (sl) maybe; perhaps; there is a chance that; (n) (3) (sl) one-night stand; : ワンちゃん(P); わんちゃん; ワンチャン ; (n) (chn) (See わんわん・1) doggie; pooch; bow-wow
  • jagaimo
    • ジャガイモ : じゃが芋(P); ジャガ芋(P) 【じゃがいも(じゃが芋)(P); ジャガいも(ジャガ芋)(P); ジャガイモ】 (n) (uk) (See ジャガタラ芋) potato (Solanum tuberosum)

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01 Mar 2024We Bought a Geisha House! About Geisha House Atami | Japan Station 12100:46:48

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking to the owners of Geisha House Atami and learning about what it's like to buy an old house in Japan, restore it and more!

Topics Discussed

  • About Geisha House Atami
  • About Atami
  • About the history of Atami
  • About what it's like buying an old house in Japan
  • Whether you should buy a cheap abandoned house in Japan
  • What you should be aware of before you try to buy a house in Japan
  • What can be annoying about buying an old house in Japan
  • What you can expect when you visit Geisha House Atami
  • And much more

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

  • Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
  • Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

Links, Videos, Etc.

Geisha House Atami Links

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For more of my Japan-focused content, visit the JapanKyo website JapanKyo.com

 

15 Jan 202283 Japan on American TV: SNL, Sesame Street, Marie Kondo & More (Dr. Alisa Freedman)00:56:41

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about depictions of Japan and Japanese people on popular American TV shows with Dr. Alisa Freedman.

About Dr. Alisa Freedman

Alisa Freedman is a Professor of Japanese Literature, Cultural Studies, and Gender at the University of Oregon and the Editor-in-Chief of the U.S.–Japan Women’s Journal. Her books include Tokyo in Transit: Japanese Culture on the Rails and Road, an annotated translation of Kawabata Yasunari’s The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa, and co-edited volumes on Modern Girls on the Go: Gender, Mobility, and Labor in Japan, and Introducing Japanese Popular Culture. She has published widely on Japanese modernism, Tokyo studies, youth culture, gender, television, humor as social critique, teaching pedagogies, and digital media, along with publishing translations of Japanese literature. Alisa has been nationally recognized for excellence in mentoring and enjoys presenting at cultural events like anime cons and Japan festivals.

Topics Discussed

  • About Japan on American TV: Screaming Samurai Join Anime Clubs in the Land of the Lost
  • About depictions of Japan and Japanese people in American TV shows
  • The taboo regarding the depiction of the Japanese royal family in Japanese media
  • Self-censorship in Japan and Japanese media
  • How Japanese mainstream media stays away from political topics
  • About the Japanese version of SNL that aired in 2011
  • The variety show Pink Lady (and Jeff)
  • How trends and tropes have shaped the depictions of Japan and Japanese people on American TV shows
  • How Marie Kondo presents herself as both "Japanese" and "American"
  • About Queer Eye: We're in Japan!
  • About the SNL skit JPop America Fun Time Now
  • The influence of Japanese pop culture on the generation that grew up consuming it
  • About Big Bird in Japan 
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

To purchase a copy of X while at the same time supporting the show, please use the Amazon affiliate link below.

 

Use the link below to check out the latest JapanKyo Docs video.

Don't forget to listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Alisa Freedman

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

01 Apr 202288 Digging Up Japanese Lost Media: Discussing Saki Sanobashi, the Mysterious Akihabara Tape & More (Alex from Sakura Stardust)00:44:40

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking with Alex from the Sakura Stardust YouTube channel. She tells us about Japanese lost media and digs into some specific examples like Saki Sanobashi and the mysterious Akihabara cassette tape.

About Alex (Sakura Stardust)

Alex runs the popular YouTube channel Sakura Stardust. In her videos Alex focuses primarily on Japanese lost media. She has covered everything from internet mysteries to lost anime and more.

Topics Discussed

  • How Alex from the Sakura Stardust became interested in Japan and the Japanese language
  • The evolution of the Sakura Stardust YouTube channel
  • The abundance of lost media videos and creators on YouTube
  • About Japanese lost media
  • The case of the mysterious Akihabara cassette tape
  • Dealing with copyright issues as a YouTuber covering Japanese media
  • About Totally Not Mark's copyright problems with Toei Animation
  • About Saki Sanobashi (Go for a Punch)
  • Whether we think Saki Sanobashi exists
  • Finding a recording of the NHK show Monster School
  • About Sazae-san
  • Alex (Sakura Stardust)'s process for doing research in Japanese
  • Japanese internet slang
  • About visiting Japan
  • Future plans for the Sakura Stardust YouTube channel
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

Subscribe to the Sakura Stardust YouTube channel for more content on Japanese lost media. You can also follow Alex on Twitter to stay up to date with what she is working on.

Here is the video about the mysterious Akihabara cassette tape.

Alex covered Saki Sanobashi in this video.

The popular YouTuber Whang covered Saki Sanobashi in this video.

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi’s music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

12 Jun 201915 Gaijin Goombah00:53:52

Gaijin Goombah is the guest today on this episode of the Japan Station podcast.

Gaijin Goombah is a YouTuber who has made a successful career out of teaching people about the real world culture and history that is present in many of today's most popular video games and anime. Gaijin Goombah's interest in Japan is one that goes quite far back and led him to both study abroad and work in Japan. Aside from running his own very popular YouTube channel he also streams on Twitch.

In this episode we discuss:

  • How Gaijin Goombah became interested in Japan
  • The interesting role the film Kill Bill played in Gaijin Goombah's life
  • How Gaijin Goombah went from wanting to be an actor to working with Matthew Patrick (MatPat) of The Game Theorists YouTube channel
  • Gaijin Goombah's time living in Japan
  • Gaijin Goombah's experience teaching English as part of the JET Program
  • The stresses of being a YouTuber
  • How monetization works on YouTube vs. streaming and which is more profitable
  • What Gaijin Goombah finds rewarding about his creating videos
  • The research process Gaijin Goombah undertakes when creating a video
  • Popular misconceptions surrounding ninja
  • Why the recent reboot of GeGeGe no Kitaro is a must-watch anime
  • Gaijin Goombah's views on moe
  • Why anime is an amazing medium
  • And much more!
15 Oct 20221000He Started a Craft Beer Bar in Tokyo, Here's How (Kyle Broyles of Pintology)00:57:37

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Kyle Broyles of Pintology in Tokyo tells us about the process of starting and running a craft beer in Tokyo. Plus we celebrate episode 100 of Japan Station!

About Kyle Broyles

Kyle Broyles helps his wife run Pintology, a craft beer bar near Shinjuku in Tokyo. Kyle is also known as one of the guys behind the Tokyo Splosion podcast and the Hard Officers YouTube channel.

Topics Discussed

  • About JapanKyo Docs
  • About the recently opened craft beer bar Pintology in Sasazuka, Tokyo
  • The story behind Pintology
  • About the process of opening a bar in Tokyo
  • About Tap & Growler in Shimokitazawa
  • About building the interior of a craft beer bar
  • About how easy and cheap it is to get a liquor license in Tokyo, Japan
  • About getting a liquor serving license in Japan
  • How people in Japan may be drinking less alcohol
  • About cheese in Japan
  • About John the cheese guy in Okinawa
  • About events at Pintology
  • About the Sasazuka area in Shibuya, Tokyo
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

You can find Pintology Craft Beer and Whisky at:

〒151-0073 Tokyo, Shibuya City, Sasazuka, 1 Chome−33−10

You can also follow Pintology on Instagram.

Check out JapanKyo Docs via the link below.

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

15 Sep 202048 Pregnancy & Marriage in Low-Fertility Japan (Dr. Amanda C. Seaman)01:01:25

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're exploring beliefs and traditions surrounding pregnancy in Japan, as well as how ideas about marriage have evolved in Japan since the Edo period. We also take a detour into the world of NES era game localization.

About Dr. Amanda C. Seaman

Dr. Amanda C. Seaman is a professor of Japanese language and literature and the Associate Chair of the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is the author of Writing Pregnancy in Low-Fertility Japan and Bodies of Evidence.

Topics Discussed

  • How Dr. Seaman became interested in researching the ideas and culture surrounding pregnancy in Japan
  • Japanese women's detective fiction
  • Yumi Matsuo's book Balloon Town no Satsujin (Murder in Balloon Town)
  • What a haraobi (bellyband) are used for
  • Shungicu Uchida
  • Negative views/ideas surrounding pregnancy in Japan
  • How Buddhism and Shinto have shaped ideas around pregnancy in Japan
  • Menstruation as kegare
  • Spiritual possession during childbirth and The Tale of Genji
  • Giving birth during the Edo period
  • Why it was preferred to give birth to a smaller baby
  • The changing perspectives on marriage in Japan that emerged int he 1960s
  • Ideas surrounding marriage in the Edo period
  • The role the marriage of Crown Price Akihito played in shaping views on marriage in Japan
  • What women in Japan look for in a marriage partner and how priorities have changed over the last several decades
  • The idea that women should stay silent during childbirth
  • The idea that woemn in Japan should not gain more than 10 kg during their pregnancy
  • The reluctance of Japanese doctors to perform C-sections
  • Midwives in Japan
  • Japan's decreasing birthrate
  • The 1.57 shock
  • Attempts made by the Japanese government to increase Japan's birthrate and get Japanese fathers more involved in child rearing
  • Labor pain as a demonstration of how much a mother is willing to endure for their child
  • The idea that pregnant Japanese women should avoid food of foreign origin
  • Working for Fuji Sankei and localizing NES games
  • Working with Nintendo on scripts for NES games
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

Links, Videos, Etc.

If you would like to purchase Writing Pregnancy in Low-Fertility Japan, please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. It won't cost you anything extra and it supports the show.

As for Devouring Japan, you can purchase it using the Amazon affiliate link below.

To listen to the soba noodles episode of Japan Station, use the link below.

Use the link below to listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Amanda C. Seaman

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

 

25 Dec 2019Presenting Ichimon Japan: A Podcast by Japankyo.com [Trailer]00:02:19

That’s right! Japankyo.com is about to launch a second podcast, so check out the trailer now!

About Ichimon Japan

Set to launch in early 2020 (likely January), Ichimon Japan will offer listeners insight into all aspects of Japan, its culture, language, history, society, and pop culture.

Every episode hosts Tony and Ryan will ask one question (ichimon) about Japan. Drawing on their own experiences in Japan, their knowledge of the Japanese language and linguistics, and plenty of research using both Japanese and English-language sources, they’ll do everything they can to answer the question at hand. Along the way, they’ll also have a few laughs and go off on a few peculiar tangents.

Ichimon Japan Release Schedule

Ichimon Japan is slated to be released monthly. Bonus episodes may be released regularly. Information will be forthcoming.

We Want Your Questions

Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We’re always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com.

Full Show Notes

Full show notes can be found at:

https://www.japankyo.com/2019/12/ichimon-japan-podcast-trailer-preview/

Listen on Apple Podcasts

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1492400997

Social Media

Follow Japankyo on Facebook and Twitter so you don’t miss any updates!

01 Aug 201918 Author Barry Lancet00:48:57

In this episode of the Japan Station podcast I sit down for a thrilling chat with author Barry Lancet.

Barry Lancet is the award-winning author of the Jim Brodie series of books. After a long career as an editor at the international arm of one of Japan’s most prestigious publishers—Kodansha—Lancet made his debut as an author in 2013 with Japantown. Lancet’s ability to seamlessly weave Japanese culture and history into his exciting, suspense-filled plots quickly caught the attention of many and won him numerous Best First Novel awards. Since Japantown Lancet has published three more books in the Jim Brodie series: Tokyo Kill, Pacific Burn, and The Spy Across the Table. Aside from working on the next Jim Brodie book, Lancet is currently working on an unrelated thriller set in Hawaii. Japantown has been optioned to be developed into a pilot for a possible show.

In this episode we discuss:

  • How Barry Lancet ended up going to Japan for the first time
  • How getting interrogated by Japanese police eventually served as inspiration for the Jim Brodie books
  • How Japantown evolved from a noir book to a mystery-thriller
  • The writing and research process that goes into writing a Jim Brodie book
  • Barry's inability to scale down his stories
  • Restaurants in Tokyo
  • How the Jim Brodie books have been received
  • The time Barry ended up drinking with a Soviet spy at a Japanese wedding party
  • Visiting the Demilitarized zone on the border of North and South Korea
    The 2011 Tohoku earthquake and the subsequent meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant
  • Barry's work on a new book set in Hawaii
  • And much more!

NOTE: After the outro music there is a bonus segment in which Barry talks about the last third of his fourth book, The Spy Across the Table. This part contains major spoilers for The Spy Across the Table so if you have not read it yet, it would be best not to listen to it.

15 Feb 202159 Obscenity, Censorship & Erotic Comics in Japan (Patrick W> Galbraith)01:09:18

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Tony  talks to Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith about Japanese erotic comics (eromanga) and related issues such as censorship and Japanese obscenity laws.

About Patrick W. Galbraith

Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith is a lecturer at Senshu University in Tokyo. He is one of the world's leading experts on the topic of Akihabara and the related subcultures that are often associated with this famous district of Tokyo. Galbraith is the author of man y books and articles, including Tokyo Realtime (2010), The Otaku Encyclopedia: An Insider's Guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan (2014), The Moe Manifesto: An Insider's Look at the Worlds of Manga, Anime, and Gaming (2017), and others. His most recent solo book, published by Duke University Press Books in 2019, is Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan.

Topics Discussed

  • What obscenity is in the eyes of Japanese law
  • The masking of genitals in Japanese media such as anime and manga
  • The push and pull cycle between creators and efforts to censor depictions of genitals
  • The case of the Japanese artist Rokudenashiko
  • Manga artists using creative techniques such as sound effects to imply sexual situations
  • The link between censorship and things like tentacle hentai
  • How mainstream manga and anime influences the world of erotic manga and vice versa
  • The influence of major manga creators like Osamu Tezuka, Hayao Miyazaki, and Rumiko Takahashi on erotic manga
  • How Naoki Yamamoto was influenced by Hayao Miyazaki's work on Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
  • How Urusei Yatsura helped establish a trope that would come to be popular in erotic manga/anime
  • The world of  dōjinshi (independent fan made comics)
  • How independent fan comics help push the popularity of mainstream anime/manga properties
  • The way some manga creators go back and forth between the world of erotic and mainstream manga
  • The erotic imagery of Food Wars/Shokugeki no Soma
  • CLAMP's erotic treatment of Captain Tsubasa
  • How manga creators usually do not interfere with fan comics based on their properties
  • Efforts b the Japanese government throughout the 2010s to limit and further censor erotic manga
  • Japan's Ordinance Regarding the Healthy Development of Youths
  • Japan's decision to not ban illustrations depicting underage characters in sexual situations in 2014 despite pressure from other countries
  • Incorrect stereotypes about erotic manga creators and readers
  • The diversity that exists among readers and creators of erotic manga
  • Australia's decision to ban certain types of manga
  • Who Kaoru Nagayama is
  • Concerns over international laws regarding erotic manga
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

To pick up a copy of Erotic Comics in Japan: An Introduction to Eromanga, please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. It will support JapanKyo.com and it won't cost you anything extra.

To listen to Dr. Galbraith's previous appearances on Japan Station, use the links below.

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

You can support the show by picking up a t-shirt from KimitoDesigns.com. The latest shirt design was inspired by episode 36 of the Ichimon Japan podcast which was all about samurai topknots.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Donna Burke

Featured image: Courtesy of Patrick W. Galbraith

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

 

01 Sep 202046 How I Became a Voice Actor in Japan (Reina)01:25:58

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we learn what it's like going to school in Japan to become a seiyū (voice actor).

About Reina (麗)

Reina is a professional voice actor living in Tokyo. While originally from the U.K., Reina went to Japan with the intent of becoming a seiyū (voice actor). Her quest to enter the voice acting industry in Japan led her to attend a two year voice acting school in Tokyo. Since graduating Reina has done both voice acting and stage acting in Japan. Currently, Reina is working on a project called Anigorin. The aim of Anigorin is to create an original anime short in order to promote cross-cultural understanding and offer unique working experiences to creatives from both Japan and abroad.

Topics Discussed

  • What "Jiko PR" is
  • What the audition process in the Japanese voice acting industry is like
  • How Fist of the North Star blew Reina's mind (figuratively) and helped spark her interest in anime
  • The problem with copying the language heard in anime when trying to learn Japanese
  • What it's like attending a Japanese school for aspiring voice actors
  • What is taught and what classes are offered at a Japanese voice acting school
  • Performing voice acting live
  • What kind of works/materials are used in Japanese voice acting school
  • The importance of understanding the subtleties of kanji when reviewing a script for a performance
  • Mastering Japanese pitch accent and intonation
  • Over the top stereotypical depictions of foreigners speaking Japanese in anime
  • What bidakuon (鼻濁音) is
  • What Anigorin is
  • What the Anigorin project hopes to achieve
  • The challenges of the Anigorin project
  • The importance of nakama and believing in each other
  • Making it through the coronavirus pandemic
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

Links, Videos, Etc.

For more information on Reina or Anigorin, make sure to check out the links below.

To read the Japan Times article about Reina that was mentioned at the beginning of the interview, check out the link below.

Reina attended the Tokyo School of Anime. For more information on this school, check out the link below. FYI: it appears that the school has changed its name to Tokyo School of Anime & E-Sports (東京アニメ・声優&eスポーツ専門学校).

To check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, check out the link below.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Reina

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

 

26 Jul 2020Presenting Japanese Plus Alpha | I Stepped on the Etymology of "Neko" (The Cat Episode)00:30:14

Japanese Plus Alpha is the latest podcast in the JapanKyo Podcast Network. Produced by Tony Vega, Japanese Plus Alpha focuses on the Japanese language and its many fascinating quirks. The show is designed as a fun way to learn about the Japanese language while at the same time gaining insight into Japanese history, culture, linguistics, and more. In other words, Japanese Plus Alpha is great for both those studying the Japanese language and those who enjoy learning about the world through language.

Currently, Japanese Plus Alpha is available only via the JapanKyo.com Patreon. To get access to more episodes of Japanese Plus Alpha, just join the $3 a month Plus Alpha tier.

This is episode 2 of Japanese Plus Alpha. It focuses on the origins of the word "neko," which means cat in Japanese. Hope you enjoy it.

 

01 Jul 2023Go To Japan NOW | Japan Station 11000:32:38

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Tony talks about his most recent trip to Japan and why you should go to Japan now.

Topics Discussed

  • Why you should go to Japan now
  • The yen-dollar exchange rate
  • Cheap yen
  • About the Okubo and Shin Okubo area in Tokyo
  • About Fuji-Q Highland
  • About Team Lab Planets
  • And much more

Listen to Japan Station on

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Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

To learn more about Zeb, cycling in Japan and life on the JET Programme, check out Zeb's podcast, Rambling Ramsbothams. Links are below.

Follow JapanKyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

15 Jul 201917 Comedian Ollie Horn01:12:17

In this episode of the Japan Station podcast Tony has a fun chat with comedian Ollie Horn.

Ollie Horn is a stand-up comedian from the United Kingdom who lived many years in Fukuoka, Japan. While there he attended graduate school and worked in the Japanese entertainment industry. In 2014 Ollie Horn came up with the idea that would evolve into Comedy Fukuoka, a group dedicated to performing English-language stand-up comedy in Fukuoka. Horn is also the host of the podcast My Signature Dish and will soon be releasing his first comedy special--called Pig in Japan--which focuses on many of his experiences living and working in Japan.

In this episode we discuss:

  • Ollie's podcast My Signature Dish
  • How living in Japan led to Ollie discovering the joy of cooking
  • Danny Piello's amazing chicken sandwich
  • Japanese food
  • A great chicken nanban restaurant in Fukuoka
  • How Ollie ended up living in Fukuoka
  • Ollie's time in graduate school in Fukuoka
  • What it was like writing a thesis in Japanese
  • Ollie's time in the Japanese entertainment industry
  • Japanese copyright law
  • The importance of knowing when to say yes and when to say no
  • What keeps Ollie motivated
  • Ollie's comedy special, Pig in Japan
  • Ollie's tips for learning a language
  • And much more!
15 Aug 202296 Experiencing Rural Japan: A Chat w Prairie Stuart Wolff of Mirukashi Salon00:41:49

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about life in rural Saga Prefecture and a new travel experience that allows people to experience some of the wonderful things rual Saga Prefecture has to offer.

About Prairie Stuart Wolff

Prairie Stuart Wolff is a photographer and writer living in the town of Mirukashi in Saga Prefecture. She runs the blog Cultivated Days and the new tour program Mirukashi Salon.

Topics Discussed

  • About Mirukashi in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture
  • About pottery and Karatsu
  • Why Prairie Stuart Wolff  moved to Mirukashi in Saga Prefecture
  • About becoming used to life in Japan
  • About learning Japanese
  • On interviewing locals in Japan
  • On cooking and experiencing food in Japan
  • Food in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture
  • About the Cultivated Days website
  • About running travel tours in Japan
  • About Mirukashi Salon
  • About the Mirukashi Salon itineraries
  • The increase and decrease in travelers to Japan
  • Traveling to Saga Prefecture
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

To find out more about Prairie, her writing and Mirukahsi Salon, please check out the links below.

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

 

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

03 Nov 2023I Walked 500 km from Kyoto to Tokyo and I'm Legally Blind... It Was CRAZY! | Japan Station 11500:45:08

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about my experience walking 500 km from Kyoto to Tokyo in September-October 2023. Check it out to learn about the Tokaido Challenge (a.k.a. the craziest adventure I've ever had in Japan).

Topics Discussed

  • What the Tōkaidō Challenge is
  • What the Tōkaidō road is
  • The many different Tōkaidō raods that exist
  • When I started walking
  • How long it took to walk from Kyoto to Tokyo
  • The difficulties I had to face while walking the Tōkaidō
  • The parts of the Tōkaidō I had to omit
  • The difficult areas of the Tōkaidō road
  • About the Hakone area of the Tōkaidō road (Kyū Tōkaidō/Kyūkaidō)
  • About getting lost
  • About the 53 stations/post towns of the Tōkaidō
  • About the famous series of woodblock prints depicting the 53 stations of the Tōkaidō
  • The usual amount I would walk on any given day while walking from Kyoto to Tokyo
  • About getting lost in the middle of some rice fields in rural Japan
  • About walking through a tunnel in Kyoto
  • About getting stopped by police in Japan
  • About falling down in Mishima
  • How helpful people were
  • About the excellent customer service I experienced
  • What I ate during my walk from Kyoto to Tokyo
  • Where I stayed/slept while walking from Kyoto to Tokyo
  • About the difficulties of trying to find food on my own
  • About the weather
  • About the arriving in Nihonbashi in Tokyo
  • About the party I held at Pintology Tokyo
  • About meeting Kuro
  • About the coastline between Shizuoka City and Yaizu
  • Why I do what I do
  • And much more

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

  • Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
  • Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

Links, Videos, Etc.

A few links for things mentioned int he video.

Follow JapanKyo on Social Media

01 Oct 202176 My Sumo Academia: Talking About Sumo Today and in the Heian Period (Colton Runyan)00:50:00

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Colton Runyan of the University of Cambridge talks to us about his experiences training and competing in sumo, as well asl his research on Heian era physical competitions.

About Colton Runyan

Colton Runyan is a Phd candidate at the University of Cambridge and a sumo wrestler who has competed in Japanese college sumo and as part of the US National team. His dissertation research focuses on sporting events of the Heian period.

Topics Discussed

  • How Colton Runyan first got into sumo
  • The charity sumo tournament in Akita Prefecture that Colton took part in during his time in the JET Programme
  • What Colton liked about sumo
  • Progressing and improving in sumo
  • Doing sumo training at Nihon University
  • Doing sumo training at a junior high school
  • Teaching, training and competing in sumo in US and other counties
  • Going back to Japan to receive proper sumo training
  • Meeting Konishiki
  • Competing in a college sumo tournament in Japan while a student at Saitama University
  • The different paths people take into professional sumo
  • The grueling nature of sumo training
  • The most frustrating aspect of sumo training for Colton
  • Deciding to go to Cambridge and doing research on sumo
  • Researching the social, political and economic importance of physical competitions (sumo, horseracing, archery) during the Heian period
  • Historical records from Japan's Heian period that document sumo
  • A notable sumo tournament from 1013
  • Fujiwara no Michiga's interest in horseracing
  • Archery in the Heian period
  • Historical misconceptions about sumo
  • The caring and fun nature of sumo wrestlers
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

Links, Videos, Etc.

To read the Japan Times article about Colton Runyan, use the link below.

To read the Wasabi article about Konishiki written by Tony Vega, use the link below.

To listen to the latest episode of the Transmissions from Hawaii podcast, use the link below.

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

Special Thanks

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Colton Runyan

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

01 Sep 202297 Breaking Down Kamen Rider & Super Sentai (Power Rangers) w. Sophia Staite00:52:27

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're diving into the fun world of Kamen Rider and Super Sentai so get ready to strike your favorite henshin pose and learn a thing or two about the fascinating world of Japan's transforming heroes!

About Sophia Staite

Sophia Staite is a PhD candidate at the University of Tasmania. Her current research focuses on Kamen Rider and Super Sentai (Power Rangers).

Topics Discussed

  • About how the live action TV show Kamen Rider was adapted into English
  • The popularity of Kamen Rider and why it is not as popular as Power Rangers in the English speaking world
  • The prevalence of Kamen Rider in Japan
  • The lack of literature on Kamen Rider in Egnlish
  • Liver action super sentai shows
  • About the super sentai & Kamen Rider poses and their origin
  • About Kamen Rider Black
  • About Saban's Masked Rider, the English adaptation of Kamen Rider
  • About the Kamen Rider and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers crossover
  • The differences between Kamen Rider and super sentai (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers)
  • The overarching theme and tone that runs throughout the Kamen Rider franchise
  • The poor reception of Masked Rider
  • Steve Wang's Kamen Rider adaptation
  • Gender and Kamen Rider
  • Odagiri Jo's role in Kamen Rider
  • Kamen Rider's BL phase
  • The Odagiri effect 
  • About Kamen Rider Dragon Knight
  • The different ways kids play (henshin poses/weapons)
  • Henshin pose competitions
  • About the movie Shin Kamen Rider
  • About Shin Kamen Rider's focus on cults/new religions
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

You can follow Sophia Staite on Twitter via the link below.

 

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

22 Jan 2025A Guide to Japanese Hotels! Tips & Tricks for Japan Travelers | Japan Station 14400:58:39

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about hotels in Japan! This episode will give you all the information you need to know before you come visit Japan. Plenty of tips, tricks and basic information!

👉Topics Discussed

  • About the various kinds of hotels in Japan
  • Tips for booking hotels in Japan at cheap prices
  • How much Japanese hotel rooms tend to cost
  • About the size of Japanese hotel rooms
  • How to find hotel rooms in Japan at cheaper rates than what you see online
  • About business hotels like APA hotel and Toyoko Inn
  • About luxury hotels and hotels owned by companies not from Japan
  • About automated hotels like Henn Na Hotel and Livemax
  • The pros and cons of hotels that are completely automated
  • Why capsule hotels are a rip off
  • About breakfasts in Japanese hotels
  • About net cafes
  • About keys and refrigerators in Japanese hotels
  • About cargo container hotels
  • About hotels in rural Japan
  • How prices for hotels in Japan have gone up in recent years
  • And more!

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

No links this time.

👉Follow on Social Media

01 May 2024Why Japanese Folklore MATTERS! | Japan Station 12600:36:10

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about Japanese folklore with Thersa Matsuura of the Uncanny Japan podcast.

👉Topics Discussed

  • About Japanese folklore
  • About yokai
  • About Japanese superstitions
  • About why people should learn Japanese folklore
  • And more!

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

 

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

👉Follow on Social Media

01 Apr 201910 Photographer Andrew Faulk00:52:22

Episode ten of the Japan Station podcast is here and this time we're taking a dive into the world of photography.

Andrew Faulk is an award-winning Tokyo-based photographer originally from the U.S. who has done work for major publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and Game Informer. In this episode we talk about how Andrew's career in photography got started, what it was like starting his photography business in Japan, some of the interesting assignments he has been on, how he deals with cultural faux pas and language difficulties, what he enjoys about being a photographer, the allure of Vietnam, and much more.

This episode will have you wanting to head to Asia with a camera around your neck.

01 Nov 2022How I Became a Printmaker: A Chat w. Wuon-Gean Ho | Japan Station 10100:53:58

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, printmaker Wuon-Gean Ho joins us to talk about her time living and studying in Japan, printmaking, ukiyoe and more.

About Wuon-Gean Ho

Wuon-Gean Ho is an accomplished printmaker and is currently a Research Associate at the University of the West England's Center for Print Research.

Topics Discussed

  • About spending time in Kagoshima as part of the JET Programme
  • Studying veterinary medicine
  • Getting the Monbukagakusho Scholarship and studying in Japan
  • Studying under printmaker Akira Kurosaki
  • About making prints inspired by Wuon-Gean Ho's time studying verinarian medicine
  • Learning how to make woodblock prints in Japan
  • About learning Japanese while in Japan
  • About the process of making a woodblock print
  • About tacit knowledge as it relates to woodblock printmaking
  • About the gomazuri technique in printmaking
  • Documenting printmaking techniques
  • About the bokashi effect in woodblock printmaking
  • About some of Wuon-Gean Ho's favorite ukiyo-e woodblock print artists
  • About the Honolulu Museum of Art's woodblcok print collection
  • About Wuon-Gean Ho's printmaking workshops and general work
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

For more on Wuon-Gean Ho's work:

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

01 Nov 2024The Past & Future of Earthquakes & Disasters in Japan (Robert D. Eldridge) | Japan Station 13801:05:01

On this episod eof Japan Station, Dr. Robert D. Eldridge returns to talk about natural disasters in Japan, his work on Operation Tomodachi during the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, Japan's ability to respond to natural disasters and more.

👉Topics Discussed

  • Disasters and earthquakes in Japan
  • About the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake in 1995
  • About crisis management in Japan
  • About disaster preparedness in Japan
  • About writing the blueprint for what would become Operation Tomodachi
  • The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
  • How the U.S. got involved with helping Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami
  • What Operation Tomodachi was
  • How Operation Tomodachi was implemented
  • How bureacracy in Japan complicated disaster preparedness
  • About restoring Sendai Airport after the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake
  • About the Forward Command Element's role in the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
  • About General Craig Timberlake's role during the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
  • About General Kimizuka's role during the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
  • About the Nankai Trough
  • What kanrenshi (関連死) is
  • About kanrenshi problem (related deaths)
  • About the Show 21 Nankai Earthquake
  • The Issei Bay Typhoon in 1959
  • About the Niigata Earthquake in 1964
  • How the foreign population in Japan may complicate things after a major disaster
  • Things to be aware of to be ready when a disaster strikes
  • About The Era of Gread Disasters
  • And more!

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

Books mentioned:

👉Follow on Social Media

15 Nov 201803 The Origins of Anime and the Making of Japan's First Feature Length Animated Film (Dr. Jonathan Clements)00:58:43

This time we're taking a deep deep dive into the history of Japanese animation with Dr. Jonathan Clements.

An expert on Asia and anime, Jonathan Clements is the author of many books, including Anime: A History, The Anime Encyclopedia (co-authored with Helen McCarthy), and Sacred Sailors: The Life and Work of Seo Mitsuyo. In this episode we discuss the origins of Japanese animation and its fascinating history. We particularly focus on the making of Japan's first feature-length animated film: Momotaro: Sacred Sailors (桃太郎 海の神兵, Momotarō: Umi no Shinpei). Clements talks about how this World War II era Navy funded propaganda film got made, the challenges faced by the film's director Seo Mitsuyo, the influence of Western animation like Popeye and the 1941 Disney film Fantasia,and what people today can gain by watching this sometimes strange and often unsettling work. Clements also reflects on the importance of two of Japan's most respected and famous figures in the Japanese animation industry: Osamu Tezuka and Hayao Miyazaki. Oh yeah, and there's talk of a British POW potentially being responsible for what was very likely the first ever occurrence of native English voice acting in Japanese animation.

Yep, it's a lot to take in but totally worth a listen, so go do that now!

01 Jan 201906 Talking Zen with Gesshin Claire Greenwood00:57:29

Episode six of the Japan Station podcast is here and this time we're talking about Zen.

Gesshin Claire Greenwood is a Zen priest and the author of the book Bow First, Ask Questions Later: Ordination, Love, and Monastic Zen in Japan. Funny, intense, and thought-provoking, the book chronicles the more than five years Gesshin spent in Japan training in Zen and living in monasteries. During her time in Japan she trained at both a temple monastery in Okayama Prefecture called Toshō-ji and an extremely strict monastery for Zen nuns in Aichi Prefecture called Niso-do. In this episode we talk about whether Zen is a religion, what led Gesshin to go to Japan, whether not knowing Japanese when she began training in Japan was an advantage, the difficulties of monastic life, a hilarious story involving a bullet train ride and faxed instructions on how to put on her kesagōri (a type of monastic pack for carrying one's belongings), a famous Koan about a monk killing a cat, and much much more.

You won't achieve enlightened after listening to this episode, but it certainly won't hurt!

15 Sep 202298 Tokyo Kitchen Stories: A Chat w Chef Brendan Liew00:41:30

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Chef Brendan Liew talks about his experiences working as a chef in Japan, Japanese cuisine and his new cookbook Tokyo Up Late.

About Brendan Liew

Brendan Liew spent time at the three-Michelin-starred Nihonryori Ryugin in Roppongi, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and studied the art of ramen-making in Japan before delving into kappo and modern kaiseki cuisine. In Melbourne, he has worked at Kappo and Supernormal, had a pop-up cafe, Chotto, and is currently at Minamishima. He has travelled extensively through Japan’s countryside and major cities to explore, learn, and live Japan’s culture and cuisine.

Topics Discussed

  • Brendan Liew's first visit to Japan
  • Food in Japan
  • How Brendan Liew was able to get a job in a French cuisine restaurant in Japan
  • About Brendan Liew's experiences working in a restaurant in Japan
  • The hierarchy in Japanese restaurant kitchens
  • About learning to make ramen in Japan
  • About ramen broth
  • About sushi chefs and the training of sushi chefs in Japan
  • Japanese language in the kitchen
  • About kaiseki vs kappo
  • About the book Tokyo Up Late
  • About going out for drinks after work in Japan
  • About makanai
  • About korokke
  • And much more!

Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

Links, Videos, Etc.

To pick up a copy of Tokyo Up Late consider using the Amazon affiliate link below.

Unfortunately, it does not appear that Chef Liew's other book is available for purchase on Amazon.

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

Full Show Notes

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

02 Jul 2024MY NEXT BIG ADVENTURE! The Miyajima Challenge Explained! | Japan Station 13000:16:26

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about the Miyajima Challenge: my upcoming walk from Kyoto to Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture.

👉Topics Discussed

  • About the Miyajima Challenge
  • Why I am walking from Kyoto to Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture
  • About the course of the Miyajima Challenge (Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima)
  • About raising awareness of the blind and visually impaired
  • About the sponsors of the Miyajima Challenge
  • When the Miyajima Challenge will start
  • About a meet up at Pintology Tokyo
  • And more!

👉Subscribe to the Podcast!

👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi

 

👉Links, Videos, Etc.

👉Follow on Social Media

04 Sep 202047 Working & Teaching in Japan (James from The Inside Japan Podcast)00:55:11

On this very special episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're joined by James from ALTInsider.com and The Inside Japan Podcast. James offers some advice for those looking to work in Japan and interviews Tony about his career and time in Japan.

About The Inside Japan Podcast

The Inside Japan Podcast is the only podcast on the internet telling you the true inside information about what working in Japan is really like, and how you can find your first, or next awesome job in Japan yourself. Interviews with employers, foreigners doing interesting things, and job hunting/hopping strategies are just some of the things we will cover on the weekly show.

Topics Discussed

  • James' advice for those looking to go to Japan
  • How the English teacher job market n Japan has become more competitive over the past couple decades
  • The rising requirements for landing a university teaching job in Japan
  • How James got his translation job
  • What to do when you are frustrated with your school about being underutilized
  • Competitive speedrun commentating
  • How Tony got interested in Japan
  • Tony's time on the JET Program
  • The good and bad of Tony's time on JET
  • What it was like working at a school for the blind in Japan
  • Life after JET
  • How doing JapanKyo turned out to help Tony career-wise
  • Teaching Japanese in Florida
  • Tony's advice for those teaching English in Japan
  • About JapanKyo.com and the Japan Station podcast
  • What led to the start of Japan Station
  • Working at Wasabi magazine
  • And much more!

    Support on Patreon

    If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

    Links, Videos, Etc.

    To listen to The Inside Japan Podcast, look it up on your podcast app of choice or use the links below.

    If you want more information on working and teaching in Japan, then make sure to stop by ALTInsider.com.

    You can also find ALTInsider on social media.

    James also does competitive speedrun commentating. If you're interested in checking that out, hit the link below.

    Special Thanks

    Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
    To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

    Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

    Featured image: Courtesy of James/ALTInsider.com

    Follow Japankyo on Social Media

    Full Show Notes

     

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