Did Tama-chan the seal save the world and cause immigration reform? (About Pana-Wave Laboratory) | Ichimon Japan 46

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Did Tama-chan the seal save the world and cause immigration reform?

Topics Discussed

• The story of the famous seal that appeared in Tokyo’s Tama River in the summer of 2002
• About Tama-chan the seal
• How Tama-chan being granted a jūminhyō (residency certificate) by Yokohama’s Nishi Ward led to foreigners protesting this action
• The last sighting of Tama-chan
• About Pana-Wave Laboratory
• The GLA (God Light Association)
• How Yuko Chino splintered off from the GLA
• The creation of Chino Shōhō (True Law of Chino) and Pana-Wave Laboratory
• Pana-Wave Laboratory’s caravan in 2003
• The extensive media coverage of the Pana-Wave Laboratory caravan in 2003
• The all white appearance of Pana-Wave Laboratory members
• Why Pana-Wave Laboratory members wore all white
• Chino Yuko’s doomsday prophecies
• Chino Yuko’s claim that a 10th planet called Nibiru would cause the end of the world
• Pana-Wave Laboratory’s efforts to construct a UFO
• Salvador Jimenez Murguia’s experiences in Fukui while researching Pana-Wave Laboratory members
• The attempted capture of Tama-chan the seal by Pana-Wave Laboratory members
• Other seals that appeared in the Tokyo river system after Tama-chan disappeared
• Whether Tama-chan could still be alive
• And much more!

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Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.

Here are some of the English-language sources used for this episode.

• Bearded Seal
• Pana Wave Cult Raises Concern Among Japanese Authorities
• A nation’s fate is sealed
• Doomsday cult makes waves in Japan

Here are some of the Japanese-language sources used for this episode.

• Pana-Wave Laboratory Photo Report
• GLA (宗教法人)
• パナウェーブ研究所
• 不気味な白装束集団を追っかけた異様なゴールデンウイーク
• 想う会”のタマちゃん用プール解体へ…白装束”パナウェーブ研究所”

The article by Salvador Jimenez Murguia that is mentioned multiple times during this episode is called Re-enchanting a Religio-Scientific Experience: Understanding the Extraordinary Within the Pana-Wave Laboratory. It used to be available for download via this link. However, as of late June 2021 the PDF of the article is no longer available via this page  The reason for this is unclear so if you do want to read it, you may want to check the link in case it has become availalbe again.

Here is a video of Pana-Wave Laboratory shot during the infamous 2003 caravan.

• Pana-Wave Laboratory video (2003)

Here’s a video of Tama-chan.

• Tama-chan Video

And here is a video of another seal hat showed up in Tokyo: Ara-chan.

• Ara-chan the Seal Video

Here’s a funny clip from the anime Crayon Shin-chan where Tama-chan makes an appearance.

For the latest episode of the Japan Station podcast, see the link below.

• The War on Wheels: Inside the Keirin and Japan’s Cycling Subculture (Justin McCurry) | Japan Station 68

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Japanese Vocabulary List

Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen’s WWWJDIC.

• Azarashi
  • アザラシ : 海豹 【あざらし; かいひょう; アザラシ】 (n) (uk) (See 海驢) true seal (animal); earless seal
• Agohigeazarashi
  • アゴヒゲアザラシ 《顎鬚海豹》 【あごひげあざらし】 (n) (uk) bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus)
• Jūminhyō
  • 住民票 【じゅうみんひょう】 (n) certificate of residence

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Special Thanks

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Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R.

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Full Show Notes

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