On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Dr. Katarzyna Cwiertka stops by to discuss what exactly washoku (Japanese cuisine) is and how the term was redefined in an effort to get it registered as Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). About Dr. Katarzyna Cwiertka Dr. Katarzyna Cwiertka is Chair of Modern Japan Studies …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we once again ask: What annoys you about living in Japan? Topics Discussed The frustratingly useless nature of many English-language versions of Japanese websites Booking hotels in Japan The frustrating but hilarious nature of bad English translations of Japanese (a.k.a. Engrish) Engrish t-shirts The practice of using Japanese readings for kanji when reading a …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is yakitori? Topics Discussed What yakitori is The difference between yakitori when it is written using kanji and when it is written using only hiragana What qualifies as yakitori An overview of the history of yakitori The supposed origin story of the skewered sparrows that the area around Fushimi Inari Shrine …

Today’s Question On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What are your favorite places to visit in Osaka? Topics Discussed A basic overview of the main areas of Osaka Osaka’s best burrito place: El Zocalo Osaka Castle and Osaka Castle Park The Umeda Area Yodobashi Camera The Minami area Universal Studios Japan and its Cool Japan special events/rides Super …

 Today’s Question On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why do Japanese people love Hawaii so much? Topics Discussed Why Hawaii is such a popular travel destination among Japanese travelers How many Japanese people came to Hawaii in 2019 How the amount of Japanese travelers to Hawaii compares to the amount of travelers from other places How many …

Today’s Question On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Can sexy things give you anime style nosebleeds? Topics Discussed Whether getting sexually aroused causes nosebleeds What it would be like if people in the real world had explosive nosebleeds like in anime The idea that eating large amounts of chocolate causes nosebleeds The idea that eating large amounts of …

On This Episode of Japan Station 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 …

 Today’s Question On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What’s better: rural life or city life in Japan? Topics Discussed The pros and cons of living in rural Japan The pros and cons of living in a big city in Japan Life in Ishikawa Prefecture Life in Kobe Life in Osaka Where Ishikawa Prefecture is located Whether rural …

 Today’s Question On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is the Curse of the Colonel? Topics Discussed What the famous Curse of the Colonel is How tall and how heavy the statues of Colonel Sanders that are seen at Japanese KFC locations are How the tradition of the Dotombori Dive began The Hanshin Tigers How the Hanshin …

 On This Episode of Japan Station 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 …

Omusubi Cakes aren’t jelly doughnuts but they’re awfully close. Tsukiichi isn’t your run-of-the-mill cake and pastry shop. Located in Osaka, the shop is known for their luxurious cake buffet, which they hold only once a month and requires customers to reserve a table ahead of time. However, recently Tsukiichi has been making headlines not for their buffet, but rather their …

“Aged maguro” sounds so much better than “old tuna.” When it comes to sushi and sashimi, many say that for the best taaste you should use the absolute freshest fish. However, when it comes to maguro (tuna), apparently, this isn’t necessarily the case. At a press conference on Thursday (Nov. 7) the popular kaiten-zushi (“revolving sushi”) chain Kura Sushi (Kura-Zushi) announced that …