Today’s Question On this episode of chimon Japan we ask: What’s the deal with catgirls? Topics Discussed The history and origins of the trope of the catgirl What nekomimi (猫耳) means The existence of “catboys” (male nekomimi characters) Yōkai reminiscent of catgirls such as bakeneko nd nekomata The depiction of bakeneko women in Edo era ukiyo-e woodblock prints The …

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 Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith is a lecturer at Senshu University in Tokyo. He is one of the world’s leading expert on the topic …

An in-depth look at the history of the Shinkansen “bullet train” and the future of high-speed rail travel in Japan.   Speed has always fascinated mankind. From early days when horses were used as a mode of transportation, to recent times, the race to be the fastest has always enthralled people. This need for speed is not just confined to …

 On This Episode of Japan Station On this episode of the Japan Station podcast we’re talking about the city of Tokyo and its “bells of time.” About Anna Sherman 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: …

On This Episode of Japan Station 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 This Episode of Japan Station On this episode of the Japan Station podcast I sit down for a chat with the award-winning creator of the Usagi Yojimbo comic book series, Stan Sakai. About Stan Sakai Though born in Japan, Stan Sakai grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, before moving to California to pursue a career in comics. Once in …

 On this extra bonus episode of the Japan Station podcast, we explore the world of yōkai with author and Japan Station listener, Charles Kowalski. Originally from the U.S. Charles Kowalski is a teacher and author living in Japan. His latest book–Simon Grey and the March of a Hundred Ghosts–delves into the world of the Japanese supernatural creatures known as …

 In this episode of the Japan Station podcast we’re learning about the amazing story of the first group of Japanese girls to study in the U.S. Janice P. Nimura is the award-winning writer of the book Daughters of the Samurai: A Journey from East to West and Back. In Daughters of the Samurai, Nimura recounts the epic real-life story …

 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: …

 Episode eight of the Japan Station podcast is here and this time we’re exploring the fascinating history of shōjo manga. Dr. Deborah Shamoon is an associate professor in the Department of Japanese Studies at the National University of Singapore. She is the author of Passionate Friendship: The Aesthetics of Girls’ Culture in Japan, a book which examines the emergence …

Is 2019 Tottori’s time to shine? When most people think of visiting Japan, they probably think of neon-lit, bustling cities like Tokyo and Osaka, or the old capital city of Kyoto. However, it was Japan’s most rural area—Tottori Prefecture—that was named the number one Japan place to visit in Japan  in 2019 by GajinPot Travel. GajinPot Travel is a popular …

This one’s for the history books. Ishikawa Goemon is a semi-legendary Robin Hood-esque Japanese folk hero from the 16th century whose story continues to captivate and inspire people to this day. In fact, just Wednesday (Sept. 19) the history loving musician Rekishi released a music video for a new track named after this famous Japanese outlaw. Simply titled “Goemon,” the …