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 …