On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why is Japanese TV so bad? Topics Discussed Why Japanese TV is so “terrible” About Japanese variety TV shows How most TV around the world aren’t remarkable How Japanese TV shows can be useful for watching TV How Japanese TV game shows are not crazy How the idea of Japanese game …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is the lesson of Urashima Taro? Topics Discussed The story of Urashima Taro Discussing different versions of Urashima Taro About the mysterious box (tamatebako) seen in Urashima Taro How you shouldn’t trust strange talking turtles The history of the story of Urashima Taro About the origins of Urashima Taro About the …

 On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Is Weathering With You bad? (About Tenki No Ko) Topics Discussed The commercial success of Weathering With You/Tenki no Ko The cultural impact of Weathering With You/Tenki no Ko About the plot of Weathering With You/Tenki no Ko Overall impression of Weathering With You/Tenki no Ko The animation of Weathering With You/Tenki no Ko Product …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is Christmas like in Japan? (About Japanese Christmas) Topics Discussed All about Christmas in Japan Japanese Christmas customs in Japan All about fried chicken and Christmas in Japan Why KFC is the thing to eat during Christmas in Japan How Christmas is seen as a romantic holiday in Japan Christmas light …

 On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Is Japanese women’s language an illusion? Topics Discussed About Japanese women’s language About gendered language in Japanese How context affects people’s speech in Japan Directness vs indirectness About politeness and “women’s speech” in Japanese About steretypical speech styles in Japanese About direct and indirect indexicality About Japanese first person pronouns Constructing …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What’s the difference: Eikaiwa vs JET? (The Good & Bad of Teaching English in Japan) Topics Discussed About teaching English in Japan About working in eikaiwa (English conversation school) in Japan About working on the JET Programme About working as an ALT About the application process for getting an eikaiwa job About the …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why are these things so expensive in Japan? (We’re especially focusing on why randoseru, fruit and delivery pizza are so expensive in Japan) Topics Discussed Whether living in Japan is expensive The cost of Japanese movie theaters What a randoseru is The expensive price of randoseru The average price of a randoseru …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Are Japanese…? (Stereotypes About Japan) Topics Discussed Japanese stereotypes Whether Japanese people are shy/quiet Whether Japanese people eat sushi everyday Whether all Japanese people love anime Anime as part of one’s identity Whether Japanese people are good at math Whether Japanese people work long hours Whether Japanese people can handle alcohol About …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is a famiresu? Topics Discussed What famiresu are The characteristics of famiresu (family restaurants) About the history of famiresu in Japan The first famiresu in Japan (Skylark) Some of the most popular famiresu in Japan About Big Boy and how it’s an offshoot of Bob’s Big Boy About Jonathan’s About Bikkuri …

 On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is yōshoku? Topics Discussed What yōshoku is? About Japanese style Western food is What qualifies as yōshoku When yōshoku emerged The history of yōshoku The supposed origin of tempura How Japan began adopting more foreign ingredients and cuisine during the Meiji Period About Japan’s first yōshoku restaurant in Nagasaki Examples …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: How do you say “trombone” in Japanese? The main topics for this episode include the many uses of katakana in Japanese and how nationalists in Japan appear to have wanted people to use less katakana words during World War II. Topics Discussed About how the Japanese writing system works The many different …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why is Argentina “Aruzenchin” in Japanese? (This is a follow up to episode 56 of Ichimon Japan: What katakana words do you hate?) Topics Discussed The possible reason for my Argentina in Japanese is aruzenchin rather than something closer to the original name in Spanish About sounds that formerly did not exist in the Japanese …