On this episode of Japan Station, we’re talking about my upcoming long distance walking challenges and the event I’ll be holding at Pintology in Tokyo On November 15th, 2026. 👉Topics Discussed About the Izumo Challenge About the Chichibu 34 Challenge About the Utsunomiya Challenge About the sponsors and special supporters of my 2026 long distance walking challenges About the get …

On this episode of Japan Station, we’re talking about the emergence of a new slang term used to describe people who walk abnormally long distances/long amounts of time. 👉Topics Discussed What does Inō Tadataka kaiwai mean? (伊能忠敬界隈) Who Inō Tadataka 伊能忠敬界隈 was The origin of Inō Tadataka Kaiwai About the “kaiwai” term trend And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! …

On this episode of Japan Station, Lesley Chan Downer tells us about what it was like walking and hitchiking through the Tohoku area in the ’80s while recreating Matsuo Basho’s most famous journey. 👉Topics Discussed About moving to Japan in the 1980s About participating in the predecessor of the JET Program About On the Narrow Road to the Deep North Lesley’s …

On this episode of Japan Station, we’re talking about dead slang from the heyday of Japanese cell pnones (ケータイ, kētai). 👉Topics Discussed About the evolution of Japanese cell phones Wha tis a shame 写メ What is dekome デコメ The origins of shame About decorating Japanese cell phones keitai The connection between gyaru and Japanese cell phones About “straps” sutorappu  What keitai is written in katakana And much …

On this episode of Japan Station, we’re talking about life in Shimane Prefecture. 👉Topics Discussed About the unique cultural quirks of life in Shimane Prefecture Where Shimane is located How people often get Tottori and Shimane confused A funny example of a dialect from Shimane Prefecture About food in Shimane Prefecture What is wariko soba? About Izumo Time What is …

On this episode of Japan Station, we’re talking about what it’s like to cycle the entire length of Japan with journalist Oscar Boyd. 👉Topics Discussed Why Japan is so great for cycling About transporting a bike from the UK to Japan About biking from Kagoshima to the northernmostpoint of Japan over the course of 28 days Why Oscar decided to …

On this episode of Japan Station, Jake Adelstein joins us to discuss immigration policy in Japan and why the Takaichi government has decided to make it more difficult for foreigners to get permanent residency. 👉Topics Discussed Why you (probably) will never get permanent residence in Japan The ill-defined changes to requirements for permanent residency in Japan Why the changes to …

On this episode of Japan Station, we’re talking about the recently created Japanese word dopagaki (ドパガキ). What does it mean and what are its origins? Listen to find out! 👉Topics Discussed The meaning and origin of dopagaki What does dopajita (ドパ舌) mean? What does doparu mean? What does zonbisukurōru (ゾンビスクロール) mean? And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi …

On this episode of Japan Station, we’re talking about English words that are tricky to translate into Japanese. 👉Topics Discussed English words that are surprisingly difficult to translate into Japanese How to say jaywalking in Japanese How to say zesty in Japanese How to say touch grass in Japanese And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: …

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about the 2926 Kumamoto earthquake and how you can help. 👉Topics Discussed The effects of the Reiwa Year 8 Kumamoto earthquake How to help and where you can donate And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 …

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about some of the more creative ways people in Japan are battling the intense summer heat. 👉Topics Discussed What is kokushōbi (酷暑日) How kokushōbi was decided via a survey About the Dohiemon Box/Human Refrigerator About Mandom’s “Sweat Management” seminars About ice cream holders About the parasol curtain from Three Coins that makes …

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about what it’s like doing an intensive sushi preparation course with Travin Keith, owner of Sushi Kita in Belfast, Northern Ireland.   👉Topics Discussed Where Miyagi Prefecture is located What it was like trying to open a ramen shop in Kosovo The problems with trying to open a ramen shop in Kosovo …