On this episode of the Japan Station podcast two members of the Kyoto-based metal band Cosmic Earth stop by to talk about their new album inspired by the Tokyo Olympics, the Kyoto heavy metal scene, and more. About Cosmic Earth Cosmic Earth is a Kyoto-based doom metal/stoner rock/heavy blues rock band founded by guitarist Takuya Yada in 2017. Cosmic …

An overview of why the Tokyo 2020 Olympic marathon will be held in Sapporo, Hokkaido. With just months until the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently decided to move the Olympic Marathon events from Tokyo to Sapporo, the capital city of the northern prefecture of Hokkaido. This sudden change was met with mixed reactions …

Will Japan wow the world with technology or fall flat trying? The last time that the Olympic Games were held in Tokyo was in 1964. These games served as an important moment for Japan. By showcasing technological advancements like more precise timekeeping systems, LCD screens, and a new high-speed bullet train system, Japan showed that it had not just recovered …