On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to Ami Eldridge, the co-founder of Sumizumi LLC, a company in rural Kochi Prefecture trying to revitalize the area through charcoal production. 👉Topics Discussed About Ami Eldridge’s efforts to revitalize rural Kochi Prefecture About the Niyodo Town and Niyodogawa River area About how Sumizumi LLC is using charcoal and akiya (abandoned houses) …

On this episode of Japan Station, author Hiroko Yoda joins us to talk about the complexities of religious and spirituality in Japan, a topic she covers in her new book Eight Million Ways to Happiness. 👉Topics Discussed Why Hiroko Yoda was told to tell people she’s Buddhist before going to the U.S. to study abroad About “Yaoyorozu no kami” About the …

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk all about Jaan’s most famous “local mascot” Kumamon. We cover everything you should know about Kumamoto’s most beloved bear. I also share an absolutely crazy story that happened to me when I went to see the Kumamon show in Kumamoto in the fall os 2025. 👉Topics Discussed About Kumamon How Kumamon was …

 This is a re-broadcast of episode 65 of the Ichimon Japan podcast (originally published on 12/21/2022). 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 …

On this episode of Japan Station, I dig into the world of dead Japanese Bubble Era slang. Specifically, I talk about the term hanakin (花金). Also I talk about the days of the week during World War II in Japan. 👉Topics Discussed What is hanakin What hanakin means About the kanji used to write hanakin How I learned the days of the week in Japanese …

On this episode of Japan Station, Sensei Martian talks about what it was like walking 3200 km from Cape Sata, the southernmost point on mainland Japan, to Cape Soya, the northernmost point on mainland Japan. 👉Topics Discussed About the Kyushu Challenge Why Sensei Martian decided to walk 3200 km/3000 miles+ across Japan About walking the old Tokaido Road About walking …

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about the Kyushu Challenge, my recent 558 km walk from Iwakuni, Yamaguchi to Sakurajima, Kagoshima. 👉Topics Discussed About the Kyushu Challenge The route I took to walk from Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture to Sakurajima in Kagoshima Prefecture About how a restaurant owner gave me money How I appeared on TV in Yamaguchi …

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about how I was able to save money on airfare for my latest trip to Japan. I also share how I almost lost money due to a luggage issue and I talk about why regional JR passes can save you lots of money while traveling in Japan. 👉Topics Discussed How I get …

This is a rebroadcast of episode 76 of Ichimon Japan. On this episode of Ichimon Japan we talk about the history of pillows in Japan and an absurd belief regarding the sleeping Topics Discussed About the history of pillows in Japan About early pillows in Japanese history About the evolution of pillows in Japan About pillows during the Edo Period About hakomakura (box …

On this episode of Japan Station, we’re talking about 4 more words in Japanese. What’s a mora? And why are there so many four mora words in Japanese? We talk about all taht and more! 👉Topics Discussed What is a mora? What’s the difference between a mora and a syllable The possible origins of nikujaga How Japanese love to shorten …

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about some of Tokyo’s most popular tourist sites. Are they tourist traps or worth your time? We’re also joined by stand up comedian and tour guide Shuhei “Shoe” Murakami. 👉Topics Discussed Is Tokyo Skytree a tourist trap? Should you visit it? Should you visit Tokyo Tower? Should you visit Tokyo Disneyland? Is …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is wasei eigo? (Funny “Japanese” English) Topics Discussed What wasei eigo is About English sounding words made in Japan tenshon ga takai pākā How SNS is not English arubaito nōtopasokon buraindotacchi misu misesu rippukurīmu hocchikisu OL sararīman (salaryman) shīchikin interi haiso furonto hōmu chakku majikkutēpu majikku majikkumirā Gpan jampāsukāto wagomu atakku …