On this episode of Japan Station, travel writer Jennifer Bain joins us to talk about one of Japan’s most ancient and famous pilgrimages: the Kumano Kodō (熊野古道). We also talk about Japanese convenience stores and the famous conbini socks. 👉Topics Discussed What the Kumano Kodō (熊野古道) is How to get the Kumano Kodō (熊野古道) is An example of a five …

On this episode of Japan Station, we’re talking about the origins of the word sakura. No not that sakurai. The other sakura. The scammy kind of sakura. Also we’re talking about madorā. 👉Topics Discussed The possible origins of the word sakura (サクラ) Why sakura means a fake “scammy” customer What a madorā is 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 …

On this episode of Japan Station, we’re talking about the rise of Japan’s $3.5 billion breakfast industry and why Japan is currently in the midst of it’s 4th “breakfast boom.” 👉Topics Discussed What a typical Japanese breakfast consists of The history of breakfast in Japan Breakfast in the Edo Period Breakfast in Edo vs Kansai during the Edo Period Japan’s …

On this episode of Japan Station, we’re joined by Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith to talk about the current status of Akihabara and the rise of Ikebukuro as Japan’s newest capital of all things anime, manga and otaku culture. 👉Topics Discussed Whether Akihabara is dying The history of Akihabara How Akihabara has evolved in recent years What locals think of Akihabara …

On this episode of Japan Station, we’re talking about interesting words related to aging and shoulders and a weird ECC commercial. 👉Topics Discussed What shijūkata (ū四十肩) is What gjūkata (五十肩) is What arasā (アラサー) is What arafō (アラフォー) is What arafifu (アラフィフ) is 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 what life in Akita Prefecture is like AND why women from Akita are (supposedly) so beautiful! 👉Topics Discussed Where Akita Prefecture is in relation to other prefectures in the Tohoku region About Akita’s famous Kinman Why people in Akita like to say they’ve eaten 28 Kinman About how rural Akita is …

On this episode of Japan Station, Alex Litz of Expedition Japan joins us to talk about tourism in Japan, Yamagata Prefecture and places/events to check out during a visit to Yamagata. 👉Topics Discussed How Alex ended up in Yamagata Prefecture About studying abroad in Yamagata Prefecture About tourism in Japan What’s so great about Yamagata?Places to visit in Yamagata Yamagata …

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about two peculiar words depakosu and puchipura. Also i talk a bit about the origin of the name of the anime Odd Taxi. 👉Topics Discussed What depakosu (デパコス) means What puchipura (プチプラ) means The origin of the name of the anime Odd Taxi (オッドタクシー) 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 …

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about some of the unique aspects of living in Aomori Prefecture. 👉Topics Discussed What it’s like living in Aomori Prefecture About the Shimokita Peninsula Why life in Aomori can be so inconvenient What “English Toast” is (igirisu tōsuto, イギリストースト) What igirisu tōsuto is About the history of igirisu tōsuto Why people in …

On this episode of Japan Station, we go through a list of some of the most unique and interesting slang of Japan’s Taishō period (1912-1926). 👉Topics Discussed Popular Taishō era slang How polie during the Taishō era used to say moshi moshi Why it was an insult to call someone Mitsukoshi during the Taishō era What it was like during the …

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 …