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 the Japan Station podcast, Dr. Chris McMorran talks about what it’s like working at a rural ryokan (Japanese inn). About Dr. Chris McMorran Chris McMorran is Associate Professor of Japanese Studies at the National University of Singapore. He is a cultural geographer of contemporary Japan focusing on the geographies of home across scale, from the body …

 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 the Japan Station podcast, Dr Thomas Baudinette talks about Shinjuku’s Ni-chome district and Japanese media as it relates to queer individuals/gay men in Japan. About Dr. Thomas Baudinette Dr. Thomas Baudinette is Senior Lecturer in Japanese and International Studies in the Department of Media, Communications, Creative Arts, Languages and Literatures at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. He …

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Tony talks to John Davis, a cheesemaker living in Okinawa, Japan. About John Davis John Davis is a cheesemaker living in Okinawa, Japan. He operates okicheese.com. Topics Discussed About moving to Japan and trying to find a job teaching English in Japan About why John Davis started making cheese in Okinawa About …

 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 the Japan Station podcast, we talk to Wombat, one of the creators of Japan Trail Cam. About Wombat Wombat spends his day in Kyushu hiking and setting trail cams in order to capture footage for the YouTube channle channel/Twitter/Instagram account Japan Trail Cam. Topics Discussed Wombats in Hawaii How Japan Trail Cam got started About capturing …

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, printmaker Wuon-Gean Ho joins us to talk about her time living and studying in Japan, printmaking, ukiyoe and more. About Wuon-Gean Ho Wuon-Gean Ho is an accomplished printmaker and is currently a Research Associate at the University of the West England’s Center for Print Research. Topics Discussed About spending time in Kagoshima …

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 the Japan Station podcast, Winston Chu, CEO & co-founder of Wayfarer, talks about his interest in Japan and how About Winston Chu Winston Chu is the CEO & co-founder of Wayfarer. Wayfarer currently operates three hotels in Kyoto with plans to expand other cities, including Osaka and Tokyo. Topics Discussed How Winston got interested in Japan …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What’s the difference: East vs West Japan? Topics Discussed Some of the differences observed in East and West Japan (higashi and nishi nihon) Differences in culture and food seen in Kansai and Kanto Where the border between East and West Japan is The difference in how people from East vs West Japan …

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Chef Brendan Liew talks about his experiences working as a chef in Japan, Japanese cuisine and his new cookbook Tokyo Up Late. About Brendan Liew Brendan Liew spent time at the three-Michelin-starred Nihonryori Ryugin in Roppongi, Tokyo, and Hong Kong, and studied the art of ramen-making in Japan before delving into kappo …