On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Japanese to English translator/localizer Mel Ok tells about localizing Japanese video games and how he got into the translation/localization industry. About Mel Ok Mel Ok is a translator/localizer of Japanese video games and heads the translation/localization company Ace Honyaku. Topics Discussed The Japanese population in Hawaii Studying Japanese linguistics About doing play …

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Dr. Gabriella Lukacs joins us to talk about some early internet history in Japan and the role of women in Japan’s digital economy. About Dr. Gabriella Lukacs Dr. Gabriella Lukacs is a professor in the department of Anthropology at the University of Pittsburgh and the author of the book Invisibility by Design: …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Are Japanese…? (Stereotypes About Japan) Topics Discussed Japanese stereotypes Whether Japanese people are shy/quiet Whether Japanese people eat sushi everyday Whether all Japanese people love anime Anime as part of one’s identity Whether Japanese people are good at math Whether Japanese people work long hours Whether Japanese people can handle alcohol About …

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Dr. Jonathan Wroot tells us about the movies of Ktano Takeshi, the fascinating history of the Zatoichi films, and more.. About Dr. Jonathan Wroot Dr. Jonathan Wroot is a senior lecturer in Film Studies at the University of Greenwich and the author of the book The Paths of Zatoichi: The Global Influence of the …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is a famiresu? Topics Discussed What famiresu are The characteristics of famiresu (family restaurants) About the history of famiresu in Japan The first famiresu in Japan (Skylark) Some of the most popular famiresu in Japan About Big Boy and how it’s an offshoot of Bob’s Big Boy About Jonathan’s About Bikkuri …

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we’re joined by baseball historian and expert on all things Japanese baseball Robert Fits. About Robert Fitts Robert Fitts is a baseball historian and expert ont he history of Japanese baseball. He has written numerous books on Japanese baseball including Banzai Babe Ruth: Baseball, Espionage, and Assissination During the 1934 Tour of Japan. …

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Tony talks to guitarist/actor/humanitarian Miyavi. About Miyavi Miyavi is a guitarist, musician, actor and humanitarian. He is particularly well known for his charactistic shamisen-inspired slap-style of playing the guitar. Topics Discussed Miyavi discusses his insecurities and what makes him nervous How Miyavi deals with his insecurities How Miyavi deals with stress and …

 On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is yōshoku? Topics Discussed What yōshoku is? About Japanese style Western food is What qualifies as yōshoku When yōshoku emerged The history of yōshoku The supposed origin of tempura How Japan began adopting more foreign ingredients and cuisine during the Meiji Period About Japan’s first yōshoku restaurant in Nagasaki Examples …

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we’re talking with music journalist Patrick St. Michel. He’ll be telling us about Japanese pop music, Perfume, the city pop boom and one of his latest articles which focuses on the rise and fall and rise of eurobeat. About Patrick St. Michel Patrick St. Michel is a music journalist who specializes in …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: How do you say “trombone” in Japanese? The main topics for this episode include the many uses of katakana in Japanese and how nationalists in Japan appear to have wanted people to use less katakana words during World War II. Topics Discussed About how the Japanese writing system works The many different …

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we’re talking with Alex from the Sakura Stardust YouTube channel. She tells us about Japanese lost media and digs into some specific examples like Saki Sanobashi and the mysterious Akihabara cassette tape. About Alex (Sakura Stardust) Alex runs the popular YouTube channel Sakura Stardust. In her videos Alex focuses primarily on Japanese …

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we’re talking about archaeology in Japan and the case of Tsukumo No. 24, the world’s oldest known shark attack. Our guest for this episode is J. Alyssa White from the University of Oxford. About J. Alyssa White J. Alyssa White is a PhD candidate in Archaeology at the University of Oxford. Her …