On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we’re talking about the Japanese vengeful spirits known as onryō with Jennifer Yoo. About Jennifer Yoo Jennifer M. Yoo is a doctoral candidate in Japanese Theatre at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Topics Discussed On working as a food tour guide in Kyoto What tsunokakushi is and the origins of this custom About the term oni (demon) …

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Kaitly Ugoretz of the YouTube channel Eat Pray Anime discusses the allure and eclectic spirituality of Marie Kondo, as well as online Shinto communities. About Kaitlyn Ugoretz Kaitlyn Ugoretz is a Phd candidate at the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her primary area of research is online religious communities, in particular Shinto …

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Dr. Salvador Jimenez Murguia talks about the religious group Pana-Wave Laboratory and shares some of what he experienced while in Japan researching it. About Dr. Salvador Jimenez Murguia Dr. Salvador Jimenez Murguia is a professor of sociology at Taft College and the author of numerous books. He has conducted research on a …

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Did Tama-chan the seal save the world and cause immigration reform? Topics Discussed The story of the famous seal that appeared in Tokyo’s Tama River in the summer of 2002 About Tama-chan the seal How Tama-chan being granted a jūminhyō (residency certificate) by Yokohama’s Nishi Ward led to foreigners protesting this action …

 On This Episode of Japan Station On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we’re talking about ninjas, the judicial system of 16th century Japan, and more with Susan Spann, author of the Hiro Hattori “shinobi mystery” series of books. About Susan Spann Susan Spann is the award-winning author of the Hiro Hattori series of mystery books. The novels …

 Today’s Question On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What’s it like being a fake priest in Japan? Topics Discussed What a nisebokushi is The different terminology for priests in Japanese (shinpu vs bokushi) The phenomenon of having foreigners dress as priests to officiate weddings in Japan How most “fake priests” in Japan tend to be white men …

 On This Episode of Japan Station On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we’re exploring the world of the bamboo flute known as the shakuhachi.. About Christopher Yohemei Blasdel Christopher Yohmei Blasdel is a master of the shakuhachi, an educator, and an award-winning author. He began instruction in the instrument in Japan in 1972 and has spent almost …

On This Episode On this episode of the Japan Station podcast we’re digging deep into the world of Japanese Buddhist statues and iconography. About Michael VanHartingsveldt Michael VanHartingsveldt is an expert on Buddhist art and iconography. In 2016, Michael obtained a Master’s degree in East Asian Art Business through a joint program offered by the Sotheby’s Institute of Art and …

 Episode 11 of the Japan Station podcast is here and this time we’re exploring the city of Tokyo. Dr. Steven Heine is the director of the Asian Studies Program at Florida International University and author of the book Sacred High City, Sacred Low City: A Tale of Religious Sites in Two Tokyo Neighborhoods. In this episode we talk about: …

Become a holy rider. Shinto shrines can be found all over Japan and although most are dedicated to fairly universal things like good health, studies, and finding a romantic partner, others specialize in far more niche things. Take the case of a relatively new shrine located in the town of Miki (Miki-chō) in Kagawa Prefecture which is dedicated to keeping …

 Episode six of the Japan Station podcast is here and this time we’re talking about Zen. Gesshin Claire Greenwood is a Zen priest and the author of the book Bow First, Ask Questions Later: Ordination, Love, and Monastic Zen in Japan. Funny, intense, and thought-provoking, the book chronicles the more than five years Gesshin spent in Japan training in …

If you like to be confused, then this is the video for you. Pac-Man is one of the most recognizable icons of classic arcade video gaming. However, if you go by a new Japanese music video it seems that aside from being the beloved yellow dot-gobbler that has entertained gamers for decades, Pac-Man may also be the origin of all …