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 Japan Station On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, localizer and author Matt Alt stops by to discuss the influence Japanese pop culture has had on the world. About Matt Alt Matt Alt is a localizer of Japanese games and manga. Together with Hiroko Yoda he founded the localization company AltJapan and has authored multiple …

Because politicians in Kagawa have nothing better to do. Kagawa Prefecture on the island of Shikoku is a relatively rural area of Japan that is primarily known for its delicious udon. However, recently the prefecture has also become known as that place in Japan that is stragely obsessed with preventing kids from playing video games and using smartphones. After several …

An in-depth look at the history of the Shinkansen “bullet train” and the future of high-speed rail travel in Japan.   Speed has always fascinated mankind. From early days when horses were used as a mode of transportation, to recent times, the race to be the fastest has always enthralled people. This need for speed is not just confined to …

Practice flying an airplace inside one of Japan’s busiest airports. Last July the Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu inside Domestic Terminal 2 of Tokyo’s Haneda Airport made headlines around the world when it was announced that the hotel would soon start offering guests the opportunity to stay in a room with a rather interesting feature: a full-sized Boeing 737-800 flight simulator …

It’s not a flying car! On Monday (08/05) the Japanese electronics company NEC unveiled a prototype of a passenger drone during a test that had the vehicle take flight for approximately a minute. The tethered quadcopter-style prototype took flight from within a safety cage at a test facility in the city of Abiko in Chiba Prefecture. Rising to a height …

Will Japan wow the world with technology or fall flat trying? The last time that the Olympic Games were held in Tokyo was in 1964. These games served as an important moment for Japan. By showcasing technological advancements like more precise timekeeping systems, LCD screens, and a new high-speed bullet train system, Japan showed that it had not just recovered …

It’s only a matter of time before Hatsune Miku becomes a security guard. Companies in Japan are already having to deal with problems caused by the country’s steadily shrinking population. With less people being born and an ever-increasing portion of the population retiring out of the workforce, industries are starting to have difficulty filling job openings. In an effort to …

Which is your favorite? With all the excitement surrounding the April 1st press conference in which the name of Japan’s new Imperial era was announced–it’s going to be called Reiwa by the way–this year’s April Fools’ Day was definitely a bit overshadowed. However, just like every year, a long list of Japanese companies put out April Fools’ Day jokes in …

Way better than tearaway pants. From cleaning your keyboard to inflating a tire, it’s almost like there’s nothing some well placed compressed air can’t accomplish. If fact, as a new video by the Japanese YouTuber Sushi Ramen Riku proves, compressed air can even be used in order to take your pants off with lightning speed. Released last week (Dec. 21), …

This is how the trains become sentient. Given how incredibly efficient and complex Japan’s train system is, it’s easy to forget that just about every single train in Japan is still operated by a human conductor. However, it’s beginning to look like human-operated trains may soon go the way of coal locomotives because tests for a new “driverless” train system …

You’ll never have to worry about getting a stinky driver ever again. With less than two years until the start of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics all sorts of preparations are currently underway in order to make sure the event goes off without a hitch. Although many of these preparations are to be expected – making sure there’s enough lodging …