On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why is Japanese TV so bad? Topics Discussed Why Japanese TV is so “terrible” About Japanese variety TV shows How most TV around the world aren’t remarkable How Japanese TV shows can be useful for watching TV How Japanese TV game shows are not crazy How the idea of Japanese game …

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 Japan Station On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we’re talking about creepy apartments and Japanese ghosts with Japanese folklore expert, writer, and translator Zack Davisson. About Zack Davisson Zack Davisson is an award-winning translator, writer, and lecturer whose work focuses primarily on Japanese folklore. Davisson has written extensively about yōkai and Japanese ghosts (yūrei), …

On This Episode of Japan Station On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we’re joined by Stephen Tetsu to discuss the Japanese comedy & entertainment industry, as well as his life as a comedian in the largest talent agency in Japan: Yoshimoto Kōgyō. About Stephen Tetsu Stephen Tetsu is an owarai geinin (comedian) who is part of Yoshimoto Kōgyō, the largest …

 On This Episode of Japan Station On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, comedian, TV personality, and co-host of the Japan By River Cruise podcast Bobby Judo stops by to chat about the Japanese river cruise industry, iguanas, working Japan’s entertainment industry, and more. About Bobby Judo Bobby Judo is a stand-up comedian and TV personality based in …

THIS IS PSYCHIC POWER! Although taking your clothes off for the sake of making people laugh is by no means a new thing in Japan, the past couple of years have been a particularly nude time for the Japanese comedy scene. Just on Japankyo alone, we’ve talked about UesP, Tonikaku Akarui Yasumura and Akira 100%. And now there’s another “naked …

It’s crazy Japanese game show time! Japan has a bit of a reputation for having the most ridiculous game shows and variety shows around. Although for the most part this is a gross over-generalization based on clips from old game shows from 30 or more years ago, if you look hard enough, you can still find plenty of examples of …

NHK fee collectors may soon be replaced by armies of robot Domo-kuns. Domo, or as he is typically called in Japan, Domo-kun (どーも くん Dōmo-kun) is that chocolate bar with a face-looking character that is the mascot of Japan’s public broadcaster NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). He was created in 1998 in order to commemorate the 10th anniversary of NHK-BS, which …

Kyū Kyū Tama, Tama Tama Kyū Kyū The ending sequence for the latest installment in the Super Sentai series of shows is getting quite a bit of attention online for its use of a horribly infectious song and a totally ridiculous dance. The outer-space themed, Uchū Sentai Kyūranger (English: Space Squadron Nine Ranger) is the 41st entry in the long-running …