Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

Episoade

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  Rural Japan VS Urban Japan: Which is BETTER? 14.09.2026 49min

  This is a rebroadcast of an episode of Ichimon Japan that was originally released 4/12/2020. Today's Question On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What's better: rural life or city life in Japan? Topics Discussed The pros and cons of living in rural Japan The pros and cons of living in a big city in Japan Life in Ishikawa Prefecture Life in Kobe Life in Osaka Where Ishikawa Prefecture is located Whether rural people are friendlier than city people in Japan Eating udon meshi at Sururi in Shinjuku, Tokyo Eating gator in Ueno, Tokyo Magic: The Gathering in Japan The not so great rainy wather of Ishikawa Cheap and/or free housing in rural Japan Ishikawa's delicious carrots How Japan's declining population is affecting Japan's rual areas The general lack of adults in their 20s and 30s in rual Japan And more! Note: This episode was recorded before the declaration of the global coronavirus pandemic. While you should visit Japan as Ryan suggests, obviously, April 2020 is a pretty bad time to try to do so. Listen to Japan Station on [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1492400997" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Apple Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pY2hpbW9uamFwYW4ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Google Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/japankyocom/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyocom" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Stitcher[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZVgnljVM8gcR1ar98eK0D" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Spotify[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/mv3zr-ad2df/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyo.com" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]PodBean[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://ichimonjapan.libsyn.com/rss" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]RSS[/btn] Support on Patreon If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude. Support on Patreon Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.   Get 10% off a Mobal voice & data plan! https://mobal.com/tonyjapan Support the show, get a t-shirt! https://mechanekosushi.com/ The restaurant serving udon meshi that was referenced in this episode is called Sururi. You can find the location information for Sururi's Shinjuku location below. Sururi Shinjuku Main Store (するり新宿本店, Sururi Shinjuku Honten) 1-2-9 Kabuki-cho, 2F Citadine Central Shinjuke Tokyo, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo The Japankyo article on Sururi can be accessed via the link below. 18,000 Calorie Udon Rice Bowl Goes on Sale in Japan During the episode a reference is made to a town in Japan that was giving houses to those who would agree to live in them for seven years. This was a mistake. It was actually 15 years. The name of the town is Okutama and you can find out more by watching the video below. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7iFZrhVKoQ&fbclid=IwAR3UQH_aozxbVc98fH_DcAgm6V64P2F0LM82Z0GhfdFiNJCpRnoZv6dm0xM[/embed] If you'd like to find out more aboutthe differences in escalator etiquette that exist between the eastearn and western regions of Japan, then check out the Ichimon Japan episode below. Why do Japanese train stations do that? | Ichimon Japan 03 Japanese Vocabulary List Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here's some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC. Inaka 田舎 【いなか(gikun)】 (n,adj-no) (1) (sens) rural area; countryside; the sticks; (2) hometown Beddotaun ベッドタウン : ベッドタウン; ベットタウン(ik); ベッド・タウン; ベット・タウン(ik) (n) commuter town (wasei: bed town); bedroom community; dormitory town Kisha 汽車 【きしゃ】 (n) (1) train (esp. long distance train); (2) (orig. meaning) steam train We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to [email protected]. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@TonyRVega) Full Show Notes https:///japankyo.com/ichimonjapan
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  DEAD Keitai Slang Only OLD People Remember EXPLAINED 07.09.2026 52min

  On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about dead slang from the heyday of Japanese cell pnones (ケータイ, kētai). 👉Topics Discussed About the evolution of Japanese cell phones Wha tis a shame 写メ What is dekome デコメ The origins of shame About decorating Japanese cell phones keitai The connection between gyaru and Japanese cell phones About "straps" sutorappu  What keitai is written in katakana And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Mobal Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan  👉Get a T-Shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None this time. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/  
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  Even Japanese Forget This Prefecture (But You Shouldn't!) 01.09.2026 51min

  On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about life in Shimane Prefecture. 👉Topics Discussed About the unique cultural quirks of life in Shimane Prefecture Where Shimane is located How people often get Tottori and Shimane confused A funny example of a dialect from Shimane Prefecture About food in Shimane Prefecture What is wariko soba? About Izumo Time What is shijimi? Abut the famous story of The White Hare of Inaba How wani are actually sharks and not crocodile in the Kojiki And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Mobal Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan  👉Get a T-Shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None this time. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/  
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  Japan's Most Scandalous Shorts EXPLAINED (ブルマ/buruma) 27.08.2026 52min

  On this episode, we ask: Whar are buruma? This is a rebroadcast of episode 53 of Ichimon Japan. Topics Discussed What buruma/bloomers are A brief overview of the history of school uniforms in Japan About the gakuran style school uniform About the supposed link between gakuran uniforms and Prussian military uniforms About sailor uniforms (sērā fuku) About "blazer" style uniforms The controversy over whether it was a school in Kyoto or Fukuoka that first introduced the sailor uniform in Japan The "second button" tradition The story behind why schools across Japan began having female students wear bloomers in the 1960s and why they stopped in the 1990s The urban legend that bloomers became popular due to the Japanese women's volleyball team wearing them in the 1964 Olympics The 1993 incident in Singapore that was the final straw that led to the disappearance of bloomers from schools in Japan About girls being able to wear slacks instead of skirts as part of their school uniforms About koromogae (changing school uniforms in accordance with the change of the seasons) And much more! Listen to Ichimon Japan on [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1492400997" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Apple Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pY2hpbW9uamFwYW4ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Google Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/japankyocom/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyocom" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Stitcher[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZVgnljVM8gcR1ar98eK0D" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Spotify[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-59510504/" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]iHeartRadio[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/mv3zr-ad2df/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyo.com" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]PodBean[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyocom-p1290988/" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Tunein[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://ichimonjapan.libsyn.com/rss" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]RSS[/btn] Support If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month and that comes Support the show by joining the Patreon, donating to Ko-fi or getting a t-shirt! Join PatreonL https://japankyo.com/patreonSupport on Patreon:  Donate to Ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/japankyo Get a t-shirt from Mecha Neko Sushi: https://mechanekosushi.com/ Mobal Get 10% off the Mobal Voice & Data plan! Mobal Affiliate Link: http://mobal.com/tonyjapan   Sources, Links, Videos, Etc. Here are some of the Japanese language articles found when researching the topic of this episode. 高校の制服の歴史 昔の制服を試着！椙山歴史文化館 学校制服としてのセーラー服の歴史 学院の歴史資料 This is the website of Kyoto Heian Jogakuin. This is one of the schools that takes the credit for being the first to introduce sailor uniforms in Japan. On this page you can see a photo of this early version of the sailor uniform. This is the photo Ryan refers to that has a dog in it. セーラー服 学ランの由来と歴史について知ろう！ 知ってるようで知らない学ランとセーラー服のお話 日本の学ランがプロイセンの軍服をモデルに作られたというのは本当ですか？ 卒業式 学生服の第二ボタンの意味と由来とは？ あの恥ずかしいブルマーはなぜ日本中の学校で強制されていたのか？ 裏には教育界とメーカーの癒着が This is the article that explains the history of "bloomers" in Japan. It discusses why blooomers became so widely used in Japan and then why bloomers suddenly disappeared. The article goes over the research of Yuji Yamamoto, a professor at Kansai University who wrote a book titled Burumā no Nazo (The Riddle/Puzzle/Mystery of Bloomers). 【ＳＤＧｓ】愛媛でも広がるジェンダーレス制服 採用増える「ジェンダーレス制服」、誕生の背景は　トンボのデザイナーに聞く Here's some of the English language sources read for this episode. About Japanese School Uniforms: Symbols of Freedom, Rebellion, and Fashion School uniforms in Japan Sailor Uniforms and the Maypole Dance SEIFUKU Here is a video of the Japanese women's volleyball team competing in the finals of the 1964 Olympics. Japan Win First Ever Women's Volleyball Gold - Tokyo 1964 Olympics Here's a video that shows the evolution of girls' school uniforms in Japan over the past 100 years. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inJR23ik8CI To learn about weird/antiquiated/pointless school rules in Japan check out the episode of Ichimon Japan linked to below. Why are school rules in Japan so strict? (All About Kōsoku) | Ichimon Japan 23 Don't forget to check out the latest episodes of the Japan Station podcast via the links below. Coeds & Kaiju: On the Female Student in Japan's New Left, Kaiju Movies & More (Dr. Chelsea Szendi Schieder) | Japan Station 77 Behind the Scenes of JapanKyo Docs | Japan Station 78 Support the show by picking up a t-shirt at KimitoDesigns.com. Check out Kimito Designs Japanese Vocabulary List Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here's some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC. Seifuku 制服 【せいふく】 (n) uniform Sērā fuku セーラー服 【セーラーふく】 (n) sailor suit; middy uniform Burumā ブルマー : ブルマ; ブルマー; ブルーマー; ブルーマーズ; ブルマーズ (n) (1) bloomers; (n) (2) (girls') gym shorts We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to [email protected]. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media X: https://x.com/tonyrvega Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social https:///japankyo.com/ichimonjapan  
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  He Cycled the Length of Japan! Here's What Happened 23.08.2026 49min

  On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about what it's like to cycle the entire length of Japan with journalist Oscar Boyd. 👉Topics Discussed Why Japan is so great for cycling About transporting a bike from the UK to Japan About biking from Kagoshima to the northernmostpoint of Japan over the course of 28 days Why Oscar decided to start his cycling trip from Mount Kaimon in Kagoshima About the route Oscar took when cycling the length of Japan Why Oscar decided to avoid the Tokaido corridor About visiting Mount Koya About cycling through Shikoku About the amazing breakfast at Dogoya in Matsuyama Some of the best food Oscar experienced while cycling across Japan The scariest part of cycling the length of Japan Why you should cycle the Shimanami Kaido Why you should cycle the Kiso Valley And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Mobal Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan  👉Get a T-Shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Check out Oscar Boyd's video about cycling the length of Japan. I Tried Cycling the Length of Japan: 3,000km and 27 Days on the Road | Long Way North Vol. 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpH8vt5WLV0 In high latest video Oscar cycles the length of Italy. I Tried Cycling the Length of Italy: 2,000km and 19 Days On The Road | Long Way North Vol. 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE78sSmO5Rg&t=5s Follow Oscar Boyd on social media Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oscar.boyd/ 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/  
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  Japan TURNS ON Foreign Residents?! Jake Adelstein on Takaichi's Immigration Policies 20.08.2026 29min

  On this episode of Japan Station, Jake Adelstein joins us to discuss immigration policy in Japan and why the Takaichi government has decided to make it more difficult for foreigners to get permanent residency. 👉Topics Discussed Why you (probably) will never get permanent residence in Japan The ill-defined changes to requirements for permanent residency in Japan Why the changes to permanent residency requirements in Japan are so discouraging to foreign residents of Japan Why Japan needs workers from other countries The problem with retroactively changing requirements for permanent residency in Japan The problem with the 30 years of payments to the national pension system requirement The influence of the Sanseitō And much more Why the yen is so weak How most people in Japan will never be full-fledged company employees (seishain) How Japan hates and needs "overtourism" How Japan is becoming less and less alluring as a place to live How Japan has failed to innovate and take the lead in new industries The problematic way Japan didn't allow foreign residents to reenter Japan during the COVID pandemic And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Mobal Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan  👉Get a T-Shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Read Jake Adelstein's article Welcome to Japanistan, where the foreign residents who buried their lives here aren't welcome anymore. It's not a kind policy–and not even a wise one: https://tokyopaladin.substack.com/p/takaichi-just-told-the-foreign-residents For more articles by Jake Adelstein, check out the Tokyo Paladin Substack. Tokyo Paladin Substack: https://tokyopaladin.substack.com/ 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/
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  How to insult Japan's BRAIN ROT generation (ドパガキ) 14.08.2026 27min

  On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about the recently created Japanese word dopagaki (ドパガキ). What does it mean and what are its origins? Listen to find out! 👉Topics Discussed The meaning and origin of dopagaki What does dopajita (ドパ舌) mean? What does doparu mean? What does zonbisukurōru (ゾンビスクロール) mean? And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan Support by Buying a T-Shirt! Support the show by getting a t-shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None this time. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/
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  These English words CAN'T be translated into Japanese 07.08.2026 49min

  On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about English words that are tricky to translate into Japanese. 👉Topics Discussed English words that are surprisingly difficult to translate into Japanese How to say jaywalking in Japanese How to say zesty in Japanese How to say touch grass in Japanese And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan Support by Buying a T-Shirt! Support the show by getting a t-shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None this time. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/  
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  The Kumamoto earthquake is HEARTBREAKING! How to help 01.08.2026 20min

  On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about the 2926 Kumamoto earthquake and how you can help. 👉Topics Discussed The effects of the Reiwa Year 8 Kumamoto earthquake How to help and where you can donate And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan Support by Buying a T-Shirt! Support the show by getting a t-shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. How to help and where to donate to support the recovery efforts in Kumamoto: The 2026 Kumamoto Earthquake and How to Help: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/kumamoto-earthquake-relief/ Donate to the Japanese Red Cross: https://www.jrc.or.jp/english/donate/ Donate to Peace Boat Disaster Relief: https://pbv.or.jp/en/donate/ 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/  
• 
  Crazy ways to survive Japan's BRUTAL summer heat 01.08.2026 43min

  On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about some of the more creative ways people in Japan are battling the intense summer heat. 👉Topics Discussed What is kokushōbi (酷暑日) How kokushōbi was decided via a survey About the Dohiemon Box/Human Refrigerator About Mandom's "Sweat Management" seminars About ice cream holders About the parasol curtain from Three Coins that makes you look like a Heian Period princess About Sofy Cool, the minty fresh cooling sanitary napkins that went viral The controversy behind men wearing shorts in the workplace in Japan The electric uchiwa fan machine And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan Support by Buying a T-Shirt! Support the show by getting a t-shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Here is the promotional video for the Dohiemon Box (human refrigerator). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nf9cN4wCBw 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/  
• 
  Inside an Intense Sushi Training Course in Tokyo 21.07.2026 1h 27min

  On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about what it's like doing an intensive sushi preparation course with Travin Keith, owner of Sushi Kita in Belfast, Northern Ireland.   👉Topics Discussed Where Miyagi Prefecture is located What it was like trying to open a ramen shop in Kosovo The problems with trying to open a ramen shop in Kosovo Why Travin decided to learn how to prepare sushi in Japan What to expect when taking a two month intensive sushi preparation course in Japan What were the challenges of learning how to become a sushi chef About cooking rice for the first time Why Travin decided to open a sushi shop in Belfast, Northern Ireland Travin's plans for Sushi Kita About Ishinomori Shotaro's various museums About "good morning socks" And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan Support by Buying a T-Shirt! Support the show by getting a t-shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Links for Sushi Kita: Sushi Kita Website: https://sushikita.one/ Sushi Kita Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sushikitaresto   👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/  
• 
  What you need to know about FAMIRESU! 14.07.2026 59min

  This episode is a re-broadcast of episode 61 of the Ichimon Japan podcast (originally released 6/21/22). 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 Donkey About Saizeriya Whether Sizzler is a famiresu Whether TGIFriday's is a famiresu Whether kaitenzushi (conveyor belt sushi) should be considered famiresu And much more! Listen to Ichimon Japan on [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1492400997" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Apple Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pY2hpbW9uamFwYW4ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Google Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/japankyocom/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyocom" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Stitcher[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZVgnljVM8gcR1ar98eK0D" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Spotify[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-59510504/" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]iHeartRadio[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/mv3zr-ad2df/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyo.com" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]PodBean[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyocom-p1290988/" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Tunein[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://ichimonjapan.libsyn.com/rss" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]RSS[/btn] Support on Patreon & Ko-fi If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month and that comes with perks like early access to episodes, a shout-out at the beginning of a future episode, bonus content, and discounts to Kimito Designs. For $3 a month you get all that plus access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and its many quirks. Whether you are studying Japanese or just enjoy learning about language and linguistics, you'll enjoy Japanese Plus Alpha. And it goes without saying that if you sign up, you'll also get my undying gratitude. Thanks in advance! Support on Patreon If you would just like to do a one time contribution, then please go to our Ko-fi page. Support JapanKyo on Ko-fi Sources, Links, Videos, Etc. Get 10% off on your Mobal voice & data plan via the affiliate link below https://mobal.com/tonyjapan Support the show by getting a t-shirt from Mecha Neko Sushi! Mecha Neko Su\ushi: https://mechanekosushi.com/ Japanese Vocabulary List Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here's some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC. Famiresu ファミレス (n) (abbr) (See ファミリーレストラン) family restaurant We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to [email protected]. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/  
• 
  Why life in Miyagi is DIFFERENT! 07.07.2026 53min

  On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about the unique cultural and geographic quirks of life in Miyagi Prefecture. 👉Topics Discussed Where Miyagi Prefecture is located The population of Miyagi Prefecture Miyagi's mild weather What izui means What is gyūtan (牛タン) About Sada Keishiro and the origins of gyūtan (beef tongue) How most people in Sendai rarely if ever eat gyūtan What is zundamochi? About Kessennuma and its fishing industry About shark meat in Kessennuma About Sendai's links to JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, Jujutsu Kaisen and other anime/manga About Ishinomori Shotaro's various museums About "good morning socks" And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan Support by Buying a T-Shirt! Support the show by getting a t-shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None this time. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/  
• 
  What the hell is JUNE sickness? (rokugatsubyō, 六月病) | Japan Station 217 01.07.2026 20min

  On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about "May sickness" and "June sickness." What are these sicknesses? Are they real? Should you be concerned? ðŸ'‰Topics Discussed What is gogatsubyÅ (äº"津病) What is rokugatsubyÅ (六月病) The origin of "May sickness" Why April-June has a reputation for being a stressful time of year in Japan Why June sickness is stupid Why June is thought to be a particularly stressful time of year in Japan And much more! ðŸ'‰Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB ðŸ'‰Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega ðŸ'‰Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan Support by Buying a T-Shirt! Support the show by getting a t-shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com ðŸ'‰Links, Videos, Etc. None this time. ðŸ'‰Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/  
• 
  Who started the Japanese soccer fan trash clean up custom? 24.06.2026 19min

  On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about the origins of the famous custom of Japanese World Cup soccer/football fans cleaning stadiums after a match is over. Where did this custom originate? Who started it? Why do they use blue garbage bags? We talk about all that and more! 👉Topics Discussed The history of the Japanese soccer/football fan cleaning up trash custom Why Korean soccer fans may be the origin of the Japanese soccer fan stadium clean up custom How Tanabe Seiyaku fans clean up trash after their team lost the Emperor's Cup on January 1st, 1981 Japan's loss to Korea during the 1985 qualifiers for the 1986 Mexico World Cup About Yoshizawa Koichi How Korean soccer fans picked up their own trash after defeating Japan in 1985 Why Japanese soccer fans use blue garbage bags to cheer at soccer games And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan Support by Buying a T-Shirt! Support the show by getting a t-shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Here are the sources I used for this episode: This is the article that shares the Yoshizawa Koichi story (about Korean soccer fans picking up trash): https://www.asahi.com/articles/ASV6L3G9CV6LUQIP05YM.html https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/0a9c3eeb476794e87fd854e91e730a16b9dc01a2?page=4 https://news.yahoo.co.jp/expert/articles/7a641bc611b1a765b8a8646f288ec347ada073a5 Here is the Japan Station episode that digs into the origins of why Japan has so few trash cans in public: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOYW0P4JfqY&t=1s JapanKyo Post: https://japankyo.com/2025/06/the-real-reason-japan-doesnt-have-public-trash-cans-theyre-lying-to-you-japan-station-163/   👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/  
• 
  He climbed Japan's 100 FAMOUS mountains 21.06.2026 53min

  On this episode of Japan Station, we're joined by the first confirmed American to climb Japan's "100 famous mountains" (hyakumēzan, 百名山): Wes Lang. We also talk about his experiences climbing Japan's tallest mountains and more. 👉Topics Discussed About climbing Japan's hundred famous mountains (hyakumēzan, 百名山) Animal encounters while climbing mountains in Japan Memorable experiences while hiking in Japan About getting lost during a winter hike in Shiga Prefecture What to do if you get lost while hiking About climbing the tallest mountain in each of Japan's 47 prefectures Advice for hiking in Japan About Wes Lang's work as a travel consultant And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan Support by Buying a T-Shirt! Support the show by getting a t-shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Relevant Links: Hiking in Japan blog: https://hikinginjapan.com/ Hiking in Japan YouTube: https://youtube.com/@hikinginjapan Hiking and Trekking in the Japan Alps and Mount Fuji: https://www.cicerone.co.uk/hiking-and-trekking-in-the-japan-alps-and-mount-fuji 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/  
• 
  The good and bad of the JET Program 15.06.2026 1h 1min

  This is a rebroadcast of Ichimon Japan episode 47 (originally released 07/07/21). On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What was good and bad about your JET experience? Topics Discussed What the JET Programme is The various positions available to JET applicants Some troubles experienced while on the JET Programme Rural placements Japan's shrinking population On getting placed in Yamagata Prefecture On the lack of privacy that comes with living in a rural place in Japan Positive experiences while on JET Unique tangential experiences How seeing example of bad teaching can be helpful On making friends while on JET On dealing with cold weather And much more! Listen to Ichimon Japan on [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1492400997" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Apple Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pY2hpbW9uamFwYW4ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Google Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/japankyocom/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyocom" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Stitcher[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZVgnljVM8gcR1ar98eK0D" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Spotify[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-59510504/" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]iHeartRadio[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/mv3zr-ad2df/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyo.com" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]PodBean[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyocom-p1290988/" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Tunein[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://ichimonjapan.libsyn.com/rss" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]RSS[/btn] Support on Patreon If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month and that comes with perks like early access to episodes, a shout-out at the beginning of a future episode, bonus content, and discounts to Kimito Designs. For $3 a month you get all that plus access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and its many quirks. Whether you are studying Japanese or just enjoy learning about language and linguistics, you'll enjoy Japanese Plus Alpha. And it goes without saying that if you sign up, you'll also get my undying gratitude. Thanks in advance! Support on Patreon Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.   Support the show, get a t-shirt! Mecha Neko Sushi Here's a few English language articles that I came across while preparing for this episode. As Japan's JET Programme hits its 30s, the jury's still out WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE PLACED IN A BAD SCHOOL: OVERCOMING HARDSHIPS AND BECOMING THE ALT YOU WANT TO BE JET-setting into the Deep Countryside of Japan: My Experience Here is a link to the page containing the details about the Japanese survey mentioned in this episode. ALTがいる授業、子どもたちには人気？　親は……!? Use the link below to check out the latest episode of the Japan Station podcast. What Is Pana-Wave Laboratory? (Dr. Salvador Jimenez Murguia) | Japan Station 69 Support the show by picking up a t-shirt at KimitoDesigns.com. Check out Kimito Designs Japanese Vocabulary List Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here's some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC. Gaikokugoshidōjoshu 外国語指導助手 【がいこくごしどうじょしゅ】 (n) assistant language teacher; ALT; foreign national serving as an assistant teacher of English in a Japanese classroom We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to [email protected]. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapanKyoNews) Twitter (@JapanKyoNews) Full Show Notes https:///japankyo.com/ichimonjapan  
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  Food you GOTTA try in Fukushima! 07.06.2026 35min

  On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about food you have to eat the next time you visit Fukushima. 👉Topics Discussed About the Grand Van Gogh Exhibit About the Pokemon Astronomical Observatory About Koriyama Black Ramen What a "cream box" is What is Fukushima Buruburu The history of Fukushima Buruburu And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan Support by Buying a T-Shirt! Support the show by getting a t-shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/  
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  Why life in Fukushima is DIFFERENT! 01.06.2026 35min

  On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about Fukushima Prefecture! We're focusing on the geography, cultural quirks, language and food. 👉Topics Discussed About the geography of Fukushima Prefecture Where Fukushima is located About the three regions of Fukushima: Aizu, Nakadōri, Hamadōri About the stereotypes of the people of the three regions of Fukushima What is Mamadōru About the Fukushima dialect The culture of eating ramen for breakfast (asarā) About Kitakata ramen About Shirakawa ramen And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan Support by Buying a T-Shirt! Support the show by getting a t-shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony  
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  The Virgin Mary inspired him to make a film in Japan 21.05.2026 42min

  On this episode of Japan Station, filmmaker Cuauhtemoc Velazquez joins us to talk about Apparition, his new short film about a Tokyo izakaya that gets visited by the Virgin Mary. 👉Topics Discussed What Apparition is about What inspired Cuauhtemoc Velazquez to make Apparition Japan's loose but respectful relationship with religion About making a short film in Japan About renting a film set in Japan Whether Japan is a good place to shoot a film Whether filmmaking is affordable in Japan About finding a statue of the Virgin Mary in Japan and carrying it onto a Japanese subway Plans for a release of Apparition And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan Support by Buying a T-Shirt! Support the show by getting a t-shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Here is the trailer for Apparition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAKwDm3W7PE Here is Cuauhtemoc's website: https://www.cuauhtemocvelazquez.com/ 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony