Japan goes HARD with its prank shows. Some pranks are lighthearted and funny, but is it possible that some have gone too far? Let’s explore some of Japan’s most elaborate TV pranks. 

Words mentioned

ドッキリ dokkiri - prank, practical joke

外国人 gaikokujin - foreigner 

臭い kusai - stinky 

突っ込み tsukkomi - jab/dig/make a comment (in this context)

複雑 fukuzatsu - complicated

番組 bangumi - (tv) program

さすが sasuga - as expected

我慢 gaman - perseverance/endurance 

Note: Nasubi’s documentary is already out!! It’s called The Contestant and it’s on Hulu. We both watched it and will have a deep dive on it for the next episode!! If you want some homework, you should watch it too before the new episode drops next week!

It was apparently supposed to be on Hulu Japan as well but it wasn’t and we needed a VPN to watch it soooo idk. 

Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]

Links:

Tourist carves name into torii gate: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/11/14/japan/crime-legal/meiji-shrine-defacement-arrest/

Elevator Fart Prank: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxIq3z4Fsmk&t=7s

Hair Loss Prank: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaIXMvZG16Y

Kirido University: https://www.tiktok.com/@what_a_cool_we_are1/video/7375900539994885384

Other pranks compilation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kltbeJ-tJrY

Self defense gone wrong: https://jisin.jp/entertainment/entertainment-news/2370775/

Nasubi: https://forums.mixnmojo.com/topic/167533-japanese-man-locked-in-an-apartment-for-a-year-and-recorded-for-a-tv-show/

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q05V3JabzaI

00:00 Seasonal blues

03:29 Rude encounters

07:01 prank intro

16:31 the word gaijin is WHAT!?

20:27 tourist carves initials at shrine

25:24 our podcast is a prank

26:53 Elevator Fart Prank

32:51 Jurassic Prank

34:59 Hair Loss Prank

37:31 Kirido University 

44:59 Grudge girl in shower 

49:42 Water Fountain Prank

51:58 Exploding Porta Potty

53:43 Elevator Slide

55:51 Self Defense Gone Wrong - TW

1:04:55 Nasubi Psychological Experiment

How does Japan celebrate Christmas? Why is KFC a Christmas thing? What are everyone's plans this year?

Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]

Ummm, buckle up. We've got stories from all kinds of teachers (native and foreign) who've done some messed up stuff that's gotten them arrested.

Disclaimer: you can love Japan and not defend creeps.

TW: SA, CSA, self exiting

Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]

Words mentioned:

厄年 yakudoshi - unlucky year/age

青春 seishun - youth

家庭訪問 kateihoumon - home visit (like a teacher visiting a student’s home)

References:

Ab*sed Kobe teacher claims 50 forms of bullying from colleagues in report to police

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191012/p2a/00m/0na/005000c

Kobe teacher accused of bullying colleague broke student's arm 3 years ago: educators

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191011/p2a/00m/0na/015000c

Kobe City Personnel Commission rules wage withholding illegal for two perpetrators of Kobe teacher violence

https://www.kobe-np.co.jp/rentoku/eastsuma-kyoin/news/202108/0014565449.shtml

Teacher moonlighting as bar host arrested in Nagoya

https://japantoday.com/category/crime/teacher-moonlighting-as-bar-host-arrested-in-nagoya

English teacher arrested over violent home invasion

https://newsonjapan.com/article/138517.php

English teacher arrested in Japan for smuggling c*nnabis oil inside hair treatment bottles

https://newsonjapan.com/article/131070.php

Experts fear *buse rampant in Japan’s nursery schools

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/2164/

Teacher arrested for mixing bleach into curry for elementary kids

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14721231

Cram school teacher arrests ignite child safety debate

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/10/06/japan/crime-legal/yotsuya-otsuka-child-safety-debate/

Japan's Chiba Pref. sees high number of teachers punished over s*x crimes

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231223/p2a/00m/0na/023000c

Rules to tighten on p*dop*ile teachers seeking reinstatement

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14512322

Japan: Database of Teachers Who Committed Obscene Acts against Children Begins Operating

https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2023-04-11/japan-database-of-teachers-who-committed-obscene-acts-against-children-begins-operating/#:~:text=Pressured%20by%20activists%20and%20a,2%2C%20para.

Japan enacts law to restrict s*x offenders from child-related work

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/06/4d666b0741cf-japan-enacts-law-to-restrict-sex-offenders-from-child-related-work.html?phrase=melon&words=

Teacher arrested for indecency on Tokyo Disneyland field trip

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/05/c3a4d5349fb0-teacher-arrested-for-indecency-on-tokyo-disneyland-field-trip.html

Eikaiwa teacher in Fukuoka accused of assa*lting as many as 40 young girls sentenced to 18 years in prison

https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/i2oum/what_ever_happened_to_the_us_english_teacher/

Teacher lost note on bullying of boy who apparently took own life

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190705/p2a/00m/0na/009000c

Oh boy, here we go again! Recent controversies with tourists, over tourism measures, over saturation of Japan content on social media, do we need a tourist tax? Looks like we’ve got a lot to cover!

Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]

Frankie - @franklinthewoman

Cheyenne - @lostwithlow

Words mentioned

あり得ない arienai - impossible, unbelievable 

対策 taisaku - counter-measures

保険証 hokensho - health insurance card

在留カード zairyu card - residence card (for foreign residents)

差別 sabetsu - discrimination

迷惑 (nuisance) youtuber - creators who purposely annoy others or cause a stir for views

References/articles:

Yoga at Sensoji 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DBpvAdXvtiX/?igsh=MXdvMHFzdDV3bW9rZw==

Pull-ups at torii gate:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/10/17/japan/chilean-woman-torii-shrine/

Apology video: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSjksbXFp/

Lady riding Hachiko statue in Shibuya 

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSjkGAS8T/

Sitting on the floor 

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSjkGRexH/

18 year old American tourist caught setting fires in Tokyo 

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/10/24/japan/crime-legal/american-tourist-tokyo-arson/#:~:text=An%2018%2Dyear%2Dold%20American%20tourist%20was%20arrested%20in%20Tokyo,with%20his%20family%20since%20Oct.

Combatting over tourism: 

https://www.travelvoice.jp/english/ey-japan-issues-an-insight-report-on-over-tourism-in-japan-introducing-three-major-countermeasures

Japan’s international marketing budget - https://www.travelvoice.jp/english/japan-tourism-agency-requests-2-2-times-more-budget-for-fy2024-than-fy2023-focusing-on-a-labor-shortage-issue-in-the-hospitality-industry

Hezuma Ryu arrested

https://jisin.jp/domestic/2013967/

Fidias evading shinkansen fee

https://www.businessinsider.com/youtuber-slammed-free-japan-trip-bus-train-ticket-2023-10

Sushi Incident

https://www.bbc.com/japanese/64898215.amp

All the things that shocked us back home after being in Japan for 7 years, plus a fresh perspective from a Japanese native! Let us know your own culture and reverse culture shocks below!

Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]

Frankie - @franklinthewoman

Cheyenne - @lostwithlow

Vocab used in today’s episode:

Culture shock - カルチャーショック

Cultural differences - 文化の違い

Speed-eating, quickly eating 早食い, はやぐい, hayagui

Election - 選挙, せんきょ, senkyo 

Scam - 詐欺 sagi

Commuter pass - 定期券 teikiken

Weak yen - 円安 enyasu

Recruitment - 募集 boshu

Salary - 給料 kyuryo

Let’s dive into the folklore that inspired these two iconic Japanese horror films. 

Got questions? Want to share your story or get in touch with us? ⁠[email protected]⁠

Conbini Cult Episode 24

Frankie:  @franklinthewoman  

Cheyenne: lostwithlow (tiktok)

Useful videos about Ju-on (The Grudge)

Kowabana - Tara A. Devlin

​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mii6qi-ZxEw&t=6s&ab_channel=TaraA.Devlin

The tragic tale of Oiwa https://yokai.com/oiwa/

More on Oiwa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWNZkq2OPTE&ab_channel=JacobDeSioReviews

What lurks in the woods or under the street lamps might haunt you.. Join us in learning more about superstitions in Japan and the most horrifying urban legends.

Got questions? Want to share your story or get in touch with us? ⁠[email protected]⁠

Words of the day:

迷信 meishin - superstition 

怨霊 onryō - vengeful spirit

Turn off the lights and hide in your room as we share some of the creepiest ghostly encounters and paranormal experiences in Japan. 

Got questions? Want to share your story or get in touch with us? ⁠[email protected]⁠

Words of the day

お化け obake - ghost

心霊スポット shinrei spotto - haunted place

幽霊 ghost/spirit (that is unable to pass on)

It’s October so we are kicking off spooky season with some creepypasta urban legends from Japan.

Got questions? Want to share your story or get in touch with us? [email protected]

Word of the day 

都市伝説 toshi densetsu - urban legend

怖い kowai - scary

Nightmare Tales: https://www.youtube.com/@NightmareTales

Some references: https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/Kisaragi_Station

https://www.kowabana.net/2017/09/06/hasshaku-sama/

Worst dates? Wild exes? Wholesome relationships? Let's share some stories about dating in Japan.

Got questions? Want to share your story or get in touch with us? [email protected]

kandou 感動 かんどう - being deeply moved emotionally

Gaijin hunter - person specifically looking for relationships or friendships with foreigners (in a festishy way)