DEEP IN JAPAN

In the words of our boi Noah Oskow over Unseen Japan, "It’s been fourteen years since the release of Jake Adelstein’s seminal memoir Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan. Since then, the book has become the go-to popular non-fiction for those interested in the Japanese underworld. Tokyo Vice was still a mainstay in true crime sections at North American bookstores even before HBO began airing a fictionalized adaptation on their steaming platform, now known as Max; that series, with its premier episode directed by Michael Mann, has become a major hit, with a second season around the corner. So, what better time could there be for Jake to release the long-awaited sequel to Vice, The Last Yakuza?" 

And what better time could there be for a Jake Adelstein interview, amirite?

In this episode, Jeff and his lovely (but tired) wife, Miho, take listeners on peaceful walks through Nagano’s rice fields, joined by their Shiba Inu, Kako. As they stroll, they share heartfelt conversations about life, parenting, and their everyday experiences. With nature’s backdrop, each episode offers a soothing escape into the simple joys of family and life in Japan.

Like what you hear? Then, please support the show by becoming a patron at Patreon. Deep in Japan is completely independent and crowd-funded, and every yen helps keep the thing going. 

• BGM: 24☆7 (feat. Ryugo Ishida & TAEYO)
• Contact: [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

This interview was taken from my appearance on the Weekly Fascination show hosted by Tracy Greenwood, which you can watch here. Oh, and the cover art? Yeah, that’s definitely not the work of any fancy algorithms. Nope. Just a genuine, hand-drawn synthwave masterpiece of a “photo” of Tracy and me, in all our photorealistic glory. Absolutely no tech involved. None whatsoever. 

SUPPORT THE SHOW! Deep in Japan Podcast is completely independent and crowd-funded. If you like what you hear, please consider becoming a patron at Patreon. Every bit helps keep this crazy ride going!

• NOTE: The claim that “1/3 of hafu children become futoukou (不登校児, meaning ‘children who don’t go to school,’ which includes both dropouts and those who are homeschooled)” seems to be more of an anecdotal or social observation rather than a widely documented statistic in official reports. While various sources highlight the challenges hafu children face in Japan—such as bullying, struggles with identity, and social exclusion—there is no specific government report or academic study that confirms the 1/3 figure. I can’t recall the exact source of this information, but it’s important to note that my daughter, for example, is registered as a junior high school (JHS) student despite being homeschooled, as our local municipality doesn’t officially recognize homeschooling as an option.
• 30% to 40% of runway models in Japanese fashion shows now identify as hafu.
  Nurture shock: https://amzn.to/3yTQDMM (Tracy's Affiliate link)
• How to use で when ordering things by @kanamenaito
• Tracy's Outro

Got something to say? You can reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!

A big “Sorry” to my 4 loyal listeners—please feel free to skip the long, one-hour rant at the beginning. I promise the music and AI talk afterward is worth sticking around for! 😅

SUPPORT THE SHOW! Deep in Japan Podcast is completely independent and crowd-funded. If you like what you hear, please consider becoming a patron at Patreon. Every bit helps keep this crazy ride going!

Got something to say? You can reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

Once again, Trevor-kohai was lured into DIJ studios under the pretense of ‘a quick chat’ with 'free pizza and matcha' only to be mercilessly schooled in the ancient, highly classified art of podcasting—WW2 Japanese Secret Police-style. Picture it: 12 grueling hours of unrelenting waterboarding with Calpis (don’t worry, we used the fizzy kind for maximum effect) before he finally caved in and agreed to grace us with his presence for another round of HAPPY TIMES. And let me tell you, folks, the results are nothing short of miraculous. So buckle up, grab your spoons, and prepare yourself for a steaming hot serving of double cheese gyudon—served with a side of Trevor’s tears. Just the way you like it! 

Deep in Japan is an entirely listener-supported show. We don't have any sponsors or run advertisements, allowing us to remain independent. If you enjoy the show and want to support our work, please consider becoming a patron at Patreon.com/deepinjapan. Your contributions make this podcast possible.

LINKS:

• EASTA & NAOtheLAIZA - Straight Up feat. JAGGLA & NORIKIYO (outro)
• Doge Randoseru 
• Meaning of CHIGYU
• We visit the new all-you-can-eat KFC buffet restaurant in Tokyo
• Kyoto’s Tofukuji temple opens secret area above Sanmon Gate to the public
• Japanese randoseru backpacks for dogs are back【Photos】
• The Joker's Platform in the Tokyo gubbinatorial race ジョーカー議員・河合ゆうすけ氏が東京都知事選に出馬へ 記者会見
• The Japan Reporter: Japan's Anti-Tourist Sentiment | What's Really Behind It?

Got something to say? You can reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening.  

In this episode, we speak with Tracy Greenwood, lawyer and producer of the Weekly Fascination YouTube Channel and Podcast. If you want to learn more Tracy, check out the following:  

• Weekly Fascination on YouTube
• Weekly Fascination on Apple Podcasts
• Tracy on Instagram
• Tracy on X 

Links from the show:  

• Southern All Stars - 真夏の果実 (outro) 
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD): An Overview

The Deep in Japan Podcast is completely independent and crowd-funded, so if you like what you hear, please consider supporting the show. 

Got something to say? You can reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

In this captivating episode, we sit down with Lawrence Repeta, a distinguished lawyer, business executive, and law professor who served in Japan and the United States. Lawrence discusses his recently published book, Japan's Prisoners of Conscience, which provides a gripping account of the criminal prosecution of three peaceful protestors in Japan during the Iraq War. Based on meticulous interviews with defendants, lawyers, and eyewitnesses, Lawrence's book delves into the harrowing details of the arrests and trials of these protestors, examining the larger issues raised by the case. 

• Japan's Prisoners of Conscience: Repeta, Lawrence (US Amazon) 
• Japan's Prisoners of Conscience: Protest and Law During ... (Japan Amazon) 
• Jiro Inagaki & Soul Media ‎- Breeze (1975) (Outro) 

The Deep in Japan Podcast is completely independent and crowd-funded, so if you like what you hear, please consider supporting the show. 

Got something to say? You can reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

Today we speak with legendary Swedish YouTuber and content creator, SephirothSword57, known to his swordlings/followers as Seph-Sama.

The Deep in Japan Podcast is completely independent and crowd-funded, so if you like what you hear, please consider supporting the show.

LINKS:

• YouTube: SephirothSword5
• Patreon: patreon.com/Sephirothsword57
• Twitter: twitter.com/Sephirothsword_
• Twitch: twitch.tv/sephsword57
• Store: teespring.com/stores/seph-sama
• Mizuki Shigeru: Wiki Profile
• Mizuki Shigeru Picture book: 水木しげるの妖怪えほん
• Mizuki Shigeru Yokai Encyclopedia: 妖怪ビジュアル大図鑑 (講談社ポケット百科シリーズ)

MUSIC: 

• Intro: "Dubstep" by Ben at BenSound
• Outro: "AVALANCHE" (FF7 rap remix) - Random (Mega Ran) and Lost Perception

CONTACT: 

Got something to say? You can reach me at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

Originally aired: April 2020

In December 2022, shortly after filming the documentary, "Mark - A Call to Action," which illuminates Mark's remarkable life as an historian, educator, and activist, Mark Bookman passed away at the age of 31.

In this episode, we spoke with Mark about his doctoral dissertation on the history of disability policy in Japan. At the time, Mark was a visiting researcher at the University of Tokyo.

The Deep in Japan Podcast is completely independent and crowd-funded, so if you like what you hear, please consider supporting the show.

Learn More About Mark Bookman

• Website: bookmanresearch.com
• Asian Ethnology podcast appearance: Listen here
• J-Times article: Read here
• IMDB: Mark - A Call to Action

Music Credits

• Intro: "Dubstep" by Ben at BenSound
• Outro: "Life" by GOMESS: Listen here

Contact: 

Got something to say? You can reach me at the following: [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

Originally aired in February 2021, this episode delves into the remarkable life and work of Brian Daizen Victoria, a Sōtō Zen priest, activist, and esteemed author. Victoria has written extensively on the intersection of religion and violence, with his most notable work being 'Zen at War.' This book provides a critical examination of the connection between Zen Buddhism and Japanese militarism during World War II. Join us as we explore the profound insights and contributions of Brian Daizen Victoria to our understanding of this complex and significant topic.

LINKS: 

• Brian Daizen Victoria: From Conscientious Objector to Buddhist Priest (IAFOR)
• Zen at War (GoodReads)
• Buffalo Springfield - What It's Worth (outro 1)
• For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield - を和訳し日本語で歌いました！ (ourtro 2)
• 今，世界が危ない！代表的な反戦歌 - 教訓Ⅰ【加川良】 作詞：上野暸・加川良 / 作曲：加川良「青春のフォーク 2007 より」(outro 3)

The Deep in Japan Podcast is completely independent and crowd-funded, so if you like what you hear, please consider supporting the show.

Got something to say? You can reach me at the following: [email protected]

Thanks for listening!