Finding Japan

Hey everyone. Thanks for writing and for all of the comments and support. I figured it was well overdue and time for me to provide an update for what has been going on. In this episode, I take some time to address the gaps, give a brief update on our lives and adventures, and explain why things have been taking so long. We talk a bit about the last year and what’s changed and what is to come. Enjoy!

Well, its that time. Time again for another, and final, Finding Japan episode by yours truly. It took a while but in this episode, I say goodbye to Japan and all of the fun times that we had. At nearly two hours long, this episode highlights some of my favorite parts of Japan by revisiting clips from prior episodes. Come revisit the podcast with me as we tour through the experiences I had, things I learned, and people I have met.

But rather than give a long-winded overview of the episode, just listen in and enjoy. Details about the future are also enclosed.

Thanks again to all of my friends, all of the listeners and contributors to the podcast, everyone who guided me and helped my find my way through the land of the rising sun. This was truly an amazing life experience and I will never forget it.

Finding Japan has been archived at archive.org for posterity. This site will cease to exist at some point in the future though I will do my best to maintain the feed. Check archive.org for all of the episodes, including prologues to the podcast.

Thank you all.

Photo taken at the Panasonic Center in Ariake, Tokyo, Japan. Cardboard dinosaurs rule!

Ok, well not really wrapping it up quite yet. Just some thoughts on paying my last rent payment here in Tokyo, a small request to all listeners, answering a letter to my future self, and more. Che-ch-che-ch-checka-check it out!

Show Notes:

* Paying my last rent payment

* Listeners – submit your thoughts on your favorite part of FJ

* Watching an excavator for 2 mins (sorry for leaving that in there)

* Interlude: “Memories of an Old Dog” by Fireproof Babies

* Thoughts on video games in Japan

* Answering future self letter from 1 year ago

* My Japanese ability

* Moving out sale

* Outro: “Uno Two (Instrumental)” by KCentric

Hello everyone. Just a few thoughts I’m tossing out as a catch up episode. Join me for lunch on the bay as we sit, chat, and do a little catching up. Also, in this podcast, I was joined by a special feline guest. Tune in here.

Show Notes

* (none because I am lazy tonight)

You asked for it, you got it. Straight from my (old) studio to your ears. This episode is 100% sound tour. Put on a pair of nice headphones and sit back to relax to the sounds of the Japan. The following sounds have been recorded during the last year or so and have been collected for your listening enjoyment.

Show Notes:

* Short Intro

* Clip1: 2007-05-31 Riding the Yurakuchou Line

* Clip2: 2007-09-19 Ariake TOC Building 7-11 Guy with Music

* Clip3: 2007-06-01 Crows at Waseda University

* Clip4: 2007-10-08 Watching Aural Expression Class Video

* Clip5: 2008-01-18 Singing Lame SMAP Songs in Class

* Clip6: 2007-07-07 Watching Tokyo Bousaikan (Disaster Preparedness Center) Smoke Video

* Clip7: 2007-07-15 Awesome French Elevator Music at Doutour Coffee

* Clip8: 2007-12-16 Chilling at a Club in Kobe Talking about Cats with Awesome Funk Music in the Background (Guest Appearance: Terrance from Kobe Beef)

* Clip9: 2007-12-16 Kobe Planetarium Presentation

* Clip10: 2008-04-05 Tokyo Giants Game

* Clip11: 2007-09-20 Sumo Tournament Match

* Clip12: 2007-08-08 Inside the Shinkanesen (Accelerating with Train Announcements)

* Clip13: 2008-04-07 Kanamara Matsuri (a.k.a. Kawasaki Penis Festival)

* Clip14: 2008-04-06 Crazy Sounding Cement Mixer

* Clip15: 2008-02-10 Cacophonous Sounds in Iidabashi (with commentary)

* Clip16: 2007-07-28 Drumming in a Small Park in Shinjuku

I feel like its quiet time. Join me for lunch in Ariake as I talk about what’s been going on with me over the past few weeks.

Show Notes:

* Intro – my favorite 7-11 guy

* Quick Overview of What’s Been Up

* Some Hakone ropeway / cable car Audio

* Sounds like a spaceship docking bay, for real

* Interlude – Unmoored (Again) by Fourstones (via ccmixter.org)

* Some discussion about my visa problems earlier this month

You’ll have to wait until the end to get to the saxophone train on this one. No cheating and no fastforwarding. If so you’ll miss plenty, including some catch up chat, thoughts on what’s been keeping me so busy, and a beer review. 😀

Show Notes:

* What’s been going on

* Linda’s Arrival

* Work

* Meeting up with Saya

* Meeting up with Scott and Karamoon

* New Listeners

* Responding to Blog Comments

* Projects

* Economics, finance, and work-related stuff

* Explaination of how I’d like to keep learning Kanji (help me out)

* Drink Review

* Kamakura Beer

* Daibutsu is there

* Saxophone train

Ever wonder what its like to sit in someone’s pocket as they walk around Tokyo?? Now is your chance to find out! In this episode, I take a commute to Tokyu Hands leaving the recorder on for the full monty. I also talk about two fairly interesting topics. If you’re into sound tours, you’ll enjoy this episode.

Show Notes:

* Pre-show – explanation of show format

* Current Laundry Setup

*

* Screwing around with my laundry machine

* Walk to Kuramae

* Hanging out with Scott from Tokyo Calling

* Needed the de-stressing from my visa issues

* Talking about co-habitation with the fiancee

* Quick stop at Lawsons (19:00)

* Cement truck turning sound

* Brief explanation of numbers on train maps

* Kuramae to Iidabashi (9 minutes edited out)

* Construction warnings

* Really annoying alien sound

* Running into the same guy who sold me food the day before

* Iidabashi to Ikebukuro (42:00 – 51:45)

* Trying to find the right exit

* Talking about usage of strange English

* The Bic Camera audio Assault! (45:00)

* Almost going to McDonalds for coffee

* Sonna no kankei nai advertisement (51:00)

* Tokyu Hands

* Valentine’s Day explosion!

Let’s get deep again. I tried to mix it up with some pleasant thoughts, some interesting sights, and of course, always deep deep riveting commentary from yours truly (sarcasm goes to 11, you know).

Show Notes:

* Some thoughts about Saizeriya

* Topic: Japan Makes You Busy

* A bit about my lifestyle

* Spending my time on the computer

* “The Four Hour Separation”

* 1 hr of screwing around

* 1 hr of reading

* 1 hr of art

* 1 hr of life

* [Musical Break]

* Why is it necessary?

* Opportunity overload

* 6 hours spent doing nothing this weekend

* Putting more “real” in realtime

* Train announcer gets on my nerves

* Escalator Apologizers

* Some Closing Thoughts

* Music – “Atlantic Midnight” by Jaspertine from CCMixter.org

* Music – “Drugstar” by Pthalo

Another short video post. This time, lets ride the Yurikamome 8-bit style! Enjoy!