Finding Japan

It’s snowing in Tokyo, so what better way to spend it than bring you all with me on a trip to McDonalds for breakfast. In this episode, I tough it out through the muck and power-line slush bombs to chat about Japanese people and alcohol consumption. This episode is not very organized but there’s plenty to listen to and some music mixed in as well. Enjoy.

Show Notes

* Part One

* It’s snowing

* The guy who drank too much last night

* Yakiniku 食べ放題、飲み放題

* Japanese paramedics

* Intermission

* “Fixing My Brain” by Gillies (from CCMixter.org)

* Ordering breakfast at McDonalds

* “Colors Shifting” by Electric West (from CCMixter.org)

* Part Two

* Throwup girl in the train station

* San Nakji’s interview series, I’m next

* Phone call

* Bought some Dekavita

*

See, the great thing about only having work now is that I have time to do stuff like this. This video is from the Osaka Aquarium, one of the largest in the world according to their website. In this clip, we get a good view of the main tank for a few moments while I rested amidst the gaggles of children.

Probably the fast episode I have ever put together, but a good one at that. I’ve got two main chunks of goodness in this episode. First, I talk a little about the CEO at my company and how I see Japanese companies changing. Second, we go on a sound tour of arcades in Ikebukuro looking for Guitar Hero. Will we find it? Listen in.

Show Notes:

* Working full time

* CEO Story

* Ikebukuro Arcade “Sound Tour”

A little different approach today. I take a stab at story telling and answer a letter from my future self. It finally came today!

Show Notes:

* School’s out! Well almost

* Answering a letter to my future self

* The Overcoat

* Dan Carlin’s website

* WNYC Radio Lab website

* Brief comment about the awards thing

This is for all of you who have had trouble downloading the latest episode. I put a link in the blog post itself as well, which I think confused Feedburner. So because of that, here’s a quick repost. If you’ve already downloaded, I apologize but I wanted to make sure the people who were having trouble are able to get it.

Perhaps I should have accepted an award for the worst haircut-cast ever. At any rate, we’ve got two topics for you this time around. A bit about the award discussion from the previous blog post but even more from the center of cheap haircuts in Japan, QB House.

Show Notes:

* Leopard upgrade completed

* Throat hurts – getting a cold?

* Great discussion on the site, thanks!

* Award Discussion

* Make sure you check out JapanPodcasters.com

* Brief listing of some of the podcasts there

* We need to resurrect the Kobe Beef show

* Haircut at QB House

*

* QB House Website

* Haircut costs only 1000円, how can you lose!

* Prior art: Rich Pav’s Hair Cut Cast from May 2005

* Notes about audio

* Television sounding thing – radio

* Fascination with vacuuming my head

* A little weather and language discussion

* The entire audio clip available here: QB House Full

I’m back in Japan finally. After a wonderfully great time with my family and friends, I’m back to the grind here in Tokyo. A quick update of my travels and some brief impressions after leaving and then returning to this country. Enjoy!

Show Notes:

* Arrived back in Japan

* Been up for 22 and 1/2 hours

* New toys from Christmas

* Continental Airlines entertainment systems

* Getting Into Tokyo – Narita Express vs. Keisei Skyliner

* My occluded view of Mount Fuji

* Impressions on leaving Japan

* Impressions on coming back to Japan

Nothing fancy, just a quick holiday message to all of you. Happy Holidays!

Can you believe it, another coffee episode already!!! This time recorded completely live over Skype, warts and all. Joined by the illustrious Fred, we talk about his new coffee machine as well as do a short sound tour of some places to drink coffee in Japan. Come along for the ride with us and grab your cup of coffee!

Show Notes:

* Explosive laughing intro

* Fred’s rant about podcasts

* People who talk about how they make podcasts on their podcasts

* Joking about the FindingJapan DVD

* Reminiscing about “Netiquette”

* Why we’re talking about coffee

* Talking about the previous original video episodes before the official FJ episodes started

* The original coffee episode – Episode 21

* Doutor Single Service Packs

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* Fred’s New Coffee Machine

* A magical tour of Fred brewing coffee

* Discussion of froth vs. no froth with automatic coffee makers

* Baronette flavored coffee taste test

* Japan Coffee Place Audio Sound Tour Review

* Clip 1 – Starbucks in Asakusa

* Clip 2 – Campus Coffee Shop at Waseda University

* Clip 3 – Excelsior in Ikebukuro

* Clip 4 – Doutor in Ueno Station

* Hot and Cold

* Perhaps a non-coffee related show with Fred about Japan in the future??

Short video clip from the Tokyo Game Show. I only had my cell phone on me that day so I was only able to get some small video. No narration or commentary, just some sights from the show. Hope you enjoy!