I'd like to apologise in advance for some of the sound overlapping in this week's episode. We're currently trialling some new audio software and it might take a few weeks to break in. Also, there's just been a lot going on the last few days...

...Jesus Christ...

Anyway, here's our first episode of the New Year. it's called "Murderous Mochi", which you probably already knew from reading the title, and it's about food that kills people. And some other stuff as well.

...yaaaaay....

Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot

Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins

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This Week In Japan:

Cats take over social media. Again.

Prime Minister Suga breaks his own rules

An ALT sparks controversy with seemingly mundane accessory

And Japan rejects Christmas Presents, embraces loot boxes instead.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3BAi6aqSYw

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201216/p2a/00m/0na/002000c

https://soranews24.com/2020/12/18/alt-in-japan-asked-to-remove-earrings-by-board-of-education/

Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot

Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key

This Week In Japan:

Dangerous Pumpkins, Chocolate Shortage, and Half-Price Eggs

Government uses AI to make dating easier

And in unrelated news, Japan officially declares that it is really, really, sad

Sources:

https://soranews24.com/2020/12/10/japanese-governments-new-birth-rate-plan-use-ai-to-tell-people-whod-be-a-good-spouse-for-them/

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55226098

https://soranews24.com/2020/12/11/supermarket-slip-lawsuit-ruling-influenced-by-size-and-color-of-pumpkin-tempura/

https://soranews24.com/2020/12/12/elderly-wakayama-woman-arrested-for-hacking-her-local-supermarkets-self-checkout/

https://soranews24.com/2020/12/13/japanese-new-word-of-the-year-announced-sums-up-2020-perfectly/

https://soranews24.com/2020/12/09/shortage-of-chocolatey-milk-enhancer-milo-has-japanese-resellers-licking-their-chops/

https://soranews24.com/2020/12/13/japanese-new-word-of-the-year-announced-sums-up-2020-perfectly/

Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot

Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key

In the Grimdark future of the 21st Century, there is only Demon Slayer

Timestamps:

Sources:

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201128/p2a/00m/0na/017000c

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201205/p2a/00m/0na/013000c

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/12/05/business/demon-slayer-economic-impact/

Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot

Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key

This Week In Japan:

Old men have been hitting the headlines, with one fathering a new baby, and one throwing their own faeces. Guess which one of them is a Panda.

Meanwhile, an old woman penetrates some melons, and a man is arrested for his knock-off Nezuko collection.

Sources:

https://soranews24.com/2020/11/26/teeny-tiny-giant-panda-baby-born-in-japan%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/

https://soranews24.com/2020/11/27/city-official-angered-when-asked-to-wear-a-mask-throws-own-feces/

https://soranews24.com/2020/11/23/surprisingly-strong-hokkaido-woman-arrested-for-poking-holes-in-13-expensive-melons-with-finger/

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201127/p2a/00m/0na/006000c

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201124/p2a/00m/0na/021000c

Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot

Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key

Work! It's exactly what everyone wants to hear about during their free time!

This Week In Japan:

An Otter trains to fight it's natural enemy: Fire

Japan has no reference for what "low-stress work" is

And the Japanese Government make everything worse and more complicated. It is inevitable.

Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot

Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key

This Week In Japan:

Japanese posters accidently urge to contract Covid, and go to war with Kyoto

A kindergarten director spits on kids, and police stake out a shrine

Jon tries his hand at meditation, and being hit with bamboo sticks.

Timestamps:

Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot

Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key

Thomas was busy this week, so instead a surprise returning series. 

What story has samurai, gold, headshots, Mongols who can't swim and explosions? 

Only the first Mongol Invasion of Japan!  Which was presented to many for the first time in Sucker Punch's Ghost of Tsushima, the ultimate 13th century samurai-them-up. 

Your host Jon delves deep into the game and the past to see if he can make sense of either! 

Content warning  super nasty war stuff from 23:50-25:00

Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot

Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key

Email: [email protected] 

Jon: Instagram @thegaijinjon Twitter @gaijinjon

Theme music for the series can be found here:

https://imslp.org/wiki/Special:ReverseLookup/507871

This Week In Japan, the boys go to war. Over food. What else did you expect?

Also, nothing's slowing down the Demon Slayer Hype Train, Burger King Food is disappointing, and Britain doesn't understand Japan at all.

Wait, is this even news?

Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot

Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key

This Week In Japan:

Updates on Demon Slayer Movie and Onsen Manga Theft

Teachers commit wierd crimes

Japan makes strange food

And the bears have grown stronger

Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot

Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins

Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key