Hello From Nihon

Ako and I discuss the things I dislike about living in Japan as a foreigner. I go over how my ex-girlfriend's grandmother couldn't except me as her boyfriend. I love Japan but there are things that could be better, that being said, I don't believe in the perfect place.

In this episode of Hello from Nihon, Ako asks me about life as a foreigner in Japan. We talk about the good and the bad parts of Japanese culture and how westerns deal with it. 

The Rilakkuma and Kaoru Anime on Netflix is one of our favorite shows on the streaming platform. It's definitely not what you'd consider to be a typical anime but it really is an entertaining look at a single woman living with her magical friends in Japan. In this episode we share what we really enjoyed from the Rilakkuma and Kaoru Anime On Netflix. 

Netflix's Enter The Anime Documentary isn't really a documentary, it's more like an extended showcase of Netflix's Anime IPs. Ako and I were thoroughly entertained and we learned a lot behind the scenes stuff. However, I prefer if Netflix didn't disguise this hour long anime trailer into a documentary. 

Hello from Nihon goes over Netflix's Terrace House Episode 12 Always Chillin. In this episode all kinds of ridiculousness ensues, from Kenny finally making a move to Ruka becoming a master chef over night. Also, find out how Instagram was used to declare war between two of the female members of Terrace House Back in Tokyo. 

This newest episode of Netflix's Terrace House is aptly named "Broccoli Pasta Carbonara Style" because of Ruka's antics. We got a real good look at Ruka and how his mind operates, a part of me is sad for him and another part of me is upset that he doesn't respect his father and the sacrifices he made for his family. 

You also see more and more of Kenny and what he is truly about. On top of that, you get to see Kaori express her feeling about the mounting pressures she is experiencing as a freelance designer.  

The Japanese season for ghost stories and ghostly encounters is not in the Autumn like it is in the west, it's actually in the summer. In Japanese culture the realm between the spirit world and physical world is intertwined within the summer months.

In this episode of Hello From Nihon, Ako and Ike explore our experiences with the supernatural and we discuss the differences between Japanese and western ghost traditions.

 The Shishimai dance is an old Japanese tradition that dates back several hundred years.   Shishimai serve many purposes, they ward off evil spirits, they provide health and luck to the people of the community and much much more. 

Plus the Shishimai showdown dance represents the dueling nature of the male and female forces found in nature.  This particular Shishimai dance and festival is in the southern area of Japan known as Izuka.   

The Shishimai perform a symbolic biting of the children to promote health and good luck. 

This Terrace house episode revealed, or at least gave us a clue, to Kenny's true intentions. We also found out what not to do when you're on a date with an older woman. To be honest, Ako and I are hoping for new members to join the Terrace house Tokyo group, things need to be shaken up a bit. Maybe you'd agree but things have become a bit stagnant in Tokyo's Terrace House.

None of the guys seem to want to date any of the Terrace House women, the only one that does want to be romantically involved isn't being taken seriously by the women of the house.  

Recently a mentally deranged man set The Kyoto Animation Studio on fire murdering 34 people inside. It's a terrible tragedy and people all around the world are helping the Kyoto Animation studio get back on it's feet. In this episode we go over Kyoto Animation studio's movies and it's future. You can contribute to the KyoAni crowdfund here: gofundme.com/help-kyoani-heal