Hikikomori

Content Warning: War Crimes. The bad ones.

From December 1937, during the Second Sino-Japanese War, an atrocity carried out by the Japanese Imperial Army took place over about 7 weeks. Even within a century that saw some of the worst and most far-reaching crimes against humanity, the event that came to be known as the Rape of Nanking would still be seen as exceptionally horrifying.

Today's guest is Hannah Lane! You can find her via her Instagram page, and she is also the co-host of our horror movie review podcast that we do together, Not Another Film podcast.

For more content follow me on @hikikomoripodcast on Instagram where I'll be posting photos relevant to this episode!

You can also find me on Twitter @sequencepod, or you can listen to my other podcasts Final Fanservice and Not Another Film on any big podcast app.

Sources:

• The Rape of Nanking, by Iris Chang (1997)
• In the Name of the Emperor, by Christine Choi (1995)
• The Impossible Task of Remembering the Nanking Massacre, by Simon Han
• The Longest Theatre Of World War II, by Timeline
• Survivor Testimonies, Facing History
• The last survivors: Living testimony of Nanjing Massacre, CGTN
• The Nanking Massacre Project: Photographs and Films, Yale University
• Wikipedia

In the winter of 1915, a settlement in the Hokkaido wilderness was besieged by a bear that had awoken far earlier than normal hibernation patterns would expect. The resultant carnage was something that left indelible scars on the psyche of Japan.

Today's guest is Cassie! You can find her via her Twitter page, or listen to her excellent anime podcast, Shoujo Treehouse!

For more content follow me on @hikikomoripodcast on Instagram where I'll be posting photos relevant to this episode!

You can also find me on Twitter @sequencepod, or you can listen to my other podcasts Final Fanservice and Not Another Film on any big podcast app.

Sources:

• The article Bear Attack by Verity Jorgensen-Lane, formerly on Tofugu
• The Kumamori Society website
• Picchio Wildlife Research Centre website
• Injury Patterns of Fatal Bear Attacks, PubMed
• Bear Attacks in Japan, All About Japan
• Death of a Japanese Man by a Bear Sparks Conversation, SoraNews24
• The Sankebetsu Brown Bear Incident, Vintage News
• Ursine Terror, The Guardian
• Japan Town Deploys Monster Wolf Statues to Deter Bears, The Guardian

On the morning of the 10th December 1968, a car was pulled over by a motorcycle cop. The car was transporting 300 million yen to a Toshiba factory. The cop was, in fact, not a cop. Today's guest is Cami! You can find her via her Twitter page, or listen to her excellent anime podcast, Shoujo Treehouse!

For more content follow me on @hikikomoripodcast on Instagram where I'll be posting photos relevant to this episode!

You can also find me on Twitter @sequencepod, or you can listen to my other podcasts Final Fanservice and Not Another Film on any big podcast app.

Sources:

• Unseen Japan article
• Gendai Media panel discussion
• Today Online article
• South China Morning Post article
• Medium article
• Livedoor article on the 2018 "confession"
• Wikipedia

Content Warning: Suicide by falling We look at the life and works of famed director Juzo Itami, known for his humorous and wry social commentary on Japanese society. His death in 1997, however, still remains something of curiosity, and many continue to suspect foul play...

Today's guest is Michael, aka HumanFilthXVX. You can find them via their Twitter page, and can watch them play games over on their Twitch channel.

For more content follow me on @hikikomoripodcast on Instagram where I'll be posting photos relevant to this episode!

You can also find me on Twitter @sequencepod, or you can listen to my other podcasts Final Fanservice and Not Another Film on any big podcast app.

Sources:

• Juzo Itami's IMDb page
• New York Times article on Itami's '92 assault
• Film in Ether article, discussing Itami's death
• The High Price of Writing About Yakuza, by Jake Adelstein
• The Rumpus Interview, with Jake Adelstein
• The Juzo Itami Museum
• Study on the behaviour of Heisei yakuza
• Wikipedia

Content Warning: Self-Harm, Internet Abuse, Suicide

Terrace House is one of the most successful reality TV shows, not only in Japan but internationally. With its bland, softly-lit pointlessness, it appealed to many looking for an alternative to more dramatic shows. However, in 2020 it would find itself embroiled in controversy that hit headlines across the world.

Today's guest is Jessy, my co-host from Final Fanservice! You can find her on Twitter @jusifers, and her podcast Naruto Reviewto @NarutoReviewto!

For more content follow me on @hikikomoripodcast on Instagram where I'll be posting photos relevant to this episode!

You can also find me on Twitter @sequencepod, or you can listen to my other podcasts Final Fanservice and Not Another Film on any big podcast app.

Sources:

• Wired article, Davey Alba
• Buzzfeed article, Mia Nakaji Monnier
• Metropolis interview with Lauren Tsai
• NY Times article on Hana Kimura
• Guardian article on Cyber-Bullying Laws
• Vox article on Hana Kimura
• Vulture article on Hana Kimura
• Distractify article on Tokui
• Japan Times article on human rights violations hearing
• Wikipedia

We look at the self-described "Vagina Artist" Megumi Igarashi, aka Rokudenashiko, who made headlines around the world after she created a 3D-printed kayak modeled around her own labia... and was subsequently arrested by Japanese police. Today's guest is Nika Howard . You can find her on Twitter @nika_howard, and all of her wonderful content can be found on her Linktree Page.

For more content follow me on @hikikomoripodcast on Instagram where I'll be posting photos relevant to this episode!

You can also find me on Twitter @sequencepod, or you can listen to my other podcasts Final Fanservice and Not Another Film on any big podcast app.

Sources:

• Rokudenashiko's website
• Rokudenashiko's Instagram
• Vice video on Rokudenashiko
• Wikipedia - Kanamara festival
• Independent article on Kanamara
• The Culture Trip article on Kanamara
• Spoon & Tamago article on Rokudenashiko's memoir

Content Warning: Murder, Sexual Assault. In the span of 7 weeks, Takahiro Shiraishi used his Twitter account to lure vulnerable and suicidal people to his apartment. He promised compassion and understanding, but his goal was purely that of his own gratification.

Today's guest is the editor of the show Steph Kingston! You can find her via her Twitter page, or listen to her excellent podcasts, including Love to Hate!

For more content follow me on @hikikomoripodcast on Instagram where I'll be posting photos relevant to this episode!

You can also find me on Twitter @sequencepod, or you can listen to my other podcasts Final Fanservice and Not Another Film on any big podcast app.

The claim that personality types are determined by ABO blood typing is a cultural phenomenon in Japan and South Korea. It's origins, however, may be a little sinister... Today's guest is Carly Shields! You can find her via her Twitter page, or listen to the excellent Greetings Adventurers podcast for which she helps produce!

For more content follow me on @hikikomoripodcast on Instagram where I'll be posting photos relevant to this episode!

You can also find me on Twitter @sequencepod, or you can listen to my other podcasts Final Fanservice and Not Another Film on any big podcast app.

Sources:

• Tofugu article
• Blood Purity Craze - ABC News
• Blood Type - Japanese Wikipedia
• A to O Guide - Japan Times
• Blame it on my Blood - Reuters
• Wikipedia

We look at the work of Takeshi Kitano as a world-renowned director, writer, editor and actor, his failed attempt at breaking into Hollywood, his most well-known role outside of Japan in Battle Royale, and his talent at tap dancing... Today's guest is Hannah Lane! You can find her via her Instagram page, and she is also the co-host of our horror movie review podcast that we do together, Not Another Film podcast.

For more content follow me on @hikikomoripodcast on Instagram where I'll be posting photos relevant to this episode!

You can also find me on Twitter @sequencepod, or you can listen to my other podcasts Final Fanservice and Not Another Film on any big podcast app.

Sources:

• Interview with Hollywood
• The Man is Violent by the BFI
• Biography by Britannica
• Biography by IMDb
• Wikipedia

This is the first of a two-parter discussing the life and works of the famed actor, director, comedian and tap-dancer Takeshi Kitano, otherwise known as Beat Takeshi. In this episode we look at the start of his career as a stand-up comedian, and his emergence into cinema. And also, of course, we discuss Takeshi's Castle... Today's guest is Hannah Lane! You can find her via her Instagram page, and she is also the co-host of our horror movie review podcast that we do together, Not Another Film podcast. For more content follow me on @hikikomoripodcast on Instagram where I'll be posting photos relevant to this episode!

You can also find me on Twitter @sequencepod, or you can listen to my other podcasts Final Fanservice and Not Another Film on any big podcast app.

Sources:

• Interview with Hollywood
• The Man is Violent by the BFI
• Biography by Britannica
• Biography by IMDb
• Wikipedia