On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about the Senkaku Islands with Dr. Robert D. Eldridge.

• What and where are the Senkaku Islands? (尖閣諸島, senkaku shotō)
• About the history of the Senkaku Islands
• About Koga Tatsushirō
• Why people stopped living on the Senkaku Islands
• How and why it was that the Senkaku Islands came to be disputed
• The role of President Nixon and Henry Kissinger in the history of the Senkaku Islands
• Why U.S. Armed Forces should restart firing ranges on the Senkaku Islands
• And more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB

• Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

Dr. Robert D. Eldridge previous appearances:

• The Weak Yen & Rural Japan: Why They Matter | Japan Station 132: https://japankyo.com/2024/08/the-weak-yen-rural-japan-why-they-matter-japan-station-132/
• The Past & Future of Earthquakes & Disasters in Japan (Robert D. Eldridge) | Japan Station 138: https://japankyo.com/2024/11/the-past-future-of-earthquakes-disasters-in-japan-robert-d-eldridge-japan-station-138/

Here's a link to Dr. Eldridge's book about the Senkaku Islands.

• The Origins of U.S. Policy in the East China Sea Islands Dispute: Okinawa's Reversion and the Senkaku Islands (Routledge Security in Asia Series): https://www.amazon.com/Origins-Policy-China-Islands-Dispute/dp/0415629268

Article

• A restart of Senkaku firing ranges is long overdue: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2024/12/10/japan/senkaku-firing-range/

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• Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony
•  

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about life in Sanya--Tokyo's infamous day laborer district--with Klaus K.Y. Hammering.

• What it is like being a day laborer in Tokyo's Sanya district
• The dangers of working as a day laborer
• What kind of people work as day laborers in Sanya
• About Klaus K.Y. Hammering's experiences working as a day laborer in Japanese construction sites
• About gambling in Sanya
• How Sanya has all but vanished over the past couple of decades
• How Japanese society often ignores what Sanya and its residents
• And more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB

• Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

Here's the links for all three installments of Dreamlapse Japan.

• Perilous Wagers: Gambling, Dignity, and Day Laborers in Twenty-First-Century Tokyo: https://www.amazon.com/Perilous-Wagers-Twenty-First-Century-Weatherhead-University/dp/150177641X

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•  

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about the need for Japan to make the word "anime" a regional designation. The guest is Matt Alt, author of Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World.

• The popularity of anime
• What the word anime means in Japan
• The origins of anime
• The usage of the term terebimanga andJapanimation
• The increasing number of companies and people around the world creating media based on an anime aesthetic
• How companies outside of Japan are using the word anime in marketing for their products
• How Japan should protect anime by restricting usage of the word anime
• How anime should only be used to refer to media produced in Japan
• And more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB

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• Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

Here is the video version: Why "ANIME" is Becoming MEANINGLESS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns4W2Aibu2M&t=7s

Here are Matt Alt's links!

• Matt Alt's Japan (YouTube Channel): https://www.youtube.com/@AltMattAlt
• Does "anime" need an official designation? (YouTube video
• Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Cultured Conquered the World (Book): https://www.amazon.com/Pure-Invention-Japans-Culture-Conquered/dp/1984826697
• Pure Invention Blog https://blog.pureinventionbook.com/

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• Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony
•  

On this episod eof Japan Station, we talk to filmmaker and dark sky photographer Gavin Heffernan about his recent Japan-focused project Dreamlapse Japan.

• About Dreamlapse Japan
• About shooting photos and video in Tokyo and other parts of Japan
• Thoughts on visiting Japan
• And more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB
  •  

• Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo
  •  

Here's the links for all three installments of Dreamlapse Japan.

• Dreamlapse Japan 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9h6FXxORmg
• Dreamlapse Japan 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbqz48lpv3w
• Dreamlapse Japan 3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSMiC_XM7_w

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• Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony
•  

On this episod eof Japan Station, we talk about some of the interesting things I experienced during my latest 400 km walk from Kyoto to Miyajima (Miyajima Challenge).

• About the Miyajima Challenge
• About my recent walk from Kyoto to Miyajima, Hiroshima
• About how I got stopped by police in Hiroshima
• About the time I had to hitchhike in Okayama
• About my plans to walk to the bottom of Kagoshima
• And more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB
  •  

• Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo
  •  

For more info on the sponsors of the Miyajima Challenge, check out the links below.

• The Dubya Club:
  • Website: https://club.dubyalabs.xyz/
  • X: https://x.com/thedubyaclub
• United Neko Alliance: https://x.com/nekoalliance
• Own the Doge: https://www.ownthedoge.com/

Here is the Doge Day video I mentioned in the episode.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMz258a8ADs&t=14s

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On this episod eof Japan Station, Dr. Robert D. Eldridge returns to talk about natural disasters in Japan, his work on Operation Tomodachi during the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, Japan's ability to respond to natural disasters and more.

• Disasters and earthquakes in Japan
• About the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake in 1995
• About crisis management in Japan
• About disaster preparedness in Japan
• About writing the blueprint for what would become Operation Tomodachi
• The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
• How the U.S. got involved with helping Japan after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami
• What Operation Tomodachi was
• How Operation Tomodachi was implemented
• How bureacracy in Japan complicated disaster preparedness
• About restoring Sendai Airport after the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake
• About the Forward Command Element's role in the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
• About General Craig Timberlake's role during the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
• About General Kimizuka's role during the aftermath of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami
• About the Nankai Trough
• What kanrenshi (関連死) is
• About kanrenshi problem (related deaths)
• About the Show 21 Nankai Earthquake
• The Issei Bay Typhoon in 1959
• About the Niigata Earthquake in 1964
• How the foreign population in Japan may complicate things after a major disaster
• Things to be aware of to be ready when a disaster strikes
• About The Era of Gread Disasters
• And more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB
  •  

• Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo
  •  

Books mentioned:

• The Era of Great Disasters: Japan and Its Three Major Earthquakes: https://www.amazon.com/Era-Great-Disasters-Earthquakes-Monograph/dp/0472074679
• Preparing for Japan's Next Major Disaster: New Approaches to Civil-Military Cooperation in Japan as Proposed by U.S. Marine Corps' Participants in "Operation Tomodachi": https://www.amazon.com/Preparing-Japans-Next-Major-Disaster-ebook/dp/B07CRHJ56V/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&sr=1-2
• Before Operation Tomodachi: Four Unknown Examples of Bilateral Disaster Cooperation and American-Japanese Friendship in Postwar Japan: https://www.amazon.com/Before-Operation-Tomodachi-Cooperation-American-Japanese-ebook/dp/B07DFMFHFP/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&sr=1-3

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• Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony
•  

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about Japanese abbreviations/contractions, give 12 examples and discuss their origins.

• About abbreviations and contractions in Japanese
• About waseieigo (made in English)
• About the origins of the Sharp company
• About the Japanese word wanchan 
• About the possible origin of the word potation in Japanese: jagaimo
• And more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB
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• Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo
  •  

Today's words

• Kyōkasho
  • 教科書 【きょうかしょ】 (n) textbook; coursebook; schoolbook
• karaoke
  • カラオケ : 空オケ 【からオケ; カラオケ(P)】 (n) (uk) (from 空 and オーケストラ) karaoke
• dentaku
  • 電卓 【でんたく】 (n) (abbr) (See 電子式卓上計算機) calculator (electronic); pocket calculator
• sofutokurīmu
  • ソフトクリーム : ソフトクリーム; ソフト・クリーム (n) {food} soft serve ice cream (wasei: soft cream)
• bōrupen
  • ボールペン : ボールペン(P); ボール・ペン (n) ball-point pen (wasei: ball pen)
• shāpen
  • シャーペン : シャーペン; シャープペン; シャアペン(sk) (n) (abbr) (See シャープペンシル) mechanical pencil; automatic pencil; propelling pencil
• chūhai
  • 酎ハイ 【ちゅうハイ; チューハイ(P); チュウハイ】 (n) (uk) (abbr) (See 焼酎ハイボール) shōchū highball; cocktail of shōchū with tonic water
• purikura
  • プリクラ (n) (abbr) photo booth that prints out cards and stickers of the resulting photograph, which are then traded among friends (wasei: print club)
• ワイシャツ
  • ワイシャツ : Ｙシャツ 【ワイシャツ】 (n) (uk) (formal) shirt (eng: white shirt); dress shirt; business shirt; button-up shirt
• densha
  • 電車 【でんしゃ】 (n) train; electric train
• wanchan
  • ワンチャン (n) (1) (abbr) (See ワンチャンス) one chance; only opportunity; (n) (2) (sl) maybe; perhaps; there is a chance that; (n) (3) (sl) one-night stand; : ワンちゃん(P); わんちゃん; ワンチャン ; (n) (chn) (See わんわん・1) doggie; pooch; bow-wow
• jagaimo
  • ジャガイモ : じゃが芋(P); ジャガ芋(P) 【じゃがいも(じゃが芋)(P); ジャガいも(ジャガ芋)(P); ジャガイモ】 (n) (uk) (See ジャガタラ芋) potato (Solanum tuberosum)

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•  

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about the Shimabara Rebellion, yÅkai and more with the author of the Simon Grey books, Charles Kowalski.

• What is the Shimabara Rebellion (島�ŽŸ�乱, Shimabara no ran)
• About the hidden Christians of Nagasaki/Shimabara
• About the building of Shimabara Castle
• About researching the Shimabara Rebellion
• About Amakusa Shiro (�›Š�"� �››�ƒŽ)
• The legends surrounding Amakusa Shiro
• About researching the Shimabara Rebellion in Nagasaki
• About getting to see the actual flag of Amakusa Shiro
• About Dejima
• About the Gashadokuro
• About Takiyasha hime
• About tengu
• About training with modern day Shugendo practitioners
• About the language and customs of hidden Christians in Japan
• And more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB
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• Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo
  •  

Check out the first book in the Simon Grey book series for free via the link below.

•  Simon Grey and the March of a Hudred Ghosts
  • https://www.amazon.com/Simon-Grey-March-Hundred-Ghosts-ebook/dp/B07RLBKG6G/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1
• Simon Grey and the Curse of the Dragon King
  • https://www.amazon.com/Simon-Grey-Curse-Dragon-God-ebook/dp/B0DHV6SZXN

And check out the Simon Grey homepage for more information, including on the upcoming book Simon Grey and the Curse of the Dragon King.

• Simon Grey Website: https://simongreybooks.com/

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• Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about the etymology of the Japanese word for egg (tamago) and other interesting quirks of this word! Note: This is actually an episode of Japanese Plus Alpha.

• The phrase ~no tamago
• The etymology of the word tamago 
• kaigo vs tamago 
• The difference between tamago written with one kanji (卵) and tamago written with two kanji (玉子)
• And more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB
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• Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo
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No links

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• Tony R. Vega Website: 

about, it's its significance and its fascinating manga adaptations.

• What The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) is about
• The historical significance of The Tale of Genji
• The influence of The Tale of Genji 
• About the ending of The Tale of Genji
• About the English translations of The Tale of Genji and their differences
• About the many manga adaptations of The Tale of Genji
• About the manga II ne, Hikaru Genji
• About what is so interesting about The Tale of Genji
• About how The Tale of Genji is taught in schools in Japan
• About the versions of The Tale of Genji that are cleaned up and adapted for children
• About tourist sites related to The Tale of Genji
• About Dr. Lynne Miyake's book: The Tale of Genji through Contenporary Manga
• And more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB

• Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

• You can use the link below to pick up a copy of The Tale of Genji through Contemporary Manga by Lynne MiyakeHere's the 11 words we discussed in this episode:
  • The Tale of Genji through Contemporary Manga on the Bloomsbury Website: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/tale-of-genji-through-contemporary-manga-9781350424944/

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