Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

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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• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews
• Website: https://japankyo.com/
• Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

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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• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews
• Website: https://japankyo.com/
• 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

• 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)

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

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 (島原ã®ä¹±, Shimabara no ran)
• About the hidden Christians of Nagasaki/Shimabara
• About the building of Shimabara Castle
• About researching the Shimabara Rebellion
• About Amakusa Shiro (益ç"° 四郎)
• 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

• 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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• Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews
• Website: https://japankyo.com/
• 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

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

No links

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

• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews
• Website: https://japankyo.com/
• Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about 10 words that only exist in Japanese and how Japanese may not be as unique as you think it is.

• x
• x
• What komorebi means and what its parts mean
• What unkai means
• About kanji compounds in Japanese
• About the many meanings that can be found in a single kanji
• The different readings of kanji in Japanese
• What shinrinyoku means
• Whats tsundoku means
• What irusu means
• What konbi means
• What kogarashi means
• What betsubara means
• What kuchisamishii means
• What tatemae means
• What macchipompu means
• 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

• The Article referenced in this article:
  • 10 Words That Exist Only In Japanese
• Here's the 11 words we discussed in this episode:
  • 木洩れ日 : 木漏れ日; 木洩れ日; 木漏れ陽; 木洩れ陽 【こもれび】 (n) sunlight filtering through trees
  • 雲海 【うんかい】 (n) sea of clouds
  • 森林浴 【しんりんよく】 (n) forest bathing; forest therapy; peaceful walk through the woods for health benefits
  • 積読 : 積ん読(P); 積読; つん読 【つんどく】 (n,vs) (1) buying books and not reading them; stockpiling books; tsundoku; (n) (2) books bought but not read
  • 居留守 【いるす】 (n) pretending to be out
  • 甘美 【かんび】 (adj-na,n) (1) sweet (taste); luscious; (adj-na,n) (2) sweet (melody, dream, etc.); delightful; pleasant; mellow; mellifluous
  • 木枯らし : 木枯らし(P); 木枯し(P); 凩; 木枯 【こがらし】 (n) cold wintry wind
  • 別腹 【べつばら】 (n) dessert stomach; having room for dessert despite being full
  • 口寂しい : 口寂しい; 口淋しい 【くちさびしい; くちざみしい; くちさみしい】 (adj-i) craving for food, a cigarette, etc.; longing to have something in one's mouth
  • 建前 : 建前(P); 建て前(P); 立前; 立て前 【たてまえ】 (n) (1) (See 本音) face; official stance; public position or attitude (as opposed to private thoughts); (n) (2) (建前, 建て前 only) ceremony for the erection of the framework of a house
  • マッチポンプ : マッチポンプ; マッチ・ポンプ (n) (in ref. to lighting a match and then putting it out with a water pump) stirring up trouble in order to get credit for resolving it (wasei: match, wasei: pomp); profiting from solving problems created by oneself

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

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about the importance of revitalizing rural Japan, the negative impact of the weak yen on Japan, and more with Dr. Robert D. Eldridge.

• What is chihō sōsei (地方創生)?
• About the importance of chihō sōsei
• Why it is important to preserve and revitalize rural areas of Japan
• About the weak yen (enyasu, 円安)
• How the weak Japanese yen negatively impacts Japan
• About inflation and stagflation in Japan
• About the relationship between low wages, the weak Japanese yen and brain drain in Japan
• Job prospects for young people in Japan
• About Niyodogawa
• About Shikoku and efforts being made to revitalize areas of Niyodogawa, Ehime
• About Muka Brewing Company
• 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

• Relevant Links
  • Robert D. Eldridge Think Tank
  • To learn more about Dr Eldridge
  • Japan in the 1960s (Inside East Asia)

• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews
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• Website: https://japankyo.com/
• Tony Dot Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about how dogs in Japan used to go on religious pilgrimages (maybe?).

• About religious pilgrimages in Japan
• About the 88 temple pilgrimage in Shikoku
• About Konpira/Kotohira
• About Konpira inu
• About the supposed history of dogs going on pilgrimages to Konpira Shrine in Kagawa Prefecture
• About the story of Shiro the dog from Fukushima who supposedly traveled to Ise Shrine and back
• About Ise Jingu
• About the Ise Pilgrimage
• How likely it is that dogs in Japan actually went on religious pilgrimages
• About okage inu
• About the statue of Shiro the dog in Junenji Temple in Sukakawa City, Fukushima Prefecture(福島県須賀川市池上町・十念寺)
• About Shiro's owner Ishihara Sadaemon Tsunashige (市原貞右衛門綱稠)
• 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

• Check out the article below to see photos of the statue of Shiro the dog pilgrim in Junenji Temple in Fukushima Prefecture
  • 江戸時代の代参犬「おかげ犬」シロを訪ねて。

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

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about the Miyajima Challenge: my upcoming walk from Kyoto to Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture.

• About the Miyajima Challenge
• Why I am walking from Kyoto to Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture
• About the course of the Miyajima Challenge (Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Okayama, Hiroshima)
• About raising awareness of the blind and visually impaired
• About the sponsors of the Miyajima Challenge
• When the Miyajima Challenge will start
• About a meet up at Pintology Tokyo
• 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

• The sponsors of the Miyajima Challenge
  • The Dubya Club by Suika
    • The Dubya Club X: https://x.com/thedubyaclub
    • Suika X: https://x.com/gmsuika
  • United Neko Alliance
    • United Neko Alliance X: https://twitter.com/nekoalliance
    • 0xNeil: https://x.com/vanwouw

• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonydotvega
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews
• Website: https://japankyo.com/
• Tony Dot Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony