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

On this episode of Japan Station, we learn about the new statue of the famous Kabosu the shibainu (a.k.a. Doge) that was erected in Sakura City, Chiba Prefecture. Are you ready to go on "the Doge Pilgrimage?"

• About the history of Kabosu the Shibainu and the Doge meme
• About the process of creating the Doge statue that is in Sakura City in Chiba Prefecture near Narita Airport
• About how the creation of the Doge statue was funded
• How the Own the Doge organization created the bronze Doge statue
• About connecting and communicating with the mayor of Sakura City in Chiba Prefecture
• About the Own the Doge organization
• About Atsuko Sato
• About auctioning off the couch seen in the original photo used in the Doge meme
• About the big unveiling ceremony of the Doge statue in November of 2023
• About John Monarch's (creator of the Doge meme) role in the Own the Doge and Bronze Doge pprojects
• And much more

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

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

Here's all the relevent links

• Own The Doge X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/ownthedoge
• Own The Doge Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ownthedoge/
• Bronze Doge X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/BronzeTheDoge
• John Monarch X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/realjohnmonarch
• Smoke X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Smoke_theArtist

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews) https://www.facebook.com/JapankyoNews/
• X/Twitter (@JapankyoNews) https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• My Personal X/Twitter (@TheVegaTony) https://twitter.com/TheVegaTony
• Instagram (@JapanKyoNews) https://instagram.com/japankyonews
• YouTube (@JapanKyoNews) https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews

For more of my Japan-focused content, visit the JapanKyo website JapanKyo.com

Subscribe to the JapanKyo YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Watch the Tokaido Challenge video series

Part 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYU41Z0G4Uc&t=6s

Part 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-1WTOptzYY&t=18s

Part 3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMFnK5sN9mI&t=5s

Tony Dot Vega X/Twitter

https://twitter.com/thevegatony

JapanKyo X/Twitter

https://twitter.com/japankyonews

MAJISON X/Twitter

https://twitter.com/majisonchan

On this episode of Japan Station, licensed travel guide Miyuki Seguchi shares 5 travel tips that will help you make the most out of your next visit to Japan.

• What the process is like for becoming a licensed travel guide
• The importance of planning your trip to Japan
• Advice for making the most out of your trip to Japan
• How booking a tour can help you enjoy your trip in Japan even more
• 5 tips you should keep in mind when preparing to travel to Japan
• And much more

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

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

See below for all the relevant links.

• Free resources for Japan travel planning
  • The FREE step by step Japan Travel Guide: the 7 steps to creating your unique immersive travel experience: https://www.miyukiseguchi.com/travelguide
• The Japan Experts Podcast: https://podfollow.com/japan-experts
• Guided tours with Miyuki:
  • The Uniquely Japan Tours in Central Japan: https://www.miyukiseguchi.com/tours
• Miyuki Seguchi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/japan.experts
• Miyuki Seguchi Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/japanexpertsmiyuki
• Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/japanexperts

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews) https://www.facebook.com/JapankyoNews/
• X/Twitter (@JapankyoNews) https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• My Personal X/Twitter (@TheVegaTony) https://twitter.com/TheVegaTony
• Instagram (@JapanKyoNews) https://instagram.com/japankyonews
• YouTube (@JapanKyoNews) https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews

For more of my Japan-focused content, visit the JapanKyo website JapanKyo.com

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about what it was like getting a massage by a maid in Akihabara.

• About Akihabara Maid Reflexology Felicie
• About what it was like getting massaged by a maid in Akihabara
• About how much it costs to get a massage by a maid in Akihabara
• About getting a foot massage by a maid in Akihabara
• About whether you should get a massage by a maid in Akihabara
• And much more

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

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

See below for the link to Felicie

• Akihabara Maid Reflexology Felicie (秋葉原メイドリフレクソロジー フェリシー): https://felicie-web.com/

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews) https://www.facebook.com/JapankyoNews/
• X/Twitter (@JapankyoNews) https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• My Personal X/Twitter (@TheVegaTony) https://twitter.com/TheVegaTony
• Instagram (@JapanKyoNews) https://instagram.com/japankyonews
• YouTube (@JapanKyoNews) https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews

For more of my Japan-focused content, visit the JapanKyo website JapanKyo.com

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about the time I was harassed in Japan..

• Getting harassed in Japan
• How I dealt with being harassed at a Japanese train station
• And much more

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

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

To find out more about the Tokaido Challenge, check out the link below

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NeJUpY7aJN0

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews) https://www.facebook.com/JapankyoNews/
• X/Twitter (@JapankyoNews) https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• My Personal X/Twitter (@TheVegaTony) https://twitter.com/TheVegaTony
• Instagram (@JapanKyoNews) https://instagram.com/japankyonews
• YouTube (@JapanKyoNews) https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews

For more of my Japan-focused content, visit the JapanKyo website JapanKyo.com

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about my experience walking 500 km from Kyoto to Tokyo in September-October 2023. Check it out to learn about the Tokaido Challenge (a.k.a. the craziest adventure I've ever had in Japan).

• What the Tōkaidō Challenge is
• What the Tōkaidō road is
• The many different Tōkaidō raods that exist
• When I started walking
• How long it took to walk from Kyoto to Tokyo
• The difficulties I had to face while walking the Tōkaidō
• The parts of the Tōkaidō I had to omit
• The difficult areas of the Tōkaidō road
• About the Hakone area of the Tōkaidō road (Kyū Tōkaidō/Kyūkaidō)
• About getting lost
• About the 53 stations/post towns of the Tōkaidō
• About the famous series of woodblock prints depicting the 53 stations of the Tōkaidō
• The usual amount I would walk on any given day while walking from Kyoto to Tokyo
• About getting lost in the middle of some rice fields in rural Japan
• About walking through a tunnel in Kyoto
• About getting stopped by police in Japan
• About falling down in Mishima
• How helpful people were
• About the excellent customer service I experienced
• What I ate during my walk from Kyoto to Tokyo
• Where I stayed/slept while walking from Kyoto to Tokyo
• About the difficulties of trying to find food on my own
• About the weather
• About the arriving in Nihonbashi in Tokyo
• About the party I held at Pintology Tokyo
• About meeting Kuro
• About the coastline between Shizuoka City and Yaizu
• Why I do what I do
• And much more

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

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

A few links for things mentioned int he video.

• Hawaii Association of the Blind: https://hawaii.acb.org/
• My X/Twitter post announcing the completion of the Tokaido Challenge: https://twitter.com/TheVegaTony/status/1714940372374458608
• My personal X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheVegaTony
• The MAJISON X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/majisonchan

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews) https://www.facebook.com/JapankyoNews/
• X/Twitter (@JapankyoNews) https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• My Personal X/Twitter (@TheVegaTony) https://twitter.com/TheVegaTony
• Instagram (@JapanKyoNews) https://instagram.com/japankyonews
• YouTube (@JapanKyoNews) https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews For More Visit JapanKyo.com

  For more of my Japan-focused content, visit the JapanKyo website

  JapanKyo.com

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to musician NEONshe about how she fell in love with Japan, how Japan inspired her music, her time in Japan, her upcoming move to Japan and more.

• About NEONshe and her musical career
• NEONshe's time living in Japan
• How she became interested in Japan
• The Japanese music artists that have influenced NEONshe
• Perfumre, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Nakata Yasutaka
• About NEONshe's first album J-POP
• The inspiration for NEONshe's song Osaka Child
• About NEONshe's upcoming move to Kyoto
• And much more

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

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

For more on NEONshe, check out the links below.

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neonshe
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfMYuLyd786V4Xs8gm2UxsQ
• Ride the Tide: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/neonshe/ride-the-tide-feat-jey-cordz
• Linktree: https://linktr.ee/neonshe

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews) https://www.facebook.com/JapankyoNews/
• X/Twitter (@JapankyoNews) https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• My Personal X/Twitter (@TheVegaTony) https://twitter.com/TheVegaTony
• Instagram (@JapanKyoNews) https://instagram.com/japankyonews
• YouTube (@JapanKyoNews) https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to Maud Rowell, a freelance journalist and writer who spent a year traveling around Japan.

• About Maud Rowell
• About traveling around Japan as a person with a visual impairment
• About Blind Spot
• About becoming interested in Japan
• About getting a scholarship to travel around a Japan for a year
• About visiting Hachijojima (青ヶ島) and Aogashima
• About public transportation in Japan
• About tactile paving/yellow braille blocks
• About accessibility for the blind in Japan
• About doing the 88 Temple Pilgrimmage in Shikoku
• And much more

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

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

Fore more on Maud Rowell

• Blind Spot - Maud Rowell: https://www.404ink.com/store/inklings-blind-spot
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/where.birds.wont.go/

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews) https://www.facebook.com/JapankyoNews/
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews) https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• Instagram (@JapanKyoNews) https://instagram.com/japankyonews

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

On September 21st I'm starting something I'm calling the MAJISON Tokaido Challenge. Basically I'll be walking over 300 miles from Kyoto to Tokyo over the course of around 30 days. Watch the video to find out more about this crazy challenge and why I decided to do it.

• About walking from Kyoto to Tokyo
• About walking the Tokaido
• About the MAJISON Tokaido Challenge
• About MAJISON
• And much more

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

• Support Japan Station on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/japankyo

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

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

• Tony Vega Twitter https://twitter.com/thevegatony
• MAJISON Twitter https://twitter.com/majisonchan
• Hawaii Association of the Blind https://hawaii.acb.org/

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews) https://www.facebook.com/JapankyoNews/
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews) https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• Instagram (@JapanKyoNews) https://instagram.com/japankyonews

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

Jessica Gerrity, a TV personality working in Japan, martial artist, pracitioner of kyudo (Japanese archery),and writer!

• Jessica' work on Japanese TV
• How she became interested in Japan
• Why she first went to Japan
• How she got into the Japanese entertainment industry
• Working with SMAP
• Learning Japanese
• How being on TV helped her learn Japanese
• The behind the scenes of Japanese TV About how Japanese TV is scripted
• The good and bad on working on Japanese TV
• About kyudo (Japanese archery)
• How much it costs to get into kyudo
• About yabusame (horseback archery) Places to do horseback archery in Japan
• About her work as a writer focusing on archery and martial arts
• And much more

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

• Support Japan Station on Patreon https://www.patreon.com/japankyo

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

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

Check out Jessica's linktree below to find the links mentioned on today's episode.

• https://linktr.ee/jessintokyo

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews) https://www.facebook.com/JapankyoNews/
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews) https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• Instagram (@JapanKyoNews) https://instagram.com/japankyonews

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/