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

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Dr. Katarzyna Cwiertka stops by to discuss what exactly washoku (Japanese cuisine) is and how the term was redefined in an effort to get it registered as Intangible Cultural Heritage under UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

Dr. Katarzyna Cwiertka is Chair of Modern Japan Studies at Leiden University. She is an expert on food history of modern Japan and Korea. Dr. Cwiertka's latest book is titled Branding Japanese Food: From Meibutsu to Washoku (University of Hawaii Press, 2021).

• Washoku's (Japanese cuisine) classification as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2013
• What exactly Intangible Cultural Heritage is according to UNESCO
• The application process washoku went through in order to be designated Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO
• How washoku was defined in the UNESCO application
• The original UNESCO application for washoku that Dr. Cwiertka found online
• How the committee behind the UNESCO application for washiku was originally trying to get kaiseki designated as Intangible Cultural Heritage
• Washoku vs nihon ryōri
• The meaning and usage of washoku throughout history
• The both vague and all-encompassing paradoxical nature of washoku's UNESCO characterization
• Edo era tourism and marketing
• And much more!

To pick up a copy of Branding Japanese Food: From Meibutsu to Washoku, please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. It will support the show and it won't cost you anything extra.

• Branding Japanese Food: From Meibutsu to Washoku

You can learn more about Dr. Cwiertka and her work via her website.

To pick up a copy of Branding Japanese Food: From Meibutsu to Washoku, please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. It will support the show and it won't cost you anything extra.

• Branding Japanese Food: From Meibutsu to Washoku

To learn more about Dr. Cwiertka and her work,visit her website.

• Dr. Katarzyna Cwiertka Website

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

• What should I know about Japan's Bubble Era? (A Fun Look at Japan's Infamous Era of Opulence) | Ichimon Japan 39

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

• KimitoDesigns.com

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Dr. Katarzyna Cwiertka

Featured image: Courtesy of Katarzyna Cwiertka

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, journalist Dreux Richard stops by to discuss his new book Every Human Intention: Japan in the New Century.

Dreux Richard is a writer and journalist. He has written extensively about Japan for publications such as The Japan Times, Metropolis Japan, and The New York Times. Dreux is also the author of a new book based on much of his work in the years following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. Called Every Human Intention: Japan in the New Century, the book focuses on the experiences of Nigerian immigrants in Japan, the shrinking city of Wakkanai in Hokkaido, and Japan's ongoing struggle with nuclear safety in the decade after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown.

• Who Ian Hideo Levy is
• Dreux Richard's time studying under Ian Hideo Levy
• What led to Dreux Richard working for The Japan Times
• Africans working in Tokyo's red light districts
• Dreux Richard's time covering the Nigerian community in Japan
• Some of the factors that led to individuals from Nigeria going to Japan in the '80s
• Louis Okoye
• About writing for The Japan Times while on a tourist visa
• About the city of Wakkanai in Hokkaido and why Dreux Richrd decided to go there
• Covering the Karafuto breed of dog in Wakkanai
• Covering the census in Wakkanai
• Covering population decline in Japan
• The mayor of Wakkanai's decision to use part of a new building at a JR train station to create a nursing care facility for the elderly
• How it was that Dreux Richard came to cover nuclear safety issues in Japan
• Japan's itinerant nuclear industry workers
• 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

To pick up a copy of Every Human Intention: Japan in the New Century, please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. It will support the show and it won't cost you anything extra.

• Every Human Intention: Japan in the New Century

You can find more information on Dreux Richard on his website.

• Dreux Richard Website

Here is a link to the Metropolis Japan article about the Karafuto dog breed that Dreux mentioned during this episode.

• No Tomorrow A beloved Japanese mascot faces unnoticed extinction

To watch Ian Hideo Levy's 2010 lecture, click on the link below.

• The World in Japanese (Ian Hideo Levy, Standford University)

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

• What first person pronoun should I use when speaking Japanese? | Ichimon Japan 38

Here is a link to episode 33 of Japan Station.

• Learning Japanese While Legally Blind (Tony Vega) | Japan Station 33

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

• KimitoDesigns.com

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Donna Burke

Featured image: Courtesy of Dreux Richard

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Tony answers the question: How did you become so familiar with Japan?

Tony Vega is a writer, editor, and podcaster. He has lived in Japan as both a student and participant of the JET Programme. He possesses an M.A. in Japanese language and linguistics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Tony is the creator of Japankyo.com and he produces both the Japan Station and Ichimon Japan podcasts. Aside from his work on JapanKyo.com, he is the editor in chief of Wasabi magazine and the producer of the Transmissions from Hawaii podcast. Tony enjoys pizza, sushi, burritos, puns, and overanalyzing absurd things.

• Learning about Japan and the Japanese language
• Tips for becoming knowledgeable about Japan and the Japanese language
• The importance of persistence and patience
• The importance of staying humble
• The importance of learning the Japanese language in order to better understand all aspects of Japan
• Graduate school
• 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

If you enjoyed this solo episode, then you'll probably enjoy episode 33 of Japan Stationi.

• Learning Japanese While Legally Blind (Tony Vega) | Japan Station 33

Here are the Japan Station episodes that were mentioned in this episode.

• The Japanese Intelligence Community & Espionage (Dr. Richard Samuels) | Japan Station 34
• Pregnancy & Marriage in Low-Fertility Japan (Dr. Amanda C. Seaman) | Japan Station 48

If you're interested in checking out Lang-8, you can use the link below.

• Lang-8.com

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

• KimitoDesigns.com

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: JapanKyo.com

Featured image: Courtesy of Romulus Hillsborough/Tuttle Publishing

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we learn about one of Japan's most famous and popular group of samurai: the Shinsengumi.

Romulus Hillsborough is a researcher, writer and author of multiple books focusing on late Edo-early Meiji Period history. His books include Samurai Revolution: The Dawn of Modern Japan Seen Through the Eyes of Shogun's Last Samurai, Ryoma: Life of a Renaissance Samurai, and The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps: The Bloody Battles and Intrigues of the Shinsengumi.

• What the Shinsengumi was
• What the Shinsengumi did and why they were created
• The turmoil of the waning days of the Edo Period
• When the Shinsengumi was active
• The brutality of the Shinsengumi
• The strict code of conduct of the Shinsengumi
• About Kondo Isami
• How many of the members of the Shinsengumi were not of the samurai/bushi class
• About Serizawa Kamo and the mystery of his life before his time in the Shinsengumi
• Stories of Serizawa Kamo's violent nature
• Historical sources about the Shinsengumi
• Kan Shimozawa's writings on the Shinsengumi
• Some of the problems with sources documenting the history of the Shinsengumi
• The famous Ikedaya Inn incident
• The somewhat paradoxical nature of the way that the Shinsengumi is remembered today
• How the Shinsengumi is remembered
• Romulus Hillsborough's first trip to Japan in 1978
• How Romulus Hillsborough became interested in writing historical nonfiction about Sakamoto Ryoma and the Shinsengumi
• 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

To pick up a copy of The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps: The Bloody Battles and Intrigues of the Shinsengumi, please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. It will support JapanKyo.com and it won't cost you anything extra.

• The Shogun's Last Samurai Corps: The Bloody Battles and Intrigues of the Shinsengumi (Amazon Affiliate link)

Here are two other books written by Romulus Hillsborough, including his book on the life of Sakamoto Ryoma, which was mentioned in the episode. These are also Amazon affiliate links.

• Ryoma: Life of a Renaissance Samurai
• Samurai Revolution: The Dawn of Modern Japan Seen Through the Eyes of the Shogun's Last Samurai

For more information on Romulus Hillsborough and his work, visit his website.

• Romulus Hillsborough Website

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

• Do you have any funny or embarrassing Japanese mistake stories? (Part 2) | Ichimon Japan 37

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

• KimitoDesigns.com

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Donna Burke

Featured image: Courtesy of Romulus Hillsborough/Tuttle Publishing

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Tony talks to Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith about Japanese erotic comics (eromanga) and related issues such as censorship and Japanese obscenity laws.

Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith is a lecturer at Senshu University in Tokyo. He is one of the world's leading experts on the topic of Akihabara and the related subcultures that are often associated with this famous district of Tokyo. Galbraith is the author of man y books and articles, including Tokyo Realtime (2010), The Otaku Encyclopedia: An Insider's Guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan (2014), The Moe Manifesto: An Insider's Look at the Worlds of Manga, Anime, and Gaming (2017), and others. His most recent solo book, published by Duke University Press Books in 2019, is Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan.

• What obscenity is in the eyes of Japanese law
• The masking of genitals in Japanese media such as anime and manga
• The push and pull cycle between creators and efforts to censor depictions of genitals
• The case of the Japanese artist Rokudenashiko
• Manga artists using creative techniques such as sound effects to imply sexual situations
• The link between censorship and things like tentacle hentai
• How mainstream manga and anime influences the world of erotic manga and vice versa
• The influence of major manga creators like Osamu Tezuka, Hayao Miyazaki, and Rumiko Takahashi on erotic manga
• How Naoki Yamamoto was influenced by Hayao Miyazaki's work on Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind
• How Urusei Yatsura helped establish a trope that would come to be popular in erotic manga/anime
• The world of dōjinshi (independent fan made comics)
• How independent fan comics help push the popularity of mainstream anime/manga properties
• The way some manga creators go back and forth between the world of erotic and mainstream manga
• The erotic imagery of Food Wars/Shokugeki no Soma
• CLAMP's erotic treatment of Captain Tsubasa
• How manga creators usually do not interfere with fan comics based on their properties
• Efforts b the Japanese government throughout the 2010s to limit and further censor erotic manga
• Japan's Ordinance Regarding the Healthy Development of Youths
• Japan's decision to not ban illustrations depicting underage characters in sexual situations in 2014 despite pressure from other countries
• Incorrect stereotypes about erotic manga creators and readers
• The diversity that exists among readers and creators of erotic manga
• Australia's decision to ban certain types of manga
• Who Kaoru Nagayama is
• Concerns over international laws regarding erotic manga
• 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

To pick up a copy of Erotic Comics in Japan: An Introduction to Eromanga, please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. It will support JapanKyo.com and it won't cost you anything extra.

• Erotic Comics in Japan: An Introduction to Eromanga

To listen to Dr. Galbraith's previous appearances on Japan Station, use the links below.

• Japan Station 30: Understanding "Otaku" and Akihabara w. Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith
• Understanding Idols and the Success of AKB48 (Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith) | Japan Station 38

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

• Why did samurai have such weird haircuts? (All About Topknots/Chommage) | Ichimon Japan 34

You can support the show by picking up a t-shirt from KimitoDesigns.com. The latest shirt design was inspired by episode 36 of the Ichimon Japan podcast which was all about samurai topknots.

• MAGE: The Excellent Hairstyle of the Samurai Unisex T-Shirt

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Donna Burke

Featured image: Courtesy of Patrick W. Galbraith

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Tony Vega talks to Kevin O'Shea, host of the Just Japan Podcast, about the unique experience he had in 2020 when he got stuck in Japan due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kevin O'Shea is a content creator, educator, and longtime resident of Japan. Aside from producing over 200 episodes of the Just Japan Podcast, Kevin is also known for his work on YouTube and various podcasts and blogs. His latest podcast is called the Munzee Maniacs Podcast and is about the mobile game Munzee.

• When and why Kevin lived in Kobe
• Life on Kobe's Port Island
• Some places to visit in Kobe
• The nice and convenient aspects of living in Kobe
• Working at an international school in Japan
• Working as a teacher in Japan versus working in other countries
• How many international schools in Asia outside of Japan are offering better salaries and benefits than those in Japan
• The intangible allure of Japan
• Living in Beijing and having to deal with air pollution
• Living and working as a teacher in Shenzhen, China
• The benefits of lifing and working in rural Japan as opposed to cities
• Being in China during the start of the COVID19 global pandemic
• The regulations put in place in China during the beginning of 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic
• Deciding to leave China and go back to Japan in February of 2020
• Arriving in Japan during early 2020 before entry restrictions and quarantines were put into place
• The challenges Kevin faced when trying to get back to China during the pandemic
• What Kevin had to go through in order to enroll his kids in school in Osaka
• Arriving and quarantining in Shenzhen, China during the coronavirus pandemic
• Dealing with internet trolls
• Kevin's first podcast: Looks Like Canada
• Kevin's decision to start the Just Japan Podcast
• The Making Better Teachers Podcast
• Kevin's interest in geocaching and the mobile game Munzee
• What Munzee is
• The Munzee Maniacs Podcast
• Kevin's interest in nature photography
• 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

Here's all the social media channels you can find Kevin O'Shea on.

• Kevin O'Shea on Twitter
• ShizenWildlife on Instagram
• BusanKevin on YouTube

To listen to the Munzee Maniacs Podcast, look it up on your podcast app of choice or use the links below.

• Munzee Maniacs Podcast on Apple Podcasts
• Munzee Maniacs Podcast on Google Podcasts
• Munzee Maniacs Podcast on Spotify

You can find the Just Japan Podcast on just about any podcast platform. If you would like to check it out, you can use the links below.

• Just Japan Podcast on Apple Podcasts
• Just Japan Podcast on Google Podcasts
• Just Japan Podcast on Stitcher
• JustJapanStuff.com

To check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

• What is the best Japanese name for a bear that isn't actually a bear? (About Hole Bears, Bag Bears & More) | Ichimon Japan 35

To get your own "tree climbing bag bear" t-shirt, use the link below. T-shirt sales are used to help fund this show and other JapanKyo.com projects.

• Buy the Tree Climbing Bag Bear t-shirt from KimitoDesigns.com

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Donna Burke

Featured image: Courtesy of Kevin O'Shea

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Tony Vega talks to one of the world's leading scholars on Edo Period Japanese literature: Dr. Robert Campbell.

Dr. Robert Campbell is a literary scholar specializing in the literature of Edo era Japan. Since 2017 Dr. Campbell has served as the Director-General of the National Institute of Japanese Literature (NIJL). Aside from his academic work, Dr. Campbell regularly appears on Japanese media and is the host of the NHK World show Face to Face.

• How Dr. Campbell's interest in a certain piece of Japanese art led him to begin learning Japanese
• Dr. Campbell's time as an undergraduate and what he studied
• Discovering The Tale of Genji
• The first Japanese art class Dr. Campbell took
• Why Dr. Campbell's university professor told him that he had to study Japanese
• Studying Japanese in college
• Studying at the IUC (Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies) in Tokyo
• Meeting artists and writers during Dr. Campbell's first time in Tokyo
• Dr. Campbell's experiences as a dancer during high school
• How it was that Dr. Campbell decided to become a specialist in Japanese literature
• Some of Japanese literature's most notable aspects
• How Japanese literature was meant to be read aloud for most of its history
• The practice of voiced reading (ondoku) as opposed to silent reading (mokudoku)
• Japanese literature's connections to classic Chinese literature
• Dr. Campbell's experience reading the work of the poet Ihara Saikaku
• Dr. Campbell's iconic jackets
• The peaceful and relaxing nature of much of Japanese literature
• The practical lessons that Japanese literature teaches
• Dr. Campbell's interest in Japanese famine survival manuals from the 19th century
• Edo period famine survival strategies and recipes
• The diversity of topics and themes found within Japanese literature
• The comical nature of much of Japanese literature
• Dr. Campbell's recommended books for people wishing to read early modern Japanese literature
• Looking for and buying old books in Tokyo
• Book auctions in Japan
• Tracing the provenence of an old Japanese book through the stamps of its previous owners
• Japanese literature as a window into the past
• Working in the Japanese entertainment industry
• Working with Momoiro Clover Z on the internet show F no Idenshi
• Getting to be the Director-General of the National Institute of Japanese Literature (NIJL)
• 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

You can find Dr. Robert Campbell on Twitter.

• Robert Campbell on Twitter (@campbelltokyo)

For more information about Dr. Campbell, you can visit his website.

• Robert Campbell Website

To read the Wasabi Magazine article that was based on this interview, use the link below.

• A Journey into Words (October-November 2019)

If you would like to watch F no Idenshi--the show that Dr. Campbell worked with the Japanese idol group Momoiro Clover Z--you can find it on YouTube.

• F no Idenshi YouTube Channel

You can find Face to Face--Dr. Campbell's show on NHK World--on the NHK World website.

• Face to Face on NHK World

Here is the list of books that Dr. Campbell recommended for people wishing to get into Edo period Japanese literature. The links are all Amazon affiliate links. If you use them to purchase anything on Amazon it will support the show but it won't cost you anything extra.

• The Tales of Moon and Rain by Ueda Akinari (Ugetsumonogatari)
  • Dr. Campbell did not mention a specific translation so the link above takes you to the Amazon search results page
• An Edo Anthology: Literature from Japan's Mega-City, 1750-185, Edited by Sumie Jones
• Early Modern Japanese Literature: An Anthology, 1600-1900 (Translations from the Asian Classics), Edited by Haruo Shirane
• World Within Walls by Donald Keane

To listen to the episode of Japan Station featuring Crystal Kay, use the link below.

• Japan Station 13: Crystal Kay

To listen to the Barry Lancet interview (Japan Station episode 18), use the link below.

• Japan Station 18: How Jim Brodie Came to Be (Barry Lancet)

And to listen to the two most recent episodes of Ichimon Japan, use th elinks below.

• What annoys you about living in Japan? (Part 1: Bookstores, Ice Cream Floats, Repetitive Language, & More) | Ichimon Japan 33
• What annoys you about living in Japan? (Part 2: Chinese Names, Short Sleeves, Bears, & More) | Ichimon Japan 34

If you would like to check out the Kimito Designs shop, then use the link below.

• Visit KimitoDesigns.com

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Donna Burke

Featured image: Courtesy of Wasabi Magazine

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Tony has a chat with the owner of a voice that anyone who has ever ridden the Shinkansen (bullet train) will have heard numerous times: voice actor and singer Donna Burke.

Donna Burke is an Australian singer and voice actor based in Japan. Her voice can be heard in numerous high profile projects, including major Japanese commercials and highly successful video games such as Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain. Donna is also widely known as the person who does the English language announcements for Japan's famous Shinkansen (bullet train).

• How Donna uses her "Shinkansen voice" to surprise people in Japan
• How it was that Donna ended up living in Japan
• On being a wedding singer in Japan in the mid-90s
• Making the transition to doing songs for Japanese commercials
• What it was like producing demo tapes in the '90s and 2000s
• Donna's experience doing voice work for Shenmue
• The importance of getting a good recommendation as a voice actor
• Whether it has become more competitive to be a voice talent in the Japanese game industry in recent years
• Working on the Metal Gear Solid franchise
• Dealing with the success and fame that came with working on the Metal Gear Solid franchise
• "Glassy Sky 2020"
• Donna's drive to always be working on new projects and creating
• Working as a lyricist
• The importance of letting go of one's ego when creating and writing
• What it has been like working with the Tokyo Philharmonic and performing with orchestras in the U.S.
• How Donna started selling heat pads via her company Hotteeze
• Donna's ideas for an ad campaign to promote Hotteeze
• How freqyently Japan Railways has Donna do new recordings for the Shinkansen
• 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

To stay up to date with all of Donna's projects, make sure to follow her on Twitter. Also, you can find more information about her on her official website.

• Donna Burke on Twitter (@DB_singer_actor)
• Donna Burke Website

Donna regularly uploads videos to her YouTube channel, so don't forget to check it out.

• Donna Burke YouTube Channel

If you'd like to learn more about Donna's kairo (heat pad) business, then check out the Hotteeze website via the link below.

• Hotteeze Website

If this episode got you curious about what it's like being a fake priest in Japan, then you'r ein luck because there's an episode of Ichimon Japan exactly about that topic. The episode features an interview with a Canadian who has experience working as a fake priest at Japanese weddings.

• What's it like being a "fake priest" in Japan? | Ichimon Japan 04

Check out the two latest episodes of Ichimon Japan via the link below.

• Who got it more wrong: MatPat or Tony? (Revisiting the Curse of Colonel Sanders) | Ichimon Japan 32
• What annoys you about living in Japan? (Part 1: Bookstores, Ice Cream Floats, Repetitive Language, & More) | Ichimon Japan 33

If you would like to check out the Kimito Designs shop, then use the link below.

• Visit KimitoDesigns.com

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Donna Burke

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, standup comedian Kilara Sen stops by to talk about comedy and the various projects

Kilara Sen (a.k.a. Pink Unicorn) is a bilingual Japanese standup comedian, MC, and content creator. Apart from performing standup comedy in Japan, she has also performed in the United States and Europe, including at the Fringe festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Kilara also regularly releases videos via her YouTube channel Kilaracomedy.

• Kilara's experiences giving motivational speeches to high school students in Japan
• Studying in the U.S. and learning English
• Comparing Japanese comedy to Western comedy
• Kilara's experiences in the Japanese comedy industry
• The moment when Kilara realized that she could be a solo comedian
• What Kilara has been doing during the coronavirus pandemic
• Japanese Whisky World, Kilara's YouTube show about whisky
• Appearing on Paul Hollywood Eats Japan
• Tracking down and meeting Conan O'Brien during his 2018 visit to Hokuei-chō in Tottori Prefecture
• 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

Follow Kilara Sen on YouTube and social media to keep up to date with all her projects.

• Kilara Sen on YouTube
• Kilara Sen on Twitter
• Kilara Sen on Facebook
• Kilara Sen on Instagram

To watch episodes of Japanese Whisky World, Kilara's show about whisky, check out the link below.

• Japanese Whisky World

A trailer for Paul Hollywood Eats Japan can be found via the link below.

• Paul Hollywood Eats Japan

Check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan via the link below.

• What is yakitori? (All About Japan's Famous Chicken Skewers) | Ichimon Japan 31

If you would like to check out the Kimito Designs shop, then use the link below.

• Visit KimitoDesigns.com

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Ema Ryan Yamazaki

Featured image: Courtesy of Kilara Sen

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, documentary filmmaker Ema Ryan Yamazaki discusses being inspired by Ichiro Suzuki and her latest documentary Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams.

Ema Ryan Yamazaki is a documentary filmmaker who has worked on several Japan-related projects. Her most recent feature-length documentary is titled Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams and focuses on the wildly popular National High School Baseball Championship (全国高等学校野球選手権大会, Zenkoku Kōtō Gakkō Yakyū Senshuken), popularly referred to as "Summer Koshien" (夏の甲子園, Natsu no Kōshien).

• About growing up in Nishinomiya near Koshien Stadium
• The #dearICHIRO documentary series
• Being inspired by Ichiro Suzuki
• How Ema Ryan Yamazaki became interested in filmaking
• The success of Ichiro Suzuki and how he captured the imagination and attention of so many people in Japan and the United States
• Ichiro Suzuki's time playing with the Miami Marlins
• Deciding to go to university in New York
• How it was that Ema decided to focus on Japan-related projects
• How living abroad helped Ema better understand Japan and how it is perceived by people outside of Japan
• The emotionally riveting and exciting nature of the Koshien summer high school baseball championship
• How it was that the Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams project began
• Using the Koshien high school baseball tournament as a way to look back on a hundred years of Japan's history and how Japanese society has changed
• The challenges Ema faced when producing Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams and how working with NHK helped make the film possible
• Coach Fumiya Tsuta and his impressive record of victories at Koshien
• Viewing baseball as a martial art
• The early history of baseball in Japan
• How baseball is strongly tied to education in Japan
• Whether the strict culture found in the world of high school baseball in Japan should be rethought
• Why Ema decided to have Coach Mizutani of Yokohama Hayato High School be a main focus of Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams
• The all-consuming nature of work culture in Japan
• The idea of gaman (perseverence) and whether it is necessary in contemporary Japan
• The importance of thinking about which rules and societal norms are necessary and which are not
• Coming to terms with being mixed race/half Japanese in Japan
• How the coronavirus pandemic affected the release of Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams and the Koshien summer high school baseball championship
• How it was that Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams got to air on ESPN and in theaters across Japan
• Getting to reunite with some of the subjects of Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams in 2020
• 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

To watch Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams, use the link below. It will premiere on November 20th, 2020.

• Watch Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams

For information on Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams, visit the film's Facebook page.

• Koshien: Japan's Field of Dreams on Facebook

For more information on the #dearICHIRO documentary series, visit the link below.

• #dearICHIRO

For more information on Ema's body of work, visit her website via the link below.

• Ema Ryan Yamazaki Website

Check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan via the link below.

• Do you have any funny or embarrassing Japanese language mistake stories? | Ichimon Japan 30

If you would like to check out the Kimito Designs shop, then use the link below.

• Visit KimitoDesigns.com

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Ema Ryan Yamazaki

Featured image: Courtesy of Ema Ryan Yamazaki

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com