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

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, manga creator and boxer Kofi Bazzell-Smith (a.k.a. Kofi Manga) stops by to discuss manga, the Japanese language, and the importance of perseverance.

Kofi Bazzell-Smith is an American manga creator and boxer. He is active on YouTube and Instagram under the name Kofi Manga.

• The anime/manga Hajime no Ippo
• How it was that Kofi started studying Japanese
• How Kofi checks the Japanese that writes for his manga
• Lang-8 and HelloTalk
• The story of how Kofi was able to go to Japan for the first time
• Working as a video game tester for Deep Silver Volition
• Studying Japanese in Fukuoka for a month
• Getting one-on-one manga storytelling classes from a manga artist in Japan
• The importance of making mistakes when learning a new language
• How Kofi ended up going to Kansai Gaidai University
• How Kofi earned money in order to get back to Japan
• Kofi's quest to study at Kyoto Seika University
• Kansai Gaidai and its dorms
• Taking a manga production course at Kansai Gaidai University
• The time Kofi had his portfolio reviewed by professional manga editors at the Kyoto International Manga Museum
• The important advice that Kofi received from a Kodansha editor
• Why Kofi decided to draw a boxing manga
• Studying under Professor Akira Sasō at Kyoto Seika University
• Osamu Tezuka's old apartment Tokiwa-sō
• Getting accepted to participate in the Tokwa-sō Project
• The importance of perseverence and being a nice person
• What Kofi is currently working on and future plans
• 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

Check out the links below to keep up with Kofi's work.

• Kofi Manga YouTube Channel
• Kofi Manga on Instagram
• Kofi Manga on Facebook

For more information on the United States-Japan Bridging Foundation, the scholarships they offer or to donate, visit their website via the link below.

• United States-Japan Bridging Foundation Website

To learn more about Kansai Gaidai University, visit their website via the link below.

• Kansai Gaidai University Website

For more information on Professor Akira Sasō, visit the Wikipedia page below.

• About Akira Sasō (Wikipedia)

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

In case you missed it, here is a link for episode 33 of Japan Station.

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

If you enjoyed this episode of Japan Station, then you'll also probably enjoy the episodes below.

• Manga Creator Minami Sakai | Japan Station 26
• Evangeline Neo of Evacomics | Japan Station 28

Also, don't forget to check out the latest episode of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

• What is a kirakira name? | Ichimon Japan 29

If you would like to check out the Kimito Designs shop, then use the link below. Remember to use the coupon code OPENING10 when you check out to get 10% off (valid until the end of 2020).

• 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 Kofi Bazzell-Smith

Featured image: Courtesy of Kofi Bazzell-Smith

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

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about the history and layout of Edo with one of the world's foremost experts on the subject: Dr. Timon Screech.

Dr. Timon Screech is a professor of the history of art at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. He is a specialist in the art and culture of the Edo period and has written extensively on the subject. His most recent book is titled Tokyo Before Tokyo: Power and Magic in the Shogun's City (Reaktion Books).

• The story behind Dr. Screech's latest book Tokyo Before Tokyo: Power and Magic in the Shogun's City of Edo
• The history of Nihonbashi (日本橋) in Tokyo
• Nihonbashi as the city center of Edo
• The possible etymological origin of Nihonbashi
• What was in and around the original Nihonbashi bridge when it was built
• Nihonbashi's status as the start of the famous Tokaido highway
• The mountainous geography of Japan and how it made it challenging to keep the country united
• Edo era maps, their evolution, and how reliable they were
• Why certain areas of Edo's maps were often blocked out
• Early Edo Period maps and how usable they would have been
• The extensive documentation of urban ephemera of the Edo Period
• How folding screens intended for the elite would depict areas of Edo that commoners were not supposed to be able to see
• The amusing story of the peculiar way Emperor Go-Mizunoo is said to have had his portrait paited
• Portrait drawing customs in Japan versus the West
• The official name of Edo Castle
• Why Edo Castle was officially names Chiyoda Castle
• The location of Edo Castle
• The Shogunate's decision to not choose Kamakura as their base of power
• About the destruction of Chiyoda Castle/Edo Castle and reasons for why it was never reconstructed
• The recently restored paintings of Kyoto's Nijo Castle
• Edo's 40 meter tall Buddha made of wicker (Kappa Ōbotoke)
• Dr. Timon Screech's recommendations for temples to visit in Tokyo
• The story of the Octopus Medicine Buddha at Tako Yakushi Jōjuin Temple in Meguro
• The Temple of the 500 Arhats in Meguro (Gohyaku Rakanji)
• The deification of Tokugawa Ieyasu
• How Tokugawa Ieyasu's body was moved a year after his death
• Disagreement over where Tokugawa Ieyasu's body is today
• 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 use the link below to purchase Tokyo Before Tokyo: Power and Magic in the Shogun's City of Edo on Amazon. The link is an Amazon affiliate link so using it will support the show without costing you anything extra.

• Tokyo Before Tokyo: Power and Magic in the Shogun's City of Edo by Dr. Timon Screech

You can use the Amazon affiliate link below to purchase The Shogun's Silver Telescope and the Cargo of the New Year's Gift: God, Art, and Money in the English Quest for Japan, 1600-1625.

• The Shogun's Silver Telescope and the Cargo of the New Year's Gift: God, Art, and Money in the English Quest for Japan, 1600-1625 by Dr. Timon Screech

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

• How do Japanese names work? | Ichimon Japan 28

And here are the two episodes of Japan Station mentioned at the end of this episode.

• Japan Station 11: Sacred High City, Sacred Low City (Dr. Steven Heine)
• Japan Station 27: The Bells of Old Tokyo (Anna Sherman)

If you would like to check out the Kimito Designs shop, then use the link below. Remember to use the coupon code OPENING10 when you check out to get 10% off (valid until the end of 2020).

• 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 Dr. Timon Screech

Featured image: Courtesy of Dr. Timon Screech

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

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast two members of the Kyoto-based metal band Cosmic Earth stop by to talk about their new album inspired by the Tokyo Olympics, the Kyoto heavy metal scene, and more.

Cosmic Earth is a Kyoto-based doom metal/stoner rock/heavy blues rock band founded by guitarist Takuya Yada in 2017. Cosmic Earth is part of Cosmic Frequency Records and is in the process of writing original music to release an album in the near future.

• Takuya Yada's decision to go to England to study English and become a guitarist
• How Takuya Yada managed to become a guitarist of the heavy metal band Stuka Squadron
• Joe's connection to music and how he became interested in metal
• How Takuya Yada and Joe met
• The formation of Cosmic Earth
• The story behind Takuya Yada's heavy metal album inspired by the Tokyo Olympics: Stonolympic
• Some of the concepts and themes explored in Stonolympic
• Rock Bar Crunch in Kyoto
• 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 support the Stonolympic album Kickstarter campaign, check out the link below.

• Production of Tokyo olympic metal compilation 'Stonolympic'.

For more information on Takuya Yada's many projects, visit the Cosmic Frequency Records website.

• CosmicFrequencyRecords.com

You can find Takuya Yada's solo album 7 Fragments of the Unconscious on both the Cosmic Frequency Records website and Bancamp (link below).

• Takuya Yada on Bandcamp

You can follow Takuya Yada and Cosmic Frequency Records on social media.

• Takuya Yada on Twitter
• Cosmic Frequency Records on Facebook

The name of the heavy metal/hard rock bar in Kyoto that was mentioned during this episode is Rock Bar Crunch. You can find their website here. The address for Rock Bar Crunch can be found below.

Rock Bar Crunch Address138 Universe Kaikan (Yunibāsu Kaikan), Tominagacho, Higashiyama WardKyoto, 〒605-0078

For more information on BlueEyes Kyoto, you can visit their Facebook page. The address for BlueEyes Kyoto can be found below.

BlueEyes Kyoto Address 93 Kyoto Wasō Bldg. B1F (京都和装ビル), Goboomiyacho, Shimogyo Ward Kyoto, 〒600-8385

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

• How do Japanese names work? | Ichimon Japan 28

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 Zack Davisson

Featured image: Courtesy of Takuya Yada

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

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about creepy apartments and Japanese ghosts with Japanese folklore expert, writer, and translator Zack Davisson.

Zack Davisson is an award-winning translator, writer, and lecturer whose work focuses primarily on Japanese folklore. Davisson has written extensively about yōkai and Japanese ghosts (yūrei), as well as translated the works of renowned Japanese writers and manga artists such as Shigeru Mizuki and Satoshi Kon.

• Zack Davisson's time living at Kishigami Bunka in an apartment that was thought to be haunted
• The process you typically go through when trying to find an apartment in Japan
• What reikin is
• How Zack Davisson became interested in folklore and the supernatural
• Japan's relationship with the supernatural
• What Obon is and its connection to ghosts/spirits
• Zack Davisson's advice for those studying Japanese
• What reikan is
• What a yurei is
• Documenting yokai in early modern Japan
• Differing views on whether yūrei are a type of yōkai
• The English term "ghost" and how its meaning has changed
• The Japanese drama Yōkai Sharehouse (Yōkai Sheahausu)
• The characteristics that make yūrei distinct from other ghosts/sporits
• The historical origins of the visual characteristics of yūrei
• Maruyama Okyo's influential depiction of yūrei
• Kabuki's connection to and influence over the popular conception of what a yūrei looks like
• Unfulfilled desire as the fuel and reason for existence of a yurei
• The peace and prosperity of the Edo Period
• The boom in ghost stories during the Edo Period
• Cursed productions
• The updated edition of Yurei: The Japanese Ghost
• Recent projects that Zack Davisson has been working on
• Shigeru Mizuki's adaptation of Tono Monogatari by Yangagida Kunio
• The Amabie and its rise to prominence during the coronavirus pandemic
• 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 use the link below to purchase Yurei: The Japanese Ghost on Amazon. The link is an Amazon affiliate link so using it will support the show without costing you anything extra.

• Yurei: The Japanese Ghost by Zack Davisson (2.d Edition)

Follow Zack Davisson on Twitter.

• @ZackDavisson

Read Zack Davisson's article about Shigeru Mizuki.

• The Life and Death of Shigeru Mizuki, 1922-2015

If you'd like to check out Kimito Designs, use the link below. Reminder: the 10% discount code is OPENING10 (valid until the end of 2020).

• KimitoDesigns.com

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

• What is a tsuchinoko? (All About Japan's Most Famous Cryptid) | Ichimon Japan 26

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 Zack Davisson

Featured image: Courtesy of Zack Davisson

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

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're joined by Stephen Tetsu to discuss the Japanese comedy & entertainment industry, as well as his life as a comedian in the largest talent agency in Japan: Yoshimoto Kōgyō.

Stephen Tetsu is an owarai geinin (comedian) who is part of Yoshimoto Kōgyō, the largest talent agency in Japan. Aside from performing manzai as part of his group Iruka Punch, Stephen has also worked on numerous projects for Yoshimoto, including translation and producing shows. Stephen produces and co-hosts the podcasts Small in Japan and Japanese History Junk Food.

• The Netflix documentary What's Manzai?!!! and how Stephen got involved with it
• How it was that Stephen got into the comedy industry in Japan
• Stephen's life in comedy school in Japan
• The difficult life of a "young" comedian in Japan
• The challenge of finding the right comedy partner
• The good and bad of being a foreigner in the Japanese comedy industry
• The 2019 Yoshimoto scandal which involved comedians receiving under-the-table payments for performances they did for organized crime groups
• What manzai is
• The evolving nature of manzai
• How many Japanese comedians have been pushed to start producing content for YouTube due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic
• Takeshi Kitano's transition from comedian to movie director
• Comparing Japanese comedians to Western comedians
• What Stephen has enjoyed about being a comedian in Japan
• The frustration that comes with playing the stereotypical dumb foreigner character
• 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 listen to the Small in Japan podcast use the links below or look it up on your podcast app of choice.

• Small in Japan on Apple Podcasts
• Small in Japan on Google Podcasts
• Small in Japan on Libsyn

To listen to the Japanese History Junk Food podcast use the links below or look it up on your podcast app of choice.

• Japanese History Junk Food on Apple Podcasts
• Japanese History Junk Food on Google Podcasts
• Japanese History Junk Food on Libsyn

Check out Stephen's blog via the link below.

• Stephen Tetsu Blog

Follow Stephen Tetsu on Twitter.

• @STEPHEN_TETSU

To read Stephen's article about manzai, check out the link below.

• So What the Heck Is Manzai Anyways?

To learn more about the massive yamieigyō scandal that rocked Yoshimoto in 2019, you may want to check out the article below.

• Five things to know about the scandal enveloping top Japanese comedy agency Yoshimoto Kogyo

To listen to episode two of Japan Station, use the link below.

• How To Become A Comedian in Japan (Ann Lethin) | Japan Station 02

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

• Why does to "nyan nyan" mean "to have sex" in Japanese? (Japanese Cat Idioms) | Ichimon Japan 25

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 Stephen Tetsu

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

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're exploring beliefs and traditions surrounding pregnancy in Japan, as well as how ideas about marriage have evolved in Japan since the Edo period. We also take a detour into the world of NES era game localization.

Dr. Amanda C. Seaman is a professor of Japanese language and literature and the Associate Chair of the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She is the author of Writing Pregnancy in Low-Fertility Japan and Bodies of Evidence.

• How Dr. Seaman became interested in researching the ideas and culture surrounding pregnancy in Japan
• Japanese women's detective fiction
• Yumi Matsuo's book Balloon Town no Satsujin (Murder in Balloon Town)
• What a haraobi (bellyband) are used for
• Shungicu Uchida
• Negative views/ideas surrounding pregnancy in Japan
• How Buddhism and Shinto have shaped ideas around pregnancy in Japan
• Menstruation as kegare
• Spiritual possession during childbirth and The Tale of Genji
• Giving birth during the Edo period
• Why it was preferred to give birth to a smaller baby
• The changing perspectives on marriage in Japan that emerged int he 1960s
• Ideas surrounding marriage in the Edo period
• The role the marriage of Crown Price Akihito played in shaping views on marriage in Japan
• What women in Japan look for in a marriage partner and how priorities have changed over the last several decades
• The idea that women should stay silent during childbirth
• The idea that woemn in Japan should not gain more than 10 kg during their pregnancy
• The reluctance of Japanese doctors to perform C-sections
• Midwives in Japan
• Japan's decreasing birthrate
• The 1.57 shock
• Attempts made by the Japanese government to increase Japan's birthrate and get Japanese fathers more involved in child rearing
• Labor pain as a demonstration of how much a mother is willing to endure for their child
• The idea that pregnant Japanese women should avoid food of foreign origin
• Working for Fuji Sankei and localizing NES games
• Working with Nintendo on scripts for NES games
• 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 access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support Japan Station on Patreon

If you would like to purchase Writing Pregnancy in Low-Fertility Japan, please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. It won't cost you anything extra and it supports the show.

• Writing Pregnancy in Low-Fertility Japan

As for Devouring Japan, you can purchase it using the Amazon affiliate link below.

• Devouring Japan: Global Perspectives on Japanese Culinary Identity

To listen to the soba noodles episode of Japan Station, use the link below.

• The Delicious World of Soba Noodles (Dr. Lorie Brau) | Japan Station 36

Use the link below to listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

• Does "hai" mean "bye" in Japanese? (The many ways to say "goodbye" in Japanese) | Ichimon Japan 24

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 Amanda C. Seaman

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

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this very special episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're joined by James from ALTInsider.com and The Inside Japan Podcast. James offers some advice for those looking to work in Japan and interviews Tony about his career and time in Japan.

The Inside Japan Podcast is the only podcast on the internet telling you the true inside information about what working in Japan is really like, and how you can find your first, or next awesome job in Japan yourself. Interviews with employers, foreigners doing interesting things, and job hunting/hopping strategies are just some of the things we will cover on the weekly show.

• James' advice for those looking to go to Japan
• How the English teacher job market n Japan has become more competitive over the past couple decades
• The rising requirements for landing a university teaching job in Japan
• How James got his translation job
• What to do when you are frustrated with your school about being underutilized
• Competitive speedrun commentating
• How Tony got interested in Japan
• Tony's time on the JET Program
• The good and bad of Tony's time on JET
• What it was like working at a school for the blind in Japan
• Life after JET
• How doing JapanKyo turned out to help Tony career-wise
• Teaching Japanese in Florida
• Tony's advice for those teaching English in Japan
• About JapanKyo.com and the Japan Station podcast
• What led to the start of Japan Station
• Working at Wasabi magazine
• And much more! Support on Patreon

  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 access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

  • Support Japan Station on Patreon
  Links, Videos, Etc.

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

  • The Inside Japan Podcast on Apple Podcasts
  • The Inside Japan Podcast on Google Podcasts
  • The Inside Japan Podcast on Stitcher

  If you want more information on working and teaching in Japan, then make sure to stop by ALTInsider.com.

  • ALTInsider.com

  You can also find ALTInsider on social media.

  • ALTInsider on Twitter
  • ALTInsider on Facebook
  • ALTInsider on Instagram
  • ALTInsider on YouTube

  James also does competitive speedrun commentating. If you're interested in checking that out, hit the link below.

  • Thabeast721 vs iiPK | Grand Finals | GSA SMM2 Expert Mode Speedrun League
  Special Thanks

  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 James/ALTInsider.com

  Follow Japankyo on Social Media
  • Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
  • Twitter (@JapankyoNews)
  Full Show Notes
  • Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we learn what it's like going to school in Japan to become a seiyū (voice actor).

Reina is a professional voice actor living in Tokyo. While originally from the U.K., Reina went to Japan with the intent of becoming a seiyū (voice actor). Her quest to enter the voice acting industry in Japan led her to attend a two year voice acting school in Tokyo. Since graduating Reina has done both voice acting and stage acting in Japan. Currently, Reina is working on a project called Anigorin. The aim of Anigorin is to create an original anime short in order to promote cross-cultural understanding and offer unique working experiences to creatives from both Japan and abroad.

• What "Jiko PR" is
• What the audition process in the Japanese voice acting industry is like
• How Fist of the North Star blew Reina's mind (figuratively) and helped spark her interest in anime
• The problem with copying the language heard in anime when trying to learn Japanese
• What it's like attending a Japanese school for aspiring voice actors
• What is taught and what classes are offered at a Japanese voice acting school
• Performing voice acting live
• What kind of works/materials are used in Japanese voice acting school
• The importance of understanding the subtleties of kanji when reviewing a script for a performance
• Mastering Japanese pitch accent and intonation
• Over the top stereotypical depictions of foreigners speaking Japanese in anime
• What bidakuon (鼻濁音) is
• What Anigorin is
• What the Anigorin project hopes to achieve
• The challenges of the Anigorin project
• The importance of nakama and believing in each other
• Making it through the coronavirus pandemic
• 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 access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support Japan Station on Patreon

For more information on Reina or Anigorin, make sure to check out the links below.

• Reina Website
• Reina on Facebook
• Reina on Twitter
• Reina on Instagram
• Anigorin Website (Coming Soon as of 9/1/20)
• Anigorin on Instagram
• Anigorin on Twitter
• Anigorin on Facebook

To read the Japan Times article about Reina that was mentioned at the beginning of the interview, check out the link below.

• Londoner finds her voice on the Tokyo stage

Reina attended the Tokyo School of Anime. For more information on this school, check out the link below. FYI: it appears that the school has changed its name to Tokyo School of Anime & E-Sports (東京アニメ・声優＆eスポーツ専門学校).

• Tokyo School of Anime & E-Sports

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

• Why are school rules in Japan so strict? (All About Kōsoku) | Ichimon Japan 23

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 Reina

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

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, stand-up comedian Shuhei "Shoe" Murakami stops by to talk about how he went from almost dropping out of high school to performing stand-up comedy in English in Canada and the U.S.

Shuhei "Shoe" Murakami is a stand-up comedian and actor from Tokyo. Currently Murakami is based in Toronto, Canada but he has also performed stand-up comedy in New York and Japan.

• How Shoe struggled academically in high school
• How listening to and performing English-language music by bands like the Beatles helped Shoee learn English
• Studying English literature in a Japanese university
• Traveling in Southeast Asia after graduating from college
• How Shoe lost all his money due to a blackjack scam in Cambodia
• How Shoe made a life for himself in Cambodia after getting scammed out of his money
• Managing Sharky Bar in Cambodia and learning how to deal with the clientele
• The challenges of running a bar in Cambodia as a young Japanese man
• Starting his own bar
• The difficulties Shoe faced when trying to find a job in Japan
• How Shoe discovered stand-up comedy while in Japan
• Why Shoe decided to move to Canada
• Shoe's realization that he needed to become more comfortable on stage
• Performing stand-up comedy in Canada and New York
• Getting work as an actor in Canada
• Getting to perform on the Asian Comedy All-Stars show in Toronto
• 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 access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support Japan Station on Patreon

You can find Shuhei "Shoe" Murakami on the following platforms.

• Standup Comedian Shoe Murakami YouTube Channel
• Shoe Murakami on Instagram
• Shoe Murakami on Facebook

To learn more about Shoe's time in Cambodia and the scam that resulted in him losing his money, check out the article below.

• Bad Times to Good (The Cambodia Daily)

Use the link below to check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

• How do you create fake kanji? (From Ghost Kanji to Kokuji) | Ichimon Japan 22

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 Shuhei "Shoe" Murakami

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

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, localizer and author Matt Alt stops by to discuss the influence Japanese pop culture has had on the world.

Matt Alt is a localizer of Japanese games and manga. Together with Hiroko Yoda he founded the localization company AltJapan and has authored multiple books on Japanese folklore and history. Matt's latest book was published in June of 2020 by Crown and is titled Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World.Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World.

• Localization and how the industry has evolved over the past few decades
• Matt Alt's experience learning Japanese in high school
• How Matt almost got to meet Osamu Tezuka
• Anime in the U.S. in the '70s, '80s, and '90s
• The kawaii aesthetic of Super Mario and other classic video games from Japan
• Visiting Sony's extensive archives
• The popularity and influence of Sanrio's Hello Kitty
• How it was that Matt came to work on his well-known book Yokai Attack!
• The increasing adoption of the term yokai over the past couple decades
• Using one's dissatisfaction with translations as motivation to learn Japanese
• 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 access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support Japan Station on Patreon

You can purchase Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World via the Amazon affiliate link below.

• Pure Invention: How Japan's Pop Culture Conquered the World by Matt Alt

If you're interested in any of Matt Alt's other books, please consider using the affiliate links below in order to support Japan Station.

• Yokai Attack!: The Japanese Monster Survival Guide (Yokai ATTACK! Series) by Matt Alt & Hiroko Yoda
• Yurei Attack!: The Japanese Ghost Survival Guide (Yokai ATTACK! Series) by Matt Alt & Hiroko Yoda
• Ninja Attack!: True Tales of Assassins, Samurai, and Outlaws (Yokai ATTACK! Series) by Matt Alt & Hiroko Yoda

You can follow Matt Alt on Twitter.

• @Matt_Alt

To learn more about AltJapan, visit their website via the link below.

• AltJapan Website

Here is Matt Alt's Tofugu.com interview article.

• An Interview with Matt Alt: Translation, Localization, and other Nice Japanese Things

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

• What's so scary about the hour of the ox? (About Ushi no Koku Mairi) | Ichimon Japan 21

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 Matt Alt

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

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com