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

Japanese Plus Alpha is the latest podcast in the JapanKyo Podcast Network. Produced by Tony Vega, Japanese Plus Alpha focuses on the Japanese language and its many fascinating quirks. The show is designed as a fun way to learn about the Japanese language while at the same time gaining insight into Japanese history, culture, linguistics, and more. In other words, Japanese Plus Alpha is great for both those studying the Japanese language and those who enjoy learning about the world through language.

Currently, Japanese Plus Alpha is available only via the JapanKyo.com Patreon. To get access to more episodes of Japanese Plus Alpha, just join the $3 a month Plus Alpha tier.

This is episode 2 of Japanese Plus Alpha. It focuses on the origins of the word "neko," which means cat in Japanese. Hope you enjoy it.

• Join the JapanKyo.com Patreon (@JapanKyo.com/Patreon)

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, Sarah Moon teaches us a bit about what it's like being a translator of anime and games.

Sarah Moon is a professional translator (Japanese to English) who has experience localizing both video games and anime. On YouTube Sarah manages two channels: Sarah Moon and Sarah Loves Food. Her videos on Sarah Moon focus on teaching Japanese, what it's like being a translator, and the Japanese language. On Sarah Loves Food, Sarah focuses on cooking and general food-related content.

• The various ways one can translate the word aho
• The tendency of beginning Japanese learners to think they know more than they actually know
• Some of the assets and procedures involved in translating anime and games to English
• Literal translations versus localized translations
• How translators deal with original terms/words and character names
• Whether AI might be eliminating the need for anime translators
• What simulcast anime translation is and how it is done
• The "high context" nature of the Japanese language
• Sarah's food focused YouTube channel
• 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 Sarah Moon on all of the platforms below.

• Sarah Moon YouTube Channel
• Sarah Moon on Twitter
• Sarah Moon on Facebook
• Sarah Moon's Facebook Group for Aspiring Translators
• Sarah Moon on Etsy
• Sarah Loves Food YouTube Channel

You can use the link below to check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan. This episode is focused on the city of Osaka.

• What are your favorite places to visit in Osaka? | Ichimon Japan 20

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 Sarah Moon

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• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we explore the history of modern Japan with Dr. Christopher Harding.

Dr. Christopher Harding is a cultural historian of Japan and India, journalist, and a senior lecturer at the University of Edinburgh. His latest book, published by Tuttle Publishing, was released in June of 2020 and is titled A History of Modern Japan: In Search of a Nation: 1850 to the Present. Dr. Harding is currently working on his next book, The Japanese: A History in Twenty Lives, which is slated to be published in November of 2020 by Penguin Random House.

• What "picture brides" are
• The experiences of picture brides in Hawaii
• The rabbit craze of 1973 that Japan experienced
• The popularity of things from the West during the Meiji period
• The introduction of beef to Japan
• Meiji era ideas about marrying Westerners
• Censorship in Japanese movies following World War II
• The pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi
• The challenges of writing a book that covers such an extensive period of Japanese history
• The shifting significance of the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
• Books that Christopher Harding is currently working on
• 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

A History of Modern Japan: In Search of a Nation: 1850 to the Present can be purchased using the Amazon affiliate link below.

• A History of Modern Japan: In Search of a Nation: 1850 to the Presenby Christopher Harding

You can find more information on Christopher Harding and his work on his website.

• Christopher Harding Website

You can also follow Christopher Harding on Twitter.

• Christopher Harding on Twitter

If you're interested in checking out some of the work that Christopher Harding has done for BBC Radio, then go to the pages linked below. The first link is for the story that was mentioned in the outro of this episode of Japan Station. It focuses on the prevalence of ghost stories after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. The second link is for a story focusing on the misconceptions that many in the West have about Japan. Both are excellent and totally worth a listen.

• Supernatural Japan on BBC Radio
• Misunderstanding Japan on BBC Radio

To learn more about the Hawaii Okinawa Center and the bronze statue of Kyuzo Toyama mentioned during this episode, visit the page linked below.

• Hawaii Okinawa Center

Episode 41 of Japan Station featuring the rakugo performer Shinoharu Tatekawa can be accessed via the link below.

• Rakugo Performer Shinoharu Tatekawa | Japan Station 41

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 Penguin Random House. Photo by Mark Allan.

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• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're joined by master rakugo performer Shinoharu Tatekawa.

Shinoharu Tatekawa is a professional rakugo (traditional Japanese comedic storytelling) performer. He apprenticed under the well-known and highly respected rakugo master Shinosuke Tatekawa. In addition to performing rakugo in Japanese, Shinoharu also has extensive experience performing in English both in Japan and internationally. In April of 2020 Shinoharu was promoted to the shinuchi level, which is the top level a rakugo performer can achieve. Shinoharu likes cats, karaage, and kendama.

• Shinoharu Tatekawa's promotion to the shinuchi rank
• What the three ranks of rakugo are
• How Shinoharu Tatekawa became interested in rakugo
• Shinoharu Tatekawa's love of sumo and the famous sumo wrestler Chiyonofuji
• Why Shinoharu Tatekawa became interested in Japanese culture and history during college
• Why Shinoharu Tatekawa decided to study Chinese history during college
• Why rakugo masters are so strict on their apprentices
• How Japanese pronouns are useful storytelling device for rakugo performers
• A story about McDonald's
• The first time Shinoharu Tatekawa performed for an audience
• How Shinoharu Tatekawa's extensive time in the United States may have been a hindrance during his time as a rakugo apprentice
• 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 Shinoharu Tatekawa you can visit his website. This is the best place to find information on his shows.

• Shinoharu Tatekawa Website

You can find videos of Shinoharu Tatekawa's performances (both English and Japanese) on his YouTube channel.

• Shinoharu Tatekawa on YouTube

You can find Shinoharu Tatekawa on Twitter.

• Shinoharu Tatekawa on Twitter

Shinoharu Tatekawa's English-language radio show/podcast is called Rakugo: Traditional Style Japanese Comedy and was produced by Tokyo FM. It can be found via the links below or wherever you get your podcasts.

• Rakugo: Traditional Style Japanese Comedy on Tokyo FM
• Rakugo: Tradition Style Japamese Comedy on Apple Podcasts
• Rakugo: Traditional Style Japanese Comedy on Google Podcasts

Shinoharu Tatekawa's Japanese-language podcast is called Kyokkai Tōben (曲解答弁). Check it out via the links below.

• Kyokkai Tōben on Apple Podcasts
• Kyokkai Tōben on Google Podcasts

Use the link below to purchase a ticket to Shinoharu Tatekawa's live stream rakugo show on June 16th, 2020 (8:30 - 9:30 pm JST). This show will be live streamed from a theater in Shinjuku and it will be Shinoharu's first live performance since being promoted to the shinuchi rank. Tickets cost 1,500 yen and the show will be live streamed on Vimeo.

• Purchase tickets on Peatix

To listen to the Japan Station episode featuring rakugo performer Showko Showfukutei, use the link below.

• Japan Station 05: Rakugo Performer, Ventriloquist & Comedian Showko Showfukutei

Use the link below to check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan and learn about why so many Japanese people visit Hawaii.

• Why do Japanese people love Hawaii so much? | Ichimon Japan 17

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 Shinoharu Tatekawa

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• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, comedian, TV personality, and co-host of the Japan By River Cruise podcast Bobby Judo stops by to chat about the Japanese river cruise industry, iguanas, working Japan's entertainment industry, and more.

Bobby Judo is a stand-up comedian and TV personality based in Fukuoka Prefecture. Originally from South Florida, Bobby moved to Japan as part of the JET Program to teach English in Saga Prefecture. After building a following through his YouTube channel, Bobby began working in the Japanese entertainment industry. Aside from his regular cooking segment that airs on television in the Kyushu area, Bobby also has experiece acting, doing voice overs, and performing stand up comedy in both Japanese and English. In 2019, Bobby and comedian Ollie Horn launched Japan By River Cruise, a podcast in which they discuss Japanese current events, Japanese river cruises, and engage in soap talk.

• The wonder of Japanese river cruises
• The Japan By River Cruise podcast
• The origin of the name Bobby Judo
• The meaning of the Spanish term papichulo
• The Morikami Museum and Gardens in Delray Beach, FLorida
• Iguana hunting in South Florida
• Bobby Judo's decision to go to Japan
• How Bobby Judo started studying Japanese
• Life in Saga Prefecture while working as an English teacher as part of the JET Program
• Working in Japanese restaurants and learning honorific language while on the job
• How tricky it is to manage politeness levels in the Japanese language
• Working in the Japanese entertainment industry as a foreigner (foreign tarento)
• Thoughts on playing the stereotypical gaijin (foreigner) character
• Addressing problematic usages of the term hāfu (mixed race Japanese)
• How Bobby Judo started doing stand up comedy
• The challenges of doing stand up comedy in Japanese
• Tokyo Roast Battle
• 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

The Japan By River Cruise podcast can be found on all the major podcast apps. Below is a list of links you can use check it out and subscribe.

• Japan By River Cruise Website
• Japan By River Cruise on Apple Podcasts
• Japan By River Cruise on Google Podcasts
• Japan By River Cruise on Spotify
• Japan By River Cruise on Stitcher

Follow Bobby Judo on social media.

• Bobby Judo on Twitter
• Bobby Judo on Instagram

You can also find Bobby Judo on YouTube.

• Bobby Judo on YouTube

For more information on the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Florida you can visit their website via the link below.

• Morikami Museum and Gardens

If you haven't listened to the episode of Japan Station featuring Ollie Horn (Bobby Judo's co-host on Japan By River Cruise), then you should. Just use the link below.

• Japan Station 17: Comedian Ollie Horn

To listen to the episode of Japan Station featuring Anne Crescini, use the link below.

• Japan Station 21: Exploring Made in Japan English (Wasei Eigo) w. Anne Crescini

To listen to episode 17 of the Ichimon Japan podcast, use the link below.

• Can sexy things give you anime style nosebleeds? (The Nosebleed Episode) | Ichimon Japan 16

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 Bobby Judo

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• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, award-winning author Peter Tieryas talks about his alternate history book series, United States of Japan, as well as answers many of the lingering questions at the end of his most recent book, Cyber Shogun Revolution.

Peter Tieryas is the award-winning author of the United States of Japan books (United States of Japan, Mecha Samurai Empire, Cyber Shogun Revolution). Inspired by Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle and Japanese popular media such as the Zone of the Enders and Metal Gear series of video games, the United States of Japan books present a dark but super technologically advanced world filled with epic mecha battles, hyper realistic video games, and a version of the United States that was split into two after Imprial Japan and Nazi Germany came out victorious in World War II. The United States of Japan books have been translated into multiple languages, including French, Spanish, and even Japanese. Tieryas is the recipient of two Seiun Awards for the Japanese translations of United States of Japan and Mecha Samurai Empire. Aside from his work as an author, Tieryas has also worked as a technical writer for LucasArts and a character artist for major motion pictures such as Guardians of the Galaxy. And he also really enjoys video games.

• Why Peter chose Beniko as the name of one of the main characters of United States of Japan
• Why Peter decided to reference Punch Out and Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit) through the name of the main character of Mecha Samurai Empire (Makoto Fujimoto/Mac)
• The symbolism of Akiko Tsukino's dreams
• Unites States of Japan as a general commentary on militarism
• Why Peter decided to make Akiko Tsukino of mixed French Korean heritage rather than ethnically Japanese
• Why technology is so advanced in the United States of Japan universe
• Why Japan developed mecha in the universe of United States of Japan
• Peter's writing process for the United State of Japan trilogy
• Some of the things the mecha that appear in Cyber Shogun Revolution reference
• How Peter goes about creating mecha
• The positive reception of the United States of Japan books by fans around the world
• Winning the Seiun Award
• Traveling to Japan for the first time to attend the Seiun Award ceremony in 2017
• Why Peter decided not to focus on mainland Japan in the United States of Japan books
• Whether Peter plans to write more books in the United States of Japan series
• The dark undertones of the United States of Japan series
• Having Hideo Kojima write a blurb for Mecha Samurai Empire
• Peter's upcoming novel focusing on what would happen to the world if people stopped dying
• And a whole lot of spoiler talk regarding Cyber Shogun Revolution (after the outro mousic)
• 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

All three books in the United States of Japan series are available for purchase now. If you would like to support Japan Station, please use the Amazon Associates links below.

• United Stes of Japan (Book 1)
• Mecha Samurai Empire (A United States of Japan Novel Book 2)
• Cyber Shogun Revolution (A United States of Japan Novel Book 3)

If you want to stay up to date with everything Peter is working on, then make sure to follow him on Twitter

• @TieryasXu

You can also check out Peter's YouTube channel.

• TieryasXu YouTube Channel

If you would like to learn more about Peter's first trip to Japan and his experience attending the Seiun Award ceremony, check out the article below.

• Big in Japan: United States of Japan Author Peter Tieryas Reflects on Traveling East, Winning the Seiun, and What Comes Next

This episode includes a spoiler-heavy section after the outro sequence in which Peter Tieryas answers questions about characters and story elements that were left out of Cyber Shogun Revolution. Here's a list of some of the main things he discusses in this section. If you have not read the United States of Japan books yet, you should not continue reading or listen to the spoiler section of this episode. Please come back after you have read all three books.

• Where Mac (Makoto Fujimoto) and Grisalda are during the events of Cyber Shogun Revolution (they are teachers at the Berkeley Military Academy)
• Some of the things that were left out of the final draft of Cyber Shogun Revolution
• How Peter considered killing off Mac
• How Peter tried killing Kujira in a draft of Cyber Shogun Revolution
• Difficulties trying to figure out how Kujira would react to Akiko's actions in the events of Cyber Shogun Revolution
• Dreaming about being in Mecha Samurai Empire
• Kujira's growth as a character
• The existence of an unreleased novella focusing on Kujira that is titled The United States of Kujira
• The sequel to United States of Japan that Peter tried to write before he began working on Mecha Samurai Empire
• Akiko's role in the United States of Japan series
• Whether Peter has heard from fans regarding the identity of Bloody Mary
• The thought process that went into writing the ending of Cyber Shogun Revolution
• The meaning behind Kujira's name

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 Peter Tieryas

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• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're exploring the history of Japanese aidoru (idols) and discussing the dynamics behind one of Japan's most popular idol groups: AKB48.

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 book, published by Duke University Press Books in 2019, is Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan.

• The emergence of idols (aidoru) in Japan during the 1970s
• Japan's Golden Age of idols (1980s)
• Seiko Matsuda
• The role Yasushi Akimoto played in the evolution of the modern idol
• The importance of Onyanko Club in the history of Japanese idols
• What led to the end of Onyanko Club
• How the Latin boy band Menudo helped inspire the interchangeable idol system employed by idol groups such as Morning Musume and AKB48
• The success of Rino Sashihara
• The ingenious marketing strategy of Yasushi Akimoto that has led to the massive success of AKB48
• AKB48's General Election and how it drove CD sales during a time when CD sales were on the decline
• What idols do
• Whether we should think of idols as musicians/singers
• What it means to "idol"
• The connection between idols and fans
• The peculiar location and composition of the AKB48 Theater in Akihabara
• How the success of AKB48 helped spark a surge in the number of independent and "underground" (chika) idols
• The massive variety that exists in the independent idol scene
• How the coronavirus pandemic has affected idol groups and how idols are adapting
• What a chekki is
• Th effects of the coronavirus pandemic on maid cafes in Akihabara
• AKB48 and the Tokyo 2020/2021 Olympics
• How Yasushi Akimoto's idol groups have been evolving in recent years to appeal more to women
• Overwork and exploitation in the world of idols
• The case of Maho Yamaguchi
• Why so many idols have great difficulties after they "sotsugyō" (leave the group)
• The success of Atsuko Maeda
• The short-lived Pink Lady show that aired in the U.S. on NBC in 1980
• And much more!

Note: The conversation on this episode was recorded on April 24, 2020 (JST).

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

The book on which much of the conversation heard during this episode was based is called AKB48 and was written by Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith and Dr. Jason G. Karlin. You can purchase it via the Amazon affiliate link below. A Kindle version is available.

• AKB48 (33 1/2 Japan)

AKB48 is part of a series of books published by Bloomsbury that is called 33 1/2 Japan. If you would like to purchase any of these, you can use the Amazon affiliate links below.

• Yoko Kanno's Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack (33 1/3 Japan)
• Joe Hisaishi's Soundtrack for My Neighbor Totoro (33 1/3 Japan)
• Cornelius's Fantasma (33 1/3 Japan)
• Perfume's GAME (33 1/3 Japan)
• Nene's Koza Dabasa (33 1/3 Japan)
• Supercell Featuring Hatsune Miku (33 1/3 Japan)
• Shonen Knife's Happy Hour (33 1/3 Japan)
• Koji Kondo's Super Mario Soundtrack (33 1/3 Japan)

If you would like to purchase Dr. Galbraith's most recent book--Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japani--you can use the Amazon affiliate link below.

• Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan

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 Patrick W. Galbraith

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• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're joined by Anthony Joh of Tokyo Podcast.

Anthony Joh is an entrepreneur, digital marketing consultant, and longtime podcaster. After moving to Thailand about a decade ago Anthony helped start The Bangkok Podcast. He then started the long-running Tokyo Podcast after relocating to Japan. He recently started releasing episodes of Tokyo Podcast again after an extended hiatus.

• Some of the most memorable episodes of Tokyo Podcast
• How and why Anthony decided to start podcasting while living in Thailand
• What led Anthony to move to Japan
• What frustrated Anthony about working in Japan
• Why Anthony decided to move back to Canada
• Life in Victoria, Canada
• Why Anthony decided to go back to Japan
• Anthony's plans for Tokyo Podcast
• And much more!
• Note: The conversation on this episode was recorded on April 20, 2020 (JST).

Note: The conversation on this episode was recorded on April 20, 2020 (JST)

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

To listen to Tokyo Podcast, check out the links below

• Tokyo Podcast Website
• Tokyo Podcast on Apple Podcasts
• Tokyo Podcast on Spotify
• Tokyo Podcast on Stitcher

Here are the episodes of Tokyo Podcast that were mentioned during this episode.​

• Photographing the Japanese Yakuza with Anton Kusters
• How the Shinkansen Rebuilt Japan with Christopher Hood
• Cycling Across Japan with Sachi Takao
• From Classical to Bluegrass with Leona Tokutake
• Why I Left and then Moved Back to Japan

Follow Tokyo Podcast on Twitter.

• Tokyo Podcast on Twitter

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 Anthony Joh

• 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 fascinating history and culture of soba noodles.

Dr. Lorie Brau is an assistant professor at the University of New Mexico where she teaches courses on Japanese literature and culture. Dr. Brau has conducted research on a variety of topics, including rakugo and the history and culture of soba noodles. Her research on soba noodles resulted in Soba, Edo Style: Food, Aesthetics, and Cultural Identity, an article which appeared in the book Devouring Japan: Global Perspectives on Japanese Culinary Identity. Currently, Dr. Brau is working on a book called Gourmanga, which focuses on food manga..

• What soba is
• Soba's usage as a general word meaning "noodles"
• What distinguishes soba noodles from udon and ramen
• What an Edokko is
• Some of the places soba is closely tied to
• A brief history of soba noodles
• Okinawa soba
• Izuomo soba
• Nishin soba
• Soba's emergence as street food during the Edo period
• Soba's ties to the pleasure quarters of Edo
• The "proper" way to eat soba noodles
• Soba's evolution from street food to refined Japanese cuisine
• What a sobalier (sobarie) is
• What it was like dining at a members-only soba restaurant in Tokyo
• Soba's ties to kabuki
• What iki is
• Soba's link to the concept of iki
• Dr. Brau's research on manga centered around food
• Whether there is a difference between chūka soba and ramen
• Why the word soba can be used to refer to ramen but not udon
• 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 $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support Japan Station on Patreon

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.

Image: Japankyo.com

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

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're exploring the history of chicken production in Japan and the fascinating world of artisan jidori chicken.

Dr. Benjamin Schrager is an expert on Japanese food systems and heritage cuisine. He completed his PhD at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2019. His doctoral dissertation--titled Placing Trust: The Political Ecology of Chicken Meat in Japan--focused on the Japanese chicken industry and jidori chicken, with particular emphasis on the Miyazaki Jitokko brand of jidori. Currently, Dr. Schrager is a postdoctoral researcher at Kyoto University's Graduate School of Agriculture.

• What broiler chicken is and what Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) jidori chicken is
• Chicken Nanban and its origins
• The many regulations that the Japanese government has implemented to determine what qulifies as JAS jidori chicken
• The Onagadaori breed of chicken and its incredibly long tail
• The Tennen Kinenbutsu (Natural Monument) standard
• How Miyazaki Jitokko compares in terms of its standards to that of other brands of JAS jidori
• The problems jidori breeders face
• A brief overlook of the history of chicken breeding in Japan
• The connection between samurai and chicken breeding
• What a Native Heirloom Breed is
• The industrialization of chicken breeding in Japan
• The introduction of Western chicken breeds into Japan in the 1960s
• The phenomenon of regional cuisines and specialties in Japan
• Meeting Emperor Akihito
• The Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship
• Chicken sashimi from Miyazaki
• Health concerns over chicken
• The experience of talking to Japanese men taking part in a cooking class
• The difficulty explaining the difference between jidori and broiler chicken to the average person
• The various meanings of the word jidori
• Tsukada Nojo
• Jidori in Hawaii
• Sumibiyaki chicken
• 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 $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support on Patreon

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.

Images: Courtesy of Benjamin Schrager. Image shows Benjamin Schrager holding a Natural Monument Jitokko.

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

Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com