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

This is a re-release of Ichimon Japan episode 28.

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: How do Japanese names work?

• How people in Japan normally state their family name before their given name
• The complicated history of naming practices in Japan
• Commoners being prohibited from using family names during the Edo Period
• The Meiji era laws that mandated every Japanese person take a family name
• The reluctance of some people to take a family name during the Meiji Period
• The fact that many (most?) people with the surname Satō (佐藤) are probably not descended from samurai
• The fact that many commoners were given last names based on the geographical features of the area in which they lived
• The story of how the Furo (風呂) family supposedly got their family name from Minamoto no Yoshitsune
• The most common family names in Japan in 2019
• How many Japanese family names there are
• The prevalence of rare Japanese last names
• The regional nature of some Japanese family names
• The convention of naming boys based on their birth order
• How it's easy to forget people's first names in Japan
• Some of the factors people in Japan consider when naming a baby
• Asking people in Japan about the kanji they use for their given name as a way to spark conversation
• The phenomenon of siblings having related names
• Interesting names in anime
• The practice of picking a baby name based on the way a name is written
• How much it usually costs to have a shrine pick a baby name for you
• What a seimeihandanshi is
• What it might cost you to have a seimeihandanshi pick a baby name for you
• A list outlining the most popular baby names in Japan of 2019
• The Japanese naming convention of tōriji
• How shorter names have become common in Japan in recent years
• How female names that end in -ko used to be more common
• And much more!

Note: Just for the sake of clarity, I'd like to point out that the story of the Furo family name did not occur during the Meiji Period (actually it probably never even occurred in the way it is normally told). However, because the story was introduced alongside the changes of the Meiji Period it's possible to be left with the impression that there was a connection there. There is no direct connection. The story was simply brought up as an example of the many interesting ways in which people in Japan acquired last names.

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If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month and that comes with perks like early access to episodes, a shout-out at the beginning of a future episode, bonus content, and discounts to Kimito Designs. For $3 a month you get all that plus access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and its many quirks. Whether you are studying Japanese or just enjoy learning about language and linguistics, you'll enjoy Japanese Plus Alpha.

And it goes without saying that if you sign up, you'll also get my undying gratitude. Thanks in advance!

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Here are some of the main Japanese-language sources that were used when doing the research for this episode.

• 全国名字ランキング
• 【名字】風呂
• 実在する珍しい名字 (5)
• 通字と偏諱
• 日本人の苗字はこうしてつけられた 【CGS 日本の歴史 5-9】
• NHKネーミングバラエティー日本人のおなまえっ 日本一短い名字「井」
• 名付けを神社にお願いするには？方法や金額相場や初穂料について解説
• 名付けはどうやって決めた？先輩ママに聞いてみよう
• 赤ちゃんの名付け！気をつけるポイントと名付け方法
• 神社での命名にかかる料金はどれぐらい？手順や注意点を解説します！

Here are some of the main English-language sources used when doing the research for this episode.

• A Long History of Japanese Names
  • This is the Tofugu article mentioned during this episode.
• The Japanese Naming System - Morphology and Semantics of Individual Names by Anja Collazo
  • This is the thesis mentioned during this episode.
• Japan's Name Culture: The Significance of Names in a Religious, Political, and Social Context by Herbert Plutschow

Here are the Ichimon Japan episodes mentioned during this episode.

• Why are school rules in Japan so strict? (All About Kōsoku) | Ichimon Japan 23
• What is seppuku? (The Basics of Samurai "Suicide") | Ichimon Japan18

Here is the latest episode of Japan Station.

• Yūrei, Ghosts & Yōkai, A Chat w. Zack Davisson | Japan Station 50

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

Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here's some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC.

• Myōji
  • 苗字 : 苗字(P); 名字(P) 【みょうじ】 (n) (See 名前・2) surname; family name
• Namae
  • 名前 : 名前(P); 名まえ 【なまえ】 (n) (1) name; (n) (2) (See 名字) given name; first name;
• Furo
  • 風呂 【ふろ】 (n) (1) (See お風呂) bath; bathing; bathtub; bathroom; (n) (2) bathhouse; public bath
• Kenkō
  • 健康 【けんこう】 (n) (1) health; (adj-na) (2) healthy; sound; fit; wholesome
• Futoi
  • 太い 【ふとい】 (adj-i) (1) fat; thick; (adj-i) (2) deep (of a voice); thick; sonorous; (adj-i) (3) daring; shameless; brazen; audacious
• Seimeihandan
  • 姓名判断 【せいめいはんだん】 (n) (yoji) fortunetelling based on writing or pronunciation of one's name
• Iemoto
  • 家元 【いえもと】 (n) head of a school (of music, dance); head family of a school
• Himawari
  • ひまわり (n) sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
• Tsumugi
  • 紬 : 紬; 紡ぎ 【つむぎ】 (n) pongee; soft thin cloth woven from raw silk
• Tsumugu
  • 紡ぐ 【つむぐ】 ; (v5g,vt) (1) to spin; to make yarn; (v5g,vt) (2) to spin (a tale); to assemble (e.g. words); to put together
• Kotoba o tsumugu
  • 言葉を紡ぐ : 言葉を紡ぐ; 言葉をつむぐ 【ことばをつむぐ】 (exp,v5g) (poet) to express in a refined fashion; to weave a web of words
• Wa
  • 和 : 和(P); 倭 【わ】 (n) (1) (和 only) {math} sum; (n) (2) (和 only) harmony; peace; (n,n-pref,adj-no) (3) Japan; Japanese-style

Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to [email protected].

Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr)

Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R.

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On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about two peculiar words depakosu and puchipura. Also i talk a bit about the origin of the name of the anime Odd Taxi.

• What depakosu (デパコス) means
• What puchipura (プチプラ) means
• The origin of the name of the anime Odd Taxi (オッドタクシー)
• And much more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB

• Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content
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Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo.

• Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan

None

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On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about some of the unique aspects of living in Aomori Prefecture.

• What it's like living in Aomori Prefecture
• About the Shimokita Peninsula
• Why life in Aomori can be so inconvenient
• What "English Toast" is (igirisu tōsuto, イギリストースト)
• What igirisu tōsuto is
• About the history of igirisu tōsuto
• Why people in Aomori throw peanuts at oni on Setsubun instead of soybeans
• The dialects of Aomori
• How Aomori became one of Japan's biggest centers for apple production
• About senbeijiru (rice cracker soup)
• And much more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB

• Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content
  • Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support via a one time donation!
  • Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo
  • Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega
  • Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega

Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo.

• Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan

None

• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social
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• Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews
• Website: https://japankyo.com/
• Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

On this episode of Japan Station, we go through a list of some of the most unique and interesting slang of Japan's Taishō period (1912-1926).

• Popular Taishō era slang
• How polie during the Taishō era used to say moshi moshi
• Why it was an insult to call someone Mitsukoshi during the Taishō era
• What it was like during the Taishō era
• Taishō era youth culture
• What a gomu geta was
• What musen meant during the Taishō era
• Taishō era opera otaku
• What SS meant during the Taishō period
• The sexy meaning of tōchaku (到着)
• And much more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB

• Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content
  • Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support via a one time donation!
  • Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo
  • Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega
  • Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega

Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo.

• Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan

If you want to learn about Edo/Meiji period street merchant slang, check out the link below!

• Japanese Street Merchant Slang: 10 Words from Japan's Edo Merchants | Japan Station 158

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

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: 10 Reasons You'll Hate Living in Japan. Really?

• Reasons why you may hate living in Japan
• No trash cans
• Why there are few public trash cans in Japan
• Where to find trash cans in Japan
• Whether it's rude to walk while eating or drinking in public in Japan
• Lack of soap in public restrooms
• Individually wrapped items
• About not being able to have tattoos in Japan
• Working conditions in Japan
• About salaries in Japan
• About the weird way Japan slices loaves of bread (shokupan)
• About the annoying nature of streets in Japan
• The size of streets in Japan
• Street signs in Japan
• Cheese in Japan
• How difficult it can be to find authentic food and cuisine from other countries
• You you will stand out if you don't look Asian in Japan
• How it will be annoying to live in Japan if you look Asian but don't speak Japanese
• And much more!

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

• Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
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To learn more about how the Tokyo sarin gas attack is not the direct cause for there being so few public trash cans in Japan, check out the episode of Japan Station linked below.

• The REAL Reason Japan doesn't have public TRASH CANS! They're LYING TO YOU! | Japan Station 163

To learn more about the MAJISON Tokaido Challenge, check out the latest episode of Japan Station. See the link below

https://japankyo.com/2023/08/im-walking-from-kyoto-to-tokyo-and-im-legally-blind-japan-station-majison-tokaido-challenge/

Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to [email protected].

Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr)

Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R.

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On this episode of Japan Station, I break down the two very different meanings of the word okuribito.

• About the 2008 Japanese film Departures (Okuribito)
• What does okuribito mean?
• What does おくりびと mean?
• What does okuribito 億り人 mean?
• The Japanese slang term okuribito
• Why it is more difficult to become an "okuribito" in Japan now
• And much more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB

• Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content
  • Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support via a one time donation!
  • Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo
  • Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega
  • Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega

None this time

For more info on what Ami is doing and Suzmizumi LLC, check out their Instagram page.

• Sumizumi LLC Instagram

• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social
• Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega
• The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist
• Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews
• Website: https://japankyo.com/
• Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to Ami Eldridge, the co-founder of Sumizumi LLC, a company in rural Kochi Prefecture trying to revitalize the area through charcoal production.

• About Ami Eldridge's efforts to revitalize rural Kochi Prefecture
• About the Niyodo Town and Niyodogawa River area
• About how Sumizumi LLC is using charcoal and akiya (abandoned houses) to revitalize the Niyodogawa area
• The many uses of charcoal
• The intricacies of making charcoal
• About turning akiya (abandoned houses into airbnb
• How many people Ami has gotten to relocate to Niyodogawa
• How people in Niyodogawa are creating new businesses like skate parks, curry shops and tea shops
• How to access the Niyodogawa area
• About the new lie flat overnight bus that runs from Tokyo to Kochi
• How airbnb's can be used to help revitalize rural communities
• When the best time to visit Niyodogawa is
• What foods to eat in Niyodogawa
• And much more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB

• Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content
  • Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support via a one time donation!
  • Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo
  • Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega
  • Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega

Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo.

• Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan

For more info on what Ami is doing and Suzmizumi LLC, check out their Instagram page.

• Sumizumi LLC Instagram

• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social
• Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega
• The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist
• Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews
• Website: https://japankyo.com/
• Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

On this episode of Japan Station, author Hiroko Yoda joins us to talk about the complexities of religious and spirituality in Japan, a topic she covers in her new book Eight Million Ways to Happiness.

• Why Hiroko Yoda was told to tell people she's Buddhist before going to the U.S. to study abroad
• About "Yaoyorozu no kami"
• About the history of the word for religion (shūkyō, 宗教) in Japanese
• About the wide variety of Japan's "eight million gods"
• Why Japanese people say they are not "religious"
• The problem with surveys that ask Japanese people whether they are "religious"
• About why Japanese people get married in the "Christian" style
• Why Hiroko Yoda decided to write Eight Million Ways to Happiness
• What Shugendō (修験道) is
• About Shugendō practice
• About the connection between Buddhism and funerals
• Why funerals in Japan can be so expensive
• About post-death Buddhist names
• And much more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB

• Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content
  • Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support via a one time donation!
  • Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo
  • Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega
  • Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega

Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo.

• Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan

Eight Million Ways to Happiness： Wisdom for Inspir by Hiroko Yoda is available now wherever you get your books. You can also use the links below to get a copy.

• Amazon
• Penguin House

And here's some other relevant links.

• Hiroko Yoda's Newsletter
• Hiroko Yoda's Instagram
• Hiroko Yoda's Bluesky
• Hiroko Yoda's X

• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social
• Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega
• The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist
• Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews
• Website: https://japankyo.com/
• Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk all about Jaan's most famous "local mascot" Kumamon. We cover everything you should know about Kumamoto's most beloved bear. I also share an absolutely crazy story that happened to me when I went to see the Kumamon show in Kumamoto in the fall os 2025.

• About Kumamon
• How Kumamon was created
• The history of Kumamon
• Who created Kumamon
• How Kumamon used to look quite different when he was first unveiled
• How Kumamon's appearance changed
• About Kumamon's creepy appearance
• About the Osaka press conference that introduced Kumamon to the world
• How much money Kumamon has generated over the past 15 yeas
• What the name Kumamon means
• About yurukyara/local mascots
• About the unique free license system Kumamoto used to help popularize Kumamon
• What the name Kumamon means
• How Kumamoto police are using Warumon (a Kumamon knock off) to raise awareness of scams/crimes
• About the (almost) daily free Kumamon show iin Kumamoto at Kumamon Sqaure
• My absolutely insane Kumamon story
• And much more!

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Here is a screenshot of a photo of what the Kumamon suit looked like when it was first created. As you can see, the head appears to be mostly the same but the body is skinnier and has fur. The suit also appears to be baggier. As a result, this gives Kumamon a somewhat unsettling appearance. This image is from this Asahi Shinbun article.

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This is a re-broadcast of episode 65 of the Ichimon Japan podcast (originally published on 12/21/2022).

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is Christmas like in Japan? (About Japanese Christmas)

• All about Christmas in Japan
• Japanese Christmas customs in Japan
• All about fried chicken and Christmas in Japan
• Why KFC is the thing to eat during Christmas in Japan
• How Christmas is seen as a romantic holiday in Japan
• Christmas light displays
• About reserving KFC fried chicken for Christmas
• About KFC's Premium Roast
• About Christmas cake in Japan
• The first Christmas in Japan in 1552
• And much more!

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If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month and that comes with perks like early access to episodes, a shout-out at the beginning of a future episode, bonus content, and discounts to Kimito Designs. For $3 a month you get all that plus access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and its many quirks. Whether you are studying Japanese or just enjoy learning about language and linguistics, you'll enjoy Japanese Plus Alpha.

And it goes without saying that if you sign up, you'll also get my undying gratitude. Thanks in advance!

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Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to [email protected].

Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr)

Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R.

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