Kyotopia Podcast

Kyotopia Podcast

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Kyotopia Podcast episodes

  • Chinese Zodiac
    In this episode, we're bringing back a classic from Season One with Micah's co-host Yuko-sensei. Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of the Chinese zodiac, or 干支, which plays a significant role in Japanese culture and celebrations during the New Year.
    If you're a fan of our bilingual conversational style episodes, you're in luck! We have over 40 archived episodes just like this one waiting for you on our Patreon page. Become an official Kyotopian by visiting patreon.com/kyotopia and gain access to exclusive content and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the making of our podcast.
    So sit back, relax, and join us for Episode 37 of Season One as we explore the captivating world of the Chinese zodiac.
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    Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/kyotopia/support
    45 min
  • Kyotopia Presents: An Audio Guide to 東寺 (To-ji )

    Welcome to Kyotopia, the podcast that takes you on a journey through the cultural heart of Kyoto. In this episode, we explore the fascinating history and cultural significance of Toji Temple with the guidance of our special guest, Rieko, a Kyoto native and tour guide.

    Rieko has provided us with a compelling essay about Toji Temple, which we have translated into English. Together, we delve into the rich history of the temple, which was built over a thousand years ago during the Heian period. We explore the various halls and buildings, including the stunning five-story pagoda, which is the tallest wooden structure in Japan.

    This episode is perfect for anyone interested in the cultural heritage of Japan and the fascinating history of Kyoto's temples. So, put on your headphones and let us take you on a virtual journey through the iconic Toji Temple.

    Be sure to follow us on social media for updates and insights on Kyoto and Japanese culture. You can find us on Instagram as @wimsymiffler and Twitter as @Kyotopia3. Visit our website, kyotopiajapan.com, for more information on the podcast and our other Kyoto-based content.

    Thanks for tuning in to Kyotopia. We hope this episode inspires you to discover the beauty and cultural significance of Toji Temple.

    21 min
  • Hopelessly Ramentic

    Hungry for some cultural enlightenment? We've got you covered in this episode of Kyotopia! 

    Join us as we explore the fascinating world of cultural collectivism in Japan and indulge in the mouth-watering cuisine that makes this country a foodie paradise. 

    Our guests will be dishing out their personal experiences (and hopefully some insider tips) about Japanese food, with a special focus on the beloved and addictive dish of ramen. 

    So sit back, relax, and let the slurping begin. 

    Any burning questions or comments, let us know - we're always happy to hear from our listeners.

    Dogen's video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIH6vjyHKxM&ab_channel=Dogen

    32 min
  • Japanese names (Christmas Bonus)

    Christmas Bonus!

    Transcript:

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    今日私は日本語の呼称について話したいと思います。呼称とは主に人の呼び名のことですが、例えば英語では自分のことは”I “だけですかね?日本語では一般的に男女共自分のことを表す言葉は"わたし"が広く使われていると思います。男性がカジュアルな場で使う”ぼく”や”おれ”をはじめ、何と日本語の一人称の呼称は80個ほどあるそうです。

    で、今日私が特にお話ししたいのは私が以前から気になっていた配偶者の呼び名なんです。まず、男性から女性配偶者への呼称は、例えば、家内、嫁、奥さん、女房、かみさん、そして妻などですが、聞かれたことありますか?

    まず、”家内”ですが、漢字では家と内と書きます。女性は家の中にいればよいという感じを受けて、私は好きではないです。次に”奥さん”も同じで、”奥”と言う言葉が少し気になります。元々は家の奥にいる偉い女性という意味があったようで、他の人の妻を尊敬の意味を込めて呼ぶ言い方だそうです。だから”誰々さんの奥さん”という言い方はしますが、自分の妻を”私の奥さん”と言うのは少し変な気がします。そして”嫁”ですが、”うちの嫁が”という言い方をよく耳にしますが、嫁と言うのは自分の息子の妻のことを言う言葉なので自分の妻のことを言うには正しくないです。ということで、わたしのお勧めは”妻”ですね。男尊女卑的な意味もなく、カジュアルな場でも公式な場でも使えます。でも、他人の妻を言う時は”あなたの妻”というのはおかしいです。その時は私も”あなたの奥さん”、”誰々さんの奥さん”を使います。”奥さん”という言葉に抵抗はあるのですが、他に適切な言葉が見つからないので使ってます。

    次に女性から男性配偶者への呼称ですが、よく耳にするのは”うちの主人”、”うちの旦那”でしょうかね。”主人”も”旦那”も男性が主で女性が従の主従関係を表す言葉で私はあまり好きではないです。”夫”、これが妻と平等な関係を表している言葉かなと思います。でも他人の夫のことは”あなたのご主人”を使います。これもこれに代わるいい呼称が見つからないので、”ご主人お元気?”のように使ってます。

    ほんと、日本語の呼称ってややこしいですよね。自分の配偶者と他の人の配偶者とで呼び方が代わったり、又漢字に込められた意味が今の時代にそぐわなかったり、使い方が正しくなかったりと…。それでも一般的にいまだに使われていて、これが日本の文化といえばそれまでですが。

    英語のように妻はwife、夫はhusband だけならいいのですがね。あなたの国ではどうですか?また機会があったらお聞きしたいです。

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    Vocab:

    こしょう

    呼称

    Noun, Suru verb, Transitive verb

    1. name; designation; denomination; naming; giving a name

    はいぐうしゃ

    配偶者

    Noun

    1. spouse; wife; husband; partner

    だんそんじょひ

    男尊女卑

    1. male domination of women; male chauvinism; subjection of women​

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    Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kyotopia/support
    16 min
  • The New Normal
    What does it mean to be "normal"?
    Have you ever experienced "reverse culture shock"?
    Have you ever wanted to read a book in Japanese?
    Hengtee Lim, author of "Something Like Hope," shares with us some insights and advice for those of us who want to break into the world of Japanese literature.
    He also shares a reading of his translated version of Murata Sayaka's short story "Pochi"
    I truly hope you enjoy this episode.
    For a copy of "Something Like Hope": https://www.snippetsbooks.com/
    Our links: https://linktr.ee/kyotopiajapan
    33 min
  • Evaporation: The Recap

    This is the bilingual recap of the Halloween special episode entitled "Evaporation"

    We hope you enjoy!

    Please check out our links to support us and for more information:

    https://linktr.ee/kyotopiajapan

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    Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kyotopia/support
    32 min
  • 内と外 The Recap
    This is the bilingual recap version of the podcast where Micah and Yuko talk more about the previous episode topic in more depth.
    We hope you enjoy!
    Please see below for out Instagram, Patreon, Facebook, website, and all our links below:
    https://linktr.ee/kyotopiajapan
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    Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/kyotopia/support
    34 min

About Kyotopia Podcast

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Experience the language, cultural insights, wonders (and occasional lemons) of life abroad. The "Kyotopia Podcast" is a Kyoto based podcast for expats, travelers, and anyone seeking to learn more…