In this episode, Nick speaks with Michael Veltri, the owner and chief instructor of DC Aikido, about the history, philosophy and benefits of Aikido.

If you live in the Washington, DC area and are interested in learning more about Aikido, I highly recommend you take a look at Veltri-sensei’s dojo.  In addition to their webpage, you can check them out on Facebook and Twitter.

Veltri-sensei recommends that all his students read The Spirit of Aikido, by Kisshomaru Ueshiba.  I also found The Aikido Student Handbook, by Greg O’Connor to be a very helpful resource.  Additionally, this video series demonstrates how many of Aikido’s movements are executed.

If you are enjoying the podcast, and have not already done so, be sure to leave a positive rating and review in iTunes and don’t forget to follow the podcast on Twitter @letstalkjapan.

In today’s episode, Nick speaks with Bruce Stronach, the dean of Temple University Japan, the oldest and largest foreign university in Japan.  Together they discuss the unique undergraduate and graduate opportunities available at Temple’s Tokyo campus as well as recent trends and the likely future of higher education in Japan.

TUJ Social Media:  Facebook; Twitter (official & admissions); YouTube 

In this episode, Nick speaks with Johnnie Stroud, the owner of Sake´ Nomi, a premium sake´ shop and tasting bar in Seattle, Washington.  Together they discuss how Johnnie discovered sake´, what motivated him to open a business specializing in sake´, and why you should be drinking more sake´, preferably bought from Sake´ Nomi!

Johnnie and Sake´Nomi were featured in a Japanese manga comic titled “Kurodo” by Akira Oze.  In my opinion, they definitely nailed Johnnie’s likeness!

The Price for a tasting flight of all three – a “kikizake sampler” – was $20 (2 oz. pour of each) 

Here  are the official tasting notes and prices of the sake´ I sampled during my visit.  (Pictured above, right to left)

#1 Yaegaki Mu “Nothingness” – Junmai Daiginjo from Hyogo Prefecture

Light amber tint, with crisp apple aroma. Wonderfully settled and calm, melting and smooth. Layered, complex, well-rounded, and balanced, Brewed with the “king” of sake´rice, Yamada Nishiki.

$12 for 4 oz. in house pour; $40/720 ml bottle; $22/300 ml bottle.

#2 Narutotai “Ginjo Shiboritate” Nama Genshu from Tokushima Prefecture

Yeasty, sweet grain aromas. Soft, full, gentle mouthful, with ripened fruit sweetness and slight minerality. Lingering finish shows a touch of mint. The “oil can” would be ideal at a barbecue or with fatty sashimi. The brewery was established in 1804.

$15 for 4 oz. in house pour; $ 50/720 ml can

#3 Tedorikawa Kinka “Gold Blossom” Daiginjo from Ishikawa Prefecture

Floral nose, with notes reminiscent of dates and raisins, Mild spice, minerality, and cinnamon notes on the palate. Subtly layered, soft and settled. Deep, rich, mature, and mellow, especially for a namezake (unpasteurized sake´).

$15 for 4 oz. in house pour; $ 48/720 ml bottle

Be sure to check out Sake´ Nomi’s great website, “like” their Facebook page, and follow them on Twitter.

In this episode, Nick speaks with JET Program alumni Chelsea Reidy and Elayna Snyder about their upcoming 900-mile bicycle tour of Shikoku’s famous 88 temple pilgrimage.  

Listen to hear them describe their creative “Temple by Temple Project,” which they are funding through Kickstarter, and how they plan to share their adventure with others.

To learn more, check out their website, www.bigricefield.com, and the Temple by Temple Project on Kickstarter. 

In this episode, Nick speaks with Leslie Helm, author of Yokohama Yankee: My Family’s Five Generations As Outsiders In Japan. 

The Helm family’s connection with Japan begins with Mr. Helm’s German great grandfather, Julius, who traveled to Japan as a young man in 1869, looking to make his way in the world. Julius would go on to found Helm Brothers, a company with diverse interests related to what would become Yokohama’s booming port economy.  From there, the book’s narrative winds its way through four further generations of the Helm family.  Mr. Helm recounts not only the family’s participation in major historical events, but also offers a frank assessment of the personal and intra-family struggles each generation faced while living in Japan.  Together, these two aspects make for a compelling read.

Mr. Helm was born and raised in Yokohama and left Japan in the early 1970s to attend university before returning as a journalist to cover Japan for Business Week and the Los Angeles Times.  He currently lives in Seattle, where he is the editor of Seattle Business magazine.

To learn more about Leslie Helm, including a list of upcoming talks and book signings, please visit www.lesliehelm.com.    Also, check out this great article about Josh Powell, the book’s designer.

If you are interested in purchasing Yokohama Yankee, and supporting the podcast, click HERE.  I also recommend these other great books from Chin Music Press:

Shiro: Wit, Wisdom, and Recipes from a Sushi Pioneer, by Shiro Kashiba and Ann Norton

Otaku Spaces, by Patrick W. Galbraith

This episode of the Let’s Talk Japan podcast was recorded at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina.  Well-known in the region’s gardening circles, Masashi Oshita, or “Mike” as he is known locally, is a master of traditional Japanese garden design.  Together, Nick and Oshita-san discuss what makes Japanese gardens unique, the challenges of creating a Japanese garden outside of Japan, and how traditional Japanese garden design elements can in incorporated into everyday life. 

Anyone interested in seeking Oshita-san’s design and installation services can email him at [email protected]   

Below are some photos of Oshita-san and Nick together at the arboretum, as well as photos of local gardens designed by Oshita-san.

Six months have passed since the podcast launched and looking back, I have really enjoyed talking with others who share my interest in Japan and I hope you found the first 12 episodes interesting and informative.   It has been quite a learning process and I am working hard to constantly improve the quality of both the podcast’s audio and content. 

Just a quick programing note, the podcast is going to be taking a little natsu yasumi to relax and spend time with family this month.  As a result, July’s production schedule will not be as regular as in previous months.  But don’t worry, I have some great interviews lined up for later this summer and into fall.  As always, I welcome your feedback at [email protected]

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to visit the iTunes store and leave the podcast a positive rating and review.  I also appreciate all the Facebook “likes” and Followers on Twitter. 

The podcast will return in a few weeks.

In this episode, Nick speaks with members of the Washington, DC-based J Book Club about their summer reading recommendations.  

If you would like to support the podcast, please consider purchasing some of the books discussed in this episode using the print and Kindle links below.  By doing so, the podcast will receive a small commission to help offset production costs.  The books are listed in the order in which they were discussed, regardless of whether they truly match the category under which they are listed.

Introduction to Japan (suggestions for: departing JETs, summer students, first-time visitors, etc.)

New Books (published in the last year)

Japanese Literature/Fiction

History / Biography

Arts / Culture

Miscellaneous

Let me be the first to welcome you to “JET Talks”, a brand new speaker series organized by the JET Program Alumni Association of Washington, DC (“JETAADC”). 

JET Talks is modeled after the TED Talks concept and will feature dynamic and interesting speakers with the goal of inspiring innovative ideas and conversations on Japan-related themes.  JET Talks is separate from the Let’s Talk Japan podcast  but our goals are the same – to get people talking and thinking about Japan. 

Shauna Tischler came up with the idea of JET Talks and currently serves as JETAADC’s Thought Leadership Chair.  From 2000-03, Shauna worked as an Assistant Language Teacher on the JET Program in Gifu Prefecture.  Special recognition is also owed to Leigh Ann Mastrini, the current President of JETAADC, and the Japan Information and Cultural Center of Washington, DC for hosting the first JET Talks event.

Regular listeners of the Let’s Talk Japan podcast will recall that in Episode 11, I spoke with director Regge Life about his film Live Your Dream, chronicling the lives of JET Program participants Taylor Anderson and Monty Dickson who passed away in the March 11th 2011 Tohoku earthquake.

Regge was recently in Washington, DC, along with Taylor’s father, Andy Anderson, and Monty’s sister, Shelly Frederickson, to speak at the first JET Talks event – a screening and panel discussion of the film Live Your Dream.  More than 120 guests were in attendance and the event was a huge success. 

For anyone who has not yet seen Live Your Dream, I encourage you to listen to Let’s Talk Japan episode 11, as it provides a good overview of the film. 

In this JET Talks, you will first hear introductory remarks from the JET Talks organizers and panelists, followed by the panel discussion, which followed the screening. 

Enjoy the Talk!

In this episode, Nick speaks with film director Regge Life about his documentary, Live Your Dream, chronicling the lives of JET Program participants Taylor Anderson and Monty Dickson, who passed away in the March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.  This is a moving tribute and a must see for anyone who loves Japan and its people.

For more information about Live Your Dream, including a list of upcoming public screenings, click HERE.

Options on how to purchase the film can be found HERE.

If you are interested in contributing financially to Taylor and Monty’s legacies, please consider these organizations which have been set up by their families:

The Taylor Anderson ’04 Memorial Fund at Taylor’s high school, St. Catherine’s in Richmond, Virginia

University of Anchorage, Alaska Montgomery Dickson Center for Japanese Language and Culture