Let's Talk Japan Podcast

In this episode, Nick speaks with Meredith Smith, Media and Public Relations Director for Smile Kids Japan.   Since 2008, Meredith has worked as an ALT on the JET Program and has volunteered with Smile Kids Japan since 2009.  Smile Kids Japan is a volunteer organization that encourages visits to Japanese orphanages.  Through its website and volunteer leadership, Smile Kids Japan helps facilitate such visits by serving as a resource for best practices and activity ideas.  This is an amazing organization, and I’m glad to help share their story.

To learn more about SKJ, check out their website and facebook page.  You can also follow SKJ on Twitter @SmileKidsJapan (English) or @SmileKidsJP (Japanese). Also, be sure to check out the website of Living Dreams, Smile Kids Japan’s partner organization helping orphans in the Tohoku region of Japan.

Other SKJ Resources:

Smile Kids Japan’s founder Michael Maher King speaking at TEDxTokyo on May 21, 2011.

Some great videos of volunteers interacting with the children can be seen here, and here.

Anyone interested in contacting Smile Kids Japan with questions or comments can click here.

In this episode, Nick provides an overview of other great Japan-related podcasts available to listeners on the Internet.  This list is by no means meant to be exhaustive.  If one of your favorite podcasts did not make the list, feel free to email [email protected] and Nick will add it to the “listener recommended” category below.

LIFE IN JAPAN

The Japanofiles Podcast

Tokyo Podcast – @tokyopodcast

JAPANESE LANGUAGE STUDY

Japanese Pod 101 – @japanesepod101

HISTORY

A Short History of Japan – @frugcam

Samurai Archives – @samuraiarchives

SPORTS

Japan Baseball Weekly – @jballallen

The J Talk Podcast – @jtalkpod

FOOD

Japan Eats Podcast – @japaneats

Japan Booze Blind

CURRENT EVENTS

The Japan Show – @thejapanshow

LISTENER RECOMMENDED 

Anime World Order Podcast – @AnimeWorldOrder

Otalkku Podcast-

Notebook on Cities and Culture – Though not strictly a Japan-focused podcast, there are some great Japan interviews.  I especially recommend the interview with Pico Iyer.

Studio 360 in Japan Episode –

Below are photographs of the four trees from the museum’s collection that Nick and Arron discuss:

Resources for anyone interested in learning more about bonsai:

Recommended books for bonsai beginners:

The podcast receives a small percentage of each sale from the links above to help offset production costs.  Thanks for your support!

It’s officially hanami season and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom here in Washington, D.C.  Each spring, over a million and a half people come to see the most famous cherry blossoms outside of Japan.  In this episode, Nick speaks with Ambassador John Malott, president of the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C., about this living symbol of U.S.-Japan friendship and its 101-year history. 

To learn more about the history of Washington, D.C.’s cherry blossoms, check out this books:  

The Cherry Blossom Festival: Sakura Celebration, by Ann McClellan 

Eliza’s Cherry Trees: Japan’s Gift To America, by Andrea Griffing Zimmerman

Cherry Blossom Friends, by Corky Hay DeSimone

For more information about the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the Sakura Matsuri, visit nationalcherryblossomfestival.org and sakuramatsuri.org.  The U.S. National Park Service website also has some great information about the cherry blossoms and their history. 

Thanks to everyone following the podcast on Twitter @letstalkjapan and be sure to “like” the podcast on the recently created facebook page.

Happy hanami!

While its been referred to as “One of the greatest road trips in sports history,” the 1934 tour was about much more than the game of baseball. Diplomats on both sides of the Pacific hoped that a visit by Babe Ruth and company could help avert war between the United States and Japan. Instead, the All-American’s tour coincided with an attempted coup that could have been disastrous for the players and the two countries if it had succeeded.

This is a well-written and fast-paced account of not only larger than life personalities but also inspirational and, sometimes tragic, lesser known characters whose stories Fitts has thankfully helped preserve.    

To purchase Banzai Babe Ruth and support the Let’s Talk Japan Podcast, use these affiliate links: Hardcopy, Paperback, Kindle, Audible

Click HERE to sign up for a free 30-day audible.com membership, which includes a free download of the book.                     

Other great books by Rob Fitts include:

To learn more about Japanese baseball, I also recommend  these books:

In this episode, Nick speaks with Ayako Smethurst and Drew Scronce about Kizuna Across Cultures.  Ayako is the President of Kizuna Across Cultures and Drew is the organization’s Educational Director.  Drew also teaches Japanese at Langley High School, just outside of Washington, DC.

Kizuna Across Cultures is an innovative educational organization that uses technology to build relationships between students in Japan and the United States.  This is definitely more than a classic pen pal exchange.  Listen to the episode to learn how this organization is inspiring youth to embrace diversity.  

Anyone interested in learning more about this great organization can visit: www.kacultures.org

I would like to thank the listeners who have emailed me their thoughts about the Let’s Talk Japan Podcast, and also everyone following the podcast on Twitter @letstalkjapan. 

I’m excited to announce that the Let’s Talk Japan Podcast is now listed in the iTunes New & Noteworthy section under the Society & Culture podcast category.  Next time you visit the iTunes Store, please be sure to leave the podcast a positive rating.  Doing so will ensure that the podcast continues to move up that list and catch the attention of other listeners.  

In this episode, Nick speaks with Keiko Eto Fore, a close family friend, about her experiences growing up in wartime Japan, surviving the Hiroshima atomic bomb, and raising a family in rural America.

  Keiko and her older sister Michiko

Keiko in kimono standing on the far left with her father behind her.  Keiko’s mother is standing far right. [Bottom Photo]

Keiko and Jesse on a date.

Keiko and Jesse, center, with their infant daughter and Keiko’s extended family.

Keiko and Nick at Keiko’s home.

Some of the many certificates at Keiko’s home recognizing her extensive volunteer work.

Here is an article from a local newspaper about Keiko’s life. 

If you’re enjoying the podcast, be sure to leave a positive rating in iTunes.  As always, email questions or comments to [email protected] and follow the podcast on Twitter @LetsTalkJapan.

In this episode, Nick Harling speaks with Jennelle Root Martelle and Paul Rothman about the mission of Sister Cities International.  Jennelle is the Director of Programs and Grants and Paul is the membership coordinator at Sister Cities International.

Topics covered in this interview include:

For more information on Sister Cities International, please visit their website: www.sister-cities.org

If you have any questions about how to start a sister-city partnership, improve upon an existing partnership, or restart a dormant partnership, email Paul at [email protected]

As always, feel free to email questions or comments to: [email protected] and follow the podcast on Twitter @LetsTalkJapan 

In this episode, Nick Harling talks with Sara Tilliotson, program director of the JET office at the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C., about the JET Program application process.

Together, they discuss the JET Program’s:

Other Recommended JET Program Resources:

If you’re enjoying the podcast, please go to the Let’s Talk Japan page in itunes, click on the “ratings and reviews” button and leave us some feedback.  Doing so, will ensure that other listeners looking for Japan-related content can more easily find us.

As always, feel free to email questions or comments to: [email protected] and follow the podcast on Twitter @LetsTalkJapan

In this introductory episode of the Let’s Talk Japan Podcast, host Nick Harling discusses his personal relationship with Japan, why he decided to create the Let’s Talk Japan Podcast, and what he hopes it will achieve.