The battle over US Steel has taken a dramatic turn, with Japan’s Nippon Steel set to acquire the American steel giant. But this deal has sparked fierce opposition—from Cleveland-Cliffs, U.S. politicians, labor unions, and even Donald Trump.

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In this episode, we break down:
✅ The history of US Steel and Japan – From post-war economic rebuilding to the 1980s Steel Wars
✅ Cleveland-Cliffs’ rise – How an iron ore supplier became a major steel player
✅ Political reactions – What Trump and Biden have said about the deal
✅ Cleveland-Cliffs CEO’s shocking comments – Why Lourenco Goncalves called Japan "evil"
✅ The future of U.S.-Japan trade relations – Will this deal be blocked?

With nationalism, economic strategy, and corporate rivalry colliding, this steel saga is far from over. Tune in for a deep dive into one of the most controversial business deals of the year.

🎧 Listen now and stay quirky!

Episode Description

USAID (United States Agency for International Development) has been at the center of recent controversy in Japan, with claims that it is secretly influencing Japanese media. But how much of this is true?

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In this episode, we take a closer look at USAID’s real impact on Japan, exploring joint projects such as HIV prevention in Zambia and entrepreneurship support in Africa. We also examine the role of Japanese politician Tamaki Yuichiro, who has been accused of having ties to USAID. His involvement, however, was in projects like Jordan’s irrigation system—far from the conspiracy theories circulating online.

Additionally, we highlight some lesser-known facts about USAID, including its unexpected influence on hip-hop culture, its role in creating fortified rice for global food aid, and even its use of sensor-equipped cows for agricultural development.

Key topics in this episode:

• USAID and Japan’s international collaborations
• Tamaki Yuichiro’s real involvement with USAID
• The spread of conspiracy theories and misinformation
• Unusual facts about USAID’s past projects

What’s real, and what’s just speculation? Let’s break it down.

Can you name your kid “Devil” in Japan? What about Pikachu, Raito (Light from Death Note), or even a Devil Fruit name from One Piece?

Japan has strict rules on names, and starting this May, the government is introducing a new requirement: all names in the koseki (family registry) must include yomigana (phonetic readings). This seemingly simple change could have big consequences, especially for people with unique kanji names or mixed-nationality families.

In this episode, we explore:

• The 1993 Akuma-chan Incident, when parents tried to name their child "Devil" and sparked a nationwide debate.
• Why Japan is now requiring official phonetic readings for all names.
• How this affects foreign names, unconventional kanji readings, and the future of naming freedom in Japan.
• Strange name cases in Japan—why “Pikachu” was almost a real baby name, and how “Light” from Death Note actually exists!

Is Japan protecting children from bad name choices, or is this government overreach? Tune in and decide for yourself!

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#QuirkyJapanese #Japan #Koseki #NamingLaws #DeathNote #OnePiece

Japan is moving toward completely free high school tuition, but why now? In this episode of Quirky Japanese, we dive into the recent budget approval, the history of education funding from the Showa era to today, and how Japan’s policies compare to other countries.

From the post-war expansion of public education to the introduction of free high school tuition in 2009, we explore how financial barriers to education have evolved. Plus, we uncover some quirky facts, like why Japanese scholarships are actually loans, and how cram schools became a billion-yen industry.

What does this mean for families? Will university tuition ever be free in Japan? Tune in and find out!

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🎧 Listen now and share your thoughts! #QuirkyJapanese #FreeEducation #Japan

After two years,Quirky Japanese is back! 🎙️ In this new chapter, we’re bringing fresh perspectives, insightful discussions on current affairs, and a goal to contribute something positive to society.

In this short trailer, I’ll share why the podcast was on pause, what’s changing in Chapter 2, and how you can support independent content like this.

If you enjoy the show and want to help keepQuirky Japanese going, you can now support it throughBuy Me a Coffee☕. Your support helps maintain this independent podcast, and every bit is truly appreciated! Check out the link in the description.

🎧 Subscribe and stay tuned for new episodes!

On 28 October, the district announced its plans for managing the Halloween celebrations in Itaewon, a gathering that attracts huge crowds but has no official organiser. The authority laid out measures including anti-Covid precautions, safety checks for bars and restaurants, rubbish management and anti-drug policies, but nothing on how to control the revellers who were expected to converge on the area..

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/oct/31/seoul-itaewon-crowd-crush-south-korea-in-mourning

「29、30日の人出を見て、渋谷区でも同様の事故が起こることを危惧している」

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/7be8007c28ac985a4a9006529edf4a26ce8eafa1

秋のハロウィーンと年越しの時期に限り、東京・渋谷の路上や公園での飲酒を禁じる条例が十九日、東京都渋谷区議会で賛成多数で可決、成立した。施行は二十日で、罰則はない。

禁酒となる時期は、ハロウィーンが十月三十一日の当日と翌十一月一日に加え、十月二十四～三十日の金曜～日曜。年越しは、大みそかと元日の両日。地域は、センター街など渋谷駅周辺で、細かな住所を規則で定める。

An ordinance banning alcohol consumption on the streets and in parks in Shibuya, Tokyo, during the fall Halloween and New Year's Eve period only, was passed and enacted by a majority vote at a meeting of the Shibuya ward assembly in Tokyo on November 19. The ordinance will come into effect on December 20, and there are no penalties.

The prohibited periods are the day of Halloween (October 31) and the following November 1, as well as Friday through Sunday, October 24 through 30. New Year's Eve is on both New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The area is around Shibuya Station, including Center Street, and detailed addresses are defined by the rules.

https://web.archive.org/web/20190620145410/https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/national/list/201906/CK2019062002000133.html

Prime minister Kishida told the Education and Culture Minister to oversee the activities of Unification Church under Religious Corporations Act. 

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-17/unification-church-japan-kishida-orders-investigation/101544700

While the half of LDP's members found relations between the church, Sayuri Ogawa, the Second Generations of the Church speak up her experience.

Escaping the Clutches of a Cult

 Just an update of my break to Japan. Unification church and Abe's death. Ukrainian War. 

Please check the article on "casino resorts" on Substack. Thanks for listening!

https://quirkyjapanese.substack.com/p/is-it-possible-to-build-a-casino

Twitter @Petemymate

Trailer - BELLE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0tORZayURs

映画『竜とそばかすの姫』は今日的な“仮想空間”を考えるための必読書

https://grack.jp/2021/08/02/belle-review/?fbclid=IwAR3d580lHG5lMQUjLsN4WPTeM72oOWWnnYrAvd8b8GkrAIGgggt2uHhDPus

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