The Japan Show Podcast

(Photo: Bayside Yokohama, 2am – John Matthews)

Japan’s wrapping up its O-Bon (respect for ancestors) holidays – John’s just back from visiting family and friends in the US – and Gavin’s just back from being sunburned on Zushi beach. While we originally intended this episode to be light on news and heavy on the light stuff (that is, the experience of living in Japan), our news brains may have led us slightly astray. And for that, we are unabashed and brazenly unapologetic. With August’s O-Bon holidays also come the yearly memorial services for the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Aug 6 and 9), as well as charged demonstrations during the anniversary of Japan’s surrender to Allied forces on August 15th, 1945. With rearmament in the air, you might imagine these events hold no small significance for the direction and sentiment of the nation at large. Hear more with us on Episode 42!

The post Episode 42 – August 16, 2014 appeared first on The Japan Show Podcast.

The post Episode 42 – August 16, 2014 appeared first on The Japan Show Podcast.

Episode Round-up

Coming up on our three-year anniversary (of two grumpy men and one microphone), we’re taking a bit of a chill-out at a little izakaya (bar) in Ofuna, Japan. Up on the agenda – Japanese aircraft apparently get caught on tape in an aggressive posture with Chinese planes over the East China Sea, putting some egg on PM Abe’s face as he tries to build a ring of steel around China. Plus, Japan’s World Cup bid (and the career of one of its referees) isn’t looking so phenomenal – and the population/economy problem in Japan continues to get attention from the highest level of government in Tokyo as well as the media, often couched in discussion of immigration policy and how to resolve Japan’s quickly-shrinking head count.

Plus! Stateside Listener Meet and Greet(s)!

I (John) will be heading over to the US travelling through during the month of July. If you’re living in any of the following cities, drop me a line over at [email protected]! And if you’re not there, look out for some audio on our podcast feed from the US tour!

Atlanta, GA (early July)

Washington, DC (mid-July)

Dallas, TX (mid/late-July)

Seattle, WA (late July)

The post Episode 41 – June 16 2014 appeared first on The Japan Show Podcast.

The post Episode 41 – June 16 2014 appeared first on The Japan Show Podcast.

We are here, back, happy, and on microphone, and also things! Wrapping up the biggest goings-on in Japan and the North Pacific in recent weeks, you’ll want to give us a listen for an always-irreverent but not-often-poignant look at what’s happening on our side of the planet. Plus, look out for a website revamp and more renovations coming your way soon!

The post Episode 40 (40!) – May 9, 2014 appeared first on The Japan Show Podcast.

The post Episode 40 (40!) – May 9, 2014 appeared first on The Japan Show Podcast.

If you've not heard of Mr. Goodrich, he's one of the premier photographers of the Tokyo scene - gaijin or otherwise. Seeing as how John's caught the shutterbug and is working his way around Tokyo and Yokohama, trying to find the angle on adding the camera to the sound repertoire, we found the British-born Alfie would be an interesting interview to quench your thirst for Japan Show between episodes.

From the magical (and approaching bitterly cold) land of Zushi comes Episode 39! It’s not just China and Japan at odds in the East China Sea (when is it ever just the two of them?), but now the US and South Korea are getting into the act.

On the homefront, we praise the courage of a stalked beauty queen and the journalists who broke silence to shame an oft-corrupt entertainment industry.  Plus, who doesn’t like snow? It turns out no one doesn’t. But we do wonder how far Japan will go to utilize its own natural resources at the cost of emissions. Listen for the scoop.

Merry Christmas, y’all.

The post Episode 39 – December 23 2013 appeared first on The Japan Show Podcast.

The post Episode 39 – December 23 2013 appeared first on The Japan Show Podcast.

Hosted by Tokyoite journalists John Matthews and Gavin Dixon, we take you on a trip through the ins and outs of Japan, beyond the thin veneer of high tech, anime, schoolgirls, and fancy toilets.

**As of Dec 2012, this is the OFFICIAL feed for the show. We apologize for any show outages.**

And here comes Episode 37! Recorded in the sweltering heat, the ambient depression in the room can only be accounted for with one thing; the absolute lack of really good dill pickles in Japan.

But really, not so much. Got leaks? We do. But not those kind of leaks.  Olympic chat, faulty rockets, and all that are here and ready for your eager ears!

The post Episode 37 – August 28 2013 appeared first on The Japan Show Podcast.

The post Episode 37 – August 28 2013 appeared first on The Japan Show Podcast.

Slogging through the trenches of responsible adulthood, Gavin and John are back to bring you Episode 36, recorded in wonderful Yokohama!  Ep 36 features the ever-friendly Lee Reeve, director of the Yokohama Seasider, in celebration of our second Yokohama-based podcast (and the start of many more).  Although we’re no longer in Tokyo proper, we’re only half an hour down the road, and we still want to keep you updated on what’s happening all over Japan.  As such, here be an episode!

The post Episode 36 – June 27 2013 appeared first on The Japan Show Podcast.

The post Episode 36 – June 27 2013 appeared first on The Japan Show Podcast.

Hosted by Tokyoite journalists John Matthews and Gavin Dixon, we take you on a trip through the ins and outs of Japan, beyond the thin veneer of high tech, anime, schoolgirls, and fancy toilets.

**As of Dec 2012, this is the OFFICIAL feed for the show. We apologize for any show outages.**

Hosted by Tokyoite journalists John Matthews and Gavin Dixon, we take you on a trip through the ins and outs of Japan, beyond the thin veneer of high tech, anime, schoolgirls, and fancy toilets.

**As of Dec 2012, this is the OFFICIAL feed for the show. We apologize for any show outages.**