Tokyo Wave

What is going to happen to Japan's tourism industry, as the Go To Travel campaign expands to Tokyo residents, but foreign tourists are still unable to visit Japan? Aaron and Parker discuss Naomi Osaka's decision to sit out from a semifinal tennis match in support of Black Lives Matter, the Osaka 2025 Expo's new googly-eyed mascot, and the ongoing difference of opinions between the central government and Tokyo Governor Koike on whether Tokyoites should be making vacation trips as the pandemic continues.

Will foreign residents be able to easily return to Japan now that the entry ban has been lifted? Why did Toyota decide to withdraw from the US subcompact car market? How did thieves steal over ¥1 million Yen from a ninja museum? Aaron and Parker discuss the dilemma currently facing Japan's department stores as their sales have been devastated by a combination of coronavirus, changing consumer preferences, and the complete absence of foreign tourists.

Why did PM Abe spend a whole day at a Tokyo hospital for a routine health checkup? Can the Japanese economy recover from a history-making 27.8% drop in GDP? Aaron and Parker talk about the uncertainty facing the future of air travel and give tips on traveling around Hakone, one of Japan's most famous onsen (hot spring) destinations.

What is Japan going to do in response to the Japanese owned cargo ship oil spill in Mauritius? Is the Japanese government moving towards banning the TikTok app? Aaron and Parker discuss a coronavirus infection spreading at the Tokyo immigration bureau detention facility, Saizeriya's DIY dining face mask, and also share some brand new music tracks produced by Aaron.

Akiya hunter, black metal musician, and real estate consultant Matt Ketchum tells us about his experience escaping from a 38 meter tall tsunami on March 11, 2011 and his passion for cataloging Japan’s infamous glut of abandoned houses. Aaron and Parker share news about convenience store behemoth Seven &i’s plan for U.S. market domination and a Sapporo tax office official caught growing 1,000 marijuana plants in his apartment.

Pirates of Tokyo Bay improv comedian, DJ, wine expert, and Scatman aficionado Jim Andretta shares stories about his time as part of the Charred Goosebeak / Broken Lizard improv group (of Super Troopers fame), importing wine to Japan, the ins and outs of the Japanese comedy scene, and collecting vinyl records. Aaron and Parker also cover this week’s latest news, including a Sapporo COVID-19 cluster found at a “nightlife establishment”.

What's going to happen with Japan's controversial Go To travel subsidy program? Will Japan change its special law for pandemic countermeasures to introduce penalties for non-compliance with emergency requests? Aaron and Parker cover new karaoke technology that enables singing... with masks.

What makes Japanese composers like Yoko Kanno special? Why did SoftBank deploy its Pepper and Spot robots to serve as cheerleaders at a spectator-less baseball game? Aaron and Parker discuss the mastermind behind the famous Cowboy Bebop soundtrack, Japan's movement to resume business travel with other Asian countries, and devastating floods that recently ravaged the Kyushu area.

What is the future of nuclear power in Japan? Aaron and Parker discuss the history of Japanese nuclear power, and also talk about a 26-year-old man arrested for a family restaurant dine and dash at knifepoint. This episode also does a deep dive into new triso fuel nuclear technology that is supposedly meltdown-proof.

Who is going to be Japan's next Prime Minister? Has there been a breakup in Asia's biggest bromance between Jack Ma and Masayoshi Son? Aaron and Parker discuss the future of the 2020 Olympics and what happened to four Osaka cops busted for smoking marijuana.