Tokyo Wave

When will Japan's entry ban on foreign nationals be lifted? What's going on with the upcoming Tokyo gubernatorial election? Aaron and Parker discuss buying real estate in Japan, hardened criminals selling illegal fertilizer online, and what to do in Otaru, Hokkaido.

How are Olympics organizers looking for a less-costly way to deliver the 2020 Games? What is up with Japan's '250 foreigners daily' planned immigration controls? This week, join us as we discuss 70 monkeys who escaped a Chiba zoo, the unveiling of the PlayStation 5 and it's collar-popping design, and accusations concerning Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike's academic credentials.

What caused accusations of Japanese government overspending on operation of a major subsidy program? Who ordered Blue Impulse, Japan’s aerobatic demonstration team, to fly over Tokyo in a fighter jet salute to medical workers? This week, we cover a photographer caught with 2,700 pairs of women’s underwear, and tenant-landlord disputes in Japan. We also discuss racism towards foreign nationals in Japan, now in the spotlight partly because of the global Black Lives Matter movement.

What will Japan do to combat cyberbullying in the wake of Terrace House star Hana Kimura's tragic death? What do an escaped horse and a high-speed police chase have in common? How do you avoid pitfalls in renting an apartment in Japan? Aaron and Parker also discuss the resurgence of retro themes in popular music.

What is Governor Koike's roadmap for bringing Tokyo back to business? Why did the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee make a highly-publicized protest to the Foreign Correspondents Club for making a parody of their logo? Aaron and Parker cover a Sapporo couple who were evicted after 238 cats found in their apartment, climbing Mt. Takao, and this week’s top stonk picks.

Will Japanese companies introduce 3-day weekends as an anti-infection measure? What is the outlook for casinos in Japan? Will Japan see a rise in human carwashes to disinfect people? Join us on another journey through the latest Japan news and this week’s random inaka: Chiba’s Boso Peninsula.

What’s the deal with the Japanese murder hornets invading America? Why are analysts bearish on Nintendo Switch even though they're making so much money? Join Aaron and Parker in a disco-themed deep dive into this week’s latest news for Japan.

How do you apply for Japan's ¥100,000 cash stimulus handout? What will happen to the Japanese comedian who is under fire for making a comment that the coronavirus pandemic will prod pretty girls into the sex industry? Aaron and Parker also tackle roulette-zoku street racers, issues facing the Japanese tourism industry, and more!

Aaron and Parker dive deep into the fight between pachinko parlors and the governors of Tokyo & Osaka. This episode also covers Gov. Koike’s “Stay Home Week”, a cop who stole ¥10,000 from a pair of kids, Fukuoka’s startup culture, and Kanye West.

This episode covers Japan’s nationwide state of emergency, the ¥100,000 cash handout, and a politician who got caught partying hard in Kabukicho. Parker discusses the power dynamic between the LDP and Komeito on the economic stimulus, Aaron explains the legal firefight between Softbank and WeWork, and the pair wax lyrical about Golden Gai. They also dive deep into how Japan's hospitals are reaching capacity, and the mega bats and pangolins who are the suspected root of the coronavirus.