Tokyo Wave

Who is Fumio Kishida, Japan's new Prime Minister? What is the outlook for the upcoming general election? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's only all-double-decker shinkansen bullet train leaving service and a Fukuoka man arrested for stealing 3 rare lizards worth $30K from a maid cafe.

Medtech consultant, professional interpreter, and MP's secretary Derek Wessman shares his experience working as a Las Vegas tour guide for Japanese VIP's, what it's like inside Japanese politics, and life as part of Hachioji City's volunteer fire brigade. Aaron and Parker discuss Suga's final trip abroad as Japan's Prime Minister, the number of annual M&A deals in Japan hitting a new record in 2021, and a Gunma police chief who crashed into a roadside worker amid a nationwide traffic safety campaign.

What's the big deal with the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election, and who is likely to win? Why is Yasukuni Shrine so controversial? Aaron and Parker discuss a 90-year-old sentenced to prison for vehicular manslaughter, Japan household assets hitting a record high, and 70g of matsutake mushrooms that fetched $7,600 at a local produce auction.

Is Japan moving towards easing COVID-19 restrictions including the infamous alcohol ban? Who will be Japan's next Prime Minister? Aaron and Parker discuss foreign matter found in multiple Moderna vaccine lots and a rural city that created Japan's first special zone for producing green tea liqueur.

Akiya hunter, black metal musician, and real estate consultant Matt Ketchum talks about his adventures in Yugawara battling vicious monkeys, the future of travel, and what's next for the experience economy. Aaron and Parker discuss the upcoming LDP leadership election, a 13-year-old who made hearts soar at the Tokyo Paralympics opening ceremony, and an outlaw monkey spotted on the move in northern Tokyo.

Media training specialist and public relations industry veteran David Wagner shares his insights on the outcome of the Tokyo Olympics and expectations on whether PM Suga can continue to lead the nation amid waning popularity. Aaron and Parker discuss a Japanese mayor under fire for biting Olympian's gold medal, Sony's profits from the Demon Slayer cash cow, and a Central Japan doctor criticized after delivering a baby under the influence of alcohol.

Tokyo Olympics: was holding the games a good idea or not? What is the deal with those now infamous "anti-sex" beds? Aaron and Parker discuss the reopening of the North-South Korea communications line, Toyota keeping its crown as the world's best-selling automaker in 2021, and Japanese educators busted for having a golf party amid the pandemic.

What inspired a Yokohama-based programmer to create an open-source database of clinics offering waiting lists for appointments to get a COVID-19 vaccine? Aaron and Parker discuss the Bank of Japan's move to keep ultra-easy monetary policy and a traffic light pole in central Japan that collapsed from years of getting urinated on by local doggos.

Akiya hunter, black metal musician, and real estate consultant Matt Ketchum talks about his recent experience re-entering Japan from the US, the landslide in Atami, and recent developments with his Akiya & Inaka project. Aaron and Parker discuss Tokyo's fourth COVID-19 state of emergency and an evacuation order for Fuchu, Hiroshima that was mistakenly sent to Rakuten users in Fuchu, Tokyo.

What will happen to post-pandemic Tokyo office space as Goldman Sachs reaffirms its commitment to office work while other players reduce their footprint? What will be the fate Uniqlo and other retailers accused by the French government over Xinjiang abuses? Aaron and Parker discuss the death of Pepper the robot as SoftBank suspends production and Mitsubishi Electric's admission that they used rigged air conditioning test program since the 1980s.