Podcasting neurosis update: I'm almost OK with the thought of nearly 1,000 people from around the world listening to each episode. (15,000+ MP3s served this month.) I can brainfart while recording without becoming overwhelmingly self-conscious. But to be honest, I still think I suck. I should be over that after another 10 or 20 more episodes. Old habits die hard, or something like that.

The song is from Daiki and Little Wing. Check out his photo. He looks like a pirate. Arrrrrh.

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I can't very well call it the "suicide podcast."

When I see the list on my blog of where listeners are in the world, I feel like I should be talking about more important things. I also feel a bit like Chauncey Gardener from the movie "Being There."

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I'm sitting here uploading this thing, and for the life of me I can't remember what 90% of what I talked about. So it's a good thing I recorded it. I'm definitely not running on all six cylinders today.

Check out the DV_Podcast for a peek at life in Japan through the eyes of some middle-aged guy with a really nice camera. It's a lot like watching a stranger's home movies.

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I recorded a long podcast on Friday but didn't edit it over the weekend because I was wrangling my upgraded computer into submission. I don't want it to go to waste so I had to keep today's a bit short.

A new video coming soon, depending on how early I can get out of work.

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You know, if I could just stay on topic until I finish expressing a complete thought, the 10-15 minute walk from the station to the office would be plenty of time to cover everything I want so say. Once I tackle the sniffling problem, I'll work on it.

As a follow-up to last night's podcast, please send Tokura-san from Yamaha Music Communications (and CC me) feedback, advice, a CD order, or invitation to participate in our new form of media here, if you feel so inclined. By convincing record labels and band promoters to use podcasting for exposure, everyone benefits. Except of course, any curmudgeonly label execs who equate music downloading only with pirating, not promotion. In which case, I'll stick to helping independent musicians tap into an international audience and market. Sooner or later, most of the music industry will come around. Fact is, as consumers move away from TV and radio and more towards online social networking, they won't have much choice.

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Right now, for the first time I'm listening to the title song from the CD I bought from them earlier tonight. Holy shit. If I's CUBE doesn't end up making it really really big here, then either there's something seriously wrong with collective musical taste of this country, or there are hordes of incredibly talented Japanese female vocalists that I don't know about yet, and Ai Ujita is just a drop in the bucket.

And to think that not just me, but all of us were less than a minute away from totally missing their performance. It's funny how fate works sometimes, isn't it?

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Another cringe-as-I-upload kind of episode.

Links go right to the RSS feeds to save ya'll some trouble. If you know of any good music podcasts from Japan that actually play music, let me know and I'll add them to the list.

Monochrome Cafe - Professional, very, very mellow. Do not listen to while operating heavy machinery.

In summary, I haven't been able to find a music show I like by searching the podcast rankings, but keep in mind that J-Pop really isn't my thing. I guess it's like someone who lives in Nashville but would rather have his ears chewed off by rabid weasels than listen to country music. If you can read Japanese, check out po-di-um.net's blog or Staff Picks for other recommended podcasts. They review all kinds of podcasts, not just J-Pop ones.

Update: Listener recommended J-Pop podcasts:

Jpop Blast - Definitely not podsafe. I don't owe the price-gouging music industry here any favors for putting out a never ending barrage of homogenized bubble gum pop songs sung off key by here-today-pumping-gas-tomorrow cookie-cutter teenie bopper dance troops, so tune into to their show if that's your kind of thang. (...Did that come out of me? Golly gee, who says you need a vagina to turn into a PMS monster?)

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Why yes, in fact I did spend hours thinking up that title, thank you very much. This one ran just a little too long for my tastes. If others think so too, I'll cut out some of the dead air next time.

It amazes me how not in tune I am with what works or doesn't work in my own podcasts. It almost seems as if the more uncomfortable I am with something--the content, the delivery, or the editing--the more it resonates with listeners.

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This morning I started talking about the things that tend to annoy foreigners in Japan, but I had to cut it short. I'll continue it on the way home tonight.

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