Voices in Japan

Ben and Burke (Matt is away somewhere searching for truffles) talk about some trends that visitors may notice when coming to Japan in 2022. These include men's short pants (or trousers), oatmeal, canned sweets, truffle flavoured everything, and more.

Sponsors:

Bearfoot Bar

Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A wide range of regular and unique spirits and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. With friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar
 

The Red House 

Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/

 Rusutsu Lodges

Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com

 Hokkaido Guide

Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com


Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!
 
Website:

https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:

https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan

https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/

https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/

Get in touch: 

[email protected]

Support the show

This is the first episode we'll be releasing in a series about teaching English in Japan - a very popular subject! In this episode, we give an overview of the different English teaching jobs that are available (JET Program, eikaiwa, private ALT companies, university teaching, etc.), the most popular and recommended teaching organizations and companies, ways to come over to Japan through teaching English, transitioning to a teaching job from a tourist visa, and much much more!

A few clarifications and corrections on information in the episode:

- The duration for a tourist visa in Japan is 90 days
- The US offers working holiday visas but unfortunately not for Japan
- The UK does offer working holiday visas for Japan
- The current name of the government scholarship mentioned is Monbukagakusho

Sponsors:

Bearfoot Bar

Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar

The Red House

Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/

Rusutsu Lodges

Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com

Hokkaido Guide

Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com

Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!

Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www

Support the show

On this episode, we talk about the shocking assassination of Japan's former prime minister, Shinzo Abe, who was arguably still Japan's most powerful political figure. While new details continue to emerge regarding the motive of the man who shot Mr. Abe, Tetsuya Yamagami, we look at the information that was available at the time of our recording, Japan's history of political violence, Mr. Abe's popularity within Japan, the situation with gun ownership in the country, and much more.

Sponsors:

Bearfoot Bar

Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar

The Red House

Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/

Rusutsu Lodges

Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com

Hokkaido Guide

Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com

Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!

Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www

Support the show

The effeminate style of young men seen in Japan and other Asian countries these days was not something that Matt, Ben, and Burke would see when they were in their home countries. Since last year, Beijing has started cracking down on effeminate male performers in China's entertainment industry, attributing the rise of "unmanly men" on US influence in Japan. Some say that women gaining more equality after Japan's economic bubble burst in the early 1990's and their placing more value on softer characteristics in men, and also the reinforced image of the soushoku (herbivore) man that started showing up in popular manga and other media around that time furthered the expansion of "androgynous" masculinity. And there was even a third gender known as "wakashu" during the Edo period of Japan that was an in-between position for young men. On this episode, the guys take a look at what masculinity might mean in different cultures and to different people.

Sponsors:

Bearfoot Bar

Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar

The Red House

Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/

Rusutsu Lodges

Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com

Hokkaido Guide

Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com

Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!

Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/

Support the show

Despite Japan being the best place to live in the world, there are some negatives, and perhaps part of the most infamous of those is all the red tape and cumbersome processes that one is certain to encounter multiple times per year. Matt details the very exciting experience (sarcasm intended) of renewing his drivers license - a process where waiting in line is usually the worst part in most other countries. The guys also look at Matt's renewed modeling career in Japan, someone losing a USB drive with important data on all residents of the city of Amagasaki after a drinking a party, new rules that allow people to smile for drivers license pictures, the reason for official processes in Japan moving at a snail's pace, and much more!

Sponsors:

Bearfoot Bar

Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar

The Red House

Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/

Rusutsu Lodges

Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com

Hokkaido Guide

Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com

Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!

Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/

Get in touch:
[email protected]

Support the show

Once again, a dismal government white paper has been released in an attempt to darken the outlook on Japan's future. Boo-hoo. Well, it's not very promising for any traditionalists regarding marriage at least. According to a survey conducted from last December to January, 1 in 4 single people in their 30s are not willing to get married. But is marriage really the best path for everyone? Matt, Ben, and Burke discuss the reasons why a growing number of youngsters and people in their 30s and 40s are shunning marriage, whether people should be choosing that path to begin with, and the ways that parents and companies are getting involved to encourage more weddings! They also look at troublesome businesses in Sapporo through an unfortunate experience that Matt had over the weekend, bear attacks in Sapporo, Ben's encounters with bears, and much much more!

Sponsors:

Bearfoot Bar

Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar

The Red House

Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/

Rusutsu Lodges

Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com

Hokkaido Guide

Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com

Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!

Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/

Get in touch:
[email protected]

Summers in Japan equal festival season, and after a 2-year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic, many events have restarted from this year. Matt, Ben, and Burke take a look at some of the popular festivals in Sapporo city that have already taken place or are currently underway, including the Yosakoi Festival, Hokkaido University Festival, and Hokkaido Shrine Festival. They discuss summer wear for festivals, a very unique festival in the popular hot spring town of Noboribetsu, strange festivals across Japan, and also Matt's recent live music gig and the not-so-friendly system that bands must use when they arrange shows at bars and other venues in Japan. Enjoy and please leave us a rating on Apple Podcasts if you have a spare minute!

Sponsors:

Bearfoot Bar

Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar

The Red House

Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/

Rusutsu Lodges

Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com

Hokkaido Guide

Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com

Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!

Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/

Get in touch:
[email protected]

Support the show

Prices for as many as 10,000 food items in Japan will be going up an average of 13% this year! Matt, Ben, and Burke take a look at the affected items they buy in their daily lives, the "shrinkflation" tricks food establishments are relying on to survive, and the ways their eating and drinking habits might need to adjust in this new reality. But, being in Japan, is the guys' situation really that bad compared to other parts of the world? Listen to find out now!

Sponsors:

Bearfoot Bar

Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar

The Red House

Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/

Rusutsu Lodges

Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com

Hokkaido Guide

Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com

Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!

Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/

Get in touch:
[email protected]

Support the show

Starting from June 10th, overseas tourists will be allowed back into Japan!!! Well ... kind of. A very limited number of groups chaperoned under very specific schedules will be able to enjoy tightly controlled tour packages. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan was throwing all its weight into reaching a lofty goal of having 60 million overseas tourists yearly - close to double the 31 million visitors it let in during pre-pandemic 2019. But with the current uncertainty surrounding where the pandemic might be heading next, it seems more than half of the Japanese population remains opposed to opening the borders to tourists. How are the tours supposed to work, and who can actually enter the country, and what do the guys think about it all? Listen now to find out!

Sponsors:

Bearfoot Bar

Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar

The Red House

Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/

Rusutsu Lodges

Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com

Hokkaido Guide

Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com

Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!

Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/

Get in touch:
[email protected]

Support the show

Boom! The podcast is back for its second season, with a little surprise! The boys start off by catching up on what they've been up to, including a Friday the 13th visit to a haunted school in Bibai, Hokkaido - ranked as one of Japan's Top 10 haunted locations. They pay respect to Kane Tanaka who, until her passing last month, was the oldest living person in the world. And then a little controversy is brought to light about who actually holds the world record for being the oldest person ever.  Finally, it seems nobody will safe from the NHK subscription money collectors thanks to a new law taking effect next month! Listen now to find out all the details about these topics and more from the land of the rising sun!

Sponsors:

Bearfoot Bar

Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are  variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A range of whiskeys and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. Friendly English and Japanese speaking staff.  https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar

The Red House

Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/

Rusutsu Lodges

Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com

Hokkaido Guide

Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com

Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!

Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/

Get in touch:
[email protected]

Support the show