Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about scandals in Japan. My guest Dr. Igor Prusa tells about how scandals in Japan work, how they surface and how entertainers/business people/politicians who get caught in scandals try to deal with them. This is a truly SCANDALOUS episode. Sorry, couldn't resist.

👉Topics Discussed

• The characteristics of a Japan...

This episode was originally released as episode 3 of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

Today's Question

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why do Japanese train stations do that?

Topics Discussed

• The train system in rural areas versus urban areas in Japan
• Trains in Kagoshima and Ishikawa
• What a Wanmanressha (one man trains) is
• Unmanned rural train station...

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about the Japanese word funiki (雰囲気) and other words that aren't read the way they are written.

👉Topics Discussed

• About the Japanese word funiki (雰囲気)
• What the correct way to read/pronounce funiki is
• Whether you should read funiki as fun'iki （ふんいき) or fuinki (ふいんき)
• Why so many people pronounce funiki incorrectly
...

This episode of Japan Station is a rebroadcast of episode two of Ichimon Japan.

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Do Japanese people have longer intestines than Westerners?

Topics Discussed

• Whether Japanese people have longer intestines than Westerners
• The idea that longer intestines are a result of the Japanese people having a diet centering around rice, grains, and vegetables
• The i...

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about why there's so few trash cans in public places in Japan.

Despite what many sources say the 1995 sarin gas attack in Tokyo is not the reason there are so few trash cans in public places in Japan. It's actually more complicated than that. While yes, it is true that there was a reduction in the amount of trash cans in some places in Japan--particularly the subway line targeted by Aum Shi...

This episode of Japan Station is a rebroadcast of Ichimon Japan episode 12.

On this episode of Japan Station, I break down what the Japanese term "plus alpha" (purasu arufa/プラスアルファ) means and its possible origins.

On this episode of Japan Station, Dr. Eric C. Rath joins us to talk all about the history of what may be Japan's most famous cuisine: SUSHI! We discuss its origins, evolution and more!

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about my upcoming walk across the island of Kyushu. This fall I will be walking roughly 500 km from Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture all the way down to Kagoshima as part of what I'm calling the Kyushu Challenge, part three of my ongoing Blind Japan Project. Listen to find out more and please consider coming on as a sponsor or supporting in any way you can!

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about Japanese slang that traces its roots back to Edo and Meiji era street vendors. We're digging into the origins of words like deka, mappo, and even the infamous yabai.

This episode of Japan Station is a re-broadcast of episode 52 of Ichimon Japan.

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about vocabulary and phrases related to telling time during the Edo Period! This is a surprisingly deep and interesting topic no matter whether you're learning Japanese or not!

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about one of Japan's most iconic foods: mochi. Learn all about the history, lore and consumption practices of this important Japanese food!

On this episode of Japan Station, supernatural stories, Japanese folklore, Japanese urban legends and more with Kevin O'Shea, host of the Supernatural Japan podcast.

Originally released on 3/21/2024 as pisode 80 of Ichimon Japan.

On this episode of Japan Station, I dig into the history of a fascinating example of Japanese slang: gyarandu (ギャランドゥ). This is a Japanese word that means refers to the patch of hair some people have between their belly button and public area. Often called "happy trail" or "belly/stomach hair," in English, gyarandu has a really interesting history that goes back to one of Japan's most popular 1980s male pop stars: Hideki Saijo. Lis...

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to photographer and journalist Michael Magers. Michael has spent over a decade documenting shokunin (artisans/crafworkers) across Japan. During that time has has had many extremely unique expriences such as ama divers, participating in Osaka's infamous Danjiri Festival, and getting tattooed by a traditional Japanese tattoo artist. He talks about those experiences and much more in today's epi...

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to Kyle Broyles of Pintology Craft Beer & Whisky in Tokyo. In this interview we talk about what it's like running a bar in Tokyo, starting a business in Tokyo, Japanese craft beer and more.

On this episode of Japan Station, I examine the mysterious origins of the Japanese word for cat: neko. Trust me, there's a whole lot more to say about the topic than you might think!