Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society
Japan Station helps you understand Japanese culture, language, and society on a deeper level. Hosted by The Anime Linguist, Tony R. Vega, the show features expert interviews and deep dives into topics you won't find anywhere else—sometimes with ridiculous tangents. Each episode dives into everything from Japanese language and linguistics to history, food, travel, and pop culture. You'll also hear stories from foreigners living in Japan, giving perspective on life in the country beyond the usual guidebook tips. Whether you're learning Japanese, planning a trip, or just passionate about Japan, each episode delivers insight, humor, and useful information. Topics we explore include: ・Japanese culture and society ・The Japanese language (learning, linguistics, nuance) ・Japanese history and traditions ・Food, regional specialties, and travel tips ・Anime, manga, and pop culture ・Experiences of foreigners living in Japan ・And much more Contact: mail@japankyo.com About the host Tony R. Vega is the founder of JapanKyo.com and creator of The Anime Linguist YouTube channel. He holds an M.A. in Japanese language and linguistics from the University of Hawaii and has hosted Japanese-language content for native speakers. As a legally blind creator, Tony advocates for accessibility while offering a perspective on Japan and its language that few can match.
Episodes
This ia rebroadcast of epsode 73 of Ichimon Japan originally released on 7/21/23.
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is it like moving in Japan?
Topics Discussed
- About what it's like moving in Japan
- When people in Japan usually move
- What it costs to move in Japan
- Why people in Japan usually move in March
- Expenses associated with moving in Japan
- About rent prices in Japan
- Rent sub...
On this episode of Japan Station, we're joined by Jake Davies, a resident of Shimane Prefecture who has walked over 30,000 km in Japan. He talks about his experiences walking around Japan and what it's like living in Shimane, one of Japan's least populated prefecture.
👉Topics Discussed
- Why Jake Davies moved to Shimane Prefecture
- What it's like living in...
On this episode of Japan Station, travel writer Jennifer Bain joins us to talk about one of Japan's most ancient and famous pilgrimages: the Kumano Kodō (熊野古道). We also talk about Japanese convenience stores and the famous conbini socks.
👉Topics Discussed
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about the origins of the word sakura. No not that sakurai. The other sakura. The scammy kind of sakura. Also we're talking about madorā.
👉Topics Discussed
- The possible origins of the word sakura (サクラ)
- Why sakura means a fake "scammy" customer
- What a madorā is
- And much more!
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On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about the rise of Japan's $3.5 billion breakfast industry and why Japan is currently in the midst of it's 4th "breakfast boom."
👉Topics Discussed
- What a typical Japanese breakfast consists of
- The history of breakfast in Japan
- Breakfast in the Edo Period
- Breakfast in Edo vs Kansai during the Edo Period
- Japa...
On this episode of Japan Station, we're joined by Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith to talk about the current status of Akihabara and the rise of Ikebukuro as Japan's newest capital of all things anime, manga and otaku culture.
👉Topics Discussed
- Whether Akihabara is dying
- The history of Akihabara
- How Akihabara has evolved in recent years
- What locals think of Aki...
This is a re-broadcast of an episode originally released on 8/21/21.
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Is Yamaguchi cursed to have "ugly" girls? We also discuss other places in Japan known for having many beautiful/ugly women.
Topics Discussed
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about interesting words related to aging and shoulders and a weird ECC commercial.
👉Topics Discussed
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about what life in Akita Prefecture is like AND why women from Akita are (supposedly) so beautiful!
👉Topics Discussed
- Where Akita Prefecture is in relation to other prefectures in the Tohoku region
- About Akita's famous Kinman
- Why people in Akita like to say they've eaten 28 Kinman
- About how rural Akita is
- ...
On this episode of Japan Station, Alex Litz of Expedition Japan joins us to talk about tourism in Japan, Yamagata Prefecture and places/events to check out during a visit to Yamagata.
👉Topics Discussed
- How Alex ended up in Yamagata Prefecture
- About studying abroad in Yamagata Prefecture
- About tourism in Japan
- What's so great about Yamagata?
Places to vi...
This is a re-release of Ichimon Japan episode 28.
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: How do Japanese names work?
Topics Discussed
- How people in Japan normally state their family name before their given name
- The complicated history of naming practices in Japan
- Commoners being prohibited from using family names during the Edo Period
- The Meiji era laws that mandated every Japanese person...
On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about two peculiar words depakosu and puchipura. Also i talk a bit about the origin of the name of the anime Odd Taxi.
👉Topics Discussed
- What depakosu (デパコス) means
- What puchipura (プチプラ) means
- The origin of the name of the anime Odd Taxi (オッドタクシー)
- And much more!
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On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about some of the unique aspects of living in Aomori Prefecture.
👉Topics Discussed
- What it's like living in Aomori Prefecture
- About the Shimokita Peninsula
- Why life in Aomori can be so inconvenient
- What "English Toast" is (igirisu tōsuto, イギリストースト)
- What igirisu tōsuto is
- About the history of igirisu tōsuto
- Why p...
On this episode of Japan Station, we go through a list of some of the most unique and interesting slang of Japan's Taishō period (1912-1926).
👉Topics Discussed
- Popular Taishō era slang
- How polie during the Taishō era used to say moshi moshi
- Why it was an insult to call someone Mitsukoshi during the Taishō era
- What it was like during the Taishō era
- Taish...
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: 10 Reasons You'll Hate Living in Japan. Really?
Topics Discussed
On this episode of Japan Station, I break down the two very different meanings of the word okuribito.
👉Topics Discussed
- About the 2008 Japanese film Departures (Okuribito)
- What does okuribito mean?
- What does おくりびと mean?
- What does okuribito 億り人 mean?
- The Japanese slang term okuribito
- Why it is more difficult to become an "okuribito" in Japan now
- And muc...
On this episode of Japan Station, I talk to Ami Eldridge, the co-founder of Sumizumi LLC, a company in rural Kochi Prefecture trying to revitalize the area through charcoal production.
👉Topics Discussed
- About Ami Eldridge's efforts to revitalize rural Kochi Prefecture
- About the Niyodo Town and Niyodogawa River area
- About how Sumizumi LLC is using charco...
On this episode of Japan Station, author Hiroko Yoda joins us to talk about the complexities of religious and spirituality in Japan, a topic she covers in her new book Eight Million Ways to Happiness.
👉Topics Discussed
- Why Hiroko Yoda was told to tell people she's Buddhist before going to the U.S. to study abroad
- About "Yaoyorozu no kami"
- About the hist...
On this episode of Japan Station, we talk all about Jaan's most famous "local mascot" Kumamon. We cover everything you should know about Kumamoto's most beloved bear. I also share an absolutely crazy story that happened to me when I went to see the Kumamon show in Kumamoto in the fall os 2025.
👉Topics Discussed
- About Kumamon
- How Kumamon was created
- The ...
This is a re-broadcast of episode 65 of the Ichimon Japan podcast (originally published on 12/21/2022).
On this episode of Ichimon Jap...
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