Abroad in Japan Japan Deploys Army to Tackle Rising Bear Threat!
Nov 13, 2025
Bear sightings in Japan are on the rise, leading to armament of police units for bear encounters! The hosts share hilarious tales of Osaka’s indulgent food scene, discussing everything from takoyaki fails to outrageous okonomiyaki inscriptions. They dive into the cultural quirks of Japanese stadium food at baseball games and ponder the strange sounds of Tokyo's advertising. Plus, listeners weigh in on managing diabetes in Japan and the peculiar world of gachapon. It's a wild ride filled with food and wildlife!
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Osaka Food Binge And Burnt Takoyaki
- Chris describes a binge food day in Osaka eating wagyu, takoyaki, and kushikatsu across multiple restaurants.
- He recounts burnt takoyaki and the sensory overload of Osaka's batter-heavy street food culture.
Grumpy Elderly Encounters On Trains
- Tad shared a train incident where an old man angrily questioned whether foreigners understood Japanese.
- Chris and Pete recount similar run-ins with grumpy older people while filming in Japan.
Bears Moving Into Urban Areas Due To Habitat Loss
- Chris and Pete observe a dramatic surge in bear sightings across Japan driven by food shortages and depopulated satoyama buffers.
- They link habitat change and climate effects to bears moving into urban and suburban areas.