

Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
JapanKyo.com
Helping you understand everything you should know about Japan.
Interviews with Japan experts, deep dives into Japanese culture and society, and plenty of laughs; every episode host Tony R. Vega sheds light on a different aspect of Japan. Whether you're planning a visit to Japan, learning Japanese or just have a passion for all things Japan, we've got something for you!
Common topics include
・Japanese culture
・Deep dives into the Japanese language
・Japanese history
・Japanese food
・Japan travel tips
・Japanese pop culture: anime, manga, movies, etc
・The stories of foreigners living in Japan
・And more!
Episodes release on the 1st and 21st of the month.
You can reach us via email: mail@japankyo.com
About Tony R. Vega
Tony R. Vega is the founder of JapanKyo.com, creator of The Anime Linguist YouTube channel, professional MC, and lifelong Japan enthusiast. He has a particular passion for the Japanese language which led him to obtain an M.A. in Japanese language and linguistics from the University of Hawaii. Tony is also legally blind and dedicated to raising awareness of the blind and visually impaired, as well as the problems these individuals face.
Interviews with Japan experts, deep dives into Japanese culture and society, and plenty of laughs; every episode host Tony R. Vega sheds light on a different aspect of Japan. Whether you're planning a visit to Japan, learning Japanese or just have a passion for all things Japan, we've got something for you!
Common topics include
・Japanese culture
・Deep dives into the Japanese language
・Japanese history
・Japanese food
・Japan travel tips
・Japanese pop culture: anime, manga, movies, etc
・The stories of foreigners living in Japan
・And more!
Episodes release on the 1st and 21st of the month.
You can reach us via email: mail@japankyo.com
About Tony R. Vega
Tony R. Vega is the founder of JapanKyo.com, creator of The Anime Linguist YouTube channel, professional MC, and lifelong Japan enthusiast. He has a particular passion for the Japanese language which led him to obtain an M.A. in Japanese language and linguistics from the University of Hawaii. Tony is also legally blind and dedicated to raising awareness of the blind and visually impaired, as well as the problems these individuals face.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Feb 1, 2026 • 1h 3min
Why life in Aomori is so DIFFERENT | Japan Station 194
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 people in Aomori throw peanuts at oni on Setsubun instead of soybeans The dialects of Aomori How Aomori became one of Japan's biggest centers for apple production About senbeijiru (rice cracker soup) And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

Jan 21, 2026 • 1h 4min
The CRAZIEST Taishō era slang EXPLAINED! | Japan Station 193
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 Taishō era youth culture What a gomu geta was What musen meant during the Taishō era Taishō era opera otaku What SS meant during the Taishō period The sexy meaning of tōchaku (到着) And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan 👉Links, Videos, Etc. If you want to learn about Edo/Meiji period street merchant slang, check out the link below! Japanese Street Merchant Slang: 10 Words from Japan's Edo Merchants | Japan Station 158 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

Jan 14, 2026 • 1h 15min
10 Reasons You'll Hate Living in Japan. Really? | Japan Station 192
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: 10 Reasons You'll Hate Living in Japan. Really? Topics Discussed Reasons why you may hate living in Japan No trash cans Why there are few public trash cans in Japan Where to find trash cans in Japan Whether it's rude to walk while eating or drinking in public in Japan Lack of soap in public restrooms Individually wrapped items About not being able to have tattoos in Japan Working conditions in Japan About salaries in Japan About the weird way Japan slices loaves of bread (shokupan) About the annoying nature of streets in Japan The size of streets in Japan Street signs in Japan Cheese in Japan How difficult it can be to find authentic food and cuisine from other countries You you will stand out if you don't look Asian in Japan How it will be annoying to live in Japan if you look Asian but don't speak Japanese And much more! Listen to Ichimon Japan on [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1492400997" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Apple Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pY2hpbW9uamFwYW4ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Google Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/japankyocom/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyocom" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Stitcher[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZVgnljVM8gcR1ar98eK0D" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Spotify[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-59510504/" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]iHeartRadio[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/mv3zr-ad2df/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyo.com" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]PodBean[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyocom-p1290988/" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Tunein[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://ichimonjapan.libsyn.com/rss" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]RSS[/btn] Support on Patreon & Ko-fi If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show! Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Links, Videos, Etc. To learn more about how the Tokyo sarin gas attack is not the direct cause for there being so few public trash cans in Japan, check out the episode of Japan Station linked below. The REAL Reason Japan doesn't have public TRASH CANS! They're LYING TO YOU! | Japan Station 163 To learn more about the MAJISON Tokaido Challenge, check out the latest episode of Japan Station. See the link below https://japankyo.com/2023/08/im-walking-from-kyoto-to-tokyo-and-im-legally-blind-japan-station-majison-tokaido-challenge/ We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapanKyoNews) Twitter (@JapanKyoNews) Instagram (@JapanKyoNews) Full Show Notes https:///japankyo.com/ichimonjapan

Jan 7, 2026 • 15min
Okuribito: Mortician or millionaire? What does it mean? | Japaan Station 191
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 much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links None this time 👉Links, Videos, Etc. For more info on what Ami is doing and Suzmizumi LLC, check out their Instagram page. Sumizumi LLC Instagram 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

Jan 5, 2026 • 33min
How charcoal is saving this rural Japanese town (Ami Eldridge of Sumizumi LLC) | Japan Station 190
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 charcoal and akiya (abandoned houses) to revitalize the Niyodogawa area The many uses of charcoal The intricacies of making charcoal About turning akiya (abandoned houses into airbnb How many people Ami has gotten to relocate to Niyodogawa How people in Niyodogawa are creating new businesses like skate parks, curry shops and tea shops How to access the Niyodogawa area About the new lie flat overnight bus that runs from Tokyo to Kochi How airbnb's can be used to help revitalize rural communities When the best time to visit Niyodogawa is What foods to eat in Niyodogawa And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan 👉Links, Videos, Etc. For more info on what Ami is doing and Suzmizumi LLC, check out their Instagram page. Sumizumi LLC Instagram 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

Dec 31, 2025 • 57min
Why "religion" in Japan doesn't make sense (to Westerners): A Talk with Hiroko Yoda | Japan Station 189
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 history of the word for religion (shūkyō, 宗教) in Japanese About the wide variety of Japan's "eight million gods" Why Japanese people say they are not "religious" The problem with surveys that ask Japanese people whether they are "religious" About why Japanese people get married in the "Christian" style Why Hiroko Yoda decided to write Eight Million Ways to Happiness What Shugendō (修験道) is About Shugendō practice About the connection between Buddhism and funerals Why funerals in Japan can be so expensive About post-death Buddhist names And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Eight Million Ways to Happiness: Wisdom for Inspir by Hiroko Yoda is available now wherever you get your books. You can also use the links below to get a copy. Amazon Penguin House And here's some other relevant links. Hiroko Yoda's Newsletter Hiroko Yoda's Instagram Hiroko Yoda's Bluesky Hiroko Yoda's X 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

Dec 20, 2025 • 1h 5min
What you should know about KUMAMON (+ my CRAZY Kumamon story) | Japan Station 188
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 history of Kumamon Who created Kumamon How Kumamon used to look quite different when he was first unveiled How Kumamon's appearance changed About Kumamon's creepy appearance About the Osaka press conference that introduced Kumamon to the world How much money Kumamon has generated over the past 15 yeas What the name Kumamon means About yurukyara/local mascots About the unique free license system Kumamoto used to help popularize Kumamon What the name Kumamon means How Kumamoto police are using Warumon (a Kumamon knock off) to raise awareness of scams/crimes About the (almost) daily free Kumamon show iin Kumamoto at Kumamon Sqaure My absolutely insane Kumamon story And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Here is a screenshot of a photo of what the Kumamon suit looked like when it was first created. As you can see, the head appears to be mostly the same but the body is skinnier and has fur. The suit also appears to be baggier. As a result, this gives Kumamon a somewhat unsettling appearance. This image is from this Asahi Shinbun article. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

Dec 9, 2025 • 1h 5min
Understanding Christmas in Japan (About Japanese Christmas) | Japan Station 187/Ichimon Japan 67
This is a re-broadcast of episode 65 of the Ichimon Japan podcast (originally published on 12/21/2022). On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is Christmas like in Japan? (About Japanese Christmas) Topics Discussed All about Christmas in Japan Japanese Christmas customs in Japan All about fried chicken and Christmas in Japan Why KFC is the thing to eat during Christmas in Japan How Christmas is seen as a romantic holiday in Japan Christmas light displays About reserving KFC fried chicken for Christmas About KFC's Premium Roast About Christmas cake in Japan The first Christmas in Japan in 1552 And much more! Listen to Ichimon Japan on [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1492400997" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Apple Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pY2hpbW9uamFwYW4ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Google Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/japankyocom/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyocom" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Stitcher[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZVgnljVM8gcR1ar98eK0D" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Spotify[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-59510504/" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]iHeartRadio[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/mv3zr-ad2df/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyo.com" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]PodBean[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyocom-p1290988/" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Tunein[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://ichimonjapan.libsyn.com/rss" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]RSS[/btn] Support on Patreon & Ko-fi If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month and that comes with perks like early access to episodes, a shout-out at the beginning of a future episode, bonus content, and discounts to Kimito Designs. For $3 a month you get all that plus access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and its many quirks. Whether you are studying Japanese or just enjoy learning about language and linguistics, you'll enjoy Japanese Plus Alpha. And it goes without saying that if you sign up, you'll also get my undying gratitude. Thanks in advance! Support on Patreon If you would just like to do a one time contribution, then please go to our Ko-fi page. Support JapanKyo on Ko-fi Links, Videos, Etc. None We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapanKyoNews) Twitter (@JapanKyoNews) Instagram (@JapanKyoNews) Full Show Notes https:///japankyo.com/ichimonjapan

Dec 2, 2025 • 18min
Hanakin: What does it mean? (Dead Japanese Slang) | Japan Station 186
On this episode of Japan Station, I dig into the world of dead Japanese Bubble Era slang. Specifically, I talk about the term hanakin (花金). Also I talk about the days of the week during World War II in Japan. 👉Topics Discussed What is hanakin What hanakin means About the kanji used to write hanakin How I learned the days of the week in Japanese How there were no weekends during World War II in Japan And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None this time. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

Nov 28, 2025 • 58min
He WALKED 3200 km across ALL of JAPAN! (Sensei Martian) | Japan Station 185
On this episode of Japan Station, Sensei Martian talks about what it was like walking 3200 km from Cape Sata, the southernmost point on mainland Japan, to Cape Soya, the northernmost point on mainland Japan. 👉Topics Discussed About the Kyushu Challenge Why Sensei Martian decided to walk 3200 km/3000 miles+ across Japan About walking the old Tokaido Road About walking from the southern end of Japan to the northern end About encounters Sensei Martian had with people while walking across Japan About booking lodging while walking across Japan About getting injured while walking across Japan About the presents people gave Sensei Martian while walking across Japan How difficult it was to get to Cape Sata Japan's dwindling population and how it is affecting rural areas About Sensei's Martian walking 100 km across Tokyo over the course of 30 hours And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Affiliate Links Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Check out Sensei Martian's content via the links below. Sensei Martian on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/sensei_martian Sensei Martian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/senseimartian Sensei Martian on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@senseimartian 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Tony R. Vega Personal Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony


