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 Japanese scandal About the Noriko Sakai scandal Why the Sakai Noriko scandal was such a big deal What celebrities caught in scandals are expected to do About the press conferences often seen after a scandal rises to the surface in Japan About scandals in the Japanese corporate world About political scandals in Japan About the Johnny's/Johnny & Associates scandal About the massive Fuji TV scandal About the infamous 10 hour Fuji TV press conference and why it was so long About why the Fuji TV scandal was such a big deal About the Nakai Masahiro scandal How outside pressure/foreign media/online media/weekly tabloids play an important role in the life cycle of a scandal 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 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Here is the link to the article by dragoner that was mentioned in this episode Scandal in Japan: Transgression, Performance and Ritual (Japan Anthropology Workshop Series) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibHNq6ek6CI&list=RDibHNq6ek6CI&start_radio=1 👉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

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 stations Why Japanese train stations use cute songs to indicate a train is about to depart Hasshamero (train departure melodies) The use of Nogizaka46's song "Kimi no Na wa Kibō" as a train departure melody The logic behind train departure melodies A brief history of train departure melodies in Japan How the song "Yappa Sukiyanen" by Uashiki Takajin was adapted into a train departure melody after his death in 2014 How Osaka locals prefer to use "Umeda" when referring the the area in and around JR Osaka Station Why there are lines and numbers on the train platforms How to line up when waiting for a train Women only train cars The use of high-pitched noises (17 khz) to disperse people loitering at train stations in Japan Standing versus walking on escalators How Japanese railway companies are trying to get people to only walk on escalators Japanese people's reluctance to stop walking on escalators Why standing on escalators can be faster than walking Why Japanese train stations use blue LED lights on platforms The claim that blue LED lights are extremely effective at preventing suicide The role of seken no me (世間の目, the public gaze/the eye of society) on Japanese trains and at Japanese train stations Train etiquette The claim that cell phones interfere with pacemakers Putting on makeup on Japanese trains How there's a part-time job in Nagoya where people stand on the escalator all day in order to stop people from walking on escalators And 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.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://ichimonjapan.libsyn.com/rss" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]RSS[/btn] Sources, Links, Videos, Etc. You can support the show by donating via Venmo or Paypal. Venmo (@TonyRVega): https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: http://paypal.me/tonyrvega You can check out the Citylab article that is mentioned multiple times during this episode via the link below. The Amazing Psychology of Japanese Train Stations As mentioned in this episode, Nogizaka Station on the Chiyoda Subway Line uses an adapted version of the Noguzaka46 song "Kimi no Na wa Kibō" (English translation: Your Name is Hope). You can listen to the original version of "Kimi no Na wa Kibō" via the YouTube video below. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E2OXutknVY[/embed] Another song mentioned in this episode is "Yappa Sukiyanen" by Yashiki Takajin. Following the death of Takajin in 2014, an adapted version of this song was used for a period of time as the departure melody of JR Osaka Station. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GrOq7VY7lM[/embed] The video below explores the question of whetherit is faster to stand or walk on an escalator. It finds that in theory about 80 people per minute can use an escalator when one side is reserved for walking. However, up to 112 people can use an escalator when people stand on both sides. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX11cxeW6hA[/embed] You can check out the 2012 study that sparked the "blue light prevents suicide" craze via the link below. Note: many articles written after the publication of this study cite a 2013 study. However, this appears to be the same study and it is dated as 2012. It is possible that this is a preliminary version. Does the installation of blue lights on train platforms prevent suicide? A before-and-after observational study from Japan (By Tetsuya Matsubayashi, Yasuyuki Sawada, Michiko Ueda) Numerous researchers have looked into the results of the 2012/2013 blue light study since it was originally plublished. In doing so, they have called into question its results. One such researcher is Masao Ichikawa of the University of Tsukuba. You can read his 2014 follow-up study via the link below. Reconsidering the effects of blue-light installation for prevention of railway suicides Here is the 2019 BBC article mentioned during this episode that helpsput into doubt the idea that blue lights prevent suicide. Japanese train companies appeared to have found that soothing blue lights could reduce the rate of suicides at station. But does the "nudge technique" really work? And if so, how? If you would like to check out episode 31 of the Japan Station podcast, which focuses on the skakuhachi, check out the link below. Japan Station 31: A Conversation with a Shakuhachi Master (Christopher Yohmei Blasdel) If you want to learn even more about Japanese tains, then you should check out the Japankyo article below. All About the Chūō Shinkansen and the History that Led to the Creation of the Fastest Train in the World 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 Instagram (@TonyRVega) X/Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Facebook (@JapankyoNews)

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 About words like manin (満員) and zenin (全員) and why people often pronounce them incorrectly/differently from how they are written in kana About 音位転換 (onitenkan)/metathesis in Japanese words About Akihabara vs Akibahara What a funiki ikemen (雰囲気イケメン) is 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 on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo 👉Links, Videos, Etc. This is the 2021 article I mention in the update portion of this episode. 「雰囲気」←“ふいんき”と読む時代が来る？　大学教授が指摘　「秋葉原」や「山茶花」など前例に 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social 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

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 inconsistent details surrounding the idea that Japanese people have longer intestines than Westerners Andy Raskin's quest to determine if Japanese people have longer intestines than Westerners The stealing of corpses in Meiji period Japan The idea that longer intestine length produces more excrement The connection between the length of one's intestines and the smelliness of one's poop How much longer the Japanese intestinal tract is said to be than that of Westerners What both Japanese sources and English-language sources have to say on the length of Japanese intestines The importance of skepticism The results of a large scale scientific study that compares the length of the intestines of Japanese people and Westerners The idea that intestine length is connected to the darkness of one's skin And more! Note: During the episode some information is attributed to a Reddit thread. This is inaccurate. The information attributed to said Reddit thread was instead found on news.ycominator.com. 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.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://ichimonjapan.libsyn.com/rss" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]RSS[/btn] Sources, Links, Videos, Etc. You can check out the article by Andy Raskin via the link below. Are Japanese Intestines Longer? Here is the article published on World Projects Japan. This article is in Japanese 日本人は腸が長いか (Whether Japanese people have longer intestines) During the episode some information was attributed to a Reddit thread. However, this is wrong. Any information that was attributed to this nonexistent Reddit thread was actually from news.ycombinator.com. You can access this page via the link below. Are Japanese Intestines Longer? (news.combinator.com) The information regarding the idea that shortening one's intestines results in lighter skin also originated from the page above. The text below was posted to this page by someone using the name slyall on August 24, 2015. No other information was found to support this claim. "I remember reading a story (at least 20 years ago) that some women in Japan were getting their intestine shortened in order to lighten their skin. No ghits sorry but from memory once the intestine was shortened the skin started to magically lighten." The 2013 study titled "Colorectal Length in Japanese and American Asymptomatic Adults Based on CT Colonography" (Japanese: 日本人とアメリカ人の大腸の長さは違うのか? : 大腸3D-CT) can be accessed via the link below. The article is in Japanese. An English translation of the objectives and results of the study can be found here. Colorectal Length in Japanese and American Asymptomatic Adults Based on CT Colonography (Japanese: 日本人とアメリカ人の大腸の長さは違うのか? : 大腸3D-CT) If you would like to check out episode 30 of the Japan Station podcast, which focuses on the idea of "otaku" and the history of Akihabara, please check out the link below. Japan Station 30: Understanding “Otaku” and Akihabara w. Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith 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 Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Instagram (@tonyrvega)

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 Shinrikyo during the sarin gas attack--many of these trash cans were reinstalled some time after the attack. Further trash cans were not used during the attack itself. So you simply cannot say that the sarin gas attack was the direct cause for Japan's lack of public trash cans. In reality, it's a combination of things that resulted in Japan severely reducing the amount of trash cans in public places. One reason is concerns over people dumping trash they aren't supposed to dump in public trash cans. Concerns over crows and other animals causing messes when they try to get food from public trash cans also played a role. In terms of security concerns, athough the sarin gas attack no doubt traised concerns it was the 2004 and 2005 terrorist attacks in London and Spain that actually had a direct impact on the number of public trash bins in Japan. Finally, efforts to cut costs on the part of Japanese railways and other private businesses also play a significant role in the disappearance of Japan's public garbage cans. We also discuss strategies for managing your trash while you are in Japan, where you can find trash cans in Japan and what people in Japan are doing to deal with the increase in trash and litter that has resulted from increased tourism. 👉Topics Discussed Why there aren't any trash cans in public places in Japan? Why it is not true that the 1995 sarin gas terrorist attack conducted by Aum Shinrikyo in Tokyo is not the reason Japan has so few trash cans in public places About the failed 1995 hygrogen cyanide gas attack in Shinjuku Station (新宿駅青酸ガス事件, Shinjuku eki seisan gasu jiken) which was also conducted by members of Aum Shinrikyo Whether trash cans were removed from Japanese train stations after the 1995 sarin gas attack Whether garbage cans in public places were common in Japan during the '90s and 2000s The fact taht trash cans were reinstalled some time after the 1995 sarin gas attack Why municipalities across Japan have been trying to reduce the number of trash cans in public since the '90s People dumping trash they shouldn't in public trash cans How concerns over crows have played a role in the disappearance of public trash cans in Japan How the 2004 and 2005 London and Madrid terrorist attacks played a role in the disappearance of Japan's public trash cans How efforts to cut costs played a role in Japan's trash cans being reduced in number What you should do with your trash when visiting Japan Where to find trash cans in Japan About Japanese trash culture and manners What people in Japan are doing in places where increased tourism has resulted in more trash and littering 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 on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Here is the link to the article by dragoner that was mentioned in this episode "Why did Japan's trash cans disappear?" 日本のゴミ箱、なぜ消えた？ 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social 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  

This episode of Japan Station is a rebroadcast of Ichimon Japan episode 12. On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why are vegetables so unsulting in Japanese? On this episode we are honored to once again be joined by Kyle Broyles of the Tokyo Splosion podcast and Hard Officers YouTube channel. Topics Discussed Some funny Japanese vegetable-based insults and their (supposed) etymologies What the term daikon ashi means Why daikon ashi is so insulting and reserved only for use on women The usage of the term "dumpling legs" What the term daikon yakusha means Why daikon yakusha is considered an insult Why it's insulting to call someone a bean sprout (moyashi) in Japanese What it means to "stink of potatoes" (to be imokusai) What a "country milkboy" is What an "embankment pumpkin" is (dote kabocha) The most commonly cited story explaining the insulting meaning of the term dote kabocha A tip for training yourself to like vegetables Interesting Japanese slang involving the the Japanese word for eggplant (nasu) What the term bokenasu means Why it is insulting to be called a bokenasu What the heck an otankonasu is Two theories for where the "otanko" part of otankonasu derived from The most common etymologies of the term otankonasu The potential connection between otankonasu and Edo period pleasure districts Bubble era Japanese slang How pīman (green pepper) was used as an insult in Japan in the 1970s The difficulties localizers face when translating idioms from Japanese into English Whether the Japanese word for "vegetable" (yasai) totally overlaps in meaning with its English counterpart Why there seem to be more vegetable-related insults in Japanese than fruit-related insults And more! Note: All of the etymologies provided during this episode were found in Japanese language sources and are the most commonly cited. However, just because they are the most commonly cited etymologies that does not mean they are true, so please keep this in mind. 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.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://ichimonjapan.libsyn.com/rss" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]RSS[/btn] Support on Patreon 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. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude. Support on Patreon Kyle Broyles Links This episode features Kyle Broyles as a special guest. If you would like to follow him on Twitter, please use the link below. Kyle Broyles on Twitter Kyle is one of the hosts of the Tokyo Splosion podcast. If you would like to check his podcast out, you can look it up wherever you get your podcasts or use the links below. Tokyo Splosion on Libsyn Tokyo Splosion on Apple Podcasts Tokyo Splosion on Twitter The latest episode of Tokyo Splosion as of the time of this posting can be found below. Tokyo Splosion Quarterly: Spring 2020 Kyle also produces the YouTube series Hard Officers. Check out the channel via the link below. Hard Officers YouTube Channel Sources, Links, Videos, Etc. Here's a link to the previous episode Kyle Broyles was a guest on. What's life like in Japan during the coronavirus pandemic? (Uncovering the cute sneeze conspiracy | Ichimon Japan 13 Just to review, here's a list of all the insults that were covered on this episode, including how you write them in Japanese. Daikon ashi 大根足 : 大根足; 大根脚 【だいこんあし】 (n) thick legs; fat legs; cankle; cankles (literally: daikon radish legs) Daikon yakusha 大根役者 【だいこんやくしゃ】 (n) (yoji) ham actor; hack actor (literally: daikon radish actor) Moyashi もやし (n) bean sprouts (in certain contexts it can also be used to mean as an insult meaning lanky, gangly or frail) Moyashikko もやしっ子 【もやしっこ】 (n) weak child; frail child; gangly child Imokusai イモくさい 【いもくさい】 (n) country bumpkin; unsophisticated; hick (literally to stink of potatoes) Dote kabocha どてかぼちゃ (n) incompetent person; halfwit; blockhead; fool (literally: embankment pumpkin) Bokenasu ぼけなす (n) (1) faded, dull-colored eggplant; (2) (derog) slow-witted, abstracted person; halfwit Otankonasu おたんこなす (n) fool; twit; idiot; bird-brain Atama ga pīman (Note: This term was popular in the 1970s and is rarely, if ever, used today.) 頭がピーマン 【あたまがぴーまん】 stupid; dumb (literally: your head is a green pepper) Hanashi ga pīman 話がピーマン 【はなしがぴーまん】 what you are saying is stupid/pointless (literally: what you are saying/your story is a green pepper.) If you'd like to check out episode 38 of Japan Station, you can do so via the link below. Understanding Idols and the Success of AKB48 (Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith) | Japan Station 38 If you missed the Japanese study tips episode of Ichimon Japan, check out the article below. What are your Japanese studying tips? | Ichimon Japan 08 Japanese Vocabulary List Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC. Yasai 野菜 【やさい】 (n,adj-no) vegetable Kudamono 果物 : 果物(P); 菓物 【くだもの(P); かぶつ(果物)】 (n) fruit Oden おでん (n) (food) oden; dish of various ingredients, e.g. egg, daikon, potato, chikuwa, konnyaku, etc. stewed in soy-flavored dashi Shokuatari 食あたり : 食あたり; 食中り 【しょくあたり】 (n) food poisoning Shokubutsu 植物 【しょくぶつ】 (n) plant; vegetation Emoi エモい (adj-i) (1) (sl) emo; sad; melancholic; (2) (sl) (pun on エロい and キモい) (See エロい,キモい) erotic in a disgusting way Inakakusai 田舎臭い : 田舎臭い; 田舎くさい 【いなかくさい】 (adj-i) rustic; unsophisticated; provincial; hick; cornball Ume 梅 : 梅(P); 楳 【うめ(P); むめ(ok); ウメ】 (n) (1) Japanese apricot (Prunus mume); Japanese plum; ume; Chinese plum Tnkō 炭坑 : 炭鉱(P); 炭坑; 炭礦 【たんこう】 (n) coal mine; coal pit 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) Full Show Notes https:///japankyo.com/ichimonjapan  

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. 👉Topics Discussed What does "plus alpha" (purasu arufa/プラスアルファ) mean? How you use the Japanese term purasu arufa プラスアルファ The most popular etymology of the term of purasu arufa Real world examples of purasu arufa in use About what puramaizero means (プラマイゼロ) 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 on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None this time. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social 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  

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! 👉Topics Discussed Where sushi came from Fermented sushi The meaning of sushi Sushi's Chinese origins Shiga Prefecture's funazushi Sushi in the Edo period Sushi in Japan's post war period Sushi in modern times About sashimi About Kamipai: The History of Sake 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 on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Check out Dr. Rath's book below Oishii: The History of Sushi: https://www.amazon.com/Oishii-History-Eric-C-Rath/dp/1789143837 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social 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  

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! 👉Topics Discussed About the Kyushu Challenge When I will be walking from Iwakuni to Kagoshima as part of the Kyushu Challenge About the Tokaido Challenge and Miyajima Challenge About raising funds for the Kyushu Challenge About raising awareness of the blind and visually impaired About the current sponsors of the Kyushu Challenge And 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 on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Current major sponsors of the Kyushu Challenge. Meccha Yuugen (X/Twitter): https://x.com/MecchaYuugen United Neko Alliance (X/Twitter): https://x.com/nekoalliance Wailoaloa of Shinsei Galverse (X/Twitter): https://x.com/OnlyWailoaloa To become a sponsor you can: Email mail@japankyo.com Donate via ko-fi: https://ko-fi.com/japankyo Or support by joining the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/japankyo For more info on the Blind Japan Project, check out my personal website. About the Blind Japan Project: https://tonyrvega.com/blind-travel/ 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social 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  

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. 👉Topics Discussed The etymology/origins of 10 words that trace their origins back to the Edo and Meiji Periods About the meaning and origins of sakura (サクラ) About the origins of deka (でか) About the origins of posharu (ぽしゃる) About the origins of mappo (まっぽ) About the origins of gakuran (学ラン) About the origins of neta (ねた) About the origins of yabai (やばい) About the origins of boru (ぼる) About the origins of gasaire (がさ入れ) About the origins of zubora (ずぼら) And 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 on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo 👉Links, Videos, Etc. This episode was based on the article below シェア ポスト 送る この記事のリンクを コピーしました リンクコピー TOP ヘルス 「学ラン」のランって何？　江戸時代の隠語が由来 「学ラン」のランって何？　江戸時代の隠語が由来 (https://dot.asahi.com/articles/-/43257?page=2) 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social 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