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

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, comedian, TV personality, and co-host of the Japan By River Cruise podcast Bobby Judo stops by to chat about the Japanese river cruise industry, iguanas, working Japan's entertainment industry, and more. About Bobby Judo Bobby Judo is a stand-up comedian and TV personality based in Fukuoka Prefecture. Originally from South Florida, Bobby moved to Japan as part of the JET Program to teach English in Saga Prefecture. After building a following through his YouTube channel, Bobby began working in the Japanese entertainment industry. Aside from his regular cooking segment that airs on television in the Kyushu area, Bobby also has experiece acting, doing voice overs, and performing stand up comedy in both Japanese and English. In 2019, Bobby and comedian Ollie Horn launched Japan By River Cruise, a podcast in which they discuss Japanese current events, Japanese river cruises, and engage in soap talk. Topics Discussed The wonder of Japanese river cruises The Japan By River Cruise podcast The origin of the name Bobby Judo The meaning of the Spanish term papichulo The Morikami Museum and Gardens in Delray Beach, FLorida Iguana hunting in South Florida Bobby Judo's decision to go to Japan How Bobby Judo started studying Japanese Life in Saga Prefecture while working as an English teacher as part of the JET Program Working in Japanese restaurants and learning honorific language while on the job How tricky it is to manage politeness levels in the Japanese language Working in the Japanese entertainment industry as a foreigner (foreign tarento) Thoughts on playing the stereotypical gaijin (foreigner) character Addressing problematic usages of the term hāfu (mixed race Japanese) How Bobby Judo started doing stand up comedy The challenges of doing stand up comedy in Japanese Tokyo Roast Battle And much more! Support on Patreon If you enjoy Japan Station 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 $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude. Support Japan Station on Patreon Links, Videos, Etc. The Japan By River Cruise podcast can be found on all the major podcast apps. Below is a list of links you can use check it out and subscribe. Japan By River Cruise Website Japan By River Cruise on Apple Podcasts Japan By River Cruise on Google Podcasts Japan By River Cruise on Spotify Japan By River Cruise on Stitcher Follow Bobby Judo on social media. Bobby Judo on Twitter Bobby Judo on Instagram You can also find Bobby Judo on YouTube. Bobby Judo on YouTube For more information on the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Florida you can visit their website via the link below. Morikami Museum and Gardens If you haven't listened to the episode of Japan Station featuring Ollie Horn (Bobby Judo's co-host on Japan By River Cruise), then you should. Just use the link below. Japan Station 17: Comedian Ollie Horn To listen to the episode of Japan Station featuring Anne Crescini, use the link below. Japan Station 21: Exploring Made in Japan English (Wasei Eigo) w. Anne Crescini To listen to episode 17 of the Ichimon Japan podcast, use the link below. Can sexy things give you anime style nosebleeds? (The Nosebleed Episode) | Ichimon Japan 16 Special Thanks Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel. Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R. Featured image: Courtesy of Bobby Judo Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Full Show Notes Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, award-winning author Peter Tieryas talks about his alternate history book series, United States of Japan, as well as answers many of the lingering questions at the end of his most recent book, Cyber Shogun Revolution. About Peter Tieryas Peter Tieryas is the award-winning author of the United States of Japan books (United States of Japan, Mecha Samurai Empire, Cyber Shogun Revolution). Inspired by Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle and Japanese popular media such as the Zone of the Enders and Metal Gear series of video games, the United States of Japan books present a dark but super technologically advanced world filled with epic mecha battles, hyper realistic video games, and a version of the United States that was split into two after Imprial Japan and Nazi Germany came out victorious in World War II. The United States of Japan books have been translated into multiple languages, including French, Spanish, and even Japanese. Tieryas is the recipient of two Seiun Awards for the Japanese translations of United States of Japan and Mecha Samurai Empire. Aside from his work as an author, Tieryas has also worked as a technical writer for LucasArts and a character artist for major motion pictures such as Guardians of the Galaxy. And he also really enjoys video games. Topics Discussed Why Peter chose Beniko as the name of one of the main characters of United States of Japan Why Peter decided to reference Punch Out and Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit) through the name of the main character of Mecha Samurai Empire (Makoto Fujimoto/Mac) The symbolism of Akiko Tsukino's dreams Unites States of Japan as a general commentary on militarism Why Peter decided to make Akiko Tsukino of mixed French Korean heritage rather than ethnically Japanese Why technology is so advanced in the United States of Japan universe Why Japan developed mecha in the universe of United States of Japan Peter's writing process for the United State of Japan trilogy Some of the things the mecha that appear in Cyber Shogun Revolution reference How Peter goes about creating mecha The positive reception of the United States of Japan books by fans around the world Winning the Seiun Award Traveling to Japan for the first time to attend the Seiun Award ceremony in 2017 Why Peter decided not to focus on mainland Japan in the United States of Japan books Whether Peter plans to write more books in the United States of Japan series The dark undertones of the United States of Japan series Having Hideo Kojima write a blurb for Mecha Samurai Empire Peter's upcoming novel focusing on what would happen to the world if people stopped dying And a whole lot of spoiler talk regarding Cyber Shogun Revolution (after the outro mousic) And much more! Support on Patreon If you enjoy Japan Station 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 $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude. Support Japan Station on Patreon Links, Videos, Etc. All three books in the United States of Japan series are available for purchase now. If you would like to support Japan Station, please use the Amazon Associates links below. United Stes of Japan (Book 1) Mecha Samurai Empire (A United States of Japan Novel Book 2) Cyber Shogun Revolution (A United States of Japan Novel Book 3) If you want to stay up to date with everything Peter is working on, then make sure to follow him on Twitter @TieryasXu You can also check out Peter's YouTube channel. TieryasXu YouTube Channel If you would like to learn more about Peter's first trip to Japan and his experience attending the Seiun Award ceremony, check out the article below. Big in Japan: United States of Japan Author Peter Tieryas Reflects on Traveling East, Winning the Seiun, and What Comes Next Spoiler Talk This episode includes a spoiler-heavy section after the outro sequence in which Peter Tieryas answers questions about characters and story elements that were left out of Cyber Shogun Revolution. Here's a list of some of the main things he discusses in this section. If you have not read the United States of Japan books yet, you should not continue reading or listen to the spoiler section of this episode. Please come back after you have read all three books. Where Mac (Makoto Fujimoto) and Grisalda are during the events of Cyber Shogun Revolution (they are teachers at the Berkeley Military Academy) Some of the things that were left out of the final draft of Cyber Shogun Revolution How Peter considered killing off Mac How Peter tried killing Kujira in a draft of Cyber Shogun Revolution Difficulties trying to figure out how Kujira would react to Akiko's actions in the events of Cyber Shogun Revolution Dreaming about being in Mecha Samurai Empire Kujira's growth as a character The existence of an unreleased novella focusing on Kujira that is titled The United States of Kujira The sequel to United States of Japan that Peter tried to write before he began working on Mecha Samurai Empire Akiko's role in the United States of Japan series Whether Peter has heard from fans regarding the identity of Bloody Mary The thought process that went into writing the ending of Cyber Shogun Revolution The meaning behind Kujira's name Special Thanks Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel. Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R. Featured image: Courtesy of Peter Tieryas Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Full Show Notes Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're exploring the history of Japanese aidoru (idols) and discussing the dynamics behind one of Japan's most popular idol groups: AKB48. About Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith is a lecturer at Senshu University in Tokyo. He is one of the world's leading experts on the topic of Akihabara and the related subcultures that are often associated with this famous district of Tokyo. Galbraith is the author of man y books and articles, including Tokyo Realtime (2010), The Otaku Encyclopedia: An Insider's Guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan (2014), The Moe Manifesto: An Insider's Look at the Worlds of Manga, Anime, and Gaming (2017), and others. His most recent book, published by Duke University Press Books in 2019, is Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan. Topics Discussed The emergence of idols (aidoru) in Japan during the 1970s Japan's Golden Age of idols (1980s) Seiko Matsuda The role Yasushi Akimoto played in the evolution of the modern idol The importance of Onyanko Club in the history of Japanese idols What led to the end of Onyanko Club How the Latin boy band Menudo helped inspire the interchangeable idol system employed by idol groups such as Morning Musume and AKB48 The success of Rino Sashihara The ingenious marketing strategy of Yasushi Akimoto that has led to the massive success of AKB48 AKB48's General Election and how it drove CD sales during a time when CD sales were on the decline What idols do Whether we should think of idols as musicians/singers What it means to "idol" The connection between idols and fans The peculiar location and composition of the AKB48 Theater in Akihabara How the success of AKB48 helped spark a surge in the number of independent and "underground" (chika) idols The massive variety that exists in the independent idol scene How the coronavirus pandemic has affected idol groups and how idols are adapting What a chekki is Th effects of the coronavirus pandemic on maid cafes in Akihabara AKB48 and the Tokyo 2020/2021 Olympics How Yasushi Akimoto's idol groups have been evolving in recent years to appeal more to women Overwork and exploitation in the world of idols The case of Maho Yamaguchi Why so many idols have great difficulties after they "sotsugyō" (leave the group) The success of Atsuko Maeda The short-lived Pink Lady show that aired in the U.S. on NBC in 1980 And much more! Note: The conversation on this episode was recorded on April 24, 2020 (JST). Support on Patreon If you enjoy Japan Station 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 $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude. Support Japan Station on Patreon Links, Videos, Etc. The book on which much of the conversation heard during this episode was based is called AKB48 and was written by Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith and Dr. Jason G. Karlin. You can purchase it via the Amazon affiliate link below. A Kindle version is available. AKB48 (33 1/2 Japan) AKB48 is part of a series of books published by Bloomsbury that is called 33 1/2 Japan. If you would like to purchase any of these, you can use the Amazon affiliate links below. Yoko Kanno's Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack (33 1/3 Japan) Joe Hisaishi's Soundtrack for My Neighbor Totoro (33 1/3 Japan) Cornelius's Fantasma (33 1/3 Japan) Perfume's GAME (33 1/3 Japan) Nene's Koza Dabasa (33 1/3 Japan) Supercell Featuring Hatsune Miku (33 1/3 Japan) Shonen Knife's Happy Hour (33 1/3 Japan) Koji Kondo's Super Mario Soundtrack (33 1/3 Japan) If you would like to purchase Dr. Galbraith's most recent book--Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japani--you can use the Amazon affiliate link below. Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan Special Thanks Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel. Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R. Featured image: Courtesy of Patrick W. Galbraith Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Full Show Notes Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're joined by Anthony Joh of Tokyo Podcast. About Anthony Joh Anthony Joh is an entrepreneur, digital marketing consultant, and longtime podcaster. After moving to Thailand about a decade ago Anthony helped start The Bangkok Podcast. He then started the long-running Tokyo Podcast after relocating to Japan. He recently started releasing episodes of Tokyo Podcast again after an extended hiatus. Topics Discussed Some of the most memorable episodes of Tokyo Podcast How and why Anthony decided to start podcasting while living in Thailand What led Anthony to move to Japan What frustrated Anthony about working in Japan Why Anthony decided to move back to Canada Life in Victoria, Canada Why Anthony decided to go back to Japan Anthony's plans for Tokyo Podcast And much more! Note: The conversation on this episode was recorded on April 20, 2020 (JST). Note: The conversation on this episode was recorded on April 20, 2020 (JST) Support on Patreon If you enjoy Japan Station 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 $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude. Support Japan Station on Patreon Links, Videos, Etc. To listen to Tokyo Podcast, check out the links below Tokyo Podcast Website Tokyo Podcast on Apple Podcasts Tokyo Podcast on Spotify Tokyo Podcast on Stitcher Here are the episodes of Tokyo Podcast that were mentioned during this episode.​ Photographing the Japanese Yakuza with Anton Kusters How the Shinkansen Rebuilt Japan with Christopher Hood Cycling Across Japan with Sachi Takao From Classical to Bluegrass with Leona Tokutake Why I Left and then Moved Back to Japan Follow Tokyo Podcast on Twitter. Tokyo Podcast on Twitter Special Thanks Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel. Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R. Featured image: Courtesy of Anthony Joh Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Full Show Notes Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about the fascinating history and culture of soba noodles. About Dr. Lorie Brau Dr. Lorie Brau is an assistant professor at the University of New Mexico where she teaches courses on Japanese literature and culture. Dr. Brau has conducted research on a variety of topics, including rakugo and the history and culture of soba noodles. Her research on soba noodles resulted in Soba, Edo Style: Food, Aesthetics, and Cultural Identity, an article which appeared in the book Devouring Japan: Global Perspectives on Japanese Culinary Identity. Currently, Dr. Brau is working on a book called Gourmanga, which focuses on food manga.. Topics Discussed What soba is Soba's usage as a general word meaning "noodles" What distinguishes soba noodles from udon and ramen What an Edokko is Some of the places soba is closely tied to A brief history of soba noodles Okinawa soba Izuomo soba Nishin soba Soba's emergence as street food during the Edo period Soba's ties to the pleasure quarters of Edo The "proper" way to eat soba noodles Soba's evolution from street food to refined Japanese cuisine What a sobalier (sobarie) is What it was like dining at a members-only soba restaurant in Tokyo Soba's ties to kabuki What iki is Soba's link to the concept of iki Dr. Brau's research on manga centered around food Whether there is a difference between chūka soba and ramen Why the word soba can be used to refer to ramen but not udon And much more! Support on Patreon If you enjoy Japan Station 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 Japan Station on Patreon Special Thanks Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel. Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R. Image: Japankyo.com Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Full Show Notes Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're exploring the history of chicken production in Japan and the fascinating world of artisan jidori chicken. About Dr. Benjamin Schrager Dr. Benjamin Schrager is an expert on Japanese food systems and heritage cuisine. He completed his PhD at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2019. His doctoral dissertation--titled Placing Trust: The Political Ecology of Chicken Meat in Japan--focused on the Japanese chicken industry and jidori chicken, with particular emphasis on the Miyazaki Jitokko brand of jidori. Currently, Dr. Schrager is a postdoctoral researcher at Kyoto University's Graduate School of Agriculture. Topics Discussed What broiler chicken is and what Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) jidori chicken is Chicken Nanban and its origins The many regulations that the Japanese government has implemented to determine what qulifies as JAS jidori chicken The Onagadaori breed of chicken and its incredibly long tail The Tennen Kinenbutsu (Natural Monument) standard How Miyazaki Jitokko compares in terms of its standards to that of other brands of JAS jidori The problems jidori breeders face A brief overlook of the history of chicken breeding in Japan The connection between samurai and chicken breeding What a Native Heirloom Breed is The industrialization of chicken breeding in Japan The introduction of Western chicken breeds into Japan in the 1960s The phenomenon of regional cuisines and specialties in Japan Meeting Emperor Akihito The Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship Chicken sashimi from Miyazaki Health concerns over chicken The experience of talking to Japanese men taking part in a cooking class The difficulty explaining the difference between jidori and broiler chicken to the average person The various meanings of the word jidori Tsukada Nojo Jidori in Hawaii Sumibiyaki chicken And much more! Support on Patreon If you enjoy Japan Station 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 Special Thanks Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel. Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R. Images: Courtesy of Benjamin Schrager. Image shows Benjamin Schrager holding a Natural Monument Jitokko. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're digging into the world of Japanese spycraft and the history of Japan's intelligence community with one of the world's leading experts on the subject: Dr Richard Samuels. About Dr. Richard Samuels Richard Samuels is Ford International Professor of Political Science and director of the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a highly distinguished scholar whose research has focused on Japanese intelligence and security, Japan's relationship with the U.S. and China, energy-related policies in Japan, and more. His latest book was published in 2019 and is title Special Duty: A History of the Japanese Intelligence Community. Topics Discussed Whether Japan has an equivalent intelligence agency to the CIA The composition of Japan's intelligence agencies The biggest problem Japan's intelligence agencies have had to deal with What stovepipring is How people working in intelligence in Japan were sometimes looked down on in the past How spycraft training in Japan has changed from pre-World War II to today How losing to the U.S. impacted Japan's intelligence capabilities and its focus How 9/11 and Shinzo Abe becoming prime minister in 2012 affected Japan's intelligence community The States Secrets law of 2013 The creation of the National Security Council in 2013 The push and pull in Japan's government between those who want to be closer to China and those who prefer to be closer to the United States Why Japan's intelligence community became known for information leaks The Musashi Kikan The history and importance of the Nakano School Akashi Motojiro Hirō "Hiroo" Onoda and his connection to the Nakano School The early history of Japanese espionage and the so-called tairiku ronin (continental adverturers) Whether Japan has an equivalent to D.A.R.P.A. (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency) And much more! Links, Videos, Etc. You can purchase a copy of Special Duty: A History of the Japanese Intelligence Community via the link below. It is an Amazon affiliate link, so using it will support the show and won't cost you anything extra. Special Duty: A History of the Japanese Intelligence Community by Richard Samuels. Follow Dr. Richard Samuels on Twitter via the link below @dicksamuelsMIT Here are a few of some of Dr. Samuel's other books in case you are interested. These are also Amazon affiliate links. "Rich Nation, Strong Army": National Security and the Technological Transformation of Japan Securing Japan: Tokyo's Grand Strategy and the Future of East Asia 3.11: Disaster and Change in Japan If you're interested in the book about the Nakano School that Dr. Samuels mentions, you can get it via the affiliate link below. The Shadow Warriors of the Nakano School: A History of the Imperial Japanese Army's Elite Intelligence School by Stephen Mercado The links below are for the two episodes of the Ichimon Japan podcast that were mentioned during this episode What was it like in Fukushima during the 2011 earthquake? (Part 1) What was it like in Fukushima during the 2011 earthquake? (Part 2) Special Thanks Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel. Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

On this special solo episode of the Japan Station podcast, I discuss being visually impaired and how my decision to study abroad in Japan helped me realize that I wasn't limited by the loss of my eyesight. About Tony Vega Tony Vega is a writer, editor, and podcaster. He has lived in Japan as both a student and participant of the JET Programme. He possesses an M.A. in Japanese language and linguistics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Tony is the creator of Japankyo.com and he produces both the Japan Station Ichimon Japan podcasts. Tony enjoys pizza, sushi, burritos, puns, and overanalyzing absurd things. Topics Discussed The process of becoming legally blind due to Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) Deciding to study Japanese in college The first time Tony went to Japan Difficulties adjusting to life with low vision Deciding to study abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata City, Osaka Tony's decision to study Japanese every single day before leaving to study abroad How studying abroad in Japan made Tony realize that he was capable of much more than he thought he was And much more! Special Thanks Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel. Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R. Images: Courtesy of Susan Spann Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Support Japan Station Aside from subscribing to Japan Station, the next best thing you can do to support the show, is using the Amazon affiliate link below to do your shopping. Best of all, it doesn't cost you anything extra. Use this link to shop on Amazon and support Japan Station

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about ninjas, the judicial system of 16th century Japan, and more with Susan Spann, author of the Hiro Hattori "shinobi mystery" series of books. About Susan Spann Susan Spann is the award-winning author of the Hiro Hattori series of mystery books. The novels follow the adventures of Hiro Hattori, a ninja from the famous Iga clan, and Father Mateo Avila da Silva, a Portuguese Jesuit priest, as they travel through 16th century Japan solving murders and avoiding danger. Though originally from the U.S., Spann now lives in Japan. She practices traditional Japanese calligraphy and used to raise seahorses. Topics Discussed How Susan Spann got the idea to write books about a ninja detective What Susan Spann likes about writing the Hiro Hattori books The evolving relationship between Hiro Hattori and Father Mateo The judicial system of 16th century Japan The social caste system of 16th century Japan The different types of police seen in 16th century Japan The difference between a yoriki and dōshin Whether there were lawyers in 1500s Japan Jails in 16th century Japan Oda Nobunaga and when he will appear in the Hiro Hattori books Where actors stood in the social hierarchy of 16th century Japan How difficult it is to verify information about ninja Whether shuriken were mainly used as "throwing stars" or not The city of Iga in Mie Prfecture Susan Spann's experience climbing 100 mountains in one year and her upcoming book Climb Places in Japan Susan Spann would like to visit in Japan The challenges of raising seahorses Why male seahorses can seem to be shier than female seahorses And much more! Special Thanks Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel. Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R. Images: Courtesy of Susan Spann Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Check out Ichimon Japan The two latest episodes of the Ichimon Japan podcast can be accessed via the links below. Why do Japanese train stations do that? | Ichimon Japan 03 What's it like being a "fake priest" in Japan? | Ichimon Japan 04

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're exploring the world of the bamboo flute known as the shakuhachi.. About Christopher Yohemei Blasdel Christopher Yohmei Blasdel is a master of the shakuhachi, an educator, and an award-winning author. He began instruction in the instrument in Japan in 1972 and has spent almost 50 years performing, producing music, teaching, and promoting the instrument around the world. Blasdel is the author of the instructional book The Shakuhachi: A Manual for Learning and The Single Tone: A Personal Journey into Shakuhachi Music. The latter of these is an autobiographical account of Blasdel's experiences with the shakuhachi. The Single Tone was originally published in Japanese under the title Shakuhachi Odessei, Ten no iro ni Miserarete and awarded the prestigious Rennyo Award for non-fiction in 2000. Blasdel also possesses a fourth degree black belt in Aikido. Topics Discussed What a shakuhachi is and how it differs from other flutes Why the shakuhachi is so difficult to play The history of the shakuhachi The connection of the shakuhachi to Zen Buddhism The shakuhachi's use as a tool for suizen (blowing meditation) The rise and fall of the Fuke sect of Zen Buddhism Why komusō monks wore hats that covered their faces (tengai) The shakuhachi's emergence as a world instrument Why Blasdel decided to go to Japan How the shakuhachi is taught traditionally The tablature method used to transcribe shakuhachi music The World Shkauhachi Festival Blasdel's relationship with the artist Isamu Noguchi The different types of sounds that one can produce with the shakuhachi And much more! Note: At one point in this episode I say "Japanese internment camps." This is misleading since the camps in question were not established by the Japanese. The term was used in reference to the internment camps the U.S. government established during World War II to detain individuals of Japanese ancestry. The usage of the term "Japanese internment camp" was not intentional and only noticed after the final edit of the episode was made. Special Thanks Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi) To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel. Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R. Images: Courtesy of Wasabi magazine Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews) Check out Ichimon Japan Ichimon Japan on Apple Ichimon Japan on Stitcher Ichimon Japan on Spotify Ichimon Japan at Japankyo.com