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

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about the difference between the Japanese word kaze (cold, 風邪) and kaze (wind, 風). Why do they share the same pronunciation? Are they related? Or is th…

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about some of the annoying things people have to deal with when moving to Japan. Our guest this time is the CEO of Mobal, Declan Somers.

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking to Quinlan from the GoNorth Japan YouTube channel about surviving a bear encounter in Japan, hiking in the Tohoku area of Japan and more.

On this episode of Japan Station we ask: What was it like walking the Tokaido Road?

NOTE: This is a re-broadcast of episode 78 of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

• About the Tokaido Challe…

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about train etiquette in Japan. We're covering a recent Japanese survey that lists the 8 most irritating things people do on trains in Japan.

On this episode of Japan Station, Kevin Tarpey joins us to talk about what it was like doing Shikoku's famous 88 Temple Pilgrimmage and why Japan is such a great place for long-distance walking.

On this episode of Japan Station, we learn about traditional Japanese indigo dyeing from Sally Hancox, one of the co-owners of AiAii Worshop & Shop on Awaji island. This is a conversation to dye for!…

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 wh…

This episode was originally released as episode 3 of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why do Japanese train stations do that?

• The…

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.

• About the Japanese word funiki (雰囲気)
• What…

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?

• W…

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 s…

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 onc…

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.

• What does "plus alpha" (purasu arufa/プラスア…

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!

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 Kagosh…

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…

This episode of Japan Station is a re-broadcast of episode 52 of Ichimon Japan.

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What are gyaru?

• What the term gyaru/gal means/refers to
• Ab…

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about vocabulary and phrases related to telling time during the Edo Period! This is a surprisingly deep and interesting topic no matter whether you're …