33 Learning Japanese While Legally Blind (Tony Vega)

33 Learning Japanese While Legally Blind (Tony Vega)

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 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.

Episoder(215)

10 Japanese Words I Learned from ANIME | Japan Station 127

10 Japanese Words I Learned from ANIME | Japan Station 127

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about Japanese words we learned by watching anime. 👉Topics Discussed How you can use anime, manga and video games to learn Japanese And more! 👉Sub...

21 Mai 202450min

Why Japanese Folklore MATTERS! | Japan Station 126

Why Japanese Folklore MATTERS! | Japan Station 126

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about Japanese folklore with Thersa Matsuura of the Uncanny Japan podcast. 👉Topics Discussed About Japanese folklore About yokai About Japanese superstitio...

1 Mai 202436min

Unexpected Japanese Word Origins: FART | Japan Station 125

Unexpected Japanese Word Origins: FART | Japan Station 125

This time we're taking a deep dive into the history of the Japanese word for fart: onara. Where did it come from? What is its true meaning? What is its link to a secret ancient language spoken hundred...

20 Apr 202411min

The Real Reason I Walked from Kyoto to Tokyo | Japan Station 124

The Real Reason I Walked from Kyoto to Tokyo | Japan Station 124

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about why I decided to walk the old Tokaido Road in 2023 and the impact it had. This episode features a speech I did for the 2024 state convention of the Hawa...

15 Apr 202419min

Why Learning Japanese is POINTLESS (for most..) | Japan Station 123

Why Learning Japanese is POINTLESS (for most..) | Japan Station 123

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about why you shouldn't try to learn Japanese. Topics Discussed How AI and translation software are making it unnecessary to learn Japanese How learning Jap...

8 Apr 202415min

How Akira Toriyama Changed the World & My Life | Japan Station 122

How Akira Toriyama Changed the World & My Life | Japan Station 122

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about the manga creator Akira Toriyama and his impact on the world and my life. Topics Discussed About the passing of manga creator Akira Toriyama About the...

1 Apr 202417min

We Bought a Geisha House! About Geisha House Atami | Japan Station 121

We Bought a Geisha House! About Geisha House Atami | Japan Station 121

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking to the owners of Geisha House Atami and learning about what it's like to buy an old house in Japan, restore it and more! Topics Discussed About Geisha...

1 Mar 202446min

My 3 Worst Japanese Mistakes | Japan Station 120

My 3 Worst Japanese Mistakes | Japan Station 120

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about the worst 3 mistakes I made while learning Japanese. Topics Discussed About the history of Kabosu the Shibainu and the Doge meme About three of the wor...

1 Feb 202416min

Populært innen Fakta

fastlegen
dine-penger-pengeradet
mikkels-paskenotter
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
treningspodden
foreldreradet
rss-strid-de-norske-borgerkrigene
jakt-og-fiskepodden
rss-bisarr-historie
rss-kull
rss-kunsten-a-leve
sinnsyn
tomprat-med-gunnar-tjomlid
hagespiren-podcast
gravid-uke-for-uke
rss-sunn-okonomi
hverdagspsyken
level-up-med-anniken-binz
rss-bak-luftfarten
fryktlos