62 The Challenges of Post-Fukushima Japan: Immigration, Population Decline & Nuclear Safety (Dreux Richard)

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, journalist Dreux Richard stops by to discuss his new book Every Human Intention: Japan in the New Century.

About Dreux Richard

Dreux Richard is a writer and journalist. He has written extensively about Japan for publications such as The Japan Times, Metropolis Japan, and The New York Times. Dreux is also the author of a new book based on much of his work in the years following the 2011 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster. Called Every Human Intention: Japan in the New Century, the book focuses on the experiences of Nigerian immigrants in Japan, the shrinking city of Wakkanai in Hokkaido, and Japan's ongoing struggle with nuclear safety in the decade after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown.

Topics Discussed

• Who Ian Hideo Levy is
• Dreux Richard's time studying under Ian Hideo Levy
• What led to Dreux Richard working for The Japan Times
• Africans working in Tokyo's red light districts
• Dreux Richard's time covering the Nigerian community in Japan
• Some of the factors that led to individuals from Nigeria going to Japan in the '80s
• Louis Okoye
• About writing for The Japan Times while on a tourist visa
• About the city of Wakkanai in Hokkaido and why Dreux Richrd decided to go there
• Covering the Karafuto breed of dog in Wakkanai
• Covering the census in Wakkanai
• Covering population decline in Japan
• The mayor of Wakkanai's decision to use part of a new building at a JR train station to create a nursing care facility for the elderly
• How it was that Dreux Richard came to cover nuclear safety issues in Japan
• Japan's itinerant nuclear industry workers
• And much more!

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Links, Videos, Etc.

To pick up a copy of Every Human Intention: Japan in the New Century, please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. It will support the show and it won't cost you anything extra.

• Every Human Intention: Japan in the New Century

You can find more information on Dreux Richard on his website.

• Dreux Richard Website

Here is a link to the Metropolis Japan article about the Karafuto dog breed that Dreux mentioned during this episode.

• No Tomorrow A beloved Japanese mascot faces unnoticed extinction

To watch Ian Hideo Levy's 2010 lecture, click on the link below.

• The World in Japanese (Ian Hideo Levy, Standford University)

To listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan, use the link below.

• What first person pronoun should I use when speaking Japanese? | Ichimon Japan 38

Here is a link to episode 33 of Japan Station.

• Learning Japanese While Legally Blind (Tony Vega) | Japan Station 33

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

• KimitoDesigns.com

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 Donna Burke

Featured image: Courtesy of Dreux Richard

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Full Show Notes

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com