03 The Origins of Anime and the Making of Japan's First Feature Length Animated Film (Dr. Jonathan Clements)

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast we're talking about learning Japanese, running a business, and a whole lot more with the creator of Tofugu, Koichi. About Koichi For more than a decade Koichi has been helping people learn about Japan, Japanese culture, and the Japanese language via the blog Tofugu and all of its related products and services. Koichi got his start in the public eye when he began uploading Japanese-language videos to his YouTube channel Koichiben during the early days of YouTube. Not long after that, Koichi made the transition to English-language content when he launched the Tofugu blog and YouTube channel. Since then, Koichi has been able to build the Tofugu brand into a  successful company that has become known as a source of great Japan-related content that is both fun and educational. Topics Discussed Why Koichi started making YouTube videos The transition from Koichiben to Tofugu Koichi's connection to Hawaii The difficulties of starting and running a business What motivated Koichi to create the Japanese language textbook TextFugu The kanji learning app WaniKani How pretending to be a cult can be an effective marketing strategy Koichi's appreciation of off-the-beaten path sightseeing spots "Robot Sex Museums" The Retro Space Saka Kaikan (レトロスペース 坂会館) museum in Sapporo The Fushigi Hakubutsukan (ふしぎ博物館) museum in Fukuoka The Sanatorium cafe in Fukuoka What Koichi enjoys about running his own business The hunt for the elusive Bob Sapp Trying to get in touch with prime minister Shinzo Abe And much more! Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

1 Jan 202044min

That’s right! Japankyo.com is about to launch a second podcast, so check out the trailer now! About Ichimon Japan Set to launch in early 2020 (likely January), Ichimon Japan will offer listeners insight into all aspects of Japan, its culture, language, history, society, and pop culture. Every episode hosts Tony and Ryan will ask one question (ichimon) about Japan. Drawing on their own experiences in Japan, their knowledge of the Japanese language and linguistics, and plenty of research using both Japanese and English-language sources, they’ll do everything they can to answer the question at hand. Along the way, they’ll also have a few laughs and go off on a few peculiar tangents. Ichimon Japan Release Schedule Ichimon Japan is slated to be released monthly. Bonus episodes may be released regularly. Information will be forthcoming. 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. Full Show Notes Full show notes can be found at: https://www.japankyo.com/2019/12/ichimon-japan-podcast-trailer-preview/ Listen on Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1492400997 Social Media Follow Japankyo on Facebook and Twitter so you don’t miss any updates!

25 Dec 20192min

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast I'm talking with popular webcomic creator Evangeline Neo about her career and her travels in Tokyo. About Evangeline Neo Evangeline Neo is an illustrator and comic creator from Singapore. She is best known for her webcomic which has developed a large following and often touches on Japan-related topics. To date she has published four books, including her latest A Manga Lover's Tokyo Travel Guide: My Favorite Things to Do and See in Japan. Put out by Tuttle publishing earlier this year, A Manga Lover's Tokyo Travel Guide is a unique spin on a travel guide that uses comics drawn by Evangeline Neo to present useful information for travelers in Japan. Topics Discussed When Evangeline got interested in anime and manga The first time Evangeline got her work published Evangeline's art style Going to art school in the US Evangeline's time working on her MBA at Waseda University Traveling in and around Tokyo How Evangeline was able to grow the following of her webcomic A funny experience at a cosplay photo studio Evangeline's experience at Swallowtail Butlers Cafe in Ikebukuro, Tokyo The origins of the term fujoshi The wheelchair accessibility of Meiji Shrine in Tokyo The challenges of writing a travel guide What Evangeline did when she found out her work was being used in Vietnam without her permission And much more!

15 Dec 201958min

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast we're talking about the city of Tokyo and its "bells of time." About Minami Sakai Anna Sherman is an editor and writer living in Oxford, England. Sherman spent many years living in Tokyo and used many of her experiences there to write her first book: The Bells of Old Tokyo: Meditation on Time and a City. Published earlier this year by Picador, The Bells of Old Tokyo is a unique and thoroughly captivating book that uses Tokyo's "bells of time" as jumping off point to explore both the history of the city and the very nature of time itself. Topics Discussed Studying Greek and Latin How Anna ended up in Japan What led Anna to write The Bells of Old Tokyo What Tokyo's "bells of time" (toki no kane) are and what their function was The Kokucho bell of time in Nihonbashi The Tenmacho prison (Tenmachō Yashiki) and efforts to preserve it. The missing bell of Mejiro The constantly changing nature of Tokyo How Japan reacted to Einstein's general theory of relativity Anna's relationship with a mysterious woman named Shoko Takahashi The nature of time and what working on The Bells of Old Tokyo taught Anna And much more! For full show notes visit https://www.japanstationpodcast.com Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/japankyonews Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews

1 Dec 20191h 4min

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast we're talking about manga and what it's like trying to break into the Japanese manga industry with manga creator Minami Sakai. About Minami Sakai Originally from the U.S., Minami Sakai is a manga creator living in Tokyo. After studying abroad at Doshisha University in Kyoto and participating in the JET Program, Minami attended Tokyo Design Academy where she learned manga production techniques from professional manga artists (mangaka). Over the past several years, Minami has had numerous portfolio reviews with editors at major Japanese publishers like Kodansha and Shueisha, and in doing so she has managed to make significant progess on her way to making her professional debut as a manga artist in Japan. When not drawing manga, Minami currently enjoys playing mobile games like Idolish7 and A3. She currently works for a developer of games for mobile platforms doing translation and localization. Topics Discussed The origins of the penname Minami Sakai The role Sailor Moon played in Minami's life Studying abroad at Doshisha University Learning Japanese The Kansai dialect The bursting of the "manga bubble" that led to the fall of Tokyopop The Rising Stars of Manga contest that was run by Tokyopop Minami's time participating in the JET Program How Minami got into a manga school in Japan How much it cost her to attend a manga school The kishōtenketsu story structure Portfolio review experiences at Japanese manga publishers Minami's love of mobile games like Idolish7 and A3 And much more!

15 Nov 20191h 12min

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast we are talking about the Japanese Red Army (Nihon Sekigun, 日本赤軍), a Japanese militant communist group established in 1971 with the intent of overthrowing the Japanese government and taking down Japan's monarchy. About Dr. Patricia Steinhoff Dr. Patricia Steihoff is one of the world's leading experts on the topic of Japanese social movements. With a career spanning more than five decades, Dr. Steinhoff has researched a wide range of topics, including the Japanese justice system, Aum Shinrikyo, and the radical left groups that emerged out of the Japanese protest cycles of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Her work on the Japanese militant group known as the Japanese Red Army is particularly comprehensive and has been extremely important for shedding light on the topic. Dr. Steinhoff retired from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in Honolulu at the end of the 2018-2019 school year. Topics Discussed How Dr. Steinhoff became interested in researching the Japanese Red Army The phenomenon of tenkō (転向, literally, changing direction) The 1972 terrorist attach on Lod Airport in Israel What it was like going to Israel to interview Kozo Okamoto, the only Japanese Red Army member to survive the Lod Airport attack What exactly the Japanese Red Army was What led to the creation of the Japanese Red Army The role of Fusako Shigenobu Some of the guerrilla tactics the Japanese Red Army would use The 1970 plane hijacking that would result in the "Yodogo Exiles" The student protests that occurred in Japan during the 1960s and '70s and how authorities in Japan reacted to them What became of the Japanese Red Army The impact the Japanese Red Army had on Japan and its judicial system And much more!

1 Nov 20191h 4min

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast we take a look at the fascinating intersection between Japanese culture, society, and video games. About Dr. Rachael Hutchinson Dr. Rachael Hutchinson is an associate professor of Japanese Studies at the University of Delaware. She has taught classes on Japanese language, film, anime, manga, and video games. Dr. Hutchinson is the author of Japanese Culture Through Videogames. Published in 2019 by Routledge, Japanese Culture Through Videogames is a textbook that takes a comprehensive look at the many ways Japanese culture and history influence some of the most popular video games to ever come out of Japan. Some of the video games she takes a look at in the book include: the Street Fighter series, Soul Calibur, the Tekken series, the Metal Gear series, the Yakuza series, the Final Fantasy series, Okami, and more. Topics Discussed Why Japanese fighting game arcade cabinets arrange players head-to-head instead of side-to-side like in the West Japanese fighting games The Street Fighter games The significance of character design The role of stereotypes in fighting games Nuclear disarmament in Metal Gear Solid 5 Japanese RPGs The connection between the Boy Scouts and the archetypal shōnen character that is so common in anime, manga, and JRPGs Japanese views on brain death and genetic manipulation Korean representation in Japanese video games How fighting games have dealt with Korean characters How the Yakuza games treat Korean characters What Japanese video games have to teach us about Japan Whether you can complete The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild without killing anything or eating meat And much more!

15 Okt 20191h 4min

On This Episode of Japan Station On this episode of the Japan Station podcast I sit down for a chat with the award-winning creator of the Usagi Yojimbo comic book series, Stan Sakai. About Stan Sakai Though born in Japan, Stan Sakai grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, before moving to California to pursue a career in comics. Once in California Stan went on to work with some of the most legendary figures in the comics industry, including Stan Lee and Sergio Aragones. Stan is best known as the creator of the long-running comic book series, Usagi Yojimbo. The series, which dates back to 1984, has won Stan a long list of prestigious awards, including five Eisner Awards. The main character of Usagi Yojimbo, Miyamoto Usagi, has also appeared in numerous crossovers with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Usagi Yojimbo is currently be developed into an animated TV series. Topics Discussed Stan's parents and why he was born in Japan The difference between the manga industry in Japan and the American comic book industry His work on the graphic novel adaptation of the story fo the 47 ronin (published by Dark Horse comics) How Stan got into the comic book industry The time the late-Stan Lee surprised Stan by calling him on the phone Stan's relationship with Sergio Aragones Stan's interest in Japanese history and culture Stan's wife Julie Fujii Sakai The incredible cute-ness of Chibi Usagi Usagi Yojimbo being developed into an animated TV series by Gaumont Valuable advice for aspiring comic book creators And much more! Follow Japankyo on Facebook and Twitter so you don't miss any updates!

1 Okt 201948min