Amakara Japan

This week, Steven, Michelle and Yasushi discuss the impacts and possible changes to the school year due to Covid-19. Discussions from the Japanese governments address starting the school year in September as opposed to April to coincide with international schooling systems. https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1071/ https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Education/September-school-year-to-put-Japan-in-line-with-world

This week, Steven, Yasushi and Michelle discuss why the Covid-19 cases in Japan seem to be on the lower end compared to the rest of Europe and the US.

The last of getting to know your podcasters as we discuss the cultural aspects we want to adopt into our home countries vs. the aspects we are glad aren't apart of our home culture.

We're back again this week discussing more about ourselves and what we miss about our travels, as well as the things we were glad to get back in our home countries

In this episode, we decided to take an escape from the real world and let our listeners get to know the real us and our experiences in each other's respective countries. So come listen to Yasushi's take on American culture and Steven and Michelle's first impressions of Japan. Enjoy!

In our last episode, the Coronavirus was mostly a focus only in Asia and eastern countries. Yet within a couple of weeks, the whole world has been affected and in this episode, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss why Japan goes about business as normal while the rest of the world shuts down.

The hot topic this week all over Japan (and all over the rest of the world too) is the Coronavirus, so of course Yasushi, Steven and Michelle are discussing it. School closures, limited large gatherings, the reasoning behind it all -- we talk about all of it and how it's affecting everyone's lives and the Japanese economy.

This week, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the recent decision of the University of Tokyo (Todai) to ban clubs that discriminate against women. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13082948 http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13054988 https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/08/world/asia/tokyo-university-women-japan.html

In this recording, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the ever rampant topic of overtourism in Japan's most popular areas and ways the government is hoping to tackle the crowds for the future https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0005970099 http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13060063 https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190920/p2a/00m/0na/022000c

This week, Yasushi, Steven, and Michelle discuss the face mask culture in Japan.  We discuss customer service staff wearing masks, the fashion statements of mask-wearing and the outbreak of the coronavirus and the lack of masks available. https://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/policies-differ-concerning-retail-staff-wearing-face-masks-to-ward-off-colds https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/why-do-japanese-people-wear-surgical-masks-its-not-always-for-health-reasons

On this episode, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the international headline of Carlos Ghosn's dramatic escape from Japan to Lebenon and the Japanese legal system.

On this episode, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the ever rampant gender inequality in Japan, the reasons why and ways to try to narrow the gap. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/17/national/social-issues/japan-121st-global-gender-equality-ranking/#.XfmMX2T7TIU https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2019/07/04/commentary/japan-commentary/japans-systemic-barriers-gender-equality/#.XfmO7WT7TIU

This week, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the recent postponement of the new university entrance exams due to economic issues. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201911010039.html https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191101/p2a/00m/0na/013000c

This week, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the recent tragedy of a 71-year-old woman taking the lives of her husband and in-laws after the emotional exhaustion associated with caring for them for years. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201911230046.html https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191118/p2a/00m/0na/004000c

On this episode, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss a tragic story of an elementary school teacher in Kobe who suffered awful bullying from his teacher co-workers, so much so that he quit his job. http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201910150030.html

In this episode, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle talk about the recent change allowing the majority of childcare programs to be free for most parents https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/d00489/japan%E2%80%99s-free-childcare-program-no-panacea-for-daycare-waitlists.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/japan-daycare-birth-rate-mothers-childcare-education-family-a8952276.html

This week, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the recent change of venue for the Olympic Marathon from Tokyo to Sapporo due to summer heat concerns. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/11/01/national/tokyo-governor-gives-up-sapporo-olympic-marathon/ https://qz.com/1740231/tokyo-olympics-marathon-moved-to-sapporo-over-heat-concerns/

Yasushi, Steven, and Michelle discuss the recent consumption tax rate hike from 8% to 10% in Japan and how it has affected businesses and consumers. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191001/p2g/00m/0na/001000c

This week, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss Japanese comedians taking side jobs performing for the Yakuza just to make ends meet. We also discuss the relaxed rules in Japan regarding genetically edited foods as well as talk about an extreme case of a father accidentally murdering his child in the name of discipline. Yoshimoto http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201907300063.html http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201907250040.html Genetically-edited foods http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201907110024.html http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201903190038.html Educational Abuse http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201907140034.html

In this episode, Yashushi, Steven and Michelle discuss Japan starting the whaling industry again for commercial purposes, along with the royalty fees lawsuit with JASRAC against a music school. We finish up the podcast discussing the lack of hotel rooms available for lottery ticket winners for the Olympic Game.

On this episode, Yasushi and Michelle respond to listeners' question about the meaning of Amakara. We also discuss the crackdown on payoffs to the Yakuza in preparation to the 2020 Olympics; how Japan's teachers work the most hours internationally, but the fewest hours actually teaching in the classroom; as well as discuss if the customer really is "king" in Japan.

Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the recent controversy of workplace rules and regulations, including females wearing high heels at work, a man's repercussions of taking paternity leave and mandatory English learning in order to be on Japan's national fencing team.

This week, Yasushi, Steven, and Michelle discuss the minimum wage in Japan, a new rule for high school baseball teams and a very controversial case regarding rape/sexual assault.

Yasushi, Steven, and Michelle discuss the new laws that have passed regarding mandatory vacation days, corporeal punishment, and safety concerning Japanese sports festivals.

In this episode, Yasushi and Michelle discuss new laws being created in Japan in regards to the 2020 Olympics, fees for pregnant women and how Japanese people hope to soon introduce themselves to foreigners.

Yasushi, Michelle and Steven discuss recent news about an auto accident caused by a high ranking senior citizen. We also discuss the working culture of Japanese teachers and the side-effects of depression for them.

Yasushi and Michelle discuss the recent abdication of the Imperial Throne and the history behind the traditions