Japanatron

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Writer / comedian / American ex-pat David Pavlina hosts Japanatron--a podcast about life, learnings, and cultural experiences in the land of the rising sun. A wide variety of topics related to Japan are covered, all told from the standpoint of an American living in Tokyo.

David Pavlina

  • Nov 6, 2018 LATEST EPISODE
  • infrequent NEW EPISODES
  • 36m AVG DURATION
  • 40 EPISODES


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Latest episodes from Japanatron

Heavenly Japanese Flavors Part 2 - Japanatron 40

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2018 38:13


With special friend and guest Pavi, we discuss my list of heavenly flavors and foods that I first encountered in Japan and/or strongly associate with Japanese cuisine: Goma - https://amzn.to/2Ij10K3 Anko - https://amzn.to/2IgVckn Mentaiko - https://amzn.to/2GJGUeP Umeboshi - https://amzn.to/2uBY2hM Matcha - https://amzn.to/2GrHpXP --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

Heavenly Japanese Flavors - Japanatron 39

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2018 44:39


With special friend and guest Pavi, we discuss my list of heavenly flavors and foods that I first encountered in Japan and/or strongly associate with Japanese cuisine: Shouyu - https://amzn.to/2uE1Lvh Ponzu - https://amzn.to/2IjaIMy Yuzu - https://amzn.to/2Ja6vvP Wasabi - https://amzn.to/2E8H4qY Shoga - https://amzn.to/2H2joYo Nori - https://amzn.to/2EbhjGh Shiso - https://amzn.to/2IjqIy1 Mikan - https://amzn.to/2GtsOee --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

Public Pools in Japan - Japanatron 38

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2018 23:16


My daughter's been really into swimming lately, so we've been spending lots of time at the local public pool. It seemed like an apt Japanatron topic, so here it is! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

37 - Japanese Holidays

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2017 52:06


Prepare for a whirlwind tour of the year covering my favorite Japanese holidays. I enjoy the not-working, eating, and getting drunk aspects; but complain about the having to buy and do stuff. Special thanks to the listener that suggested this topic. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

36 - Overtime in Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2017 31:31


Japanese people are known for doing crazy amounts of overtime work, so much so that some have literally dropped dead. There's no way you're going to get American me to work such hours, so what's up with all the overtime in Japan? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

35 - The Hyponatremia Incident

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2016 52:46


I narrate and reflect upon a personal medical emergency experience that landed me in a Japanese hospital for a week. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

34 - Remembering the Tohoku Earthquake

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2016 41:41


I recall and discuss my experience in Tokyo during and after the massive March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

33 - Japanese TV

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2016 36:40


I discuss reasons why I both hate and love Japanese television and elucidate my professor-like ruminations as to why it is the way it is. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

32 - Noise Pollution in Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2016 58:46


An obnoxious topic covered by a loud ugly American--let's talk about noise pollution in Japan. I rant about Japan's problem with excessive noise, sharing personal experiences and heavily-biased conclusions. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

31 - IT Jobs in Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2015 43:25


I discuss Japan's IT industry for foreigners, specifically Tokyo IT for Western foreigners. I narrate my fascinating personal story about how I got my foot in the proverbial Tokyo IT door, followed by learnings and advice. Recommended if you too are looking into working in Japan's tech world. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

30 - Experiences in Japanese Show Biz Part 2

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2015 35:59


Part 2 of a special episode of firsts--my first guest and my first video podcast. I discuss experiences working in Japan's talent industry with the beautiful and talented fellow American Cait Meyer. The iTunes version is audio-only, so please check out YouTube for the video version. More info about Japan's show biz industry here: http://www.mondaiji.com/blog/japan/show-biz --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

29 - Experiences in Japanese Show Biz

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2015 26:34


This is an episode of firsts--my first guest and my first video podcast. I discuss experiences working in Japan's talent industry with the beautiful and talented fellow American Cait Meyer. We shot enough for 2 episodes, so please stay tuned for more! The iTunes version is audio-only, so please check out YouTube for the video version. More info about Japan's show biz industry here: http://www.mondaiji.com/blog/japan/show-biz --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

28 - Tips for Studying Japanese

Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2015 51:10


I present Japanese language study tips and mental shortcuts that have aided me in the quest to learn this often bewildering tongue. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

27 - I Don't Get It

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2015 24:36


No matter how long I live in Japan, there are a few things about this country and its culture that perpetually confuse me. I present my whine list followed by grinch-like groans. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

26 - Japanese Service

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2015 45:51


Japan prides itself on its awe-inspiring service. I discuss 4 examples of where I find exceptional service in Japan, along with 4 examples of perplexing exceptions. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

25 - Healthcare in Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2014 45:35


I discuss healthcare in Japan, comparing and contrasting it with USA healthcare. I also share several personal experiences to paint a more colorful cultural picture. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

24 - Internet Service in Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2014 23:04


I discuss internet service in Japan, explaining various options and approaches--landlines, wireless routers, and other alternatives. Please see this blog article for more information about my own ISP Asahi-Net: http://www.mondaiji.com/blog/japan/general/10207-life-in-japan-english-speaking-internet-service-provider-asahi-net --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

23 - Mobile Phones in Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2014 35:48


I discuss mobile phone service in Japan, offering money-saving tips and alternatives to the big 3 (evil) mobile providers. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

22 - Cycling in Tokyo

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2014 35:30


After 3 months of commuting to and from work by bicycle, I discuss learnings, enumerate tips, and offer (bad) advice regarding cycling in central Tokyo. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

21 - My Favorite Japanese Stores

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2014 51:17


Some of them brick-and-mortar, some of them online--I discuss my favorite Japanese shops and digress with a few personal addiction experiences. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

20 - Japanese Obsessions

Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2014 26:55


I discuss 6 Japanese obsessions that shed light on a culture that never fails to beguile me. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

19 - The Themes of Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2014 28:20


I discuss several all-encompassing themes I've discovered during my time here that summarize Japanese culture and society very conveniently. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

18 - Restaurants

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2014 21:14


It's time to talk about dining in Japan! I focus particularly on what makes Japan's fast food and family restaurants so unique. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

17 - The Misunderstood

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2014 24:05


I discuss four often-misunderstood things related to Japanese culture. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

16 - What Japan Taught Me About Health

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2013 26:19


I discuss several things that Japan and its culture have taught me about promoting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

15 - DOs and DON'Ts of Tokyo Life

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2013 21:35


I discuss key rules I live by to survive Tokyo's insane population density. If you take these golden nuggets of advice to heart, you will do just fine in Tokyo. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

14 - LA Visit Part 2

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2013 54:14


Part 2 of 2 of a very special episode recorded in my hometown of Los Angeles with my 3 best friends. Among other things we discuss Japan's pro wrestling scene, gun control, health care, and weddings. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

13 - LA Visit Part 1

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2013 64:26


Part 1 of 2 of a very special episode recorded in my hometown of Los Angeles with my 3 best friends. Among other things we discuss Japan's dark underbelly, including the red light industry and the Yakuza. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

12 - Dating and Nightlife

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2013 65:22


It's time for a night out on the town! I share stories and discuss 4 unique Japanese things that add a little spice to the dating and nightlife scene here. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

11 - What They Think of US

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2013 21:05


Living abroad you gain a fascinating perspective on what the rest of the world thinks of your home country. I discuss 4 images of America that I've heard a number of times from the mouths of Japanese people. Don't shoot the messenger! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

10 - Hotsprings

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2013 33:38


Winter is the best time to visit a Japanese onsen, aka hot spring. I share some fun experiences and provide helpful tips. It's a great show to listen to if you too have ever felt compelled to be naked in a room full of naked strangers. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

9 - Drinking in Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2012 28:29


Japanese people love to drink. And so do I. So let's talk about drinking in Japan: beer, sake, shochu, izakayas, yeah! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

8 - The Kyoto Incident

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2012 29:03


It's storytellin' time on Japanatron, so curl up by the fire and enjoy a tale of a Japan road trip gone slightly wrong. You and your intestines will never forget it. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

7 - Life at AEON

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2012 53:28


I discuss the good, the bad, and the funny regarding life at AEON working as an English conversation teacher in Japan. Was that a run-on sentence? --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

6 - Japan's Summer of Bugs

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2012 29:10


Summer is here, and so are the bugs. I discuss how I deal with 3 Japanese bugs particularly active in summer. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

5 - Reflections on Life in the Countryside

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2012 38:02


The two and a half years I worked as an English conversation teacher in the Japan countryside were the golden days of my Japan experience. I talk primarily about daily life and spending free time in Tottori, Japan. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

4 - Cool Japanese Stuff I Can't Live Without

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2012 21:27


Japan has a few products and services that are so damn cool I can't live without them. A few may even be successful in the US, while others…no freakin' way. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

3 - Why I Can't Move Back To America

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2012 21:31


Why I Can't Move Back To America - After over 8 years in Japan, I don't think I can ever move back to the USA. Here's why. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

2 - Survival Japanese

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2012 35:15


Survival Japanese - A fun outline of tips and tricks I've learned while living in Japan and interacting with the natives. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

1 - Smoking

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2012 22:45


Japanese people love their cigarettes. Compared to the USA, Japan is a veritable smokers' paradise. I discuss the reasons why, and what should be done about this public health concern that annoys the crap out of me. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/japanatron/support

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