Podcasts about asia podcast

Lan Su Garden is a magnificent Ming scholar garden in downtown Portland, Oregon. It opened in 2000, a collaboration between sister cities Portland and Suzhou, hence the name: Lan Su. Photographer and local resident Carol Isaak found refuge there during the Covid pandemic, fell in love with it, and began photographing the oasis through the following seasons and years. The result: her photographic book, Seasons: Lan Su Chinese Garden, published in 2025 by Seattle-based bookstore and publisher Chin Music Press.Carol and John chat about Lan Su, the Asian-American community in the Northwest, and Suzhou's rich heritage as a center of book culture and scholar gardens, especially during the Ming dynasty (1368 to 1644).Also mentioned is the graphic novel We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration by authors Frank Abe, Tamiko Nimura, and illustrators Ross Ishikawa and Matt Sasaki (Chin Music Press, 2021).To see Carol's work, including photographs of Lan Su, visit her website.  The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

The islands, in order of appearance in the episode, are: Geomun Island (Port Hamilton); the garden island of Oedo (Oe Island – “do” is the Korean word for “island”); Geojedo, site of an important Korean War POW camp and often spelled “Koje”;Ulleungdo and the nearby disputed islets of Dokdo; and the fictional island of Sukhan.Books mentioned in this Episode:A Korean Odyssey: Island Hopping in Choppy Waters (2020) by Michael GibbAnglo-Korean Relations and the Port Hamilton Affair, 1885–1887 (2016) by Stephen A. RoyleThe Hijacked War: The Story of Chinese POWs in the Korean War, (2020) by David Cheng ChangWar Trash (2004) by Ma JinIsland of Fantasy: A Memoir of an English Teacher in Korea (2005) by Shawn MatthewsThe Korea Story (1952) by John C. CaldwellThe Cuttlefish (2005) by Chris Tharp The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

Books discussed in this episode, in order of appearance:The Last Great Australian Adventurer: Ben Carlin's Epic Journey Around the World by Amphibious Jeep (Random House Australia, 2017) by Gordon BassOnce a Fool: From Japan to Alaska by Amphibious Jeep by Boye De MenteJapanese Swords and Armor: Masterpieces from Thirty of Japan's Greatest Samurai Warriors (Tuttle, 2024) by Paul MartinThe Modern Japanese Garden by Stephen Mansfield (Thames & Hudson, 2025)The Wondrous Elixir of The Two Chinese Lovers (Plum Rain Press, 2025) by Tim McGirkChina Running Dog, (Plum Rain Press, 2025) by Mark KittoAn American Bum in China: Featuring the Bumblingly Brilliant Escapades of Expatriate Matthew Evans (Camphor Press, ) by Tom Carter (Available in Audio book format, narrated by Eryk Michael Smith)The Cuttlefish, by Chris Tharp (Plum Rain Press, 2025) A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa (Plum Rain Press, 2024) by Yao-Chang ChenThe Lotus Moon: Art and Poetry of Buddhist Nun Ōtagaki Rengetsu (Floating World Editions, 2023) by John StevensOther podcasts mentioned:BOA Ep. 56:Ted Goosen on translating Hiromi Kawakami's The Third LoveFormosa Files Podcast about the Amphibious JeepBOA Ep. 39: Paul Martin on Japanese Swords and ArmorBOA Ep. 48: Stephen Mansfield on The Modern Japanese GardenBOA Ep.54: Mark Kitto on China Running DogBOA Ep. 35: John Stevens on The Healing Power of Ōtagaki RengetsuFormosa Files Podcast: Taiwan and Xu Fu, and the Two Chinese Lovers with Tim McGirkFormosa Files Podcast: A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa Bookish Asia Podcast: Chris Tharp on The Cuttlefish The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

Amy Chavez has a deep discussion with Ted Goossen about Japan, it's emerging culture, it's historically strong women and how Japanese literature and its themes, are changing. In addition to talking about Hiromi Kawakami's novel The Third Love, other mentioned in this podcast episode are feminist Chizuko Ueno, translator John Bester and authors Kanzaburo Oe, Tatsuhiko Shibusawa, Masuji Ibuse and Mieko Kawakami. Goossen is currently reading books by Ruth Ozeki, and short stories by various authors. One older book that made an impression on him was The Anatomy of Dependence by psychologist Takeo Doi, which examines the idea of dependency in relationships among the Japanese.   The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

Sam Baldwin tells John Ross about some ingredients behind the success of his self-published memoir For Fukui's Sake: Two Years in Rural Japan (the subject of a previous chat between them on the Bookish Asia podcast). They touch on Sam's latest memoir, Dormice & Moonshine: Falling for Slovenia. But the heart of the conversation is some travel book recommendations – and Sam's new project: a review website dedicated to travelogues and travel memoirs: https://travelmemoir.reviewSam's Recommended books (in order of mention):Beyond the Sky and the Earth: A Journey into Bhutan (1999) by Jamie ZeppaSeven Years in Tibet by Heinrich Harrer (Eng. 1953)Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea (2003) and Burma Chronicles (2007) by Guy DelisleTonoharu (parts 1-3, 2008-16) by Lars MartinsonRiver Town: Two Years on the Yangtze (2001) and Country Driving: A Journey from Farm to Factory (2010) by Peter HesslerLost Japan (1993) by Alex KerrThe Same Moon (2020) by Sarah Coomber The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

In his novel China Running Dog, a young man in his early twenties lives in Shanghai in the year 2000, in a greed-crazed free-for-all moral and lawless vacuum created by the Chinese Communist Party. Johnny Trent, small-time entrepreneur from Basildon in the UK, ends up in China, where he meets Felix Fawcett-Smith, fresh off the boat and from the other side of the tracks. An unlikely friendship begins.Johnny impresses the well-bred Felix with his street smarts until Felix takes Johnny's advice too literally – and too far – and slips into Shanghai's murky underbelly. He enters a world where the Party, power, and connections to them, are all that matter, where criminals are given sainthoods and saints sent to hell.Johnny tries to stop Felix's spiral, not least because Felix is taking a sweet, angelic girl, Anita, down with him and Johnny has feelings for Anita that he has never dared to put into words. But Felix thinks he knows best. Like Johnny, all he wants is respect.It's up to Johnny to save whoever he can, besides himself.Books mentioned in this podcast: Shanghai Baby by Wei Hui, Shanghai by Richie Yokomitsu (transl. Dennis Washburn), Candy by Mian MianMark's recommended books on Asia:Six Records of a Floating Life by Shen Fu.Frank Dikötter's trilogy of China,The Sailor Who Fell From Grace with the Sea by Yukio Mishima The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers – Tim McGirkThe novel tells the story of archaeologist Ned Sheehan's discovery of two ancient Chinese tombs at a Maya site in southern Mexico. One tomb belongs to Xu Fu, a famous Taoist priest who vanished on a quest for the elixir of immortality at the behest of China's First Emperor. The other houses the emperor's own mother, scandalously revealed to have been Xu Fu's lover.Tim and John talk about what is known about Xu Fu, a historical person, and Emperor Qin Shi Huang's obsession with immortality. They speculate on what happened to Xu Fu's large expedition – could he have reached the Americas? Or Japan (where he is known as Jofuku)? John recommends John Dougill's Green Shinto website, which has several pieces regarding Xu Fu in Japan.The Wondrous Elixir of the Two Chinese Lovers is published by Plum Rain Press (which John runs), and is available as a paperback and ebook on Amazon stores.Tim McGirk's Book recommendations:The Man Who Loved China: The Fantastic Story of the Eccentric Scientist Who Unlocked the Mysteries of the Middle Kingdom (2008) by Simon WinchesterThe Grand Historian (also Records of the Grand Historian) by Sima Qian (there was various translations – the original was published circa 91 BC.)The China Voyage: A Pacific Quest by Bamboo Raft (1994) by Tim SeverinVisit Tim McGirk's website The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

Lauren Scharf talks about Japan's minka, kominka and akiya houses in Japan.MinkaCon 2025, is an event to be held from Nov. 7-9, in Shinshiro, Aichi Prefecture. The two-and-a-half-day event features discussions, presentations, workshops and a writers panel for those interested in life in the Japanese countryside and preserving traditional Japanese houses. There will be a bevy of authors present, many of whom we've featured in previous episodes of the Books on Asia podcast: Azby Brown, author of Just Enough (Ep 26);  photographer and writer Everett Kennedy Brown; Alex Kerr (Lost Japan, Finding the Heart Sutra) (Ep 8) who will be beamed in via pre-recorded message; Iain Maloney author of The Only Gaijin in the Village (Ep 24); and David Joiner, author of The Heron Catchers and Kanazawa (Ep. 19).Lauren's recommended books on Japan's countryside: Inaka: Portraits of Life in Rural Japan (various authors)The Only Gaijin in the Village, by Iain MaloneyThe Widow, The Priest and The Octopus Hunter, by Amy ChavezJust Enough by Azby BrownLost Japan by Alex KerrHokkaido Highway Blues, by Will Ferguson   The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa (by Yao-Chang Chen, translated by He Wen-ching)Sitting in for Amy is the duo John Ross & Eryk Michael Smith of Plum Rain Press and the Formosa Files podcast. They discuss their very first book release, a historical novel set in southwestern Taiwan in the mid-1600s. The Dutch East India Company's presence there (1624-1662) came to an end after a series of battles and an epic nine-month siege by the Ming loyalist warlord Koxinga (aka Zheng Chenggong), born from a Japanese mother and a Chinese father. Three Tribes tells the story of the Dutch, the Chinese, and the Indigenous Siraya people. The main protagonist is Maria, the teenage second daughter of Reverend Antonius Hambroeck, who arrives in Formosa in 1648. Although Maria is a fictional character (Dr. Chen's imagined Dutch ancestor), the majority of characters in the story, including her family, are real historical people.A Tale of Three Tribes in Dutch Formosa was first published in 2012 in Chinese to great acclaim. For the author, Dr. Chen Yao-chang, then in his sixties, it was an unexpected new career as a historical novelist. The novel was translated into English by Ho Wen-ching, a professor and translator.Notes: Tainan is where the Dutch settlement was and is the old capital city.The Dongning Kingdom was from 1661-1883Frederick Coyett was the last Dutch Governor. See also:Formosa Files Podcast the best podcast on the history of TaiwanPlum Rain Press Your book gateway to East Asia  The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

Asia Bookroom exhibits their most precious items at rare and antiquarian book fairs in Melbourne, Sydney, and Hong Kong. Look for them at the Sydney Rare Book Fair from Oct. 23-25. In this podcast we discuss some of the items on offer at the Sydney Rare Book Fair:The Disputed Islands Controversial Japanese Map by Hayashi Shihei from around 1790. This is a manuscript copy (written by hand), and includes the Takeshima/Dokdo islands indicating they belong to Korea.A silk sample book from the 1950sA Japanese policeman's notebook from shortly after Japan took over Taiwan. It details experiences with indigenous people of Taiwan.Materials from Communist ChinaBooks:The Tokyo Higher Normal School: Life of the Japanese Women of Today (from 1937)Samurai Tales: Manuscript Writing's on Revenge Killings and LoyaltyBooks mentioned in the podcast:The Shortest History of Japan, by Lesley Downer, China Running Dog by Mark Kitto, Samurai and Silk, by Haru Matsukata Reischauer.Books recommended by Sally Burdon:Myself a Mandarin by Austin Coates, about Hong Kong,Country Driving by Peter HestingsGhosts of the Tsunami by Richard Lloyd ParryYou can visit Asia Bookroom online at https://www.asiabookroom.com/      The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

Adelstein introduces the people behind Mt. Gox, one of the world's largest Bitcoin exchanges, based in Tokyo and run by Frenchman Mark Karpeles. As a reporter for The Daily Beast, Japan-based Adelstein starts researching Mt. Gox, to figure out how it got hacked, and how it collapsed i 2014 with over 650,000 Bitcoins gone missing. He covers the laws, customs and quirks of Japan's hostage-justice system and how the entire investigation into Karpeles and Mt. Gox played out. And yes, it includes cats! The Devil Takes Bitcoin: Cryptocurrency Crimes and the Japanese Connection will be published by Scribe, Oct. 14, 2025.Jake is an book junkie who reads across a variety of genres. He is currently reading:The Mysterious Mr. Nakamoto by Benjamin Wallace about the founder of Bitcoin.The Sweet Spot by Paul Bloom大阪府警暴力団担当刑事Yellow Face by R.F. Kuang The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

In this episode we cover traditional Japanese gardens and how ancient gardens were related to nature, geomancy, literature and Japanese concepts of wabi-sabi, yugen, and mono no aware. but how garden design shifted from symbolism and representation to a more naturalistic style as seen in Murin-an, a garden in kyoto. Essays on garden design include entries by Ogawa Jihei (1860-1933), Kengo Kuma, Mira Locher, Japanese monk & garden designer Masuno Shunmyo, and garden historian, critic, and author Tim Richardson.Some of the gardens discussed are: Kagawa Prefectural Office in Takamatsu city, Kengo Kuma and Nezu Museum, Osaka Station Roof Garden, Hyakudanen on Awajishima Island in Hyogo (designed by Tadao Ando), the Carbon Fibre Garden in Tokyo, and the pop-art garden at Teshima Yokoo House. The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

Books discussed include:Korean Wilds and Villages (1938) by Swedish zoologist Sten BergmanThe Cleanest Race: How North Koreans See Themselves and Why it Matters, by BR MeyersAbsurdistan, by (2006) by Gary ShteyngartCat's Cradle, by Kurt VonnegutThe Cuttlefish (2005) by Chris Tharp The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

Amy Chavez and Hector Garcia discuss his recently released book, The Spirit of Shinto, and how Shinto's worldview permeates pop culture—anime, manga, films—where good and evil often blur, echoing the idea that kegare (dirt, corruption) must be cleansed rather than destroyed. Unlike Western religions where God is above, Shinto gods exist among people, as seen in Makoto Shinkai's films or games like Ghost in the Shell and Nintendo's video games. Hector, a Tokyoite himself, urges people to seek the Shinto "awe" in their daily lives since Shinto should not be explained but lived. At the very end of the episode, Garcia talks about his just-released novel Eternity in Kyoto a techno thriller with a love story that employs the Shinto concept of crossing through a gate and entering a parallel world. The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. and Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.The Books on Asia website posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service or to the Books on Asia newsletter to receive in your inbox the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.

Amy Chavez opens the show by asking Friedman to give a tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, who passed away on July 25, 2025. Friedman then turns to the reason for writing his book, co-authored by music journalist John Weiderhorn. Friedman talks about the co-writing process and describes it as “putting his musical abilities into words.” His latest solo release, Drama, he calls his best and most romantic work to date — a largely orchestral album that stretches beyond his usual style.Beyond music, Friedman reflects on being a “foreign talento” on Japanese TV, participating in variety shows, commercials, and thoughts on the Japanese entertainment industry. He reveals his inner growth writing the anime theme song Kirei na Senritsu (Beautiful Melody) for Kotoko. Friedman also shares his favorite Japanese book, Ai no Eigyō Hōshin (The Principles of Love Management) by Japanese producer Tsunku, advising young Japanese men on how to cultivate confidence. His favorite J-Pop songs are AKB48's “Heavy Rotation” which he recalls performing with them at the Budokan. He praises Kahala Tomomi's “I'm Proud” as an example of the Japanese concept of heta-uma which he explains at length in the podcast discussion. He points to Ikimono Gakari as another recommendation for those interested in learning more about J-Pop. For the full Show Notes with hyperlinks to Friedman's songs and a book review of his memoir Dreaming Japanese, visit the Books on Asia website at www.booksonasia.net   The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Amy Chavez is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. Check out theBooks on Asia website for book reviews and podcast episodes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service.

Reuniting after more than a decade since their days in This Week in Asia Podcast from 2009, Michael Smith Jr., co-host of The Generalist podcast, and Daniel Cerventus Lim, semi-retired entrepreneur and community builder in Malaysia, join us for a candid assessment of Southeast Asia's tech ecosystem evolution. In this raw conversation, Michael offers his unflinching perspective on what he calls the 'broken windows era' of Southeast Asian tech, arguing that recent alleged fraud cases like E-Fishery and Tanihub require serious consequences to restore investor confidence, while questioning whether the region was ever correctly modelled for Silicon Valley-style outcomes. Daniel shares his pivot from startup founder to search fund advocate, explaining his bullish view on acquiring profitable traditional businesses and reflects on whether the region's potential was genuinely unrealized or simply impossible to achieve. Together, they explore the shift from venture-backed unicorn dreams to bootstrap realities, debate work ethic of Southeast Asia founders in comparison with Chinese and Indian founders, and discuss why the future of Southeast Asian tech may lie in smaller, profitable exits rather than the massive IPOs once envisioned. "I think wealth creation here is very SME-focused." - Daniel Cerventus Lim "Basically whether, it's SME or startup, to me now it's just: can you build a profitable business?" - Bernard Leong "I have this philosophy that I think people don't agree with me, but we're in a broken Windows era of Southeast Asia and the only way in my opinion, the windows get fixed is if some of these people are behind bars." - Michael Smith Jr. Episode Highlights: [00:00] Quote of the Day by Daniel Cerventus, Bernard Leong & Michael Smith JR [00:59] Introduction: Daniel Cerventus and Michael Smith Jr. from the Generalists Podcast [06:00] Multiple alleged frauds in Southeast Asia: E-Fishery, Tanihub [09:57] Southeast Asia in "broken windows era" [11:26] Only exits from seed to Series A [11:47] B rounds virtually gone, A rounds endangered. [14:00] 50-100 million exits still viable [16:30] Malaysian crypto companies globally focused [19:25] Country expansion model in ASEAN doesn't work [23:02] Israel model: never think local market [24:15] Razer story: HP Mafia network backing [25:07] Supabase: not really Singapore capital, but globally successful [30:18] Chinese founders arriving with speed [31:19] Work ethic comparisons with India [32:34] Search funds emerging in Singapore [37:25] Mainstream media ignores bootstrap success [39:50] Search fund model targeting aging operators [41:21] SME vs startup distinction blurring [46:20] Hedge funds questioning regional companies [49:32] Unrealized vs impossible potential debate [51:07] Bangladesh ecosystem showing promise [53:20] Structural exit issues remain unsolved [54:31] Reset creating better founder discipline [55:40] Optimistic on Southeast Asia's startup ecosystem [57:21] Closing Profile: Michael Smith Jr., Tech Evangelist from Oracle & Co-Host, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smittysgp/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGeneralistsPodcast   Daniel Cerventus Lim, semi-retired entrepreneur, Community Builder in Malaysia and TEDxKL founder. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cerventus/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/80164351656   Podcast Information: Bernard Leong hosts and produces the show. The proper credits for the intro and end music are "Energetic Sports Drive." G. Thomas Craig mixed and edited the episode in both video and audio format. Here are the links to watch or listen to our podcast. Analyse Asia Main Site: https://analyse.asia Analyse Asia Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1kkRwzRZa4JCICr2vm0vGl Analyse Asia Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/analyse-asia-with-bernard-leong/id914868245 Analyse Asia LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/analyse-asia/ Analyse Asia X (formerly known as Twitter): https://twitter.com/analyseasia Sign Up for Our This Week in Asia Newsletter: https://www.analyse.asia/#/portal/signup Subscribe Newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7149559878934540288

A few of Takemori's favorite books on Japan are:Hitomachi, a photo book by Araki NoboyoshiWalking The Kiso Road by William Scott Wilson (See our podcast episode with the author)The Catalpa Bow by Carmen BlackerTakemori's upcoming translations are Grave of the Fireflies by Akiyuki Nosaka (Penguin Modern Classics,  Sept. 2025), Hollow Inside by Asako Otani (2026) and Family of the Wasteland by Atsushi Sato (May 2027).Read a book review of Mornings Without Mii (previous title Mornings With My Cat Mii) on the BOA website.Subscribe to the Books on Asia podcast. The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with Plum Rain Press. Amy Chavez is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island. Check out theBooks on Asia website for book reviews and podcast episodes. Subscribe to the BOA podcast from your favorite podcast service.

This week Jen Seyderhelm covers: Surveys of Newcastle and Warrnambool Podpoll 2025 CRA showcases the power of audio while RNZ flounders Russell Clark joins Lisa Shaw on 96FM breakfast 4GR (Triple M Toowoomba) turns 100 Well wishes for Andrew Moore, Darren James and Steve Bedwell and the National Radio Airplay Chart song of the week. Jen also mentioned the Asia Podcast Award finalists, you can find them here. The winners will be announced at the RadioDays Asia conference in Jakarta on 2nd September. Radiodays Asia program lineup here. Register here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we hit our 300th episode, we were advised to discontinue this show. Here's what we decided to do.   SHOW SPONSORS Our sponsors are helping us to raise the standards of Asia's fitness industry. Show these great companies some support! Hapana, our preferred gym management software Ezypay, our preferred subscription and payment solution NEWSLETTER For fitness business tips, insights and news - subscribe to The Fit Guide Newsletter   THE FIT GUIDE The Fit Guide helps you find and experience the world's best fitness clubs and studios; and helps clubs create incredible, five star client experiences every time. Visit The Fit Guide The Fit Guide on LinkedIn The Fit Guide on Instagram   SHOW RESOURCES Jack Thomas on LinkedIn Fitness Business Asia Website Fitness Business Asia Instagram  

Lina Terrell is a translator of Japanese historical texts. Today we are going to talk about her recently released translation of The Legacy of the Ryukyu Kingdom: An Okinawan History (JPIC, 2025) by Takara Kurayoshi, a native of Okinawa. Before Okinawa, the unified and independent Ryukyu Kingdom existed for 400 years. What was this island nation like and what kind of world did it exist in? Author and Okinawa native Takara Kurayoshi plumbs the depths of Okinawa's distant and obscure past.Amy and Lina discuss the Ryukyu Kingdom before it became a part of Japan. They discuss noro priestesses, sea pirates, and trade with China.Lina's favorite books on Japan are:The Roads to Sata: A 2000-Mile Walk through Japan b Alan BoothThe World of the Shining Prince: Court Life in Ancient Japan by Ivan Morris The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher's website.Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.Books on AsiaTwitter: @BooksOnAsiaSubscribe to the BOA podcast at https://linktr.ee/booksonasia

Igor Prusa, Ph.D. is a Czech scholar in Japanese and media studies, currently affiliated with Ambis University Prague and Metropolitan University Prague. He received PhDs in media studies at Prague's Charles University and at the University of Tokyo. His research interests include media scandals in Japan and anti-heroism in popular fiction. Today we're going to talk about his new book, Scandal in Japan: Transgression, Performance and Ritual (Routledge, 2024). He recently started teaching a course at the University of Vienna on the subject.Prusa explains his definition of a scandal, emphasizing its public revelation and media framing. He highlights the Unification Church scandal involving former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, noting its unique trigger by a tragedy and the role of foreign media in revealing information. Prusa also discusses narrative aspects and media event characteristics of Japanese scandals, concluding that while controversies often serve as rituals, they rarely lead to fundamental societal improvements.They then mull over two major Japanese scandals. The first is the Olympus scandal of 2011, exposed by CEO Michael Woodford, which involved hiding company losses for over 20 years through creative accounting and mergers. The scandal was initially covered by outside media, with the Financial Times playing a crucial role. The Nissan scandal, involving CEO Carlos Ghosn, revealed millions in personal financial gains and a conflict between Japanese and French governance. Ghosn's extravagant lifestyle and a planned merger with Renault further fueled public outrage. This conversation also highlights the role of media in scandal coverage and the cultural nuances of whistleblowing in Japan.Lastly, Prusa tells what his 3 favorite books on Japan are:1. Shimbun Kisha (新聞記者) by Isoko Mochizuki  (望月衣塑子). Written in Japanese, this book provides insights into the role of journalists in Japan and how they have helped expose various scandals, including the Moritomo Gakuen and Shiori Ito rape cases. The book inspired a 2019 Japanese film by the same name.2. Media and Politics in Japan edited by Susan Pharr and Ellis Krauss, with a chapter on political scandals by Maggie Farley. This is a classic introduction to understanding the relationship between media and politics in Japan.3. Idols and Celebrity in Japanese Media Culture edited by Patrick Galbraith and Jason Karlin. Offers valuable insights into the role of idols and celebrities in Japanese media and culture, and how scandals can emerge in this context.Be sure to check out Igor Prusa's book Scandal in Japan: Transgression, Performance and Ritual.Visit him on social media at the following links:Academic website: https://mup.academia.edu/IgorPrusaLinkedIn (follow here for the latest Japanese scandals and Prusa's analysis)Facebook The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher's website.Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.Books on AsiaTwitter: @BooksOnAsiaSubscribe to the BOA podcast at https://linktr.ee/booksonasia

In this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, Amy Chavez talks with Baye McNeil talk about being a black minority in Japan, Japanese views of black people, the "African Samurai," the arrival of Commodore Perry in 1854 (who brought a minstrel show with him who performed "blackface"), and some of the media's portrayals of black people in both the US and Japan. He cites the original Calpis beverage label with a blackface character and mentions tropes in Japanese television. He suggests Japanese change the way they tell stories and  use biracial people to represent black people rather than their own representations of black people. He also reflects on teaching English in Japan, the power of propaganda, and the idea of "American exceptionalism."As a writer, columnist, and activist, Baye McNeil writes about diversity and inclusiveness. McNeil is a columnist for The Japan Times (English) where he writes the monthly column called "Black Eye" about the African American experience living in Japan and also writes for Toyokeizai Online (Japanese) where he shares reflections on life and race, as well as profiling people of color who are reshaping Japan's cultural landscape. He is author of two previous books: Hi! My Name is Loco and I am a Racist and Loco in Yokohama, both of which offer accounts of life as a visible minority in Japan. His latest book is Words By Baye, Art By Miki: Crafting a Life Together with Affection, Creativity, and Resilience.Baye's favorite books on Japan are Shogun, Gaijin, and James Clavell's entire series.Be sure to check out Baye's bookWords By Baye, Art By Miki: Crafting a Life Together with Affection, Creativity, and Resilience available on Amazon.Visit him on social media at the following links:Website: www.bayemcneil.comAmazonGoodreadsFacebookLinkedInInstagram The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher's website.Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.Books on AsiaTwitter: @BooksOnAsiaSubscribe to the BOA podcast at https://linktr.ee/booksonasia

Podcast host Amy Chavez talks with Michael Pronko, a Tokyo-based writer of murder, memoir, and music. He is professor of American Literature at Meiji Gakuen University. During his over 20 years in the country, he has written for Newsweek Japan, The Japan Times, and Artscape Japan, and has been featured on NHK TV and Nippon television. He also runs the website Jazz in Japan, which covers the vibrant jazz scene in Tokyo and Yokohama. Today, we're going to talk about Pronko's fiction, as well as his nonfiction books, including his most recently released Tokyo Tempos.Pronko's "Detective Hiroshi" series includes:The Last TrainThe Moving BladeTokyo TrafficTokyo ZangyoAzabu GetawayShitamachi Scam (which we talk about on the podcast today)Pronko's "Tokyo Moments" series includes:Beauty and ChaosTokyo's Mystery DeepensMotions and MomentsTokyo Tempos (which we talk about on the podcast today)Pronko's favorite books on Japan are:Empire of Signs by Roland BarthesThe Anatomy of Dependence by Takeo DoiYou Gotta Have Wa and Tokyo Junkie by Robert WhitingThe Zen books by D.T. Suzuki, and anything by Donald RichieYou can find Michael Pronko online at his website (http://www.michaelpronko.com) and at the following links on social media:AmazonInstagramGoodreadsFacebookLinkedInTwitter (X) @pronkomichael The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher's website.Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.Books on AsiaTwitter: @BooksOnAsiaSubscribe to the BOA podcast at https://linktr.ee/booksonasia

Tennis Asia Podcast gives the rundown of our top 10 players from Asia in the 2024 season, featuring men and women from the singles and doubles circuits. Who will make the top 10 and who just missed out? Listen/watch to find out!

Paul Martin is a Japanese sword expert who has worked at the British Museum and traveled extensively in Japan to study swords and armor. Martin's new book Japanese Swords and Armor covers 30 famous samurai warriors and their swords, armor, and other artifacts associated with them, from antique sets to modern treasures, each with its own historical and cultural significance. The book was originally published in both Italian and French, and will now be available in English from by Tuttle Publishing in Oct. 2024.He discusses the history and significance of Emperor Go-Toba, who was exiled to the Oki Islands but continued making swords there. The swords he made were marked with a chrysanthemum, which became the basis for the current Imperial seal.In this podcast episode, Paul Martin highlights some of the most notable pieces in his book, including a wooden sword made by Miyamoto Musashi and sword fittings attributed to him. Martin provided recommendations on the best places in Japan to see historical Japanese swords.Empeor Go-Toba was known for his poetry, much of it written while in exile on Oki Island. One particular poem involves the poet banishing the frogs from a nearby pond:"Frogs, croaking in the pond,Go away, banish your noise;In this world of sorrow,There is no need for your song." (translation generated from ChatGPT)This poem highlights Go-Toba's despair and the heavy burden of his exile. The imagery of banishing the frogs from the pond serves as a metaphor for his own banishment and desire for peace amidst his suffering.Paul also talks about the beginning lines of the Tale of the Heike, an epic that recounts the history of the late Heian period, including the life and exile of Go-Toba“The sound of the Gion Shoja temple bells echoes the impermanence of all things; the color of the sala flowers reveals the truth that to flourish is to fall. The proud do not endure, like a passing dream on a night in spring; the mighty fall at last, to be no more than dust before the wind.” Helen Craig McCulloughLastly, Paul's favorite books are:1. They Came to Japan by Michael Cooper, a collection of Jesuit records from the 17th century.2. The Tale of the Heike, (version translated by Helen Craig McCullough) a classic Japanese epic poem that reflects the concept of impermanence.“The sound of the Gion Shoja temple bells echoes the impermanence of all things; the color of the sala flowers reveals the truth that to flourish is to fall. The proud do not endure, like a passing dream on a night in spring; the mighty fall at last, to be no more than dust before the wind.” Helen Craig McCullough3. The documentary "The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On" by Kazuo Hara, which explores the ambiguities of Japanese culture and the horrors of war.Be sure to pick up his book: Japanese Swords and Armor: Masterpieces from Thirty of Japan's Most Famous Samurai Warriors (Tuttle, Oct. 2024)You can follow Paul Martin by clicking on the following links:Website: The Japanese Sword (thejapanesesword.com)YouTube: Paul Martin: The Japanese SwordFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/The.Japanese.SwordInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejapanesesword/Twitter: @thejapaneseswrd (https://x.com/thejapaneseswrd)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thejapanesesword/ The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher's website.Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.Books on AsiaTwitter: @BooksOnAsiaSubscribe to the BOA podcast at https://linktr.ee/booksonasia

Burritt Sabin was born in New York City and came to Japan as a naval officer in 1975. His professional career in Japan started as a journalist, and he quickly moved into writing and historical research. The first book we're going to discuss today is about Yokohama,  one of the first Japanese ports to open to foreign trade in the 1850s. A Historical Guide to Yokohama: Sketches of the Twice-Risen Phoenix is a window into a time when Japan was rapidly opening up to the world. (The book is in English, despite what the Amazon listing says.)The other book we'll talk about is Kamakura: A Contemplative Guide,which highlights the first samurai capital in the 12th century. Shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo chose this city for the seat of his military government, ushering in the Kamakura Period in 1185.Subjects covered in the podcast:1. Townsend Harris and the opening of Japan (Yokohama)2. The meeting of Sun Yat-sen and Miyazaki Toten in Yokohama3. The Hotel New Grand in Yokohama4. The Great Buddha of Kamakura5. Natsume Soseki's and Suzuki Daisetz's sojourn at Kigen-in, Kamakura6. The Kamakura bunshiSabin also discusses his three favorite books on Japan:1. The Death of Old Yokohama in the Earthquake of 1923 by Otis Manchester PooleA gripping account in real time of a man navigating the post-quake hellscape in an attempt to reach his family.2. Aru Shisei no To: Koshikata wa kanashiku mono kiroku (A Waif of the Streets: Record of a Sad Passage) by Hasegawa ShinHasegawa Shin (1884~1963) recounts growing up in poverty in late-19th century Yokohama, teaching himself to read and write and later becoming a leading popular playwright.3. Sugao Kamakura (The True Face of Kamakura) ed. by Osaragi JiroAn insightful collection of essays on Kamakura by writers who have made the city home.Be sure to check out Burritt Sabin's books A Historical Guide to Yokohama: Sketches of the Twice-Risen Phoenix (2002) and Kamakura: A Contemplative Guide (2021), available on Amazon or at your favorite bookstore. The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher's website.Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.Books on AsiaTwitter: @BooksOnAsiaSubscribe to the BOA podcast at https://linktr.ee/booksonasia

We discuss the incredible first title win in Chengdu for 19-year-old Shang Juncheng, aka Jerry Shang. He becomes the first player born in 2005 or later to win an ATP title, and just the second man from China to win an ATP title. How far can this young talent go? Also discussed is the Hangzhou Open, with a run to the final for Zhang Zhizhen and a semifinal run for Bu Yunchaokete, with Bu entering the top 100 for the first time. How good is Chinese men's tennis right now?! Yasutaka Uchiyama also reached the quarters in Hangzhou. Also discussed are the recently completed Korea Open, this week's China Open, Zhang Shuai breaking her record 24-match losing streak, the return of Naomi Osaka, and the Japan Open featuring Kei Nishikori and Rei Sakamoto. We even made room to discuss the Nonthaburi 4 Challenger and the return of a certain Mr. Hyeon Chung!

Amy Chavez speaks with Lesley Downer, an expert on Japanese culture and history who writes both fiction and non-fiction. Her novels transport readers to the intriguing world of 19th-century Japan, while her non-fiction takes us along  the Narrow Road to the Deep North with poet Matsuo Basho; behind the scenes of the Japanese geisha community; and into the intrigues of the richest family in Japan. In this episode, she discusses her just-released The Shortest History of Japan: From Mythical Origins to Pop Culture Powerhouse, which provides a concise yet detailed account of Japanese history.Lesley highlights the significance of historical figures like Himiko, the shaman queen who unified Yamatai, and Empresses Suiko and Koken, who ruled Japan in their own right. She also touches on the feminist movement in Japan, particularly the contributions of Hiratsuka Raicho and Akiko Yosano. Lastly, she shares insights into her writing career, including her transition from nonfiction to fiction and her research on geisha.Lesley mentions Yosano Akiko's poem "Until Death Do Us Part" ("Shini tanoma") which she wrote before her brother went off to war:Until Death Do Us Partby Yosano AkikoThough my body dies,My soul will remain with you.Until the end of time,Let us pledge to be together,Until death do us part.(translation: ChatGPT 4o)Lesley's three favorite books on Japan:1. Japan Journal, 1855-1861 (1964) by Henry Heusken, which covers the author's experiences during his time as the secretary and interpreter for Townsend Harris, the first U.S. Consul General to Japan.2. As We Saw Them: The First Japanese Embassy to the United States (1979) by Masao Miyoshi, about the first Japanese diplomats who visited the United States in 1860.3. Taiko: An Epic Novel of War and Glory in Feudal Japan  (1992) by Yoshikawa Eiij, a historical novel that tells the story of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, one of Japan's greatest warlords and unifiers during the Sengoku period. The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher's website.Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.For more podcast episodes, visit the Books on Asia website or subscribe to the Books on Asia podcast.

Help Ghost Maps win in the Asia Podcast Awards! Vote for us in the People's Choice Vote, under the Best Fictional Podcast category: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AsiaPodcastAwards2024PplChoice We're up against some fierce—and amazing—competition, so every one of you counts! Vote now: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AsiaPodcastAwards2024PplChoice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amy Chavez talks with Robert Whiting about his recently released book Gangsters, Fraudsters, Dreamers & Spies: The Outsiders Who Shaped Modern Japan (Tuttle, April, 2024). They talk about strong women characters such as an Australian bar hostess named Maggie who became famous for using scissors to cut off customers' neckties  and a female yakuza gangster who carried a revolver in her purse. And if you think Japan doesn't have a drug problem, think again. Whiting talks about North Korean drug smuggling and its contribution to a surging number of meth users. Lastly, while most tourists to Japan can't help but be impressed by Japanese taxi drivers who wear white gloves and deliver impeccably polite service, things weren't always that way in Japan. In fact, taxi drivers used to be rude and dirty, and the job was so loathsome that Japanese wives were embarrassed to tell people their husbands were taxi drivers! Whiting tells us about the MK Taxi company that was started by a Korean who was determined to change all that.At the end of the podcast, Whiting tells us what he's reading right now:The Coldest Winter: America and the Korean War, by David HalberstamCareless Love: The Unmaking of Elvis Presley, by Peter Guralnick The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher's website.Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.For more podcast episodes, visit the Books on Asia website or subscribe to the Books on Asia podcast.

In this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, host Amy Chavez talks to author John Stevens about his new book The Lotus Moon: Art and Poetry of Buddhist Nun Otagaki Rengetsu (Floating World Editions, Aug. 2023).Book's Features:The most comprehensive English-language presentation of the work of famed nun and artist Ōtagaki Rengetsu (1791-1875)• Presents 90 of Rengetsu's painting and pottery works in over 242 full-color photos• Written by Professor John Stevens, the foremost Western authority on Rengetsu• Includes Japanese kana, romanization, and English translations, with commentary for all entries• Provides an intimate portrait of the life and work of one of the most remarkable women in Japanese culture• Offers insights into significant thematic and cultural concerns of 19th-century Japanese art Be sure to pick up John's book, which you can find either online or at Floating World Editions from their website. You can hear our previous podcast with John Stevens and find out more about his remarkable career as well as  the Rengetsu exhibition in Barcelona, Spain, at BOA Episode 21: John Stevens—A Lifetime of PublishingThe Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher's website. Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.For more podcast episodes, visit the Books on Asia website or subscribe to the Books on Asia podcast.

You could be flown to KL. Sponsored by Riverside. Create studio-quality recordings and edit with lightning speed. Riverside is your podcast and video studio. With our latest updates, you can now edit faster and stream better. Elevate your podcasting game — try Riverside today. Visit https://podnews.net/update/asia-podcast-awards-2024-launched for the story links in full, and to get our daily newsletter.

Amy Chavez has been a columnist for The Bali Times, HuffPo, and The Japan Times (the latter 23 years). She founded Books on Asia in May 2018. Her articles have been published in newspapers and magazines around the world including Japan, the UK, the US, Canada, Taiwan, Indonesia, and New Zealand. She lives in Japan. Her latest book is The Widow, The Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island available at Bookshop.org  (an online bookshop that puts you in touch with local bookstores who procure your purchase for pick-up) for those in the US. You should also be able to find the book at Kinokuniya and The Laughing Oyster Bookshop in B.C. Canada, for all our B.C. canuck buddies out there.LINKS:The Facebook Page for the bookAmy on Twitter: @JapanLite and  @BooksOnAsiaBooks on Asia Podcast is here or subscribePLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW: The Deep in Japan Podcast is completely independent and crowd-funded, so if you like what you hear, please give a thought to supporting the show at https://www.patreon.com/deepinjapanMUSIC:The intro was my original mashup of Fist of the North Star, a few anime sound bites, some kabuki, a cheap recording of my son's Buzz Lightyear toy, and “Dubstep" from BenSound.The outro was "Kanzan Bakuzen Bouzen" by "that old bad enka singer" Chiharu Matsuyama. Apparently, he was a well-coiffed renai baller back in the 80s though. Got something to say? You can find me at the following:www.facebook.com/groups/deepinjapan/ deep.in.japan.podcast@gmail.comAs always, thanks for listening!

Global forces are pushing the world into a new period in which rules will have tochange fundamentally. In these uncertain yet exciting times, Asia is poised to leadthe way. In this episode of the Future of Asia Podcast, Chris Bradley, a director of theMcKinsey Global Institute (MGI), and Jeongmin Seong, a partner at MGI, discuss arecent report that looks at the new era being brought in by global disruptiveevents—a transition that will require major changes. They particularly focus on Asia,detailing how the region sits at the center of these changes. Asia will be significantlyaffected by the shifts, but they will open new opportunities that can enable the regionto thrive.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

New business building is becoming a top priority for CEOs, often in response to changing consumer demands. How can companies navigate the complexities to achieve scale? In this episode of the Future of Asia Podcast, two of McKinsey's senior partners discuss new business building and the patterns that they see emerging in the field. Markus Berger-de León, who helps clients grow and improve new and existing businesses, and Nimal Manuel, who serves telecommunications and public sector clients on strategy, marketing and sales, and digital transformations, talk about the opportunities arising for new business building. They highlight how companies that adopt the best methodologies and practices and forge partnerships can build and scale successful new businesses.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

Author and travel-writer Angus Waycott talks about his  8-day walk around Sado Island off Niigata Prefecture in the Japan Sea. He gives us in-depth accounts of: a mujina (tanuki-worshipping) cult, funa-ema (literally "ship horse pictures"), exile (including those of Zeami and Buddhist priest Nichiren), and the controversy behind the Kinzan gold mine and its "slave labor," all topics that he recorded in his book Sado: Japan's Island in Exile, originally published by Stone Bridge Press in 1996 and re-issued as an e-book by the author 2012 and 2023.Book Description: "Given the choice, no-one ever went to Sado. For more than a thousand years, this island in the Sea of Japan was a place of exile for the deposed, disgraced or just plain distrusted — ex-emperors, aristocrats, poets, priests and convicted criminals alike. This book rediscovers the exiles' island, explores the truth about its notorious gold mine, tracks down a vanishing badger cult, and drops in on the home of super-drummer band Kodo. Along the way, it paints a vivid picture of one of Japan's most intriguing backwaters, now emerging from a long exile of its own."About the AuthorAngus Waycott is an author and travel writer whose books have been published in the UK, USA, Japan and the Netherlands. He has been the voice of TV news broadcasts, commercials, and award-winning documentaries, voiced "character" parts in game software and anime productions, and worked as a copywriter, publisher, teacher, translator, lighting designer, and staircase builder. His books are Sado: Japan's Isand in Exile, Paper Doors: Japan from Scratch (2012), The Winterborne Journey: along a small crack in the planet (2023), and National Parks of Western Europe (2012). Check out his short video on Sado Island.The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher's website. Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.Subscribe to the Books on Asia podcast.

In this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with author and translator Frederik L. Schodt, who has written/translated many books on Japan including The Osamu Tezuka Story, Manga, Manga!: The The World of Japanese Comics, The Astro Boy Essays, and My Heart Sutra: The World in 260 Characters (read our review).But the two books we're going to talk about today are his historical non-fiction books Professor Risley and the Imperial Japanese Troupe: How an American Acrobat Introduced Circus to Japan and Japan to the West, and Native American in the Land of the Shogun: Ranald MacDonald and the Opening of Japan. Both books, published by our sponsor Stone Bridge Press, are accounts of American men who pioneered US-Japan relations. Schodt talks about "Professor" Risley, an early acrobat of the mid-nineteenth century who starts his own circus that he takes to Japan. His trademark move involved juggling his two small sons with his feet. See an example of what is now known as the Risley Act in this video we found on Youtube:https://youtu.be/VkFIkXXyDVc?si=zXfmUyeW9QBrwM_oRisley later starts a Japanese circus that he takes touring around the world. The other book we discuss is Schodt's biography of Native American Ranald MacDonald, who makes his way to Japan during the Edo period and ends up not just teaching English but having a hand in negotiations with Commodore Perry and the opening of Japan.About the AuthorFrederik L. Schodt is a writer, translator, and conference interpreter based in the San Francisco Bay area. He has written widely on Japanese history, popular culture, and technology. His writings on manga, and his translations of them, helped trigger the current popularity of Japanese comics in the English-speaking world. He was awarded the Special Category of the Asahi Shimbun's prestigious Osamu Tezuka Culture Award, and in 2009, he was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, for his work helping to promote Japan's popular culture overseas.You can find him at his Website, on Twitter(X) @fschodt  and on Facebook.The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at the publisher's website. Amy Chavez, podcast host, is author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan and The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.Subscribe to the Books on Asia podcast.

In this episode, we chat with Korea-based photographer Noe Alonzo. Over the years Noe has established himself as a talented photographer, capturing the the urban areas of South Korea and Japan at night. He talks about his content creation journey and how he took photography from being a hobby to a professional endeavor.  Noe shares his experiences and talks about how creators can evolve in what they do.  Check out my other podcast, the Supernatural Japan Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/supernatural-japan/id1616675498 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/652187626755803 Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/jlandkev Instagram (nature stuff): https://instagram.com/shizenwildlife YouTube: http://youtube.com/@busankevin  Follow Noe Alonzo: Website: https://noealz.com/ X: https://twitter.com/noealz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noealz

In this episode of the BOA podcast, host Amy Chavez talks with John Ross, a New Zealand writer based in Taiwan. Ross has spent three decades in Asia, starting as a freelance photojournalist then becoming an English teacher and author. His works include Formosan Odyssey: Taiwan, Past and Present, You Don't Know China: Twenty-Two Enduring Myths Debunked, and Taiwan in 100 Books. He co-founded  Camphor Press, a publishing house focused on East Asia called and co-hosts Formosa Files, a weekly podcast on the history of Taiwan.John Ross lives in a small town in Taiwan, known as the birthplace of the inventor of instant noodles: Momofuku Ando. Ross explains why he moved to Taiwan in 1994 and how his plans for writing a book about the Mongolian manbeast was waylaid as he instead embarked on an epic journey in 1999 that became Formosan Odyssey: Taiwan, Past and Present. This first book is about travel, history, and small-town life in Taiwan.Amy and John talk about Japan's occupation of Taiwan and the legacies the Japanese left behind such as education, infrastructure, and railroads. Ross talks about Taiwan's long history of attempted colonization by the Dutch, French, and Ming Loyalists.Next, Ross talks about Taiwan in 100 Books, how he chose the volumes that tell the story of Taiwan through their interesting backstories, controversial texts, and fabulist authors who brought the first information about Taiwan to readers around the world.In You Don't Know China: Twenty-Two Enduring Myths Debunked Ross explicates common misunderstood facts about various topics, including the Great Wall, Chinese medicine, fortune cookies, eating dogs, and Lord Macartney's mission to China in 1793.Lastly, Amy and John talk about other authors, their books, and what led John Ross, Michael Cannings, and Mark Swofford to form Camphor Press in February 2014. Ross, in charge of acquisitions, talks about filling the void between academic and big box presses. He gives kudos to other small presses such as Earnshaw Books, Stone Bridge Press, and Blacksmith Books, who are all invested in bringing quality books to readers.Amy introduces some Camphor Press books based on her own library. John adds some more titles to her list, including two by winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature Pearl S. Buck: The Exile: Portrait of an American Mother, and Fighting Angel: Portrait of a Soul.John talks about the lost art of the travelogue and how the 1990s and the internet destroyed what should be an enduring genre.They discuss great travel writers such as Heinrich Harrer, Bill Bryson, and Ernest Hemingway.John and Amy talk about how the travel genre is changing and where it is headed. Amy also mentions Alex Kerr's upcoming book Hidden Japan: An Astonishing World of Thatched Villages, Ancient Shrines and Primeval Forests (Sept. 2023, but you can pre-order here) and how the author advises people to not go to these places, but rather be happy reading about them instead.John Ross's favorite travelogues are:Seven Years in Tibet by Heinrich HarrerLand of Jade: A journey through India Through Northern Burma to China (1996), by Bertil LintnerIn the Footsteps of Genghis Khan, by John DeFrancisRoss's three Favorite Books on Japan are:On the Narrow Road to the Deep North: Journey into a Lost Japan by Leslie DownerIn Search of Japan's Hidden Christians, by John DougillCharinko by Tom Gibb (an upcoming Camphor Press title)Be sure to check out John Ross's books at the Camphor Press website or via Amazon. You can also visit him on social media at the following links:Taiwan in 100 BooksCamphor Press (Sign up for the Camphor Press Newsletter by scrolling to the bottom of that page)Formosa Files PodcastThe Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of fine books on Asia for over 30 years. Subscribe to the Books on Asia Podcast. Subscribe to the BOA podcast at https://linktr.ee/booksonasia

International educator and podcaster, Kevin O'Shea brings you some interesting takes on a long life living abroad in Asia. The Just Asia Podcast profiles fascinating expats living across Asia doing amazing things. He talks to people in Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia and more. Listen to their stories and be inspired by the lives they lead.   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-asia/id1674193428   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qBwXhrGswVKwd7HlwwP8E   Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/daa3e5dd-7705-459a-8232-cc887772e096/just-asia   Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1071669   Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kYjViZjUwMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw       © Kevin O'Shea 2023

International educator and podcaster, Kevin O'Shea brings you some interesting takes on a long life living abroad in Asia. The Just Asia Podcast profiles fascinating expats living across Asia doing amazing things. He talks to people in Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia and more. Listen to their stories and be inspired by the lives they lead.  Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-asia/id1674193428 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qBwXhrGswVKwd7HlwwP8E Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/daa3e5dd-7705-459a-8232-cc887772e096/just-asia Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/show/1071669 Google Podcasts: https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9hbmNob3IuZm0vcy9kYjViZjUwMC9wb2RjYXN0L3Jzcw © Kevin O'Shea 2023

In 2021 John Rucynski--who has been living in Japan on and off since 1994--self-published A Passion for Japan through Blue Sky Publishing. In this anthology, which includes 31 writers, he asks not why the writers came to Japan but why they stayed. Here is a list of the essays and writers included, from the Table of ContentsShodō: Finding My Way in The Way of WritingKaren Hill AntonOne Year with the Guardians of the PhoenixCarmen Săpunaru TămașMatsuri MadnessDavid M. WeberWadaiko: Drumming to Our Own BeatDaniel LilleyFollow the Sound of the Drums: My Passion for EisaJudy KambaraA Love of Indie Music and a Seat behind the GoalAdrianne Verla UchidaSumo and MeTim CraigA Pushover for SumoKatrina WattsBaseball, Blogging, and BelongingTrevor RaichuraComing Home: The Search for Belonging in Rural JapanVictoria YoshimuraLooking for the Good Life: Living as a Local In a Zero Waste VillageLinda Mengxi DingGaijin in the Garden: Where Ganbaru is GoldenRobert McLaughlinFrom Bruce Lee to The Way of TeaRandy Channell SoeiFrom the Land of the Indomitable Lions to the Land of the Blue Samurai: A Personal StorySamuel NforThe Long Road from Clay to Pot, and What I Learned along the WayIrina HolcaThe Man Who Stepped into YesterdayEdward J. TaylorKumano Leap – Local Heritage Adopts a Wandering Soul: Q & A with Mike RhodesMike RhodesLife Lessons Learned in Japan's MountainsWes Lang“Banzai!” on a Spanish Island: Playing Chess in Japan's ColorsSimon BibbyWho, Me?! Volleyball Refereeing in JapanGreg RouaultPassion in a Community: Finding My Japan through JALTWayne MalcolmCome Sail Away: Finding My Passion on the Ship for World YouthJohn RucynskiThe Inner Game of the Japanese: Going Back Home with TennisHaru YamadaWho Am I? In Search of My IdentityMargaret C. KimMy Love for Traditional Rituals and Customs of JapanHiya MukherjeeDiscovering Japanese Fusion of Religions on the Pilgrimage Island of ShikokuSteve McCartyFeeling at Home with the Great Literary MastersVicky Ann RichingsToo Many Novels I Want to Translate: Q & A With Emily BalistrieriEmily BalistrieriLiterature and Legacy: Stories of Hansen's Disease in JapanKathryn M. TanakaRoof Spotting in JapanWendy BiglerA Passion for the Place: Swept Off My Feet by a Japanese FarmhouseRebecca OtowaThe book is available exclusively onAmazon USA / Amazon JapanFollow the book on Instagram, Facebook, and Goodreads.At the end of the podcast, Amy asks John what his top 3 books on Japan are and why. He gives 4:You Gotta Have Wa, by Robert WhitingThe Roads to Sata, by Alan BoothCool Japan, by Tim CraigPure Invention, by Matt AltJohn Rucynski, editor of A Passion for Japan: A Collection of Personal Narratives, is originally from upstate New York and has been living in Japan on and off since 1994. He is currently associate professor in the Center for Language Education at Okayama University. His main research interest is the role of humor in language acquisition and intercultural communicative competence, and he has edited two volumes on this topic.The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press, publisher of quality books on Japan and Asia for over 30 years. Go to their website at https://www.stonebridge.com/

There is a notable distinction between Western and Chinese social media, and this difference is worth studying for companies wanting to ensure brand success. In China specifically, brands wishing to successfully market their products to the general public need to expertly navigate the complex, ever-evolving Chinese social media landscape. This is where this episode's special guest comes in!Join us in our conversation about Chinese social media and marketing with Olivia Plotnick, the Founder of Wai Social, a company responsible for curating and executing intentional social media strategies for clients.Olivia's unparalleled insight into China marketing allows us to ask important questions about the culture surrounding Chinese social media. For instance, how companies speak about their wine brands online sends a message to Chinese consumers—so, with which values should they align their captions and comments to guarantee optimal engagement and revenue?In addition, what apps are most popular in China as opposed to other countries? And what social and cultural guidelines should wine companies follow online?Sign up for their newsletter hereMore about Wai Social: www.waisocial.comFollow Olivia on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-plotnick/Since 2016, Bottled in China brings you into the food and drink scene through conversations with the some of the most happening personalities. Hosted by Emilie Steckenborn, the show is your one spot for all things food, beer, wine and spirits from across the world. Connect with us on LinkedIn or Instagram @bottled.in.china Podcast available on iTunes, Spotify , online or wherever you listen to your episodes!

International educator and podcaster, Kevin O'Shea brings you some interesting takes on a long life living abroad in Asia. From the quirky facets of life in Japan to living under covid restrictions in China. Kevin talks about food, travel, raising 3rd culture kids, gardening, teaching at international schools, and a lot more. International living has a lot of ups and sometimes downs. Next stop…Malaysia for even more food, travel, and life adventures!   Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-asia/id1674193428   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2qBwXhrGswVKwd7HlwwP8E

In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, host Amy Chavez sits down with writer, translator, and professor of Japanese at Western Michigan University, Jeffrey Angles. He is the first non-native poet writing in Japanese to win the Yomiuri Prize for Literature, a highly coveted prize for poetry. His translation of the modernist classic The Book of the Dead by Shinobu Orikuchi won both the Miyoshi Award and the Scaglione Prize for translation. He is with us today to talk about his translation of the just-released book by Hiromi Ito, The Thorn Puller. Hiromi Ito, author of The Thorn Puller (Toge-nuki Jizo: Shin Sugamo Jizo engi) came to national attention in Japan in the 1980s for her groundbreaking poetry about pregnancy, childbirth, and female sexuality. After relocating to the U.S. in the 1990s, she began to write about the immigrant experience and biculturalism. In recent years, she has focused on the ways that dying and death shape human experience.

Sarah Coomber is the author of The Same Moon (Camphor Press, 2020), a memoir about what happened when she traded out her wrecked Minnesota life for two years in rural Japan. The Same Moon is possibly the only book about the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET) experience written from a woman's point of view. Sarah joined the program in 1996, when the government-sponsored program was in its infancy.In this episode of the Books on Asia Podcast, she talks about being a single woman in Japan at that time, expectations at work, and how things have changed, or not, since then. Finally she gives some advice on what women should consider before moving to Japan to teach English.At the very end of the podcast, Sarah shares with us her top three books on Japan:1. Shogun, by James Clavell2. The Accidental Office Lady: An American Woman in Corporate Japan by Laura Kriska3. A Half-Step Behind: Japanese Women Today, by Jane Condon Author Bio: Sarah Coomber has  worked in public relations, journalism, science writing and advocacy, and has taught English at the college level. She has an MFA in creative writing from Eastern Washington University, a master's in mass communication from the University of Minnesota, and level-four certification in the Seiha School of koto. A resident of Minnesota, she writes, manages communications projects, coaches other writers, and teaches yoga.Find her online at her website or sign up for her newsletter. You'll also find her at the following social media links:Twitter: @CoomberSarahInstagram: @sarahcoomberwriterFacebook: @sarahcoomberwriterLinkedIn: @sarahcoomber

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Theme: The Third Joyful Mystery: the Nativity Scripture readings: Mt 1:18-2:23, Luke 2:1-21 Next episode 12/25/22: The Nativity of Our Lord Saint Nick article (and sorry again about my butchering of "Myra"): https://www.ncregister.com/blog/let-s-stop-celebrating-st-nicholas-punching-arius?amp History of Asia Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/history-of-asia/id1565212636  

In a new episode of the McKinsey Future of Asia Podcast, Gillian Tan, Chief Sustainability Officer of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), speaks with host Bharath Sattanathan, partner based in McKinsey's Singapore office, as they discuss how Asia can take tangible steps to transition to a net-zero economy—and the role of finance in enabling it. Drawing on key takeaways from MAS's Transition finance towards net-zero: Scaling blended finance conference, Gillian and Bharath highlight the need for a fundamental rethink of public finance, and the evolving role of finance regulators in the net-zero transition.See www.mckinsey.com/privacy-policy for privacy information

In this episode of the Books on Asia podcast, podcast host and island-dweller Amy Chavez and Gifu countryside villager Iain Maloney discuss their experiences living in Japan's countryside. Iain's book The Only Gaijin in the Village: A Year Living in Rural Japan is dedicated to the subject of himself moving to the the countryside with his Japanese wife, while Amy in her latest book The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island documents the countryside-living experience with an emphasis on the Japanese people she lives among. See what similarities and differences these authors reveal in this "shared experience" of moving to Japan's countryside.Some helpful vocabulary for this episode:gaijin: a non-Japanese personhoncho: the head of a local neighborhood area or associationchonaikai: Neighborhood Associationkairanban: a notebook sponsored by the Neighborhood Association that acts as a communication tool and is passed from house to house to inform of local events. One reads the notice, checks off they've read it, then the notebook is walked to the next person's house and turned over to them.akiya: an empty or abandoned houseakiya taisaku: measures taken to fill empty houses with tenantsfudosan: real estate agentmurahachibu: ostracization, non-acceptance of outsidershanko: one's seal or stamp used on official documents (mortgages, legal documents, etc.)danka: a parishoner or member of a Buddhist templeshimatsukuriinkai: similar to a town hall meeting as applied to an islandAmy starts off asking Iain what influenced his decision to move to Japan's countryside. They  discuss the odd lack of livestock, which is one of the first things Westerners associate with the bucolic countryside.Amy then asks Iain how he and his wife went about selecting a house, if they had to fix it up themselves, and about the process of moving in. They compare houses, repairs, especially toilets. Iain talks about the things that confounded their real estate agent when they were house hunting. Amy explains the much more complicated process of moving to the island where she lives.Amy talks about having moved to Shiraishi Island by herself, and how she later brought a foreign husband into the mix, and asks Iain what aspects make it easier or more difficult to move to the countryside with a Japanese spouse. They talk about the pros and cons of being "accepted" into a Japanese community, including ostracism (murahachibu), which also applies to Japanese people. They also discuss good foreigner/bad foreigner stereotypes that exist for non-Japanese. Amy talks about how she grew to understand the real issues behind murahachibu.Each village is different and every area has its own customs, rules, and ways of doing things, so Amy and Iain compare Neighborhood Associations, the volunteer fire department, and taking part in town-hall meetings as well as dealing with neighbors, their indirectness and how the power of suggestion plays a role in Japanese society.They talk about akiya taisaku attempts to lure Japanese people into countryside living, and Amy talks about the people who helped her integrate into her community.Lastly, Iain's names his favorite books as related to Japan's countryside:Inaka: Portraits of Rural Life in Japan (an anthology)Lost Japan, by Alex KerrUnbeaten Tracks in Japan, by Isabella BirdKanazawa, by David joinerThe Easy Life in Kamusari by Shion Miura (transl. Juliet W. Carpenter)The Books on Asia Podcast is sponsored by Stone Bridge Press. Check out their books on Japan at www.stonebridge.com.Your podcast host is Amy Chavez, author of Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan, and The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island.Don't miss out on upcoming episodes with Asia's best authors and translators by subscribing to the Books on Asia podcast.

Amy Chavez has been a columnist for The Bali Times, HuffPo, and The Japan Times (the latter 23 yrs). She founded Books on Asia in May 2018. Her articles have been published in newspapers and magazines around the world including Japan, the UK, US, Canada, Taiwan, Indonesia and New Zealand. She lives in Japan. Her latest book is The Widow, The Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island available at Bookshop.org  (an online bookshop that puts you in touch with local bookstores who procure your purchase for pick-up) for those in the US. You should also be able to find the book at Kinokuniya and The Laughing Oyster Bookshop in B.C. Canada, for all our B.C. cannuck buddies out there. LINKS: The Facebook Page for the bookAmy on Twitter: @JapanLite and  @BooksOnAsiaBooks on Asia Podcast is here or subscribePLEASE SUPPORT THE SHOW: The Deep in Japan Podcast is completely independent and crowd-funded, so if you like what you hear, please give a thought to supporting the show at https://www.patreon.com/deepinjapanMUSIC: The intro was my own original mashup of Fist of the North Star, a few anime sound bites, some kabuki, a cheap recording of my son's Buzz Lightyear toy, and “Dubstep" from BenSound.The outro was "Kanzan Bakuzen Bouzen" by "that old bad enka singer" Chiharu Matsuyama. Apparently, though, he was a well-coiffed renai baller back in the 80s tho -- check it. Got something to say? You can find me at the following:www.facebook.com/groups/deepinjapan/ deep.in.japan.podcast@gmail.comAs always, thanks for listening!Support the show