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Last time we spoke about the beginning of the battle of lake Khasan. On a frost-bitten dawn by the Chaun and Tumen, two empires, Soviet and Japanese, stared at Changkufeng, each certain the ridge would decide their fate. Diplomats urged restraint, but Tokyo's generals plotted a bold gamble: seize the hill with a surprise strike and bargain afterward. In the Japanese camp, a flurry of trains, orders, and plans moved in the night. Officers like Sato and Suetaka debated danger and responsibility, balancing "dokudan senko", independent action with disciplined restraint. As rain hammered the earth, they contemplated a night assault: cross the Tumen, occupy Hill 52, and strike Changkufeng with coordinated dawn and night attacks. Engineers, artillery, and infantry rehearsed their movements in near-poetic precision, while the 19th Engineers stitched crossings and bridges into a fragile path forward. Across the river, Soviet scouts and border guards held their nerve, counting enemy shadows and watching for a break in the line. The clash at Shachaofeng became a lightning rod: a small force crossed into Manchurian soil in the restless dark, provoking a broader crisis just as diplomacy teetered.   #179 From Darkness to Crest: The Changkufeng Battle Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. As remarked in the 19th division's war journal "With sunset on the 30th, the numbers of enemy soldiers increased steadily. Many motor vehicles, and even tanks, appear to have moved up. The whole front has become tense. Hostile patrols came across the border frequently, even in front of Chiangchunfeng. Tank-supported infantry units were apparently performing offensive deployment on the high ground south of Shachaofeng." Situation maps from the evening indicated Soviet patrol activity approaching the staging area of Nakano's unit near the Tumen, moving toward Noguchi's company to the left of Chiangchunfeng, and advancing toward Matsunobe's unit southwest of Shachaofeng. Russian vessels were depicted ferrying across Khasan, directly behind Changkufeng, while tanks moved south from Shachaofeng along the western shores of the lake. The 19th division's war journal states "Then it was ascertained that these attack forces had gone into action. All of our own units quietly commenced counteraction from late that night, as scheduled, after having systematically completed preparations since nightfall." Meanwhile, to the north, the Hunchun garrison reinforced the border with a battalion and tightened security. All evidence supported the view that Suetaka "in concept" and Sato"(in tactics" played the main part in the night-attack planning and decisions. Sato was the only infantry regimental commander at the front on 30 July. One division staff officer went so far as to say that Suetaka alone exerted the major influence, that Sato merely worked out details, including the type of attack and the timing. Intertwined with the decision to attack Changkufeng was the choice of an infantry regiment. The 76th Regiment was responsible for the defense of the sector through its Border Garrison Unit; but the latter had no more than two companies to guard a 40-mile border extending almost to Hunchun, and Okido's regimental headquarters was 75 miles to the rear at Nanam. T. Sato's 73rd Regiment was also at Nanam, while Cho's 74th Regiment was stationed another 175 miles southwest at Hamhung. Thus, the regiment nearest to Changkufeng was K. Sato's 75th, 50 miles away at Hoeryong. Although Suetaka had had time to shuffle units if he desired, Sasai suggested that troop movements from Nanam could not be concealed; from Hoeryong they might be termed maneuvers. Suetaka undoubtedly had favorites in terms of units as well as chiefs. K. Sato had served longest as regimental commander, since October 1937; Okido's date of rank preceded K. Sato's, but Okido had not taken command until 1938. He and Cho were able enough, but they were unknown quantities; T. Sato and Cho were brand-new colonels.  Thus, K. Sato was best known to Suetaka and was familiar with the terrain. While he did not regard his regiment as the equal of units in the Kwantung Army or in the homeland, K. Sato's training program was progressing well and his men were rugged natives of Nagano and Tochigi prefectures. From the combat soldier's standpoint, the Changkufeng Incident was waged between picked regulars on both sides. The matter of quantitative regimental strength could have played no part in Suetaka's choice. The 74th, 75th, and 76th regiments each possessed 1,500 men; the 73rd, 1,200. Even in ordinary times, every unit conducted night-attack training, attended by Suetaka, but there was nothing special in July, even after the general inspected the 75th Regiment on the 11th. It had been said that the most efficient battalions were selected for the action. Although, of course, Sato claimed that all of his battalions were good, from the outset he bore the 1st Battalion in mind for the night attack and had it reconnoiter the Changkufeng area. Some discerned no special reasons; it was probably a matter of numerical sequence, 1st-2nd-3rd Battalions. Others called the choice a happy coincidence because of the 1st Battalion's 'splendid unity' and the aggressive training conducted by Major Ichimoto, who had reluctantly departed recently for regimental headquarters. Coming from the 75th Regiment headquarters to take over the 1st Battalion was the 40-year-old aide Major Nakano. By all accounts, he was quiet, serious, and hard-working, a man of noble character, gentle and sincere. More the administrative than commander type, Nakano lacked experience in commanding battalions and never had sufficient time to get to know his new unit (or they, him) before the night assault. He could hardly be expected to have stressed anything particular in training. Since there was no battalion-level training, the most valid unit of comparison in the regiment was the company, the smallest infantry component trained and equipped to conduct combat missions independently. Sato valued combat experience among subordinates; Nakano's 1st Battalion was considered a veteran force by virtue of its old-timer company commanders. All but one had come up through the ranks; the exception, young Lieutenant Nakajima, the darling of Sato, was a military academy graduate. For assault actions synchronized with those of the 1st Battalion, Sato selected Ito, the one line captain commanding the 6th Company of the 2nd Battalion, and Takeshita, 10th Company commander, one of the two line captains of the 3rd Battalion. In short, Sato had designated five veteran captains and a promising lieutenant to conduct the night-attack operations of 30-31 July, the first Japanese experience of battle against the modern Red Army. During the last two weeks of July, numerous spurious farmers had gambled along the lower reaches of the Tumen, reconnoitered the terrain, and prepared for a crossing and assault. Scouts had operated on both the Manchurian and Korean sides of the river. Major Nakano had conducted frequent personal reconnaissance and had dispatched platoon and patrol leaders, all heavy-weapons observation teams, and even the battalion doctor to Sozan Hill, to Chiangchunfeng, and close to enemy positions. In Korean garb and often leading oxen, the scouts had threaded their way through the Changkufeng sector, sometimes holing up for the night to observe Soviet movements, soil and topography, and levels of illumination. From this data, Nakano had prepared reference materials necessary for an assault. Hirahara, then located at Kucheng BGU Headquarters, had established three observation posts on high ground to the rear. After Chiangchunfeng had been occupied, Hirahara had set up security positions and routes there. Regarding Changkufeng, he had sought to ensure that even the lowest private studied the layout. Formation commanders such as Takeshita had volunteered frequently. Sato had also utilized engineers. Since the order to leave his station on 17 July, Lieutenant Colonel Kobayashi had had his regiment engage in scouting routes, bridges, and potential fords. Sato's 1st Company commander had prepared a sketch during 3% hours of reconnaissance across from Hill 52 during the afternoon of 18 July. Captain Yamada's intelligence had contributed to the tactical decisions and to knowledge of Russian strength and preparations. The most important information had been his evaluation of attack approaches, suggesting an offensive from the western side, preferably against the right flank or frontally. This concept had been the one applied by the regiment in its night assault two weeks later; Yamada had died on the green slopes he had scanned. Cloudy Saturday, 30 July, had drawn to a close. The moment had been at hand for the 75th Regiment to storm the Russians atop Changkufeng. Setting out from Fangchuanting at 22:30, Nakano's battalion, about 350 strong, had assembled at a fork one kilometer southwest of Changkufeng. The roads had been knee-deep in mud due to intermittent rain and downpours on 29–30 July. Now the rain had subsided, but clouds had blotted out the sky after the waning moon had set at 22:30. Led by Sakata's 1st Platoon leader, the men had marched silently toward the southern foot of Changkufeng; the murk had deepened and the soldiers could see no more than ten meters ahead. It had taken Sakata's men less than an hour to push forward the last 1,000 meters to the jump-off point, where they had waited another two hours before X-hour arrived. Scouts had advanced toward the first row of wire, 200–300 meters away. Platoon Leader Amagasa had infiltrated the positions alone and had reconnoitered the southeastern side of the heights. Sakata had heard from the patrols about the entanglements and their distance and makeup. While awaiting paths to be cut by engineer teams, the infantry had moved up as far as possible, 150 meters from the enemy, by 23:30. Although records described Changkufeng as quite steep, it had not been hard to climb until the main Russian positions were reached, even though there were cliffs. But as the craggy peak had been neared, the enemy defenses, which had taken advantage of rocks and dips, could not have been rushed in a bound. It had been 500 meters to the crest from the gently sloping base. The incline near the top had been steep at about 40 degrees and studded with boulders. Farther down were more soil and gravel. Grass had carpeted the foot. Japanese Army radio communications had been in their infancy; wire as well as runners had served as the main means of linking regimental headquarters with the front-line infantry, crossing-point engineers, and supporting guns across the Tumen in Korea. From Chiangchunfeng to the 1st Battalion, lines had been installed from the morning of 29 July. Combat communications had been operated by the small regimental signal unit, 27 officers and men. In general, signal traffic had been smooth and reception was good. Engineer support had been rendered by one platoon, primarily to assist with wire-cutting operations. Nakano had ordered his 1st Company to complete clearing the wire by 02:00. At 23:30 the cutters had begun their work on the right with three teams under 1st Lieutenant Inagaki. Since the proposed breach had been far from the enemy positions and there were no outposts nearby, Inagaki had pressed the work of forced clearing. The first entanglements had been breached fairly quickly, then the second. At about midnight, a dim light had etched the darkness, signaling success. There had been two gaps on the right. On the left side, Sakata's company had hoped to pierce the barbed wire in secrecy rather than by forced clearing. Only one broad belt of entanglements, actually the first and third lines, had been reconnoitered along the south and southeastern slopes. Sakata had assigned one team of infantry, with a covering squad led by Master Sergeant Amagasa, to the engineer unit under 2nd Lieutenant Nagayama. Covert clearing of a pair of gaps had begun. The Russian stakes had been a meter apart and the teams cut at the center of each section, making breaches wide enough for a soldier to wriggle through. To the rear, the infantry had crouched expectantly, while from the direction of Khasan the rumble of Soviet armor could be heard. At 00:10, when the first line of wire had been penetrated and the cutters were moving forward, the silence had been broken by the furious barking of Russian sentry dogs, and pale blue flares had burst over the slopes. As recalled by an engineer "It had been as bright as day. If only fog would cover us or it would start to rain!" At the unanticipated second line, the advancing clearing elements had drawn gunfire and grenades. But the Russians had been taken by surprise, Sakata said, and their machine guns had been firing high. Two engineers had been wounded; the security patrol on the left flank may have drawn the fire. Sakata had crawled up to Lieutenant Nagayama's cutting teams. One party had been hiding behind a rock, with a man sticking out his hand, grasping for the stake and feeling for electrified wire. Another soldier lay nearby, ready to snip the wire. The enemy had seemed to have discerned the Japanese, for the lieutenant could hear low voices. Although the cutters had been told to continue clearing in secrecy, they had by now encountered a line of low barbed wire and the work had not progressed as expected. Forced clearing had begun, which meant that the men had to stand or kneel, ignoring hostile fire and devoting primary consideration to speed. The infantrymen, unable to delay, had crawled through the wire as soon as the cutters tore a gap. Ten meters behind the small breaches, as well as in front of the Soviet positions, the Japanese had been troubled by fine low strands. They had resembled piano-wire traps, a foot or so off the ground. The wires had been invisible in the grass at night. As one soldier recalled "You couldn't disengage easily. When you tried to get out, you'd be sniped at. The wires themselves could cut a bit, too." Sakata had kept up with the clearing teams and urged them on. On his own initiative, Amagasa had his men break the first and third lines of wire by 01:50. Meanwhile, at 01:20, Nakano had phoned Sato, reporting that his forces had broken through the lines with little resistance, and had recommended that the attack be launched earlier than 2:00. Perhaps the premature alerting of the Russians had entered into Nakano's considerations. Sato had explained matters carefully, that is, rejected the suggestion, saying Changkufeng must not be taken too early, lest the enemy at Shachaofeng be alerted. The entire battalion, redeployed, had been massed for the charge up the slope. In an interval of good visibility, the troops could see as far as 40 meters ahead. A little before 02:00, Nakano had sent runners to deliver the order to advance. When the final obstructions had been cut, Nagayama had flashed a light. Then a white flag had moved in the darkness and the infantry had moved forward. Sakata's company, heading directly for Changkufeng crest, had less ground to traverse than Yamada's, and the point through which they penetrated the wire had been at the fork, where there appeared to have been only two lines to cut. The soldiers had crawled on their knees and one hand and had taken cover as soon as they got through. It had been 02:15 when the battalion traversed the barbed wire and began the offensive. The Japanese Army manual had stated that unaimed fire was seldom effective at night and that it had been imperative to avoid confusion resulting from wild shooting. At Changkufeng, the use of firearms had been forbidden by regimental order. Until the troops had penetrated the wire, bayonets had not been fixed because of the danger to friendly forces. Once through the entanglements, the men had attached bayonets, but, although their rifles had been loaded, they still had not been allowed to fire. The men had been traveling light. Instead of the 65 pounds the individual rifleman might ordinarily carry, knapsack, weapons and ammunition, tools, supplies, and clothing, each helmeted soldier had only 60 cartridges, none on his back, a haversack containing two grenades, a canteen, and a gas mask. To prevent noise, the regulations had prescribed wrapping metal parts of bayonets, canteens, sabers, mess kits, shovels, picks, and hobnails with cloth or straw. The wooden and metal parts of the shovel had been separated, the canteen filled, ammunition pouches stuffed with paper, and the bayonet sheath wrapped with cloth. Instead of boots, the men had worn web-toed, rubbersoled ground socks to muffle sound. Although their footgear had been bound with straw ropes, the soldiers occasionally had slipped in the wet grass. Considerations of security had forbidden relief of tension by talking, coughing, or smoking. Company commanders and platoon leaders had carried small white flags for hand signaling. In Sakata's company, the platoons had been distinguished by white patches of cloth hung over the gas masks on the men's backs, triangular pieces for the 1st Platoon, square for the second. Squad leaders had worn white headbands under their helmets. The company commanders had strapped on a white cross-belt; the platoon leaders, a single band. Officer casualties had proven particularly severe because the identification belts had been too conspicuous; even when the officers had lay flat, Soviet illuminating shells had made their bodies visible. On the left, the 2nd Company, 70–80 strong, had moved up with platoons abreast and scouts ahead. About 10 meters had separated the individual platoons advancing in four files; in the center were Sakata and his command team. The same setup had been used for Yamada's company and his two infantry platoons on the right. To the center and rear of the lead companies were battalion headquarters, a platoon of Nakajima's 3rd Company, and the Kitahara Machine-Gun Company, 20 meters from Nakano. The machine-gun company had differed from the infantry companies in that it had three platoons of two squads each. The machine-gun platoons had gone through the center breach in the entanglements with the battalion commander. Thereafter, they had bunched up, shoulder to shoulder and with the machine guns close to each other. Kitahara had led, two platoons forward, one back. The night had been so dark that the individual soldiers had hardly been able to tell who had been leading and who had been on the flanks. The 2nd Company had consolidated after getting through the last entanglements and had walked straight for Changkufeng crest. From positions above the Japanese, Soviet machine guns covering the wire had blazed away at a range of 50 meters. Tracers had ripped the night, but the Russians' aim had seemed high. Soviet illuminating shells, by revealing the location of dead angles among the rocks, had facilitated the Japanese approach. Fifty meters past the barbed wire, Sakata had run into the second Soviet position. From behind a big rock, four or five soldiers had been throwing masher grenades. Sakata and his command team had dashed to the rear and cut down the Russians. The captain had sabered one soldier who had been about to throw a grenade. Then Master Sergeant Onuki and the others had rushed up and overran the Russian defenses. The Japanese had not yet fired or sustained casualties. There had been no machine guns in the first position Sakata had jumped into; the trenches had been two feet deep and masked by rocks. To the right, a tent could be seen. Blind enemy firing had reached a crescendo around 02:30. The Russians had resisted with rifles, light and heavy machine guns, hand grenades, rifle grenades, flares, rapid-fire guns, and a tank cannon. "The hill had shaken, but our assault unit had advanced, disregarding the heavy resistance and relying only on the bayonet." The battalion commander, Major Nakano, had been the first officer to be hit. Moving to the left of Sakata's right-hand platoon, he had rushed up, brandishing his sword, amid ear-splitting fire and day-like flashes. He had felled an enemy soldier and then another who had been about to get him from behind. But a grenade had exploded and he had dropped, with his right arm hanging grotesquely and many fragments embedded in his chest and left arm. After regaining consciousness, Nakano had yelled at soldiers rushing to help him: "You fools! Charge on! Never mind me." Staggering to his feet, he had leaned on his sword with his left hand and pushed up the slope after the assault waves, while "everybody had been dashing around like mad." Sakata had encountered progressive defenses and more severe fire. The main body of the company had lost contact with other elements after getting through the entanglements. Sakata had thought that he had already occupied an edge of Changkufeng, but about 30 meters ahead stood a sharp-faced boulder, two or three meters high, from which enormous numbers of grenades had been lobbed. The Japanese, still walking, had come across another Soviet position, manned by four or five grenadiers. Sword in hand, Sakata had led Sergeant Onuki and his command team in a rush : "The enemy was about to take off as we jumped them. One Russian jabbed the muzzle of his rifle into my stomach at the moment I had my sword raised overhead. He pulled the trigger but the rifle did not go off. I cut him down before he could get me. The others ran away, but behind them they left grenades with pins pulled. Many of my men fell here and I was hit in the thighs".  Onuki had felled two or three Russians behind Sakata, then disposed of an enemy who had been aiming at Sakata from the side. It had been around 03:00. On the right, the 1st Company had made relatively faster progress along the western slopes after having breached two widely separated belts of barbed wire. Once through the second wire, the troops had found a third line, 150 meters behind, and enemy machine guns had opened fire. Thereupon, a left-platoon private first class had taken a "do or die" forced clearing team, rushed 15 meters ahead of the infantry, and tore a path for the unit. At 03:00, Yamada had taken his men in a dash far up the right foot of the hill, overran the unexpected position, and captured two rapid-fire guns. The company's casualties had been mounting. Yamada had been hit in the chest but had continued to cheer his troops on. At 03:30, he had led a rush against the main objective, tents up the hill, behind the antitank guns. Yamada had cut down several bewildered soldiers in the tents, but had been shot again in the chest, gasping "Tenno Heika Banzai!" "Long Live the Emperor!", and had fallen dead. His citation had noted that he had "disrupted the enemy's rear after capturing the forwardmost positions and thus furnished the key to the ultimate rout of the whole enemy line." Sergeant Shioda, though wounded badly, and several of the men had picked up their commander's body and moved over to join Lieutenant Inagaki. On the left, Kadowaki had charged into the tents with his platoon and had played his part in interfering with the Russian rear. After this rush, the unit had been pinned down by fire from machine-gun emplacements, and Kadowaki had been wounded seriously. His platoon had veered left while watching for an opportunity to charge. Eventual contact had been made with Sakata's company.   The assault on the right flank had been failing. With the death of Yamada, command of the company had been assumed temporarily by Inagaki. He and his right-flank platoon had managed to smash their way through the entanglements; Inagaki had sought to rush forward, sword in hand. Furious firing by Soviet machine guns, coupled with hand grenades, had checked the charge. Losses had mounted. Still another effort had bogged down in the face of enemy reinforcements, supported not only by covered but by tank-mounted machine guns. Russian tanks and trucks had appeared to be operating behind Changkufeng. Sergeant Shioda had been trying to keep the attack moving. Again and again, he had pushed toward the Soviet position with five of his surviving men, to no avail. The left-flank platoon had sought to evade the fierce fire by taking advantage of rock cover and hurling grenades. Finally, a private first class had lobbed in a grenade, rushed the machine gun, and silenced the weapon. By now, precious time and lives had been lost. Either instinctively or by order, the 1st Company had been shifting to the left, away from the core of the enemy fire-net. Inagaki had decided to veer left in a wide arc to outflank Changkufeng from the same side where the 2nd Company and most of the battalion were at-tacking. There would be no further attempts to plunge between the lake and the heights or to head for the crest from the rear. Military maps had indicated tersely that remnants of the 1st Company had displaced to the 2nd Company area at 04:00, sometime after the last charge on the right by Yamada. On the left front, in the sector facing the main defenses on Changkufeng crest, Sakata had fallen after being hit by a grenade. A machine gunner had improvised a sling. "I had lost a lot of blood," Sakata had said, "and there were no medics. Onuki, my command team chief who had been acting platoon leader, had been killed around here. I had ordered Warrant Officer Kuriyama to take the company and push on until I could catch up." As Sakata lay on the ground, he had seen the battalion commander and the Nakajima company move past him in the darkness. Nakano had said not a word; Sakata had not known the major had been maimed. "I still hadn't felt intense pain," Sakata had recalled. "I had rested after the first bad feelings. In about 15 minutes I had felt well enough to move up the hill and resume command of my company." With both Nakano and Sakata wounded, individual officers or noncoms had kept the assault moving. The 1st Platoon leader, Kuriyama, had been securing the first position after overrunning it but had become worried about the main force. On his own initiative, he had brought his men up the hill to join the rest of the company, while the battalion aide, 2nd Lieutenant Nishimura, had made arrangements to deploy the heavy machine guns and reserve infantry in support. Before 4 A.M., these troops under Kitahara and Nakajima had caught up with the remnants of the 2nd Company, which had pressed beyond the third position to points near the Soviet Crestline.   By the time Sakata had regained his feet and moved toward the peak, somewhere between 03:30 and 04:00, the Japanese had been pinned down. Most of the losses had been incurred at this point. "Iron fragments, rock, sand, blood, and flesh had been flying around," Akaishizawa had written. Grenades had caused the preponderance of wounds after the men had penetrated the barbed wire. Deaths had been inflicted mainly by the Soviet "hurricane" of small arms and machine-gun fire and by ricochets ripping from man to man. Six Russian heavy weapons had kept up a relentless fire from three emplacements, and milk-bottle-shaped grenades had continued to thud down on the Japanese. The grenades had hindered the advance greatly. Mainly at the crest, but at every firing position as well, the Russians had used rifle grenades, primarily to eliminate dead angles in front of positions. There had been low piano wire between firing points, and yellow explosive had been planted amidst rock outcroppings and in front of the emplacements. "The Russians had relied exclusively on fire power; there had been no instance of a brave enemy charge employing cold steel." Only 20 meters from the entrenchments atop Changkufeng, Kitahara had been striving to regain the initiative and to hearten the scattered, reeling troops. One Japanese Army motto had concerned the mental attitude of commanders: "When surprised by the enemy, pause for a smoke." Kitahara had stood behind a rock, without a helmet, puffing calmly on a cigarette—a sight which had cheered the men. Sakata could not forget the scene. "It really happened," he had said, respectfully. As soon as Sakata had reached the forward lines, he had joined Kitahara (the senior officer and de facto battalion commander till then) and three enlisted men. All had been pinned behind the large boulder, the only possible cover, which had jutted in front of the Soviet crestline positions. Fire and flame had drenched the slopes, grenades from the peak, machine guns from the flank. The eastern skies had been brightening and faces could be discerned. Troubled by the stalemate yet not feeling failure, Sakata had said nothing about his own wounds but had told Kitahara he would lead his 2nd Company in a last charge up the left side of Changkufeng if only the machine gun company could do something about the enemy fire, especially some Soviet tanks which had been shooting from the right. "The enemy must have learned by now," the regimental records had observed, "that our forces were scanty, for the Soviets exposed the upper portions of their bodies over the breastworks, sniped incessantly, and lobbed illuminating shells at us." Agreeing with Sakata that the "blind" Japanese would have to take some kind of countermeasure to allow his two available heavy machine guns to go into concerted action, Kitahara had ordered illuminating rounds fired by the grenade dischargers. He had clambered atop the boulder and squatted there amidst the furious crossfire to spot for his guns, still only 20 meters from the Russian lines. Perhaps it had been the golden spark of Kitahara's cigarette, perhaps it had been the luminescence of his cross-bands, but hardly a moment later, at 04:03 am, a sniper's bullet had caught the captain between the eyes and he had toppled to his death. Nakajima had wanted to support Sakata's stricken company as well. The lieutenant had seen the advantage of outflanking the emplacements from the far left of Changkufeng where the fire of two Soviet heavy machine guns had been particularly devastating. Nakajima had swung his reserve unit around the crest to the southwest side, pressed forward through deadly grenade attacks, and had managed to reach a point ten meters from the Russian positions. Perched on the cliff's edge, he had prepared to continue: "Nakajima, who had been calming his men and looking for a chance to advance, leaped up and shouted, "Right now! Charge!" Sword in hand, he led his forces to the front on the left and edged up against the crest emplacements. But the enemy did not recoil; grenades and machine gun fusillades burst from above on all sides. Men fell, one after another. [During this final phase, a platoon leader and most of the key noncoms were killed.] A runner standing near Nakajima was hit in the head by a grenade and collapsed. Nakajima picked up the soldier's rifle, took cover behind a boulder, and tried to draw a bead on a Russian sniper whom he could see dimly 20 meters away through the lifting mist. But a bullet hit him in the left temple and he pitched forward, weakly calling, "Long Live the Emperor!" A PFC held the lieutenant up and pleaded with him to hang on, but the company commander's breath grew fainter and his end was at hand. The time was 4:10 am". Nakajima's orderly said of the event "Lieutenant Nakajima charged against the highest key point on Changkufeng, leading the reserve unit, and ensured the seizure of the hill. The lieutenant was wearing the boots which I had always kept polished but which he had never worn till this day." Akaishizawa added that Nakajima had purified himself in the waters of the Tumen before entering combat, in traditional fashion. Lieutenant Yanagihara had penned a tribute to his young fellow officer, the resolute samurai "Lt. Nakajima must have been expecting a day like today. He was wearing brand-new white underclothes and had wrapped his body with white cloth and the thousand-stitch stomach band which his mother had made for him. .. . Was not the lieutenant's end the same as we find in an old tanka verse? "Should you ask what is the Yamato spirit, the soul of Japan: It is wild cherry blossoms glowing in the rising sun."  On this main attack front, Soviet heavy machine guns and tanks had continued to deliver withering fire against the Japanese remnants, while Russian snipers and grenadiers had taken an increasing toll. Shortly after 04:00, enemy reinforcements had appeared at the northeast edge. Of the company commanders, only Sakata had still been alive; the other three officers had died between 03:30 and 04:30. A machine gunner who had been pinned down near the crest had commented: "It must have been worse than Hill 203" (of bloody Russo-Japanese War fame). Between a half and two-thirds of each company had been dead or wounded by then. Sakata had still been thinking of ways to rush the main positions. After Kitahara had been shot down, he had moved around to investigate. A colleague had added: "The agony of the captain's wounds had been increasing. He rested several times to appease the pain while watching intently for some chance to charge once more." Now, Sakata had been wounded again by grenade fragments tearing into the right side of his face. "It hadn't been serious," Sakata had insisted. As he had limped about, he could see his platoon leader, Kuriyama, sniping at a Russian grenadier.   Much would depend on the effectiveness of supporting firepower. With the death of Kitahara, control of the machine-gun company had been assumed by Master Sergeant Harayama. There had been almost no time to coordinate matters before Kitahara had fallen, but Harayama as well as Sakata had known that the infantry could not break loose until the Soviet heavy weapons had been suppressed. Working with another sergeant, Harayama had ordered his gunners to displace forward and rush the positions 20 meters away. The one heavy machine gun set up for action had been the first to fire for the Japanese side at Changkufeng, after its crew had manhandled it the last few meters to the first Soviet trench below the crest. The trench had been empty. Thereupon, the gunner had opened up against tents which could be seen 20 meters to the rear. Other friendly machine guns had begun to chatter. Kuriyama had dashed up and secured the southeast edge of the heights. Enemy resistance had begun to slacken. What appeared to be two small Soviet tanks, actually a tank and a tractor had been laying down fire near the tents in an apparent effort to cover a pullback. The two vehicles had advanced toward the Japanese and sought to neutralize the heavy machine guns. A squad leader had engaged the tractor, set it afire, and shot down the crewmen when they had tried to flee. Next, the tank had been stopped. The Japanese lead gun had consumed all of its armor-piercing (AP) ammunition—three clips, or 90 rounds—in 10 or 15 seconds. No more AP ammunition had been available; one box had been with the last of the six squads struggling up the heights. "More AP!" had yelled the 1st Squad leader, signaling with his hand—which had at that moment been hit by a Russian slug. A tank machine-gun bullet had also torn through the thumb and into the shoulder of the squad's machine gunner, whereupon the 21-year-old loader had taken over the piece. Similar replacements had occurred under fire in all squads, sometimes more than once in the same unit. "It had been a fantastic scene," Sakata had commented. "Just like grasshoppers! But they had finally neutralized the heavy weapons." The knocked-out Russian vehicles had begun to blaze while the eastern skies had lightened. New enemy tanks (some said many, others merely three) had lumbered up the slopes, but the Japanese heavy machine guns had continued to fire on them, and the tanks had stopped. If the machine guns had gone into action minutes later, the Russian armor might have continued to the top, from which they could have ripped up the surviving Japanese infantrymen: "So we gunners fired and fired. I could see my tracers bouncing off the armor, for there was still no AP. We also shot at machine guns and infantry. Since we carried little ammo for the night attack, my gun ran out, but by then the enemy had been ousted. We had originally expected that we might have to fire in support of the infantry after they took the crest. We lost none of our own heavy machine guns that night, overran four Maxims and captured mountains of hand grenades. By dawn, however, our machine gun company had lost more than half of its personnel—about 40 men".  The light-machine-gun squad leader had been wounded in the hand by a grenade near the site where Sakata had been hit. Nevertheless, the superior private had clambered up the slope with his men. After 04:00, when he and his squad had been pinned down with the infantry below the crest, he had heard Japanese heavy machine guns firing toward the foe on the right: "Our units were in confusion, bunched up under terrific fire in a small area. Getting orders was impossible, so I had my light machine gun open up in the same direction at which the heavies were firing. We could identify no targets but tried to neutralize the enemy located somewhere on the crest. Although Soviet flares were going off, we never could glimpse the enemy clearly. But we heard the Russians yelling "Hurrah!" That ought to have been the signal for a charge; here it meant a retreat".  But, of the ten men in this Japanese machine-gun squad, only four had been in action when dawn had come. The turning point had arrived when the machine-guns belonging to Sakata, and the reserves of the late Nakajima, had torn into the Russian emplacements, tanks, and tents behind. Others had said the key had been the fire of grenade dischargers belonging to the same units. A high-angle weapon, the grenade discharger, had been light, effective, and ideal for getting at dead space. In terms of ammunition, it had been especially useful, for it could fire hand grenades available to the foot soldier. Undoubtedly, the combined action of the grenade dischargers and machine guns (heavy and light) had paved the way for a last charge by the infantry. The four light machine guns of the 2nd and 4th companies had played their part by pouring flank fire against the Russians, who had clung to the position although Kuriyama's platoon had made an initial penetration. At about 04:30, Japanese assault forces could be seen dimly, in the light of dawn, exchanging fire with the Russians only a few meters away on the southern edge of Changkufeng Hill. At the same time, on the northern slopes, enemy reinforcements numbering 50 men with trucks and tanks had been scaling the hill. Around 04:45, Japanese grenades began to burst over the heads of the last enemy atop Changkufeng; the Russians had wavered. After the heavy weapons had finally begun to soften up the Soviet positions, Sakata had judged that there were not many Russians left. He had jumped into the first trench, ahead of his only surviving platoon leader, Kuriyama, and several soldiers. Two or three Russians had been disposed of; the rest had fled. By then the 2nd Company had been chopped down to a platoon; about 40 men still lived. There had been no cheer of banzai, as journalists had written; it would have drawn fire to stand up and raise one's arms. But Sakata had remained proud of the assertion by Sato that, from Chiangchunfeng, he had observed the last rush and knew the "real story," that "Sakata was the first to charge the peak." The regimental eulogist had written that Sakata's earnestness "cut through iron, penetrated mountains, and conquered bodily pain." As for Inagaki, about 15 or 20 minutes after the badly wounded Sakata had managed to reach the point where Kitahara and Nakajima had been pinned down near the Crestline, the lieutenant had arrived with the remnants of Yamada's company, probably by 04:20. The records would have us believe that Sakata had been able to coordinate the next actions with Inagaki despite the storm of fire: "The acting battalion commander [Sakata] resumed the charge with a brand-new deployment—his 2nd Company on the right wing and the 1st Company on the left." Actually, all Sakata could think of had been to charge; it had been too confused a time to issue anything like normal orders as acting battalion commander: "About all I remember asking Inagaki was: "What are you doing over here? What happened to your company commander?" I think he told me that Yamada had been killed and resistance on the right flank had been severe. Undoubtedly, he acted on his own initiative in redeploying. Nor was there any particular liaison between my company and Inagaki's force." To the left of Sakata's survivors were the vestiges of Nakajima's platoon, and further to the left, the outflanking troops brought up by Inagaki. These forces gradually edged up to the rear of the foe, in almost mass formation, on the western slope just below the top. "The enemy soldiers who had been climbing up the northern incline suddenly began to retreat, and Inagaki led a charge, fighting dauntlessly hand-to-hand." As a result of the more or less concerted Japanese assaults, "the desperately resisting enemy was finally crushed and Changkufeng peak was retaken completely by 05:15," three hours after the night attackers had jumped off. Akaishizawa had said that the troops "pushed across the peak through a river of blood and a mountain of corpses. Who could withstand our demons?" Sato's regimental attack order had called for the firing of a green star shell to signal success. At 05:15, according to the records, "the signal flared high above Changkufeng, showering green light upon the hill; the deeply stirring Japanese national flag floated on the top." Sakata thought that this must have been 10 or 20 minutes after the hill was taken, but he remembered no flare. "After the last charge I had no time to watch the sky!" The flare had probably been fired from a grenade launcher by the battalion aide or a headquarters soldier. After the final close-quarter fighting, Sakata had pressed forward while the survivors came up. The captain had deployed his men against possible counterattack. Later he had heard that Soviet tanks had lumbered up to reinforce the peak or to counterattack but that, when they observed the Japanese in possession of the crest, they had turned back. Only after his men had secured the peak had Sakata talked to Inagaki about sharing defensive responsibility. The records described Sakata's deployments at 05:20, but there had been painfully few men to match the tidy after-action maps. Did Sakata and his men push across the peak? "Not downhill a bit," he had answered. "We advanced only to the highest spot, the second, or right-hand peak, where we could command a view of the hostile slope." He had merely reconnoitered to deploy his troops. The senior surviving Japanese officer atop Changkufeng heights had been Sakata. What had happened to Major Nakano, who had been wounded shortly after jump-off? Although his right arm had been shattered, he had dragged himself to his feet, once he had regained consciousness, and kept climbing to catch up. His men had pleaded with him to look after his terrible wounds, but he had insisted on advancing, leaning on his sword and relying on spiritual strength. "Left! Move left!" he had been heard to shout, for the faltering Japanese had apparently been of the opinion that they were at the enemy's rear. Instead, they had pressed against the Russians' western wing, directly in front of the enemy works, from which murderous fire had been directed, especially from machine-gun nests ripping at their flanks. With sword brandished in his uninjured hand, high above his head, Nakano had stood at the corner of the positions. The explosion of an enemy grenade had illuminated him "like the god of fire," and he had been seen to crumple. He had died a little before 0500, to the left of where young Nakajima had fallen at 0430. His citation had said: "The battalion commander captured Changkufeng, thanks to his proper combat guidance and deployments. He provided the incentive to victory in the Changkufeng Incident." A eulogist had called Nakano a "human-bullet demon-unit commander": "All who observed this scene were amazed, for it was beyond mortal strength. One could see how high blazed the flame of his faith in certain victory and what a powerful sense of responsibility he had as unit commander. Major Nakano was a model soldier." When Nakano had pitched forward, badly wounded PFC Imamura had tried to protect the commander's corpse. Imamura had killed a soldier who appeared from behind a boulder, had lunged at another two or three, but had toppled off the cliff. Two other Japanese privates—a battalion runner and PFC Iwata—had been lying nearby, hurt seriously; but when they saw Imamura fall to his death, leaving the major's body undefended, they had dragged themselves to the corpse, four meters from the foe. Iwata, crippled and mute, had hugged Nakano's corpse until other soldiers managed to retrieve it. While death had come to Nakano, Sakata had been fighting with no knowledge of what was going on to his left. Pinned behind a boulder, he had had no way of checking on the battalion commander. Only after Sakata had charged onto the crest and asked for the major had he been told by somebody that Nakano had been killed. He had not even been sure where the commander had fallen. Such had been the time of blood and fury when battalion chief, company commanders, and platoon leaders had fought and died like common soldiers, pressing on with saber or pistol or sniping rifle under relentless cross-fire. Pretty patterns of textbook control had meant nothing. Life—and victory—depended on training, initiative, raw courage, and the will to win. The result of this combination of wills could not be ascertained, on 31 July 1938, until dawn brightened the bleeding earth on Changkufeng Hill. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Tokyo gambled on a night strike to seize Changkufeng, while diplomacy urged restraint. Amid mud, smoke, and moonless skies, Nakano led the 1st Battalion, supported by Nakajima, Sakata, Yamada, and others. One by one, officers fell, wounds multiplying, but resolve held. By 05:15, shattered units regrouped atop the peak, the flag rising as dawn bled into a costly, hard-won victory.

Get the same PLUM WINE here!Rakuten: https://item.rakuten.co.jp/kunizakari/10000466/Amazon: https://amzn.to/4iB0CI2===========HI GUYS!!!Wow, we're soo excited that our family is growing soo fast!! Thank you so much for your support!!! In this episode, we talk about how it is a little bit difficult to be honest with yourself, but it is life changing if and when you can!We're also sharing some good PLUM WINE from Japan :) It was so amazing so if you have the chance, please try it too! いつも応援ありがとうございます！もう、私たちのチャンネルも、もう1.5万人?!本当に嬉しいです

Behind the Scenes: My 5-Year Journey as a Licensed Guide in Japan (It's Not What You Think) FREE Resource:

In this episode, we chat with entrepreneur and former cast member of The Bachelor, Susie C. Evans. We get to chat about the ins and outs of being part of The Bachelor, such as falling in love on set, the role that production plays in building relationships on the show, and dealing with the pressure of being watched, unfiltered. She also talks about her roller-coaster life as an entrepreneur and the importance of pursuing your passion. [3:01] Nominee  “I just thought it was so ridiculous, the concept of it… I remember saying and thinking ‘I would be horrible and I won't take it serious'.” [5:40] The Season's Bachelor “I think it's because I just put so much value on character for men, rather than their looks… so I was just like ‘Okay, we'll see, we gotta put him through the test'.” [10:37] The Odds “I remember they kept asking, ‘Could you fall in love in 2 months?', and I was like yeah, probably, I've done that before, but it's like totally different on television vs. in the real world…” [13:12] Curated Match “I remember seeing things happen and people being excited about things Clayton did for them, and I was like ‘Okay, that was obviously production', and I remember thinking ‘How are people falling for this? ” [19:22] Saying No “It's frightening not just because what you say could be taken out of context, but because of editing. They could edit you to look a lot of different ways.” [22:53] Dealing with Pressure “I remember the influx of people that were messaging me, saying horrible things at first… I remember looking back at myself during that time, and I was in depression for sure.” [29:04] Social Media Posting “When you use your platform for something that's really good, but maybe not as ‘juicy'… then you are like ‘this is a true reflection of my passion and how I like the world to experience life', and it flops.” [33:42] Magic in Japan “It was incredible, it was the best thing I ever could have done.” [37:02] Work over Dates “I would love to just have that person magically appear, and they're like with me for the rest of my life… I just don't wanna do the dirty work of dating all these guys to find the one.” [43:04] Dirty Work of an Entrepreneur  “I know we shouldn't aim to fail, but once you start failing and you realized that ‘Oh I picked myself back up and I got through it', it teaches you that that's just a part of the process.” [53:54] Pursuing Passion “It doesn't matter, the views. It matters that you're doing what you're passionate about and that you're aligned with, and like we said, the right thing will fall into place when it's meant to.” [59:03] Future Plans “Right now, I'm just like super open-minded to going down any avenue of video and photo; just kinda see what sticks, and also like where I'm passionate, I think.”   Follow Susie on instagram @susiecevans Please download, rate & review this episode and share it with friends!  Connect with Kelly here: Follow Me on Instagram at @chaselifewithkelly Follow Me on TikTok at @iamkellychase Subscribe to My YouTube Channel Join the ChaseLife with Kelly community! Courses & Coaching Kelly's Favorites Visit Our Website!  

In this informative episode of The Wellness Revolution, Amber speaks with Catharine Arnston, an expert in algae for wellness, nutrition, beauty, biohacking, mitochondria, and longevity. Catharine sheds light on the power of algae as a nutrient-dense food crop that packs three times the protein of steak. However, despite its remarkable benefits, many people outside of Asia were oblivious to its existence until Catharine embarked on a 12-year journey to research and raise awareness about its remarkable healing properties. To make algae more accessible, Catharine created ENERGYbits®, a spirulina tablet that can provide all the necessary nutrition and protein, with one tablet being equivalent to a plate of vegetables. This efficient nutrition means that individuals can receive all the nutrition of vegetables without eating a single vegetable. Catharine also discusses two types of algae - spirulina and chlorella. Spirulina has the highest protein content in the world and is very energizing, while chlorella has the highest chlorophyll content and is cleansing and detoxifying. Additionally, Catharine explains how algae feeds our mitochondria and how it can restore them, as well as the crucial role mitochondria play in our bodies. Tune in to this episode for an enlightening discussion on the numerous benefits of algae and how it can enhance our health and well-being. This informative conversation emphasizes the significance of integrating this nutrient-packed food into our daily diets. Get ready to discover how algae can revolutionize your approach to nutrition! Episode Quotes: “We have three problems in our world… Number one is even if you ate a very carefully curated vegetable diet, it's very hard to give your body what you need, and we're all busy… Number two is we are relying on processed foods and fast food… The third problem is we are surrounded by toxins.” “The combo of not enough nutrition from whole foods, poor nutrition from packaged food, missing nutrients from supplements, and toxic overload, has put all of us, especially if you're over 40, in the danger zone.” “Algae isn't new, it's just new to you… It's been used safely for 60 years in Japan… It's not a fad. It's here to stay. It's a gift to us from Mother Nature.” Key Highlights: Catharine's journey to discovering the healing power of algae Unpacking the nutrient-dense benefits of algae What you need to know about Spirulina and Chlorella How algae can help restore and support your mitochondria function Episode resources: Amber's Little Black Dress Bootcamp: ambershaw.com/little-black-dress-bootcamp Get your Serenity gummies and discover more CURED Nutrition products at: curednutrition.com use code AMBER10 for 10% off Learn more about ENERGYbits: Instagram: @energybits Website: energybits.com and use code AMBERSHAW for 20% off Connect with Amber Instagram: @msambershaw TikTok: @msambershaw Website: ambershaw.com

In this episode I focus on Big in Japan (2018) and use it as a glimpse into the people and way of thinking you should (not) have when dealing with people in Japan. Also, I have pieced together a series of videos to help you find that special someone while you are in Japan. ========== Related links: Episode 164 Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/agWj9J58JlM Omakase: The Series https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUeEVLHfB5-Qsx-3arUU2tLGzHvsJ_yOB Japan's Most Terrifying Bridge: Eshima Ohashi https://youtu.be/5qGQOntvzXo 5 Things I Dislike About Foreign Guys // How To Date Japanese Women https://youtu.be/1BZqbpX-t7w 5 Reasons Why I Date Foreigners // How To Date Japanese Women https://youtu.be/EP_EfvSz9nw Dating in Tokyo Japan as a Foreigner https://youtu.be/Df-Jf_2PCzw Dating in Japan - It's NOT Easy https://youtu.be/gx-xgZ96eHY [OSAKA] Japanese High School Girls - Would You Date a Foreigner??? https://youtu.be/FM8Wa5ux86M What's Dating Like in Japan for Americans? | Street Interview https://youtu.be/Y5QjydNq-u8 Tinder in Japan (2021) - Not what you expect https://youtu.be/D6pE4Td7Uwc Big in Japan (2018) - OFFICIAL TRAILER https://youtu.be/W5DcNtDuH44 - Flipboard Magazine Page: https://flipboard.com/@akilintokyo?from=share&utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=curator_share Email me: questionsforakil@gmail.com Japan According To Akil Instagram Page https://www.instagram.com/japanaccordingtoakil/

TokyoLuv Today we start our artist profiles. Know an artist we should include? DM me on Telegram NFTCast.show is brought to you by Doki Doki, the most fun you can have collecting NFTs. Visit us at dokidoki.com. TokyoLuv creates beautiful art featuring Japan. How he ended up there is a great story and how he has honed his art and started earning from it contains great lessons for all artists. Go see his new machine at https://degacha.com https://twitter.com/tokyoluv Instagram: @tokyoluv Foundation: TokyoLuv 3D artist in video game industry How he wants to become independent and NFT is giving him an opportunity to create new art. How he's move into video for his photos with loops. When he knew he was an artist * 2nd time he went to Japan * Quit his job then at video game company * How his blog led to his marriage * Tried his hand teaching English * How architecture help him understand that he was an artist * That is why he moved to 3d art * His first small sales of photos made him focus in on photography * Getting closer to making a living just from his art How he fell in love with Japan * First vacation he went to Tokyo because it was on his list * Once he arrived Japan felt like another planet * Stuck with him how tiny everything was * He loves the niches of culture for bars, restaurants, etc and how there are big followers * How a crazy theme bar struck him as interesting for the niches in Japan * It was so different than Canada. * How helpful people were to help him. People that walked them to where they were going instead of giving directions * Stayed longer in Japan * Every year he goes back How he met his wife in Japan * His blog drew them together * Street art going on * Put on photo blog that night * His wife searched for the same photo online * How the story makes a great google commercial * She followed his website. * Then decided to give photography lessons * His soon to be wife emailed him about doing the class * She's a good photographer because he taught her * Will do a photo walk in Tokyo Was in Japan for the Fukishima Earthquake and that was why they left. * They were very nervous How he came up with his style by following photographer Masashi Wakui * How it really came together him for when it was raining and the neon lights came off it. * Loved how he edited them and balanced unusual color choices. * He then started posting more of them on Instagram and people start responding. * How it flows for him and how he figures out the style and how to contrast colors based on the dominant colors. He sees photos all the time, but doesn't like bright daylight photos. How he can wait a long time for a shot. How he came to his camera settings and what setting he uses. * Asked him if he thought about doing a class. Said he has, but not yet. Does sell photoshop filters #NFTCast --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/nftcast/message

【himalaya2020年11月3日配信回】36kr Japanが提供するプラットフォーム｢CONNECTO(コネクト)｣では、日本企業のイノベーション・新規事業創出・海外への投資機会の獲得のために中国の最先端イノベーション事例や有力プレーヤーを深く理解することができ、提携パートナーの探索や連携、専門家への相談が可能です。https://connec2.jp/36kr Japan 関連記事アリババと手を組み中国のIT化を進める先進行政都市「杭州」が面白いアリペイ、ブロックチェーン関連特許数で世界第1位に

【himalaya2020年10月7日配信回】36kr Japanが提供するプラットフォーム｢CONNECTO(コネクト)｣では、日本企業のイノベーション・新規事業創出・海外への投資機会の獲得のために中国の最先端イノベーション事例や有力プレーヤーを深く理解することができ、提携パートナーの探索や連携、専門家への相談が可能です。https://connec2.jp/【36kr Japan 関連記事】アリババと手を組み中国のIT化を進める先進行政都市「杭州」が面白いhttps://36kr.jp/92993/自動運転と路車間通信における高精度地図の商業化を加速　寛櫈科技が約15億円を調達https://36kr.jp/36667/

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we once again ask: What is the best Japanese name for a bear that isn't actually a bear? Topics Discussed Japanese names of animals that have "kuma" in them but are not actually bears What an anaguma is How you say badger in Japanese What a mujina is What honey badger is in Japanese What fukuroguma are What the word fukuro means What "bag bears/pouch bears" are How you say marsupial in Japanese What a kinoborifukuroguma is How you say koala in Japanese What a "bag/pouch wolverine" is Japanese terms used to refer to the tasmanian devil What wolverine is in Japanese The 1984-85 spike in popularity that koalas experience in Japan (a.k.a. the Japanese koala boom of the mid-80s) The 1984 anime Fushigi na Koara Burinkī (ふしぎなコアラ ブリンキー, Noozles, The Wondrous Koala Blinky) The 1984 anime Koara Bōi Kokkī (コアラボーイコッキィ, Adverntures of the Little Koala) What a komoriguma is What a shirokuroguma is What the wamei (native Japanese term) for panda is Whether pandas are bears or raccoons Rilakkuma The theory that Rilakkuma is actually a man in a full body costume (kigurumi) How you say raccoon in Japanese What araiguma literally means Whether the name "washing bear" is an accurate name for a raccoon Do raccoons actually wash their food before they eat it? A funny Japanese video showing a raccoon trying to wash cotton conday only to see it dissolve in water What the earliest documented case of raccoons escaping activity in Japan appears to be The 1977 anime Araiguma Rasukaru (あらいぐまラスカル, Rascal the Raccoon) and the raccoon craze it helped spark in Japan The explosion in the raccoon population that happened as a consequence of Japanese people who tried to keep raccoons as pets realizing that raccoons do not make good pets The 1964 children's book Rascal: A Memoir Sterling North The irony of how Araiguma Rasukaru made people want to get pet raccoons The raccoon problem that Japan has been experiencing for the past few decades Raccoons damaging crops, temples, shrines and other property Efforts to get the raccoon population under control in Japan A recent team up between Araiguma Rasukaru and Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba) The best name for a non-bear bear How you say "procyonid family" in Japanese Sources, Links, Videos, Etc. Here's some of the English-language sources used in this episode. Japanese badger (Wikipedia) Carnivore - Classification Do raccoons wash their food before eating? 16 things you think you know about raccoons How a Cartoon Raccoon Started a Biological Invasion in Japan It’s the 40th Anniversary of the Raccoon That Ate Japan Are pandas related to bears and are raccoons? Here are the Japanese language sources used. アナグマって英語でなんて言うの？ 袋熊 (Wikipedia) 7月26日*は、オーストラリアコアラ基金が制定した『世界コアラの日』です。 コアラの減少防げ　人工授精で日豪協力へ コアラの日本名は、子守熊って聞きましたがホント？。 "パンダ"は外国語。じゃあ和名はなんという？【動画】 「リラックマはきぐるみなんです」テーマ アライグマは食べ物を洗っているワケじゃなかった! その本当の理由は… アライグマの語源・由来 アライグマ アライグマペットが捨てられ野生化 アライグマ被害対策 10年で捕獲数10倍！　被害額はなんと年間3億円！ 可愛いけれど要注意！　実は生態系にも影響を及ぼす危険動 10年で捕獲数10倍！　被害額はなんと年間3億円！ If you would like to see images of the team-up between Demon Slayer and Rascal the Raccoon, click on the link below. Rascal the Raccoon Demon Slayer Strap Merchandise Press Release You can listen to the original Japanese theme song of Koara Bōi Kokkī (Adventures of the Little Koala) here. You can watch the raccoon trying to eat cotton candy video here. To check out the episodes of Ichimon Japan that were mentioned in this episode, use the links below. Do you have any funny or embarrassing Japanese language mistake stories? | Ichimon Japan 30 What annoys you about living in Japan? (Part 2: Chinese Names, Short Sleeves, Bears, & More) | Ichimon Japan 34 To listen to the latest episode of Japan Station, use the link below. A Journey into Words: A Face to Face Chat w. Dr. Robert Campbell | Japan Station 57 If you would like to check out the Kimito Designs shop, then use the link below. Visit KimitoDesigns.com Use the link below to get your very own Tree Climbing Bag Bear Koala shirt. Koala/Tree Climbing Bag Bear Unisex Shirt Japanese Vocabulary List Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC. Kuma クマ : 熊 【くま(P); クマ(P)】 (n) bear (any mammal of family Ursidae) Anaguma アナグマ : 穴熊; 貛 【あなぐま; あなくま; アナグマ】 (n) (1) (uk) badger Fukuro 袋 : 袋(P); 嚢 【ふくろ】 (n) (1) bag; sack; pouch Kuzuri クズリ : 屈狸; 貂熊 【くずり; クズリ】 (n) (uk) wolverine (Gulo gulo); glutton; carcajou Araiguma アライグマ : 洗い熊; 洗熊; 浣熊 【あらいぐま; アライグマ】 (n) (uk) common raccoon (Procyon lotor) Komori 子守 : 子守(P); 子守り 【こもり】 (n,vs) (1) nursemaid; nanny; babysitter; (n,vs) (2) child-minding; babysitting Komoriuta 子守歌 : 子守唄; 子守歌(P) 【こもりうた】 (n) lullaby We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapanKyoNews) Twitter (@JapanKyoNews) Full Show Notes https:///www.japankyo.com/ichimonjapan  

In the travel news, Hawaii is on the verge of creating a travel bubble….with Japan? It appears a significant number of people seeking refunds from the cruise lines for COVID-cancelled trips are having a hard time getting their money. The spectacle in the Nevada desert known as Burning Man won’t be held this summer, but a report on last summer’s gathering gives the clean up crews and participants high marks. How are vacation rentals different during COVID? Are they more or less popular than hotels? Ed Perkins, author and consumer advocate, joins us to discuss travel after COVID. Ed has been a part of the industry for a long time, and has seen a lot. We ask him where he sees travel going next. Should people start to make plans for next year, or continue to hunker down, or both. In the final segment, Tom turns the tables on Mark a bit. Mark owns a tour company and Tom asks “how do you survive COVID?

On the Sunday, August 2nd edition of the Travel Guys… In the travel news, Hawaii is on the verge of creating a travel bubble….with Japan? It appears a significant number of people seeking refunds from the cruise lines for COVID-cancelled trips are having a hard time getting their money.  The spectacle in the Nevada desert known as Burning Man won’t be held this summer, but a report on last summer’s gathering gives the clean up crews...

Please share a link to this episode in all of your social media to help enlarge our Weirdo family! And please recommend Weird Darkness to your friends, family, and co-workers who love the paranormal, horror stories, or true crime! Thank you!IN THIS EPISODE: Want to live on the cheap in Tokyo, Japan? It’s easy to do – if you don’t mind living with a ghost or two. (Tokyo Ghosts) *** Cryptozoologists are abuzz right now about recent sightings of a creature seen in the lakes of Connemara in Ireland. The creature is rumored to be up to 30 feet long, with a mane of hair running along its back. Is it a yet undiscovered species of fish? A giant eel? A cousin to the Loch Ness monster in Scotland – or even perhaps a living dinosaur? No one has yet been able to answer the question – but this August, monster hunters from around the globe are coming together in Ireland to try and find answers. (The Giant Eels of Connemara) *** High school teacher Pamela Smart fell in love. Unfortunately, she fell in love with a 15-year-old student… and that is only the beginning of this horrible story. (High School Homicide) *** Weirdo family member, Josh Marinkovic, tells an eerie true experience that would shake anyone to the core. (Oh, He’s Not Home) *** For decades, mountain hikers have been reporting strange things happening on Mount Everest while scaling to the top. Weird events and encounters that could only be described as supernatural. (The Paranormal of Mount Everest)TRANSCRIPT FOR THIS EPISODE…Find a full or partial transcript at the bottom of this blog post: https://weirddarkness.com/archives/6964SUPPORT THE PODCAST…Become a patron: https://WeirdDarkness.com/WEIRDOVisit the Weird Darkness store: https://WeirdDarkness.com/STOREFind my social media, email and contact info: https://WeirdDarkness.com/CONTACTSTORY AND MUSIC CREDITS/SOURCES…(Over time links can and may become invalid, disappear, or have different content.)“Monster Hunters Invading Ireland” by Allbhe Daly: http://bit.ly/2ZOPmQ5 “The Giant Eel Controversy” by Nick Redfern: http://bit.ly/2NaROyN “High School Homicide” by Grace Srinivaisiah: http://bit.ly/2IEwhdo “Tokyo Ghosts” by Brent Swancer: http://bit.ly/2Rx8mPS “The Paranormal of Mount Everest” by Max Booth III: http://bit.ly/2X3npab “Oh, He’s Not Home” by Weirdo family member Josh Marinkovic: http://bit.ly/2x8we36 Weird Darkness theme by Alibi Music Library. Background music, varying by episode, provided by Alibi Music, EpidemicSound and/or AudioBlocks with paid license; Shadows Symphony (http://bit.ly/2W6N1xJ), Midnight Syndicate (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ), and/or Nicolas Gasparini/Myuu (https://www.youtube.com/user/myuuji) used with permission. 

MY RECORDING TOOLS…
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* SOFTWARE (Adobe Audition): http://amzn.to/2vLqI6E
* HARDWARE (iMac Pro): https://amzn.to/2suZGkA

I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use. If I somehow overlooked doing that for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I’ll rectify it the show notes as quickly as possible.

"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46 Find out how to escape eternal darkness at https://weirddarkness.com/eternaldarkness WeirdDarkness™ - is a registered trademark. Copyright ©Weird Darkness 2020.= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

On this episode, I speak with Kris Ward. Kris is the director of a marketing and branding company and it was through her work there that she learned a great deal about productivity versus being busy. Her work with other small business professionals lead to the creation of Win The Hour Win The Day. This episode is brought to you by the University of California Irvine Division of Continuing Education. Established in 1962, UCI offers education for adult learners in Orange County. But thanks to technology, their courses and certification programs in various fields are now available worldwide and online for just about anyone who's interested. You can get 15% off of one (1) course by visiting http://ce.uci.edu/productivityist (http://ce.uci.edu/productivityist) then enter the promo code timecrafting. Make sure you take advantage of this limited time offer as it is only valid until December 31, 2019 at 11:59 pm.This episode is also brought to you by my new online course, 30 Days of TimeCrafting. In this program you'll learn all of the basics of the productivity methods I use in my TimeCrafting process that help me define my day, filter my focus, and make every moment matter... for just $5. To learn more about this program, visit https://productivityist.com/fivedollars (productivityist.com/fivedollars). This episode is also brought to you by my newly-revitalized YouTube channel, otherwise known as TimeCraftingTV. If you like this podcast but want to hear more tactics, tips, and tricks from yours truly then I encourage you to subscribe to my YouTube channel to catch new videos every single week. From how-to videos to creative short films to learning apps and tools through two week experimentations, I'm delivering the goods on video more than ever before. https://timecrafting.tv/ (So check out my YouTube channel today!) Kris Ward helps entrepreneurs grow their business so they can get more work done faster and focus on what's really important in life - and we touch on that throughout our conversation. We discuss the aspects of what she calls the "Freedom Formula" and a slew of other productivity-related topics. There's a lot to absorb in this episode and I'm glad that us two Canadians finally had a chance to connect in podcast form. Talking Points What does productivity mean to Kris? (2:10) Kris has had several moments that have incited change in Kris's life. Here's one of them. (3:10) Here's another one of those moments - a very different moment at that. (4:46) Why winning the hour is vital to winning the day (7:33) We dive deeper into the idea of the calendar being your "time bank account" (10:10) This is how Kris likes to work (10:59) The biases that rear their ugly heads when we try to take on some of what Kris speaks of show up. Here's how Kris helps people deal with that. (13:41) Kris starts to break down the "Freedom Formula" in greater detail (22:36) Kris understands the resistance towards building systems (27:07) We start talking about tools (31:55) Is Kris more of a morning person or a night owl? And how can she help people listen to their body clocks with her work? (35:00) Kris believes this is something that we don't talk about enough that affects our productivity (37:00) This is one thing that you can do now to start winning the hour and - as a result - win the day (38:17) Quote "A business is not run on memory." - Kris Ward Helpful Links https://amzn.to/2rUtE1q (Win The Hour Win The Day!) https://amzn.to/2r3NCGZ (The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right) https://www.instagram.com/thekrisward/ (Kris Ward on Instagram) https://www.linkedin.com/in/timemanagementexpert/?originalSubdomain=ca (Kris Ward on LinkedIn) https://www.winthehourwintheday.com/book-page31557890 (WinTheHourWinTheDay.com) https://sw945.craigmod.com/ (The Productivityist Podcast Pick of The Week: SW945: A Walk in Japan) It's always a pleasure to speak with fellow...

#RWC2019 TOKYO, JAPAN - It's not too late. You can still be part of history and get to Japan for what will most certainly be an epic Rugby World Cup. How can we be sure? We were there scouting the whole enchilada and captured it on camera for you. And we have the person that can potentially help you get there, John Lane of USA Eagles Tours. Check out his chat with Matt McCarthy on location(s) in Japan. *Watch or download as a Podcast. Please feel free to comment below and please share with your mates! All Segments: rugbywrapup.com/category/videos/ Find All Here: -Web: http://www.RugbyWrapUp.com -Twitter: https://twitter.com/RugbyWrapUp @RugbyWrapUp, @Matt_McCarthy00, @JonnyLewisFilms, @Junoir Blaber, @JWB_RWU, @Luke Bienstock, @Ronan Nelson, @MeetTheMatts, @Declan Yeats. -Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/RugbyWrapUp -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RugbyWrapUp -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/RugbyWrapUp -Apple PodCasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/rugby-wrap-up/id1253199236?mt=2 #USAEaglesTours #RugbyWrapUp

TOKYO, JAPAN - It's not every day you get to go to the Rugby World Cup HQ in Tokyo AND interview the person running the whole shebang. But guess what? We did. General Manager Rob Abernethy took time out from an understandably busy schedule to talk #RWC2019 with our Matt McCarthy, who was there scouting courtesy of John Lane's USA Eagle Tours. And a big THANKS to Ryan Ginty of Next Level Rugby for traveling all the way over there to shoot the interview! *Watch or download as a Podcast. Please feel free to comment below and please share with your mates! All Segments: rugbywrapup.com/category/videos/ Find All Here: -Web: http://www.RugbyWrapUp.com -Twitter: https://twitter.com/RugbyWrapUp @RugbyWrapUp, @Matt_McCarthy00, @JonnyLewisFilms, @Junoir Blaber, @JWB_RWU, @Luke Bienstock, @Ronan Nelson, @MeetTheMatts, @Declan Yeats. -Face Book: https://www.facebook.com/RugbyWrapUp -Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RugbyWrapUp -YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/RugbyWrapUp -Apple PodCasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/rugby-wrap-up/id1253199236?mt=2 #RWC #RWCJapan @RobAbernethy #RugbyWrapUp

Did you know there is a trade war happening between South Korea and Japan? It's not as big as the one between the US and China, but it may affect you in the future. Take a listen and learn about what's happening and why history plays a huge role in the tension. Disclaimer: I was born in South Korea so there is bound to be some bias here. Send us your feedback at: Email: IHTHTPodcast@gmail.com Instagram: @IHopeTheyHearThis --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Magic the Gathering has a deep, well documented history in the USA, but what about Japan? It's one of the biggest places for MTG, yet it has remained relatively unknown to people outside of Japan, especially if you can't read Japanese. In today's podcast, we travel back in time with new co-host Lain Kaplan to talk about what the early days of Magic the Gathering were like in Japan. Living in Japan from 2000-2008, Lain has experienced a lot of Magic's history and has lots of stories to tell. Join us as we talk about magic shops, pro players, Grand Prix, and even Buddhist Monk Magic players!  If you've lived in Japan before, live here now, visited Japan, or have always wondered about MTG in Japan give it a listen! Hopefully Japanese MTG won't be such a mystery afterwards!

#WeirdDarkness: “THE PARANORMAL OF MOUNT EVEREST” and 5 More Terrifying True Horror Stories! #ParanormalPodcast #ScaryPodcast #TrueCrimePodcastTired of ads? Get the commercial free version of each episode at WeirdDarkness.com/WEIRDOIN THIS EPISODE: Want to live on the cheap in Tokyo, Japan? It’s easy to do – if you don’t mind living with a ghost or two. (Tokyo Ghosts) *** Cryptozoologists are abuzz right now about recent sightings of a creature seen in the lakes of Connemara in Ireland. The creature is rumored to be up to 30 feet long, with a mane of hair running along its back. Is it a yet undiscovered species of fish? A giant eel? A cousin to the Loch Ness monster in Scotland – or even perhaps a living dinosaur? No one has yet been able to answer the question – but this August, monster hunters from around the globe are coming together in Ireland to try and find answers. (The Giant Eels of Connemara) *** High school teacher Pamela Smart fell in love. Unfortunately, she fell in love with a 15-year-old student… and that is only the beginning of this horrible story. (High School Homicide) *** Weirdo family member, Josh Marinkovic, tells an eerie true experience that would shake anyone to the core. (Oh, He’s Not Home) *** For decades, mountain hikers have been reporting strange things happening on Mount Everest while scaling to the top. Weird events and encounters that could only be described as supernatural. (The Paranormal of Mount Everest) STORY CREDITS AND/OR SOURCES…“Monster Hunters Invading Ireland” by Allbhe Daly: http://bit.ly/2ZOPmQ5 “The Giant Eel Controversy” by Nick Redfern: http://bit.ly/2NaROyN “High School Homicide” by Grace Srinivaisiah: http://bit.ly/2IEwhdo “Tokyo Ghosts” by Brent Swancer: http://bit.ly/2Rx8mPS “The Paranormal of Mount Everest” by Max Booth III: http://bit.ly/2X3npab “Oh, He’s Not Home” by Weirdo family member Josh Marinkovic: http://bit.ly/2x8we36 Music provided by EpidemicSound and AudioBlocks with paid license. Music by Shadows Symphony (http://bit.ly/2W6N1xJ) and Midnight Syndicated (http://amzn.to/2BYCoXZ) used with permission. SUPPORT THE PODCAST…Become an Official Weirdo: http://www.WeirdDarkness.com/WEIRDO Check out the sponsors: http://www.WeirdDarkness.com/sponsors Advertise on Weird Darkness: call BG Ad Group at 770-874-3200 or email j.southerland@bgadgroup.com MY RECORDING TOOLS…* MICROPHONE (Neumann TLM103): http://amzn.to/2if01CL * POP FILTER (AW-BM700): http://amzn.to/2zRIIyK * XLR CABLE (Mogami Gold Studio): http://amzn.to/2yZXJeD * MICROPHONE PRE-AMP (Icicle): http://amzn.to/2vLqLzg * SOFTWARE (Adobe Audition): http://amzn.to/2vLqI6E * HARDWARE (MacBook Pro): http://amzn.to/2vQzD5g I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use. If I somehow overlooked doing that for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I’ll rectify it the show notes as quickly as possible."I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46*** How to escape eternal death: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IYmodFKDaMDepressed? Contemplating suicide? Call toll-free anytime night or day: 800-273-8255.Weird Darkness is part of the BG Podcast Network: http://bgpodcastnetwork.com/ WeirdDarkness™ - © Marlar House Productions, 2019.  

Have you ever had pizza in Japan? It can be quite the experience and come at quite the cost... But did you know that there is a MUCH cheaper way to get pizza... from one of the big guys! In today's Episode of the Tokyo Lens Pocast by Norm Nakamura, we talk about all things Pizza in Japan. Because, Pizza. Also... So much love to all of those of you asking how you can support Tokyo Lens! I want to be able to be in a position where I can definitely give more than I receive. So It will take some time to get a system set up. For now though, if you do any shopping on Amazon, feel free to click through from my affiliate links! Then you can support just by doing your regular shopping! Thank you all Sincerely - Tokyo Lens Norm Nakamura Or grab something here! www.redbubble.com/people/tokyolens www.amazon.com/shop/tokyolens Gear: ------------------------ Filmed on this: amzn.to/2eYRvX0 Edited on this: amzn.to/2mqxTLN With this lens. amzn.to/2u8YgHY And this Mic: amzn.to/2uO5wuG -------------------------------------------- YouTube: www.YouTube.com/TokyoLens Twitter: www.Twitter.com/Tokyo_Lens Instagram: www.Instagram.com/Tokyo_one Facebook: www.facebook.com/TokyoLens/ Twitch: www.twitch.tv/tokyolens Business Inquiries: www.NormNakamura.com

Show notes: http://bit.ly/2gKQUWT Two Week Catch-Up: Robert spends a lot of time reading about politics on Google Newsstand and about Supreme Court cases. Can Masterpiece Cakeshop refuse to bake a cake for a gay couple's wedding? The Piano Guys' decision to perform at President Trump's inauguration. Jenny celebrates her daughter's second birthday & takes five-year old kids on field trips to pumpkin patches. Jermaine travels to San Francisco, Boston, Nova Scotia, Maine, New Brunswick, and discovers that he can take ramen noodles onto planes. Nerdy News: Giant Robot Duel: Japan vs USA Jermaine: "Did you see that first punch by Japan? It took 30 minutes to get there. America was still hit by it. This was such a disappointing failure. Here's what we're gonna do-- I'm gonna start a crowdfunded project, people please send me money, and I'm just gonna set it on fire. That's what this was." Also: "Man, did you see that Pacific Rim 2 trailer?" Robert: "America totally cheated! Team USA built two robots! I feel bad for Japan which got owned by America's giant chainsaw robot-- giant fighting mechs are in Japan's cultural DNA." Jenny: "I was totally expecting a better mech assault. Also, the guy commentator was way too enthused. The fight didn't match at all what was being described." Trailer Talk: Star Wars: The Last Jedi Jenny: "When my parents were first dating, they walked out of the theater during the first Star Wars. I just can't get into this franchise. Didn't bother seeing the last one and probably won't see this one. The trailer looks awesome though. I give it five stars but I'm just not gonna go see it." Jermaine: "And that's why America is totally superior to Canada. One word: Laser-swords. Finally, it about time we see how strong Jedi can get using the Force. There is no way this movie is going to disappoint me. Five stars." Robert: "Star Wars is more a cinematic, character-oriented space opera. Star Trek, in my humble opinion, is an infinitely more compelling product. A solid trailer, four stars." Reviews: Star Trek: Discovery Jenny: "The went away from Monster-of-the-Episode format! And what did they do to the Klingons? It looks really futuristic. It's supposed to look cheesy! Ugh, and Klingon subtitles! I'm too lazy to read now. Recommend." Jermaine: "As long as I think of it as just a sci-fi action show, I like it. It's not Star Trek but I fully recommend if you watch the past the second episode." Robert: "Star Trek is supposed to be about ideas. Meh, I recommend it if you have nothing better to do. There are worse ways to pass your time." The Orville Robert: "I love this show so much! I was so surprised! It's the spiritual successor of Star Trek! This is a thinking person's show. Raises compelling questions about contemporary social issues. Unfettered recommendation from me." Jermaine: "It's a show about people! A lot of the time, it's just a bunch of guys going to a new area and seeing what happens. I thoroughly enjoy this show." Jenny: "The first mate being the captain's ex isn't my favorite but I love that she is so risque. She had me howling at certain parts. I recommend it." Recommendations: Jermaine recommends the RAVPower FileHubPlus -- "Fan-freaking-tastic! It's a traveling file server you can use anywhere!" Robert replaces his Dropbox subscription with a Microsoft Office 365 subscription-- "It gives you Office for a year, 1TB of OneDrive, and 60 minutes of Skype service each month." Jenny watches Big Mouth-- "It's very rude but good. Not for a younger audience. Everything it talks about everyone can relate too. I laughed and cringed a lot." Credits: "Live long and prosper and may the Force be with you."

This week on Japan Eats, host Akiko Katayama is joined by Atsuko Quirk, a documentary filmmaker and environmental activist. Her recent short documentary, School Lunch in Japan, has over 9 million views on YouTube, and been widely inspirational, showing the importance of "quality of the mealtime" to many in the public school community. Here are links to Atsuko's impressive films: “School Lunch in Japan “It’s Not Just About Eating!”　　 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL5mKE4e4uU You can watch how successfully the Japanese school lunch system is applied to NYC here: http://www.cafeteriaculture.org/ “Kids in Tokyo & NYC Share a Message About Marine Litter” https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ta70uqmiKDc?start=343 Other inspiring films by Atsuko Quirk https://vimeo.com/user6716675/videos

Scotland or Japan? It's the question on everyone's minds. Who's minds, you ask? Where ya been? No one's talking about Kardashians or Trumps or hunky Canadian dudes who somehow get to run countries where people eat poutine and slide rocks across frozen, swept water. Nope, it's all about a place full of craggy rocks and craggy people vs. the land of Hello Kitty and Karaoke. And like Chris Hardwick after The Walking Dead we're here to talk you through it, to lend support as you try to sort out your feelings about those places and some games based on them. It's a tough one, too. Do you lightly follow a path through the windswept shores, rocky hills, and green pastures on The Isle of Skye in search of sheep and fine whisky, or do you build and run factories in Nippon, spreading your goods, and ships and trains out across the whole of Japan? Who knows? We don't, but were gonna talk about it anyway. DESTINATIONS: 04:29 -- Some Games We Encountered13:30 -- The Joy of Rockin' Live23:57 -- Isle of Skye (in depth)73:34 -- Nippon (in depth)

Kyushoku, or elementary school lunch, is a cherished tradition that embodies values central to Japanese culture: gratitude, cooperation, courtesy, cleanliness, reverence for nature, and pride of place. Much more than a meal, it’s a critical learning period at the heart of the school day. You’ll find it depicted in loving detail in a wildly popular short film by today’s guest, Atsuko Quirk. Americans might take away many lessons from what they see there, she says. But the Japanese, as they confront need and hunger in a shifting socioeconomic landscape, have much to learn from us in turn. _School lunch in Japan: It’s not just about eating, _Atsuko Quirk film of kyushoku in Saitama, Japan (Vimeo) Other films by Atsuko Quirk on Vimeo www.japanesechschoollunch.com: Website by Japan and East Asian specialist Agliano Sanborn (a work in progress that is already richly informational) Related Inside School Food episodes: “School lunch around the world: A 30-minute tour” (August 11, 2014) “Sortin’ it out: Composting comes to NYC schools” (July 13, 2015)  

Reading: "Wild Ways of the Precepts in Japan" It is not known if the precepts in sixteen articles resulted from Dogen’s own innovation or if he borrowed this group from another source. [Dogen, in a writing describing the ordination ceremony for his priests] states that the ordination ceremony described therein is exactly the same as the one conducted by [Dogen's Teacher in China] Ju-ching in 1225 when he administered the precepts to Dogen. The reliability of that assertion, however, seems doubtful. [from "Dogen and the Precepts" by Prof. Steven Heine] Further reading and discussion for this talk are available on the Treeleaf forum:October 2nd-3rd, 2015 - OUR MONTHLY 4-hour ZAZENKAI! »