Podcasts about Japan

//The Wire//2300Z May 01, 2026// //ROUTINE// //BLUF: MASS STABBING REPORTED AT SCHOOL IN TACOMA. FUEL CRISIS DEEPENS AS WAR IN PERSIAN GULF CONTINUES. PIRACY ACTIVITY CONTINUES IN MIDDLE EAST. MAY DAY PROTESTS CAUSE DISRUPTIONS THROUGHOUT UNITED STATES.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE-----  -International Events-Red Sea/HOA: This morning piracy activity continued, with one containership reporting a suspicious approach in the Gulf of Aden. No successful boarding was reported, however this is the first reported piracy attempt to take place in the Gulf of Aden since the war in the Persian Gulf started.-HomeFront-Washington: Yesterday afternoon a mass stabbing was reported at Foss High School in Tacoma. 6x individuals were wounded after one student conducted a stabbing attack at the school.Analyst Comment: Local authorities have been extremely tight-lipped regarding the cause of this attack. It's not clear as to if this is a standard gang-fight-turned-stabbing, or if this was a more deliberate terror attack.Washington D.C. - This afternoon the White House sent a letter to Congress stating that hostilities against Iran have "terminated" and therefore the obligations of the War Powers Resolution are not relevant to the current conflict.Analyst Comment: Regarding this Resolution, under most common interpretations of the law, a President has 60 days to either ask Congress to declare war, or request an extension of an overseas conflict. This 60-day deadline came into effect yesterday, and this afternoon the White House has taken the official position that due to the ceasefire, no Congressional action is required, even if the Strait of Hormuz is closed and no peace agreement is signed. This doesn't mean much, as hostilities can recommence at any moment, and this is mostly a way of the White House skirting Congress by arguing that if the war is paused for a period of time, the clock restarts.USA: Around the nation, various May Day protests were carried out in most major cities with varying levels of attendance. Most of the demonstrations were fairly low intensity, with the most kinetic events taking place at the New York Stock Exchange as activists attempted to rush the entrance and chain themselves to something. They did not succeed and most of the more active riots/demonstrations throughout the country resolved after a few sporadic scuffles.Analyst Comment: As of this report demonstrations are still ongoing, so more active incidents could develop as night falls. This afternoon, at least one activist has climbed the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge in Washington D.C. and set up a tent, so other similar encampment operations may be planned for the weekend in various high-profile locations around the country.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: Around the world, the fuel crisis continues to compound, with costs rising substantially for some industries. Due to the rising costs of aviation fuel, Japan Airlines and Japan Transocean Air have instituted a flat-rate $350 surcharge on ALL tickets for flights from Japan to most of the the world. This measure was intended only for the month of June, but has been extended to go into effect today, for the month of May. So far, Europe has been hit the hardest by the fuel crisis, with prices and sheer availability itself being a challenge throughout the continent, which has also manifested itself even more unusually due to the lack of a centralized way to determine how much time is left before fuel runs out. Two days ago, one energy official was quoted in a Politico article, stating that by and large, Europe doesn't actually know how much time they have left, because there's no real way to know how much fuel is being stockpiled by the dozens of nations throughout the continent. Some places may run out within days, other nations and regions might never run out, it's impossible to know

On this episode of Counterpunch Radio, Rebecca Maria Goldschmidt speaks with Dr. Shahd Abusalama, Palestinian academic, writer, and artist, born and raised in Jabalia Refugee Camp, in northern Gaza. Shahd discusses her book, Between Reality and Documentary: A Historical Representation of Gaza Refugees in Colonial, Humanitarian and Palestinian Documentary Film, published in 2025 by Bloomsbury and SOAS Palestine Studies, and reflects on her recent book and film tour in Japan. Recorded during the opening days of the recent War on Iran, Shahd reflects on the ramifications of the war for Gaza, historical lessons from her time in Hiroshima, and her image of what true liberation could look like for the Palestinian people. The post An Image of Total Liberation w/ Dr. Shahd Abusalama appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

"I just feel so alone, even when I'm surrounded by other people." On this week's episode, we return to Tokyo for a bleary-eyed re-evaluation of Sofia Coppola's 2003 indie dramedy Lost in Translation. Despite being often referenced on the podcast, it was time to finally let Frank air his grievances about this era of Bill Murray's career and see how the movie holds up over 20 years later. Is it really intended as a May-September romance or is it just about the need for connection? Does the movie's view of quirky Japan feel overly snarky and borderline racist? Is it a dick move for an actor to ask if he should turn his head left or right? Has anyone actually figured out the secret whisper at the end of the movie? Pour yourself a glass of whiskey and make it Suntory time with the latest Film Junk Podcast.

Sheridan Smith is on board with Captain Alan for a brilliantly chaotic flight - talking tattoos, caravan holidays in Cleethorpes, and a very steamy Greek romance. They dive into spa trips, anxiety and why holidays are all about switching off… before getting into Sheridan's gripping new drama The Cage. Set in a Liverpool casino, it's gritty, emotional, and full of characters you shouldn't root for… but absolutely do. Plus: missed flights, tequila disasters, packing fails and a LOT of oversharing. Fasten your seatbelt...! 00:00 Tattoos, “condemned” and chaos from the start 01:30 Sheridan's favourite tattoos and “sticker” life philosophy 02:15 First holidays chat and Greece with her son 03:10 Spa trips, Malta and ultimate relaxation 04:30 Childhood holidays in Cleethorpes caravans 05:20 Holiday romance with a stuntman 06:10 Dream destinations and Six Senses Oman 07:50 Why holidays are about anxiety relief and switching off 08:40 Not a sightseeing girl… absolutely no itineraries 09:00 Hotel complaints and being too nice to say anything 10:00 The “scalding hairdresser sink” struggle 10:50 Being an empath and feeling everything 11:30 Packing chaos vs organised friends 12:30 Missing a flight for being too drunk 13:00 Alan's Sydney Harbour Bridge breathalyser story 13:50 Food abroad - what's a step too far? 14:30 “Lech” drinks and Chatty Man 15:30 Talking The Cage - gritty, funny, emotional drama 16:30 The story, characters and why you root for them 17:30 Filming in Liverpool and working with the cast 18:30 Sheridan's versatility and stage work 19:30 Biggest holiday mistakes (and oversharing…) 20:30 Dream destinations: Japan, Thailand, Bali 21:15 Quickfire round 23:00 Celebrity encounters and embarrassing mums #LifesABeach #AlanCarr #SheridanSmith #TheCage #ComedyPodcast #TravelPodcast #BritishComedy #TVDrama #Liverpool #HolidayStories #FunnyPodcast #CelebrityPodcastSara Morgan-Beckett Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MegaQuake or not, sometimes, you simply needus the Reedus. AbroadInJapanPodcast@gmail.com for all your messages - and remember you can listen to the show in audio form wherever you get your podcasts - https://shows.acast.com/abroadinjapanAbroad in Japan is the podcast devoted to the most unique country in the world. Subscribe for new podcasts twice a week, every week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

this week on Delusional Diaries, Halley and Jaz are back on the couch catching up on everything from Invisalign lisps and New York City overstimulation to brutal hangovers, Disney adult magic, and the chaos of spring in the city. the girls get real about adjusting to life in New York, how constant noise and overstimulation can weirdly become comforting, and why moving there can feel like both a dream and a nightmare. Jaz shares her unexpectedly perfect Disney World trip filled with lucky girl syndrome, short lines, and peach Dole Whip obsession & so much more!the conversation then turns to summer plans, honeymoon arrangements, and major life updates. Halley gives an exciting update on her almost-finished house renovation, from accidentally walking on freshly stained floors to debating the perfect dog-proof couch color, while Jaz talks about finally settling into her own nearly completed home. the girls discuss their goals for the summer: learning how to park a boat, becoming gardening girls, getting snatched, making good content, and embracing a more zen lifestyle. they also debate summer destinations, from Greece to the Amalfi Coast, while weighing beach clubs, shopping, and FOMO over missing Hamptons weekends with friends.of course, they wrap things up with the unhinged takes you know and love so much: online dating discourse, TikTok debates, and their girls trip to Tokyo and Seoul. from whether dads should bring daughters into women's restrooms, to why dating apps may have ruined modern romance, but can still work if you grind hard enough, the girls share brutally honest opinions on love, dating, and the realities of meeting someone on Hinge. plus, they assign roles to their upcoming Asia travel crew, talk trying new foods in Japan, head spa dreams, and all the excitement (and anxiety) of traveling across the world with six girls. Timestamps 3:30 - Living in NYC8:43 - Jaz's recent travels & updates 13:32 - The sleepover 26:55 - Summer goals 29:15 - Tokyo and Seoul 40:04 - Online dating More of Delusional Diaries Podcast:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delusionaldiariespodcast/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@delusionaldiariespodcastYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@DelusionaldiariespodcastSubstack: https://delusionaldiariespodcast.substack.com/Website: https://delusionaldiaries.com/More of Halley:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/halleykmcg/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@halleykateMore of Jaz:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justjazzzyidk/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@justjazzzyidkYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/justjazzzyidkLinks apartments.com - apartments.com Nutrafol - Use promo code DELUSIONAL for $10 off your first month's subscription and freeshipping at https://nutrafol.com/Ollie - Ollie. Feed the Obsession. Go to ollie.com/diaries and use code diaries to get 70% off your first box!RLY Tea - https://drinkryl.com/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chuck Garfien sits down with Japan-based reporter Yuri Karasawa of JapanBall and WorldBaseball.com to get a firsthand look at “Murakami Mania” from overseas. They dive into the reaction across Japan, whether White Sox gear is popping up more, and if even seasoned observers are surprised by Murakami leading the league in home runs. Yuri also weighs in on his current pace; early expectations, including Shingo Takatsu's bold 55-HR prediction; and how Murakami has exceeded them so far. The conversation shifts to what's next, from Home Run Derby buzz to concerns in Japan about a potential midseason trade and what that means for fans hoping to see him in Chicago. Chuck and Yuri also revisit offseason skepticism about Murakami handling MLB velocity, break down his unique stat line with no doubles and all home runs, and touch on his speed, defense, and overall profile from his NPB days. They wrap with insight into how Japanese fans follow MLB despite the time difference and a quick check-in on Anthony Kay's start to the season.

This podcast audio was accidentally posted yesterday, so you might want to listen to our 4/29 episode, if you've already heard this one.A listener-inspired revisit of emerging markets investing—sparked by the legacy of Mark Mobius—highlights why most investors are dramatically underexposed to this critical asset class. Don and Tom explain that while emerging markets bring higher volatility and currency risk, they also offer diversification, access to faster-growing economies, and exposure you simply can't get from U.S. multinationals alone. The conversation reinforces a core principle: proper global diversification matters more than chasing returns, and for most investors, owning a broadly diversified fund is far more practical than trying to build a perfectly balanced portfolio piece by piece. Listener questions then tackle currency risk (don't worry about it) and expose the dangers of “hodgepodge” portfolios built from random ETF ideas—ending with a strong case for simplicity, discipline, and knowing the purpose behind every dollar invested.0:05 Long-forgotten topic returns: emerging markets investing0:26 Tribute to Mark Mobius and his emerging markets legacy1:00 Why most investors have never heard of him2:02 What emerging markets actually are (and why they feel risky)2:43 Franklin Templeton era and historical performance claims3:26 Efficient market skepticism vs. boots-on-the-ground investing3:42 The real issue: investors massively underweight emerging markets4:59 Long-term returns and the case for inclusion5:57 Volatility, crises, and why diversification still wins6:53 Portfolio reviews reveal almost no EM exposure7:25 The S&P 500 problem: what you're missing globally8:29 Why all-in-one funds (AVGE, DFAW) simplify everything9:40 Listener question: currency risk in international investing11:04 “We own international… right?” portfolio reality check12:16 Currency swings explained (and why you shouldn't obsess)13:55 Japan's lost decades as a diversification lesson15:24 Why global companies ≠ true international exposure17:53 RV nostalgia and listener banter19:21 $17K “play account” turns into portfolio chaos21:55 ETF overload and CNBC-driven investing behavior23:35 Why the portfolio has no coherent strategy24:36 Simple fix: target-date or total market approach25:13 The myth of “play money” in investing26:01 Complexity makes bad portfolios worse over time26:53 Why Talking Real Money stays audio-only27:33 Growth update and listener appreciationQuestions? Comments? Click!

Host JR Sparrow sits down with intellectual property attorney Kirk Sigmon to break down Sony's controversial new DRM policy requiring players to check in online every 30 days to maintain access to their digital games. What starts as a deep dive into the legal fine print turns into a wide-ranging conversation about game ownership, consumer rights, the evolution of console ecosystems, and the future of the gaming industry.Guest: Kirk Sigmon Kirk Sigmon is an intellectual property attorney with over a decade of experience working with companies across the U.S., Japan, Korea, China, and Europe. His specialties include patents, trademarks, and copyrights — with a particular focus on video game law. He is a graduate research cohort member at Dartmouth studying artificial intelligence, deep learning, machine vision, and FPGAs. He also co-founded Ban, a law firm specializing in tech and IP law, and Patent Arcade, a website dedicated to video game intellectual property.Topics CoveredSony's 30-Day DRM Check-In Policy – What it means, how it works, and why it became a controversyDo You Actually Own Your Digital Games? – The difference between ownership and licensing, and what "shrink wrap" and "click wrap" agreements really sayGame Delisting & Preservation – From PT to Cars 3: Driven to Win, what happens when games disappear from storefrontsThe Sony BMG Rootkit Scandal (2005) – A look back at Sony's history of controversial DRM decisionsThe Stop Killing Games Movement – Will legislation eventually force publishers to preserve access to digital titles?Microsoft vs. Sony vs. Everyone Else – How the Xbox One DRM debacle parallels today's Sony situation, and what it means for consumer trustThe Rise of PC & Steam Deck Gaming – Why console manufacturers are more at risk than ever of losing their audienceApple vs. Epic – A brief look at how that legal battle affected digital game access for consumersHalo on PlayStation – The duo's honest take on Microsoft exclusives coming to Sony's platform and what it means for console loyaltyMetal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes – The legal and creative story behind the GameCube remake and its soundtrack licensing issuesKey TakeawaysWhen you buy a digital game, you are most likely purchasing a license, not ownership — the terms of service govern what you can and cannot do.Sony's DRM rollout suffered from a lack of transparency; much of the information surfaced through customer support chats rather than official announcements.Game companies are aware of the legal risk of class action suits and have, in some cases, proactively refunded players when online games shut down early.The gaming landscape is more competitive than ever — between PC, Steam Deck, and cross-platform releases, console makers can no longer take player loyalty for granted.Connect with Kirk SigmonLaw Firm: Ban (specializing in tech & IP law)Website: Patent Arcade – video game IP law news, analysis, and a database of 5,000+ gaming patents https://kelldann.com/gaming/https://larc.cardozo.yu.edu/clr/vol45/iss1/4/

Kentucky Derby 2026 is RAPIDLY approaching, so now it's time for us at In The Money Media to check in the dynamic duo from NBC's coverage of the Kentucky Derby! Peter Thomas Fornatale (PTF) sits down with Jerry Bailey and Randy Moss to discuss the best bets ahead of this year's Kentucky Derby! At the time of recording, a bulk of money remains focused on a select five horses: Renegade (winner of the 2026 Arkansas Derby), Commandment (winner of the 2026 Florida Derby), So Happy (winner of the 2026 Santa Anita Derby), The Puma (runner-up in the Florida Derby & winner of the 2026 Tampa Bay Derby) and Further Ado (winner of the 2026 Blue Grass Stakes). A pair of horses have also ALREADY SCRATCHED from the Kentucky Derby: Arkansas Derby runner-up Silent Tactic and 2026 Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Fulleffort, meaning two also eligibles are in the field at the time of recording: Great White, winner of the 2026 John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park, and Ocelli, the third-place finisher in the 2026 Wood Memorial. Some other horses are currently also taking solid early play including one of the representatives from Japan, Danon Bourbon - winner of the 2026 Fukuryu Stakes at Nakayama Racecourse. Chad Brown's representative in Emerging Market, a horse invoking the infamous "Apollo Curse" being unraced as a 2-year-old and making just his third start of his career into the Kentucky Derby, is also drawing a lot of action in the windows. Along with the winner of the 2026 Louisiana Derby, defending Kentucky Derby champion Bill Mott sends a horse also receiving play in Chief Wallabee, who finished third in the Florida Derby behind Commandment and The Puma and will add blinkers heading into the 152nd Run for the Roses. The 2026 Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 2 at Churchill Downs, with the post-position draw set for April 25 and post time scheduled for 6:57 p.m. Follow the full Monster Podcast series for continued coverage of Kentucky Derby 2026 contenders as the field for the Run for the Roses comes together.

BrookieCookie04 (iykyk) returns from her trip to Japan!! NATURALLY a trip to Japan brings stories, WARNINGS, annnnnnd bad fortunes?! (Don't worry, she only cries a little). And while some people bring back souvenirs from a trip, Brooke comes with a NEW obsession (spoiler: she actually has 2020 vision), and of courrrrrse a bit that we WILL beat to the ground. Can you manage it? From shrines and lines to Barbie and Bieber, Danielle is back from an “EMPOWERING” time in the desert!! Look, be who you wanna be Barbie girl…you just don't wanna be the one who makes Coachella her first PORTA-POTTY experience (no hunny they DON'T flush). Look, we're just two “BIG Americans” with A LOT of things to discuss!GOTG LTK https://www.shopltk.com/explore/Gals_on_the_Go GOTG Newsletter https://gotg.substack.com/ Gals On The Go Instagram https://www.instagram.com/galsonthegopodcast/ Brooke's Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/brookemiccio Brooke's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/brookemiccio/ Danielle's Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/daniellecarolan Danielle's Instagram https://www.instagram.com/daniellecarolan/ Business inquiries can be sent to: GalsOnTheGoGroup@caa.comDanielle's LTK: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/daniellecarolan/productsets/11ee5d6284a6acf19fd50242ac110003 Brooke's LTK: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/brookemiccio/productsets/11ee5d662bea0b67931d0242ac110004 GOTG YouTube Channel (watch full episodes with video!) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkCy3xcN257Hb_VWWU5C5vAFP Movement: Visit www.freepeople.com/gals to shop their fullline of activewear and workout gear.Visit yasso.com/GALS to enter and upgrade your freezer! Find full giveaway details, rules, and regulations. Yasso awarded as product coupons. No purch necessary. Open to 50 US/DC, 18+. Ends 11:59pm ET 4/30. Rules: Yasso.com/GALS 00:22 intro01:55 teen crushes04:48 brooke's glasses obsession07:53 japan recap14:20 homesick15:29 the service in japan23:44 big americans32:22 the lines in japan37:20 the italian restaurant45:40 shopping at the donki51:04 barbiechellaSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Download MP3 | Watch Video Episode (coming soon) Full Timestamps: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSY1lIzX8fAkEAd07TTyERbKW8j-wv34pryLQFqxDAH2GyNFjnoZmNbjR2A7HaTgsOYZGqpPrMWZlm-/pub Watch full episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@CastleSuperBeastArchive Pragmata's Brilliant Gameplay Loop Nagoryuki's New Move Completes His Character Fantasy Hourglass Shattered: FF14's Biggest Changes Since A Realm Reborn Hustle or Scam: Bar Trivia Night The Absolute Worst Assassin's Creed Retcon Go to http://heroforge.com/and use code CASTLE to get 5% off on all orders of physical miniatures. - Sign up for your 1$-per-month trial today at http://shopify.com/superbeast - Exclusive $25-off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/SUPERBEAST. Promo Code SUPERBEAST  - You can pre-order Invincible VS now on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC. Available April 30th. Docket: FFXIV Fan Fest: All the big news and reveals, including a major anime collab Square Enix's Koji Fox Criticized For Using AI Art During Final Fantasy 14 Fan Fest Panel As fans revive Nier Reincarnation, game devs say giving live-service titles offline versions is trickier than you might expect – potentially more than "building something from scratch" Coyote vs. ACME | Official Trailer  Dead by Daylight studio Behaviour Interactive confirms layoffs Vampire Survivors developer Poncle says it's working on over 15 projects, including working with famous franchises, and opening new studios in Japan and Italy. Shot One Fighters - Official Announcement Trailer Character Action Game From Coreupt creator: Kirk Mephisto 'Gang of Dragon' developer Nagoshi Studios has deleted their trailers and YouTube account

This week, comedian and host Negin Farsad is joined by comedian and writer Benari Lee for a weirdo episode of Fake The Nation! Due to logistical hurdles - all Negin's fault, naturally - this special two person episode will tackle a new way to staff nursing homes out of Japan, the attempted shooting at the White House Correspondant's Dinner, the growing rift of Tucker Carlson, and how RFK does math. Enjoy! Next week we'll be back with the format you're used to.Follow everyone!@BenariLee and he's mostly on Blusky@NeginFarsad and she's mostly everywhere Rate Fake The Nation 5-stars on Apple Podcasts and leave us a review!Follow Negin Farsad on TwitterEmail Negin fakethenationpodcast@gmail.comHost - Negin FarsadProducer - Rob HeathTheme Music - Gaby AlterSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Michael Robinson Chávez first traveled to Peru with a camera in hand, he couldn't have known it would mark the beginning of a lifelong relationship with photography—and with the country that would become central to his understanding of himself. A native Californian and the son of a Peruvian mother, Chávez has spent decades building a distinguished career as a visual journalist, photographing stories across the globe with a rare combination of rigor, empathy, and clarity. Whether covering war, political upheaval, environmental crisis, or everyday life, his photographs are rooted in a deep respect for the people in front of his lens and a commitment to revealing the emotional truth within complex stories. That same depth of feeling runs through Mestizo, his long-term project on Peru and the subject of our conversation this week. Made over decades, the work is both a portrait of a country shaped by layers of history, culture, and contradiction, and a personal reckoning with heritage, belonging, and identity. These photographs do more than document place—they reflect an ongoing search for connection, a way of understanding how the mixed inheritance of Peru has also shaped the way Chávez sees the world and himself. The result is a body of work that feels both intimate and expansive, deeply personal yet resonant far beyond the boundaries of autobiography. Mestizo will be released as a monograph in early 2026 by Eyeshot. Resources Michael Robinson Chávez https://chavezphoto.com/aboutcontact Mestizo https://www.eyeshotstreetphotography.com/shop/books/mestizo-by-michael-robinson-chavez/ Altadena Photographers https://www.altadenaphotographers.org/ Workshops & Upcoming Education with Ibarionex Perello Japan Spring Workshop 2026 An immersive photographic and cultural experience in Japan, focused on visual storytelling, observation, and creative growth. https://www.nobechicreative.com/ibarionex-perello-spring-workshop-2026-japan X-Pedition Hanoi A destination workshop centered on street photography, culture, and daily life in Hanoi, Vietnam. https://www.f8photographicworkshops.com/x-pedition-hanoi Raw Photo Fest An annual photography festival celebrating emerging and established photographers through exhibitions, talks, and community engagement. https://therawsociety.org/rawphotofest/ Support Ibarionex & The Candid Frame GoFundMe https://www.gofundme.com/f/perello-familys-journey-to-re-establish-our-life eBook Purchases https://www.ibarionex.net/ebooks Websites The Candid Frame PayPal Contribution Link https://www.ibarionex.net/support Sponsors Charcoal Book Club https://charcoalbookclub.com Frames Magazine https://readframes.com Education Resources Momenta Photographic Workshops https://momentaworkshops.com/workshops/ Candid Frame Resources The Candid Frame Newsletter & Substack Blog http://ibarionex.substack.com/welcome Support the work at The Candid Frame by contributing via PayPal: https://www.ibarionex.net/support You can follow Ibarionex on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ibarionex/?hl=en and Twitter https://twitter.com/Ibarionex?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Get ready for the ultimate 2026 Kentucky Derby Monster Podcast, where JK (Jonathon Kinchen) and PTF (Peter Thomas Fornatale) bring together every standalone breakdown into one complete guide to the Run for the Roses. This master episode covers the full field heading into Churchill Downs, featuring detailed discussions on every contender expected to compete on Saturday, May 2, with post time scheduled for 6:57 p.m. and the post-position draw set for April 25.This episode includes full coverage of the leading contenders on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, including Renegade, the Arkansas Derby winner trained by Todd Pletcher; Albus and Incredibolt from the Riley Mott barn; Intrepido for trainer Jeff Mullins; and Litmus Test representing Bob Baffert. The discussion also includes Right to Party trained by Kenny McPeek, along with Commandment, Further Ado, and Fulleffort from the Brad Cox stable, each arriving with different prep paths and race records.International contenders are also featured, including Danon Bourbon from Japan and Wonder Dean (JPN), along with Dubai-based runner Six Speed. The field continues with So Happy from Mark Glatt's barn, The Puma trained by Gustavo Delgado, and Chief Wallabee from trainer Bill Mott. Additional contenders include Silent Tactic for Mark Casse, Potente from the Bob Baffert barn, Emerging Market trained by Chad Brown, Pavlovian from Doug O'Neill, and Golden Tempo from Cherie DeVaux.The episode also covers horses on the extended leaderboard and those working toward entry into the field, including Great White, Ocelli, Robusta, and Corona de Oro, providing a complete picture of the 2026 Kentucky Derby landscape as it continues to evolve leading into race week.Each horse discussed in this episode has earned a place on the Kentucky Derby trail through a series of prep races that began in the fall of their two-year-old season and continued through major graded stakes races in early 2026. The leaderboard reflects those results, with qualifying points determining entry into the 20-horse field at Churchill Downs.This master video brings together all individual Monster Podcast episodes into one comprehensive breakdown, covering ownership, trainers, pedigrees, race records, prep performances, and current positioning for every contender. The discussion reflects the perspectives of JK, PTF, and their guests across each episode, while combining all available information into a single, complete preview of the 2026 Kentucky Derby.Follow along with the Monster Podcast series for full Kentucky Derby coverage, including deep dives on every runner in the field, trainer insights, and continued updates as the Run for the Roses approaches at Churchill Downs.

What just happened with the Bank of Japan… and why did the market react the way it did? In this episode of The Trading Coach Podcast, we break down the recent Bank of Japan (BOJ) interest rate decision and the mixed reaction that followed across the forex market.Learn To Trade at www.TierOneTrading.comYour Trading Coach - Akil

Join us in the fifth installment of Past Gas: The Golden Era of JDM, as we dive into the history of one of Japan's most elusive car clubs, The Mid Night Club. What later became a popular video game started as a way for Japan's elite car tuners, enthusiasts and even Automotive Executives to test and tune their cars... on public roads.Thanks to Warby Parker for sponsoring this episode! Our listeners can buy one prescription pair and get 20% off additional pairs athttps://www.WarbyParker.com/PastGas — and using our link helps support the show. #WarbyParker #adThis episode is also brought to you by Chubbies! Chubbies is here to keep you comfy and looking good year-round. Get 20% off with code GAS at https://www.chubbiesshorts.com/gas #chubbiespod #adAnd also thanks to Rula for sponsoring this podcast! Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/pastgas #rulapod #ad

The U.S. Federal Reserve meets this week — so do central banks in Japan, England, Canada, and the European Union. Most will keep rates unchanged for now, as war in the Middle East shakes up the global status quo. But as other banks weigh imminent rate hikes, the U.S. may move in the opposite direction. More on why in today's episode. Plus: Consumer sentiment crept up in April, Medicaid cuts slash pediatric care options, and five Big Tech firms post earnings this week.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Jake Clapham of Flashback History joins Ray to discuss Japan's 1931 invasion of China, setting off a chain of events that will lead to Pearl Harbor. Listen on your usual podcast player or watch the video on YouTube  https://worldwariipodcast.net/  https://youtu.be/H0AXg4i_XlI?si=BIVrXCmcXMHO-caN  Want to go beyond the battlefield with The History of WWII Podcast? Dive deeper into the war with exclusive bonus episodes, expert interviews, and commercial-free listening for just $5/month! Every penny supports the show and keeps the history coming.  https://worldwariipodcast.net/members-sign-up/  Follow The History of WWII Podcast: Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rayharrisjr/  TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@wwiiguy  YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@historyofwwiipodcast8712  Donations are always welcome and help keep the History of WWII Podcast free for all. https://bit.ly/3Jcu7Aq  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

‘I've always been the youngest, the new kid, the underdog. It helps me not be intimidated'. Arvid Lindblad, the fourth-youngest F1 driver in history, is full of confidence. In his first race he fought wheel-to-wheel with World Champions. The Racing Bulls driver has made a fast start to his first season in Formula 1. He always believed he'd race at the top. He's living his childhood dream and he's loving it.Arvid tells Tom Clarkson how he went from watching F1 on TV aged 4 to racing in F1 aged 18, inspired and supported by his family, his coach – the racing driver Olly Rowland – and Helmut Marko, Red Bull's former Motorsport Advisor. He explains the coaching which helped him beat more experienced drivers as he progressed up the motorsport ladder in ever-faster cars. Arvid also looks back to his Formula 1 debut in Australia, where he overtook Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris at the start and scored points at the end, and relives the stunning qualifying lap in Japan which saw him eliminate Max Verstappen.Listen to more Official F1 PodcastsListen to the latest episodes of F1 Nation and F1 ExplainsThis episode is sponsored by:Bitdefender: visit bitdefender.com to learn more about how Bitdefender supports Ferrari to stay ahead of cyber threats and how you can make your digital life safer Rag&Bone: for a limited time, our listeners get 20% off their entire order with code GRID at Rag-Bone.com CarGurus: go to cargurus.co.uk for complete vehicle details without any surprises

Adventurer Garrett Gee turned a four month family trip in 2015 into The Bucket List Family, documenting world travel with his wife, Jessica, and their kids. What began as videos shared on YouTube and Instagram became a global family travel brand with millions of followers, built on experiences from shark diving in South Africa to hot air balloons in Turkey and biking through shrines and gardens in Japan. Connect with Garrett & The Bucket List Family:  Website Instagram YouTube Explore the REI and Intrepid Travel collections Thank you to our sponsors:  Capital One and the REI Co-op® Mastercard® Ocean Bottle Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The U.S. Federal Reserve meets this week — so do central banks in Japan, England, Canada, and the European Union. Most will keep rates unchanged for now, as war in the Middle East shakes up the global status quo. But as other banks weigh imminent rate hikes, the U.S. may move in the opposite direction. More on why in today's episode. Plus: Consumer sentiment crept up in April, Medicaid cuts slash pediatric care options, and five Big Tech firms post earnings this week.Every story has an economic angle. Want some in your inbox? Subscribe to our daily or weekly newsletter.Marketplace is more than a radio show. Check out our original reporting and financial literacy content at marketplace.org — and consider making an investment in our future.

Andrew Sartorius is a wood and soda fire potter living in Germantown, New York. Andrew grew up in West Virginia, found his passion for clay working in rural Japan, and completed an apprenticeship and MFA in The Hudson River Valley. Andrew is the Program Director at The Oki Doki Studio. https://ThePottersCast.com/1223

We start with Frank Christ presents They're Fine, Just Fine and Gina tells us her fear of trying to make reservations in Japan, plus, we crown the Boner of the Day. After that, we take your calls for Hello Yeah What and challenge a listener to Beat Gina. Then, we finish with the Boner Recap and news.

The path into acupuncture isn't always clean or linear—sometimes it begins in the grit and confusion of working out just who you are in this world. From anthropology studies in Seattle's Skid Row to the disciplined intensity of kendo in Japan, Jeffrey Dann's journey was shaped by curiosity, discomfort, and a search for something deeper. A knee injury, a moment on a subway, and an unexpected recovery became the doorway into a medicine that would take him through Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, and Beijing in the early days of acupuncture's global spread. In this conversation, we follow that winding road—through apprenticeship, cultural exchange, and the evolution of practice. From forceful needling to the subtle power of touch, Jeffrey's story reflects a broader shift in medicine itself: one that balances tradition with change, and technique with sensitivity.Listen in as we explore how acupuncture travelled the world, transformed through different cultures, and continues to adapt to the modern body and mind.

The daughter of an American father and a Japanese mother, Shirley Rogers was born in Japan in 1953. She spent her first nine years there, then a few years in Texas. At 16, she moved with her parents to Oahu. At Campbell High School on the Westside, she took photography classes and found a passion for it. She also found surfing—the act of riding waves, the culture, and the community. In 1971, her parents moved back to Texas. Having freshly graduated, Rogers chose to stay in Hawaii. She moved to the then rural and untapped North Shore and fell in with the surf luminaries of the era—Jeff Hakman, Gerry Lopez, Rory Russell, Eddie Rothman, Shaun Tomson, and Peter Townend, among many others. One day at Waimea Bay, filmmakers Jack McCoy and Dick Hoole handed Shirley a 650 Century lens and a tripod and told her to, essentially, "have at it." She was amazed by what she saw through that telephoto lens. These were the days before auto-focus, and it was a true challenge to follow the surfer and nail the shot, but Rogers was a quick study. She submitted her photos to Surfer, Surfing, and Tracks magazines. They ran them. Soon she was getting paid for her work. There were few female surf photographers on the 1970s and '80s North Shore. Rogers gained a reputation for her tight, sharp, well-composed images, typically shot from the beach. Her portraiture emitted a candid and all-access quality—she was merely shooting her pals, who also happened to be the most sought-after surf stars of the time. She traveled—to Indonesia, Australia, Tahiti. She photographed the nascent women's pro events. She moonlighted as a bartender at the Kuilima, today known as the Turtle Bay Resort. In her spare time, she rode dirt bikes. In the late 1980s, Shirley gave up surf photography, got a sales job, and moved from the North Shore to Honolulu. Now 72, Rogers lives in Huntington Beach. In this episode of Soundings, Rogers talks with Jamie Brisick about changes on the North Shore, capturing waves less trodden, surfing's commercialization, her favorite spots to shoot, and tiger tracks in Indonesia.  Presented by Rainbow® Sandals. Produced by Jonathan Shifflett. Music by PazKa (Aska Matsumiya & Paz Lenchantin). Become a TSJ member at surfersjournal.com.  

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠⁠Join The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠⁠In this segment of Notorious Mass Effect, analytic dreamz reacts to the official trailer for The Amazing Digital Circus Episode 9 Finale. analytic dreamz breaks down the highly anticipated trailer released by GLITCH Productions on April 10, 2026, offering first impressions, hidden details, and predictions for the one-hour series finale dropping June 19, 2026 on YouTube and Netflix. He explores the emotional stakes, major character moments, animation highlights, and what this conclusion means for the indie animation landmark.This segment also covers the theatrical early release, The Amazing Digital Circus: The Last Act, a feature-length experience combining Episodes 8 and 9 screening in theaters across the US, Canada, Latin America, Japan, and more starting June 4, 2026 through Fathom Entertainment.Perfect for fans seeking honest reactions and deep analysis ahead of the finale, this segment delivers unfiltered thoughts on one of the biggest animated events of 2026. Tune in to Notorious Mass Effect for analytic dreamz's complete trailer reaction and breakdown.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Can people even hear us? The guys talk about the White House Correspondents' Dinner. Not being able to move sucks, and not being able to dodge a foul ball sucks even more. What happens when Lazlo takes too long on a smoke break? A Louisianan restaurant is (allegedly) cooking roadkill. Lazlo and SlimFast have no interest in seeing the Michael Jackson biopic. Don't go to jail in Japan. Stream The Church of Lazlo podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

Justin McCurry on Japan's heavy metal-loving prime minister and her plan to amend the country's pacifist constitution. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/infocus

"I just feel so alone, even when I'm surrounded by other people." On this week's episode, we return to Tokyo for a bleary-eyed re-evaluation of Sofia Coppola's 2003 indie dramedy Lost in Translation. Despite being often referenced on the podcast, it was time to finally let Frank air his grievances about this era of Bill Murray's career and see how the movie holds up over 20 years later. Is it really intended as a May-September romance or is it just about the need for connection? Does the movie's view of quirky Japan feel overly snarky and borderline racist? Is it a dick move for an actor to ask if he should turn his head left or right? Has anyone actually figured out the secret whisper at the end of the movie? Pour yourself a glass of whiskey and make it Suntory time with the latest Film Junk Podcast.

Help us welcome our newest sponsor...GORILLA GLUE! Go to gorillatough.com/shopsounds to learn more about their amazing line up of products!In this episode, Jason talks about his Patreon build in Japan and being detained by airport security for the nature of his business. His shop reno is almost done, but one metal elbow is holding up his entire dust collection system. Mary can't decide on building vs. buying her bedroom closet and progress on here bookcase continues...sort of. Keith can't get out of his own way (as usual) on his current wall hanging cabinet, but brings in a videographer for day and realizes how much he despises vertical, short form content. All that and more!Be sure to check out Bits & Bits at www.bitsbits.com and use coupon code MORSELS15 to save 15% on your order of router and/or CNC bits. Be sure to hit up Katz-Moses Tools at www.KMTools.com - cool tools at a fair price. If it's on their website, it's in Jonathan's apron. www.kmtools.com **And check out the new Katz Moses toolless adjustable countersink and new sharpening jig and sliding stop block. Oh, and don't forget about his new aluminum channel French Cleat system with some bad azz 3D printed accessories that lock in place!! WTB Woodworking's latest giveaway is a $1000 shopping spree with Bits and Bits!! Register at wtbwoodworking.com/giveaway. And be sure to check out WTB Woodworking at 390 Pike Road, Unit 2, Huntingdon Valley, PA for lumber, slabs, woodworking tools and MORE!! Or shop online and earn yourself some Burkell bucks for every dollar you spend! Go to wtbwoodworking.com to shop online. Join us at WTB Woodworking for Mafell Day on Friday May 23rd from 8a-1pm. Demos, food, bevvies and giveaways.Help us support Grit-Grip!! A revolutionary new breed of double-sided sanding sponges that we all LOVE! Check it out at https://grit-grip.com/ and use code "shopsounds" at checkout to get a free sanding block!The Bourbon Blade: https://www.bourbonmoth.com/shop/p/the-bourbon-blade-original-pocket-chiselIf you'd like to support us on Patreon and have access to our irreverent aftershow, you can sign up here: https://www.patreon.com/shopsoundspodcastYou can find us on Instagram, Youtube, Facebook and TikTok (maybe): Bourbon Moth Woodworking and Keith Johnson Woodworking and Kodamari Design

  Last time we spoke about the battle of south Guangxi. In late 1939, amid the Sino-Japanese War stalemate, Japan aimed to sever China's vital supply lines from French Indochina by invading southern Guangxi. The 21st Army, including the 5th Division and Taiwan Mixed Brigade landed at Qinzhou Bay on November 15, capturing Nanning by November 24 after feinting at Beihai and overcoming scattered Chinese defenses under the 16th Army Group. Chinese forces, commanded by Bai Chongxi and reinforced by the elite 5th Army launched a counteroffensive in December. The brutal Battle of Kunlun Pass saw repeated assaults. However, Japanese counterattacks in January 1940, bolstered by the 18th Division and Konoye Brigade, recaptured Kunlun Pass and Binyang by February, inflicting over 10,000 Chinese losses and forcing retreats. A stalemate ensued until September 1940, when Japan pressured Indochina. Overextended Japanese forces withdrew south, allowing Chinese to recapture Nanning on October 30 and clear Guangxi by November 17.   #199 The battle of West Suiyuan  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. Back in 1936,  the Xi'an Incident had forced a fragile alliance between the Nationalists under Chiang Kai-shek and the Communists, forming a united front against Japan. This front extended to regional warlords like the Ma Clique, who controlled Ningxia, Gansu, and Qinghai. The Ma family, descendants of Muslim generals loyal to the Qing Dynasty, navigated complex loyalties but ultimately aligned with the Nationalist cause, driven by patriotism and self-preservation.   The stakes in West Suiyuan were high. Control of the region meant access to the Suiyuan-Xinjiang Highway, a lifeline for Soviet aid to China. Japanese occupation could threaten the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, a Communist stronghold, and open paths to Lanzhou and beyond. The battles here, though overshadowed by larger theaters like Shanghai or Wuhan, demonstrated how peripheral fronts contributed to the national resistance. Over 70 years later, the sacrifices of more than 2,000 Ningxia soldiers remain a poignant reminder of the human cost of resistance, their anti-Japanese merits etched forever in the annals of Chinese history.   The seeds of the Battle of West Suiyuan were sown in the turbulent years following the Xi'an Incident. This event in December 1936 led to the initial formation of a national united front against Japanese aggression. The Communist Party of China (CPC) mobilized masses in the Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region, strengthening anti-Japanese forces and exerting pressure on the Ma Clique. Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist government also influenced the Mas, solidifying their resolve to resist Japan.   The Ma Clique, a powerful Muslim warlord faction in Northwest China, was led by figures like Ma Hongkui (governor of Ningxia) and his cousin Ma Hongbin. They controlled a semi-autonomous region with a mix of Hui, Han, and Mongolian populations. Japan, seeking to exploit ethnic divisions, attempted to woo the Mas. Even after the July 7, 1937, outbreak of war, Japan persisted. On October 17, 1937, after occupying Baotou, the Japanese established the "Baotou Hui Muslim Branch" and appointed Jiang Wenhuan, a former Hui commander, to court Ma Hongkui. They sent envoys, including an imam from Northeast China, and even airdropped letters from "Manchukuo." In a dramatic move, Japanese commander Itagaki Seishiro flew to Alashan Banner to invite Ma Hongkui for talks. Ma sent Zhou Baihuang, who rebuffed Itagaki by invoking historical grievances: the Japanese role in the Eight-Nation Alliance's 1900 invasion, where Ma family members died at Zhengyang Gate. "The family feud remains unresolved, and the national humiliation is yet to be avenged; they are irreconcilable enemies," Zhou declared.   Japan's plot to persuade surrender failed, leading to a major offensive against Suiyuan and Ningxia. Large numbers of troops reinforced Baotou, and bombings targeted Ningxia. In response, Ma Hongkui began building fortifications in places like Shizuishan and Dengkou. Starting in the winter of 1937, he constructed defense fortifications in the Shizuishan area in four phases. In the Shizuishan Weizha area, trenches several meters wide and deep were dug, covered with branches, straw, and loose soil for camouflage, to prevent the passage of Japanese armored vehicles and heavy weapons. Within a hundred li north of Dengkou and Sanshenggong, all major roads were cut off, and deep trenches were dug to destroy the Japanese army's access to Ningxia. The banks of the Yellow River ferry crossings in northern Ningxia and the Helan Mountain passages were all cut into steep cliffs. Important passageways were fortified with blocking positions and hidden artillery to repel invading Japanese troops.   Among the various military commanders in Northwest China, Ma Hongbin possessed the strongest anti-Japanese spirit. Having joined the army at a young age, Ma Hongbin placed great emphasis on cultural learning and the cultivation of his personal character. Outside of military service, he was always seen with a book in hand, resembling a scholar. His long-term study fostered his upright character and patriotism. After the Japanese invasion of China, deeply moved by the nation's peril, he resolved to lead his troops to the battlefield to save the country from its crisis. In the spring of 1938, at the opening ceremony of an officer training course held in Wanghongbao, Yongning, Ma Hongbin addressed his subordinates from the podium: "Always remember that the nation comes first, the people come first, defend the land and country, and fulfill your duties. On the battlefield, you must be able to both attack and defend, and be prepared to live and die with the position, with the determination to fight to the end."   The Ma forces were reorganized into the Nationalist structure. Ma Hongkui's 15th Route Army and Ma Hongbin's 35th Division (later expanded to the 81st Army) formed the 17th Army Group, with Ma Hongkui as Commander-in-Chief and Ma Hongbin as Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Commander of the 81st Army. The officer training of the 81st Army improved the anti-Japanese consciousness and combat quality of the entire army, preparing for the counterattack against the Japanese invasion. In May 1938, due to the weakened defenses of Suiyuan (at that time, the troops of Fu Zuoyi, the chairman of Suiyuan Province, had retreated to Shanxi), most of the area was occupied by Japanese and puppet troops. The Kuomintang Central Committee appointed Ma Hongbin as the commander of the Suiyuan West Defense Command. Ma Hongbin led his 81st Army and two cavalry brigades and one infantry brigade of Ma Hongkui's troops to Wuyuan (now Wuyuan County, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region) to unify the command of the various anti-Japanese forces that had retreated into Suiyuan West. His mission was to prevent the Japanese army from advancing westward.   After arriving in Wuyuan, Ma Hongbin convened a meeting of commanders from various forces to discuss the defense against the Japanese. The various armies in western Suiyuan were of different factions and not affiliated with each other, and most adopted a policy of seeking safety and avoiding danger in their defenses. Ma Hongbin deployed the main force of his 81st Army, the 35th Division, at key passes in the Wubu Langshan area northeast of Wuyuan to serve as the first line of defense, while deploying three brigades of Ma Hongkui's troops along the line from Wuyuan to Langshan as reinforcements.   The terrain was challenging: vast deserts, mountains like Yinshan and Langshan, and the Yellow River's bends. Wubulangkou, a narrow pass between Erlang and Chashitai Mountains, was strategically vital. Defenses included anti-tank trenches and mines. These preparations reflected the Ningxia Army's blend of traditional cavalry tactics and modern training. The troops, many Hui Muslims, brought cultural cohesion and resilience, but faced equipment shortages—outdated mortars and rifles versus Japanese mechanization.   In May 1938, Ma Hongbin arrived in Linhe (now part of Bayannur, Inner Mongolia) to establish his command post. After inspecting the situation of the friendly forces in the defense zone and designating the defense zone of his subordinate 81st Army, he ordered Ma Tengjiao, commander of the 35th Division, to lead four infantry regiments, namely the 103rd and 104th Brigades, to Suiyuan Western Defense Command to fight against the Japanese. Ma Hongbin established a command post in Linhe, where he and his son, Ma Dunjing, the chief of staff of the 81st Army, deployed their troops in areas such as Wuzhen and Siyitang. Ma Dunjing directed his troops to conduct exercises in the Wuzhen and Siyitang area, and invited Soviet military advisors to provide guidance, preparing for combat with an extremely serious attitude.   To show his support for Ma Hongbin's leadership of the Suiyuan Western Defense Command, Ma Hongkui dispatched two cavalry brigades to Suiyuan Western Defense Command. The main reason why the Ma Clique army from Ningxia went to Suiyuan to fight against the Japanese was that the defense of Suiyuan was directly related to the safety of Ningxia. At the same time, after the Ma Clique army was incorporated into the anti-Japanese army, its primary task was to fight against the Japanese invaders and defend the country. In addition, the anti-Japanese enthusiasm of the people in the Northwest continued to rise. Under the impetus of the situation, it was inevitable that the Ningxia army would join the anti-Japanese war in Suiyuan.   The initial engagement came in the late summer and early autumn of 1939, as Japanese troops, driving cars, armored vehicles, and tanks, advanced from Baotou towards the defenses of the 81st Army in western Suiyuan, attempting to annihilate the main force of the 81st Army. Ma Dunjing (the third son of Ma Hongbin), Chief of Staff of the 81st Army, personally commanded the operation at the front line in Wuda Town. The Japanese advanced to the defensive positions of the 35th Division and bombarded Ma's position with heavy artillery fire. The 35th Division returned fire with 82mm mortars. Because Ma's mortars were old-fashioned, they emitted smoke upon firing, revealing their positions. The Japanese immediately unleashed over 200 shells on the 35th Division's artillery positions, silencing them and rendering them incapable of retaliating. Taking advantage of this, the Japanese, under the powerful cover of artillery and machine gun fire, swarmed in by car, tank, and armored vehicle. The 35th Division held their ground, waiting for the Japanese troops to enter effective firing range and disembark from their vehicles. Suddenly, soldiers of the 1st Battalion of the 206th Regiment jumped out of their fortifications and charged into the enemy lines, engaging the Japanese in hand-to-hand combat. The Japanese were thrown into disarray, some killed before they could even disembark. Those who did disembark suffered heavy casualties, with the remaining soldiers turning back to their vehicles and fleeing in panic. Forced to retreat after suffering a decisive blow, the 35th Division captured two Japanese vehicles, over a hundred artillery shells, dozens of boxes of ammunition, as well as firearms and officer's swords. This marked the first victory in the Suiyuan-Western Anti-Japanese War. This victory boosted morale and public spirit. When the captured vehicles entered Wuyuan County, the people cheered enthusiastically, plastering the vehicles with various celebratory slogans. An elderly local artist even composed a song to celebrate the victory and sang it on the street: "Our old Western Army (referring to Ma Hongbin's 81st Army) is really good at fighting. We drove away the Japanese soldiers, captured cars and brought them into Wuyuan City, where the whole city celebrated and welcomed them. Relying on our old Western Army, we defeated the Japanese soldiers, and the people have peace." The campaign's defining battle occurred at Wubulangkou in early 1940, following the Chinese raid on Baotou in December 1939. In the autumn of 1939, the situation in Shanxi stabilized, and Fu Zuoyi, the chairman of Suiyuan Province who had retreated to Shanxi, led his troops back to western Suiyuan, establishing the Deputy Commander's Headquarters of the Eighth War Zone to unify command of military and political affairs in western Suiyuan and actively preparing for a counter-offensive. To coordinate with the nationwide winter offensive, Fu Zuoyi decided to attack Baotou, a key Japanese stronghold, to contain the Japanese forces in North China. The Battle of Baotou was spearheaded by the newly formed 31st Division of Fu Zuoyi's 35th Army, with the 35th Division of Ma Hongbin's 81st Army providing support. Under meticulous planning, on December 20th, Sun Lanfeng's newly formed 31st Division of Fu Zuoyi's army stormed into Baotou. The Japanese army, caught off guard, panicked and suffered over a thousand casualties, scattering in all directions, losing all their supplies within the city. Fu Zuoyi then directed his troops to withdraw to the rear of western Suiyuan, luring the enemy deeper into the territory for a later battle.   The Battle of Baotou greatly angered the Japanese army. Therefore, more than 30,000 Japanese troops were mobilized from Zhangjiakou, Taiyuan, Datong, and other places, along with more than 1,500 military vehicles, armored vehicles, tanks, dozens of aircraft, and six divisions of puppet Mongolian troops, totaling more than 40,000 men. Under the command of Division Commander Kuroda, they launched a major offensive into western Suiyuan in early 1940, attempting to seize western and southern Inner Mongolia in one fell swoop. Facing the superior Japanese forces, the people and soldiers of western Suiyuan adopted a scorched-earth policy and mobile warfare to maneuver against the enemy. The specific deployment was as follows: the 7th Cavalry Division of Men Bingyue's troops blocked the Japanese troops in the Xishanzui and Maqidukou areas, and then turned to the right bank of the Yellow River to threaten the enemy's left flank; the 35th Division of Ma Hongbin's troops and the 1st Cavalry Brigade of Ma Hongkui's troops constructed positions in the Wubulangkou and Wuzhen areas, blocked the enemy, and then moved into Langshan to threaten the Japanese right flank; the 35th Army of Fu Zuoyi's troops assembled northwest of Wuyuan to launch mobile attacks on the enemy; other units chose favorable terrain to harass the exhausted enemy at any time; and the logistics personnel were transferred to the Dengkou and Shizuishan areas. Before Langshan Mountain, where the Yang family generals once fought against the Jin dynasty, a thousand-mile-long battlefield against the Japanese was set up.   Wubulangkou is located in the western part of the Yinshan Mountains. Nestled between the eastern and western ends of the rugged and precipitous Erlang Mountain and Chashitai Mountain, it forms a strategically vital location. After Fu Zuoyi returned to western Suiyuan in 1939 to serve as deputy commander of the Eighth War Zone, the Ningxia army was placed under his command. At the end of December, Fu Zuoyi's troops stormed Baotou, inflicting over a thousand casualties on the Japanese. Okabe, commander of the Japanese Mengjiang Garrison, considered the defeat at Baotou a great humiliation and declared, "We must sweep through the Hetao region and completely annihilate Fu Zuoyi's army." To eliminate future troubles, the Japanese, "determined to decisively crush the enemy's base in the Hetao region with their main force," began in January 1940, mobilizing over 30,000 Japanese and puppet troops from Zhangjiakou, Datong, and other places, along with over a thousand vehicles, aircraft, artillery, and tanks. Under the command of Division Commander Kuroda Shigetoku, they launched a three-pronged, menacing invasion of western Suiyuan.   On January 31, Kuroda led the main force of the Japanese central route, consisting of over 780 vehicles, armored vehicles, and tanks, and launched an attack at 4:30 PM on the positions of the 35th Division of the 81st Army in the area of Wubulangkou, Siyitang, and Wuzhen.    Ubulangkou, where Ma Hongbin's 35th Division was stationed, is a transliteration of the Mongolian word "Ubulak," meaning "mouth of large and small springs." Located in the southern part of present-day Urad Middle Banner, it lies at the junction of Wuliangsutai, Delingshan Township, and Wengeng Sumu, a strategically important location nestled between two mountains. When the Battle of Ubulangkou began, Ma Hongbin was in Chongqing attending a high-level military conference convened by Chiang Kai-shek, and his troops were commanded by Ma Tengjiao, commander of the 35th Division. At approximately 8:00 AM on January 31, 1940, the Japanese army amassed its forces in the Zaoshulinzi desert area, directly north of Siyitang and directly east of Ubulangkou. Their vanguard first used three aircraft to circling and bombard the positions of Ma's 205th Regiment, followed by artillery bombardment. Under the cover of aircraft and artillery, Japanese tanks, armored vehicles, and hundreds of military vehicles carrying Japanese troops launched an attack on the Siyitang and Ubulangkou positions. Following Ma Hongbin's orders, a defensive trench, 3 meters wide and 3 meters deep, had been dug in front of the 81st Army's position, stretching approximately 10 kilometers from the foot of Wubulang Pass to the north bank of the Yellow River. A 50-meter-wide pit zone preceded the trench. The two sides fought fiercely until nightfall, suffering heavy casualties and remaining evenly matched. At the Siyitang position, Ding Liangyu, the company commander of the 1st Company, 1st Battalion, 205th Regiment, was wounded and died the following day; more than 30 platoon leaders, squad leaders, and soldiers were killed. Xue Wanyou, the battalion clerk, was hit by an artillery shell, his body torn apart and his head severed. Although the officers and soldiers of Ma's 35th Division suffered heavy casualties, they held their ground. Unable to break through, the Japanese used aircraft to continuously release poison gas with the wind at their backs. Although Ma's troops had prepared simple gas masks made of gauze wrapped in sawdust, the concentration of the gas was too high, causing many to experience headaches, chest tightness, and vomiting, greatly weakening their fighting capacity and making the situation increasingly critical. Around 10 PM, Division Commander Ma Tengjiao ordered Ma Jiangong, deputy battalion commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 206th Regiment, to lead two companies from Wulanaobao to reinforce the 208th Regiment via Siyitang. Ma Jiangong was killed by a grenade in the fierce fighting. The two companies fought desperately to break free from the enemy and finally joined up with the 208th Regiment. The enemy, realizing this, reinforced their forces and intensified their attack. At 11:30 PM, the 208th Regiment's position was breached, but the enemy dared not advance rashly. The battle resumed at dawn the next day, and the fighting at the Siyitang position remained extremely fierce. Ma Tengjiao ordered the 1st Battalion of the 206th Regiment to reinforce the Siyitang position. While traversing a seven- or eight-mile stretch of open land, the reinforcements were subjected to heavy artillery fire from the Japanese, suffering heavy casualties. However, the troops braved the artillery fire, bullets, and thick smoke, breaking through the enemy's fire blockade and reaching the position. The combined forces of the Wubulangkou and Siyitang positions continued to inflict powerful blows on the Japanese army. The 205th Regiment, holding the fortified Siyitang, engaged in bayonet fighting with the Japanese army. When their bayonets bent, the soldiers would grab the enemy and bite them, or detonate grenades to die alongside them. The troops had gone two days and two nights without food or water, and coupled with the bitter cold, they were exhausted and suffering heavy casualties. The battle was exceptionally fierce, tragic, and arduous. Ma Hongbin later recalled this battle, saying, "Even the world-famous battles of Taierzhuang and Changsha, where the National Revolutionary Army fought with such heroic spirit, were no more than this."   In the early morning of February 1st, the Japanese army first bombarded the defensive positions at Wubulangkou and Siyitang with heavy artillery, and then used aircraft to dive-bomb the open area in front of Wubulangkou. Under the attack of enemy artillery and tanks combined with infantry, the 208th Regiment suffered heavy casualties, and the front-line positions at Wubulangkou were breached by the enemy. The 205th and 206th Regiments sent reinforcements, using bunkers and high ground fortifications to stubbornly resist the enemy, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. Seeing that they could not capture the positions defended by the Ningxia army, the Japanese army released tear gas and sneezing gas. While attacking from the front, the Japanese army sent puppet Mongolian troops to flank and attack Wubulangkou from the rear of the mountain. Although the Ma troops resisted bravely, they were ultimately outnumbered, and their positions were successively breached by the enemy, forcing the remaining defenders to withdraw. In this battle, more than 1,000 officers and soldiers of the Ningxia Ma troops shed their blood in western Suiyuan, using their lives to block the enemy's advance.   Ma's troops retreated, pursued by Japanese ground forces and strafed by aircraft, suffering over a thousand casualties and forced to retreat into the desert. They continued to fight the Japanese in the quicksand, killing another 200 enemy soldiers. After a grueling six-day, six-night march, the troops successfully returned to their Dengkou base for rest. Post-war statistics show that Ma's 35th Division originally had over 5,000 men; in the battle of Wubulangkou, over 1,000 were killed and 2,000 wounded, including 700 suffering from frostbite. This battle exemplified sacrificial defense, buying time for counteroffensives.   Upon learning of the defeat of his troops in Chongqing, Ma Hongbin immediately flew back to Ningxia and rushed to Dengkou. After regrouping the troops and investigating officers who had failed in their command, he reorganized two regiments, replenished their equipment, and after a brief rest, led by Brigade Commander Ma Peiqing, returned to western Suiyuan. To cooperate with Fu Zuoyi's troops in continuing the fight against the Japanese invaders, the Ningxia army, mainly composed of the 35th Division, entered the Dala Banner area of Yimeng to fight the enemy. After occupying Wuyuan, the Japanese army believed that the Chinese army in western Suiyuan was in disarray and would be unable to recover its fighting capacity in a short time. Furthermore, due to its overextended battle lines and supply difficulties, the Japanese army had no spare troops to expand the war. Therefore, they centered their forces on Wuyuan, leaving a Japanese regiment and four divisions of puppet Mongolian troops, totaling over 15,000 men, to garrison the Hetao region, while the rest of their forces retreated eastward. After the main Japanese force withdrew, Fu Zuoyi decided to organize a campaign to recapture Wuyuan. In March 1940, he ordered his 35th Army to lead the attack on Wuyuan, while Ma's 81st Army moved from western Suiyuan to the Dalad Banner area on the south bank of the Yellow River in the Ordos League to construct fortifications and block Japanese reinforcements from Baotou. At midnight on March 20, Fu's 35th Army simultaneously launched attacks on Japanese strongholds in Wuyuan, Meilingmiao, and Xingongzhong. After two days of fierce fighting, our army finally recaptured Linhe and Wuyuan, killing Lieutenant General Mizukawa, the division commander of the Japanese army, and several thousand of his puppet troops.    Upon hearing the news, the Japanese troops in Baotou crossed the Yellow River, attempting to outflank the 35th Army from the south. However, their westward advance was met with resistance from the positions of Ma's 81st Army. During the defensive battle, Ma's troops were bombarded by more than 30 Japanese artillery pieces. Due to outdated weaponry and lack of artillery counterattack, Ma's right flank was destroyed, allowing the enemy to encircle them from the rear. To avoid being outflanked, Ma's troops retreated north to the Shawo area to regroup. Ma Hongbin ordered each regiment to exploit the enemy's difficulty in vehicular movement in the desert, employing mobile warfare tactics, advancing when the enemy advanced and retreating when the enemy retreated, maintaining a distance of five or six li from the enemy, and choosing opportune moments to attack and exhaust them. Ma's troops also frequently formed assault teams to harass the enemy at night, keeping them constantly on edge. After maneuvering with the Japanese in the desert for several days using mobile warfare, Ma Hongbin's troops occupied a hilltop southwest of Xinminbao and laid an ambush. When the enemy approached, they unleashed a sudden barrage of fire, inflicting hundreds of casualties. This blow forced the Japanese army to abandon its southern reinforcement plan and retreat north across the Yellow River near Zhaojunfen. After the Japanese retreat, the 81st Army immediately launched an attack on the puppet Mongolian cavalry south of the Yellow River. After more than a month of battles, large and small, except for Chaidengtai, which was captured by Fu Zuoyi's troops, all other puppet strongholds were wiped out by Ma Hongbin's troops, and "the entire Damian Beach area in the northeast of the Ih Ju League was recovered."   During the Qingming Festival in 1940, the 35th Division, returning to western Suiyuan, buried the officers and soldiers who died in the battle at Wubulangkou. With tears in their eyes, people buried the remains of 148 officers and soldiers at the Cemetery for Fallen Soldiers on the west side of Wubulangkou, and erected brick monuments in front of the graves according to the names on the surviving shoulder insignia of the fallen officers and soldiers' uniforms.    Casualties on all sides were significant, reflecting the intensity of the fighting. For the Japanese, two brigades and the 72nd Cavalry Regiment took heavy hits, though official reports admitted only about 1,000 losses. Given that these units were sidelined from combat for an extended period afterward, the true figure was likely far higher. Battle reports from the 26th Division alone recorded over 3,000 casualties, nearly 20% of its strength,pushing the total Japanese toll, including other units, to between 4,000 and 5,000. Puppet forces fared even worse. The "Suiyuan-Western Autonomous Allied Army" proved utterly ineffective, collapsing almost immediately against the superior Ma Clique cavalry of the Nationalist 81st Army. While the puppet Mongolian cavalry had some combat capability, their reluctance to fight for the Japanese—often against their own kin, led to half-hearted engagements and quick retreats. Combined puppet casualties and prisoners numbered around 5,000 to 6,000, bringing the overall Japanese and puppet losses to 10,000–12,000 killed or wounded. The Chinese forces, vastly outmatched in equipment and relying on brave but undertrained local security units, endured heavy sacrifices. Domestic sources estimate their casualties at 15,000–20,000.   This campaign marked the only major anti-Japanese engagement involving people from Ningxia, where over 10,000 Hui and Han fighters, under Ma Hongbin and Ma Hongkui, battled fiercely in what is now Linhe and Wuyuan in Inner Mongolia. Thousands perished, buried far from home, embodying the unyielding spirit of the Chinese nation. It stood as Northwest China's sole battlefield in the war, a point of pride for its people. Victory was hard-won, despite the Chinese having slightly more troops but far inferior weaponry. Success stemmed from the soldiers' bravery, tactical use of cavalry mobility, and crucially, the puppet Mongolians' unwillingness to fully commit. The campaign not only repelled the Japanese westward and southward advances, securing Northwest China's northern gateway and blocking incursions into Ningxia, Shaanxi, and Gansu, but also safeguarded key supply routes like the Suiyuan-Xinjiang Highway and connections to Lanzhou. This ensured a steady influx of Soviet aid, bolstering the national resistance and indirectly supporting efforts in Southwest China.   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. After a Chinese raid seized Baotou, Japan launched a major 1940 offensive with tens of thousands of troops, vehicles, armor, aircraft, and puppet Mongolian forces. Chinese defenders used scorched earth, fortifications at Wubulangkou, and mobile cavalry/desert tactics, ambushes, and night harassment. Fu Zuoyi later recaptured Wuyuan/Linhe. Casualties were heavy—Chinese estimates 15,000–20,000; Japanese/puppet losses possibly 10,000–12,000.

The lanterns are lit, the archive doors are bolted, and tonight, we are diving into a file that redefined the meaning of "Safety" in the modern world.The Glico-Morinaga CaseIn 1984, Japan wasn't just an economic powerhouse; it was considered the safest place on Earth. That ended the moment a CEO was dragged naked from his bathtub and the nation's candy supply was turned into a chemical weapon. We are exploring the reign of The Monster with 21 Faces—a group that didn't just want money; they wanted to see a superpower crumble.The Content: A Masterclass in the "Forensic Zero"This isn't just a retelling of a crime spree; it's a deep dive into how a group of shadows managed to stay one step ahead of 1.3 million police officers. The Kidnapping: The high-stakes abduction of Katsuhisa Glico and the impossible ransom of gold and cash. The Letters: We break down the mocking, poetic taunts sent to the media using modified typewriters that created a "synthetic" evidence trail. The Poison: The "Vending Machine Medusa" effect—how the fear of a single cyanide tablet brought corporate giants to their knees. The Hooks: Why This Case Haunts Us The Fox-Eyed Man: We analyse the only physical lead—a man who looked a detective in the eye on a moving train and simply... walked away. The Psychological Siege: How the Monster used the Japanese virtue of Mottainai (wastefulness) to trick people into consuming poison. The Ultimate Price: The tragic story of Superintendent Yamamoto, who chose fire as his only way out of the shame of failure... Interesting Details: The Mechanical PredatorIn this episode, we go beyond the headlines to look at the technical precision of the Monster. We discuss how they modified the type-bars on their machines to ensure the police were hunting a "ghost" machine that didn't technically exist. We also look at the "Stiff Alley" phenomenon and how this case is the reason every bottle you buy today has a vacuum-sealed "pop" cap.The Next Japan True Crime Case...The Monster may have retired, but the archives never sleep. Our next investigation takes us away from the neon lights of Osaka and into a much darker, clinical setting. We are moving from the grocery store to the hospital ward.Prepare yourselves for the next Case File: The Stomach Pump Murders. Keep the lights on, check your surroundings, and—as always—check the seal.Thank you again legends for your support and for listening to these True Crime Japanese focused episode. I really love Japanese True Crime because they are always different, and always unique, both culturally, and the lessons learned from them. Next week I cannot wait to explore more from the True Crime, with the Japanese cultural backdrop in mind.

Am I the Genius? is the show where you get real answers to questions you've always wondered but didn't think to ask. Subscribe on YouTube - youtube.com/@amithegenius?sub_confirmation=1 Am I the Jerk? on Instagram - instagram.com/amithegenius Am I the Jerk? on Spotify - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0uEkxvRMpxLuuHeyPVVioF?si=b279dadfe593432b⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ x.com/amithejerk facebook.com/amithejerk SUBMIT YOUR OWN STORIES HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://amithejerk.com/submit⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Mint Mobile - Get this new customer offer and your 3-month Unlimited wireless plan for just 15 bucks a month at MINTMOBILE.com/AITJ Quince - Keep it classic and cool — with long-lasting staples from Quince. Go to Quince.com/AITJ for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. EveryPlate - Dig into these flavor-packed meals your household will love. New customers can enjoy this special offer of only $1.99 a meal. Go to everyplate.com/podcast and use code AITG199 to get started. Green Chef - Head to Greenchef.com/50AITJ and use code 50AITJ to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping. Lola Blankets - Get 35% off your entire order at Lolablankets.com by using code AITJ at checkout. Uncommon Goods - To get 15% off your next gift, go to UncommonGoods.com/AITJ Don't miss out on this limited-time offer. Uncommon Goods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Linktree: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/Analytic⁠⁠Join The Normandy For Ad-Free NME, Additional Bonus Audio And Visual Content For All Things Nme+! Join Here:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠https://ow.ly/msoH50WCu0K⁠⁠Analytic Dreamz delivers a detailed segment on TOMORROW X TOGETHER's 8th mini album, “7TH YEAR: A Moment of Stillness in the Thorns,” released April 13, 2026. In this Notorious Mass Effect segment, Analytic Dreamz explores the group's 7th anniversary year and post-contract renewal era with Yeonjun, Soobin, Beomgyu, Taehyun, and Hueningkai under BIGHIT MUSIC.The six-track EP, running approximately 16 minutes, centers on the “thorns” metaphor symbolizing anxiety, pressure, and growth pain. It offers introspection, emotional conflict, and resilience through a moment of stillness amid chaos. The tracklist includes Bed of Thorns, lead single Stick With You, Take Me to Nirvana featuring Vinida Weng, So What, 21st Century Romance, and Dream of Mine.Analytic Dreamz breaks down the electropop and techno-punk lead single Stick With You, its high-impact chorus, 909 drum production, and lyrics reflecting relationship tension that mirrors the group's career persistence. The music video starring Jeon Jong-seo portrays anxiety leading to self-realization.Early commercial performance shows massive success: over 1.53 million Hanteo physical copies sold within the first 1–2 days, marking the 7th consecutive million-seller album. Stick With You and the album topped iTunes charts in 15–17 regions including Japan, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and the Philippines. Domestic charts saw strong debuts with immediate #1 on Bugs and a climb on Melon Top 100.Multiple physical editions, member-specific versions, signed copies, and global distribution via Republic Records and Universal Music fuel collector demand and broad accessibility. The short runtime optimizes repeat streaming, while the personal, story-driven concept reinforces TOMORROW X TOGETHER's genre-fluid identity as a top-tier global K-pop act.This segment from Analytic Dreamz examines sales mechanics, artistic direction, chart momentum, and long-term indicators for the album's impact in 2026.Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Welcome to the Art, Life, Faith Podcast, and I’m your host, Roger Lowther. Let me take a moment to invite you to our upcoming conference, May 22-27, 2026, just one month away, here in downtown Tokyo with easy access to all the beautiful art and culture of our city. During our time together, we will offer many short presentations, talks, and performances to lead us in worship through the heart art languages of Japan, all around the theme of “The Beauty of Japan, The Beauty of Heaven.” Every session will include discussion times to get to know the people around you, to encourage networking, and to inspire and encourage one another. We will also have an art gallery with plenty of space to display and distribute materials. We will also host unique activities we are calling “Worship in the City,” enabling people to worship God outside the walls of our building and through the art and culture of Tokyo. This gathering has space for up to 200 people. This is not just a conference, it is an experience. You have to come to know what I'm talking about. I know it's going to change your life. God has already blessed tremendously through the preparations for this event, and we can’t wait to see what he already has in store. We are hosting this event specifically over Pentecost weekend to celebrate the things to come, when all the nations will be united across their different languages and different cultures and different arts in worshiping God together. Hear me on this. We will not be speaking one language or sharing one culture, but God delights in the diversity of the cultures and calling us to worship together. So, come spend Pentecost weekend with us here in Tokyo! We look forward to having you. Well, this episode I had the privilege of having a conversation with Alexandra Hudson, or Lexi, the author of “The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves.” A number of weeks ago, she was passing through Tokyo on vacation with her family when she was gracious enough to sit down with me and talk about the various themes in her book and then lead an Art Life Faith event right afterward. One of the things that came up during our conversation was about “porching.” Porch is not usually used as a verb, but Lexi talks about it in her book. She and I share a mutual friend, Joanna Taft, director of the Harrison Center for the Arts in Indianapolis, who invites people onto her porch every week to just share their lives with one another. And through this Art Life Faith event, we realized that that is exactly what these gatherings are. We gather around a table, have a meal together, and get to know each other. This time, three visitors came who I had never met before. And then they came again to gatherings we had in the weeks that followed. This porching was a wonderful opportunity to invite people into our community, and it was wonderful to have Lexi and her family spend that time with us as well. I’m glad I get to share this conversation with all of you. Roger Welcome to the Art Life Faith podcast, and I’m your host, Roger Lowther. Well, tonight we have the privilege of talking with Alexandra Hudson, who was passing through with her family on vacation, and so we got to arrange an Art Life Faith event happening right after our conversation. So I wanted to introduce her to all of you. So thank you, Alexandra, for being on the show. Lexi Thanks for your hospitality. Great to be with you and Abi tonight and excited for the conversation. Roger We just met, so I’m not quite sure how to introduce you. Can you introduce yourself? Lexi Yeah, I am passionate about ideas and storytelling and how they can make our lives richer and better. I love history and philosophy, and I wrote a book called “The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves.” It’s about how to flourish across deep differences, which is the most urgent question of our day in our era of hyper-partisanship, of extremism, of despair, of loneliness. But it’s also a timeless fundamental human question: How do we peacefully coexist amidst competing visions of the good? That’s what I explore my book. Roger Well, it’s an interesting book title because civility, when I try to translate it into Japanese in my head, I’m not quite sure which word to use. Lexi Oh, interesting. What are the options? Roger Well, the one I want to use is politeness, but it’s not politeness, is it? Lexi No, it is not. It’s interesting that you said that. Roger How is it different? Lexi You’re setting me up really nicely. A core argument of my book is that there is an essential distinction between civility and politeness, and in English we have these two words. We have civility and politeness, but people often today use them interchangeably, whether or not they want more of it or less of it. And in America, in the West, we have two vocal groups right now. One group says, “Oh, we are so divided. We’re so broken. Democracy is in peril. We need more civility and politeness in order to save democracy.” So they use this one phrase, “civility and politeness.” And there’s another contingent as well that says, no, civility and politeness are part of the problem. They’re the tools of the powerful, the patriarchy. They oppress the powerless, and we need to burn it all down, throw the baby out with the bathwater. Less civility and politeness in order to achieve greater justice and equity in the world. But both these contingents use these phrases interchangeably, and I argue that they’re different. I love etymology. I love studying language, and I love the origin of language. I’ve loved learning about Japanese and Japanese characters and the stories. So the etymology of civility and politeness is illuminating, and it’s, it’s actually honoring the original etymology to separate these words. So the etymology of, well, let me tell you what the difference is first, then I’ll go. Roger I'm thinking like civilization… Lexi So politeness, I argue, is manners. It’s etiquette. It’s technique. I know there’s a lot of influence in Japan on Confucius philosophy, but so is this concept of li. I don’t know if that is a concept here at all, but it’s like ritual. It’s propriety. Roger Japan is certainly known for its politeness. Lexi That’s correct. What we do is what we say, whereas civility isn’t external, it’s internal. It’s an inner disposition of the heart. It’s a way of seeing others fundamentally as our moral equals, worthy of respect just by virtue of our shared dignity, our equal moral worth as human beings, by virtue of the imago dei, that we are, we are created with it. We have the divine imprint, and that means that every single one of us without exception bear an irreducible moral worth and are worthy of respect. We owe to others that bare minimum of respect by virtue of imago dei. Roger I think I read on the back of your book that it’s not just about your actions and words but about the attitude of your heart, right? Lexi Right. The disposition of the heart is what civility is, and that sometimes actually respecting someone, actually loving someone, requires being impolite. It requires telling a hard truth, having an uncomfortable conversation, even especially in a democracy, engaging in robust debate. I mean, think of a marriage, you know, sweeping differences under the rug is not sustainable for an authentic true relationship. It’s going to get messy. It’s going to get hard. You have to have uncomfortable conversations. But, and in fact, having difficult conversations can be a tool of strengthening a relationship. It’s not about whether you disagree, it’s how you do it and whether you are… Roger If you’re uncivil, does that mean that you are fighting these? What kind of interaction is uncivil? You guys are being uncivil. You know, something I may say to my boys something, right? Lexi Civility requires action sometimes, but it also takes certain action off the table. I’ll give you an example. In chapter 7 of my book, I talk about civil disobedience. And let me just go to the etymology to illuminate the distinction a little bit more. So politeness, our word in English, comes from the Latin polire, which means to smooth or polish. And that’s what politeness does—it papers over difference, it sweeps it under the rug, as opposed to giving us tools to grapple with difference head-on. The etymology of civility is civitas, which is our etymological root for citizen, citizenship, civilization, city. And that’s what civility is— it’s the, the duty, duties, the conduct, the mores, that the disposition, the habits befitting a citizen in a city, and especially in a democracy that requires truth-telling, that requires honest, robust debate that is the lifeblood of a democracy. Roger Okay, so, you know, living here in Japan, we’re often taught to be polite because that’s such a big part of society. And I have seen a lot of relationships broken when they don’t know how to be polite. They say, well, let’s just not talk to that person, and then I don’t have to be fake. I just won’t see that person. And there doesn’t seem to be a kind of a way through for building community. There’s a lot of brokenness in relationships in Japan. So what you’re talking about is a way through that. Lexi That’s so interesting. I’m not saying don’t be polite. I’m not condemning Japan as a polite society. I’m saying that’s not enough, that the form the words, the rituals, the actions, without the inner disposition that sees you as my fellow human being worthy of respect, that it’s not going to be enough. And in the West as well, we too often settle for politeness. We, we settle for just people doing and saying the perfectly correct thing, but we’re missing civility, that inner disposition of the heart that helps us actually know when to depart from politeness, when to have those uncomfortable conversations. Roger Okay, so let me ask you now, because this is the Art Life Faith Podcast, what is the role of beauty and art in creating this soul of civility? Lexi I did a kintsugi class while I was here in Japan, and I love that as a metaphor for life and the human condition, this ancient practice of taking broken pottery that some might cast away but taking it, piecing it back together, and making it more beautiful on the other side of this process, illuminating our brokenness. I think that’s really powerful. Roger So the brokenness of society is something that you as an artist of society are trying to speak into? Lexi I’ve been going back and forth about what I am because I’m not just a writer, I’m not just a speaker. In fact, like this season of my work, I’m a practitioner. Like I am both trying to live this and build initiatives and institutions in my community and helping dozens of other people across the country right now, including Congress, including state legislatures, including Ivy League universities, build initiatives around my work as well. So, civic architect is one idea. I don’t know. Listeners, write to me with your ideas for how to characterize what I’m doing. I wrote this book. It’s both descriptive and normative, but now I’m doing it, and so I don’t have there’s no category really for that that I know of. So if you know of one, if you can help me think of one, I welcome it. Roger Yeah, well, I’ll keep thinking about it. I mean, one reason I asked you to come and speak tonight for this event is we were connected by a mutual friend who runs the Harrison Center for the Arts. I looked at some of the pictures. I saw you were doing events there. You were connected to this art gallery. Can you tell us a little bit more about that connection? Lexi To really do justice to that story, let’s back up a little bit about why I wrote this book. I love history. I love philosophy. I love ideas. I was raised by two very curious human beings. My mom and dad are intellectually omnivorous, and our home life growing up was just very stimulating. And my parents taught me wonder was a way of life. I went to a combination of public, private, and charter schools growing up, but I loved all school because I had this really intellectually robust home life that promoted the life of the mind. Then I went to grad school at the London School of Economics, because I wanted to put ideas into practice. I feel like my education kind of stopped at the Italian Renaissance, and I wanted to know more about the world that I was about to live in. Then I got my first big break in DC. I served in federal government, and it felt like the honor of a lifetime. I couldn’t wait to serve my country, and I chose to serve at the United States Department of Education, the single largest institution in the history of mankind dedicated to student instruction. And I was devastated to discover they didn’t really care about education, at least not how I had been educated, about soul craft and ordering our passions and beauty and goodness and truth. And on top of that, it was so dehumanizing, my experience in Washington. My experience was kind of a microcosm of our dysfunction and division as a whole. I saw two extremes that are equally as dehumanizing. One was the hostile contingent in government, people who were willing to step on anyone to get ahead, overtly belligerent. And the other contingent were polished and poised and polite, but ruthless and cruel. Roger Yeah, I believe it. Lexi I saw people who would smile at me and others one moment and then stab us in the back the next. And that really disillusioned me. And I realized upon reflection that these two extremes they seem like polar opposites. And in fact, people often tack in one direction as an antidote to the other. People who are just exhausted by the hostility are trying to be uber polite to try and compensate, but they’re actually equally as dehumanizing. Both insufficiently appreciate the profound gift of being human in ourselves and in others. The hostile contingent sees others as pawns to be bludgeoned into submission, silenced. Roger That's certainly the image of government. Lexi And the polite contingent sees others as pawns to be manipulated and then discarded, but neither see human beings as they really are— beings with dignity, worthy of respect. So I fled Washington. I served one year. I remember the day very clearly. I came home from work one day. It was a very dispiriting day, and I said to my husband, I’m done with DC. I’m done with the swamp. I’m done with government. Let’s move to Indiana. And he said, okay, sounds good, we’ll move to Indiana. Roger So why Indiana? Lexi Because he’s from there originally. He’s from northern Indiana, and I wanted anywhere but Washington. I just wanted something different. I had in my mind like rolling pastures and farmland, like just peace and tranquility. So he smiled and said, okay, sounds good, we’ll move to Indiana. No takebacks. And a few months later, we were out there, and one of my first friends came up to me after church one day and she said, “Hi, I’m Joanna Taft. Would you like to porch with us sometime?” And I never heard the word porch used that way. Roger I’m not sure what that is. Lexi But I was curious, and again, we didn’t know many people in town. And so we went to her beautiful historic great big front veranda on her porch that Sunday afternoon, and I realized that she was staging a quiet revolution against our polarized, divided, isolated status quo from her front porch. She had curated people that day, much like what you’re doing here tonight, you know, not to have a structured dialog across difference, but just to say You know, what does it mean to engage one another as human beings first? And it was a beautiful oasis from the divisions that I had been just so immersed in in government, where, you know, the world wants us to assign value to our race, our wealth, our political persuasion, where we live, all these different identities. And it was an oasis from that. It was just a chance to be present with other human beings and I’ve been on book tour the last several years. I’ve been in like 145 cities and 5 countries. And I saw people like Joanna doing the same independently. People who said, this is the power in Joanna’s work and her life being an argument for this work. Lexi She was saying, I can’t control others. I can’t control who’s president. I can’t control what’s happening down at city hall. I can only control myself, and I’m going to choose to double down and make my community better and more beautiful. And I tell her story in my book, The Soul of Civility, because the porch is the metaphor that I use, one of the metaphors I used for this, this theory of social change, that we can’t change others. We can’t. It’s the world wants to disempower us and blame. Roger Yeah, I love it. Especially here in Japan, community is so much more important than ideas. And my sense is that America is getting more and more interested in, this is my idea, this is where I stand, are you with me or are you an enemy? Lexi Is there “porching” in Japan? Roger There’s a lot of cafes. People are always going out to izakaya, which is kind of Japanese bar restaurant type of thing. That is a meeting ground. Country Chicken is a fried chicken, izakaya-type place that’s just down there. We can see it out the living room window here. I do karate with my dojo, and we meet there like every couple months. It’s just a fun place to gather and talk. And I’m the only Christian in the group, I’m the only foreigner in the group, and they’ve invited me into their community through the sport of doing karate together. It feels like porching, I guess, because we’re always sharing various ideas. They sometimes ask me provocative questions about politics in the States, and I usually try to avoid those topics. But yeah, that could be porching, I guess. Lexi It absolutely is porching because it’s not even about the porch. You got that right away. It’s a way of engaging others in the world with civility, seeing them as a human being first. You know, you’re not American or Japanese first. You’re not a Republican or Democrat first. You’re my fellow human being and I want to know you. I want to see you. I want to know you and maybe even love you. That is what Joanna fostered on her porch that day that felt so powerful, to have people be seen and known and loved in the fullness of who they are. And that’s refreshing in a world that wants to essentialize us. Roger Yeah, that definitely is what we’re trying to create tonight. We open our home to people. It’s why we are where we are. It’s kind of easy to get to. You came from Tokyo Station. How far are we from there? Lexi Like 10 minutes. Roger Not too far, right? Lexi I know, it was wonderful. Roger Yeah, so we’re trying to be centrally located for that reason. And our church too isn’t far from here. We’re trying to create that kind of community. So going back to the art gallery, or just arts in general…For artists who are listening, what would you say to them about their role in this? How can they help be an architect of civility in their cities, in their communities? What does that look like? Lexi Well, Pope Francis has this great phrase. He called us all to be artisans of the common good. And I love that. I do a lot of work with civic leaders, with elected officials, with CEOs, with educators, people who might not consider themselves artists. I think we’re all artists. We are all creators because we are made in God’s image, and our God is the Creator. Roger Yes. Lexi And I think that we are closest to being who we really are and who God created us to be and most like him when we are creating. So that’s a core message I have for people in my community that might not think of themselves as creative. They’re not part of the creative economy. And it’s like, no, you are. And it’s about finding that still quiet voice that you have a calling to, and to innovate, to see a need, something that doesn’t exist, and to build something that meets that need. So this season of my work, I’m not just talking about the book. I call myself a co-creator with these dozens of local leaders. I call them Civic Renaissance Ambassadors. They’re congresspersons. They’re state representatives. They’re local mayors. They’re city councilors. They’re school teachers. They’re people from all walks of life who have read my book, found it useful, and said, “Okay, I’ve read it, I love it, but how do I live it?” And when I was getting that question all throughout book tour, I said, “I don’t know, I just wrote a book.” But now I’ve learned a lot and I’m co-creating. That’s what I call myself, a co-creator with these people who are doing this, who see loneliness, they see brokenness, they see life as it ought not be because people are cutting friends off, cutting family members off over politics. I don’t know if that’s a problem here. I’d be curious to know if it is, but that’s a big problem in the US where you’re ending friendships, lifelong friendships, family, no contact with parents. Over politics, your view on the vaccine, your view on Donald Trump. And that is like self-sabotage. That is disordered loves. We are making the most important things the not important. And so people see those needs and they want to be part of the solution. So, I’m calling them to co-create with me. Roger I think a lot of artists have this image that they make work and they hope somebody is going to buy their painting or hope that someone’s going to hire them to come in and play for this event but don’t know how it fits into the bigger picture. But you’re saying that everyone has a role to play in building the kind of community to build the kind of city that we want to see. It’s so easy for us to get practical. Like, this is what I have to do to make a living. And this is my narrow pathway here. But it’s a much bigger vision, how it all fits together. Is that right? Lexi Yes. And I think that the message I would share with my co-creators, these civic leaders that I work with is also a message for artists as well, is that no effort to create beauty is ever wasted. It can be really easy to feel like it if the piece doesn’t sell, or if, you know, no one notices— I feel that sometimes. I feel like I work so hard and I’m like, does anyone even care? Is this working? Is this doing anything? And then I have to remind myself, no, the process is the point. Just the act of creation, the act of bringing goodness and beauty and truth into the world, that is its own reward. Roger You were talking about keeping the conversation going by continuing to meet with these people working in government and other business leaders and people like that. I can see how the arts can play a role in that as well. There’s tremendous power in the arts to bring people together over certain topics from a third-party perspective. It’s a safe way to create a platform for people to engage one another, I think. So we’re almost out of time. People are going to start ringing the doorbell and coming in here. Is there anything you’d like to share before we end? Lexi The final chapter on my book argues—it’s on misplaced meaning and forgiveness—and it argues that we have made a religion out of politics, and that’s bad for democracy, bad for religion, bad for Christianity, bad for our souls. And I argue that we need to do things that give us life, that it’s not enough just to say love politics less. We have to do things to actively displace and replace a harmful affection. I’m getting this idea from Thomas Chalmers. He’s a Scottish theologian. He has an essay called “The Expulsive Power of a New Affection.” He says it’s not enough just to say, soul, love sin less. You have to cultivate love of God. That is what will permanently displace the love of the sin. Nature abhors a vacuum, he says. It’s not enough just to diagnose that we have an unhealthy attachment to politics and to toxicity that is poisoning our soul. What are some things we can proactively pursue that are more noble and life-giving? I talk about intellectual curiosity. I talk about friendship, especially friendship across difference. I talk about beauty and the sublime. Beauty is something that delights us. The sublime fills us with awe. It’s like, you know, a thunderstorm, waves crashing on the shore. It’s like staring up space at night and being humbled by this concept of infinity and giving us a sense of smallness. That is good for our souls. I’m on holiday here in Japan with my 3 children, and it’s hard to travel with 3 kids under 6, and it’s tiring. But I want them to know that the world is big and vast, and how we live every day is not the way that most of the world lives. That is humbling. It’s so beautiful. And I’m just so grateful to be here with you. Roger Yeah, that’s great. Well, how can people learn more about you? Lexi I host a newsletter intellectual community called Civic Renaissance. It’s about beauty, goodness, and truth, and reviving the wisdom of the past to help us lead better lives in the present. Please do consider joining me over at Civic Renaissance. It’s about taking ideas out of the ether and living them, like putting this work into practice now, and how can we live richer, more fulfilled lives and relationships now. And, of course, read my book, “The Soul of Civility.” I hope it’s an encouragement. If you are in Japan, and whether you’re Japanese or American or from the West, I want to hear your observations about how this distinction between civility and politeness applies here. I came here with a kind of working hypothesis. I’ve been all over the world talking about this distinction. I was like, what’s it going to be like going to the most polite society in the world? I hope that this does meet a need in some way here, because we need human dignity first. Just manners alone are not enough. Roger Well, thank you. I’m really looking forward to tonight and seeing the kind of discussions that we’re going to have. So thank you so much for sharing your time with us. Lexi My pleasure. Thanks for having us. Roger You’ve been listening to the Art, Life, Faith Podcast. Don't forget to pick up your own copy of The Soul of Civility, wherever you buy your books. As we say in Japan, “Ja, mata ne!” We’ll see you next time.

The gang discusses the Xbox flip flops, table tennis robots, Cheapy's train app launch, PRAGMATA, Robocop in Call of Duty, and so much more!

Subscribe now to skip the ads and get all of our episodes. Danny and Derek will livestream from Route 3 as they take to the World Cup on foot. This week's news: in Iran, Trump extends the ceasefire after talks fail (1:02), Iran reimposes its Strait of Hormuz blockade (6:05), the Islamic Republic's leadership rejects unilateral concessions (9:11), and Persian Gulf mines and oil spills threaten commerce (13:13); the UAE seeks a currency swap after the Iran war's economic shocks (16:28); Israel violates the Lebanon ceasefire amid extension talks (18:11) while the IDF punishes soldiers over crucifix desecration (21:00); Gaza's reconstruction costs cause problems, plus governance delays (24:13); the U.S. offers to send Afghan refugees to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (26:33); Japan lifts its lethal arms export ban (28:59); the Sudanese army retakes Moja from the RSF (30:22); the TPLF reasserts control over the Tigray government (32:55); Ukraine reopens the Druzhba pipeline for an EU loan (34:51); CIA deaths expose the United States' role in Mexico drug raids (37:55); and boat strike survivors allege mistreatment in U.S. custody (40:59). Be sure to subscribe to our newest miniseries, Marx Prestige. And check out our series on Christian Zionism with Daniel Hummel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

TWiP solves the case of the male in his 20s from Hokkaido, Japan, who developed fatigue and rash, followed by fever and myalgia 6 days later, after eating a raw bear eyeball. Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Daniel Griffin, and Christina Naula Subscribe (free): Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, RSS, email Links for this episode Join the MicrobeTV Discord server Hero: Sir Nicholas White (1951 – 2026) (Guardian, Lancet) Letters read on TWiP 278 TWiP study – information and survey New Case 3 yo child who recently immigrated to the US from Central America is brought in to the ER with acute right lower quadrant abdominal pain. The mother is concerned about the pain as well as nausea and vomiting. This is acute and the ER provider is concerned that this might be an acute surgical emergency. They order an US in this child and they are surprised to see a rather active serpiginous wormlike 'thing' wiggling away in the child's appendix.  I was sent the Ultrasound video which I really enjoyed. What to do? Become a patron of TWiP  Send your questions and comments to twip@microbe.tv Music by Ronald Jenkees

Endo Kazutoshi spent decades climbing to the top of the culinary world, only for a devastating fire to threaten it all. I joined him in the aftermath as he travelled around his homeland, visiting the people that helped make him Written and read by Kieran Morris. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod

As Cadillac hit the track in Formula 1's new era, we catch up with the American team at their Silverstone base to reflect on their journey so far.Star drivers Valtteri Bottas and Sergio Perez share their thoughts on the team's first ever races in Australia, China and Japan.Team Principal Graeme Lowdon explains how the team are using the sport's unexpected early-season break to take the next steps, as broadcaster Holly Samos and journalist Sarah Holt return to the team's Silverstone base for another behind-the-scenes tour to see Cadillac's progress in person.

Danny and Derek will livestream from Route 3 as they take to the World Cup on foot. This week's news: in Iran, Trump extends the ceasefire after talks fail (1:02), Iran reimposes its Strait of Hormuz blockade (6:05), the Islamic Republic's leadership rejects unilateral concessions (9:11), and Persian Gulf mines and oil spills threaten commerce (13:13); the UAE seeks a currency swap after the Iran war's economic shocks (16:28); Israel violates the Lebanon ceasefire amid extension talks (18:11) while the IDF punishes soldiers over crucifix desecration (21:00); Gaza's reconstruction costs cause problems, plus governance delays (24:13); the U.S. offers to send Afghan refugees to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (26:33); Japan lifts its lethal arms export ban (28:59); the Sudanese army retakes Moja from the RSF (30:22); the TPLF reasserts control over the Tigray government (32:55); Ukraine reopens the Druzhba pipeline for an EU loan (34:51); CIA deaths expose the United States' role in Mexico drug raids (37:55); and boat strike survivors allege mistreatment in U.S. custody (40:59).Be sure to subscribe to our newest miniseries, Marx Prestige.And check out our series on Christian Zionism with Daniel Hummel. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Amazon Japan is bigger than most sellers realize. In this episode, let's unpack market differences, cheaper ad opportunities, AI strategy, and Japan travel tips. What makes Amazon Japan worth serious attention from global sellers? In this episode of the AM/PM Podcast, Bradley Sutton sits down with Nate Shurilla, Head of APAC at Pacvue, to break down why Japan remains one of the most overlooked opportunities in e-commerce. From marketplace size and shopper behavior to lower advertising competition, the conversation highlights why brands selling in the US or Europe should take a closer look at Japan before the window gets more crowded.   Bradley and Nate explore how the Japanese market differs from Western markets in ways many sellers do not expect. They discuss how Amazon and Rakuten dominate e-commerce in Japan, why convenience culture changes online shopping behavior, and how Japanese consumers often respond better to detail, trust, and brand story than flashy simplification. They also cover how lower tool adoption has created a unique opening for sellers using Helium 10 and Pacvue to gain an advantage in research, ads, and category analysis.   The episode then shifts into advertising and AI, where Nate shares why automation can be powerful but also dangerous when used without the right data or business context. He explains why many AI tools optimize for surface-level ad metrics instead of true business growth, and how Pacvue approaches this differently by factoring in organic performance, incrementality, budgeting, and specialized AI agents. For brands trying to decide between Helium 10 and Pacvue, Nate gives a practical breakdown of who each platform is best suited for and how both fit into a smarter advertising strategy.   To close things out, the episode adds a fun personal angle with Japan travel hacks and regional recommendations beyond the usual tourist stops. From scenic train rides between Osaka and Kyoto to hidden gems like Aomori and Yamagata, this conversation blends marketplace strategy with cultural perspective in a way that makes the episode both useful and memorable. It is a valuable listen for any seller interested in international expansion, smarter advertising, and understanding how local market behavior can shape global opportunity. In episode 516 of the AM/PM Podcast, Bradley and Nate discuss: 00:00 - Introduction 00:52 - Nate Shurilla Joins Live From Japan 01:40 - The Hanshin Tigers And Matt Merton Story 04:09 - Why Nate Moved To Japan 05:48 - How Nate Got Into E-Commerce 07:03 - How Big Amazon Japan Really Is 08:49 - What Makes Japanese E-Commerce Different 10:17 - Why Japanese Shopping Pages Look So Busy 12:38 - Why Amazon Japan CPCs Are Still Low 18:17 - Why Helium 10 Users Have An Edge In Japan 20:20 - How To Decide If Your Brand Should Enter Japan 23:06 - Helium 10 Vs. Pacvue For Advertisers 27:05 - Japan Travel Hacks Beyond Tokyo And Kyoto 30:16 - Why Nate Called His Talk “AI Is Trash” 33:13 - The Right Way To Use AI In Advertising 43:02 - What The Pacvue Agent Can Do 45:56 - Final Takeaways And Wrap-Up

Story of the Week (DR):Apple names John Ternus as CEO to replace Tim Cook, who will become chairmanApple CEO Tim Cook is stepping downMeet John Ternus, the 51-year-old former swimming champ who will succeed Tim Cook as Apple CEOTim Cook to step down as Apple CEO. In letter, describes 15 years of emailsTim Cook's exit is part of a CEO reckoning sweeping Corporate AmericaAre internal CEOs the way to go?Best Buy taps insider Jason Bonfig as new CEO, Corie Barry steps downShe's actually leaving the boardLululemon names former Nike exec Heidi O'Neill as CEO MMLululemon CEO Pick Heidi O'Neill Faces Skeptical Wall Street AND Lululemon shares dive on new CEO pick — as investors fear she may not have chops to save struggling companyO'Neill brings more than 30 years of experience in performance apparel, footwear, and sports, including over 25 years at Nike, where she was credited with transforming their women's business from a side-project into a global juggernaut. Her leadership spanned product creation, brand strategy, marketing, and global operations, making her one of the most influential executives in the company's modern era. Most recently, she served as President, Consumer, Product & Brand, overseeing Nike's global consumer and product engineGolden hello: $7M equity, $2M cashRoughly 75% of Lululemon's customers are womenLululemon board: 7 of 11 FChair Martha MorfittCommittees:Audit: 2 of 3 F, including chairNomination: 3 of 5Pay: 3 of 5 F, including chairAlso: CFO, Chief Merchandising Officer, Chief People & Culture Officer, Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Chief Brand & Product Activation OfficerNow we get why Chip is so mad: Chip Wilson, Lululemon's founder, largest shareholder and chief agitator, has not weighed in on the pick yet, although he previously advocated for waiting to name a new CEO until the board could be resetBest Buy taps insider Jason Bonfig as new CEO, Corie Barry steps downBest Buy taps insider Bonfig to succeed veteran Barry as CEO amid demand slowdownOil giant BP suffers shareholder revolt over climate transparency at tense AGM“BP suffered a shareholder revolt at its AGM over the election of a new chair and resolutions that included dropping some climate disclosure obligations”BP failed to get majority shareholder approval on two highly anticipated motions, which would have permitted online-only AGMs and retired two company-specific climate disclosure obligations. Each resolution received around 47% support, far short of the required 75% required to pass.Ahead of the AGM, BP's board blocked a motion tabled by Follow This that would have required the company to share plans on creating value for shareholders under future scenarios of falling oil and gas demand.Resolution 1: Annual Report and Accounts – 98% For / 2% AgainstResolution 2: Directors' remuneration report – 95% For / 5% AgainstResolution 3: Directors' remuneration policy – 95% For / 5% AgainstResolution 4: To elect Albert Manifold as a director – 82% For / 18% AgainstSome activist investors had said even a 5% vote against Manifold, who has only been in post as chair since October, would represent a severe reprimand, particularly after a historic 24% vote against outgoing chair Helge Lund last year.Resolution 5: To elect Meg O'Neill as a director – 97% For / 3% AgainstResolution 6: To re-elect Kate Thomson as a director – 96% For / 4% AgainstResolution 7: To re-elect Dame Amanda Blanc as a director – 95% For / 5% AgainstResolution 8: To re-elect Tushar Morzaria as a director – 96% For / 4% AgainstResolution 9: To re-elect Ian Tyler as a director – 96% For / 4% AgainstResolution 10: To re-elect Satish Pai as a director – 92% For / 8% AgainstResolution 11: To re-elect Dr Johannes Teyssen as a director – 89% For / 11% AgainstResolution 12: To re-elect Hina Nagarajan as a director – 96% For / 4% AgainstResolution 13: To elect Dave Hager as a director – 97% For / 3% AgainstResolution 14: Reappointment of auditor – 100% For / 0% AgainstResolution 15: Remuneration of auditor – 100% For / 0% AgainstResolution 16: Political donations and political expenditure – 98% For / 2% AgainstResolution 17: Directors' authority to allot shares – 96% For / 4% AgainstResolution 18: Special resolution: Authority for disapplication of pre-emption rights – 99% For / 1% AgainstResolution 19: Special resolution: Additional authority for disapplication of pre-emption rights – 99% For / 1% AgainstResolution 20: Special resolution: Share buyback – 100% For / 0% AgainstResolution 21: Special resolution: Notice of general meetings – 94% For / 6% AgainstResolution 22: Special resolution: New Articles of Association – 47% For / 53% AgainstResolution 23: Special resolution: Revocation of previous 2015 and 2019 resolutions – 47% For / 53% AgainstResolution 24: Special resolution: ACCR shareholder resolution – 26% For / 74% AgainstNetflix authorizes $25 billion share buyback after stock dropPopulist Math Time:Employees: As of 2026, Netflix employs roughly 16,000 people. If you took that $25 billion and distributed it directly to the workforce = $1,562,500 per employeeAlternatively: They could fund a $100,000 annual salary for 250,000 new people for an entire year.Customers: Netflix has roughly 325 million subscribers globally. If they decided to use that money to subsidize the service instead of buying back stock: $77 per person.Netflix could give every subscriber on the planet roughly 4 to 5 months of service for free.Or, they could lower the price of every subscription by about $6.40 per month for a full year.Social impact:Various estimates (including from HUD) suggest that ending homelessness in the US would cost roughly $20 billion to $30 billion.It could provide a full four-year scholarship (at an average cost of $100k total) to 250,000 students.It could fund the eradication of several neglected tropical diseases or provide clean water infrastructure for tens of millions of people globally.For perspective, the entire annual budget for NASA in 2025 was around $25 billion. Netflix is essentially spending one "National Space Program" worth of cash just to tweak its stock price.Shareholders:If Netflix successfully retires that 6.4% of shares and the market maintains its current valuation, the stock price should mathematically rise by about 7% to compensate for the reduced supply.If the price jumps 7% (from $93 to roughly $99.50), here is the wealth jump:Vanguard: $2.5BBlackRock: $2.1BFidelity: $1.4BReed Hastings: $138MGoodliest of the Week (MM/DR):DR: Lufthansa Cuts 20,000 Flights to Save Fuel Amid Iran War Price SurgeMM: The Onion Says It Has Again Struck a Deal to Take Over InfowarsMM: Texas Capital stays incorporated in Delaware after shareholders reject 'Dexit' voteAre investors waking up??? They rejected TEXAS CAPITAL redomestication to TEXAS!Assholiest of the Week (MM):White guy victimhood DR‘The disfavored groups, No. 1, obviously, would be white males': Ron DeSantis is still signing anti-DEI legislationWhite males are…70% of governors70% of congress60% of US corporate boards31% of US populationWhat percentage of DEI programs for companies were designed by white male CEOs? 90% of CEOs in Fortune 500 are white guys - so ALL OF THEMSo when we read: White House study says DEI policies cost US economy by promoting unqualified managers…Even if the premise and math and methodology and concepts are literally all make believe, we SHOULD take away that “white men pretending to do DEI are bad for the economy” right?Federal Job Cuts Hit Black Women Hard—a Year Later, Unemployment Is UpDonald Trump 'Honours' UGA Women's Tennis Champions With Bizarre Photo Featuring Only Men In The ForegroundThe anti DEI, white male victimhood movement should entirely OWN DEI itself - this is the great blame transfer - somehow manage to blame black women and gays for the fact that white men running the world instituted shitty policies not meant to distribute equal opportunity, just meant for press releases - anti DEI is actually anti white male leaders. Make every company CEO a black woman and then see what DEI looks likeWhite guy manifestosPalantir published a mini manifesto calling some cultures ‘harmful' and ‘middling' and said Silicon Valley has ‘a moral debt' to the U.S.Why are tech bros so insistent we listen to everything they think? Were you not listened to as a child? Did no one ever validate you? Is this just about sex? Could you not get laid, and now because you have money you need to get everything you ever thought off your chest?Here are snippets of what Alex Karp, man who couldn't get laid, thought so important that we know:The postwar neutering of Germany and Japan must be undone.The culture almost snickers at Musk's interest in grand narrative, as if billionaires ought to simply stay in their lane of enriching themselves . . . . Any curiosity or genuine interest in the value of what he has created is essentially dismissed, or perhaps lurks from beneath a thinly veiled scorn.The ruthless exposure of the private lives of public figures drives far too much talent away from government service.Man who exposes private lives as a business model says it's badWe, in America and more broadly the West, have for the past half century resisted defining national cultures in the name of inclusivity.All very important points from a man we should clearly listen to about everything - the lane I want you to stay in is “shut the fuck up” lane where, BECAUSE you have billions, I'm not forced to listen to you as if you matterWhite guy philanthropyJeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos Donate $34 Million in Fashion GrantsMacKenzie Scott's latest donation takes her HBCU giving to well over $1 billionMacKenzie Scott has donated more than $26 billion—but it's barely made a dent in her net worth because of the power of Amazon sharesHeadliniest of the WeekDR: The blowhards:Sam Altman opens up about the Molotov cocktail attack on his home: 'The way Anthropic talks about OpenAI doesn't help'Nvidia CEO says that AI agents will make workers busier than ever—they'll ‘harass' and ‘micromanage' you, instead of take your jobMcDonald's boss on abuse claims: 'I don't want to talk about the past'Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says you won't lose your job to AI—you'll lose it to your coworker who uses it‘I think it's a mistake': Delta CEO Ed Bastian refuses to call it ‘artificial intelligence' because it scares peopleAI will boost productivity so ServiceNow won't have to backfill open jobs, CEO saysDR: The Nutter Chutter Butter Double: Morgan Stanley biotech banker Jessica Chutter joins Tectonic board AND Tectonic Therapeutic Appoints Jessica Chutter to Board of DirectorsI screwed up: blanked and thought that was two different companies. But then I did 3 seconds of research and found that she had joined a second board: PTC Therapeutics on March 24, 2026.MM: Apple's New CEO Needs to Be a ‘Cowboy' — But Can He With Tim Cook Still There?MM: SEC Imposes Strict Nine-Year Cap on Independent DirectorsPhillipinesWho Won the Week?DR: Jessica ChutterMM: The Philippines, whose corporate boards will no longer be allowed to have Edward Sylvester of WestAmerica Bancorp, born in 1938 and on the board for 47 yearsPredictionsDR: Nobody ever talks about Jason BonfigMM: Edward Sylvester steps down as Lead Independent Director of WestAmerica Bancorp to take the role of Non Executive Advisor to the Lead Independent Director Emeritus of WestAmerica Bancorp, says the rise of AI calls fresh blood on the board

Jeremy O. Harris joins Kevin Fallon for a wide-ranging, candid, and often hilarious conversation about art, fame, and saying exactly what you mean. The acclaimed playwright and filmmaker opens up about his new movie, working with major pop stars, and the whirlwind rise from grad school to Broadway and beyond. He reflects on controversy, creative freedom, and why he refuses to stay quiet—even when it puts him at odds with powerful figures. Harris also shares the surreal story of his detainment in Japan and how it unexpectedly became a moment of clarity in an otherwise nonstop career. Then, Kevin is joined by Hot Goss hosts Eyal Booker and Lonnie Marts to break down the latest reality TV chaos, from shocking Summer House relationship drama to villain behavior on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Follow Kevin Fallon on Instagram ⁠@kpfallon⁠ Follow Matt Wilstein on Instagram ⁠@mattjwilstein⁠ New episodes every Thursday, and Saturday; ⁠early drops on YouTube⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

learn about the speaker's new tradition of going out on the town in Tokyo as part of his celebration of Christmas in Japan

After the Fukushima disaster shut down Japan's nuclear reactors, the coal industry rushed in to fill the energy gap. As climate advocate Kimiko Hirata watched dozens of new coal plant proposals quietly surface across the country — each one locking in decades of future emissions — she resolved to make them impossible to ignore. She shares how a small, scrappy civil society movement took on a fossil-fuel-dependent economy and got people to say "yes" to a renewable future.Learn more about our flagship conference happening this April at attend.ted.com/podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's issue 4376! This week Andy is joined by Tiff Stevenson and Neil Delamere as the three jump into this week's news! Starting off with the ramifications of the war in Iran, the trio also discuss the state of US Navy's dining in the wake of reported food shortages, the planet burning up and the UK's Mandelson problem rumbles on!

Before the internet, Japan's underground car culture was built on independent, cheaply printed zines, word-of-mouth networks, and late-night highway runs. In this episode of Past Gas, we explore how car magazines transformed Japanese tuning from a hidden, unauthorized subculture into an absolute global phenomenon.We dive into the story of visionary editor Daijiro Inada and his revolutionary publication, Option Magazine, which boldly documented illegal street racing and gave rogue tuners a shared voice and platform. From the secretive, elite 250 km/h runs of the legendary Mid Night Club on Tokyo's Wangan to the smoke-filled official top-speed battles at the Yatabe High Speed Loop. This rebellious energy birthed the Tokyo Auto Salon and forced the Japanese government to legitimize the very aftermarket engineering that would soon take over the worldToday's episode is brought to you by BlueChew. Right now, when you buy two months of BlueChew Gold, you get the third for FREE with promo code PASTGAS.This episode is also brought to you by Shopify. Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at https://www.Shopify.com/Gas And thanks to Rocket Money for sponsoring this episode. Join at https://www.RocketMoney.com/PastGas

The US-Iran ceasefire deal is set to end on Wednesday but Donald Trump says he does not want to extend the deadline. The US President believes the US is in a very strong negotiating position. Iran has not yet confirmed if it will attend peace talks in Islamabad. The US vice-president J D Vance, who will lead the American team, is reportedly yet to leave Washington. Also: the British prime minister Keir Starmer comes under intense pressure over his role in the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador, fuelling doubts about whether he can survive as prime minister; Japan says it will scrap the weapons export rules that it's had in place since the end of the Second World War so it can sell lethal arms to its allies; and a group of women in Spain target the lingering symptoms of breast cancer treatment with the help of archery.The Global News Podcast brings you the breaking news you need to hear, as it happens. Listen for the latest headlines and current affairs from around the world. Politics, economics, climate, business, technology, health – we cover it all with expert analysis and insight. Get the news that matters, delivered twice a day on weekdays and daily at weekends, plus special bonus episodes reacting to urgent breaking stories. Follow or subscribe now and never miss a moment. Get in touch: globalpodcast@bbc.co.uk