Podcasts about Japanese

On this week's episode, Chuck Garfien sits down with Yuri Karasawa of World Baseball Network and Yakyu Cosmopolitan for an in-depth conversation about Japanese superstar Munetaka Murakami and what he brings to the White Sox. Karasawa provides context on baseball in Japan and the NPB landscape, while breaking down Murakami's fame, reputation, and historic 2022 season that cemented him as one of the game's most feared sluggers. The discussion dives into why Murakami chose the White Sox, whether his signing came as a surprise, and what expectations should look like as he transitions from NPB to MLB pitching. Chuck and Yuri also examine Murakami's plate discipline, defensive versatility at first and third base, and his jaw-dropping power — including the moon shots that made him a household name in Japan. Plus, they look back at Murakami's injury-riddled 2025 season, his personality and desire to connect with fans by learning English, and how his skill set is expected to translate at the major league level.

Let me start with a disclaimer—this isn't a political editorial. It's a conversation about ideas. Lessons from business, design, culture, and philosophy that might help us grow—individually and collectively. And if you disagree, email me at ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. I welcome the debate. As this year closes, I'm feeling a mix of frustration and optimism. This moment feels chaotic—as does most of life lately—which is why I often end the show with, “rise above the chaos.” We can't eliminate it, but we can manage what's within our control. The Stoics told us that long ago: focus on what you can control, release what you can't, act with virtue, and let obstacles sharpen resilience. This essay is about taking back even a small amount of control through the work we do and the spaces we shape. The Problem with Trend-Driven Design This year, phrases and hashtags flew faster than ever—Quiet Luxury, Brat Green, Fridgescaping, Millennial Grey. Much like the “big, beautiful bill” language we've all heard tossed around in political discourse, design's buzzwords can distract from what actually matters. They generate attention, not meaning. They look good on social media, not necessarily in the lived experience of a home, workplace, or public square. So instead of centering our design conversations around fleeting edits, let's pivot toward the global innovations that are transforming the built world in ways that truly matter. Designer Resources Pacific Sales Kitchen and Home. Where excellence meets expertise. Design Hardware – A stunning and vast collection of jewelry for the home! TimberTech – Real wood beauty without the upkeep Real Innovation Worth Talking About Across the globe, designers, architects, and researchers are developing ideas that transcend buzz. These are the concepts with longevity—the ones shaping smart, resilient, human-centered spaces: Biophilic Design, rooted in the work of Edward O. Wilson, Erich Fromm, and Japanese shinrin-yoku, continues to reframe our relationship with nature. Net-Zero Architecture, pioneered in Canada, Germany, and Australia, redefines building performance through projects like Seattle's Bullitt Center and Colorado's RMI Innovation Center. Smart Homes and Invisible Tech, building on early Asian innovation, hiding circuitry and functionality behind seamless design powered by Apple, Google, and Amazon ecosystems. Prefab and Modular Construction, originally exemplified by structures like the Crystal Palace and the Sydney Opera House, now reimagined by firms such as Plant Prefab. Passive House Design, born in Germany but rapidly shaping U.S. projects in California, New York, and the Pacific Northwest. And the list goes on: Self-Healing Concrete by Hendrik Marius Jonkers Guggenheim Abu Dhabi by Frank Gehry Bët-bi Museum in Senegal by Mariam Issoufou Powerhouse Parramatta in Australia Pujiang Viewing Platform in China by MVRDV Landscape and biophilic approaches—Wabi-Sabi gardening, edimental gardens, climate-adaptive landscapes, and indoor biophilia—are redefining how we engage with natural systems in daily life. Even infrastructure has become a site of innovation: CopenHill/Amager Bakke, Denmark's waste-to-energy plant with a ski slope Urban Sequoias by SOM—skyscrapers designed as carbon sinks 3D-printed timber in Germany, Finland, and France This is the work that deserves our attention—not the color of the week on TikTok. Rethinking the Shelter Space For years I described architecture as a language, design as a dialect, and landscape as the narrative. Mies van der Rohe famously introduced the concept of architecture as language. It caught on, and then the bandwagon effect took over. But today, the metaphor feels insufficient—especially for the shelter space, where people spend their lives, raise families, work, heal, and age. The shelter space isn't like a retail store or restaurant, where design is often intended for those who pass through briefly while the people who labor there navigate the leftover space. The shelter space must serve those who inhabit it deeply and continuously. And that shifts the conversation. Design begins with the usual questions—purpose, function, users, goals, budget. But these questions don't define design. They only outline it. There is no universal purpose of architecture or design, no single philosophy, no singular “right” answer. The shelter space varies as widely as the people living within it. So instead of treating architecture and design as technical processes, we should approach them philosophically. A Philosophical Framework for Design Stoicism offers clarity: Accept that budget overruns and changes will occur. Respect the expertise of the designer you hired. Invest in authenticity rather than dupes. Create environments that support health—clean air, clean water, noise reduction, resilience. Utilitarianism reminds us that choices have consequences. If the design decisions you make are based on influencer content instead of expertise, the result is no surprise. And now, a new framework is emerging that could transform our shared spaces entirely. Sensorial Urbanism: Designing the City We Actually Feel One of the most compelling movements emerging globally is Sensorial Urbanism—a shift from focusing on how the city looks to how it feels. It's neuroscience, phenomenology, and inclusive design rolled into a multi-sensory toolkit. Five Key Sensory Principles Soundscaping Water features masking traffic. Acoustic pavilions. Designed sound gardens. Paris' Le Cylindre Sonore. Soundscape parks in Barcelona and Berlin. Smellscaping Native flowers, herbs, and aromatic trees restoring identity—especially critical after disasters like wildfires. Kate McLean's smellwalks map a city's olfactory signature. Tactile Design Materials that invite touch and respond to temperature—stone, wood, water—connecting inhabitants to place. Visual Quietness Reducing signage and visual clutter, as seen in Drachten, Netherlands, creates calmer, more intuitive environments. Multisensory Inclusivity Design that accommodates neurodiversity, PTSD, aging, and accessibility through tactile paving, sound buffers, and scent markers. Why It Matters Because cities didn't always feel this overwhelming. Because design wasn't always rushed. Because quality of life shouldn't be compromised for aesthetics. Sensorial Urbanism reconnects us with spaces that are restorative, intuitive, and emotionally resonant. A city is not just a picture—it is an experience. The Takeaway for 2026 Rising Above the Chaos: Lessons from 2025 for a Smarter 2026 HED (3-sentence summary): As 2025 closes, the design and architecture world has experienced unprecedented chaos and rapid trend cycles. In this episode, Soundman reflects on lessons from business, culture, and global innovation, emphasizing resilience, purposeful design, and human-centered spaces. From Stoic philosophy to sensorial urbanism, this conversation offers guidance for navigating the next year with clarity and intentionality. DEK (Expanded description): Twenty twenty-five tested the design industry's patience, creativity, and adaptability. In this reflective episode, we explore the pitfalls of trend-driven design, the enduring value of service, and the innovations shaping architecture globally — from net-zero buildings to multisensory urbanism. With examples ranging from TimberTech decking to Pacific Sales' trade programs, we examine how designers can reclaim control, prioritize meaningful work, and create spaces that heal, inspire, and endure. A philosophical lens, practical insights, and actionable guidance make this a must-listen for professionals and enthusiasts alike. Outline of Show Topics: Introduction & Context Reflection on the chaotic year of 2025 in design and architecture. Disclaimer: this is a philosophical conversation, not a political editorial. Invitation for audience engagement via email. Trends vs. Meaningful Design Critique of buzzwords like “quiet luxury” and “millennial gray bookshelf wealth.” Emphasis on global innovation over social media-driven trends. The gap between American design influence and international innovation. Global Innovations in Architecture & Design Biophilic design and its philosophical roots. Net-zero buildings: Bullitt Center (Seattle), RMI Innovation Center (Colorado). Smart homes, modular construction, and passive house adoption in the U.S. vs. abroad. Focus on Service & Professional Support Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home: Pro Rewards program and exceptional service. TimberTech: innovation in sustainable synthetic decking. Importance of performance, durability, and client-focused solutions. Philosophical Approach to Design Architecture as experience, not just a visual language. Stoicism, utilitarianism, and mindfulness applied to design. Sensorial urbanism: engaging all five senses in public and private spaces. Emerging Global Examples of Innovation Self-healing concrete (Henrik Marius Junkers), Copenhill (Denmark). 3D printed timber in Germany, Finland, France. Climate-adaptive landscapes, Wabi-sabi gardening, inclusive urban design. Moving Beyond Social Media Trends Rejecting influencer-driven design priorities. Returning to performance, resilience, and quality of life. Practical guidance for designers in all regions, including overlooked U.S. markets. Closing Reflections & New Year Outlook Encouragement to rise above chaos and focus on what can be controlled. Goals for 2026: intentional, human-centered, and innovative design. Call to action: share, subscribe, and engage with Convo by Design. Sponsor Mentions & Callouts Pacific Sales Kitchen & Home TimberTech Design Hardware If you enjoyed this long-form essay, share it with a friend. Subscribe to Convo By Design, follow @convoxdesign on Instagram, and send your thoughts to ConvoByDesign@Outlook.com. Thank you to TimberTech, The AZEK Company, Pacific Sales, Best Buy, and Design Hardware for supporting over 650 episodes and making Convo By Design the longest running podcast of it's kind!

On this week's episode, Chuck Garfien sits down with White Sox Director of International Scouting David Keller to go behind the scenes of the signing of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami. Keller breaks down what went into landing Murakami and why his special power made him a must-have target. The conversation also dives into who Murakami is as a player and beyond the box score — the type of person and teammate he's expected to be in the clubhouse — and how his skill set translates to the major leagues. Plus, Keller shares how the White Sox are continuing to strengthen their international scouting footprint.

Last time we spoke about the Russian Counter Offensive over the Heights. On the Manchurian frontier, a Japanese plan hatched in the hush before dawn: strike at Hill 52, seize the summit, and bargain only if fate demanded. Colonel Sato chose Nakano's 75th Regiment, delivering five fearless captains to lead the charge, with Nakajima rising like a bright spark among them. Under a cloak of night, scouts threaded the cold air, and at 2:15 a.m. wires fell away, revealing a path through darkness. By dawn, a pale light brushed the crest; Hill 52 yielded, then Shachaofeng did, as dawn's demands pressed forward. The Russians responded with a thunder of tanks, planes, and relentless artillery. Yet the Japanese braced, shifting guns, moving reinforcements, and pressing a discipline born of training and resolve. The battlefield fractured into sectors, Hill 52, Shachaofeng, the lake, each demanding courage and cunning. Night winds carried the buzz of flares, the hiss of shells, and the stubborn clang of rifles meeting armor. The Russians tried to reweave their strength, but Japanese firepower and tenacious assaults kept the line from bending. By nightfall, a quiet resolve settled over the hills; the cost was steep, but the crest remained in Japanese hands.   #182 The Second Russian Counteroffensive over the heights 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. The Japanese retained their hard won positions despite fierce Russian counterattacks. For the Japanese command structure at the front, 3 August was of prime importance. Suetaka concluded that he could not merely direct the fighting around Changkufeng nor abandon Kyonghun, given his need to manage relations with Korea Army Headquarters and central authorities, as well as the special characteristics of these battles and his grave concerns about the Wuchiatzu front to the north. By 5 p.m., the newly arrived 37th Brigade commander, Morimoto Nobuki, was assigned control of all sectors from Hill 52 and Changkufeng to Shachaofeng, establishing his command post at the former site of the 75th Regiment at Chiangchunfeng. The Japanese estimated losses from the Soviet counterattacks on 2–3 August as follows: Hill 52-Changkufeng, at least 300 Soviet casualties and four tanks; Shachaofeng, about 300 casualties and several tanks, plus several heavy machine guns knocked out. By 17:00 on 3 August, Russian strength committed to the front and immediate rear was assessed at ten infantry battalions, 40 artillery pieces, and 80 tanks. Japanese casualties on the 2nd and 3rd totaled 16 killed and 25 wounded. Suetaka judged the Soviet bombardments on 3 August powerful, but their infantry assaults were not particularly bold, likely due to their heavy losses on the 2nd. Even though morale was not high, there were signs of reinforcements from elite units, including armor and large artillery formations. Suetaka concluded the Russians would again attempt to retake the Shachaofeng sector and positions around Changkufeng. During the night of 3–4 August, the 75th Infantry, still on alert against resumed enemy counterattacks, intensified security and worked energetically to strengthen defenses. K. Sato remained at Chiangchunfeng to complete the turnover to the 37th Brigade and to brief Morimoto. The regiment established its new command post for the right sector at the foot of Fangchuanting. Throughout the night, Soviet vehicles with blinking lights were observed moving south along the high ground east of Khasan, and a new buildup of mechanized forces and artillery appeared in the area. At 05:30, 36 tanks were seen advancing to Hill 29, followed by the apparent withdrawal of 50–60 Russian horsemen into the same area. At 07:00 on 04 August, Soviet artillery began a bombardment. Although there was a lull around noon, by 14:00 intensity peaked, described as "like millions of lightning bolts striking at once." After another quiet spell, enemy guns renewed their tempo at 19:30, targeting Hill 52 and Changkufeng. The Russians' artillery was not precisely zeroed in; "many of the shells plopped into the Tumen, which delighted us considerably." Beginning on the 4th, Soviet artillery sought to cut lines of communication by bombarding the river crossing site, disrupting daytime supply. Japanese artillery records add: "Until today, this battalion had been fired on only by field artillery; now 122-mm. howitzers went into action against us. We sustained no losses, since the points of impact were 100 meters off. Apparently, the Russians conducted firing for effect from the outset, using data provided by the field artillery in advance." Around midnight, Ichimoto, the old commander of the 1st Infantry Battalion, arrived at the 75th Regiment Headquarters to resume command. He was "itching to fight." K. Sato described the casualties in detail, but "he didn't look beaten at all." "To the contrary, the colonel was strong and in excellent spirits. Yet while he wasn't pessimistic, one could not call him optimistic." At the battalion site, about 100 men were in operational condition out of an original 400. Some soldiers were hauling ammunition, rations, and position materiel; others were cremating the dead, since corpses would rot in the August heat. Japanese casualties on 4 August were light: the 75th Infantry lost five killed and three wounded; among attached engineers, the platoon leader and two men were wounded. Ammunition expenditure was very low. The Japanese press noted that although the Russians had been reported retreating behind the lake to the northeast, investigation showed a redeployment forward from south of Changkufeng. An American observer in Tokyo stated that "the best information obtainable is that the Russians now occupy the lower slopes of Changkufeng, while the Japanese still occupy the heights." From this period dates a series of pleas from the 19th Division for the dispatch of long-range artillery from the Kwantung Army. Suetaka believed that the addition of long-range artillery was necessary and feasible. As Kitano predicted, Suetaka submitted his recommendation at 05:00 on 5 August for the attention of the Korea Army commander and the AGS deputy. As dawn approached on 5 August, the Korea Army received Suetaka's request. A message was dispatched to the vice minister of war and the AGS deputy, and an inquiry was sent to Hsinking. The note detailed Soviet artillery on the Changkufeng front, eight to ten batteries of field and mountain guns, including 10-cm cannons and two or three 15-cm howitzers, and described how these long-range pieces kept up a slow fire beyond Japanese firing range. Overnight, Soviet traffic pressed along the high ground east of Khasan, and by 06:30 the horizon brimmed with new threat: 48 tanks concentrated near Hill 29, with fresh artillery deployed once the Russians realized their own guns were receiving scant challenge from the Japanese. Movement across the lake suggested continued armor in play; at dawn, 10 to 15 tanks lingered on the Crestline, while closer still, six Russian tanks prowled near the southern edge of Khasan. By 03:00, Changkufeng came under bombardment again. K. Sato urged the mountain artillery to answer dawn with counterfire against the high ground east of Khasan and against Hill 29. Between 05:00 and 05:40, the artillery struck armor concentrations, knocked out two tanks, and forced the rest toward the east of Hill 29. Observation posts were neutralized, and cavalry was driven north. At the same hour, the Soviet barrage against the Japanese rear intensified, targeting lines of communication across the Tumen. The Sozan link failed by day, and telephone lines to the artillery battalion were severed, though signalmen managed to restore communications. The river crossings, Fangchuanting, Hill 52, and Shachaofeng bore the brunt of the shelling, with 15-cm blasts jolting the frontline. "From today enemy shellfire was coned and grew increasingly accurate, until every area along our front was deprived of its dead angles and our casualties mounted." The Hill 52 zone endured a slow siege, but tank fire from the eastern heights remained severe. Noguchi's company, positioned south of Changkufeng, found itself trapped in crossfire from positions across the lake. Suetaka, his front-line subordinates, and their worries about artillery superiority pressed onward. He did what he could with the resources at hand, and, in the morning, shifted a two-15-cm howitzer battery from Kyonghun to the sector opposite Changkufeng, a modest increment in reach but a needed one. At 10:00, Suetaka ordered replenishment of frontline strength. He calculated the enemy's power and their own limits: the Russians had deployed three or four infantry battalions, around 120–130 tanks, 50–60 armored cars, about 1,000 mounted troops, and three or four artillery battalions. Yet he found a glimmer in their morale; "the morale of our own units has risen, as we have been dealing grievous blows to the foe on occasion and have been steadily breaking hostile intentions." By 5 August, he noted, fifty enemy tanks had already fallen. Morimoto watched the ominous lull that threatened another attritional test and warned that the situation demanded constant vigilance. "Even if the front seems quiet, we must tighten security, reinforce positions, and not give the foe even the slightest advantage to exploit." The 5th saw only four Japanese soldiers wounded, three from the 75th and one from the mountain artillery, while ammunition usage remained low. Anti-aircraft guns west of Sozan drove off two aircraft that appeared over Changkufeng at 11:45, triggering a counterbarrage from the northeast of Khasan. A few Soviet planes skimmed over Hill 52 and Changkufeng in the afternoon, but their flights felt more like reconnaissance than threat. Across the line, the Russians continued to probe the east side. Northeast of Khasan, waves of infantry and trucks, dozens at a time, slipped south, while roughly 20 tanks began their own southern march. The Russians worked to erect new positions along the Khansi heights. In the meantime, conversations in Moscow pressed toward a decision, with intelligence predicting that a breakthrough would come by noon on the 5th. Around midnight on 5 August, Morimoto observed that the Russians' forward elements seemed to have been pulled back and the front lay quiet. He ordered vigilant guard duties, stressing that crossing the border, trespassing, and fomenting trouble were prohibited by all units and even by scouts. Meanwhile, the Japanese had been preparing for night attacks and consolidating positions. Throughout the foggy night, mechanized units moved on the Crestline east of Khasan. At daybreak, a platoon leader north of Changkufeng reported tanks heading toward Hill 29, estimating the total force at about 70 tanks and 50 troop-laden trucks. Japanese observers at Hill 52 detected new artillery positions on both sides of Hill 29 and 40 tanks on the Crestline south of the hill. By 07:00, the high ground was covered by no fewer than 100 tanks, with 8 or 9 infantry battalions deployed ahead and behind. As early as 03:00, K. Sato had urged his artillery liaison officer to ensure friendly guns fired at daybreak against the Hill 29 sector to thwart the enemy's intentions in advance. When morning fog lifted a bit at 06:00, Kamimori's mountain artillery battalion "hit the tanks very well," and front-line officers spotted shell impacts, though visibility improved only until 10:00, when mist again hampered observation. By 07:00, Soviet guns began firing from near Hill 29, triggering a duel in which the Japanese outranged them. Around 09:00, as the fog lifted from the higher crest of Changkufeng, Japanese gunners added their fire against the 40 Russian tanks near Hill 29. From Fangchuanting, the lone Japanese mountain piece also engaged armor and troop-laden trucks around Hill 29. As time wore on, the Soviet artillery showed its power, and Hill 52 became a beehive of shelling. From 11:00 onward the defenders began to suffer more and more casualties, with works shattered in succession. Flank fire from Gaho and heavy guns from Maanshan took a toll. The 100 tanks deployed on the Crestline north and south of Hill 29 delivered furious low-trajectory fire, gradually turning the front walls of our firing trenches into something resembling a saw. Russian shellfire pounded defenses at Hill 52, Noguchi Hill, and Changkufeng. Between 02:00 and 05:00 the Russian shells had been dispersed; now they concentrated their bombardment. They even struck the rear headquarters of the 37th Brigade and the 75th Regiment. The crossings at Sozan and Matsu'otsuho took heavy hits, and Sato worried that friendly batteries would become exposed to counter-battery fire if they opened up too soon. A peak of intensity arrived near 13:30 as the Soviet ground assault began. Now 30 Soviet aircraft bombed Changkufeng, Fangchuanting, and Hill 52, and Russian tanks moved toward Hill 52, with infantry 300–400 meters behind. To blunt the assault, Hirahara ordered ammunition caches and instructed troops not to open fire prematurely. The Soviet infantry and tanks pressed to a line about 900 meters from the Japanese, paused briefly, then continued. By 14:00, the advance resumed, led by three battalions and 50 tanks. Lieutenant Saito, commanding the 3rd Battalion's antitank battery, waited until tanks were 800 meters away and then opened fire with his three pieces. In a furious exchange between 13:50 and 14:30, as armor closed to 300 meters, the Japanese stopped 14 tanks and seriously damaged others in the rear. One antitank squad leader, a corporal, would later receive a posthumous citation for destroying more than ten tanks. Several tanks fled into a dip near Khasan; some Soviet troops were reportedly crushed by their own tanks in the melee. Supporting Saito's fire were Hisatsune's regimental guns and the captured antitank gun at Changkufeng, which the Japanese used to engage armor along the lake's slopes. Noguchi's unit fired battalion guns against the tanks while the attached mountain pieces bombarded the Russians despite intense counterbattery fire. At Hill 52, liaison lieutenant Fuji'uchi observed the shelling and coordinated infantry–artillery actions with a platoon leader, never flinching even after being buried in trenches three times by shell blasts; he was killed near 14:00. Captain Shiozawa, the mountain battery commander, took charge of directing fire and also was also slain. The Russians' assault pushed forward; 16 tanks followed behind the vanguard, moving along the Crestline behind Hill 52, and joined the tanks in firing but did not advance further. To the rear, a large force moved along the lake north of Hill 52 until checked by fire from Noguchi's positions. A dozen Russian tanks converged southwest of Khasan at 16:00. Master Sergeant Kobayashi, acting platoon leader of the engineers, proposed a close-quarter demolition attack since Japanese antitank strength was limited. After approval from Hirahara, at around 16:30 he and 13 men crept forward 300 meters undetected. Twenty meters from the tanks, Kobayashi urged his men: "One man, one tank! Unto death for us all!" The assault wrecked six to eight (or possibly ten) of the 12 enemy tanks and killed many crew members inside and outside the vehicles, but Kobayashi and seven of his men were killed; only one soldier, Kabasawa, survived to perform a posthumous rescue of a fallen comrade. Of the 60 Russian tanks and at least four battalions that rushed to Hill 52, only one tank charged into the hill positions. At 17:30, this machine reached within 150 meters of the 11th Company lines but was destroyed by armor-piercing heavy machine-gun fire. Back at the 75th Regiment command post, K. Sato received reports from the line units, but hostile fire cut communications with Hill 52 in the afternoon. His antitank guns were increasingly inoperable, and casualties mounted. He reinforced Hill 52 first with heavy machine guns and then with an infantry company. North of Hill 52, Noguchi had been in position with an infantry platoon, a machine-gun platoon, and the battalion gun battery. By 09:30, enemy bombardment forced him to pull back temporarily to the lower Scattered Pines area to avoid needless casualties. At Akahage or "Red Bald" Hill, Noguchi left only lookouts. Around 16:00, about two enemy companies were observed moving toward Changkufeng. Noguchi redirected fire to meet the threat. The Japanese, pinned by infantry and four tanks approaching within 150 meters, endured infantry guns and other tanks in a protracted exchange. Shelling continued until sundown. Casualties mounted; the machine-gun platoon leader, Master Sergeant Harayama, fell with 20 of his men. "It was a hard battle, but we retained our positions, and the enemy advance toward Changkufeng was checked." After sunset there were occasional fire exchanges; tanks remained visible burning. Soviet troops attempting to breach barriers faced hand-grenade assaults. A great deal of noise signaled casualties being evacuated and tanks salvaged behind enemy lines, but no fresh assaults followed. The effective barrage by the 2nd Mountain Artillery Battalion helped deter further attempts.  Around 13:30 the advance began. Soviet ground troops laid down a barrage of field, heavy, and mountain gunfire against Hill 52, Noguchi Hill, and Fangchuanting until sunset. Casualties were heaviest between 15:00 and 17:00. Soviet cutoff fire against the Tumen crossings continued even after the sun went down. Japanese close-support artillery attracted instantaneous counterbattery fire. Enemy planes also seemed to be bombing in quest of the artillery sites. On the sector defended by T. Sato, throughout the night of 5-6 August, Russian movements had been frequent on the Kozando-Paksikori road and east of Khasan, trucks and tanks making round trips. The roar of engines and rumbling of vehicles were especially pronounced on the lake heights. Headlights shone brightly, causing Japanese lookouts to speculate that the Russians were putting on a demonstration to suggest that their main offensive effort was being aimed against Hill 52. Nevertheless, the left sector unit was ready for an enemy dawn assault, which did materialize around 06:00. One or two Soviet battalions struck forward, encountered a torrent of fire at 300 meters, and fled, leaving 30 bodies behind. Near 09:00 the left sector experienced a fierce series of bombardments; all of the men except lookouts took cover in trenches. The Soviet guns thundered unrelentingly, apparently in preparation for an offensive. At 14:30 several dozen bombers struck. Simultaneously, a wave of 60 tanks moved forward, followed by three battalions of infantry. Major Obo, battalion commander on the right wing, had his heavy machine guns, battalion guns, and line companies engage the foot soldiers, while antitank and regimental guns concentrated against armor. The tanks fanned out and approached within 700 meters, stopping to fire on occasion in "mobile pillbox" fashion. Despite unrelenting enemy tank and artillery shelling, the Japanese regimental guns, and the rapid-fire pieces in particular, shifted position and laid down raiding fire. In conjunction with heavy weapons belonging to Takenouchi's battalion, Obo's men succeeded in stopping 20 tanks. The rest of the armored group continued to push forward. The Russian infantry had pressed on another 200 meters behind the tanks, but eventually they lost momentum 400 meters from the Japanese positions. Having managed to separate the tanks from the infantry, the Japanese units staged close-in assaults in concert with heavy weapons and smashed ten more tanks. Thirty machines had been immobilized by now after a furious struggle lasting five hours. Although Lieutenant Ikue was killed by machine-gun fire, his mountain artillery platoon, emplaced at Shachaofeng, rendered yeoman service, stopping 20 tanks. The forward elements of Soviet infantry, still firing from 400 meters behind the tanks, had apparently abandoned the attack. Second-line forces seemed to have pulled far back, northeast of the lake.   Several dozen Soviet bombers struck Takenouchi's left-wing battalion around 14:30 and lost one plane to machine-gun fire. At the same time, 50 Soviet tanks closed to 800 meters. Engaging this armored formation were battalion guns, heavy field artillery, and mountain artillery attached to the sector unit, as well as heavy weapons firing from the neighboring battalion. In succession the tanks were knocked out, perhaps 20 in all. Under cover of artillery and bombing, a battalion of Soviet infantry, who had been advancing behind the tanks, got as close as 30 or 40 meters before being checked by guns firing from the Nanpozan area and by the vigorous resistance of the defenders. The enemy withdrew 600 meters and began to dig in. T. Sato noted at 19:00 that, although the Russians on the right and left sectors seemed to have sustained considerable losses, they apparently were "planning something at point-blank range in front of our positions." The 73rd Infantry would therefore cope with a twilight or night attack by the one battalion and several tanks immediately facing it. On 06:08, immediately after large-scale air attacks involving four-engine bombers between noon and 14:00, enemy barrages began. Enemy artillery positions, 6,000–7,000 meters away, were not engaged by the Japanese since their gunners were trained only at 1,000 meters. Longer ranges were ineffective, would betray the guns, and would waste ammunition. Near 16:00 50 tanks appeared at 3,000 meters, and infantry could also be seen, wearing high boots and marching around the lake. Although the Russians may have closed to 200 or 300 meters, Tominaga received no impression that their foot soldiers were particularly aggressive. Soviet armored tactics were poor: some tanks were moving, some stopped, but they did their firing from rises, which made them easy targets. Perhaps it was because of the terrain, undulating and swampy. Without armor-piercing rounds, the Japanese guns could not penetrate the heaviest armor, so they aimed at the treads or at the belly when the tank was on a rise. Tominaga's weapons were aided by rapid-fire pieces and machine guns and by the 15-cm howitzers from across the river. Of the ten targets which came within effective range, Tominaga's battery claimed five light tanks. Major Takenouchi remembered a tank-led Soviet attack that day on Takenouchi's sector. The enemy infantry deployed in good order four kilometers from the defenses. As the formations drew closer, the Japanese counted more than 40 tanks and 3,000 ground troops. The commander knew he had a serious problem, for there were only 20 antitank shells for the rapid-fire guns. When the Russians got within 4,000 meters, the Japanese opened fire with all available heavy weapons. The attackers hit the ground and continued to advance in creeping formation, although the terrain consisted of paddy fields. All the Japanese could see were Russians, wearing reddish-purple trousers and carrying rifles, deployed every 200 meters behind the front lines and apparently exhorting the soldiers. These must have been the "enforcers." The Japanese let the tanks close to 800 meters before opening fire with their precious antitank ammunition. Both the lead and the last tanks were knocked out, but there were by now only four or five shells left, and the firing had to be stopped. Fortunately for the Japanese, the tanks never again advanced, perhaps because of the wet terrain. The Soviet infantry, however, pressed forward tenaciously all day and wormed their way close to the front edge of the barbed wire under cover of artillery and machine guns. Throughout the day, pleas for reinforcement were made frequently by the two Japanese line companies, but the battalion had no reserves, only the few soldiers in the command team. Requests were met with the reply to "hold on for a while; help is coming." Luckily, there was no close-quarter fighting by the time night fell, but the Russians did lay down concerted machine-gun fire after dark. When dawn broke without a Soviet assault, Major Takenouchi surmised that the barrage of machine-gun fire laid down by Russian infantry the evening before must have been intended to cover disengagement from the lines or to check a Japanese attack. Now, in daylight, Russian assault troops which had closed to the entanglements the day before had pulled back to a distance of 400 or 500 meters and could be seen constructing positions. At 19:10 Morimoto warned that while the Soviet offensive had bogged down, "all units are to be wary of attacks after twilight and are to crush them in good time." Ito, in charge at Changkufeng, was consequently alert, although regimental headquarters did not particularly share his concern. Ito had only two infantry squads from the 6th Company and Hisatsune's regimental gun battery, 121 men in all. A little after 20:00, Ito received a report from lookouts that enemy troops were advancing onto the southern skirt. At 20:30 two Soviet companies attacked the advanced lines, hurling grenades. One Japanese squad was almost wiped out; "they died heroic deaths, leaping into a hostile force which outnumbered them 20:1." Immediately, the Russians surged toward the main Japanese positions farther up the hill, while other strong elements sought to encircle the crest on the left. Accompanying the Soviet troops were "wardens." From north, east, and south the Japanese defenses were being overrun, and the regimental guns were in jeopardy. Wounded men fell back and down the hill, one by one. Lieutenant Hisatsune personally sought to repulse the Russians. Taking his command team, a dozen men under a master sergeant, and the two regimental gun squads which possessed only captured rifles, he led a desperate charge at 21:10. With fixed bayonets, the Japanese rushed forward, yelling loudly and hurling rocks, since there were not enough grenades. The Russians retreated in confusion, pursued by the Japanese. Hisatsune cut down several Russians, was wounded badly by grenades, but plunged into the enemy one last time before meeting a "matchlessly heroic death" at 21:40. Almost all of the noncoms and soldiers fell with him. Suddenly, at 21:20, Ito's antitank squad leader staggered to the 75th Regiment command post at Fangchuanting, his face mangled. "Changkufeng is in danger! Avenge us!" Nishimura and the reinforcements had to run 1,200 meters to reach the hill. Major Ichimoto also worked desperately to retrieve men from logistical chores; somehow he assembled 45. Grabbing every grenade available at the command post, Ichimoto ran with his men to the relief of Changkufeng. Next, Regimental Aide Suko sent 10 soldiers, the last being headquarters clerks and runners. When 16 men from the 2nd Company turned up, having delivered their supplies, Suko rushed them out, also. At regimental headquarters there now remained only a dozen soldiers and one heavy machine gun. By then, the Russians had climbed up and across Changkufeng peak and were pushing halfway down the Japanese slope of the hill. Enemy machine guns fired fiercely, but it was mainly grenades that felled Murakoshi's unit; although few were killed, half of the lead platoon was wounded. Murakoshi, struck by a grenade fragment, tied a cloth around his knee and kept on running. Clinging to Changkufeng, Ito now had little more than 50 men left—only seven of his own soldiers, the rest gunners. The latter had lost their pieces, however, and had never been armed with rifles in the first place. The survivors had to use stones, picks, and shovels to grapple with the foe in the trenches.  A little before 22:00, the 17-man contingent under Nishimura arrived. Ten minutes later, Ichimoto rushed up with his 45 men, bunched closely. The survivors, inferior to the reinforcements in numbers, were heartened immensely. Soon afterward, at 22:30, the regimental warrant officer, Nishizawa, caught up with another dozen soldiers, and Murakoshi brought 16 more at 23:00. Wild fighting ensued, furious grenade exchanges, the crisscrossing of fire, and shouts and flashes. Ichimoto remembered that by the time he arrived, the last remnants of Ito's company were fighting hand-to-hand in the trenches on the north side in utter darkness. Thirty meters from the peak, he and Nishimura scouted the situation. Then, having combined the 120 reinforcements into one line, Ichimoto drew his sword and led the charge. In the constant flashes, shapes could be discerned rather well. The Russian machine guns were firing "crazily," all tracers, probably to warn away their own troops. But the firing was very high, sometimes ten meters over the heads of the Japanese, perhaps because of the darkness, the 40-degree slope near the crest, and the angle of the guns. Much of the fire was considerably lower, but the Japanese had only to observe the roots of the tracer fire and stay down, ducking behind boulders. The Soviets had been committing new troops steadily, and a considerable amount of heavy weapons had been emplaced. Near midnight the Russians were driven south, down the cliff, but most of the Japanese had been killed or wounded, and ammunition was exhausted. The mere dozen unscathed survivors were pushed back, but Master Sergeant Isobe and his platoon from Inokuma's company reached the crest in the nick of time at 02:00. With this reinforcement, Ichimoto led a new charge and again drove the enemy below the cliff.  At 22:50 P.M., Inokuma set out with only 49 men, crossed the border, and headed for the enemy's rear. First to be encountered, probably at 01:00, were several dozen Soviet soldiers, armed with machine guns, who were surprised and almost destroyed, abandoning more than 20 corpses. Inokuma veered north along Khasan, cutting down Russian phone lines on the way. The Japanese detected no evidence of enemy retreat. Instead, voices and the sound of oars on the lake could be heard from the eastern foot of Changkufeng, perhaps they came from Soviet reinforcements. Inokuma decided that the best course would be to plunge ahead and take the Russians by surprise. On his own initiative, he began his new operation, although by now he had lost permanent touch with the assault teams. At 02:00, Inokuma's unit broke silently through the "imperfect" lines of barbed wire and charged through another enemy force of company size which was equipped with machine guns. Next, Inokuma directed an attack against a concentration just behind the company location, a unit estimated to number two battalions massing west of the Khasan crossing. The Russians were "stunned" by the assault. According to Akaishizawa, the enemy were killing their own men by wild firing. A portion fled north, leaving over 30 bodies behind. At the same time, the foe called down fire from all areas, causing very heavy Japanese casualties. Inokuma charged, managed to scatter the foe, and seized the cliff. By now he had only a half-dozen men left. His own sword had been shattered and his pistol ammunition exhausted; he picked up a Russian rifle and bayoneted several enemy soldiers. Now the Soviet troops, who had fallen back once, were approaching again from the right rear. Inokuma charged once more, shouting. The Russians retreated to the foot of the heights on the northeast. Daybreak was near. Already hit several times, Inokuma sought to resume the attack, this time from the rear of hostile forces desperately engaging Ichimoto's elements on Changkufeng crest. Akaishizawa said his last orders were, "Ito is just ahead. Charge on!" Although he had only a few soldiers left, Inokuma was trying to move forward when a bullet or a grenade fragment struck him in the head, and he died at 03:00. Sergeant Okumura, although wounded seriously, had remained with Inokuma to the last and defended the positions that had been reached. He saw to it that Inokuma's corpse was recovered first and next struggled to evacuate the wounded. Only then did he withdraw. Around 07:00, Okumura got back to Fangchuanting with one unscathed and two badly wounded soldiers. A day later, the seriously injured but indestructible M. Saito appeared at the regiment command post, somehow dragging a rifle and light machine gun with his one good arm, for "we were always trained to respect our weapons." It was estimated that, during the fighting throughout 6 August, the Russians lost 1,500 killed and wounded as well as 40 tanks knocked out in K. Sato's right sector alone. Japanese casualties were heavy on the 6th. The 75th Infantry lost three officers; 44 enlisted men were killed and 85 wounded. In the engineer platoon seven were killed and five wounded out of 19 men. The 54 killed and 90 wounded in the right sector amounted to 17 percent of the 843 men available. 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. Japanese leadership under Colonel Sato assigned Nakano's 75th Regiment for a dawn assault, seizing Hill 52 and Shachaofeng despite fierce Soviet counterattacks,tanks, aircraft, and heavy artillery. Across the front, sustained bombardment, shifting fire, and nocturnal maneuvers characterize the period. Yet the crest endured, losses mounting but resolve unbroken, until the sun dipped and the hillside remained stubbornly Japanese

Jun Shen Chia chats with SILENT HILL f game director Al Yang of Neobards Entertainment. Together they discuss how Neobards collaborated with Konami and famed Japanese writer Ryukishi07 on creating the newest chapter in the Silent Hill series; designing the combat to create tension and feel like a puzzle; creating a game for existing fans that brings in new players; and balancing fun while trying to tell a deep emotional story. This episode is supported by  Xsolla Episode Host: Jun Shen Chia Producers: Claudio Tapia and Josh Chu, The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing and leaving us a rating and review. Follow us: linktr.ee/AIAS Please consider supporting game dev students with: AIAS Foundation

(December 29,2025 New CA traffic laws for 2026: From e-bikes to self-driving cars. Why are people so obsessed with Japanese convenience stores? Starbucks doesn’t want to be on every corner in NY and LA anymore. America’s affordability crisis is putting Aldi in the spotlight.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thanks to Holly for suggesting this week’s topic! Further reading: Mermaids: Myth, Kith and Kin [this article is not for children] Feejee Mermaid A manatee: A female grey seal, looking winsome: A drawing of the “original” Fiji (or Feejee) mermaid: Show transcript: Welcome to Strange Animals Podcast. I'm your host, Kate Shaw. Let's close out the year 2025 with a mystery episode! Holly suggested we talk about mermaids! Mermaids are creatures of folklore who are supposed to look like humans, but instead of legs they have fish tails. These days mermaids are usually depicted with a single tail, but it was common in older artwork for a mermaid to be shown with two tails, which replaced both legs. Not all mermaids were girls, either. Mermen were just as common. Cultures from around the world have stories about mermaid-like individuals. Sometimes they're gods or goddesses, like the Syrian story of a goddess so beautiful that when she transformed into a fish, only her legs changed, because her upper half was too beautiful to alter, or the Greek god Triton, who is usually depicted as a man with two fish tails for legs. Sometimes they're monsters who cause storms, curse ships, or lure sailors to their doom. Sometimes they can transform into humans, like the story from Madagascar about a fisherman who catches a mermaid in his net. She transforms into a human woman and they get married, but when he breaks a promise to her, she turns back into a mermaid and swims away. In 2012, a TV special aired on Animal Planet that claimed that mermaids were real, and a lot of people believed it. It imitated the kind of real documentaries that Animal Planet often ran, and the only disclaimer was in the credits. I remember how upset a lot of people were about it, especially teachers and scientists. So just to be clear, mermaids aren't real. Many researchers think at least some mermaid stories might be based on real animals. The explorer Christopher Columbus reported seeing three mermaids in 1493, but said they weren't as beautiful as he'd heard. Most researchers think he actually saw manatees. A few centuries later, a mermaid was captured and killed off the coast of Brazil by European scientists, and the careful drawings we still have of the mermaid's hand bones correspond exactly to the bones of a manatee's flipper. Female manatees are larger than males on average, and a really big female can grow over 15 feet long, or 4.6 meters. Most manatees are between 9 and 10 feet long, or a little less than 3 meters. Its body is elongated like a whale's, but unlike a whale it's slow, usually only swimming about as fast as a human can swim. Its skin is gray or brown although often it has algae growing on it that helps camouflage it. The end of the manatee's tail looks like a rounded paddle, and it has front flippers but no rear limbs. Its face is rounded with a prehensile upper lip covered with bristly whiskers, which it uses to find and gather water plants. The manatee doesn't look a lot like a person, but it looks more like a person than most water animals. It has a neck and can turn its head like a person, its flippers are fairly long and resemble arms, and females have a pair of teats that are near their armpits, if a manatee had armpits, which it does not. But that's close enough for Christopher Columbus to decide he was seeing a mermaid. Seals may have also contributed to mermaid stories. In Scottish folklore, the selkie is a seal that can transform into human shape, usually by taking off its skin. There are lots of stories of people who steal the selkie's skin and hide it so that the selkie will marry the person—because selkies are beautiful in their human form. Eventually the selkie finds the hidden skin and returns to the sea. Similar seal-folk legends are found in other parts of northern Europe, including Sweden, Iceland, Norway, and Ireland. Many of the stories overlap with mermaid stories. Seals do have appealing human-like faces, have clawed front flippers that sort of resemble arms, and have rear flippers that are fused to act like a tail, even if it doesn't look much like a fish tail. The grey seal is a common animal off the coast of northern Europe, and a big male can grow almost 11 feet long, or 3.3 meters, although 9 feet is more common, or 2.7 meters. It has a large snout and no external ear flaps. Males are dark grey or brown, females are more silvery in color. It mainly eats fish, but will also eat other animals, including crustaceans, octopuses, other seals, and even porpoises. While I don't think it has anything to do with the mermaid or selkie legends, it is interesting to note that seals are good at imitating human voices. We learned about this in episode 225, about talking mammals. For instance, Hoover the talking seal, a harbor seal from Maine who was raised by a human after his mother died. Imagine if you were walking along the shore and a seal said this to you: [Hoover the talking seal saying “Hey get over here!”] Let's finish with the Japanese legend of the ningyo and a weird taxidermy creature called the Feejee mermaid. The ningyo is a being of folklore that dates back to at least the 7th century. It was a fish with a head like a person, usually found in the ocean but sometimes in freshwater. If someone found a ningyo washed up on shore, it was supposed to be a bad omen, foretelling war and other disasters. If you remember the big fish episode a few weeks ago, if an oarfish is found near the surface of the ocean around Japan, it's supposed to foretell an earthquake. The oarfish has a red fin that runs from its head down its spine, like a mane or a comb, and the ningyo was also supposed to have a red comb on its head, like a rooster's comb, or sometimes red hair. Some people think the ningyo is based on the oarfish. The oarfish is a deep-sea fish so it's rare, usually only seen near the surface when it's dying, and it has a flat face that looks more like a human face than most fish, if you squint and really want to believe you're seeing a mythical creature. These days, artwork of the ningyo usually looks a lot more like mermaids of European legend, but the earliest paintings don't usually have arms, just a human head on a fish body. But by the late 18th century, a weird type of artwork had become popular among Japanese fishermen, a type of crude but inventive taxidermy that created what looked like small, creepy mermaids. They looked like dried-out monkeys from the waist up, with a dried-out fish tail instead of legs. That's because that's exactly what they were. Japanese fishermen made these mermaids along with lots of other monsters, and sold them to travelers for high prices. The fishermen told tall tales about how they'd found the monster, killed it, and preserved it, and pretended to be reluctant to sell it, and of course that meant the traveler would offer even more money for it. The most famous of these fake monsters was called the Fiji Mermaid, and it got famous because P.T. Barnum displayed it in his museum in 1842 and said it had been caught near the Fiji Islands, in the South Pacific. It was about three feet along, or 91 cm, and was probably made from a young monkey and a salmon. The original Fiji mermaid was probably destroyed in a fire at some point, but it was such a popular exhibit that other wannabe showmen either bought or made replicas, some of which are still around today. People still sometimes make similar monsters, but they use craft materials instead of dead animals. They're still creepy-looking, though, which is part of the fun. You can find Strange Animals Podcast at strangeanimalspodcast.blubrry.net. That's blueberry without any E's. If you have questions, comments, corrections, or suggestions, email us at strangeanimalspodcast@gmail.com. Thanks for listening!

If YOU'RE ready to make real, sustainable change in your life, jump on a free call with us - https://physiquedevelopment.typeform.com/to/ToP9TYLEToday's episode is all about fitness and wellness trends—what took over in 2025 and where things are likely headed in 2026.Sue and Alex unpack the patterns they've seen gain momentum, why trends aren't inherently good or bad, and how marketing often oversimplifies solutions that are far more nuanced in real life.They start by breaking down major 2025 trends—from the shift away from HIIT and bootcamps toward Pilates and community-driven movement, to the rise of weighted vests, endurance events like Hyrox-style racing, and wearable trackers.From there, they look ahead to 2026 predictions, including an increased emphasis on sleep tracking, AI-powered upgrades, new approaches to walking ("Japanese walking," anyone?), continued expansion of community-based fitness, and evolving conversations around GLP-1 medications.The takeaway? The next big thing isn't always your next big thing. This episode will help you think critically about trends, avoid getting pulled in every direction, and choose what actually aligns with your goals.We'll see you in the New Year!Have questions or comments for the podcast? Drop them here - https://forms.gle/AEu5vMKNLDfmc24M7Check out our FREE 4-Week Glute Program - https://go.physiquedevelopment.com/freegluteprogram701788And keep the gains rolling with 12 MORE weeks of glute growth (use code POD at checkout for $25 off!) - https://train.physiquedevelopment.com/workout-plans/963551As always, it is our goal not only to supply you, the listener, with valuable insights on the topics or questions but also to plant some seeds for further research and thought. Be sure to like and subscribe and leave us a review wherever you're listening if you loved this episode!Timestamps:(0:00) Today's topic(1:57) Trends we saw in 2025(2:10) Trend #1(5:07) Trend #2(9:56) Trend #3(12:04) Trend #4(18:57) Trend #5(20:01) Trend #6(21:58) Trend #7(23:46) Predictions for 2026(24:05) Prediction #1(28:40) Prediction #2(29:13) Prediction #3(30:17) Prediction #4(32:36) Prediction #5 (a hot take??)(34:19) Prediction #6(37:10) Prediction #7(38:09) Prediction #8(42:44) Wrap-upAdditional Resources:Weighted Vests: Health Hack or All Hype?? (the REAL science) - https://pod.fo/e/34970dFollow us on Instagram:Coach Alex - https://www.instagram.com/alexbush__Coach Sue - https://www.instagram.com/suegainzPhysique Development - https://www.instagram.com/physiquedevelopment_Physique Development Podcast - https://www.instagram.com/physiquedevelopmentpodcast----Produced by: David Margittai | In Post MediaWebsite: https://www.inpostmedia.comEmail: david@inpostmedia.com© 2025, Physique Development LLC. All rights reserved.

A daily quote to inspire the mind, gratitude to warm the soul, and guided breathing to energize the body. Quote: "The safest course is to do nothing against one's conscience. With this secret, we can enjoy life and have no fear from death." - Voltaire Gratitude: The smell of Japanese quince candles. Guided Breathing: Equal Breathing. Visit TheDailyRefresh.com to share your unique piece of gratitude which will be featured on an upcoming episode, and make sure to watch the tutorial of how to make The Daily Refresh part of your Alexa Flash Briefings! Call to action: If you're interested in launching your very own Podcast, visit FreePodcastCourse.com/ and this completely free training will teach you EVERYTHING you need to know! So visit FreePodcastCourse.com.

What the hell is Bloodbeat?? From one-and-done French filmmaker Fabrice-Ange Zaphiratos, filmed in Wisconsin. A young woman travels to rural Wisconsin to meet her boyfriend's family, but she becomes possessed by the spirit of a Japanese samurai who goes on killing spree anytime she becomes aroused. You read that synopsis correctly which is precisely why I decided to concoct a special holiday bonus episode featuring friends Matt Greene & Jesse Oliver for an experimental episode on a truly bizarre holiday horror film that has become a favorite. You can still watch the movie after listening to us describe it in detail because you won't believe your eyes. It is available to find in its entirety on YouTube; I recommend blind buying the Vinegar Syndrome Blu-Ray linked below.For this deep dive rabbit hole, I edited together excerpts of Matt & Jesse describing it along with excerpts from other podcasts/YouTube videos sprinkled throughout. Clips from the film and director! There is a lot of synth music, robot voices, an edited/compressed version of me talking about this one-of-a-kind movie. Happy holidays and see you in 2026 for the year-in-review favorites of 2025 episode soon!More interesting info: https://www.wisconsinfrights.com/blood-beatBuy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Beat-Blu-ray-DVD-Combo/dp/B075427Q6Q

Revisit this classic lesson on cognitive switching from the Plain English archives: What is cognitive switching? It's when you switch your attention from one task, or one type of task, to another. Cognitive switching could be robbing you of up to 40 percent of your daily productivity, and it may be increasing your potential to make mistakes.Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/lessons/cognitive-switching--Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.comMentioned in this episode:Hard words? No problemNever be confused by difficult words in Plain English again! See translations of the hardest words and phrases from English to your language. Each episode transcript includes built-in translations into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Turkish. Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com

Robots and automata have been with humans in one form or another for thousands of years. From ancient Egyptian illusionary statutes to Ancient Greek steam or air powered birds, even programmable carts and theatrical figures, up to near-modern mechanisms like the Digesting Duck in 1739 France, the 1770 Austrian chess robot, the 1773 Silver Swan in England, the 1795 Tipu's Tiger of India and the many robots of far east Asia. As early as the 8th century BC, the Chinese were using wooden mechanisms for burial objects, centuries before the Greek myth of a giant mechanical Talos. Long before European machines that are hardly remembered today, the Japanese had mechanical dolls called Nashiki karakul, which served tea and entertained every level of Edo society. None of this history is hidden, and part of the problem in deciphering what it means is our definition of words like robot, machine, giant, myth etc. However, as with technology today where glorified search engines are believed to be sentient intelligence, there were probably many in the ancient world who saw these devices as supernatural. The vast majority probably saw them for what they were though - entertainment. Although the value in such mechanisms has largely been lost today, or simply evolved or transitioned into something more contemporary, our modern use of similar technologies will likely be looked at by a future generation in the same way that we look back on an apparently lost part of human history. The modern popular culture, and conspiracy, perception of the past is that anything considerably advanced must be part of a lost civilization or alien, perhaps Tartarian specifically. But the printing press dates to 1440 and the cotton gin to 1793, two inventions that mechanically revolutionized the world in a way equal to modern phones, and yet few would dispute the modern-human-civilization origin of these devices.  *The is the FREE archive, which includes advertisements. If you want an ad-free experience, you can subscribe below underneath the show description.WEBSITEFREE ARCHIVE (w. ads)SUBSCRIPTION ARCHIVE-X / TWITTERFACEBOOKINSTAGRAMYOUTUBERUMBLE-BUY ME A COFFEECashApp: $rdgable PAYPAL: rdgable1991@gmail.comRyan's Books: https://thesecretteachings.info - EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / rdgable1991@gmail.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-secret-teachings--5328407/support.

In today's episode of the Feel Free Again Podcast, I'm joined again by Tammy Adams. This is her second time on the show, and I'm grateful we get to keep building on the ground we covered last time. In this conversation, we're diving into something that's breaking hearts everywhere: how we've forgotten how to love each other through differences, and how families are getting fractured, ghosted, and cut off over “outside topics” that were never supposed to cost us our relationships. We talk about how belief systems form early, why certain phrases can trigger massive reactions, and the powerful shift from “You made me feel” to “When you said/did ___, I felt ___.” Tammy brings her early childhood education background into the conversation, and we connect the dots between nervous system overwhelm, social media saturation, unresolved grief, and why so many people live in defense mode. We also get real about how unresolved emotions often show up as anger, especially for men and what it looks like to do the inner work that gives you your peace (and your relationships) back. If you're a Grief Recovery Specialist (or considering the work), we also speak directly to the importance of creating safety and staying anchored in the mission: helping broken hearts heal without bringing our personal “rightness” into the room. If this episode helps you, please share it, subscribe, and leave a review so more people can find these tools and find their way back to connection. ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 - Tammy Adams Returns: A Deeper Conversation on Healing Relationships 01:35 - The Divide Is Breaking Families (And We Need Better Tools) 05:20 - How Childhood Beliefs Get Wired and Become Adult Triggers 10:55 - “You Made Me Feel” vs “I Felt”: The Language That Restores Power 14:40 - Social Media, iPads, and Why Beliefs Form Earlier Than We Think 17:50 - The “One-Hour Debate” Rule: Staying Family While Disagreeing 22:55 - You're Not a Wind-Up Toy: Owning Your Emotional Responses 27:45 - When Unresolved Grief Shows Up as Anger (Tammy's Real Story) 37:50 - People-Pleasing, Control, and Trauma Responses in Conflict 40:14 - Why Constant Global News Keeps Us Triggered and Divided 52:45 - Message to Specialists: Create Safety, Stay in Your Lane, Help the Heart Heal Cole James, President of the Grief Recovery Institute, shares about the Power of Grief Recovery! Cole is dedicating his life to help people with grief. Now, grief is much more than just losing someone. Did you know that? You've probably heard of the Five Stages of Grief, right? Well, this goes much deeper than you think. Let me explain. Everyone has some type of grief in their lives, some haven't yet, but it's part of life. We can't escape it, BUT we can work through it. And you don't have to do it alone. Let's talk about it. We have trained Grief Recovery Method Specialists, who help heartbroken people, in Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, Central America, South America, and North America. The Grief Recovery Method Certification Program is taught and available in multiple languages including: English, Spanish, Swedish, Hungarian, Ukrainian, and Russian. Our home office is in the United States and serves English-speaking nations and populations around the world, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the Commonwealth Nations. In addition, we have international affiliate offices in Sweden, Australia, Mexico, and Hungary. Our goal is to help as many people as possible, which is why our books have been translated into over 30 languages including: Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, Ukrainian, Russian, and many more. For more information visit: https://www.griefrecoverymethod.com/ #mentalhealth #grief #depression #sad

Recording live from Koenji, Japan, Dave sits down with Shawn — better known as Japan Book Hunter — for a deep dive into Japan's unique underground book culture, rare book collecting, and the obsession that drives collectors down endless rabbit holes. From underground bookstores to forgotten print runs, this conversation explores what makes Japanese books so special — and so hard to find.They discuss a shared love of AKIRA and Hayao Miyazaki, and the endless rabbit holes of collecting and the influence of Japanese visual culture on collectors worldwide. If you're interested in rare books, Japanese art, anime history, or the psychology of collecting, this episode is packed with stories and hard-earned wisdom.Check out JPH on Youtube and visit his website to snag something for yourself www.japanbookhunter.com

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Love Across the Miles: A New Year's Eve Reunion Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-12-29-08-38-20-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 冬の夜、雪が静かに舞い降りる中、遥か遠く離れた街に二人の学生がいました。En: On a winter night, as the snow quietly fell, there were two students in a distant city.Ja: ハルトとユイ、そしてハルトの親友カズキです。En: They were Haruto and Yui, and Haruto's best friend, Kazuki.Ja: ハルトとユイは、長距離恋愛中のカップルです。En: Haruto and Yui are a couple in a long-distance relationship.Ja: 大学が冬休みに入り、それぞれの街で時間を過ごしています。En: With the university on winter break, they are spending their time in their respective cities.Ja: ハルトは元気で前向きな性格ですが、内心はユイを失うのではないかと不安を抱いています。En: Haruto is cheerful and optimistic, but internally he carries the anxiety of possibly losing Yui.Ja: 彼はユイとの関係を強く保ちたいと思っていますが、距離が障害になっています。En: He wants to maintain a strong relationship with Yui, but the distance is a barrier.Ja: ある日、大学の寮で悩んでいるハルトにカズキが話しかけます。En: One day, while Haruto is troubled in the university dorm, Kazuki talks to him.Ja: 「冬休みの間、ユイちゃんに会いに行ったらどうだ？」カズキが言います。En: "Why don't you go see Yui during the winter break?" Kazuki says.Ja: 「それでもし、サプライズしたら？」En: "And maybe surprise her?"Ja: ハルトは驚きました。En: Haruto was surprised.Ja: 彼は勇気が必要だと感じつつも、すぐに決心しました。En: Though he felt he needed courage, he made up his mind right away.Ja: 「そうだね、ユイに会いに行こう」とハルトは返事をしました。En: "You're right, I'll go see Yui," Haruto replied.Ja: そして、迎えた大晦日。ハルトは新幹線に乗り、ユイのいる街に向かいました。En: And so, on New Year's Eve, Haruto took the Shinkansen to Yui's city.Ja: 夜が深まるにつれ、雪はますます積もり、街は新年を迎える準備で賑やかになっていました。En: As the night deepened, the snow piled up more, and the town grew lively preparing to welcome the New Year.Ja: でも、ハルトの心は少し不安でいっぱいでした。En: But Haruto's heart was full of some anxiety.Ja: 「自分の気持ちを押しつけているのではないだろうか？」En: "Am I forcing my feelings on her?"Ja: ユイの住む街に着いたハルトは、駅の改札を出ました。En: When Haruto arrived in Yui's city, he exited the station gates.Ja: 雪が輝き、クリスマスのイルミネーションが街を彩っていました。En: The snow glittered, and Christmas lights decorated the town.Ja: 彼は、ユイの住むアパートに向かい、ドアをノックしました。En: He headed to Yui's apartment and knocked on the door.Ja: 「ハルト？」ドアを開けたユイは驚いた顔をしました。En: "Haruto?" Yui opened the door with a surprised look on her face.Ja: ハルトは微笑みました。「ユイ、サプライズだ！」En: Haruto smiled. "Surprise, Yui!"Ja: 二人はそのまま近くの神社に向かいました。En: They headed to a nearby shrine.Ja: 夜空には花火が上がり、カラフルな光が雪の中に反射しています。En: Fireworks lit up the night sky, and the colorful lights reflected in the snow.Ja: その下で、ハルトはユイと将来について話しました。En: Underneath, Haruto talked with Yui about the future.Ja: 彼は不安を打ち明け、ユイは彼女の心の声を伝えました。En: He confessed his worries, and Yui shared her own feelings.Ja: 「わたしも、もっとお互いの気持ちを知る必要があると感じてた」とユイは言います。En: "I also felt we needed to understand each other's feelings more," Yui said.Ja: 二人は手をつなぎ、「一歩一歩ゆっくりと、今を楽しんでいこう」と決めました。En: They held hands and decided, "Let's take it slow and enjoy the present."Ja: 来年、もっと一緒に過ごす時間を計画することにしました。En: They planned to spend more time together in the coming year.Ja: ハルトは、これからはもっと率直に気持ちを伝えていくことにしました。En: Haruto decided to express his feelings more openly from now on.Ja: ユイも自分の気持ちをしっかり表現することの大切さを実感しました。En: Yui also realized the importance of firmly expressing her own feelings.Ja: 新しい年の始まりに、彼らはお互いをもっと理解し、もっと強く結ばれることを誓いました。En: At the beginning of the new year, they promised to understand each other more and strengthen their bond.Ja: 夜空に広がる花火の下で、彼らの未来は明るく輝いていました。En: Under the fireworks spreading across the night sky, their future shone brightly. Vocabulary Words:optimistic: 前向きなbarrier: 障害courage: 勇気confess: 打ち明けsurprise: 驚かせるdistant: 遠く離れたanxiety: 不安troubled: 悩んでいるexited: 出ましたfireworks: 花火relationship: 関係apartment: アパートlively: 賑やかknocked: ノックしましたdeepened: 深まるdecorated: 彩っていましたglittered: 輝きpromise: 誓うbond: 結ばれるrealized: 実感しましたreflect: 反射するmaintain: 保ちたいmutual: お互いのexpress: 伝えていくembark: 向かいましたgather: 迎える準備station: 駅cheerful: 元気internal: 内心apprehension: 不安

THE EMPEROR INTERVENES Colleague Evan Thomas. Following the bombing of Hiroshima, Emperor Hirohitobroke with tradition to support Foreign Minister Togo, urging the deadlocked War Council to "bear the unbearable" and surrender. War Minister Anami, however, continued to romanticize national suicide, suggesting it would be beautiful for the nation to perish like a flower. Negotiations stalled over the status of the Emperor, as the US insisted he remain subject to the Allied commander. Ultimately, the fear of continued atomic destruction and future war crimes trials forced the Japanese leadership to accept the Potsdam Declaration. NUMBER 6 1945 OKINAWA 

SHIGENORI TOGO AND THE JAPANESE WAR COUNCIL Colleague Evan Thomas. Thomas profiles Shigenori Togo, the Japanese Foreign Minister and the only civilian on the Supreme War Council advocating for surrender. Togonavigated a dangerous political landscape defined by the "stomach game" of indirect communication and the threat of assassination by military extremists. The discussion explores the Japanese military's adherence to the "47 Ronin" code of honor through death and their preparation for a "final battle" involving 28 million civilians. While the military hoped to bleed the Americans to gain better terms, Togo attempted a desperate and ultimately failed diplomatic outreach to the Soviet Union. NUMBER 3 1945 OKINAWA

THE COUP ATTEMPT AND SURRENDER Colleague Evan Thomas. As the US prepared a third atomic bomb to drop on Tokyo, a military coup unfolded in the Japanese palace to prevent the surrender. Young officers attempted to seize the recording of the Emperor's surrender speech, but the coup was suppressed, and War Minister Anami committed suicide by seppuku. When the Emperor's broadcast finally aired, the depth of the Japanese "national psychosis" was revealed; even radiation victims in Hiroshima wept in despair, not because the war was over, but because their nation had surrendered. NUMBER 7 1945 OKINAWA

CURTIS LEMAY TAKES COMMAND AND TESTS INCENDIARIES Colleague James M. Scott. After Hanselwas fired for a lack of results, Curtis LeMay, a pragmatic problem-solver from a hardscrabble background, took command in January 1945. LeMay realized the existing tactics were unsolvable equations and began tinkering with variables like altitude and radar. Concurrently, the US developed napalm and the M69 incendiary bomb, testing them on a mock Japanese village built in the Utah desert to ensure they could burn traditional wood-and-paper Japanesearchitecture. LeMay possessed detailed data on Tokyo's flammable density, preparing to exploit the city's architectural vulnerabilities. NUMBER 3 1945 OKINAWA

THE GUADALCANAL SHOESTRING AND COMMAND STRESS Colleague Craig Symonds. To preempt a Japanese airfield, King pushed for an offensive at Guadalcanal despite inadequate resources. Nimitz managed this "shoestring" operation while balancing the needs of his struggling subordinate, Admiral Ghormley, against King'sdemand for action. Amidst the stress, Nimitz found relief in a disciplined routine, power-walking ten miles daily and visiting the Walker family to escape office pressures. Meanwhile, King's animosity toward Admiral Fletcher grew, largely stemming from the loss of Wake Island and a perception that Fletcher was too concerned with fuel logistics. NUMBER 3 1945 OVER NSHS, OKINAWA

THE TURKEY SHOOT AND THE WORLD WONDERS Colleague Craig Symonds. During the Battle of the Philippine Sea, Spruance prioritized protecting the Saipan beachhead, resulting in the "Turkey Shoot" that decimated Japanese air power but allowed enemy ships to escape. Later, at Leyte Gulf, the Japanese lured Halsey's Third Fleetaway with empty carriers, leaving the invasion force vulnerable. Nimitz, breaking his rule against interfering, sent a query asking the location of Task Force 34. Padding in the encrypted text added the phrase "the whole world wonders," which insulted Halsey and caused him to throw a tantrum during a critical hour of the battle. NUMBER 6 1945 OKINAWA

The Bank of Japan keeps hiking its policy rate, Japanese bond yields continue to rise, yet no matter how high interest rates go over there the weaker the Japanese yen seems to get. And no one can figure out why. The government is stumped. Central bankers can only complain. And the yen is not the only one, but is a critical example of what everyone leaves out because they don't really know what they're looking at, or even looking for. Eurodollar University's Money & Macro Analysis------------------------------------------------------------EDU LIVE PRESIDENT'S DAY FEBRUARY 2026If you're a serious investor and want to capitalize on what the monetary system is signaling right now, plus deep discussions about what truly is the greatest threat we all face, join me, Hugh Hendry, George Gammon, Steve Van Metre, Brent Johnson, Mike Green at Eurodollar University's very first Live Event, President's Day Weekend February 2026. Reserve your spot below but you better hurry, there aren't many left:https://eurodollar-university.com/event-home-page---------------------------------------------------------------------------------EDU's After-Christmas SALEGet $1,000 off an annual subscription to our DDA+ or 40% off an annual membership. Complete details and checkout at our website link below:https://www.eurodollar.university/holiday-offer---------------------------------------------------------------------------------https://www.eurodollar.universityTwitter: https://twitter.com/JeffSnider_EDU

In Interviews of the Week on 670 The Score, FS1 host Danny Parkins joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to discuss Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' development and to celebrate the team's win against the Packers; Score baseball insider Bruce Levine joined the show to discuss the White Sox's signing of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami; and ESPN analyst Matt Bowen joined the Spiegel & Holmes Show to explain how the Bears match up against the 49ers as they'll meet on Sunday Night Football.

In Interviews of the Week on 670 The Score, FS1 host Danny Parkins joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to discuss Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' development and to celebrate the team's win against the Packers; Score baseball insider Bruce Levine joined the show to discuss the White Sox's signing of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami; and ESPN analyst Matt Bowen joined the Spiegel & Holmes Show to explain how the Bears match up against the 49ers as they'll meet on Sunday Night Football.

Celebrity Traitors UK. Adolescence. The Studio. Lily Allen. A matte primer and a Japanese eye mask. What's worth your time, your attention and your money this year according to Mamamia Out Loud? These are just some of the recommendations Amelia Lester, Emily Vernem, Jessie Stephens and Holly Wainwright are pulling out from the very long list of recommendations they made in 2025 for the second half of their comprehensive list of how to spend your holiday. Feel free to add to it. Support independent women's media TV & Movie Recommendations Holly recommends The Celebrity Traitors UK and The Four Seasons Jessie recommends We Live In Time Amelia recommends The Beast In Me Em recommends The Studio and One Of Them Days Book Recommendations Holly recommends Lonely Mouth by Jacqueline Maley Jessie recommends The Wedding People by Alison Espach Amelia recommends Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed by Maureen Callahan Em recommends A Court of Thorns and Roses and the ACOTAR series by Sarah J. Maas Beauty Recommendations Holly recommends La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Baume B5+ Jessie recommends the Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Primer Hydrating Amelia recommends the Bobbi Brown Lip Liner in Rum Raisin Em recommends the Shark FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System Best Random Reccos Holly recommends Lily Allen's West End Girl and CMAT's EURO-COUNTRY Album Jessie recommends giving blood and levelling up your smoothie. Amelia recommends using the MegRhythm Gentle Steam Eye Mask by Kao Em recommends the analog bag. What To Listen To Next: Don't miss an episode of Mamamia Out Loud Discover more Mamamia Podcasts here including the very latest episode of Parenting Out Loud, the parenting podcast for people who don't listen to... parenting podcasts. Watch Mamamia Out Loud: Mamamia Out Loud on YouTube THE END BITS: Check out our merch at MamamiaOutLoud.com GET IN TOUCH: Feedback? We’re listening. Send us an email at outloud@mamamia.com.au Share your story, feedback, or dilemma! Send us a voice message. Join our Facebook group Mamamia Outlouders to talk about the show. Follow us on Instagram @mamamiaoutloud and on Tiktok @mamamiaoutloudBecome a Mamamia subscriber: https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Interviews of the Week on 670 The Score, FS1 host Danny Parkins joined the Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show to discuss Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' development and to celebrate the team's win against the Packers; Score baseball insider Bruce Levine joined the show to discuss the White Sox's signing of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami; and ESPN analyst Matt Bowen joined the Spiegel & Holmes Show to explain how the Bears match up against the 49ers as they'll meet on Sunday Night Football.

For nearly two decades, the Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions (U Hawaii Press, 2024) has served as a valuable resource for students and scholars of religion in Japan. This exciting update expands the audience to include non-specialists of Japan while also complicating the notions of "Japan" and "religion." Asking the provocative question "why study Japanese religions?" the editors argue that studying Japan is vital for the academic study of religion writ large and make a case for the continued importance of religious topics in Japan studies, broadly conceived. The volume addresses the question of why--and how--to study Japanese religions in seven sections, each overseen by a leading expert in that subfield. The section on "Knowledge Production" investigates medicine, sacred objects, and the politico-economic structures undergirding academia. "Cosmology and Time" reveals how religion shaped worldviews in both premodern and modern Japan by taking up topics such as the afterlife, divination, and relationships between science and religion. "Space and Environment" considers geography, relationships between the human and nonhuman denizens of the Japanese archipelago, and religion in Japan's overseas colonies and among diasporic outmigrants. "Feelings and Belonging" focuses on affective relationships generated through confraternities, homiletics, and caring professions. "Politics and Governance" describes longstanding relationships between religion and the state, covering everything from sacred kingship to contemporary electoral politics. The final two sections include practical advice for conducting fieldwork and helpful introductions to several relevant archives. Overall, the volume reflects the impact of recent scholarly trends in the study of Japanese religions, including material religion studies, affect theory, environmental humanities, and critical secularism studies. The breadth of topics as well as the accessibility of the individual chapters makes The New Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions an indispensable resource for the classroom. It will be useful not only for scholars of Japan, but also for anyone interested in the academic study of religion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

learn how to write セ (se)

The Japanese spider crab is harmless to people. But it might not look that way if you happened across it at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. It can span 12 feet—the largest known crab on the planet. The crab's hard body is typically about a foot long, and the crab weighs 35 or 40 pounds. It has 10 legs. Eight of them are for walking along rocky ocean bottoms. The other two hold powerful claws. The claw legs are longer than the walking legs on males, but shorter on females. Japanese spider crabs spawn in fairly warm, shallow waters, primarily off the Pacific coast of Japan. Juveniles are pretty small. As they reach adulthood, though, they grow to giant proportions. And they move to deeper waters—generally a few hundred feet to a thousand feet or deeper. The crabs can't swim. Instead, they scuttle along the bottom looking for food. They nab small fish and crack open clams. They also scavenge for dead animals, and scrape algae off the rocks. Because of their size and hard shells, the crabs face few threats—mainly from fishers, because they're considered a delicacy in parts of Japan. And they're well disguised—their mottled, spiny appearance blends into the background. Just to be safe, though, juveniles sometimes disguise themselves. They pluck bits of kelp, sponges, or other organisms. They chew on them for a little while, then stick them on their shells. That helps keep these imposing but harmless creatures safe at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. The post Giant Crabs appeared first on Marine Science Institute. The University of Texas at Austin..

ALISA, who has Japanese and Australian roots and is based in Tokyo, performed at the Australian Pavilion at the Osaka-Kansai Expo this July. This story was first published in October 2025.　 - 日豪のルーツを持ち、東京を拠点に活動するALISAさん。今年7月には大阪・関西万博のオーストラリアパビリオンで歌いました。2025年10月放送。

The talk about all the games played on Christmas in the NFL and the NBA. Also, the Japanese power hitter finds a new home. subscribe and follow on TikTok

In the week between Christmas and New Year, we're listening back to some of our favourite episodes of 2025, this episode was first published in March.Japanese ‘kidults' revolutionised pop culture in the 90s and 00s, turning to their inner children to cope with economic crisis and post-industrial societal ills, despite being ridiculed. As the milestones of adulthood - property, marriage and careers - become increasingly difficult for millennials and Gen Z to achieve - are westerners now turning to ‘kidulting' to find answers? This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today: http://thetimes.com/thestoryGuest: Matt Alt, author of Pure Invention: How Japan Made the Modern World.Host: Manveen Rana.Producer: Sam Chantarasak.Further listening: Studio Ghibli: Is this the end for the Japanese studio that inspired Pixar?The South Korean culture machine that conquered the worldClips: SEGA, Pokémon Theme/POKEMON, MSNBC, CNN, AJ+, Sony, PlayStation, CBS, SXSW, TikTok/@otakuintokyo, TikTok/@kaitlyneats, Your Name/dir. Makoto Shinkai/CoMix Wave Films/Toho.Photo: Getty Images.Get in touch: thestory@thetimes.com.This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nitesh Rohit (AnimeCon India) and Rohit Shrestha (Otaku Jatra) are key figures behind the rise of anime conventions in South Asia, popularizing Japanese anime in India and Nepal through cosplay, screenings, gaming zones, artist alleys, and creative workshops empowering youth, supporting local artists, and boosting pop-culture tourism.

Zech 12:1-13:9, Rev 19:1-21, Ps 147:1-20, Pr 31:1-7

ONIBABA is one of Willem Dafoe's favorite movies, as his visit to the Criterion Closet confirms. In finally watching Kaneto Shindo's moody 1964 drama, I found it to have a spiritual cousin in one of Dafoe's films, THE LIGHTHOUSE.Both movies center on a couple isolated from most of the world, whose work provides the sole respite for their otherwise stress-addled minds. In the latter, it's two American lighthouse keeper from the early 20th Century. In ONIBABA, a mother and her daughter-in-law survive impoverishment during medieval Japanese wartime by killing wayward samurai and escaped soldiers, stripping them of all possessions and chucking their corpses into a deep, dark hole.This bizarre yet practiced routine is interrupted when a neighbor, who knew the women's son/husband, returns, looking to rebuild his life. His arrogance and oafishness begins to complicated the women's relationship, slowly deteriorating over time.Shindo's movie is minimalist at heart, employing straightforward blocking and camera movements to get the story across, but it's not simple-minded. It plays like a Buddhist fable, allowing the spiritual and metaphorical to permeate through an otherwise grounded drama about human psychology and the fear of leaving one's familiar, if destitute, life behind for the uncertain future. It has a Gothic streak in its intense black-and-white cinematography, eerie dreaminess and frank sense of sexuality.ONIBABA is slow to start but where it ends left me satisfied, ready to uncover more of Shindo's filmography.---Please rate & review The Movies wherever you listen to podcasts!If you like the show, consider supporting it monetarily through the tip jar here!Follow The Movies on Instagram & Letterboxd

In this episode of the US Navy History Podcast, hosts Dale and Christophe delve into the often-overlooked naval bombardments of Japan during the summer of 1945. As Allied forces gained overwhelming dominance in the Pacific, the US Navy, supported by British units, conducted a series of calculated naval strikes against Japan's industrial infrastructure. These bombardments aimed to destroy key industrial sites, test coastal defenses, support air operations, and prepare for a potential invasion. The episode explores the strategic, psychological, and operational impacts of these bombardments on both Allied sailors and Japanese civilians, ultimately contributing to Japan's realization of the futility of continued resistance. The discussion is complemented by a tribute to Gunner's Mate Third Class Paul Henry Carr, a US Navy hero who displayed extraordinary bravery in action.

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Finding Home: A New Year's Eve in Savannah's Forsyth Park Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-12-28-23-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: ヒロシ、マコト、ユキの三人は、サバンナのフォーサイトパークにやってきました。En: Hiroshi, Makoto, and Yuki arrived at Savannah's Forsyth Park.Ja: 冬の寒さが心地良く、木々にはきらめくライトが飾られ、まるで別世界のようです。En: The winter chill was pleasantly comforting, and the trees were decorated with sparkling lights, making it seem like a different world.Ja: 三人は南部の伝統的な祝祭を体験するための旅行を楽しんでいます。En: The three of them were enjoying a trip to experience traditional Southern festivities.Ja: ヒロシは少し感傷的です。En: Hiroshi felt a bit sentimental.Ja: 日本での新年の思い出が頭をよぎります。En: Memories of New Year's in Japan flashed through his mind.Ja: 彼は子供のころから、家族と一緒におせち料理を食べ、神社に初詣に行くことが当たり前でした。En: Since he was a child, it had been normal for him to eat osechi with his family and visit the shrine for hatsumode.Ja: ここでは、どこを見てもそのような光景はありません。En: Here, such scenes were nowhere to be found.Ja: 「大丈夫？En: "Are you okay?"Ja: 」マコトが尋ねます。En: Makoto asked.Ja: 彼はいつも新しい体験を喜び、ワクワクしています。En: He was always excited about and embracing new experiences.Ja: 「うん、大丈夫。En: "Yeah, I'm okay.Ja: でも少し日本が恋しいね」とヒロシは答えます。En: But I do miss Japan a little," Hiroshi replied.Ja: ユキは、静かに周りを見渡しています。En: Yuki was quietly gazing around.Ja: 「でも、ここでも楽しめる何かがあるよね」と彼女が微笑んで言います。En: "But there's something to enjoy here too, isn't there?"Ja: ヒロシは決意しました。En: she said with a smile.Ja: この新しい環境で、楽しむことを自分に許そうと。En: Hiroshi made a decision.Ja: そのために彼は、地元の人々と話してみることに決めました。En: He resolved to allow himself to enjoy this new environment.Ja: 最初は戸惑いましたが、しばらくしてから、彼は南部の温かいホスピタリティに心を開くことができました。En: To do this, he decided to try talking to the locals.Ja: 年が明ける少し前、彼らは地元の人たちと一緒にカウントダウンを始めました。En: He was hesitant at first, but after a while, he was able to open his heart to the warm Southern hospitality.Ja: フォーサイトパークの中心にある美しい噴水がライトアップされ、みんなの顔がその光に照らされていました。En: Shortly before the year turned, they started counting down with the locals.Ja: ついに、0時になりました。En: The beautiful fountain at the center of Forsyth Park was lit up, and everyone's faces were illuminated by the light.Ja: 周りから歓声が上がり、ヒロシはそのエネルギーに包まれました。En: Finally, it was midnight.Ja: この瞬間、彼は気付きました。En: Cheers erupted around them, and Hiroshi was enveloped in the energy of the moment.Ja: 祝いの精神はどこでも同じであること。En: At that moment, he realized that the spirit of celebration is the same everywhere.Ja: その後、ヒロシはマコトとユキに日本の新年の祝い方を話しました。En: Afterward, Hiroshi told Makoto and Yuki about how New Year's is celebrated in Japan.Ja: 三人で小さな新年のお祝いをしました。En: The three of them held a small New Year's celebration.Ja: たとえば、ユキは彼女のお気に入りのお茶を淹れました。En: For instance, Yuki made her favorite tea.Ja: 簡単なおせちも作りました。En: They also made a simple osechi.Ja: みんなで共有する中で、ヒロシの心は温まりました。En: As they shared these, Hiroshi's heart was warmed.Ja: ヒロシは家族のことを考えながら、でももう寂しくありませんでした。En: Though he was thinking about his family, Hiroshi no longer felt lonely.Ja: 新しい伝統は古いものを豊かにできると知りました。En: He realized that new traditions could enrich the old ones.Ja: 彼はすぐに、自分がどこにいても、心に新しい場所を作ることができると学びました。En: He soon learned that wherever he was, he could create a new place in his heart.Ja: 夜が更け、フォーサイトパークはその静けさを取り戻しました。En: As the night deepened, Forsyth Park regained its tranquility.Ja: 星が瞬き、彼らは笑顔で元旦を迎えました。En: The stars twinkled, and they welcomed the New Year with smiles. Vocabulary Words:chill: 寒さcomforting: 心地良くdecorated: 飾られsparkling: きらめくsentimental: 感傷的hesitant: 戸惑いましたwelcomed: 迎えましたilluminated: 照らされていましたeruption: 歓声enveloped: 包まれましたhospitality: ホスピタリティresolved: 決意しましたexperience: 体験festivities: 祝祭flashed: よぎりますenrich: 豊かにtriviality: 些細なことtransition: 移り変わりenvironment: 環境trivial: 些細なことlocal: 地元のcountdown: カウントダウンfountain: 噴水commencement: 始まりtranquility: 静けさhesitated: 戸惑いましたgazing: 見渡していますembody: 具現化するenhance: 向上させるembracing: 受け入れる

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Rekindling Friendship: A Kyoto Tale of Redemption and Renewal Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-12-28-08-38-20-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 京都の夜、冬の冷たい空気がFushimi Inari大社を包んでいた。En: In the night of Kyoto, the cold winter air wrapped around Fushimi Inari Taisha.Ja: 赤い鳥居が連なり、山の坂道を飾る。En: Red toriis lined up, adorning the mountain path.Ja: その奥、優しい光の中で、Harutoは心の中の重荷を背負って歩いていた。En: Beyond them, in the soft light, Haruto was walking, carrying the weight in his heart.Ja: 彼は数年ぶりに日本に戻ってきた。En: He had returned to Japan for the first time in several years.Ja: 心の中には未解決の問題があった。En: In his heart, there was an unresolved issue.Ja: それは、Katsumiとのことだった。En: It was about Katsumi.Ja: Harutoは幼い頃からの友人、Katsumiに会うことになっていた。En: Haruto was supposed to meet Katsumi, a friend from childhood.Ja: だが、KatsumiはHarutoに離れていったことをずっと恨んでいた。En: However, Katsumi had long harbored resentment towards Haruto for leaving.Ja: 彼は、理由も告げずに旅立ったのだ。En: He had departed without giving a reason.Ja: Aiko、Katsumiのいとこである彼女は、二人の仲を修復しようとしていた。En: Aiko, Katsumi's cousin, was trying to mend their relationship.Ja: 新年が近づくこの時期、Oshogatsuの訪れは二人を再び結びつける。En: As the New Year approached, the arrival of Oshogatsu brought the two back together.Ja: Harutoは再会を願いつつ、Katsumiに全てを話す決意をした。En: Haruto, hoping for a reunion, decided to tell everything to Katsumi.Ja: 別れの理由を正直に伝え、過去を共に乗り越えたいと。En: He was determined to honestly convey the reason for his departure and to overcome the past together.Ja: 山道の鳥居の下、昔の思い出が詰まったその場所でHarutoはKatsumiと向き合った。En: Under the torii on the mountain path, at that place filled with old memories, Haruto faced Katsumi.Ja: 彼の目には迷わない強い意思が宿っていた。En: In his eyes was a strong determination, unwavering.Ja: 「Katsumi、話を聞いてほしいんだ。」En: "Katsumi, I want you to listen," he began seriously.Ja: 「君を置いていったこと、本当に悪かった。」En: "I'm really sorry for leaving you behind.Ja: 理由は、家族のことだったんだ。」Harutoは真剣な声で語り始めた。En: The reason was because of family matters."Ja: 一瞬、静寂が二人の間を支配した。En: For a moment, silence prevailed between them.Ja: そして、Katsumiは彼の目を見つめた。En: Then, Katsumi looked into his eyes.Ja: 「ずっと、そんな気持ちを抱えていたんだね。」En: "You've been carrying those feelings all this time, haven't you?Ja: 「簡単ではないけれど、理解するよ。」と、Katsumiは少しずつ自分の気持ちを解きほぐしていった。En: It's not easy, but I understand," Katsumi said, gradually unraveling her own feelings.Ja: 遠くで鐘の音が鳴り響く。En: In the distance, the sound of a bell resonated.Ja: 二人は一緒に鳥居をくぐり、大社の鐘を鳴らしに山を登る。En: Together, they passed through the torii, climbing the mountain to ring the shrine's bell.Ja: お互いの顔には、穏やかな微笑みが広がっていた。En: On their faces, gentle smiles spread.Ja: 新しい年が始まり、彼らの新しい関係も始まろうとしていた。En: A new year was beginning, and so was their new relationship.Ja: Harutoは思った。過去の過ちと向き合うことの大切さを。En: Haruto thought about the importance of facing past mistakes.Ja: そして、Katsumiもまた、許しと新しい一歩を踏み出す力を学んだのだった。En: And Katsumi also learned about the power of forgiveness and taking a new step.Ja: 彼らは一緒に鐘を鳴らし、今度こそ本当の友情とともに新年を迎えたのであった。En: They rang the bell together, and this time, they welcomed the new year with true friendship. Vocabulary Words:adorn: 飾るharbor: 抱えるresentment: 恨みmend: 修復するdeparture: 旅立ちreunion: 再会unwavering: 迷わないconvey: 伝えるprevail: 支配するresonate: 鳴り響くdetermination: 意思unravel: 解きほぐすembrace: 抱くresolve: 解決するburden: 重荷silence: 静寂face: 向き合うovercome: 乗り越えるbell: 鐘shrine: 大社reconciliation: 和解forgiveness: 許しpast mistakes: 過去の過ちsoft light: 優しい光unresolved: 未解決のchildhood: 幼い頃cousin: いとこsmile: 微笑みdetermined: 決意したnew step: 新しい一歩

For nearly two decades, the Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions (U Hawaii Press, 2024) has served as a valuable resource for students and scholars of religion in Japan. This exciting update expands the audience to include non-specialists of Japan while also complicating the notions of "Japan" and "religion." Asking the provocative question "why study Japanese religions?" the editors argue that studying Japan is vital for the academic study of religion writ large and make a case for the continued importance of religious topics in Japan studies, broadly conceived. The volume addresses the question of why--and how--to study Japanese religions in seven sections, each overseen by a leading expert in that subfield. The section on "Knowledge Production" investigates medicine, sacred objects, and the politico-economic structures undergirding academia. "Cosmology and Time" reveals how religion shaped worldviews in both premodern and modern Japan by taking up topics such as the afterlife, divination, and relationships between science and religion. "Space and Environment" considers geography, relationships between the human and nonhuman denizens of the Japanese archipelago, and religion in Japan's overseas colonies and among diasporic outmigrants. "Feelings and Belonging" focuses on affective relationships generated through confraternities, homiletics, and caring professions. "Politics and Governance" describes longstanding relationships between religion and the state, covering everything from sacred kingship to contemporary electoral politics. The final two sections include practical advice for conducting fieldwork and helpful introductions to several relevant archives. Overall, the volume reflects the impact of recent scholarly trends in the study of Japanese religions, including material religion studies, affect theory, environmental humanities, and critical secularism studies. The breadth of topics as well as the accessibility of the individual chapters makes The New Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions an indispensable resource for the classroom. It will be useful not only for scholars of Japan, but also for anyone interested in the academic study of religion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

For nearly two decades, the Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions (U Hawaii Press, 2024) has served as a valuable resource for students and scholars of religion in Japan. This exciting update expands the audience to include non-specialists of Japan while also complicating the notions of "Japan" and "religion." Asking the provocative question "why study Japanese religions?" the editors argue that studying Japan is vital for the academic study of religion writ large and make a case for the continued importance of religious topics in Japan studies, broadly conceived. The volume addresses the question of why--and how--to study Japanese religions in seven sections, each overseen by a leading expert in that subfield. The section on "Knowledge Production" investigates medicine, sacred objects, and the politico-economic structures undergirding academia. "Cosmology and Time" reveals how religion shaped worldviews in both premodern and modern Japan by taking up topics such as the afterlife, divination, and relationships between science and religion. "Space and Environment" considers geography, relationships between the human and nonhuman denizens of the Japanese archipelago, and religion in Japan's overseas colonies and among diasporic outmigrants. "Feelings and Belonging" focuses on affective relationships generated through confraternities, homiletics, and caring professions. "Politics and Governance" describes longstanding relationships between religion and the state, covering everything from sacred kingship to contemporary electoral politics. The final two sections include practical advice for conducting fieldwork and helpful introductions to several relevant archives. Overall, the volume reflects the impact of recent scholarly trends in the study of Japanese religions, including material religion studies, affect theory, environmental humanities, and critical secularism studies. The breadth of topics as well as the accessibility of the individual chapters makes The New Nanzan Guide to Japanese Religions an indispensable resource for the classroom. It will be useful not only for scholars of Japan, but also for anyone interested in the academic study of religion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/japanese-studies

"It's not an emptiness or a void, it's actually full of possibility. And once I started to explore it, how they explained it, the Japanese concept is about when you listen to music, there's always space between the notes. And then if you apply that to a book or a page, there's always space between the words. So that space, that white space, another way of describing, it is necessary." Susan Ni Chriodain   David, Susanne and I come together for a wide-ranging conversation about liminal spaces - the spaces between words, seasons, endings and beginnings. We explore why these in-between moments matter, why we often rush to fill them, and what becomes possible when we allow pause, uncertainty and not-knowing. The conversation covers: seasons and transitions in life and in work endings that haven't fully ended listening, silence and the courage to say “I don't know” This episode is an invitation to notice what we usually overlook and to consider what might emerge when we willingly inhabit the space between. Dr Susanne Evans is an organisation change consultant, trainer, coach and researcher on a mission to change the way that transformations are managed in organisations. She founded Feldspar Consulting in 2007 to help her clients lead change in a more human, effective way. As well as writing and speaking about organisation change, Susanne hosts open storytelling workshops, supporting organisations and individuals in writing a compelling story for themselves. She is the author of ChangeStories and the host of the popular ChangeStories podcast.   David Lee is a coach, consultant, workshop facilitator, keynote speaker, and author, who loves creating a win/win/win relationship between people and the organizations they work for. He helps leaders and leadership teams learn how to become "people whisperers", and by doing so, increase their ability to make their organization THE choice for "A List Talent" and inspire the best in their people.   Connect with Susanne On LinkedIn Through her website: Feldspar Consulting Listen to Change Stories podcast   Connect with David On LinkedIn  Through his website Human Nature at Work   Resources Mentioned: Dr Seuss, Oh, The Places You'll Go The In-Between Book, Christopher Willard, Olivia Weisser, Alison Oliver Tending To Endings Cards https://www.tendingtoendings.com/ 

Ryo Okumoto is a Japanese keyboard star, best known for his work with the prog rock band Spock's Beard. This guy is wild. His look, his enthusiasm. Just check out some of his videos. He's performed and recorded with a number of stars including Phil Collins, Eric Clapton, Asia and Eric Burden.My featured song is “Moon Shot”, my recent single featuring Mark Lettieri on guitar. Spotify link.—-----------------------------------------------------------The Follow Your Dream Podcast:Top 1% of all podcasts with Listeners in 200 countries!Click here for All Episodes Click here for Guest List Click here for Guest Groupings Click here for Guest TestimonialsClick here to Subscribe Click here to receive our Email UpdatesClick here to Rate and Review the podcast—----------------------------------------CONNECT WITH RYO:www.ryookumoto.com—----------------------------------------ROBERT'S LATEST RELEASE:“MA PETITE FLEUR STRING QUARTET” is Robert's latest release. It transforms his jazz ballad into a lush classical string quartet piece. Praised by a host of classical music stars.CLICK HERE FOR YOUTUBE LINKCLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS—---------------------------------------ROBERT'S RECENT SINGLE“MI CACHIMBER” is Robert's recent single. It's Robert's tribute to his father who played the trumpet and loved Latin music.. Featuring world class guest artists Benny Benack III and Dave Smith on flugelhornCLICK HERE FOR YOUTUBE LINKCLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS—--------------------------------------ROBERT'S LATEST ALBUM:“WHAT'S UP!” is Robert's latest compilation album. Featuring 10 of his recent singles including all the ones listed below. Instrumentals and vocals. Jazz, Rock, Pop and Fusion. “My best work so far. (Robert)”CLICK HERE FOR THE OFFICIAL VIDEOCLICK HERE FOR ALL LINKS—----------------------------------------Audio production:Jimmy RavenscroftKymera Films Connect with the Follow Your Dream Podcast:Website - www.followyourdreampodcast.comEmail Robert - robert@followyourdreampodcast.com Follow Robert's band, Project Grand Slam, and his music:Website - www.projectgrandslam.comYouTubeSpotify MusicApple MusicEmail - pgs@projectgrandslam.com  

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Our popular long-running music segment 'Music File' is hosted by a Melbourne-based sound engineer Naomune Anzai. The most downloaded episode in 2025 featured Japanese garage rock band The 5.6.7.8's, who were touring Australia at the time of the broadcast. Originally broadcast on 21 March 2025. - コーナーの中で今年最もダウンロードされたエピソード。 放送当時オーストラリアツアーを行った日本のガレージ・ロックバンド、The 5.6.7.8'sを取り上げました。2025年3月21日放送。

Zech 10:1-11:17, Rev 18:1-24, Ps 146:1-10, Pr 30:33

Community Prayer and Encouragement

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Episode Notes Join our Patreon for early access and bonus episodes and help support the show! Get exclusive Japanese horror merchandise and join the Discord! Nine terrifying tales of Japanese dolls that'll make you question what's really sitting on the shelf at night… BGM thanks to Myuuji, Kevin MacLeod and CO.AG. Sound effects thanks to Free Sound and freeSFX. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Support Kowabana: 'True' Japanese scary stories from around the internet by contributing to their tip jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/kowabana

The Chicago White Sox made a surprising signing right before Christmas when they agreed to a deal with Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami. As his posting window was nearing a close, there was a thought that the big-time power bat might not find a team. However, Murakami will be taking his power stroke to the South Side.On this episode of Baseball Bar-B-Cast, Jake Mintz is joined by special guest host Dani Wexelman as they break down the two-year, $34 million deal that will send the two-time Central League MVP to Chicago on a very much prove-it deal. They wonder how so many in the baseball world got his posting window wrong and what it could mean when he becomes a free agent at the age of 28.Later, Jake and Dani talk about a flurry of moves that have gone on in baseball, including the Boston Red Sox trading for St. Louis Cardinals catcher Wilson Contreras, the New York Mets parting ways with another franchise staple and a wild three-team trade. They then get into the A's extending Tyler Soderstrom and the San Diego Padres bringing back Michael King before making their picks for The Good, The Bad & The Uggla.1:28 – The Opener: Murakami to the White Sox20:32 – Around the League: Red Sox trade for Contreras30:10 – Mets trade away Jeff McNeil36:20 – Three-team trade48:28 – Turbo Mode: Signings and an extension57:23 – The Good, The Bad & The Uggla Subscribe to Baseball Bar-B-Cast on your favorite podcast app: