Podcasts about Kyoto

City in Kansai, Japan

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Latest podcast episodes about Kyoto

Le zoom de la rédaction
À Kyoto, dans le quotidien des artistes résidents de la villa Kujoyama

Le zoom de la rédaction

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2025 4:04


durée : 00:04:04 - Le Grand reportage de France Inter - Au Japon, la villa Kujoyama accueille artistes, plasticiens, écrivains et artisans d'art en résidence. Un lieu de travail et de coopération, mais aussi un lieu de vie, ou les résidents vivent entre quatre et six mois. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.

STEM-Talk
Episode 186: Mari Dezawa discusses her discovery of MUSE cells and the role of stem cells in regenerative medicine

STEM-Talk

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2025 47:19


Today we have Dr. Mari Dezawa, one of the world's leaders in stem-cell research and regenerative medicine. Mari is a pioneer in this emerging field and is known worldwide for her discovery of MUSE cells, a unique type of stem cell with exciting clinical potential. MUSE is short for Multilineage-Differentiating Stress-Enduring Cells. The discovery of the MUSE cell in humans has many biological and medical implications, and the human body may have a greater regenerative potential than we might have ever imagined. In collaboration with major national and international institutions, Mari and her colleagues are promoting research on MUSE cell-based regenerative medicine for diseases without definitive treatments. She and her team are also exploring the differences in regenerative capacity between less and more complex animals from the viewpoint of the stem-cell system. Mari is a professor and chair of the Division of Stem Cell Biology and Histology at Tohoku University School of Medicine. She has published more than 200 papers and is particularly known for her 2010 paper on the mechanisms of MUSE cells. In 2018, she was appointed a fellow of the U.S. National Academy of Inventors and has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Japanese Government's Prize for the Commendation for Science and Technology. Show notes: [00:04:10] Ken opens the interview by mentioning that although Mari was born in Japan, her family moved to the U.S. when she was only eight months old. Ken asks if it is true that Mari finds it difficult to answer the question of where her hometown is. [00:05:23] Ken asks Mari how she handled moving so much as a child. [00:05:52] Ken mentions that Mari's father was a researcher and asks when she became passionate about research and science. [00:06:58] Ken mentions that Mari attended the Chiba University School of Medicine and asks what inspired her to go to medical school. [00:07:19] Ken explains that after Mari earned her medical degree, she attended Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine for her Ph.D. Ken mentions that while Mari was initially a cardiology resident, she later decided to focus on clinical research and became a stem-cell researcher. Ken asks what led her to shift from cardiology to stem-cell research. [00:08:25] Ken explains that Mari is well-known for her research into the role of stem cells in regeneration and functional recovery of nerve and muscle cells. Ken asks how and when she first became interested in stem cells. [00:09:56] Ken asks Mari to give a brief overview of stem cells and their significance. [00:11:18] Ken mentions that Mari remained at Chiba University as a research associate after earning her Ph.D in 1995. She then took a position as an associate professor at Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine before accepting a position at Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine as an associate professor in 2003. Ken explains that while at Kyoto, Mari developed methods to induce bone marrow stromal cells to generate neuro and skeletal muscle cells, which play a crucial role in tissue repair and regeneration and are widely studied for their potential to serve as therapeutic agents. Ken asks Mari to give a quick primer on the crucial role these cells play in tissue repair. [00:13:25] Ken explains that in 2003, a member of Mari's technical staff at Kyoto asked her whether they should discard some cultured adult rat and human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after she had noticed several strange cell clusters. Ken asks Mari to share what happened next and how this set her on the path to the discovery of Multilineage-Differentiating Stress-Enduring Cells. [00:16:03] Ken asks Mari to elaborate on this story and explain how a mistake led to this incredible discovery. [00:20:48] Ken explains that in 2008 Mari became professor and chair of the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Histology at Tohoku University Graduat...

World Wide Honeymoon Travel Podcast
Unique 2-Week Japan Itinerary For First Timers

World Wide Honeymoon Travel Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2025 57:40


We're back from Japan, and we're breaking down our full 2-week Japan itinerary including stops in Tokyo, Kyoto, Nara, Okayama, Hiroshima, Miyajima, Naoshima, Himeji, Hakone, and then ending back in Tokyo for a baseball game! This was a fun and unique 14-day Japan itinerary for first timers that combined classic places you need to go at least once and then lesser-visited spots like Okayama and spending more time in Hakone to dive deeper. Would you go on this trip?   Relevant Links (may contain affiliate links, meaning if you make a purchase through these links, we earn a small commission-at no additional cost to you!): -Hotel in Tokyo (Hyatt Regency Tokyo) in Shinjuku: https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/slLm0tQaRF -Hotel in Kyoto (Hotel The Celestine Kyoto Gion): https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/iMzHI_oMTs -Alternative Japan Destinations: https://substack.com/home/post/p-159927917 -Hotel in Okayama (Koraku Hotel): https://booking.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/2fWMi3hz6p -Travel Japan Together Tour of Hiroshima: https://yatra.thick.jp/hiroshima-miyajima-private-custom-tour-with-local-guide/ (Our guide was Joe) -Hotel in Hakone (Ryokan Hakone Ginyu): https://tripadvisor.stay22.com/worldwidehoneymoon/wxI8q9vMyr   Check us out on Substack: Follow for updates, free and paid posts, and exclusive podcast episodes! Subscribe here to get this exclusive content now! Traveling to France? Check out our Facebook Group called France Travel Tips to ask/answer questions and learn more! Don't forget to follow along! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldwidehoneymoon Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwidehoneymoon TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@worldwidehoneymoon World Wide Honeymoon Blog: https://worldwidehoneymoon.com France Voyager Blog: https://francevoyager.com Subscribe to the World Wide Honeymoon blog here for monthly updates and tips + get our FREE trip planning guide: https://www.subscribepage.com/o4e5c2

Lost Without Japan
4 Year Podcast Celebration, Giving Thanks, And Baseball Lost Without Japan, Season 5, Episode 119

Lost Without Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2025 43:12


4 Year Podcast Celebration, Giving Thanks, And Baseball Lost Without Japan, Season 5, Episode 119 Thank you so much for a wonderful 4 years of podcasting about Japan and for many more years in the future. Lost Without Japan Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/lostwithoutjapan/  Please Consider Kindly Supporting Our Crowd-Funded Show By Supporting Us Through Our Show's Patreon: https://patreon.com/lostwithoutjapanpodcast?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator As always, the link to our show's Google Resource doc can be found at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WEVbRmvn8jzxOZPDaypl3UAjxbs1OOSWSftFW1BYXpI/edit#  Baseball Spreadsheet https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1EziEFQ1R-8UDJIVmGr2PN7s0zKryqG_qKCLaHJeQ2Go/ 

Fluent Fiction - Japanese
Finding Serenity: A Kyoto Tea Ceremony's Timeless Lesson

Fluent Fiction - Japanese

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2025 15:05 Transcription Available


Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Finding Serenity: A Kyoto Tea Ceremony's Timeless Lesson Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-09-01-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 清水寺の緑豊かな丘が広がる京都の静かな一角。En: In a quiet corner of Kyoto, the green, lush hills of Kiyomizu-dera spread out.Ja: 夏の名残を感じるセミの声が響く中、ハルトは友達のユキと一緒に茶室に向かって歩いていました。En: As the sound of cicadas echoed, still carrying the remnants of summer, Hiroto walked towards a tea room with his friend Yuki.Ja: 「ねえ、ハルト、今日はちゃんとリラックスしてね」とユキが笑顔で言いました。En: "Hey, Hiroto, make sure to relax today," Yuki said with a smile.Ja: 彼女は地元の人で、京都の伝統や文化が大好きです。En: She is a local and loves the traditions and culture of Kyoto.Ja: ハルトは真面目な学生で、すぐに始まる大学の授業を気にして心が乱れがちです。En: Hiroto is a serious student, often troubled by thoughts of the university classes about to begin.Ja: 「わかってる。でも、考えずにいるのは難しいよ」とハルトはため息まじりに答えました。En: "I know, but it's hard not to think about it," he replied with a sigh.Ja: 茶室は畳が敷かれた静かな場所です。En: The tea room is a quiet place with tatami mats.Ja: 入口に立つと、茶の道具が整然と並べられ、美しい和の空間が広がりました。En: Standing at the entrance, the tea utensils were neatly arranged, and a beautiful Japanese atmosphere spread out before them.Ja: 茶道師匠の直子さんがやわらかく微笑み、二人を迎えました。En: The tea ceremony master Naoko welcomed the two with a gentle smile.Ja: 「ようこそ。どうぞ、お座りください。今日は心を落ち着けて、茶の美しさを楽しんでください。」En: "Welcome. Please, have a seat. Today, calm your mind and enjoy the beauty of tea."Ja: ハルトは緊張しつつも座り、周りを見回しました。En: Although nervous, Hiroto sat down and looked around.Ja: 窓からは青々とした草木が見え、風が心地よく窓を通り抜けます。En: Outside the window, verdant greenery was visible, and a pleasant breeze passed through the window.Ja: しかし、心の中では未来の不安が続いていました。En: However, within his heart, the anxiety of the future lingered.Ja: そんな時、ナオコさんが静かに言いました。「今この瞬間が大切。茶は一瞬、美しいものを感じるためのものです。」En: Just then, Naoko quietly said, "This moment is important. Tea is meant to make you appreciate beauty in a fleeting moment."Ja: ナオコさんが茶を立て始めると、ハルトの目から不安が少しずつ溶け出しました。En: As Naoko began to prepare the tea, Hiroto's anxiety gradually began to dissolve.Ja: 茶の色、香り、そしてナオコさんの動きすべてが調和して、特別な空気が生まれました。En: The color of the tea, its aroma, and all of Naoko's movements harmonized to create a special atmosphere.Ja: ユキも静かにその様子を見守っています。En: Yuki also silently observed the scene.Ja: そして茶を飲む瞬間、ハルトはふいに気づきました。忙しい未来のことを考えるよりも、今を生きることの美しさ。En: In the moment he drank the tea, Hiroto suddenly realized the beauty of living in the now, rather than worrying about the busy future.Ja: それを忘れてはいけないんだ。En: He didn't want to forget this.Ja: ハルトの顔には、次第に微笑みが浮かびました。En: His face slowly began to show a smile.Ja: 茶会が終わると、彼の心には静かな平和が満ちていました。En: When the tea ceremony ended, a calm peace filled his heart.Ja: 「今日は本当にありがとう、ユキ、ナオコさん。学ぶことができてよかった」とハルトは心から感謝しました。En: "Thank you so much, Yuki, Naoko. I'm glad I could learn this," Hiroto expressed his heartfelt gratitude.Ja: その日、ハルトは心の中に新しい決意を持って帰路につきました。未来の不安よりも、今を大切に生きること。En: That day, Hiroto headed home with a new determination in his heart: to cherish the present rather than worrying about future anxieties.Ja: 清水寺の夜空を見上げ、ハルトは微笑みました。En: Looking up at the night sky over Kiyomizu-dera, Hiroto smiled.Ja: その空は、何も言わずに彼の決意を優しく受け入れていました。En: The sky tenderly embraced his resolve, saying nothing at all. Vocabulary Words:lush: 緑豊かなechoed: 響くremnants: 名残utensils: 道具tatami: 畳verdant: 青々としたharmonized: 調和fleeting: 一瞬anxiety: 不安linger: 続いているobserve: 見守るresolve: 決意cherish: 大切にするdetermination: 決意acknowledged: 気づくatmosphere: 空間glimpse: 見回すentrance: 入口gently: やわらかくperspective: 観点serene: 静かなmomentous: 大切embraced: 受け入れてgrateful: 感謝anticipation: 期待admire: 楽しんでbreeze: 風vista: 見えるapreciate: 感じるcreate: 生まれます

IDEAS FOR GOOD
合意とは、それぞれが少しずつ“あきらめる”こと。戯曲『KYOTO』から考える、自国第一主義と気候変動対策

IDEAS FOR GOOD

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2025 0:35


「合意とは、それぞれが少しずつ「あきらめる」こと。戯曲「KYOTO」から考える、自国第一主義と気候変動対策」 「自国第一」か、「みんなで円に入る」か。京都議定書の採択をめぐる国際交渉のリアルな姿を描いた演劇から、私たちが今持つべき「手放す覚悟」を問います。The post 合意とは、それぞれが少しずつ「あきらめる」こと。戯曲「KYOTO」から考える、自国第一主義と気候変動対策 first appeared on IDEAS FOR GOOD.

The Unfinished Print
Charles Spitzack : Printmaker - The Balancing Act Of Water

The Unfinished Print

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2025 79:32


For many artists, an art career takes many twists and turns—an adventure shaped by different mediums, jobs, and ways of sustaining creative work  while at the same time, educating oneself with the histories of your chosen path.  On this episode of The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast, I speak with printmaker Charles Spitzack. We talk about his discovery of mokuhanga and how it connects to his broader printmaking practice. Charles shares his early experiences making mokuhanga, his teaching methods, and how his understanding of the medium developed through a Western American perspective. He also speaks about his time at the Mokuhanga Project Space, and his thoughts on the differences between oil-based and water-based mokuhanga. Please follow The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note if available. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Print publishers are given if known. Charles Spitzack - website, Instagram Seattle Print Arts - is a printmaking association based in Seattle, Washington, United States. It maintains a membership and is dedicated to the exchange of knowledge related to various printmaking practices. More info can be found, here.  High Point Center for Printmaking -is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. It is dedicated to increasing the understanding of printmaking and operates a co-op, gallery, and educational programs. More info can be found, here.  Cornish College of the Arts - is an independent art college located in Seattle, Washington, United States. Its programs emphasize experimentation and critical thinking. More info can be found, here.  Mokuhanga (木版画) - is a Japanese word meaning "wood" and "print." Traditionally, it refers to a relief printing method using woodblocks, water, natural handmade papers, and water-based pigments. With the rise of the sōsaku hanga (creative print) movement in the early to mid 20th century, mokuhanga expanded to include works made with Western oil pigments as well. Today, mokuhanga can be difficult to define, as many artists experiment with new approaches while others remain dedicated to traditional water-based methods. This balance between innovation and tradition shows that mokuhanga is limitless, continually evolving while still grounded in its past. sōsaku-hanga - or creative prints, is a style of printmaking which is predominantly, although not exclusively, prints made by one person. It started in the early twentieth century in Japan, in the same period as the shin-hanga movement. The artist designs, carves, and prints their own works. The designs, especially in the early days, may seem rudimentary but the creation of self-made prints was a breakthrough for printmakers moving away from where only a select group of carvers, printers and publishers created woodblock prints.  Stephen Hazel (1934-20120 - was a painter and printmaker based in the Pacific Northwest. He created works on paper, and educated upon the subject. More info can be found, here.  Beautiful Display 10: Beauties of Chinatown (1977) 24" x 17 11/16" Katheleen Rabel - is an American printmaker, painter and sculptor. More info can be found, here.  Penedo Alto (sōsaku hanga) 50″ x 39″ Hideo Hagiwara (1913-2007) - was a mokuhanga printmaker who came of age during the sōsaku hanga period of the mid 20th Century in Japan. He studied printmaking with Un'ichi Hiratsuka (1896-1997). Hagiwara made prints that were expressive of the self and abstract. He taught at Oregon State University in 1967.   Lady No. 6 (1975) 24.75" x 18.25"  kentō - is the registration system used by printmakers in order to line up the colour woodblocks with your key block, or outline block, carved first.   floating kentō - is like the traditional kentō registration technique but is carved on an "L" shaped piece of wood, and not onto the wood block.  monotype print - is a unique print created from an image painted or drawn on a smooth surface, such as glass or metal, and then transferred to paper. Unlike most printmaking methods, where multiple copies of the same image can be produced, a monotype typically has a single, one-of-a-kind image. It's called a "mono" type because it is not part of an edition like traditional prints (e.g., lithographs, etchings), where you can make multiple copies.  Mike Lyon  -  is an American artist. His medium has varied throughout his career such as "square tiles," or "pixels," through to making mokuhanga, monoprinting, and machine-assisted etching, drawing and mezzotint. Mike Lyon also has a large woodblock print collection which he has curated for the public, here. More information about his work can be found, here. Mike's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here.  Grass 4 (2010) 77" x 22" Naoko Matsubara - is a Japanese/Canadian contemporary artist, and sculptor, who lives and works in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.  She has focused much of her artistic life on making mokuhanga and has gained critical acclaim for it.  Naoko Matsubara's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here.  Conducting (2004) 22.05" × 15.59" Katsutoshi Yuasa - is a Japanese contemporary artist, and sculptor, who works predominantly in mokuhanga. He has  produced an incredible mount of work. Katsu's interview with the Unfinished Print can be found, here.  On The Dawn of Night and Fog (2025) 39.37" in × 78.74" Antonio Frasconi (1919-2013) - was a Urugyuan printmaker who lived and worked in the United States. He cerated coloured woodcuts and was an educator and author. Frasconi's themes could be political in nature. More info can be found, here.  Cows (1955) 7 1/2" x 12 15/16" The Arts and Crafts Movement in America - flourished from the late 19th to early 20th century, emphasizing simplicity of design, and the use of natural materials as a response to industrial mass production. Inspired by the ideals of John Ruskin (1819-1900) and William Morris (1834-1896) in Britain, the movement in the United States was closely tied to architecture, furniture making, and decorative arts, promoting honesty and a functional beauty.  There was a link with social reform, criticizing modernity and industry and fostering communities of makers across the country. In Japan this folk movement was explored in the mingei movement of the early 20th Century.  William S. Rice (1873-1963) - was a painter, educator and woodblock artist from the United States. Having moved to California early in his life, Rice made landscape prints and paintings of California. At the 1915 Panama Pacific International Exhibition, Rice had a chance to see Japanese mokuhanga in person and was influence by those prints in his woodcuts.  The Windy Summit (1925) 9" x 12" Arthur Wesley Dow (1857-1922) - was an American printmaker who was greatly influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e. He wrote a book on the subject of printmaking called Composition which was published in 1905.    Lily (Ipswich Prints x 1901) 5½" x 4⅛"   Toledo Museum Shin Hanga Exhibitions (1930 & 1936) - were held at the Toledo Museum of Fine Arts in the United States. These two exhibitions played an important role in introducing Japanese woodblock prints to the American market. They were curated by J. Arthur MacLean and Dorothy L. Blair. Artist Hiroshi Yoshida (1876-1950) had traveled to the United States in the 1920s, helping to set the stage for these exhibitions. More info can be found, here.    Walter J. Phillips (1884–1963) - was a British-Canadian printmaker who began his career as a commercial artist. After moving to Canada, he produced etchings, watercolors, and color woodcuts. Influenced by Japanese ukiyo-e, Phillips's prints offer a distinctive view of Canada in the early to mid-20th century.My interview with Sophie Lavoie of The Muse/Lake Of The Woods/Douglas Family Arts Centre about the life and times of Walter J. Phillips can be found, here.      Warren's Landing, Lake Winnipeg (1931) 6.30" × 9.45"   Kathleen Hargrave - is a printmaker and kiln formed glass maker. Kathleen explored various printmaking methods but uses mokuhanga in her practice. Kathleen's mokuhanga is abstract and uses colour in a fantastic way. More info can be found, here.      Resilience 5   Pratt Fine Arts Center - is a nonprofit arts educator in Seattle, Washington. It offers classes and instruction on various artistic expressions such as blacksmithing, glass, jewelry, paintings and printmaking. More info can be found, here.     Mokuhanga Project Space - is a mokuhanga residency located in Walla Walla, Washington, USA. It was established in 2016 and is led by printmaker Keiko Hara. My interview with Keiko Hara and Benjamin Selby of MPS can be found, here. More info can be found, here.    Shoichi Kitamura - is a woodblock carver and printmaker based in Kyoto, Japan. Shoichi has been involved in MI Lab through his demonstrations on carving. More info can be found, here.    Utagawa Kuniyoshi - from The Series Bravery Matched With The Twelve Zodiac Signs. A Modern Reproduction 4.13" x 11.15" (2017) printed and carved by Shoichi Kitamura   April Vollmer - is an established artist who works predominantly in mokuhanga. Her book Japanese Woodblock Print Workshop is one of the most authoritative books on the subject and has influenced many mokuhanga artists. April's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here.     It Happened To Me  (1995) 11" x 14"   Andrew Stone - is an American mokuhanga printmaker based in Florence, Italy. He is also a baren maker. The baren is a mokuhanga specific tool. Andrew's interview with The Unfinished Print can be found, here.    Tutto Bene? (2024)   Davidson Galleries - is a gallery situated in Seattle, Washington. Opening in 1973 Davidson Galleries focus on works on paper. In their stable of artists is Charles Spitzack and Andy Farkas. More info can be found, here.    SGC International - the Southern Graphics Council is a member supported printmaking organization which supports printmakers throughout the world. It is located in Kennesaw, Georgia, United States. More info can be found, here.    Karen Kunc - is an American printmaker and Professor Emeritus at the University of Nebraska Lincoln and is based in Nebraska. Karen Kunc works in various artistic and printmaking styles but has worked in mokuhanga for many years. My interview with Karen Kunc for The Unfinished Print can be found, here. More information can be found on her website, here.      Weight of Air (2018) 12" x 24" Woodcut, etching, pochoir, watercolor   Tollman Collection  - is a well known Japanese art gallery located in Daimon, Tokyo, Japan and New York City, NY. More information can be found, here.    Ballinglen - is an arts foundation based in Ballycastle, Co Mayo, Ireland. The groups aim is to "enhance cultural awareness," of North County Mayo. This is done via fellowships, education, exhibitions and workshops. More info can be found, here.    Pomegranate - is a company which sells items such as jigsaw puzzles, holiday cards, etc using different types of artists  and their work in these pieces. More info can be found, here.    Gustave Baumann (1881-1971) - was a colour woodcut printmaker, and painter of German descent who made his life in the United States. More info can be found, here.      Marigolds (1960) colour woodcut 12 7/8" x 12 7/8" © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny  Intro music by Oscar Peterson, I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good)  from Night Train (1963) Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :)  Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know.  ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***                  

The Power of Music Thinking
Audio Postcards from Japan & The Future of Music Thinking

The Power of Music Thinking

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2025 17:24


And we're back! In this special first episode after the summer break, Christof takes you on a sensory journey to Japan with a series of 'audio postcards' recorded in Kyoto, Tokyo, and Koyasan. It's an immersive exploration of sound, mindfulness, and creativity. Stick around for the second half, where Christof makes three major announcements about the future of Music Thinking, including a new way for you to support the show and an upcoming online workshop. IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'LL HEAR: Audio Postcard #1: The serene water basin and surrounding soundscape of the Ryoanji Temple garden in Kyoto. Audio Postcard #2: The chaotic, energetic wave of sound at the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing in Tokyo. Audio Postcard #3: The meditative, rhythmic sound of a Zen garden being raked by artisans in Koyasan. Announcement 1: Introducing a brand new, simple way to support the podcast on Ko-fi. Announcement 2: Details on the new 'Music Thinking 101' online workshop. Announcement 3: A preview of the exciting new guest episodes and Japan specials coming this season. ❤️ SUPPORT THE SHOW If you find value in Music Thinking, you can now support the show directly and help keep it ad-free and independent. Become a member for perks or make a one-time 'thank you' donation on our new Ko-fi page: ▶︎ https://ko-fi.com/musicthinking

Friday Night History
Episode 121 (S4E21)- Going for Broke

Friday Night History

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2025 24:23


The Tokugawa and Ishida armies stumble into each other in the misty Mino mountains at Sekigahara. But meanwhile in Michinoku, Date Masamune goes for broke on all fronts.Script and sources available at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://riverside-wings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Riversidewings on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or buy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠some merch at Fourthwall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (Music is "Shinshun Ryoutei," "Kyoto no Ohayashi," "Hokora Uta," and "Yamagami no Yashiro," from 「MOMIZizm MUSiC(もみじば)|フリーBGM 」)

Breitengrad
Gipfel mit Aussicht. Klimadiplomatie von Kyoto bis Belem

Breitengrad

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2025 24:35


Sengende Sommer, furchtbare Fluten, warme Winter - seit 30 Jahren versucht die Staatengemeinschaft auf Klimagipfeln die Erderwärmung zu bremsen. Im brasilianischen Belem zieht die Welt im November Bilanz - zehn Jahre nach der historischen Klimavereinbarung von Paris. Dort sowie bei den Gipfeln in Kyoto und Kopenhagen wurden Chancen und Grenzen der Klimadiplomatie besonders deutlich: Wie Staaten einander ausspielen oder zusammenwirken, wie Weltpolitik den Klimaprozess bestimmt, wie wichtig Mut und Geschick Einzelner sind, um 190 Staaten zu bewegen. Sicher ist: Es geht viel zu langsam. ARD-Korrespondent Jakob Mayr hat sich unter ehemaligen Chefunterhändlern von Bundesregierung und EU sowie NGO-Vertretern der ersten Stunde umgehört.

Rock & Roll Happy Hour
Last Call - Shogun Dusk In Kyoto Hokicha Lager

Rock & Roll Happy Hour

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2025 2:02


Getting into some of the new core beers from Shogun by Embolden, William brings another beer showcasing Matcha tea, but this version features a toasted Matcha called Hojicha and it opens up a whole new flavor profile for this lager style beer.

Anime Jam Session
#688: So Two Weeks Ago Was Otakon.

Anime Jam Session

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2025 103:04


We're talking Otakon! Join DJ Ranma S and co-host BerryMelon as she discusses her Otakon weekend in depth! Also, we bring back the Open Forum Topic, "Should convention raves be age restricted?" We also discuss Hitomi, the ‘legendary' maid, guardian angel of Akihabara, and Rumiko Takahashi celebrates Doraemon's anniversary with crossover art! Meanwhile in Japan... Kyoto's pinkest, cutest new restaurant is the start of a new life for retired train cars, and a household cleaner makes a survival horror game for Steam?!

LIMIT
LE PLAN DE LA DERNIÈRE CHANCE #2027 - Matthieu Auzanneau

LIMIT

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2025 88:33


✅ Soutenez LIMIT !⁠⁠https://fr.tipeee.com/limit/⁠⁠⁠⁠https://paypal.me/limitmediaNouveau "TALK" sur LIMIT avec Matthieu Auzanneau,, auteur et directeur du think tank de la transition énergétique The Shift Project nous abordons l'inexorable épuisement des ressources fossiles et ses conséquences géopolitiques (Golfe Persique, Irak, Ukraine)La dépendance de l'Europe au pétrole et au gaz.Les grands moments historiques du pétrole (pic de 1970, Mer du Nord, boom du shale aux USA)Les premiers accords climatiques (Protocole de Kyoto) et la croissance paradoxale de la consommation de gazL'analogie du corps humain pour montrer que l'énergie est l'« organe vital » de nos sociétésLes pistes de sortie de la « marriage pétrolier » : sobriété organisée, souveraineté industrielle, transition vers les renouvelablesEt un appel à l'élaboration d'un plan clair et collectif pour réduire la dépendance aux énergies carbonées« Decarbonons la France ! »

Switched on Pop
The classical rebel who infiltrated pop music

Switched on Pop

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2025 51:35


You've heard those shimmering disco strings in Miley Cyrus's "Flowers," the cinematic arrangements on Phoebe Bridgers' Punisher, and the orchestral flourishes across Taylor Swift's catalog, but you probably didn't know they're all the work of one person: Rob Moose. The violinist and multi-instrumentalist has contributed to nearly 1,000 albums, quietly becoming pop music's most prolific string architect. In this conversation, Moose reveals how he translates classical training into contemporary pop language, working with everyone from Sufjan Stevens to Bon Iver to create arrangements that feel both intimate and epic. We dive into his process, explore how he's reshaped what strings can do in popular music, and uncover the craft behind those arrangements you can't get out of your head. MORE Subscribe to our newsletter to receive your own bingo card! Songs Discussed Miley Cyrus “Flowers” Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher” Phoebe Bridgers Copycat Killer (EP, includes re-arranged versions of “Punisher,” “Kyoto,” “Savior Complex,” “Chinese Satellite”) Sufjan Stevens “Chicago” Bon Iver “Everything Is Peaceful Love” RINI “Miracle” Bon Iver “Short Story” Bon Iver “Speyside” Phoebe Bridgers “Chinese Satellite” Phoebe Bridgers “Savior Complex” Phoebe Bridgers “Kyoto” Lizzy McAlpine “Ceilings” Gracie Abrams “I Love You, I'm Sorry” Rob Moose “I Bend But Never Break” ft Brittany Howard Alabama Shakes “Sound & Color” Taylor Swift “Hoax” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The J-Talk Podcast
Episode 583 - J1 Matchday 27

The J-Talk Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2025 93:42


Kyoto and Kashima lead the way at the top of J1 after the weekend's Matchday 27, and after rounding up their very contrasting results (to 16:30), Jonny and Ben are joined by Kashiwa correspondent Seamus Johnston to chat about Reysol's brilliant come from behind home win over Urawa on Friday night and other talking points around the club (to 39:50). Then Jonny and Ben run through the other results from the weekend, before looking ahead to midweek Emperor's Cup quarter finals and Thursday's national team squad announcement.

A Podcast, By Kayleigh.
The Private Jet Episodes: Kyoto - Creating Intentional Systems

A Podcast, By Kayleigh.

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2025 32:25


Step foot into Kyoto with me this week.As we step foot off of the iconic Shinkansen and into the traditional streets of Kyoto - we come face to face with ritual and systems. Designing our business like a tea ceremony, this week is about finding consistent practises, things we do, systems we implement for the broken parts of our business. We are celebrating breaks and painting them gold this week. I hope you love it, and welcome to one of my favourite places in the entire world! let's build a system!

Fluent Fiction - Japanese
Unexpected Adventures: Capturing Magic in Arashiyama's Rain

Fluent Fiction - Japanese

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2025 14:39 Transcription Available


Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Unexpected Adventures: Capturing Magic in Arashiyama's Rain Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-08-25-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 京都の嵐山竹林は、夏の日差しを浴びて緑に輝いていた。En: The Arashiyama Bamboo Grove in Kyoto was shining green under the summer sun.Ja: ところが、その日の午後、突然の雨が降り始めた。En: However, that afternoon, a sudden rain began to fall.Ja: ハルキ、愛子、そしてゲンジの三人は、嵐山竹林を訪れていた。En: Haruki, Aiko, and Genji were visiting the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove.Ja: ハルキはカメラを手に、完璧な写真を撮ろうと夢中だった。En: Haruki was engrossed in trying to take the perfect photo with a camera in hand.Ja: 彼の心の中には、愛子を感動させたいというひそかな思いがあった。En: In his heart, he had a secret desire to impress Aiko.Ja: 愛子は、のんびりとうまい祭りの食べ物を楽しみたかった。En: Aiko wanted to leisurely enjoy delicious festival food.Ja: ゲンジは常に準備万端な友人だが、今日はなぜか傘を忘れてしまっていた。En: Although Genji is a friend who is always prepared, today, for some reason, he forgot his umbrella.Ja: 天気は、さっきまで晴れていたのに、急に雨が強くなった。En: The weather had been clear until just a moment ago, but suddenly the rain got stronger.Ja: 「どうする?En: "What should we do?"Ja: 」と、ゲンジは少し焦りながら言った。En: Genji asked, a little flustered.Ja: 雨に濡れてはいけないカメラを守るために、ハルキは素早くカメラバッグを頭上に掲げた。En: To protect the camera that must not get wet, Haruki quickly raised the camera bag over his head.Ja: 「こっちだ!En: "This way!"Ja: 」とハルキが叫んで、みんなを雨宿りできる場所へ導いた。En: Haruki shouted, leading everyone to a place where they could take shelter from the rain.Ja: しかし、愛子とゲンジは、どちらの道が正しいのかで少し口論を始めた。En: However, Aiko and Genji started a slight argument about which path was correct.Ja: 「ここと思う!En: When Aiko said, "I think it's this way!"Ja: 」と愛子が言えば、「いや、あっちだろう」とゲンジが反論する。En: Genji countered, "No, it's that way!"Ja: それでもハルキは、「僕についてきて」と冷静に言った。En: Still, Haruki calmly said, "Follow me."Ja: 泥まみれになりながらも、彼らは笑い声を響かせて竹林の中を走った。En: Covered in mud, they ran through the bamboo grove with laughter echoing around them.Ja: 突然、ハルキの目に美しい光景が映った。En: Suddenly, a beautiful scene caught Haruki's eye.Ja: 竹の間を降り注ぐ雨が、幻想的な虹を作っていた。En: The rain pouring between the bamboo created a magical rainbow.Ja: 彼は一瞬立ち止まり、その瞬間をカメラに収めた。En: He stopped for a moment and captured that scene with his camera.Ja: その後、三人はなんとか雨宿り場所にたどり着き、びしょ濡れになった服を絞った。En: Afterward, the three of them somehow managed to reach a shelter and wrung out their soaked clothes.Ja: ハルキは撮った写真を愛子に見せた。En: Haruki showed the picture he had taken to Aiko.Ja: 愛子はその美しい写真に驚き、満面の笑みを浮かべた。En: Aiko was surprised by the beautiful photo and had a beaming smile.Ja: 「これ、すごいね!En: "This is amazing!"Ja: 」と彼女が言った。En: she said.Ja: 雨が上がると、三人は祭りの屋台で温かい食べ物を楽しみながら笑い合った。En: When the rain cleared, the three enjoyed warm food at the festival stalls while laughing together.Ja: ハルキは、完璧な瞬間は計画外から生まれることもあると学んだ。En: Haruki learned that perfect moments could also arise from unplanned events.Ja: 計画通りにいかない日が、心に残る一日になることもあるのだ。En: A day that doesn't go according to plan can become a memorable one.Ja: 嵐山竹林を後にするとき、三人の笑い声がまだ竹の間に残っていた。En: As they left the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, their laughter still lingered among the bamboo.Ja: 雨の中での冒険が、忘れられない夏の一ページとなったのだった。En: The adventure in the rain had become an unforgettable page of summer. Vocabulary Words:grove: 竹林engrossed: 夢中leisurely: のんびりflustered: 焦りshelter: 雨宿りargument: 口論countered: 反論calmly: 冷静echoing: 響かせてmagical: 幻想的beaming: 満面の笑みstalls: 屋台unplanned: 計画外memorable: 心に残るsudden: 突然forgot: 忘れてcaptured: 収めたbeaming: 満面の笑みadventure: 冒険unforgettable: 忘れられないprepared: 準備万端stronger: 強くprotected: 守るguided: 導いたpath: 道moment: 瞬間rainbow: 虹soaked: びしょ濡れecho: 響くlaughter: 笑い声

Fluent Fiction - Japanese
Family Bonds and Spiritual Traditions at Kyoto's Kinkakuji

Fluent Fiction - Japanese

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2025 13:55 Transcription Available


Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Family Bonds and Spiritual Traditions at Kyoto's Kinkakuji Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-08-24-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 夏の日差しが眩しい中、金閣寺の前庭はにぎわっていました。En: Under the dazzling summer sun, the front garden of Kinkakuji was bustling with activity.Ja: 緑に包まれた風景、池に映る金色の寺、そして香の香りが漂う場です。En: The scenery enveloped in greenery, the golden temple reflecting in the pond, and the scent of incense wafting through the air.Ja: 遠くからは、セミの鳴き声とお祭りの太鼓の音が聞こえてきます。En: From afar, the chirping of cicadas and the sound of festival drums could be heard.Ja: サトシは大学生で、家族の先祖を偲ぶため、妹のハナと一緒に京都を訪れていました。En: Satoshi was a university student who had come to Kyoto with his younger sister Hana to honor their ancestors.Ja: 今日はお盆の日です。En: Today was the day of Obon.Ja: サトシは、静かな時間を見つけて、金閣寺でお香を焚き、先祖に敬意を表したいと考えていました。En: Satoshi wanted to find a quiet moment at Kinkakuji to burn incense and pay his respects to their ancestors.Ja: ハナは建築や芸術に興味があり、金閣寺の美しさに感動していました。En: Hana, who was interested in architecture and art, was awed by the beauty of Kinkakuji.Ja: 「すごいね、兄さん!」と彼女は目を輝かせました。En: "It's amazing, niisan!" she exclaimed with shining eyes.Ja: 彼らのガイド、ユキは金閣寺の歴史に詳しい地元の人で、友好的に案内していました。En: Their guide, Yuki, was a friendly local person knowledgeable about the history of Kinkakuji, guiding them amicably.Ja: しかし、そのとき、突然ハナが苦しそうに息を始めました。En: However, at that moment, Hana suddenly began to breathe with difficulty.Ja: 彼女はぜんそくの発作を起こしていました。En: She was having an asthma attack.Ja: サトシは動揺し、どうするべきかを考えました。En: Satoshi was distressed, contemplating what he should do.Ja: 彼の頭には、祖先への敬意という大事な目的がありましたが、妹の健康が心配でした。En: He had the important purpose of honoring their ancestors in mind, but he was worried about his sister's health.Ja: 「ハナ、大丈夫?」と心配するサトシに、ユキが冷静に声をかけます。「すぐに近くの救護所に行きましょう。」En: "Hana, are you okay?" Satoshi asked worriedly as Yuki calmly spoke up, "Let's go to the nearby first aid station immediately."Ja: サトシは即断し、ユキの指示に従いました。En: Satoshi made a quick decision and followed Yuki's instructions.Ja: 彼は、妹を助けるという大切なことを最優先にしました。En: He prioritized the important task of helping his sister.Ja: 救護所でハナが回復している間、ユキはサトシに付き添ってくれました。En: While Hana was recovering at the first aid station, Yuki stayed with Satoshi.Ja: 「家族は最も重要です」とユキが静かに話しかけます。En: "Kazoku is the most important," Yuki said quietly.Ja: その後、ハナの状態が落ち着き、サトシは静かな庭の一角で、ユキとハナと一緒にお香を焚き、小さなお盆の儀式を行いました。En: Later, when Hana's condition had stabilized, Satoshi performed a small Obon ceremony in a quiet corner of the garden, burning incense with Yuki and Hana.Ja: サトシは感じました、家族と一緒にいることが、どんな伝統よりも大切なのだと。En: Satoshi realized that being with family is more important than any tradition.Ja: 金閣寺の庭を後にするとき、サトシは新たな気持ちでいっぱいでした。En: As they left the garden of Kinkakuji, Satoshi was filled with a renewed sense of purpose.Ja: 彼は、家族の絆と優先順位の大切さを理解するようになりました。En: He had come to understand the importance of family bonds and priorities. Vocabulary Words:dazzling: 眩しいbustling: にぎわっていましたenveloped: 包まれたscenery: 風景incense: 香wafting: 漂うchirping: 鳴き声ancestors: 先祖respect: 敬意architecture: 建築awed: 感動していましたexclaimed: 輝かせましたguide: ガイドfriendly: 友好的にknowledgeable: 詳しいamicably: 案内していましたasthma: ぜんそくdistressed: 動揺しcontemplating: 考えましたprioritized: 最優先ceremony: 儀式tradition: 伝統renewed: 新たなbonds: 絆priorities: 優先順位recovery: 回復aid station: 救護所decision: 即断purpose: 目的honor: 偲ぶ

Speak Chinese Like A Taiwanese Local
#340 大阪世界博覽會 Expo 2025 Osaka

Speak Chinese Like A Taiwanese Local

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2025 7:37


國際盛會 guójì shènghuì – international grand event大阪 Dàbǎn – Osaka, a major city in Japan關西 Guānxī – Kansai, a region in Japan including Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe世博會 (世界博覽會) shìbóhuì (shìjiè bólǎnhuì) – World Expo; a large-scale international exposition held every few years讓生命閃耀光輝的未來社會藍圖 ràng shēngmìng shǎnyào guānghuī de wèilái shèhuì lántú – “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” the theme of the Osaka 2025 World Expo機構 jīgòu – organization; institution碳中和 tàn zhōnghé – carbon neutrality數位科技 shùwèi kējì – digital technology次世代交通工具 cìshìdài jiāotōng gōngjù – next-generation transportation tools虛擬 xūnǐ – virtual永續 yǒngxù – sustainability再生 zàishēng – recycling; regeneration海洋塑料 hǎiyáng sùliào – ocean plastic貨架 huòjià – shelf (for displaying goods)購物籃 gòuwù lán – shopping basket生物氣體發電廠 shēngwù qìtǐ fādiànchǎng – biogas power plant微生物 wéishēngwù – microorganism廢棄物 fèiqìwù – waste; discarded materials再生能源 zàishēng néngyuán – renewable energy反思 fǎnsī – reflection; introspection週邊商品 zhōubiān shāngpǐn – peripheral products; merchandise絨毛玩偶 róngmáo wán'ǒu – plush toy鑰匙圈 yàoshǐquān – keychain大開眼界 dàkāi yǎnjiè – to greatly broaden one's horizonsPlanning to travel or move to Taiwan? If you'd like to improve your Chinese before you go, feel free to book a one-on-one lesson with me.I'll help you improve your Chinese so you can settle in more comfortably when you arrive.Book a one-on-one trial lesson with me !

Friday Night History
Episode 120 (S4E20)- Cleaving a Path

Friday Night History

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2025 22:51


Tokugawa Ieyasu marches north. Date Masamune's armies descend like an avalanche on the Uesugi men. And in the west, Torii Mototada stands fast as the trap Ieyasu feared is sprung.Script and sources available at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://riverside-wings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Riversidewings on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or buy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠some merch at Fourthwall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (Music is "Shinshun Ryoutei," "Kyoto no Ohayashi," "Hokora Uta," and "Yamagami no Yashiro," from 「MOMIZizm MUSiC(もみじば)|フリーBGM 」)

Fluent Fiction - Japanese
Harmony in Bamboo: Haruto's Tea Ceremony Transformation

Fluent Fiction - Japanese

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2025 14:04 Transcription Available


Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Harmony in Bamboo: Haruto's Tea Ceremony Transformation Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-08-22-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 青々とした竹林が広がる嵐山。En: A lush bamboo grove spreads across Arashiyama.Ja: 京都のこの美しい場所で、夏の風が静かに竹を揺らす。En: In this beautiful place in Kyoto, the summer breeze gently sways the bamboo.Ja: 光が葉の間を通り抜け、地面に斑模様の光を落とす。En: Light filters through the leaves, casting dappled patterns on the ground.Ja: ここで、ハルトは特別なお茶会の準備をしている。En: Here, Haruto is preparing for a special tea ceremony.Ja: ハルトは若く、伝統的なお茶の作法を学ぶ見習いだ。En: Haruto is young, an apprentice learning the traditional methods of tea.Ja: 今日の茶会で、師匠に自分の進歩を見せたいという強い思いがある。En: He has a strong desire to show his progress to his master at today's tea ceremony.Ja: 友人であり、お茶の先生でもあるユキがハルトを見守っている。En: His friend and tea instructor, Yuki, is keeping an eye on him.Ja: ユキは伝統を大切にしつつも、若い世代に少し懐疑的だ。En: While Yuki values tradition, she is somewhat skeptical of the younger generation.Ja: オボンの季節が訪れ、先祖を敬う時期だ。En: The Obon season has arrived, a time to honor ancestors.Ja: ハルトはこの特別なお茶会を成功させ、家族を敬い、師匠に認めてもらいたい。En: Haruto wants to make this special tea ceremony a success, to honor his family and win his master's approval.Ja: だが、彼はプレッシャーと不安で緊張している。En: However, he is tense with pressure and anxiety.Ja: 伝統を重んじる一方で、彼は現代的な要素を取り入れたいと考えている。En: While he respects tradition, he also wants to incorporate modern elements.Ja: しかし、ユキは「伝統は守るべきだ」と忠告する。En: Yet, Yuki advises, "Tradition should be upheld."Ja: ついに、ハルトは心に決めた。自分を信じて新しい要素を取り入れよう、と。En: Finally, Haruto decided in his heart: to believe in himself and incorporate new elements.Ja: 茶会の日、ハルトの新しいアプローチが明らかになった。En: On the day of the tea ceremony, Haruto's new approach became clear.Ja: 竹林の中、参加者たちが静かに座り、彼の動きに注目した。En: In the bamboo grove, the participants sat quietly, focused on his movements.Ja: ハルトはひとつひとつ丁寧にお茶を点てる。その動作はゆっくりと流れるようだ。En: Haruto carefully prepared tea, each movement flowing slowly.Ja: しかし、彼の茶碗には小さなモダンな装飾があった。En: However, there were small modern decorations on his tea bowls.Ja: それはハルトの個性を象徴していた。En: These symbolized Haruto's individuality.Ja: 儀式が終わると、参加者たちは拍手を送った。En: When the ceremony concluded, the participants applauded.Ja: みんな、ハルトの新しい試みに感銘を受けた。En: Everyone was impressed by Haruto's new endeavor.Ja: 師匠もまた、伝統と革新のバランスに感心し、ハルトの成長を認めた。En: The master, too, was impressed by the balance of tradition and innovation, acknowledging Haruto's growth.Ja: ハルトは自信を手に入れた。En: Haruto gained confidence.Ja: 伝統を尊重しつつ、自分を表現する重要性を学んだのだ。En: He learned the importance of expressing himself while respecting tradition.Ja: 竹林の中で、彼は自然と人とが一つになる瞬間を感じた。En: In the bamboo grove, he felt a moment where nature and people became one.Ja: 新たな一歩を踏み出したハルトの顔には、ほのかな安堵の微笑みが浮かんでいた。En: As Haruto took a new step forward, a faint, relieved smile appeared on his face.Ja: 伝統と現代の調和が、また一つ花開いたのだ。En: Harmony between tradition and modernity had blossomed yet again. Vocabulary Words:lush: 青々としたgrove: 竹林breeze: 風dappled: 斑模様のapprentice: 見習いmethods: 作法desire: 思いprogress: 進歩skeptical: 懐疑的ancestors: 先祖anxiety: 不安incorporate: 取り入れるupheld: 守るendeavor: 試みinnovation: 革新acknowledging: 認めたconfidence: 自信expressing: 表現するharmony: 調和blossomed: 花開いたpatterns: 模様individuality: 個性relieved: 安堵のfaint: ほのかなimpressed: 感銘を受けたparticipants: 参加者たちceremony: 儀式gentle: 静かにmoment: 瞬間cast: 落とす

Abroad in Japan
Should you head for Kyoto?

Abroad in Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2025 23:42


"The problem with Nara is it's simply too deer."Please fill out Stak's listener survey! It'll help us learn more about the content you love so we can bring you even more - you'll also be entered into a competition to win one of five PlayStation 5's! Click here: https://bit.ly/staksurvey2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CounterPunch Radio
Front Desk Intifada w/ Japanese Hotel Managers Resisting Israeli War Criminals

CounterPunch Radio

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2025 174:55


Rebecca Maria Goldschmidt speaks with Ace Kishi, guesthouse owner, and Jeronimo Gehres, former hotel manager, in Kyoto, who have taken action against Israeli soldiers vacationing in Japan. Both Gehres' refusal to book accommodation for an active duty soldier in June 2024, and Kishi's requirement for guests to sign a “war crimes pledge”, have gone viral More The post Front Desk Intifada w/ Japanese Hotel Managers Resisting Israeli War Criminals appeared first on CounterPunch.org.

Famille & Voyages, le podcast
5/7 Japon avec des ados - Kyoto entre temples, chaleur et Nara (Récit)

Famille & Voyages, le podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2025 12:36 Transcription Available


Cinquième étape de notre série spéciale Japon.Dans cet épisode, je vous raconte les 4 jours passés à Kyoto, ancienne capitale impériale. Un mélange de temples sublimes, de foules, de chaleur… et de découvertes plus discrètes, toujours basé sur mes articles sur le blog Famille & Voyages, et mis en voix par LM Notebook.

Trip Tales
Japan w/ Kids – The Ultimate Family Itinerary: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka + Tokyo Disney & DisneySea!

Trip Tales

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2025 92:05


Kelsey interviews Jodie from the Learners & Makers blog and YouTube channel, who joined the podcast live from Japan! Jodie is an above-the-knee amputee who shares her love of family travel and how she navigates mobility differences while exploring the world. Together they dive into the ultimate family trip to Japan - covering Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, plus Tokyo Disney and DisneySea. From Pokémon, anime, and One Piece to karaoke, sushi, and must-try Japanese foods, Jodie shares insider tips that make Japan both magical and manageable for families. They also discuss how to navigate Japan's train system with kids in tow. Even if Japan wasn't on your travel list before, this episode might just change that!Show your support for the podcast by leaving a review or buying me a coffee!Follow Kelsey on Instagram!Mentioned in this episode:- Weak Yen makes for a financially reasonable trip- Two Tokyo airports: Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND)- Klook: App for airport transfers and tours in Japan- Uber and GoTaxi apps- The Shinkansen bullet train in Japan- The Golden Triangle: Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka- TOKYO: Ueno Park (playgrounds, zoo), Asakusa (Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo Skytree, "Kitchen Street" = Kappabashi Street, Tokyo Station, SUICA Card, PASMO card, Karaoke, Meiji Jingu Shrine, Shinto (Japanese indigenous religion), JUMP Shops (Anime, Manga), One Piece Mugiwara shops (straw hats), teamLab Museums (Planets and Borderless)- Tokyo Disney & DisneySea (Duffy mech)- KYOTO: Geisha, wander around Gion area (shops), Bamboo Forest, stay in a Ryokan (traditional Japanese Inn), traditional Japanese breakfast, Japanese Souffle Pancakes- OSAKA "The Kitchen of Japan": Native foods to try = Takoyaki and Okonomiyaki ("as you like it"), baseball, Osaka river and Dotonbori, Don Quijote - Ebisu Tower Doutonbori Giant Ferris Wheel, river boat tour, Sumiyoshi Taisha shrine, Namba, Universal Studios Japan- Recommended Japanese chain restaurant: KuraTrip Tales is a travel podcast sharing real vacation stories and trip itineraries for family travel, couples getaways, cruises, and all-inclusive resorts. Popular episodes feature destinations like Marco Island Florida, Costa Rica with kids, Disney Cruise Line, Disney Aulani in Hawaii, Beaches Turks & Caicos, Park City ski trips, Aruba, Italy, Ireland, Portugal's Azores, New York City, Alaska cruises, and U.S. National Parks. Listeners get real travel tips, itineraries, hotel reviews, restaurant recommendations, and inspiration for planning their next vacation.

Lost Without Japan
Doc Kane Life in Hikone And A Special Offer From Maplopo For Listeners Of Lost Without Japan Season 5 EP 118

Lost Without Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2025 49:38


Doc Kane Life in Hikone And A Special Offer From Maplopo For Listeners Of Lost Without Japan Season 5 EP 118 Get CLEAR on Japanese grammar with Maplopo's Verb Pro Masterclass. Stop grumbling, stumbling, and fumbling your way through Japanese... and finally get to sounding confident and intelligent in the language this year. For a limited amount of time, Lost Without Japan listeners save 70% off the full retail price and pay only $60 through December 31st. PLUS get access to Maplopo's private Discord community for support on your verb-related conjugation questions. Head on over to maplopo.com/lost-without-japan and begin your transformation today. Website: https://maplopo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maplopo LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dockaneinjapan/ Gaijinpot: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/author/dockane/  TokyoDev: https://www.tokyodev.com/authors/doc-kane As always, the link to our shows Google Resource doc can be found at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WEVbRmvn8jzxOZPDaypl3UAjxbs1OOSWSftFW1BYXpI/edit#   

Famille & Voyages, le podcast
4/7 Japon avec des ados - Randonnée sur la route des samouraïs à Nakatsugawa (Récit)

Famille & Voyages, le podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2025 9:50


Quatrième épisode de la série estivale consacrée au Japon.Aujourd'hui, on va à Nakatsugawa, petite ville porte d'entrée de la Nakasendō, l'ancienne route des samouraïs. Un récit entre galères logistiques, bains apaisants et nature dense. Toujours basé sur mes articles sur le blog Famille & Voyages, et mis en voix par LM Notebook.

Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan
The Jinshin no Ran Part IV: The Afumi Campaign

Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2025 47:16


The fourth and final episode in our series on the Jinshin no Ran: we cover the campaign in Afumi (aka Ōmi - 近江).  Prince Ōama and Prince Ōtomo (aka Kōbun Tennō), have drawn up their forces.  Last episode we covered the fighting in the Nara Basin, around the ancient Yamato capital: Asuka.  This episode focuses on the defense of the Karafu and Fuwa passes and the eventual march to the bridge at Setagawa. This is a name heavy episode, and we'll be noting some of it here: https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-132   Rough Transcript Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is episode 132: The Jinshin no Ran, Part 4: The Afumi Campaign The Afumi soldiers on the western side of the bridge looked across the open expanse of water towards their Yoshino rivals on the eastern side.  If it weren't for the banners and the red tags barely visible on the sleeves of the opposing forces, it would be hard to know which side was which.  Both were equipped in similar ways, and a few of the soldiers could even make out familiar faces on the other side.  That is the nature of civil wars—especially in a conscript society, where the soldiers often had little choice which side they were fighting for.  Not that it necessarily mattered much to them which side came out on top, whatever their commanders might have told them. The bridge across the Seta river was large and wide, and normally quite well traveled.  Now, however, the central boards had been pulled up for a span of about 30 feet or so, leaving a gap spanned by only a single, narrow plank.  That plank was, itself, tied to a rope, which was being held by the Afumi troops.  The soldiers knew that should any of the enemy try to cross, they could pull the plank out from under them and they would fall into the river, their metal armor dragging them down into the dark depths of swirling water below.  Even should they somehow make it across without being peppered by arrows, there would be no reinforcements coming: they would be slaughtered, and the trap would be reset. It seemed like the Afumi forces held all the cards in this battle, and yet they were still tense. Archers could still shoot across the distance. The front rank of troops held wooden shields as a defense, but there were still openings in the formation and the armor, and in the chaos of battle, nobody was truly safe. And so the Afumi forces waited.  Confident, but wary. A commotion on the eastern side of the bridge grabbed the spotlight.  The Yoshino forces had approached, and they were clearly preparing for something.  The Afumi soldiers strained to see what was going on.  Suddenly, the front line of the Yoshino forces parted, and a strange sight confronted the Afumi soldiers.  It took them a moment to fully comprehend what was barreling towards them at full tilt: a soldier that looked almost like two soldiers put together, wearing armor placed over armor, in an attempt to protect from harm.  It must have been heavy, and as he stepped on the beam, it visibly buckled under the weight.  The Afumi archers let loose with their arrows and crossbow bolts, but to no avail.  They simply stuck in the armor, adding to the bizarre and otherworldly appearance of their opponent. The spell was broken on the Afumi side as arrows came cascading in.  The Yoshino forces weren't just sitting idly back, they were making sure they were doing everything they could to keep the Afumi forces distracted.  And for a split second it worked—and a split second was all they needed.  Before the soldiers could gather up their wits about them enough to pull the rope there was a terrifying sound of metal on wood.  The Afumi soldiers pulled the rope, but it came all too easy—the Yoshino soldier had dashed across and cut the rope tied to the plank.  Behind him, the Yoshino forces were now pouring across the bridge.  Soon they would establish a foothold, and behind the front line they would be able to have other soldiers place more planks so that the number of Yoshino soldiers on the Western side of the bridge only continued to increase. Realizing that their trap had been circumvented, the Afumi forces fell back, but their strategic withdrawal soon turned into a full on retreat.  While pockets of soldiers resisted, many were suddenly all too aware that perhaps it was better to live and fight another day, instead.  Despite threats and even attacks from their own commanders, the Afumi forces fled the battlefield, leaving the Yoshino army victorious.  With the Seta bridge now secured, there were no more major obstacles in their way:  They would march to the capital at Ohotsu and finish this war.   Welcome back!  This is Part 4, and so if you haven't already done so, I recommend going back and starting with Part 1.  That said, we'll briefly recap here. Over the past three episodes, we've talked about the causes of the war between Prince Ohotomo and Prince Ohoama as they vied for the throne.  Prince Ohotomo seemingly had the stronger position, as he was actually running the Yamato state from the Afumi capital in Ohotsu.  He had the various ministers and all the official organs of the state on his side.   He was also 23 years old. Ohoama, on the other side, was Ohotomo's paternal uncle.  His own son, Prince Takechi, was 19 years old and helping to lead the army.   Upon learning that the State was gathering forces against him, Ohoama had quickly moved east, gathering forces as he went, and now he stood near Fuwa, modern day Sekigahara, prepared to begin his march on the capital.   This episode we are going to cover the conclusion of the war.  Warning, though, this is going to be a *lot*.  A lot of place names and people names.  Apologies if it is hard to follow.  I'll have a rough map and info on the various players on the podcast blog, so you may want to bring that up if you are having problems following. In Part I of this series we covered the causes leading up to the conflict.  In Part II we covered Ohoama's mad dash to Fuwa, at modern Sekigahara.  Last episode, Part III we covered the fighting in the Nara Basin. This episode we are going to talk about the last two fronts of the war: the defense of the Iga area and Kurafu Pass, and the march from Fuwa to the Afumi capital of Ohotsu. Before we go into the details of the next battles, let's look at what each side of the conflict was doing, what they are concerned about, and where they are on the board.  We'll then go into how the rest of the war played out, and its conclusion and aftermath.     Ohoama's Yoshino forces had largely been drawn from the countries in the east—the very same countries that Ohoama was denying to the Afumi court.  In response, the Afumi court had drawn their forces from where they could.  There were those that they had already called up under the pretense of building Naka no Oe's burial mound, but they had sent others out to raise troops in Yamato and out the western side of Honshu, all the way to Tsukushi—modern Kyushu.  However, not everyone in the Western region of the archipelago was friendly to the Afumi court—especially the regions of Kibi and Tsukushi.  This was significant.  Kibi was an ancient rival of Yamato, and likely could contribute a sizeable force.  Tsukushi, on the other hand, was quite large, and besides the conscripts from among the regular inhabitants, Tsukushi also was in charge of defending the archipelago from invasion—they were the first line of defense.  They had constructed numerous castles and fortifications to defend against a possible invasion, and those castles and fortifications were no doubt manned by troops that had been raised for that purpose.  If they could now be turned inwards, that could be enough to really turn the tide against Ohoama and his Yoshino army. The only problem was that neither Kibi nor Tsukushi were exactly sympathetic to the Afumi court.  The governor of Kibi and Prince Kurikuma, the viceroy of Tsukushi, both had ties to Ohoama, and the ministers suspected them of sympathizing with their Yoshino rivals.  As such the envoys that were sent out were authorized to take whatever drastic steps they felt necessary to secure the troops. So how did that all go down?  Well, last episode we talked about how Hodzumi no Momotari and his crew had been stopped from raising troops in Asuka by Ohotomo no Fukei, whose bluff of pretending to be Prince Takechi and a host of cavalry soldiers caused the conscripted troops to flee, and ended up in the death of Momotari and the capture of his compatriots. In Kibi, things took a turn in Afumi's favor.  When the Afumi government's envoy arrived at the government center in Kibi, he tricked the governor into taking off his sword.  Once he had done so, the envoy drew his own sword and killed the governor.  Without the governor to get in his way, the envoy then went about securing the land and troops for the Afumi court. Prince Kurikuma, the viceroy in Tsukushi, at the Dazaifu, was not quite so easily fooled, however.  Kurikuma knew how the court operated, and was apparently well informed of what was going on.  When the Afumi court's envoy met with Kurikuma, the Prince was flanked by two of his sons, Prince Mino and Prince Takebe, each one armed.  When Prince Kurikuma heard what the Afumi court wanted—for him to send the troops from Tsukushi to help quell Ohoama's rebellion—Kurikuma responded that he needed those troops to hold the border.  After all, the Tang dynasty was still a potential threat, and what good would it do to send the troops from the border regions to fight an internal war, only to then have an invader come in and destroy the state entirely?  No, he reasoned, he would not be sending the troops as the Afumi court requested. We are told that for a moment, the Afumi envoy thought about grabbing his sword and killing Prince Kurikuma, as the Afumi court had suggested, but with both of Kurikuma's sons armed on either side of him, he realized that he didn't have great odds, and so he eventually left, empty handed, but alive. This is significant.  While we don't know exact numbers, it is likely that there were quite a few troops stationed in Kyushu and the islands, all in case of foreign invasion.  By not supplying them to the Afumi court, Prince Kurikuma dealt a huge blow to the Afumi's ability to make war.  Add to that the fact that Ohoama had likewise blocked the court's access to the eastern countries, and that further narrowed the troops that Afumi had access to.  Nonetheless, they still had enough to be dangerous, and it is impossible to say exactly what might happen in a war. So we know where the Afumi and Yoshino forces ostensibly came from, but let's talk about the battlefield.  All of the fighting that we talk about was happening in an area between Naniwa—modern Ohosaka—and Fuwa, modern Sekigahara, northwest from the modern city of Nagoya. There are three main theaters we are talking about.  The first is in the Nara basin, which we talked about extensively in the last episode.  The Nara basin itself was not necessarily of the most strategic importance, militarily, but it was of huge symbolic importance.  After all, that was still the ancient capital, even though the governmental functions had been moved north, to Ohotsu, on the shores of Lake Biwa.  The second is in the Suzuka mountains.  This includes the areas of Iga and Kouka, and it is bordered by the Nara basin on the west, the Mie coastline on the east, and Afumi, the area around lake Biwa, to the north.  This is the same region that Ohoama had to naviagate through on his way from Yoshino to the east, and the mountains and valleys make it so that there are only so many traversable routes through.  For our narrative we are going to be primarily talking about the Kurafu Pass, between Kouka and Iga, at modern Tsuge city.  This pass  was an important route between Kouka, Iga, and Mie.  The road followed the Soma River which eventually flowed into Lake Biwa.  This made it a route out of Afumi, and if the Afumi forces could secure the Kurafu pass and the fields of Tara, just on the other side, they could split Ohoama's forces and cut off any help that he could possibly send to the Nara basin, and possibly even take Ohoama from behind. Finally, let's talk about our third theater:  Afumi itself.  Specifically, we are looking at the southern and eastern sides around Lake Biwa.  Biwa is the largest lake in Japan, and it is almost entirely surrounded by mountains except for where the Seta river flows south, eventually winding its way to Naniwa.  Today, the area of Afumi is largely co-located with modern Shiga Prefecture. Back in 668, after finding themselves on the losing side of the Baekje-Tang war, Naka no Oe, aka Tenji Tennou, had moved the capital to Ohotsu, or Big Port, in Afumi, on the shores of Lake Biwa, likely for the protection it gave.  From Afumi, there were three major routes out of the basin, and a few minor ones.  All of them were through defensible mountain passes, like Karafu Pass, Fuwa Pass, and Suzuka Pass.  Three such passes:  Fuwa, Suzuka, and Arachi would become prominent barriers, or seki, along the ancient roads, and were known as the Sangen, or Three Barriers, protecting the capital region.  Suzuka no seki, at the pass of the same name, was in the south.  To reach it from Afumi, one crossed the Karafu pass, and then turned east through a pass near Mt. Miyama.  At the northern tip of the Suzuka mountains was Fuwa pass, future home of the Fuwa barrier.  The Barrier, or “Seki” would give its name to the area in another form:  Sekigahara.  This was along the Tousandou, the Eastern Mountain road, and even today it is the path through which roads and even the Shinkansen traverse between eastern and western Honshu.  Finally, though less important to our story, was the Arachi pass. Arachi no seki was part of the Hokurikudo, the Northern Land Route, and led to the ancient country of Kochi and the port of Tsuruga, which had a long history as an alternate port, especially for ships sailing from Goguryeo.  Later, Arachi no seki would be replaced in the Sangen ranking by another pass between Afumi and modern Kyoto, which would be known as the Afusaka, or Ohosaka, Pass.  This was the pass that would have been used to get to Yamashiro and, from there, to Naniwa and the Nara Basin. These three passes would come to define the island of Honshu, and became the dividing line between the Kanto region, in the east, and the Kansai region, in the west.  By holding the Suzuka and Fuwa passes, Ohoama effectively denied any travel to the eastern regions.  Sure, Afumi could have tried going through the Arachi pass and into Kochi, but then they would have had to traverse the Japan alps—no small feat, especially without modern conveniences like the trains and busses used today. From Fuwa Pass, where Ohoama and Prince Takechi had set up their headquarters, it was largely a straight shot to the Afumi capital of Ohotsu.  Between Lake Biwa and the Suzuka mountains is a wide, flat plain, divided primarily by the rivers and streams running out from the mountains into the lake.  Immediately west of Fuwa is the area of Maibara.  Following the shore of the lake one traverses through modern Hikone, to Yasu.  Yasu would also have been the location where the road to the Karafu pass broke off into the Suzuka mountains.  Beyond that was the bridge across the Seta River. The Seta river was one of the largest obstacles that would have to be negotiated, and the Afumi forces knew this.  Just as Ohoama would set up at Fuwa pass, a large number of the Afumi forces were set up on the western bank of the Seta river.  If the Yoshino forces could get across, however, it would mean that they had a more or less unimpeded route to the capital at Ohotsu. So now let's talk about what was happening in each of these places. Ohoama had set up at Fuwa—Sekigahara—and had begun to call soldiers to him.  Not only did did this allow him to block the rival Afumi troops from accessing the Eastern countries and possibly raising troops to use against him, but he was also able to maintain a line of communication with ancient Yamato, in the Nara Basin.  In order to keep his communication lines open, and to ensure that the Afumi forces couldn't sneak up behind him, Ohoama split his forces in two.  He knew that Afumi forces were trying to take his stronghold in Yamato, and if successful, from there they could move in to Uda and on to Iga.  thereafter that, they could march up behind him through the Suzuka pass.  Alternatively, the forces in Afumi could come up through Kouka and the Karafu pass, and then try to divide and conquer So the first group of Ohoama's army were to go south, through the Suzuka pass into their mountain namesake.  Once there, Oho no Omi no Honji was to hold Tarano, the Plain of Tara, where the routes to Suzuka, Kafuka, and Iga met.  Tanaka no Omi no Tarumaro went with him, with orders to guard the Kurafu pass, which is to say the road to Kouka.  This first group was headed by Ki no Omi no Abemaro, and also included Miwa no Kimi no Kobito, and Okizome no Muraji no Usagi.  Along with what we are told were tens of thousands of men, this first made their way south from Fuwa  through Mie and Ise and over the Suzuka pass.  Once there, they took up their positions at Karafu and Tarano.  It was a good thing, too, because only a couple of days after they arrived, the enemy struck.   Now as soon as he got there, Oho no Honji had fortified Tarano with some three thousand men, and Tanaka no  Tarumaro was sent to guard the Kurafu pass.  Prior to this, Tarumaro had been the official in charge of the Hot Springs in Ise, but he had joined Ohoama and the Yoshino forces when they first arrived over the Suzuka Pass.  Now he was in charge of a military force, encamped along the road through the Kurafu pass, waiting for the enemy. Unbeknownst to him, a deputy commander of the Afumi forces, Tanabe no Wosumi, was approaching from Mt. Kafuka.  Presumably he'd been sent out from Ohotsu and had followed the road along the Yasu and Soma rivers towards the pass.  Wosumi had  sizeable force with him, but he was not looking for a direct assault.  Even if he would win, he would suffer casualties, especially trying to attack an entrenched enemy in a fortified position.  He needed to be sneaky.  He had no way of knowing that, centuries later, the lands of Iga and Kouka would be known for their sneaky warriors—their legendary ninja—but I digressed.  What Wosumi did was this.  First, he rolled up his banners and muffled the drums.  He even had his men gag themselves—a continental custom where soldiers were given a stick to hold in their mouth, like a horse's bit, to discourage any talking amongst the ranks as they approached.  Presumably, they kept them in until just before attacking, because they also devised a watchword “kane”—transcribed as metal or gold.  Wosumi knew that it would be hard enough to tell who was who in the daytime—after all, it wasn't like these were regimented forces with uniforms.  The soldiers were likely all wearing whatever they had available, and clothing and armor would have been similar across the two armies.  At night, even some kind of mark or flag would hardly be enough to tell who was who in the dark.  As lines broke and melee ensued, it would be easy to get turned around, and find yourself facing a friend.  By saying the watchword you could distinguish friend from foe. Sure enough, this tactic worked.  The Afumi forces broke through the Yoshino fortifications in the middle of the night and swarmed into the encampment.  Men who had been asleep were waking up to chaos.  Tarumaro's Yoshino soldiers were thrown into confusion.  Tarumaro himself, escaped, but just barely.  we are told that he noticed that the enemy kept shouting the word “kane”, and so he started doing it as well. The Afumi forces, assuming he was one of their own, left him alone.  Still, he only escaped with difficulty. His escape was no doubt critical, however.   He presumably would have headed to Tarano to try and warn Oho no Honji, but this may not have been possible, as we are told that on the following day, after the attack at Karafu pass, the Afumi commander Wosumi continued his advance, and came upon the Yoshino encampment at Tarano unexpectedly.  Still, General Honji did not back down.  With a force of hand-picked soldiers, Honji counterattacked against Wosumi and struck him.  We are told that Wosumi made it out—the only one who did—but that he did not try and make another attack.  The Yoshino forces would ultimately hold the pass and the critical juncture of Tarano.  The Afumi forces would not get a second chance. By the way, a quick note here:  I can't help but notice a bit of a trope showing up in these stories:  At Narayama, General Fukei is defeated, and is the only person who makes his escape.  Then Tarumaro is the only person to escape his defeat.  Finally, Wosumi is the only one of his forces to leave the plain of Tara. I am more than a little incredulous that these generals are the only ones who actually survived, and that the rest of the army was slaughtered.  In fact, you may recall that at the battle at Taima, General Fukei told his men not to pursue the fleeing common soldiers.  As I've tried to point out, the common soldiers were not likely as invested in the cause.  In fact, it is just as possible that the common soldiers may have changed sides and joined the other army if they thought it would serve them well.  Or maybe they were escaping and just blending into the countryside.  After all, the elites weren't really spending the time to get to know them, let along record any details about them.  So I suspect that it was more about the fact that the various armies would be broken, and the soldiers flung to the four corners, rather than that they were necessarily slaughtered.  After all, if you had the choice, would you have stayed there? A few days after Wosumi was defeated, the Yoshino general that Ohoama had sent to Iga along with Honji and Tarumaro, Ki no Omi no Abemaro, heard that their ally, Ohotomo no Fukei was in trouble in the Nara Basin.  He'd been defeated by the Afumi general Ohono no Hatayasu at Narayama,  and without reinforcements, the entire Nara Basin could fall, along with the ancient Yamato capital at Asuka. So Abemaro sent Okizome no Muraji no Usagi with more than a thousand cavalry to go assist.  They met Fukei at Sumizaka, and suddenly, things were looking up in the Nara Basin.  For more on how that turned out, check out last episode, where we covered the events in the Nara Basin. Once the events in the Nara Basin settled out, then both the Nara Basin and the Karafu pass would be well and truly in the hands of the Yoshino forces.  But there was no way for those guarding those locations to know that the fighting was over, and they would have to hold their positions until the fighting had definitively stopped.  Which brings us back to Ohoama and the Yoshino troops gathered at Fuwa, where things were about to kick off as well.  The troops at Fuwa, while being led by Ohoama and his 19 year old son, Takechi, were placed under the command of Murakuni no Muraji no Woyori—who, , as things progressed, would be noted as the primary general for the campaign that would lead Yoshino troops from Fuwa, on the offensive towards Ohotsu. The only reason that they seem to have waited before going on the offensive was that every day, more troops were coming in.  So even as the fighting was going on in Nara and at the Karafu pass, the Yoshino army at Fuwa gathered men and made their preparations.  As they did so, the Afumi court Was going to do whatever they could to try and break them, hoping that they could stop the threat posed by Ohoama and his men before they began their march. For the Afumi forces first attempt to break the Yoshino defenses at Fuwa pass, they picked troops to try and make an incursion into the village of Tamakurabe, which appears to have been in the pass itself; it was probably modern Tama district of Sekigahara.  They were repelled, however, by Izumo no Omi no Koma, who drove them off. Later, the Afumi court ordered another force of several tens of thousands of men to attack under the command of Prince Yamabe no Ou, Soga no Omi no Hatayasu, and Kose no Omi no Hito.  Soga no Hatayasu and Kose no Hito were both part of the inner circle of the Afumi court, or so it would seem.  When Prince Ohotomo had taken the reins of the government in a ceremony in the Western Hall of the Palace, he was attended by the ministers of the right and left, as well as Soga no Hatayasu, Kose no Hito, and Ki no Ushi.  They were at the very heart of this whole matter.  Prince Yamabe is a little bit more of a mystery.  We know he was someone of note, and when Prince Ohotsu was brought to his parents, they were apparently traveling under the guise of Prince Yamabe and another prince, Prince Ishikawa.  But we know little else. The three men and their Afumi troops headed out and camped on the bank of the Inukami river, near modern Hikone.  There, however, trouble broke out. The Nihon Shoki does not record exactly what it was, but there must have been some kind of falling out.  Prince Yamabe no Ou was killed by Soga no Hatayasu and Kose no Hito.  We don't know if this was due to some quarrel or what, but either way, it threw the army into a state of disarray and there was no way for them to move forward.  Soga no Hatayasu appears to have taken responsibility for whatever happened, as he headed back from Inukami, presumably back to Ohotsu, where he took his own life by stabbing himself in the throat.  There would be no attack on Fuwa Pass, however. Finally, the Nihon Shoki also recounts the story of another Afumi general, named Hata no Kimi no Yakuni, and his son, Ushi.  Together with others, who remain unnamed, they surrendered themselves to Ohoama and the Yoshino forces, rather than fighting.  It isn't clear if they were deserters, if they had been part of one of the other two attempts to take Fuwa Pass, or if there was something else going on.  Either way, Ohoama was so pleased that he welcomed them in and we are told that Hata no Yakuni was “granted a battle axe and halberd” and appointed a general.  This is probably stock phrasing, but it does seem he was given some measure of trust.  Yakuni's men were then sent north, to Koshi. We aren't quite sure what those forces' ultimate objective was.  It may have been that he was to take the northern pass and make sure that none of the Afumi troops tried to escape and head to the East along that road.  Many of the accounts of this war seem to suggest that he, or at least some part of the forces, were to head north and then come around Lake Biwa the long way.  This would mean that if Ohoama attacked, there would be no easy way to flee.  From Ohotsu they couldn't turn north without running into more troops, and their only escape would seem to be through the Afusaka pass towards the area of modern Kyoto.  And of course, whoever was victorious in the Nara Basin would then be able to control the route to the coast. It is unclear how much Ohoama could have actually known, though, about what was happening across the various distances.  Messages would have meant riders on swift horses carrying them; they couldn't just text each other what was going on. And so, with one attack repelled, another aborted, and a turncoat now on their side, Ohoama's Yoshino forces were finally ready to head out on the offensive themselves.  According to the Nihon Shoki this was on the 7th day of the 7th month—Tanabata, today, but I doubt people were paying much mind to the Weaver and the Cowherd.  Murakuni no Woyori, with the group advancing from Fuwa to Afumi, set out, and met with their first resistance at the Yokugawa river in Okinaga.  As far as I can tell, this is likely the Amano River in modern Maibara, which anyone who takes the Shinkansen between Kanto and Kansai probably recognizes as one of the usual stops.  Once again, we have a situation where, while they would have had banners flying, in the crush of battle it could be quite easy to mistake friend for foe, especially with large numbers of troops who were pulled from vastly different regions.  You had to have some way of knowing quickly who was on your side – that's why the Afumi commander Wosumi had his troops use the password “kane”, for example.  Ohoama's approach was to have his men place a red mark—possibly a ribbon or similar—on their clothing so that one could tell who, at a glance, was on their side.  As a note, later samurai would sometimes attach flags to their shoulder armor, or sode, and these “sode-jirushi” would help identify you even if people didn't recognize your armor.  Ohoama's troops may have used something similar. And so Woyori's Yoshino forces attacked the Afumi defenders, and the Afumi troops were clearly outmatched.  Woyori's men killed the Afumi commander and defeated the opposing forces. But that was just the beginning.  Afumi forces had been stationed all along the route from Fuwa to Ohotsu.  Thus it was that only two days later Woyori and his men made it to Mt. Tokoyama, probably in Hikone, by the Seri river.  There they met more Afumi soldiers, but once again they were triumphant and slew the opposing commander.   Woyori and his men were on a roll. I would point out that these battles aren't given much detail, but we do see how it progressed.  There are names of various individuals and commanders—certainly not much on the common people.  From what we can tell, this was not a rush to Ohotsu, but rather a slow march, probably doing their best to fortify their positions and make sure that nobody was sneaking up on them.  After each battle, it is some days before the next, probably spent spying out ahead and formulating plans. Woyori and his men next fought a battle on the banks of the Yasukawa River, presumably near modern Yasu city.  Here, Aston's translation claims that he suffered a great defeat, but more likely I suspect it means to say that he inflicted a great defeat on the Afumi forces, because if he had been defeated, how would he have pressed on only a few days later.  We are told that  two men, presumably the Afumi commanders, were both taken prisoner. Since we don't have anything more about them in the narrative all we can really do is assume that they must have therefore been on the side of the Afumi forces. By taking Yasu, that would have likely cut off the Afumi forces from any future considerations about using the Kurafu Pass.  The noose around Ohotsu was slowly tightening. Four days after that, on the 17th day of the 7th month, Woyori attacked and repulsed the Kurimoto army—presumably a force loyal to the Afumi court under a general named Kurimoto, or possibly raised from a place called Kurimoto, perhaps over on Awaji.  Either way, it was another victory on Woyori's belt. From there, Woyori and his men arrived at Seta, where they would have to cross the Setagawa—the Seta River. The Seta River is a wide river, and the only one flowing out of Lake Biwa.  It winds its way south and west, eventually becoming the Uji and then the Yodo rivers, which flow all the way to Naniwa—modern Ohosaka.  At the Seta river, there was a major bridge, the only way across, other than to swim.  Prince Ohotomo and his ministers, along with their entire army, were encamped on the west side of the bridge.  Their forces were so numerous that it was said you could not see all the way to the back of them.  Their banners covered the plain, and the dust of their movement caused a cloud to rise into the sky.  Their drums and songs could be heard for miles around.  We are told they even had crossbows, and when they were discharged the arrows fell like rain.  Of course, some of this may have just been more poetic license by the authors of the Nihon Shoki, but you get the picture:  There were a lot of troops on the western side of the river. The bridge itself was defended by General Chison.  We know very little of this general, as he only appears in this one part of the record, but his name implies that he may have been from the continent.  We aren't given a surname, and it is possible he was one of the Baekje refugees, now fighting for the Afumi court.  He led an advance body of specially selected troops, and in the middle of the bridge they had removed planks for about three rods or thirty feet.  Across that span was a single plank, daring anyone to try and cross it.  Of course, if they did, they would be a sitting duck in front of the enemy archers, and the plank was attached by a rope so that it could always be pulled out from under them.  It seemed as if it were impossible to advance. Finally, one of Woyori's soldiers, Ohokida no Kimi no Wakaomi, got up the courage to cross.  We are told that he put on double armor, put down his long spear, and drew his sword.  He then charged suddenly across the plank and cut the rope on the other side before the Afumi troops could pull it back.  In spite of the arrows that were raining down on him, he entered the ranks of the Afumi troops, slashing with his sword as he went.  The Afumi forces were thrown into confusion and some of them tried to leave, but General Chison drew his own sword and began to cut down anyone who tried to flee.  Still, he was unable to check the rout.  Woyori's troops secured the bridge and soon were pouring across it.  They cut down General Chison and advanced into the Afumi army, who broke and ran.  The Afumi sovereign, Ohotomo, aka Koubun Tennou, along with the Ministers of the Left and Right, narrowly escaped with their lives. Woyori and his troops marched to the foot of Awazu hill, and we are told that Hata no Yakuni, the Afumi commander who had earlier defected, and whose men were sent north to Koshi, set a siege to Miwo castle along with Izumo no Koma, who had defended against the attempted seizure of Tamakurabe.  Presumably this is Mio, south of Ohotsu, and it was likely guarding the southern approach to the Afumi capital. The only thing here that gives me pause is that we were earlier told that Yakuni's men, after he defected, were sent to Koshi.  So was Yakuni not with them?  Had he returned?  Or had the troops made it all the way around Lake Biwa already, taking the longer route up and around the lake? Regardless of how it happened, Yakuni and Koma were able to take Miwo castle.  As a reminder, a “castle” at this time would have likely been defined more by its walls, which were probably rammed earth and wood—not the elegantly sloping stone walls and  donjon base that would come to typify castles of the Warring States period. The following day, Woyori and his men continued their pursuit.  At the Awazu marketplace, Woyori ran into the Afumi generals Inukahi no Muraji no Isokimi and Hasama no Atahe no Shihote.  We mentioned Isokimi last episode—he was the Afumi commander attacking the Middle Road in the Nara Basin.  His deputy, Kujira, had been defeated, and it seems Isokimi had retreated back to Afumi and rejoined the main force. He would not be quite so fortunate this time.  Isokimi and Shihote were both slain, and Ohotomo fled once again.  He didn't get very far, hiding at Yamazaki, thought to be near the site of the modern city hall, in Ohotsu. Despite his best efforts, he knew he would be discovered, and he eventually strangled himself, rather than facing the humiliation and punishment that would come with capture. With Ohotomo dead, the other ministers of the Afumi court dispersed and fled.  Woyori and his men, meeting up at Sasanami, hunted down the Ministers of the Left and Right—Soga no Akaye and Nakatomi no Kane—as well as others who had fought with Ohotomo and who were considered criminals. They were all marched back to Fuwa, where, on the 25th day of the 7th month, Ohotomo's head was presented to Ohoama.  The war, it seems, was over. Or at least, the fighting was over.  There was still a lot to be settled.  First off, it would hardly have been practical to wipe out every single person on the losing side.  For one thing, that would have devastated the Court even further, likely creating a huge power vacuum.  In addition, many of the supporters on both sides were not necessarily there out of purely partisan reasons.  I would point out that many of the family names that we see in the record are found on both sides of the conflict.  Inukahi no Isokimi may have fought for Ohotomo, but we also see an Inukahi no Ohotomo fighting on the behalf of Ohoama.  Fumi no Nemaro was a major commander in Ohoama's army, while Fumi no Kusuri had been sent by the Afumi court to raise troops in the East Country.  And Hasama no Shihote was killed with Isokimi at Awazu, while a Hasama no Nemaro was working under the command of General Fukei, in Nara, to guard Tatsuta. There wasn't necessarily a simple divide along family lines.  It is possible that these individuals were all fairly well removed from each other, and from different parts of their respective families, or clans. They are often given different kabane, the family rank system used at this time, though I suspect that may have more to do with later changes, with those on the winning side being promoted over those who supported the Afumi court.  However, it is also the case that Japan has a long history of family members supporting both sides in any major conflict.  That way, no matter who wins, the family itself finds itself on the winning side. But there did have to be some accountability.  This is something that one can point to time and again—if the losing side is not held accountable for their actions, then what is to prevent them from just regrouping and trying again?  And yet that need for justice and punishment must be tempered with some amount of humanity. Ultimately, about one month after the end of the war, eight of the Afumi ministers were found guilty of truly heinous offences and they were condemned to suffer what the Nihon Shoki says was the “Extreme Penalty”.  The Minister of the Right, Nakatomi no Kane, was executed at Tane, in Asai.  Meanwhile the Minister of the Left, Soga no Akaye; along with the Dainagon, or Grand Councillor, Kose no Hito, as well as their children and grandchildren, along with the children of the late Nakatomi no Kane and Soga no Hatayasu, were all sent into banishment.  All others were pardoned. And of course those who had supported Ohoama, and who had come to his aid, were given public favour and reward.  In many cases this likely meant receiving high office and corresponding rank, along with increased stipend payments.  There is a notable shift in the makeup of the court, going forward, and it seems clear that families would want to associate themselves with those who fought on Ohoama's side, rather than Ohotomo's, if they could help it.  That was no doubt a part of works like the various diaries and house records that would have been used to compile the Nihon Shoki, recording the deeds that any house did for the throne. Along with all of the punishments and plaudits that were meted out in the 8th month of 672, there was one more event—something of an outlier.  We are told that Chihisakobe no Muraji no Sabichi, the governor of the province of Wohari, went off into the mountains and committed suicide. Sabichi had originally met Ohoama at the Kuwana district house—the local government office—when he had first arrived from Yoshino.  He had a large number of troops—20,000 by the Nihon Shoki's count—which helped Ohoama to ultimately defeat the Afumi court.  So why he would go off into the mountains and commit suicide was anyone's guess.  The Nihon Shoki suggests that it was possible that his allegiance had changed, and he may have been trying to plot against Ohoama.  Perhaps he had been convinced that Afumi court was going to come out on top, and so had begun some plot.  Or he just had a falling out or became disillusioned for some reason.  Whatever it was, it remains a mystery, even today. With the war concluded, it was time for Ohoama to make his way from the field to the Capital so that he could transition to ruling the State properly.  But Ohoama was not interested, it would seem, in setting himself up in his brother's capital.  Setting up in the Ohotsu capital may have raised a few eyebrows.  It had not been a completely popular move to begin with, and it was also the home of the Afumi court's legitimacy.  To take up the throne there, I can only imagine that it would have further reinforced the idea that Ohoama was the usurper, taking the throne that was meant for his nephew.  Instead, he made the decision to travel to the ancient capital, in Asuka, but he was not in a hurry. They headed out on the 8th day of the 9th month of 672, making it from Fuwa to Kuwana.  Here he likely met up with his wife, Princess Uno, and his ten year old son, Prince Ohotsu.  The following day they headed out, traveling back along the route that they had taken from Yoshino, but at a much more leisurely route.  The royal carriage stayed the night in Suzuka.  From there, it was another day to Abe, likely referring to modern Ahai county, in Iga, near Ueno city.  They then continued on to Nabari.  Finally, on the 12th day,they arrived at the Yamato capital—that is to say Asuka—and Ohoama took up residence for a time at the Shima Palace.  This was only, it seems, to give people time to get the actual palace ready, because three days later, Ohoama moved into the Wokamoto Palace.  And with that, Ohoama began the work of running the state—but there was still plenty to prepare.  For one thing, there were foreign embassies—Kim Ap-sil and others arrived.  It was still going to take a while to get the capital ready for guests, though.  From what we can tell, they were probably building a grand new palace, and it would take some time for it to be prepared.  So the Silla embassy was entertained in Tsukushi, where Prince Kurikuma would have been in charge of hosting them.  They were likely filled on the new developments and provided a ship. Meanwhile, Ohoama made sure that all of the appropriate rewards were given out.  On the 4th day of the 12th month, we are told that all those who had rendered services were given higher cap-ranks, based on what they had done. And as the year 672 closes out—and with it, the first of the two Chronicles for Ohoama, the soon-to-be elevated Temmu Tennou. But there is one final entry, marking the death of Wina no Kimi no Takami in the 12th month of the year.  We know that Wina no Kimi no *Iwasuki* was working for the Afumi court, sent to rally troops in the East, but he fled when they encountered Ohoama's troops at Fuwa Pass.  Takami, on the other hand, we know little about, but I suspect may have been on the side of Ohoama.  It is an odd entry, and, like so many, unexplained.  Perhaps it meant something to the people of the early 8th century, but if so, that meaning is likely lost to us. And so we close the book on the Jinshin no Ran—the Jinshin War, or possibly the Disturbance or even Rebellion, depending on how you feel about it.  This account is one of the most detailed we have of this kind of event, and yet it does not seem that it was entirely unique.  There are plenty of indications that previous sovereigns had to fight their way to the throne, or else had to repel others who would try to take it by force.  This was almost a tradition among the royal house of Yamato.  But now that the matter of succession was well and truly settled, it was time to get on with other things. Who knows what an Afumi court may have done and how they could have changed things.  What we do know is what Ohoama—and his queen, Uno no Himemiko—did.  They built upon, or in some cases possibly even fabricated, the legacy of Naka no Oe.  They would set in stone many of the things that had been put in place, and at the same time make certain changes, as well.  The Yamato state was getting started. And we'll start to dive into that next episode.  Until then, thank you once again for listening and for all of your support. If you like what we are doing, please tell your friends and feel free to rate us wherever you listen to podcasts.  If you feel the need to do more, and want to help us keep this going, we have information about how you can donate on Patreon or through our KoFi site, ko-fi.com/sengokudaimyo, or find the links over at our main website,  SengokuDaimyo.com/Podcast, where we will have some more discussion on topics from this episode. Also, feel free to reach out to our Sengoku Daimyo Facebook page.  You can also email us at the.sengoku.daimyo@gmail.com.  Thank you, also, to Ellen for their work editing the podcast. And that's all for now.  Thank you again, and I'll see you next episode on Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  

Japan Station: A Podcast by Japankyo.com
Tales from the Tokaido Road: About the Tokaido Challenge | Japan Station 172/Ichimon Japan 78

Japan Station: A Podcast by Japankyo.com

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2025 58:52


On this episode of Japan Station we ask: What was it like walking the Tokaido Road? NOTE: This is a re-broadcast of episode 78 of the Ichimon Japan podcast. Topics Discussed About the Tokaido Challenge About what it was like walking the Tokaido Road About the challenges of walking the Tokaido Road About what it was like walking from Kyoto to Tokyo About getting stopped by police in Kyoto About walking along the Shizuoka coast How long it took to walk the Tokaido And much more! Listen to Ichimon Japan on [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1492400997" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Apple Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pY2hpbW9uamFwYW4ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Google Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/japankyocom/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyocom" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Stitcher[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZVgnljVM8gcR1ar98eK0D" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Spotify[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/263-ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-59510504/" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]iHeartRadio[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/mv3zr-ad2df/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyo.com" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]PodBean[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://tunein.com/podcasts/Arts--Culture-Podcasts/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyocom-p1290988/" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Tunein[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://ichimonjapan.libsyn.com/rss" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]RSS[/btn] Support on Patreon & Ko-fi If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show! Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Links, Videos, Etc. Check out the Tokaido Challenge video series on the JapanKyo YouTube! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYU41Z0G4Uc&list=PL7ALB_S1KyWunL6kIbGu_Vtmswe1qxlHqTokaido Challenge Video Playlist:    We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapanKyoNews) Twitter (@JapanKyoNews) Instagram (@JapanKyoNews) Full Show Notes https:///japankyo.com/ichimonjapan  

MAP IT FORWARD Middle East
EP 875 David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia - The Future of Specialty Coffee in the UAE - Map It Forward Middle East Podcast Lee Safar

MAP IT FORWARD Middle East

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2025 21:48


If you love what we do, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or join our Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardCheck out our on-demand workshops here: • https://mapitforward.coffee/workshopsConsider joining one of our Mastermind Groups here:• https://mapitforward.coffee/groupcoachingJoin our mailing list:• https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 5th of a 5-part series on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast with David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia, owners of the Kurasu UAE franchise.In this series, David and Valeria help us understand the process they went through bringing a globally recognised franchise from Kyoto, Japan, to Dubai and the wider UAE. The five episodes of this series are:1. Bringing a Global Coffee Brand to Dubai - https://youtu.be/8MeB02Wlbfk2. Preparing To Launch a Coffee Franchise in Dubai - https://youtu.be/YAR_78VpKWM3. Launching the First Kurasu in Dubai - https://youtu.be/C1hT-njJJT84. Unexpected Challenges Launching in Dubai - https://youtu.be/zEoKxHNg2DM5. The Future of Specialty Coffee in the UAE - https://youtu.be/sTwXkqCs08gIn the final episode of the podcast series with Lee, Valeria, and David deep dive into the dynamics of the global coffee industry, the challenges faced by coffee farmers, and the evolving consumer behavior towards specialty coffee. The conversation addresses the impacts of climate change, succession planning in coffee farming, and the technological advancements in the industry. The episode also explores the future trajectory of coffee and tea consumption and the potential automation in coffee shops. Tune in to understand why building a business like Kurasu, with a focus on customer experience and specialty products, can provide a competitive edge in the volatile coffee market.Connect with Kurasu DXB/UAE as well as David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia here:https://www.instagram.com/kurasudxb/https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeria-garcia-16a266176/https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidzabinsky/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

Famille & Voyages, le podcast
1/7 Japon avec des ados - hébergements, transports, budget... en famille (Guide)

Famille & Voyages, le podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2025 9:58 Transcription Available


Nouvelle série estivale spéciale Japon. Cet épisode est un guide pratique mis en voix avec LM Notebook, basé sur mes articles de blog sur Famille & Voyages. Objectif : vous donner toutes les clés pour partir sereinement au Japon avec des ados.

Friday Night History
Episode 119 (S4E19)- The Middle Finger of God

Friday Night History

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2025 25:49


Uesugi Kagekatsu builds a new castle. Tokugawa Ieyasu builds a coalition, while Date Masamune goes home to raise an army. And an Englishman from Kent, on a ship from Holland, washes ashore in Kyushu.Script and sources available at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://riverside-wings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Riversidewings on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or buy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠some merch at Fourthwall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (Music is "Shinshun Ryoutei," "Kyoto no Ohayashi," "Hokora Uta," and "Yamagami no Yashiro," from 「MOMIZizm MUSiC(もみじば)|フリーBGM 」)

MAP IT FORWARD Middle East
EP 874 David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia - Unexpected Challenges Launching in Dubai - Map It Forward Middle East Podcast Lee Safar

MAP IT FORWARD Middle East

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2025 24:07


If you love what we do, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or join our Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardCheck out our on-demand workshops here: • https://mapitforward.coffee/workshopsConsider joining one of our Mastermind Groups here:• https://mapitforward.coffee/groupcoachingJoin our mailing list:• https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 4th of a 5-part series on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast with David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia, owners of the Kurasu UAE franchise.In this series, David and Valeria help us understand the process they went through bringing a globally recognised franchise from Kyoto, Japan, to Dubai and the wider UAE. The five episodes of this series are:1. Bringing a Global Coffee Brand to Dubai - https://youtu.be/8MeB02Wlbfk2. Preparing To Launch a Coffee Franchise in Dubai - https://youtu.be/YAR_78VpKWM3. Launching the First Kurasu in Dubai - https://youtu.be/C1hT-njJJT84. Unexpected Challenges Launching in Dubai - https://youtu.be/zEoKxHNg2DM5. The Future of Specialty Coffee in the UAE - https://youtu.be/sTwXkqCs08gIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee, David, and Valeria delve into issues such as customs complications, merchandise delays, and the impact of the coffee crisis on the industry.The conversation also touches upon the matcha craze, the importance of water filtration for quality coffee, and the broader implications for the coffee trade. Don't miss this insightful discussion on the hurdles of starting a coffee business in a new market.Connect with Kurasu DXB/UAE as well as David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia here:https://www.instagram.com/kurasudxb/https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeria-garcia-16a266176/https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidzabinsky/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

Disney Deciphered: a Disney World planning podcast
Ep. 383 - Universal Osaka Trip Report

Disney Deciphered: a Disney World planning podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 32:11


Universal Osaka Find us on Youtube - please like and subscribe!  Looking to plan a Disney World or Disneyland vacation? Let Joe do all the hard work for you, helping you get the best discount, at no cost to you as your travel agent. Get started by e-mailing josephcheung@travelmation.net today!  Episode Description A quick trip report about Universal Osaka - including why Express Pass is worth it, why getting there from Kyoto is annoying, and what not to do with your food! Have you been to Universal Osaka? Let us know by e-mailing disneydeciphered AT gmail DOT com, messaging us on social media, or leaving a comment on our Youtube page. You can also follow us on Instagram! Episode Notes (all timestamps are approximate) 2:54 - Buying tickets 5:55 - Getting there 10:12 - Lunch 13:48 - Nintendo attractions 19:25 - Harry Potter attractions 21:32 - Other attractions  25:45 - General thoughts 30:07  - Disney dos and don'ts If we've helped you to plan your trip and you'd like to thank us we'd appreciate you considering a one time donation. Or if you'd like to receive bonus content, check out our Patreon page and our special subscriber only content! You can also support the show by buying tickets (if they're the best deal, of course) using our Undercover Tourist link or signing up for Mouse Dining through our link. If you like what you hear, please share and subscribe! Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, TuneIn, PlayerFM, iHeartRadio, or Google Podcasts (please leave a positive review if you're enjoying the show), like our Facebook page, or follow us on Bluesky and Instagram! Connect with Leslie @TripsWithTykes on social media and Joe @asthejoeflies.  

MAP IT FORWARD Middle East
EP 873 David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia - Launching the First Kurasu in Dubai - Map It Forward Middle East Podcast Lee Safar

MAP IT FORWARD Middle East

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 22:10


If you love what we do, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or join our Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardCheck out our on-demand workshops here: • https://mapitforward.coffee/workshopsConsider joining one of our Mastermind Groups here:• https://mapitforward.coffee/groupcoachingJoin our mailing list:• https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 3rd of a 5-part series on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast with David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia, owners of the Kurasu UAE franchise.In this series, David and Valeria help us understand the process they went through bringing a globally recognised franchise from Kyoto, Japan, to Dubai and the wider UAE. The five episodes of this series are:1. Bringing a Global Coffee Brand to Dubai - https://youtu.be/8MeB02Wlbfk2. Preparing To Launch a Coffee Franchise in Dubai - https://youtu.be/YAR_78VpKWM3. Launching the First Kurasu in Dubai - https://youtu.be/C1hT-njJJT84. Unexpected Challenges Launching in Dubai - https://youtu.be/zEoKxHNg2DM5. The Future of Specialty Coffee in the UAE - https://youtu.be/sTwXkqCs08gIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee, David, and Valeria discuss the challenges, the unexpected viral success, and the emotional and physical toll of opening their first store.Learn about their experience of building a dedicated team and the importance of being hands-on owners. Join us for insights into the hard work and rewarding moments that come with bringing a beloved coffee brand to the UAE.Connect with Kurasu DXB/UAE as well as David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia here:https://www.instagram.com/kurasudxb/https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeria-garcia-16a266176/https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidzabinsky/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

Lost Without Japan
Interview with Doc Kane, Owner and Operator of Maplopo Season 5 Ep 117 Lost Without Japan

Lost Without Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2025 82:24


Interview with Doc Kane, Owner and Operator of Maplopo Season 5 Ep 117 Lost Without Japan Welcome to a very special episode of Lost Without Japan, where we sit down with Doc Kane of MapLopo to discuss Japan and explore the opportunities his services could offer to you, the Lost Without Japan Listener. Website: https://maplopo.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@maplopo LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dockaneinjapan/ Gaijinpot: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/author/dockane/  TokyoDev: https://www.tokyodev.com/authors/doc-kane As always, the link to our shows Google Resource doc can be found at https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WEVbRmvn8jzxOZPDaypl3UAjxbs1OOSWSftFW1BYXpI/edit#   

MAP IT FORWARD Middle East
EP 872 David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia - Preparing To Launch a Coffee Franchise in Dubai - Map It Forward Middle East Podcast Lee Safar

MAP IT FORWARD Middle East

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2025 26:11


This episode is brought to you by Raw Beverage Trading - Your hospitality supply chain partner. Connect at sale@rawcoffee.ae••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the 2nd of a 5-part series on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast with David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia, owners of the Kurasu UAE franchise.In this series, David and Valeria help us understand the process they went through bringing a globally recognised franchise from Kyoto, Japan, to Dubai and the wider UAE. The five episodes of this series are:1. Bringing a Global Coffee Brand to Dubai - https://youtu.be/8MeB02Wlbfk2. Preparing To Launch a Coffee Franchise in Dubai - https://youtu.be/YAR_78VpKWM3. Launching the First Kurasu in Dubai - https://youtu.be/C1hT-njJJT84. Unexpected Challenges Launching in Dubai - https://youtu.be/zEoKxHNg2DM5. The Future of Specialty Coffee in the UAE - https://youtu.be/sTwXkqCs08gIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee, David and Valeria discuss the critical steps of team building, including hiring criteria focused on experience, confidence, and a genuine appreciation for the Kurasu brand.The conversation also explores the challenges of finding the right location in a competitive market like Dubai, the unique aspects of the Dar Wasl area, and Kurasu's distinct culture of minimalistic and high-quality customer experience. Additionally, David and Valeria share their personal experiences, fears, and inspirations in bringing Kurasu to Dubai. For more insights and details, watch the full episode.Connect with Kurasu DXB/UAE as well as David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia here:https://www.instagram.com/kurasudxb/https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeria-garcia-16a266176/https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidzabinsky/••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

MAP IT FORWARD Middle East
EP 871 David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia - Bringing a Global Coffee Brand to Dubai - Map It Forward Middle East Podcast Lee Safar

MAP IT FORWARD Middle East

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2025 21:21


If you love what we do, become a premium YouTube Subscriber or join our Patreon: • https://www.patreon.com/mapitforward• https://www.youtube.com/mapitforwardCheck out our on-demand workshops here: • https://mapitforward.coffee/workshopsConsider joining one of our Mastermind Groups here:• https://mapitforward.coffee/groupcoachingJoin our mailing list:• https://mapitforward.coffee/mailinglist••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••This is the first of a 5-part series on the Map It Forward Middle East Podcast with David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia, owners of the Kurasu UAE franchise.In this series, David and Valeria help us understand the process they went through bringing a globally recognised franchise from Kyoto, Japan, to Dubai and the wider UAE. The five episodes of this series are:1. Bringing a Global Coffee Brand to Dubai - https://youtu.be/8MeB02Wlbfk2. Preparing To Launch a Coffee Franchise in Dubai - https://youtu.be/YAR_78VpKWM3. Launching the First Kurasu in Dubai - https://youtu.be/C1hT-njJJT84. Unexpected Challenges Launching in Dubai - https://youtu.be/zEoKxHNg2DM5. The Future of Specialty Coffee in the UAE - https://youtu.be/sTwXkqCs08gIn this episode of the podcast series, Lee, Valeria, and David discuss how their admiration for the Japanese coffee brand Kurasu led to their venture of bringing it to Dubai. From discovering Kurasu on YouTube to making the first contact with the founder Yozo Otsuki, and eventually visiting Kyoto to solidify their partnership, David and Valeria share their journey in detail. Topics include the saturated coffee market in Dubai, the couple's background, and their steps in opening the Kurasu franchise in the UAE. Stay tuned to learn the intricacies of navigating a new coffee business in a competitive environment.Connect with Kurasu DXB/UAE as well as David Zabinsky and Valeria Garcia here:https://www.instagram.com/kurasudxb/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeria-garcia-16a266176/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidzabinsky/ ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••Connect with Map It Forward here: Website | Instagram | Mailing list

Fluent Fiction - Japanese
Haruka's Quest: Unveiling Kyoto's Ancient Secrets

Fluent Fiction - Japanese

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2025 15:29 Transcription Available


Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Haruka's Quest: Unveiling Kyoto's Ancient Secrets Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-08-11-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 京都の古い寺院に夏の香りが漂っていました。En: The scent of summer lingered around the old temple in Kyoto.Ja: 木々が高く茂り、寺院の静けさを守っています。En: The trees grew tall and lush, preserving the temple's serenity.Ja: ここで、大学生の春香(はるか)は古代の秘密を探求していました。En: Here, a university student named Haruka was delving into ancient secrets.Ja: 彼女は人類学を専攻し、古代の文化と神話に夢中でした。En: She majored in anthropology and was fascinated by ancient cultures and myths.Ja: ある日、寺院で謎の巻物が発見されました。En: One day, a mysterious scroll was discovered at the temple.Ja: その巻物には、ずっと失われていた儀式の秘密が書かれていたのです。En: It held the long-lost secrets of a ritual.Ja: 春の盛りの日、春香はその巻物を手に取り、夢中になりました。En: On a fine spring day, Haruka picked up the scroll and was captivated.Ja: しかし、巻物は難解な漢字で書かれており、寺の僧侶たちは外部の者に対して警戒しています。En: However, the scroll was written in difficult characters, and the monks at the temple were wary of outsiders.Ja: さらに、大学の友人たちからも「そんなことできるの?」と疑われ、困ってしまいました。En: Furthermore, her university friends doubted her, asking, "Can you really do that?" which troubled her.Ja: でも、春香の心は強い。En: But Haruka's resolve was strong.Ja: 彼女は寺に泊まる決意をしました。En: She decided to stay at the temple.Ja: 夜、灯篭の明かりの中で僧侶たちの信頼を得るため、熱心に働きました。En: At night, under the light of lanterns, she worked diligently to gain the monks' trust.Ja: また、友人の蓮(れん)と秋子(あきこ)の助けを借りることにしました。二人は古い言語に詳しいのです。En: She also sought help from her friends, Ren and Akiko, who were knowledgeable about ancient languages.Ja: 皆で協力し、巻物の謎を解きほぐそうとしました。En: Together, they all worked to unravel the mysteries of the scroll.Ja: 時が経ち、夜が明けるたびに少しずつヒントが見つかります。En: As time passed, with each dawn, they found small hints.Ja: そして、迎えたお盆の日。En: Then came Obon day.Ja: 祭りの鐘が鳴り響く中、春香は巻物の隠された部分を偶然発見しました。En: Amidst the resounding festival bells, Haruka accidentally discovered a hidden part of the scroll.Ja: それは儀式の鍵となるものでした。En: It was the key to the ritual.Ja: しかし、その時寺の長老たちに見つかり、巻物を公にすることに反対されました。En: However, at that moment, the temple elders found her, and opposed making the scroll's contents public.Ja: 「儀式の秘密は、霊的なバランスを崩すかもしれない」と言います。En: They said, "The secret of the ritual might disturb the spiritual balance."Ja: 春香は静かに考えました。En: Haruka thought quietly.Ja: 彼女は過去を尊重しつつ、現代にその知識を残すことが大切だと感じました。En: She felt it was important to preserve this knowledge for the modern age while respecting the past.Ja: 春香は長老たちに心から話し、理解を得ることができました。En: Haruka spoke sincerely to the elders and gained their understanding.Ja: 「この古代の知識を守ることで、文化が未来にも伝わります」と説得しました。En: She persuaded them, saying, "By preserving this ancient knowledge, the culture will be passed on to the future."Ja: そして、巻物の内容を発表し、学界で注目を浴びました。En: She then presented the scroll's contents, gaining attention in the academic world.Ja: けれども、彼女は有名になることよりも、歴史を大切にすることを選びました。En: However, she chose to value history over fame.Ja: こうして、春香は知識への欲望と文化への尊敬のバランスを学び、古い伝統に対する深い感謝を持つようになりました。En: In this way, Haruka learned to balance her desire for knowledge with her respect for culture, developing a profound appreciation for old traditions.Ja: 夏の夜、寺院の灯は静かに揺れ、春香の心にも新しい光がともりました。En: On a summer night, the lamps of the temple flickered silently, and a new light kindled in Haruka's heart.Ja: 彼女の旅は終わりましたが、歴史への愛は続いていきます。En: Her journey had ended, but her love for history continued on. Vocabulary Words:scent: 香りlinger: 漂うserenity: 静けさmajored: 専攻anthropology: 人類学fascinated: 夢中mysterious: 謎のscroll: 巻物captivated: 夢中になったcharacters: 漢字wary: 警戒outsiders: 外部の者resolve: 心diligently: 熱心にunravel: 解きほぐすresounding: 鳴り響くaccidentally: 偶然elders: 長老たちoppose: 反対disturb: 崩すsincerely: 心からpersuaded: 説得されましたappreciation: 感謝profound: 深いflickered: 揺れたkindled: ともるpreserve: 守るritual: 儀式balance: バランスacademic: 学界

Supernatural Japan
Tales from “Dark Kyoto”

Supernatural Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2025 39:09


This week on Supernatural Japan, host Kevin O'Shea meets returning guest and Japan-based writer Phillip Jackson in Osaka's beautiful Utsubo Park for a rare in-person recording. Phillip takes us deep into the eerie side of Dark Kyoto—far beyond the usual temples and tourist spots—to uncover chilling ghost stories, tragic historical events, and unsettling tales that most visitors never hear. From haunted corners to strange happenings in Japan's ancient capital, this episode blends rich history with spine-tingling supernatural lore, offering a unique look at Kyoto's hidden and haunted past.Check out Phillip Jackson's work:https://www.hiddenpathskyoto.com/Follow the podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supernaturaljapanBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/madformaple.bsky.socialX: https://x.com/MadForMapleFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/supernaturaljapanEmail: supernaturaljapan@gmail.comSupport the podcast (Help fund the creation of new episodes) MEMBERSHIPS NOW AVAILABLE!: https://buymeacoffee.com/busankevinYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusanKevinNEW podcast companion blogs! https://justjapanstuff.com/Website: https://supernaturaljapan.buzzsprout.comSupport the show

7 milliards de voisins
Vivre dans une ville pontificale : Le Vatican

7 milliards de voisins

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2025 48:30


Cette semaine, nous vous proposons une nouvelle saison de notre série spéciale «Vivre en ville». 8 milliards de voisins vous emmène dans ses valises à la découverte d'Antananarivo, Damas, en passant par Pékin. Urbanisme, société, transports, loisirs : les correspondants de RFI et nos invités présentent la vie quotidienne de nos voisins.  Dans ce cinquième et dernier épisode de notre série Vivre en ville direction le Vatican. Cette cité-État, enclavée dans la ville de Rome en Italie vit au rythme du Saint-Siège. À chaque conclave pour l'élection d'un nouveau pape, les yeux du monde entier se tournent vers le plus petit État du monde. Le Vatican attire aussi les foules, chaque année, environ 6 millions de touristes se déplacent pour admirer ses trésors et toucher du doigt le quotidien du souverain pontife. En réalité, moins de 500 personnes vivent au sein du Vatican, parmi lesquels, le Pape, des cardinaux, des diplomates et les membres du corps de la Garde suisse pontificale. Peu de civils donc. Comment fonctionne l'une des villes les plus mystérieuses au monde ?   Avec : • Loup Besmond de Senneville, rédacteur en chef du journal La Croix. Envoyé spécial permanent au Vatican jusqu'en 2024. Auteur de Vatican Secret – Quatre années au cœur du plus petit État du monde (Stock, 2025).   En fin d'émission, la chronique Ville contre Ville de Juliette Brault. Elles sont en concurrence, se jalousent, se moquent l'une de l'autre... Cette semaine, Juliette Brault explore les rivalités urbaines à travers 5 duels pour comprendre l'origine de ces confrontations, la façon dont elles structurent leurs relations et façonnent le quotidien des habitants.  Aujourd'hui, Tokyo vs Kyoto : le choix entre modernité et tradition. Programmation musicale : ► I Lie - Lele Marchitelli  ► The Loneliest – Maneskin   ► Ti manca l'aria - Coez

Friday Night History
Episode 118 (S4E18)- If the Nightingale Sings

Friday Night History

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2025 24:08


Ishida Mitsunari seeks refuge with a rival. Date Masamune punches a hole in Hideyoshi's system by arranging a marriage. And Tokugawa Ieyasu is biding his time ahead of...something.Script and sources available at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://riverside-wings.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Riversidewings on Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, or buy ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠some merch at Fourthwall⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. (Music is "Shinshun Ryoutei," "Kyoto no Ohayashi," "Hokora Uta," and "Yamagami no Yashiro," from 「MOMIZizm MUSiC(もみじば)|フリーBGM 」)

Fluent Fiction - Japanese
Under Kyoto's Lanterns: A Journey to Healing and Hope

Fluent Fiction - Japanese

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2025 13:41 Transcription Available


Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Under Kyoto's Lanterns: A Journey to Healing and Hope Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-08-05-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 京都の隠れた小道に、そのお茶屋はありました。En: In a hidden alley in Kyoto, there was a teahouse.Ja: オボンのために賑やかに飾られた色とりどりの提灯が、穏やかな鴨川を見下ろしながらそよ風に揺れていました。En: The colorful lanterns, decorated festively for Obon, swayed in the gentle breeze while overlooking the tranquil Kamogawa River.Ja: この静かな場所は、心を落ち着かせるのにぴったりでした。En: This quiet place was perfect for calming the mind.Ja: ある夏の日の午後、ハルキとユキはお茶屋の玄関をくぐりました。En: One summer afternoon, Haruki and Yuki stepped into the entrance of the teahouse.Ja: ユキは心の病気の診断を受けたばかりで、不安そうにしていました。En: Yuki had just received a diagnosis for a mental health condition and appeared anxious.Ja: 「今日は一緒にのんびりしよう」とハルキは優しく提案しました。En: "Let's take it easy together today," Haruki gently suggested.Ja: ユキは座敷に腰を下ろし、お茶を飲みながら窓の外を眺めました。En: Yuki sat down on the traditional seating and gazed out the window while sipping tea.Ja: 「お祭りに行きたいけど、体が心配で...」とユキは小声で言いました。En: "I'd like to go to the festival, but I'm worried about my health," Yuki murmured softly.Ja: その時、オーナーのソウタが現れました。En: At that moment, the owner, Sota, appeared.Ja: 「ここからでも十分楽しめますよ。提灯を見るだけでも気持ちが楽しくなります」と微笑みました。En: "You can enjoy it well enough from here. Just seeing the lanterns can lift your spirits," he smiled.Ja: 夕暮れが訪れる頃、川沿いでは灯籠流しが始まりました。En: By the time evening approached, the toro nagashi began along the riverside.Ja: 光が水面に揺れる様子を、二人はしばらく黙って見つめていました。En: For a while, the two of them silently watched the lights flicker on the water's surface.Ja: ハルキは口を開きました。「心配し過ぎないで。みんな君のことを大切に思っているから。」En: Haruki spoke up, "Don't worry too much. Everyone cares about you."Ja: するとユキが答えました。「ありがとう、私、もっとポジティブになろうって思ったの。」En: Then Yuki responded, "Thank you, I've decided to become more positive."Ja: ソウタはお茶を注ぎながら静かに耳を傾けていました。En: Sota, while pouring tea, listened quietly.Ja: 話は深まり、ユキは自分の怖さを初めて打ち明けました。En: The conversation deepened, and Yuki admitted her fears for the first time.Ja: 「でも、こんな風に心を許して話せるのは安心。」En: "But being able to talk openly like this is reassuring."Ja: やがて夜が更け、心温まるひとときが終わろうとしていました。En: Eventually, as night advanced, their heartwarming time was drawing to an end.Ja: ユキは微笑み、決意が湧いていました。En: Yuki smiled, a new determination rising within her.Ja: 「これからの全ての時間を大切に生きる。」En: "I will cherish every moment from now on."Ja: ハルキはユキの手を優しく握り、「僕も一緒に支えるよ」と誓いました。En: Haruki gently held Yuki's hand and promised, "I'll support you together."Ja: こうして二人は、お茶屋を後にしました。En: With that, the two of them left the teahouse.Ja: 新しい希望を胸に抱え、穏やかな夜風に吹かれながら、また一歩を踏み出しました。En: Holding new hope in their hearts, they took another step forward, blown by the gentle night breeze.Ja: それは小さな変化を伴い、強い絆をさらに深めました。En: It was accompanied by a small change and further deepened their strong bond. Vocabulary Words:hidden: 隠れたalley: 小道teahouse: お茶屋lanterns: 提灯festively: 賑やかにoverlooking: 見下ろしながらtranquil: 穏やかなbreeze: そよ風diagnosis: 診断anxious: 不安そうsuggested: 提案しましたseating: 座敷gazed: 眺めましたmurmured: 小声で言いましたspirits: 気持ちtoro nagashi: 灯籠流しriverside: 川沿いflicker: 揺れるsurface: 水面admitted: 打ち明けましたreassuring: 安心night advanced: 夜が更けdetermination: 決意cherish: 大切にpromised: 誓いましたholding: 抱えhope: 希望accompanied: 伴いbond: 絆deepen: 深めました

The Free Cheese
The Free Cheese Episode 621: Cosmology of Kyoto

The Free Cheese

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2025 45:38


This week on The Free Cheese, dying to live. We're reincarnated more than once in Cosmology of Kyoto as we explore a bit of Japanese history in this obscure horror game.

Cuke Audio Podcast
With Meiya Susan Wender

Cuke Audio Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2025 92:08


Meiya Wender has practiced at Zen Center since 1972, was ordained as a priest in 1986 (receiving the name Luminous Night, Original Practice, Meiya Honshu), and received Dharma Transmission in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi from Tenshin Reb Anderson in 2002. She has also trained in traditional Soto Zen forms at Zuioji in Shikoku, Japan. She has held many monastic positions at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center and Green Gulch, including director, ino (head of the zendo), tenzo (head cook), and tanto (head of practice). She has studied the Way of Tea for many years, including a year at the Urasenke Midorikai program in Kyoto, and teaches Tea in Sowing the Moon Teahouse at Green Gulch. - from the SFZC site

Fluent Fiction - Japanese
Finding Heartfelt Gifts: Sora's Obon Market Adventure

Fluent Fiction - Japanese

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2025 15:14 Transcription Available


Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Finding Heartfelt Gifts: Sora's Obon Market Adventure Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-08-04-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 京都の郊外には、明るい市場が広がっていた。En: In the suburbs of Kyoto, a bright market stretched out before onlookers.Ja: そこはオボン祭りの装飾が施され、カラフルな色が溢れていた。En: There, decorations for the Obon festival adorned the area, with vibrant colors overflowing everywhere.Ja: 屋台や店が並び、空気には屋台料理の香りが漂っていた。En: Stalls and shops lined the streets, and the air was filled with the scent of festival food.Ja: 伝統音楽が流れ、地元の人々と観光客の賑やかな声が響いていた。En: Traditional music played, and the lively voices of locals and tourists echoed about.Ja: 17歳のソラは市場を歩いていた。En: Sora, a 17-year-old, was walking through the market.Ja: 彼はおばあちゃんのための完璧な誕生日プレゼントを探していた。En: He was searching for the perfect birthday present for his grandma.Ja: 家族を大切にする彼は、心を込めた贈り物を見つけたかった。En: Being someone who valued his family, he wanted to find a gift that was heartfelt.Ja: だが、姉のヒナはいつも簡単に成功するように見えて、ソラは少し自信をなくしていた。En: However, his sister Hina always seemed to succeed effortlessly, and this made Sora feel a bit less confident.Ja: ヒナのように素敵な瞬間を作りたかった。En: He wanted to create wonderful moments just like Hina did.Ja: 市場は賑やかで、ソラの前にはたくさんの誘惑があった。En: The market was bustling, and there were numerous temptations before Sora.Ja: 美味しそうなお菓子、カラフルな服、小さなアクセサリー。どれも素敵だが、特別な贈り物には感じられなかった。En: Delicious-looking sweets, colorful clothes, and small accessories—all were wonderful, but none felt like the special gift he sought.Ja: するとクラスメートのタケシがやってきた。En: Just then, his classmate Takeshi approached.Ja: 「ソラ、踊らないか?」彼はオボンの踊りの方を指さした。En: “Sora, want to dance?” He pointed towards the Obon dance.Ja: ソラは少し迷ったが、休憩が必要だと思った。En: Though Sora hesitated a little, he thought he needed a break.Ja: 「いいね、少し踊ってくるよ。」En: “Sure, I'll go dance for a bit.”Ja: 踊りの最中、ソラは突然ある思い出が蘇った。En: During the dance, a memory suddenly came back to Sora.Ja: おばあちゃんが話してくれた子供時代の話だ。En: It was a story his grandma had told him about her childhood.Ja: 昔、彼女の家には地元の職人が作った手作りの品々がたくさんあったと。En: She had often talked about how their home was filled with handmade items crafted by local artisans.Ja: 市場にはちょうど、そうした手作りの品が並んでいた。En: In the market, those exact kinds of handmade goods were on display.Ja: インスピレーションを得たソラは、踊りが終わると再び探しに戻った。En: Inspired, Sora returned to his search as soon as the dance ended.Ja: 市場の一角に、地元の職人が作った美しい木製の飾りがあった。En: In a corner of the market, there were beautiful wooden decorations made by local artisans.Ja: それは素朴で、心のこもった作品だった。En: They were simple yet heartfelt pieces.Ja: この飾りこそが、ソラがおばあちゃんに贈りたかったものだと心に決めた。En: Sora knew immediately that this was the gift he wanted to give his grandma.Ja: おばあちゃんの誕生日がやってきた。En: The day of his grandma's birthday arrived.Ja: 家族が集まり、笑顔が溢れていた。En: Family gathered, and smiles were abundant.Ja: ソラは緊張しながら飾りを贈った。En: Nervously, Sora presented the decoration as a gift.Ja: おばあちゃんは目を輝かせて、それをそっと見つめた。En: Her eyes sparkled as she gently gazed at it.Ja: 「ありがとう、ソラ。とても特別な贈り物だね。」En: “Thank you, Sora. It's such a special present.”Ja: その言葉にソラは胸がいっぱいになった。En: Her words filled his heart.Ja: その日、ソラは気づいた。立ち止まって、目の前の瞬間に浸ることで、思わぬインスピレーションと自信を見つけられるのだと。En: That day, Sora realized that by pausing and immersing himself in the moment, unexpected inspiration and confidence could be found.Ja: そして何よりも、心からの贈り物の意味の深さを学んだ。En: Most importantly, he learned the profound meaning of a gift from the heart. Vocabulary Words:suburbs: 郊外adorned: 施されvibrant: カラフルなoverflowing: 溢れていたonlookers: 見物人echoed: 響いていたperfect: 完璧なheartfelt: 心を込めたtemptations: 誘惑artisans: 職人decorations: 飾りgathered: 集まりsparkled: 輝かせてimmersing: 浸るinspiration: インスピレーションabundant: 溢れていたconfidence: 自信profound: 深さtraditional: 伝統effortlessly: 簡単にcraft: 作ったdisplay: 並んでいたappreciation: 感謝suddenly: 突然handmade: 手作りmoment: 瞬間pause: 立ち止まってspecial: 特別なnervously: 緊張しながらunexpected: 思わぬ

Krewe of Japan
Season 6 Midseason Update

Krewe of Japan

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2025 4:59


A quick update from the Krewe on a short release break & things to come! Big things poppin' with the Krewe!!------ About the Krewe ------The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast sponsored by the Japan Society of New Orleans. Check them out every Friday afternoon around noon CST on Apple, Google, Spotify, Amazon, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts.  Want to share your experiences with the Krewe? Or perhaps you have ideas for episodes, feedback, comments, or questions? Let the Krewe know by e-mail at kreweofjapanpodcast@gmail.com or on social media (Twitter: @kreweofjapan, Instagram: @kreweofjapanpodcast, Facebook: Krewe of Japan Podcast Page, TikTok: @kreweofjapanpodcast, LinkedIn: Krewe of Japan LinkedIn Page, Blue Sky Social: @kreweofjapan.bsky.social, & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy!------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode!Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season!Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan! ------ JSNO Info & Upcoming Events ------Support the Krewe - Donate to JSNO!JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

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The Unfinished Print
Kay Watanabe : Printmaker - The Definition of Beauty

The Unfinished Print

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2025 58:00


If you're a creative person, going abroad, exploring the world, living in new surroundings, seeing new things can add a new dimension to your work. It can inspire you to see your practice in a new light. The influences you gather over time, especially through travel, can only enrich what you create. On this episode of The Unfinished Print, a mokuhanga podcast, I speak with printmaker Kay Watanabe. Kay has spent many years splitting her time between Australia and Japan, and in doing so, she's developed her mokuhanga and other print work across two distinct cultural landscapes. We discuss what it means to create in those two different spaces under different circumstances and how Kay navigates this duality, we also discuss her love of washi, the way she develops her prints, and how mokuhanga fits into her broader artistic process. Please follow The Unfinished Print and my own mokuhanga work on Instagram @andrezadoroznyprints or email me theunfinishedprint@gmail.com Notes: may contain a hyperlink. Simply click on the highlighted word or phrase. Artists works follow after the note if available. Pieces are mokuhanga unless otherwise noted. Dimensions are given if known. Print publishers are given if known. Kay Watanabe - website Instagram Gallery Camellia - is an art gallery in the historic Okuno Building in Ginza, Tokyo, Japan.  Munakata Shikō (志功棟方) - (1903-1975) arguably one of the most famous modern printmakers; Shikō is renowned for his prints of women, animals, the supernatural and Buddhist deities. He made his prints with an esoteric fervour where his philosophies about mokuhanga were just as interesting as his print work.  Helen Frankenthaler (1928–2011) was a prominent American abstract expressionist painter known for her role in the Color Field painting movement. Her innovative technique involved staining unprimed canvas with thinned oil paint, creating a distinctive luminous effect. "Mountains and Sea" (1952) is a notable example of her influential work. Frankenthaler's contributions have left a lasting impact on postwar American art. Frankenthaler began to make woodcut prints in 1973 and was influenced by Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858).  More info about her prints can be found at  the Frankenthaler Foundation, here. Yoshida Hiroshi (1876-1950) - a watercolorist, oil painter, and woodblock printmaker. Is associated with the resurgence of the woodblock print in Japan, and in the West. It was his early relationship with Watanabe Shōzaburō, having his first seven prints printed by the Shōzaburō atelier. This experience made Hiroshi believe that he could hire his own carvers and printers and produce woodblock prints, which he did in 1925.  Gary Shinfield - is a draighstman, painter and printmaker based in Australia.  Seraphina Martin - is a printmaker based in Australia. More info can be found here, at Sydney Printmakers.  Terry McKenna  is a mokuhanga printmaker and teacher residing in Karuizawa, Japan. He received guidance in the art form from Richard Steiner, a prominent mokuhanga printmaker based in Kyoto. Terry established the Karuizawa Mokuhanga School, a renowned residency dedicated to mokuhanga education, located in Karuizawa, Japan.  Further details about Terry and his school can be found, here. Additionally, you can listen to Terry's interview with The Unfinished Print: A Mokuhanga Podcast, here and Richard Steiner's interview here.  mokulito - a type of lithography which incorporated woodblock. Artist Danielle Creenaune uses mokulito in her work. She has a fine detailed explanation on its uses, here.   International Mokuhanga Conference - is a bi-yearly conference dedicated to mokuhanga which started in 2011 by the International Mokuhanga Association. Each conference is themed. The latest conference was in 2021, delayed a year because of the pandemic. More information can be found, here. monotype print - is a unique print created from an image painted or drawn on a smooth surface, such as glass or metal, and then transferred to paper. Unlike most printmaking methods, where multiple copies of the same image can be produced, a monotype typically has a single, one-of-a-kind image. It's called a "mono" type because it is not part of an edition like traditional prints (e.g., lithographs, etchings), where you can make multiple copies.  © Popular Wheat Productions logo designed and produced by Douglas Batchelor and André Zadorozny  Disclaimer: Please do not reproduce or use anything from this podcast without shooting me an email and getting my express written or verbal consent. I'm friendly :)  Слава Українi If you find any issue with something in the show notes please let me know. ***The opinions expressed by guests in The Unfinished Print podcast are not necessarily those of André Zadorozny and of Popular Wheat Productions.***    

The Pacific War - week by week
- 193 - Pacific War Podcast - The Siege of Japan - July 29 - August 5, 1945

The Pacific War - week by week

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2025 52:23


Last time we spoke about Operation Downfall. The Allies, under General Krueger, initiated a decisive campaign to clear the Japanese from Luzon. As they faced the entrenched Shobu Group, challenges included treacherous terrain and a resilient enemy. Simultaneously, Japan braced for an invasion, mobilizing reinforcements and devising defensive strategies to ward off the impending Allied assault. As July approached, General Yamashita's forces prepared to execute a final breakout, but progress was hampered by relentless guerrilla attacks and adverse weather conditions. With Operation Downfall looming, Allied troops focused on strategic landings in Kyushu and Honshu, driven by a relentless determination to defeat the Japanese militarily. The intense battles of Luzon became a precursor to this monumental operation, marking a turning point in the Pacific War.  This episode is The Siege of Japan Welcome to the Pacific War Podcast Week by Week, 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 world war two? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on world war two 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 you can find a few videos all the way from the Opium Wars of the 1800's until the end of the Pacific War in 1945.  Boy I have been waiting a long time to come to this point. One of the most significant events in human history that deeply affects us to this very day. Nuclear war is as much a threat today as it was during the cold war. The dropping of the Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were deeply complicated events fraught with issues of morality. It goes without saying whether or not the bombs needed to be dropped, their actual impact on the surrender of Japan and so forth are still issues hotly debated to this very day. I have spoken on the issue countless times on my personal channel and podcast, but I figure to do this subject justice I will create a full episode for it. Thus in this episode we are going to just cover what happened, but rest assured I will come back to this later on. As we last explored, following the successful invasion of Luzon in the Philippines, along with the fall of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, American forces began preparing for the final invasion of the Japanese Home Islands. This operation was codenamed Operation Downfall. One key initiative leading up to this invasion was a comprehensive air-sea blockade and bombardment campaign against Japan itself. Previously, we detailed the extensive firebombing and precision bombing efforts executed by General LeMay's 21st Bomber Command. However, during this crucial period, the B-29 Superfortress bombers undertook a distinct operation under the codename Starvation. This single operation would be one of the largest factors that contributed to the surrender of Japan and its one most people have never heard of. In July 1944, Admiral Chester W. Nimitz proposed a bold plan to use B-29 Superfortress bombers to mine the waterways surrounding the Japanese Home Islands. Although Generals Henry H. Arnold and Walter Hansell expressed concerns that this mining campaign could distract from the B-29's primary role as a strategic bombardment aircraft, they eventually agreed to assign one bomber group to focus on aerial mining when conditions permitted. On December 22, Hansell's 21st Bomber Command was directed to formulate a naval mining program aimed at executing between 150 to 200 sorties each month, which was set to begin in April 1945. However, by this time, General Curtis LeMay had taken command of the 21st Bomber Command. LeMay was notably enthusiastic about the idea and successfully recommended to Washington an upgraded mining program that aimed to deploy up to 1,500 mines each month using a full B-29 wing. LeMay viewed aerial mining in a different light than Arnold or Hansell, seeing it as a vital extension of strategic bombing. He recognized that most of Japan's war production materials, as well as a significant portion of its food supplies, were imported from regions such as China, Southeast Asia, and the Dutch East Indies. Japan's industrial heartland is primarily found on Honshu, its largest and most industrialized island, while Shikoku, another island, also lacks essential resources such as iron ore and high-quality coal. These crucial materials were sourced from Kyushu and Hokkaido, both of which are other Japanese islands. All these resources were transported by sea, so without easy access to raw materials, Japan's industrial output would come to a grinding halt. The only aircraft capable of deploying mines effectively where they were needed were the B-29s. Areas such as the Inland Sea, the Sea of Japan, and the Korean Peninsula were out of reach for other Allied aircraft. Additionally, Allied submarines could only venture into these perilous waters with great risk. Notably, about 80% of Japan's merchant fleet utilized the Shimonoseki Strait, a critical waterway that separates Kyushu from Honshu. Understanding the strategic advantage of closing this strait, LeMay decided to allocate an entire wing of B-29s specifically to mine this vital route. Brigadier General John Davies commanded the 313th Bombardment Wing, tasked with deploying approximately 2,000 naval mines each month into Japanese waters. The primary goals of this operation were to prevent essential raw materials and food supplies from reaching the Home Islands, hinder the supply and mobilization of Japanese military forces, and disrupt transportation routes in the Inland Sea of Japan. Between March 27 and April 12, Davies' bombers targeted key enemy shipping bases located in Kure, Sasebo, and Hiroshima. They also focused on the Shimonoseki Strait, a narrow and strategically important waterway that links the Inland Sea with the Tsushima Strait. Notably, after these attacks, this strait was successfully closed for two weeks. On May 3 and 5, the 313th Bombardment Wing laid down a total of 1,422 mines in the waters surrounding the Shimonoseki Strait, as well as near major urban centers like Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, and Osaka. These efforts aimed to severely disrupt maritime commerce between Japan's major industrial areas. Just a week later, the minefields expanded from the Shimonoseki Strait to include Kyushu, the southernmost of Japan's four main islands, and northwest Honshu, the largest island containing Tokyo. By the end of that month, these mines were proving remarkably effective, accounting for the sinking of more ships than Japanese submarines. In fact, within the Shimonoseki Strait alone, 113 ships had been sunk. Between June 7 and July 8, American forces expanded and fortified minefields along the western coast of Japan while also replenishing the existing minefields in the Shimonoseki Strait and the Inland Sea. During this effort, they successfully laid a total of 3,542 mines across 14 missions. The "total blockade" officially commenced on July 9 and continued until the end of the war. Throughout this period, American forces executed 474 sorties, dropping another 3,746 mines that replenished existing minefields and extended coverage to harbors in Korea. In total, Brigadier General Davies conducted 46 missions that laid down 26 minefields containing 12,135 mines. Remarkably, only 15 B-29s were lost during these operations. In turn, the mines accounted for the sinking or damaging of 670 Japanese ships, with a total loss of 1.25 million tons. This mining campaign effectively strangled Japanese industry, as the denial of essential raw materials to factories proved more disruptive than the direct bombing of the plants themselves.  Despite the clear vulnerability of Japan's economy to disruptions in coastal shipping, Japanese authorities were alarmingly unprepared to address the threat posed by air-dropped mines. By August 1945, Japan had committed 349 ships and 20,000 personnel to counter the Starvation campaign, but these efforts were overwhelmingly ineffective. The shipping crisis escalated to such a degree that searchlights and anti-aircraft batteries were redeployed from urban centers to defend expected mining targets. Additionally, suicide boats were employed in desperate attempts to clear the minefields. Royal Navy historian S.W. Roskill commented on the situation, stating, “The blockade had, in fact, been far more successful than we realized at the time. Although submarines initially played a critical role in enforcing the blockade, it was the air-laid mines that ultimately strangled Japan.” Japanese officials shared this assessment. A director from a Tokyo steel company reflected on the situation, noting that the denial of essential raw materials to factories caused far greater disruption than the direct bombing of the plants themselves. This contradicted the views of US Army Air Forces experts back in Washington. In a striking remark after the war, a Japanese minesweeping officer told American forces, “The result of B-29 mining was so effective against shipping that it eventually starved the country. You could have likely shortened the war by starting this campaign earlier.” Meanwhile, General LeMay continued his firebombing campaign against Japan. By the end of May, urban areas around Tokyo Bay had been devastated, prompting the 21st Bomber Command to shift focus westward toward the densely populated industrial complexes lining Osaka Bay. On June 1, 521 B-29s were dispatched to bomb industrial targets situated along the Yodo River, with an escort of 148 P-51 fighters. Unfortunately, an undetected thunderstorm struck en route, which meant only 27 P-51s reached Osaka, while another 27 crashed, and the remaining fighters had to return to Iwo Jima. Despite these complications, the B-29s bombed from altitudes ranging between 18,000 and 28,500 feet, successfully dropping 2,788 tons of incendiary bombs on Osaka. The attack resulted in the burning of 3.15 square miles, destroying 136,107 houses and 4,222 factories. Four days later, on June 3, 530 unescorted B-29 Superfortresses launched a bombing raid on the city of Kobe. Of those, 473 aircraft targeted the city, resulting in the destruction of 4.35 square miles. This devastating strike led to the demolition of 51,399 buildings, while another 928 suffered significant damage. The raid, however, came with losses, as 11 bombers were downed, and 176 were damaged in the operation. On June 7, 449 B-29s returned to Osaka. Despite facing heavy cloud cover that restricted visibility, they managed to burn an additional 2.21 square miles of the city, destroying another 55,333 buildings.  By the conclusion of General Curtis LeMay's maximum-effort area bombing campaign, the six most significant industrial cities in Japan, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kobe, Osaka, Yokohama, and Kawasaki, had been left in ruins. Major factories were either destroyed or severely damaged, while thousands of smaller household and feeder industrial units were consumed by flames. Casualty figures surged into six figures, leaving millions of people homeless. The evacuation of survivors further complicated efforts to secure labor for the factories that remained operational. Japan's air-raid protection system proved woefully inadequate to withstand a protracted siege by very heavy bombers. The system lacked sufficient organization, trained personnel, shelters, fire-fighting equipment, and facilities for relief and evacuation. Additionally, there was a significant deficiency in civilian indoctrination regarding emergency procedures. Under the relentless pressure of repeated major attacks, local Air Raid Precaution organizations collapsed, adding strain to an already overburdened imperial government. Japanese civilians, who had been conditioned by victory propaganda, displayed little of the discipline that helped German citizens endure years of aerial bombardment. As news of military defeats and the impact of B-29 precision strikes filtered into the great cities, residents began to lose confidence in their leaders' ability to protect them or care for the victims of the attacks. Abe Motoki, the Minister of Home Affairs at the time, later remarked, “I believe that after the raids on Tokyo on May 23-24, 1945, civilian defense measures in that city, as well as in other parts of Japan, were considered a futile effort.” Regarding the operational cost of this campaign for the 21st Bomber Command, it was not considered excessively burdensome. Over the course of 17 maximum-effort incendiary attacks, LeMay dispatched a total of 6,960 B-29s, which dropped 41,592 tons of bombs. The losses amounted to 136 B-29s, averaging only 1.9% of the sorties, a rate significantly lower than what had been endured in earlier months, and quite acceptable by the standards of conventional strategic bombing. Meteorologists predicted that the summer monsoon would keep Japan's skies covered with clouds for most of the upcoming months, from June to August. As a result, LeMay shifted strategies under what became known as the Empire Plan. This approach prioritized targeting industrial and military sites during daylight hours when the weather permitted, while secondary cities that had sufficient industrial capability became targets for nighttime area attacks. This change meant that since no single target warranted a full four-wing maximum effort, multiple missions could be scheduled in a single day. Accordingly, on June 9, 110 B-29s attacked three aircraft factories located in Narao, Atsuta, and Akashi. The strikes successfully destroyed the factories in Narao and Atsuta, but an unfortunate miscalculation led to the bombing of the town near Akashi. The following day, June 10, a force of 280 B-29s, escorted by 107 P-51 Mustang fighters, targeted six distinct sites in the Tokyo Bay area. The mission yielded significant results, with all targets sustaining heavy damage. Finally, on June 15, 516 B-29s were dispatched for one last firebombing raid against Osaka and the neighboring city of Amagasaki. In this combined assault, 444 bombers dropped over 1,350 tons of incendiary bombs, incinerating an additional 1.9 square miles in Osaka and more than half a square mile in Amagasaki. Starting on June 17, General Curtis LeMay's firebombing campaigns began to focus on medium-sized secondary cities across Japan. On that day, 477 B-29 Superfortresses targeted the cities of Omuta, Hamamatsu, Yokkaichi, and Kagoshima, burning a combined total of six square miles in these urban areas. The success of this initial multi-target mission ensured the continuation of the program, establishing an operational pattern that would remain standard during the final weeks of the war. In total, multiple incendiary attacks were conducted on sixteen occasions, averaging about two missions per week. Between June 17 and August 14, American forces carried out 8,014 sorties, dropping a staggering 54,184 tons of incendiaries across 58 secondary cities. On June 22, 446 B-29s were dispatched to strike six targets located in southern Honshu, including the crucial Kure Naval Arsenal. In this mission, 382 bombers released 2,103 tons of bombs, inflicting heavy damage to these essential manufacturing facilities. Just four days later, on June 26, a force of 510 B-29s, accompanied by 148 P-51 Mustang escorts, targeted locations in southern Honshu and the nearby island of Shikoku. However, dense clouds over much of the area complicated assembly and forced many aircraft to attack targets of opportunity individually or in small groups. As a result, adverse weather conditions would delay subsequent daytime raids until July 24.  In the coordinated strike program that commenced in June, the decision to focus on either the Empire Plan or urban industrial targets was largely influenced by weather conditions. As the program took shape, the 315th Bombardment Wing (VH) became available for combat operations. This wing operated somewhat independently from the other bomber units, with its activities significantly guided by the specialized equipment of its aircraft. Authorized for deployment in the Pacific in December 1944, the 315th settled at Northwest Field, Guam, during May and June. Its commander, Brigadier General Frank A. Armstrong, Jr., was a seasoned veteran of the strategic air offensive against Germany. The B-29s of the 315th Wing differed in two key respects from those of other units. They were equipped with the AN/APQ-7 (Eagle) radar, a sophisticated radar system designed for bombing, instead of the conventional AN/APQ-13 radar. The latter had primarily served as a navigational aid. While crews had become adept at using the AN/APQ-13 for night or poor-weather bombing, it lacked the precision necessary for accurate strikes. The Eagle radar, however, offered significantly greater definition and, although it required a long bomb run averaging seventy miles, this was not considered a serious hindrance in the tactical context of Japan. To further enhance its night-bombing capabilities, the Superfortresses had been stripped of all armament except for the tail gun. This modification, along with the Eagle radar, clearly marked the 315th as a dedicated night-bombing unit. There were various proposals for the use of these specially equipped B-29s, including high-altitude bombing, area bombing, and aerial mining. However, by the time the 315th Wing was ready for combat, the 313th Bombardment Wing had already gained proficiency in aerial mining, while all wings had become adept at area bombing using the AN/APQ-13. Training for the 315th had focused heavily on night radar tactics, with less emphasis on visual bombing and daytime formation flights. It was evident that if the Eagle radar was to undergo a thorough scientific evaluation, it should be tested against a specific set of targets that were preferably large in size and located along the coastline. In the view of the 21st Bomber Command, the oil industry met these requirements perfectly. The 315th Bombardment Wing initiated its specialized campaign on June 26 with a targeted strike against the Utsube Oil Refinery in Yokkaichi, the top-priority target. By August 14, the wing had conducted 15 additional missions against a total of 10 targets, which included various petroleum refineries and synthetic plants, such as the Maruzen Oil Company in Wakayama, Mitsubishi Oil Company in Kawasaki, and Nippon Oil Company plants spread across Akita, Kansai, Kudamatsu, and Amagasaki, as well as the Imperial Fuel Industry Company in Ube and Toa Fuel Industry in Wakayama. During the campaign, the 315th Wing dispatched a total of 1,200 B-29s, 1,095 of which successfully bombed their primary targets, dropping 9,084 tons of 500-pound general-purpose bombs deemed particularly effective against the scattered installations. The increase in bomb load capacity was made possible by stripping the planes of unnecessary equipment and conducting bombing missions individually at night. As the crews gained experience, they were able to increase the average weight carried from 14,631 pounds during the first mission to 20,684 pounds by August 9. Despite concerns about safety from removing most of the aircraft's armaments, only four planes were lost and 66 sustained damage throughout the campaign. The 20th Air Force estimated that the B-29 attacks led to the destruction of approximately 6 million barrels of tank storage capacity, and the United States Strategic Bombing Survey (USSBS) reported that refining capacity had been reduced from 90,000 barrels a day in December 1941 to around 17,000 barrels. However, the strategic impact was more apparent than real, as many storage tanks were empty and refinery production had fallen to just 4% of capacity before the very heavy bomber campaign began. The lack of precise intelligence regarding the state of Japan's economy had justified the emphasis on the oil program as a form of reinsurance. Nevertheless, the blockade had effectively severed the nation's oil resources, resulting in tankers remaining idle at the docks. On July 1, Admiral Halsey's 3rd Fleet departed San Pedro Bay to initiate the first preliminary strikes in preparation for Operation Olympic. This operation involved battleships and heavy cruisers conducting surface bombardments of industrial targets in eastern Japan, while lighter forces performed anti-shipping sweeps along the coast. Additionally, a fleet of submarines advanced ahead of Admiral McCain's Task Force 38 to eliminate picket boats and establish lifeguard positions. At 18:15 on July 9, the force began its 25-knot approach toward the Home Islands, launching its first strikes against the Tokyo area at 04:00 on July 10. A total of 1,732 sorties were executed, targeting locations from Koriyama to Hamamatsu, dropping 454 tons of bombs and 1,648 rockets over Honshu with negligible opposition. American airmen reported the destruction of 109 enemy aircraft and damage to 231 during these strikes.   Following this, Halsey's fleet moved north to bombard Hokkaido and northern Honshu, which were beyond the effective range of the B-29s and had previously evaded attack. At 05:59 on July 14, Rear-Admiral John Shafroth's Bombardment Group Able, consisting primarily of three battleships and two heavy cruisers, was tasked with attacking the Kamaishi Works of the Japan Iron Company. By midday, Shafroth's forces had opened fire on Kamaishi, marking the first surface bombardment of Japan by a hostile fleet in over 80 years. Between 12:10 and 14:19, a total of 802 16-inch shells, 728 8-inch shells, and 825 5-inch shells were expended, setting the town ablaze as key industrial and residential targets were hit and resulting in the sinking of one oil tanker, two barges, and one small ship in the harbor. Simultaneously, McCain's carriers closed to within 80 nautical miles of Japan, launching 1,391 sorties against Hokkaido and northern Honshu to target railways, shipping, and airfields, again facing only light resistance. In the ensuing strikes, American planes sank over 50,000 tons of shipping and naval craft, including the destroyer Tachibana, four minesweepers, eight naval auxiliaries, and around 20 merchant vessels, with significant losses occurring at Muroran and Hakodate. In addition, 25 enemy planes were destroyed, while American losses totaled 24 aircraft and 17 airmen, about half of whom were lost in combat. Task Force 38 launched another assault on July 15, executing 966 combat sorties that dropped 355 tons of bombs and expended 2,093 rockets. This operation resulted in the sinking of 65 vessels and damaging 128 others, as well as the destruction of 48 locomotives and damage to 28. Widespread destruction was inflicted on several facilities, particularly the Aomori–Hakodate railcar ferry system, which transported 30% of the coal between Hokkaido and Honshu. The strikes devastated the ferry system, sinking eight ferries, beaching eight more, and damaging two. In total, 70 auxiliary sailing colliers were sunk, and 11 were damaged, along with 10 steel freighters lost and 7 damaged. The ferry strikes were the brainchild of Halsey's operations officer, Captain Ralph “Rollo” Wilson. “When the first action reports began to sift in,” Halsey related: He snatched them up and pored over them; the ferries were not mentioned. Later reports also ignored them. Rollo was sulking and cursing when the final reports arrived. I heard him whistle and saw him beam. “Six ferries sunk!” he said. “Pretty soon we'll have ‘em moving their stuff by oxcarts and skiffs!”  Additionally, 20 city blocks in Kushiro were razed. The most significant outcome of these operations was the virtual severance of Hokkaido from Honshu. By the end of the raids, Halsey's 3rd Fleet had achieved the sinking of 140 ships and small craft, damaging 235 others, and destroying 38 planes while damaging 46. Meanwhile, Rear-Admiral Oscar Badger's Bombardment Group Baker, composed of three battleships, two light cruisers, and eight destroyers, was assigned to bombard Muroran. Between 09:36 and 10:25, this group fired 860 16-inch shells at the Nihon Steel Company and the Wanishi Ironworks, targeting both the coal liquefaction plant and coke ovens. This bombardment inflicted severe damage on those facilities and resulted in the destruction or damage of 2,541 houses in Muroran. As Hasley recalled “These sweeps and bombardments accomplished more than destruction. they showed the enemy that we made no bones about playing in his front yard. From now on, we patrolled his channels and shelled his coast almost every night that the weather permitted.” Additionally, Rear-Admiral James Cary Jones' four light cruisers conducted a sweep along the east coast of Honshu to hunt for Japanese shipping; however, they reported no contacts during their mission. Early on July 16, Task Force 38 retired east of Honshu to begin refueling and rendezvoused with Admiral Rawlings' Task Force 37, which agreed to operate closely as an additional task group for Admiral Halsey. At 03:50 on July 17, the two task forces began launching strikes against central Honshu despite adverse weather conditions. The American forces executed 205 sorties targeting the Mito area, while British aircraft flew 87 sorties against airfields and railyards along the northwest coast of Honshu. Despite the bad weather, several small craft and locomotives were destroyed, though the operation resulted in the loss of nine aircraft and four airmen. Later that afternoon, Halsey detached Badger's augmented Bombardment Group to attack Hitachi, a significant industrial and electronics-producing city. The 53-minute bombardment commenced in fog and rain at 23:14, during which 1,207 16-inch shells, 267 14-inch shells, and 292 6-inch rounds were expended against the Tago and Mito Works of the Hitachi Manufacturing Company, as well as the Yamate Plant and copper refining facilities of Hitachi Mine, resulting in severe devastation. On July 18, McCain's two leading carriers launched a total of 592 sorties against Yokosuka, specifically targeting the heavily camouflaged battleship Nagato at the naval base. The attacks resulted in the sinking of one old cruiser, one minesweeper, one submarine, one incomplete destroyer, and three patrol vessels, in addition to damaging one subchaser, one old destroyer, and one old battleship. Although Nagato was hit multiple times and suffered heavy damage, it managed to stay afloat. Meanwhile, three carriers also targeted airfields and other opportunities in Tokyo, while Task Force 37 attacked a seaplane base at Kitaura and airfields at Nobara, Naruto, Chosi, Kanoike, Natori, and Kitakawa. The recent raids resulted in the destruction of 43 enemy planes and damage to 77 others on the ground, along with the destruction of three locomotives and the derailing of four electrified train cars by rockets. However, the American forces incurred losses of 14 aircraft and 18 aircrew, as the 3rd Fleet flyers reported encountering the fiercest anti-aircraft fire they had yet experienced. Additionally, Rear-Admiral Carl Holden's four light cruisers were detached during the night to sweep shipping off Sagami Bay and to target the radar site at Cape Nojima. On July 21, Captain Thomas Hederman's Destroyer Squadron 61, consisting of nine destroyers, was assigned to conduct another anti-shipping sweep off Sagami Bay. Pursuing four radar contacts, the destroyers engaged targets at midnight on July 22, firing guns and torpedoes from 7,000 yards. This action resulted in the sinking of the 800-ton freighter No.5 Hakutetsu Maru and damaging the 6,919-ton Enbun Maru. In response, Japanese coastal artillery, the minesweeper W-1, and subchaser Ch-42 returned fire, but Hederman's squadron successfully retired without damage. Although minor in scale, the Battle of Sagami Bay would ultimately be the last surface action of the war. Meanwhile, as part of Operation Barney, a planned submarine penetration of the Sea of Japan, nine submarines succeeded in sinking 27 Japanese merchant vessels and one submarine, totaling 54,786 tons.  On June 8, the submarine Barb commenced her twelfth patrol, tasked with terrorizing the Sea of Okhotsk using her newly installed 5-inch rocket launchers. Over the following weeks, Skipper Commander Eugene “Luckey” Fluckey executed successful rocket bombardments on Shari, Hokkaido, and targets in Shikuka, Kashiho, and Shiritoru on Karafuto (southern Sakhalin), also employing the submarine's deck guns to destroy 35 sampans in the town of Kaihyo To. Observing Karafuto trains transporting military supplies to ports, Fluckey devised a plan to intercept these trains. Engineman Third Class Billy Hatfield recalled how, as a child, he had placed nuts on railroad ties and watched as the weight of passing trains cracked them between rail and tie. Realizing this principle could be adapted, he suggested rigging an automatic detonator. Fluckey had many volunteers for the mission, including a Japanese POW, and carefully selected Hatfield and seven others, deciding against leading the shore party himself. Just after midnight on July 23, 1945, Fluckey maneuvered Barb to within 950 yards of the Karafuto coast. Led by Lieutenant William Walker, the team launched two rubber rafts at 00:30. Before they left, Fluckey instructed them, “Boys, if you get stuck, head for Siberia, 130 miles north, following the mountain ranges. Good luck.” Upon reaching the shore, the Americans located the tracks and buried a 55-pound scuttling charge and battery beneath the rails, positioning it under a water tower they planned to use as a lookout. As Motor Machinist's Mate First Class John Markuson climbed up, he unexpectedly found he was scaling a sentry tower, causing him to retreat without alerting the sleeping guard. When a train passed, the team dove for cover before resuming their work after it had gone by. Shortly after 01:30, Walker's team signaled their return to Barb, which was now just 600 yards offshore. Fifteen minutes later, while the boats were halfway back, Fluckey heard the rumble of an approaching train. He hoisted a megaphone and urged the crew to “Paddle like the devil, boys!” At 01:47, a 16-car Japanese train struck Hatfield's detonator, resulting in a massive explosion that sent debris soaring 200 feet into the air and reportedly killed 150 Japanese. Minutes later, all eight Americans were safely aboard Barb, which then slipped back into the night, having successfully executed the only amphibious invasion of Japan during World War II. Returning to the main action, Halsey aimed to eliminate the remnants of the Combined Fleet at the heavily fortified Kure Naval Base. Consequently, Task Force 38 began launching the first of 1,363 sorties against ships and airfields in Kyushu, Shikoku, and Honshu, ringing the Inland Sea at 04:40 on July 24. A total of 599 tons of bombs and 1,615 rockets were unleashed over Kure, resulting in the sinking or damaging of 22 warships, which totaled 258,000 tons. Among the affected vessels were the battleships Hyuga, Ise, and Haruna; fleet carriers Amagi and Katsuragi; the escort carrier Kaiyo; heavy cruisers Tone and Aoba; as well as light cruisers Oyodo and Kitakami. In addition, another 53 vessels amounting to 17,000 tons were sunk at various locations, including Hiroshima Bay, Niihama, Bungo Channel, and Kii Channel. At Kobe, the incomplete fleet carrier Aso was also attacked and damaged. American Hellcats and Corsairs effectively swept aside Japanese aerial opposition, shooting down 18 enemy planes while destroying 40 aircraft and damaging another 80 on the ground. Furthermore, around the Inland Sea, 16 locomotives were destroyed and five were damaged, while 20 hangars sustained damage. Three oil tanks were set ablaze at Kure and one at Tano. Additionally, four electric trains and a roundhouse were strafed at Hamamatsu, and various military installations, including barracks, warehouses, power plants, and factories around the airfields, received significant damage. Simultaneously, Rear-Admiral Rawlings' Task Force 37 conducted 257 sorties against targets in Japan and the surrounding offshore areas, sinking the escort carrier Shimane Maru in Shido Bay, along with a number of destroyers, small escorts, and coasters. Meanwhile, Jones' light cruisers swept through the Kii Channel before bombarding the Kushimoto seaplane base and airfields at Cape Shionomisaki during the night. Supporting these efforts, General LeMay dispatched 625 B-29s against seven targets in the Nagoya and Osaka areas, successfully inflicting heavy damage on all of them despite the spotty weather, marking this as the last major attack on the Japanese mainland during the war, as two weeks of cloudy weather ensued. In the early hours of July 25, McCain's aircraft carriers resumed launching strikes against airfields and shipping in the Inland Sea and the Nagoya-Osaka areas. During this operation, they executed a total of 655 sorties, expending 185 tons of bombs and 1,162 rockets, successfully sinking nine ships totaling 8,000 tons and damaging another 35 vessels. The strikes also resulted in the downing of 21 Japanese planes, with an additional 61 aircraft destroyed on the ground and 68 damaged. After refueling on July 27, Halsey's carrier forces moved to launch points located 96 nautical miles off Shikoku. At 04:43 on July 28, they resumed strikes over the Inland Sea, focusing on targets from northern Kyushu to Nagoya, as well as airfields across Honshu along the Sea of Japan. This resulted in McCain flying a total of 1,602 sorties, dropping 605 tons of bombs and expending 2,050 rockets. These attacks sank 27 ships, amounting to 43,000 tons, including the battleships Ise and Haruna, the fleet carrier Amagi, and the Combined Fleet flagship Oyodo. Additionally, 78 vessels totaling 216,000 tons were reported damaged, among them the fleet carrier Katsuragi, heavy cruiser Tone, and light cruiser Kitakami. American pilots reported the destruction of 21 Japanese aircraft in the air and claimed 115 destroyed on the ground across 30 area airfields. They also successfully destroyed 14 locomotives, four oil cars, two roundhouses, three oil tanks, three warehouses, one hangar, and a transformer station. In support of these efforts, Task Force 37 conducted 260 sorties against the eastern Inland Sea, targeting the dockyard at Harima and sinking or severely damaging four corvettes at Maizuru. Meanwhile, the 7th Air Force's 11th and 494th Bombardment Groups carried out a day-long raid on Kure, successfully sinking the heavy cruiser Aoba. By sunset that evening, the Imperial Japanese Navy had effectively ceased to exist, though the cost for the Americans was steep, with losses amounting to 101 planes and 88 men since July 24. As Halsey moved east to target the Osaka-Nagoya area, Shafroth's reinforced Bombardment Group was detached on July 29 to bombard Hamamatsu. During the night, they successfully unloaded 810 16-inch shells, 265 14-inch shells, and 1,035 8-inch shells, damaging the Imperial Government Railway locomotive works, igniting a blaze at the Japanese Musical Instrument Company, and wreaking havoc on infrastructure along the critical Tokaido main line. The following day, McCain's carriers conducted 1,224 sorties against airfields in Osaka, Kobe, Maizuru, and Nagoya, expending 397 tons of bombs and 2,532 rockets. These strikes resulted in the sinking of 20 vessels totaling 6,000 tons and damaging another 56 ships. The pilots also claimed destruction of 115 enemy aircraft on the ground, while inflicting severe damage on numerous industrial targets, including aircraft factories and naval docks in Maizuru. In Miyazu Bay, the destroyer Hatsushino struck an air-dropped naval mine, marking the final loss of 129 Japanese destroyers sunk during the war. That night, seven destroyers advanced deep into Suruga Bay, unleashing 1,100 5-inch shells on Shimizu within seven minutes, successfully destroying or damaging 118 industrial buildings. Typhoon weather would impede the operations of the 3rd Fleet for the next two weeks, as Admiral Nimitz ordered Halsey to steer clear of southern Japan, which was set to become the target of a new and deadly weapon: the atomic bomb. The U.S. Army had begun its project to develop an atomic bomb on August 16, 1942, under the auspices of the Manhattan Project. The project was directed by Major-General Leslie Groves and involved renowned scientists such as Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi, Niels Bohr, Richard Feynman, and Albert Einstein. Over time, it expanded to include a design center at Los Alamos and two production facilities at Hanford and Clinton. By August 1945, the teams at Los Alamos had successfully designed, developed, and built a gun-type atomic bomb capable of forcing five pounds of uranium-235 against another 17 pounds at high speed, thereby achieving critical mass and releasing immense heat, light, blast, and radiation. The team was also experimenting with an even more powerful device: the plutonium bomb, which utilized an implosion method whereby a sphere of plutonium was compressed by conventional explosives to reach criticality. By early August, scientists had managed to produce enough nuclear material to create only one uranium device, known as Little Boy, and one plutonium bomb, referred to as Fat Man. Each weapon had the potential to annihilate an entire city, and American leaders were prepared to use them if it could compel the Japanese Empire to surrender without necessitating an invasion of Japan. A Targeting Committee led by Groves, consisting of Manhattan Project and Air Force personnel, recommended Hiroshima, Niigata, Kokura, and Nagasaki as primary targets.  Groves' Targeting Committee employed several criteria to select sites for atomic bomb targets. The chosen targets had to possess strategic value to the Japanese and be situated between Tokyo and Nagasaki. Additionally, the target needed to feature a large urban area with a minimum diameter of three miles and must be relatively untouched by previous bombings, ironically spared for potential atomic destruction at a later stage. A crucial condition was that, to the best of their knowledge, these areas should harbor no concentrations of Allied prisoners of war. However, this requirement was challenging to ascertain accurately due to a lack of reliable information about the locations of prisoners. Initially, the committee considered 17 candidates and selected five primary targets: Hiroshima, Yokohama, Kokura, Niigata, and Kyoto. On May 28, they narrowed the list to three: Kyoto, Niigata, and Hiroshima. Hiroshima was significant as it housed Hata's 2nd General Army headquarters and featured a large shipyard, while Niigata was a major industrial city with an important port. Moreover, Kyoto held considerable cultural and religious significance for the Japanese. Secretary of War Stimson, having previously cautioned General Arnold about the humanitarian consequences of targeting cities with incendiary bombings, insisted on removing Kyoto from the list after intense discussions with Groves. On July 21, President Truman concurred with Stimson during their meetings in Potsdam, deciding that Kyoto should be spared. Subsequently, Kokura, known for its large arsenal and ordnance works, replaced Kyoto. Additionally, LeMay's staff reportedly included Nagasaki as an alternate target due to potential weather issues, as it was home to Mitsubishi's arms factories, electric production facilities, ordnance works, and extensive dockyards, making it a valuable target. Meanwhile, a high-level civilian Interim Committee, under Secretary of War Henry Stimson, ultimately advised President Truman on the use of nuclear weapons, reasoning that their deployment would be no worse than the current incendiary bombing campaigns against Japan. The committee also recommended that an atomic bomb be deployed as soon as possible, without warning, to maximize shock value and target a "war plant… surrounded by workers' houses." Following a successful operational test of the experimental plutonium bomb conducted at Trinity on July 16, President Truman authorized General Spaatz to prepare for the bomb drops before August 3. Colonel Paul Tibbets' 509th Composite Group had been specially organized in secret since September 1944 to deliver nuclear weapons, and by June, it had arrived at Tinian under the command of LeMay's 21st Bomber Command. General Twinning replaced LeMay as commander of the 21st on August 1, and he would ultimately issue the direct orders for Tibbets to drop the atomic bomb. The atomic bomb mission had a convoluted command structure. The Joint Chiefs of Staff were largely left out of the chain of command. LeMay was Tibbet's nominal commander; however, Groves still had extensive control over the operation through his deputy Brigadier General Thomas Farrell on Tinian. The 21st Bomber Command would determine when the atomic bomb mission was launched, based on suitable weather conditions. Even at this stage, General of the Air Force Henry "Hap" Arnold and LeMay were still skeptical about the Manhattan Project; they thought B-29 incendiary and high-explosive bombing operations would suffice to end the war soon. LeMay even questioned the 509th CG pilots' ability to conduct the mission; he wanted seasoned Pacific B-29 veteran crews to drop the nuclear cargo. While the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) and Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) prepared for an impending invasion, the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) continued its bombing campaign against Japan. The crews of the 509th Composite Group needed to acclimate to the navigational challenges, varied weather conditions, extensive distances, and the geography of the region, all while becoming accustomed to combat situations. Training commenced at Tinian on June 30, with conventional operational missions over Japan beginning on July 20. To prepare for their atomic missions, the crews trained with "pumpkins," which were specially constructed bombs designed to mimic the appearance and weight of nuclear weapons. This allowed them to practice handling and releasing the bombs. They also rehearsed navigational procedures, visual bomb release techniques, and dropping the weapon at an altitude of approximately 30,000 feet. Following the drop, the crew conducted high-speed, radical turns to evade the nuclear effects after detonation. During their first mission, a B-29 from the 509th sought an alternative target in Tokyo. The crew aimed to drop their 10,000-pound "pumpkin" on the Imperial Palace, but unfortunately, they missed their target. Had they succeeded in killing the emperor, it could have significantly impacted Japan's decision-making process, potentially fortifying the Japanese people's resolve to continue the war. Military leaders might have seized control in the aftermath, pushing their forces to keep fighting. Throughout their training, the units of the 21st Bomber Command intentionally avoided targeting Hiroshima, Niigata, Kokura, and Nagasaki during these practice runs. In total, Tibbets directed his crews on numerous combat missions that targeted 28 cities and involved the dropping of 49 "pumpkins." Remarkably, the 509th lost no aircraft during these operations. While Tibbets focused on perfecting the delivery method, the weapons Little Boy and Fat Man were being transported to Tinian. Some weapon assemblies were delivered by C-54 and B-29 aircraft from Kirtland Field near Albuquerque, while the cruiser Indianapolis delivered the fissionable material for Little Boy from San Francisco on July 26. Four days later, the submarine I-58 unexpectedly attacked the Indianapolis with six torpedoes while the cruiser was en route to Guam, successfully sinking it. Of the crew, 850 Americans survived the sinking, and another 316 were belatedly rescued by August 8. By July 31, most of the assembly of Little Boy had been completed. However, a detonation expert would need to emplace the cordite charges to fire the uranium "bullet" through the gun device to the uranium core after take-off, minimizing the risk of an inadvertent nuclear explosion in the event of a B-29 crash. Additionally, the crew carrying the atomic bomb had to exercise caution when descending once Little Boy was armed because the primary radar or a backup barometric fuse could potentially trigger an explosion if the aircraft descended too rapidly with the fuses in place. On August 2, B-29 crews arrived at Tinian with the assemblies for Fat Man. On that same day, General Twinning and President Truman approved the plan to bomb Hiroshima. Two days later, Colonel Tibbets briefed the crews about the mission, confirming that he would pilot the aircraft carrying the atomic bomb. Tibbets' B-29 No. 82, later named Enola Gay, was supported by three weather reconnaissance aircraft that reported conditions at Hiroshima, Kokura, and Nagasaki, as well as two additional B-29s assigned to conduct scientific and photographic missions. At 02:45 on August 6, Enola Gay took off from Tinian, with diversionary attacks by 604 B-29s throughout Japan also scheduled for that day, as coordinated by Twinning. After passing through Iwo Jima at approximately 05:55, Captain William Parsons and Second-Lieutenant Morris Jeppson armed the bomb at 07:30. Throughout the journey, the B-29s ascended slowly, reaching an altitude of over 30,000 feet as they crossed Shikoku and Honshu, finally reaching Hiroshima at 31,060 feet. At 09:12, Tibbets executed his final approach from the 'initial point', flying east-west over the city towards the intersection of the Ota and Motoyasu Rivers. Approximately at 09:15, Little Boy was released, and Enola Gay immediately began its turn away to escape the impending explosion. However, the bomb mistakenly descended towards the Shima Surgical Hospital rather than the intended target, the Aioi Bridge. At 09:16, Little Boy detonated at an altitude of 1,890 feet, just as Tibbets was about six miles away from the blast point. As a result of the atomic blast, the immediate area around the epicenter was heated to an astonishing 1 million degrees Celsius, instantly incinerating or vaporizing all people, animals, buildings, and other items within that zone. Hiroshima police officials estimated that immediate casualties amounted to 71,379 individuals who were either killed or reported missing. In the surrounding areas, the blast effects crushed unreinforced structures before igniting them, resulting in an additional 68,023 wounded, with 19,691 of those injuries classified as serious. Subsequent assessments, potentially incorporating the impacts of radiation sickness or more precise accounting, recorded 30,524 individuals as seriously wounded and 48,606 as slightly wounded. Just two minutes after detonation, a growing mushroom cloud of highly radioactive dust and debris soared to a height of 20,000 feet. Within eight minutes, Tibbets' crew could observe the mushroom cloud from 390 miles away. Ultimately, the dust cloud peaked at approximately 60,000 feet in altitude. Soon after, a thick, black, radioactive rain fell upon the areas beneath the cloud. The center of the city was utterly devastated; over four square miles of the urban center, which encompassed seven square miles in total, were completely flattened, resulting in about 60% of the city's area being destroyed. An additional 0.6 square miles suffered damage, while more than 75% of the city's 90,000 buildings were obliterated. The ensuing fires compounded the devastation, contributing to countless deaths and injuries. Tragically, some American prisoners of war were present in Hiroshima and lost their lives in the explosion. Meanwhile, Enola Gay safely returned to Tinian at 14:58, where Tibbets was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, while the rest of the crew received Distinguished Flying Crosses for their participation in the mission. 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. Japan was broken. To be perfectly honest she had been broken long ago. Her leadership had been spending months trying to figure out the best possible way to surrender, while the civilians and troops were suffering horribly. Aerial mining strangled her of food, high explosive and incendiary bombs, killed untold scores of people, and then the Atomic weapons were let loose upon her. It was over.

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The Dave Chang Show

You ask, you receive! Welcome to a Mailbag episode. Dave and Chris answer the questions that listeners and viewers like YOU sent in. From what "having a perspective" looks like as a restaurant to Dave's go-to hot sauce to must-own cookware, the pair cover a ton of topics. Want your questions answered on the podcast? You can Ask Dave through Instagram @davechangshow or email askdave@majordomomedia.com with your name, city, Majordomo cooking level (1-10), favorite thing you make, bucket-list restaurant you've never tried or the single best meal you've ever had, and your actual question! Learn more about Owamni here: https://owamni.com/ Watch the episode with Aisha Ibrahim here: https://youtu.be/hLBUDd6U3Rs Learn more about Daniel here: https://www.danielnyc.com/ Learn more about Le Bernardin here: https://www.le-bernardin.com/ Watch the episode in which Dave talks about his dinner at Noma in Kyoto here: https://youtu.be/jsH43_LqwoE Listen to the Post-Opening Diaries for Ko mentioned in the episode here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5eg5F14sKy01gYQyWZkdbS?si=_N6CbZPRSp-1Y0w2_n-kww Learn more about César here: https://www.cesar.restaurant/ Learn more about Ekstedt here: https://ekstedt.nu/ Learn more about Saison here: https://www.saisonsf.com/ Learn more about Hartwood here: https://www.hartwoodtulum.com/ Send in your questions to askdave@majordomomedia.com. Su Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices