Podcasts about Kyoto

Punch Punch PUNCH: Senior Japan correspondent Diamond Feit talks to developers and reports on xer favorite sights from this year's largest-ever BitSummit indie gaming festival in Kyoto.Retronauts is made possible by listener support through Patreon! Support the show to enjoy ad-free early access, better audio quality, and great exclusive content. Learn more at http://www.patreon.com/retronauts

In dieser Podcastfolge nehme ich dich mit auf meine zweite Reise nach Japan – in die Heimat des Reiki und zu den spirituellen Wurzeln einer Praxis, die mein Leben nachhaltig geprägt hat.Ich teile persönliche Erfahrungen aus Kyoto, Tokio und vom Mount Kurama, erzähle von meiner Begegnung mit der japanischen Kultur, traditionellen Shintō-Ritualen und einem bewegenden Besuch am Grab von Mikao Usui, dem Begründer des Reiki.Außerdem spreche ich darüber, was mich an der japanischen Spiritualität besonders fasziniert hat, warum die Teezeremonie für mich zu einer Lektion in Präsenz wurde und weshalb mich die Verbindung von moderner Leistungsgesellschaft und gelebter Spiritualität so beeindruckt hat.In dieser Folge erfährst du:✨ Was mich auf meiner zweiten Japanreise besonders berührt hat✨ Welche Verbindung ich zwischen Reiki, Shintō und dem japanischen Alltag wahrnehme✨ Warum der Kenninji-Tempel in Kyoto zu meinem Lieblingsort geworden ist✨ Was mein Besuch am Grab von Mikao Usui in mir ausgelöst hat✨ Welche Erkenntnisse ich für meinen eigenen Reiki-Weg mit nach Hause genommen habeDiese Folge ist für dich, wenn du Reiki praktizierst, dich für Japan interessierst oder mehr über die spirituellen Wurzeln des Reiki erfahren möchtest.

Behind the walls of H.H. Holmes' "World's Fair Hotel" waited trap doors, gas chambers, and a basement of acid vats — and more than a century after the Murder Castle burned, something still lingers at 63rd and Wallace.EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/HHHolmesHotelREAD or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/57djvd7fFEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: It's one of the most infamous and macabre subjects of Chicago history – it even served as inspiration for TV's “American Horror Story: Hotel”. It's what has become known as “The Murder Castle” where serial killer H.H. Holmes committed his monstrous crimes. But even today, Holmes continues to terrify… in spectral form. (H.H. Holmes' Hellish Hotel And Lingering Haunting) *** A woman tries to save the soul of her daughter, believing her to be possessed… but her solution to drive out the demon was to murder her daughter using a holy crucifix. (Murder By Crucifix) *** What's worse than proclaiming yourself to be a supernatural being and starting your own cult? How about telling your followers you are God so you could do drugs and have sex with teenage girls? It's the disturbing true story of the cult called “The Group”. (Theodore Rinaldo – The Drug Cult Rapist) *** Shrunken heads – believe it or not, they are real. And some tribal peoples create them even today – from real human heads. But why do it at all? We'll look at the reality behind shrunken heads, the reason they are created… and even how they are created. (The History and How of Shrunken Heads) *** A terrifying series of paranormal activities invade a family's home in Wales. (The Swansea Entity) *** Tenome is a Japanese Urban Legend about a blind man who was robbed and murdered. His dying wish? To have eyes on his hands so he could see. (The Seeing Hands of Tenome) *** Unsolved mysteries are intriguing simply because they are unsolved. That's why we are so fascinated by stories of people disappearing without a trace. But one man's disappearance is so bizarre, so weird, that upon hearing the story you'll be scratching your head wondering what the heck you just heard. (The Strangest Disappearance at Sea in History) CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding00:01:27.539 = Show Open00:04:09.416 = H.H. Holmes' Hellish Hotel and Lingering Haunting00:22:02.613 = The Seeing Hands of Tenome ***00:25:29.843 = The Strangest Disappearance at Sea In History00:36:31.904 = Murder By Crucifix ***00:42:31.316 = The Swansea Entity00:52:22.872 = The History and How of Shrunken Heads ***00:58:56.160 = Theodore Rinaldo: The Drug Cult Rapist01:05:34.000 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakLISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:“The Swansea Entity” by Brent Swancer for Mysterious Universe: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3pt262t4“Murder By Crucifix” by Inigo Gonzalez for Ranker's Graveyard Shift: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4h6mjabw“The Strangest Disappearance at Sea in History” from Strange Company: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/nsrhjdew“Theodore Rinaldo – The Drug Cult Rapist” by Matthew Lavelle for Ranker's Unspeakable Times:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yx2hmzus“The Seeing Hands of Tenome” from The Scare Chamber: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/y4dnxee6“The History and How of Shrunken Heads” by Bipin Dimri for Historic Mysteries: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4wdznwwc“H.H. Holmes' Hellish Hotel and Lingering Haunting” from Chicago Hauntings: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/pvthp98(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: November, 2021This episode of Weird Darkness moves from the haunted ground of H.H. Holmes' Chicago Murder Castle to a flesh-eating Japanese yokai, a millionaire's impossible vanishing at sea, an Oklahoma exorcism that ended in murder, a violent Welsh poltergeist, the real-world practice of shrinking human heads, and the Washington State drug cult led by a man who claimed to be God.It opens in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood, where Herman W. Mudgett — better known as H.H. Holmes, America's first serial killer and the inspiration for the Hotel Cortez in American Horror Story: Hotel — built his three-story "World's Fair Hotel" at 63rd and Wallace to prey on visitors to the 1893 Columbian Exposition. The building held sixty rooms riddled with trap doors, hidden staircases, gas chambers, and a basement furnished with a dissecting table and vats of acid and lime. Holmes confessed to 27 murders before his hanging in Philadelphia on May 7, 1896, though some historians put his victim count at 200 or more, and the strange deaths that followed his execution — a poisoned forensics expert, a suicidal prison superintendent, a priest beaten to death in his own churchyard — fed talk of a Holmes curse for decades. The site was never excavated, and employees at the Englewood post office built beside the old Castle property still report stacking chairs, a singing woman no one can find, and apparitions on the grass where the hotel once stood. Even Holmes' own descendant, Jeff Mudgett, author of Bloodstains and the figure behind the History Channel's American Ripper, walked out of that basement a changed man.From there the episode crosses to Japan and the legend of Tenome, a blind old man robbed and beaten to death in a field who returned as a vengeful yokai with eyes on the palms of his hands. First recorded in the Gazu Hyakki Yagyō, the creature hunts graveyards and open fields by scent, feeds on fresh human bones, and inspired the Pale Man of Pan's Labyrinth. The segment ends with the Kyoto tale of a young man who hid from the Tenome inside a locked temple chest — and was found afterward as an empty sack of skin, his bones sucked out through his flesh.Next comes the 1931 disappearance of Hisashi Fujimura, the Japanese-born silk millionaire who vanished from the Red Star liner Belgenland somewhere between Halifax and New York on the night of August 13. Fujimura had told a friend he feared gamblers would follow him aboard, his mistress Mary Reissner was registered under a false name as a governess, and his bank account had dropped from over $333,000 to $2.65 in five months. The ship's captain saw him talking to an unseen person at 2:45 a.m.; by morning his bed was unslept-in and his seven-year-old daughter was alone in the stateroom. Federal investigators closed the case without answers, a dust-free wallet bearing his name later surfaced in an empty Manhattan flat, and Fujimura was declared legally dead in 1938 — leaving murder, suicide, accident, and a staged escape all equally possible.The darkness turns domestic with the 2016 killing of 33-year-old Geneva Gomez in Oklahoma City, beaten to death by her own mother, Juanita Gomez, who claimed she was performing an exorcism to drive Satan from her daughter. Juanita punched Geneva repeatedly, forced a crucifix and religious medallion down her throat, then arranged the body in the shape of a cross with a wooden crucifix on her chest. A forensic psychologist concluded she was feigning incompetence, the insanity plea collapsed, and in January 2018 a jury needed only 20 minutes to convict her of first-degree murder and recommend life without parole.The episode then travels to Rhondda Street in Swansea, Wales, where in 1965 Marcia and David Howells, their two small children, and Marcia's grandmother endured a poltergeist that began with choking sensations in the night and escalated to bottles flying off mantelpieces, rooms ransacked in minutes, the gas stove turning itself on, and a double bed found hurled on top of the baby's empty cot behind a barred door. Police, reporters, and a priest all came to the little house; the only room ever left untouched was the grandmother's. The family finally moved out, the activity stopped, and no tragedy in the home's history was ever found to explain it — leaving psychokinesis, spirit attachment, and Marcia's own verdict, a demon, on the table.From haunted houses the show turns to a practice that is grimly real: the shrunken heads, or tsantsas, of the Jivaro people of northern Peru and southern Ecuador. Warriors severed the heads of slain enemies in the belief that shrinking them enslaved the victim's vengeful spirit, then boiled the skin free of the skull, packed it with hot stones and sand, blackened it with charcoal ash, and sewed the lips shut to seal the spirit inside — reducing a human head to a third of its size. Genu

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Spring in Kyoto: A Tale of Courage, Friendship, and Resilience Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-06-11-22-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 桜の花が舞い散る春の京都。En: Spring in Kyoto, with cherry blossoms fluttering in the air.Ja: ある晴れた午後、高校の校庭では賑やかな声と笑顔があふれていました。En: On a clear afternoon, lively voices and smiles filled the high school yard.Ja: 校舎の陰から明るい応援や指示が聞こえてきます。En: From the shadows of the school building, cheerful encouragement and instructions could be heard.Ja: この日、京都の高校では陸上部の練習が行われていました。En: On this day, the track and field team was practicing at a high school in Kyoto.Ja: ナオキは一生懸命に走ります。En: Naoki runs with all his might.Ja: 彼は陸上競技のスター選手であり、近づく大会に向けて練習に力を入れています。En: He is a star athlete in track and field, putting effort into practice for the upcoming competition.Ja: しかし、心の奥では失敗を恐れる気持ちも隠れていました。En: However, deep down, he harbors a fear of failure.Ja: それでも、ひときわ努力を続けます。高校生活最後のチャンスを活かしたいのです。En: Nevertheless, he continues to exert great effort, determined to make the most of his last chance in high school.Ja: 親友のヒロシは、いつもナオキを支えてくれる存在です。En: His best friend, Hiroshi, is always there to support Naoki.Ja: 彼は声をかけます。「頑張れ、ナオキ！いけるよ！」En: He calls out, "You can do it, Naoki! You got this!"Ja: 二人は共に励まし合い、目標達成に向けて全力を尽くしています。En: Together, they encourage each other and give their all to achieve their goals.Ja: ある日、練習中に突然の悲劇が起こります。En: One day, an unexpected tragedy strikes during practice.Ja: ナオキが跳んだ瞬間、足に鋭い痛みが走りました。En: As Naoki jumps, a sharp pain shoots through his leg.Ja: 彼はその場に倒れ、苦しそうに顔を歪めます。En: He falls to the ground, grimacing in agony.Ja: すぐに駆け寄ったヒロシは心配そうに声をかけました。「大丈夫か？」En: Hiroshi rushes over and asks with concern, "Are you okay?"Ja: 病院で検査を受けた結果、ナオキはしばらく運動を避けるようにと言われました。En: After being examined at the hospital, Naoki is advised to avoid exercise for a while.Ja: 大会はもうすぐです。En: The competition is approaching fast.Ja: ナオキは焦ります。En: Naoki becomes anxious.Ja: 心の中では、回復を優先すべきか、大会に出場するために無理をするか、悩み続けていました。En: Inside, he continues to wrestle with whether he should prioritize recovery or push himself to compete.Ja: 学校に戻ると、クラスメートのアイコが気遣いの言葉をかけてくれました。En: Back at school, his classmate Aiko offers him words of comfort.Ja: 「ナオキ君、大変だったね。でも、ちゃんと休むのも大切だよ。」En: "Naoki-kun, that must have been tough, but it's important to rest properly too."Ja: アイコの優しい目にふれて、ナオキは少し心が軽くなります。En: Touched by Aiko's kind eyes, Naoki feels a bit lighter at heart.Ja: 数日後、重要な練習の日がやってきました。En: A few days later, an important practice day arrives.Ja: ナオキは決断を迫られます。En: Naoki faces a decision.Ja: 痛みを無視して無理をするか、長期的な健康を考えるかです。En: Should he ignore the pain and push through, or consider his long-term health?Ja: 彼は深呼吸をして、仲間がいるフィールドを見渡しました。En: He takes a deep breath and surveys the field where his teammates stand.Ja: 「チームを支える方法は他にもある。」ナオキは静かに自分に言い聞かせ、いったん断念することにしました。En: "There are other ways to support the team," Naoki quietly reassures himself and decides to give up for the time being.Ja: 彼はフィールドの端で控えながらも、声を張り上げてチームを応援し続けます。En: Even from the sidelines, he continues to cheer loudly for his team.Ja: 大会当日、ナオキはスタンドからチームメイトを励まし、見守ります。En: On the day of the competition, Naoki encourages and watches over his teammates from the stands.Ja: チームは見事に勝利を掴み取りました。En: The team captures a spectacular victory.Ja: ナオキは感動しながら、その瞬間を心に刻みました。En: Naoki, filled with emotion, cherishes the moment in his heart.Ja: ナオキはこの経験を通じ、自分の健康を大切にすることの大切さを学びました。En: Through this experience, Naoki learned the importance of taking care of his own health.Ja: また、状況に応じて柔軟に対応する新しい自己の在り方を見つけました。En: He also discovered a new way of being, adapting flexibly to the situation.Ja: 桜の花びらが舞う中、彼の笑顔は新しい春を迎えたようでした。En: As cherry blossom petals danced around him, his smile seemed to welcome a new spring. Vocabulary Words:fluttering: 舞い散るlively: 賑やかshadows: 陰encouragement: 応援instructions: 指示harbors: 隠れてdetermined: 活かしたいgrimacing: 顔を歪めますagony: 苦しそうexamined: 検査を受けたavoid: 避けるanxious: 焦りますwrestle: 悩み続けていましたprioritize: 優先comfort: 気遣いreassures: 言い聞かせsidelines: 控えspectacular: 見事にcherishes: 刻みましたadapting: 対応flexibly: 柔軟にpetals: 花びらdanced: 舞うsmile: 笑顔welcomes: 迎えたathlete: 選手competition: 大会teammates: 仲間victory: 勝利discover: 見つけました

While filming a new documentary in Los Angeles, a story from Japan caught my attention and I keep thinking about it. It's the story of 20-year-old Auburn University student James "Weston" Higginbotham, a young man who disappeared during a family trip to Japan and was later found deceased after an extensive search in the mountains outside Kyoto. This isn't a video about assigning blame or creating theories unsupported by evidence. It's a discussion about victimology, missing person investigations, GIS technology, volunteer search efforts, emotional distress, mental health awareness, and the painful reality that families are often left carrying questions that may never be fully answered.We'll examine what is publicly known about Weston, why this case resonates with so many people, what investigators can learn from the search effort, and why loved ones should never carry the burden of believing they could have controlled another person's choices.#WestonHigginbotham #MissingInJapan #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #GriefAndLoss #FamilySupport #MissingPersons #SearchAndRescue #SAR #Victimology #HumanBehavior #BehavioralAnalysis #InvestigativeAnalysis #GIS #PublicSafety #TrueCrimeCommunity #TrueCrime #AuburnUniversity #Kyoto #ProfilingEvil #esri ========================================20% OFF Newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/go/podcast/?ref=profilingevil?xid=8877&utm_source=ProfilingEvilPodcast&utm_medium=podcst&utm_campaign=ProfilingEvil26========================================Discounts on eBikes: https://aipasbike.com/?ref=PROFILINGEVILReferral Coupon Code: PROFILINGEVIL========================================Email your questions to: ProfilingEvil@gmail.com========================================

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Patrick addresses live-wire issues across Catholic life, from martyrdom and liturgical disputes to Catholic identity in a world bristling with controversy about Israel, AI, and Vatican II. Listeners encounter raw stories of faith, unsettling questions on seminary formation and abuse, the awkward tension of interchurch invitations, plus the blunt reality of raising children amid cultural anxiety. Fresh, unpredictable, and sometimes bracing, Patrick threads practical advice with direct engagement on challenges facing Catholics today. Alonzo - What is martyrdom and what are the requirements for it according to the Catholic Church. (01:00) Joe (email) - Catholics Weird Obsession with Israel (05:27) Email - Reflection on God’s providence in our lives (08:31) Patrick shares Pope Leo’s statement to a Delegation Of The Association Of Catholic Colleges and Universities (20:55) Body of Auburn student James Weston Higginbotham found in mountainous area outside Kyoto, Japan, after he split off from family during trip. Reports suggest he was upset about his mom using ChatGPT (27:09) Matthew (email) – Would it be wrong to say God created the universe from his output of love? (31:49) Lawrence - Why can't the church change their policy to have all altar servers be men and not boys? (37:34) Patrick responds to an email about going to non-Catholic churches (46:24)

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Choosing Courage: Hiroshi's Heartfelt Graduation Gift Quest Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-06-08-22-34-01-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 日が傾き始めた頃、鮮やかな光に彩られた京都の活気あふれる市場、「ブライト・マーケット」にヒロシは到着しました。En: As the sun began to set, Hiroshi arrived at the bustling market in Kyoto, known as the "Bright Market," glowing with vibrant light.Ja: 屋台の間を渡り歩くと、たこ焼きの香ばしい匂いが漂い、露店の売り子たちの元気な掛け声が響いていました。En: As he wandered between the stalls, the savory aroma of takoyaki wafted through the air, and the lively calls of the stall vendors echoed around him.Ja: ヒロシは妹のユキに贈る完璧なプレゼントを探していました。En: Hiroshi was on a quest to find the perfect gift for his younger sister, Yuki.Ja: ユキの卒業を祝うには、彼女の努力を称える特別な贈り物が必要だと思っていました。En: To celebrate Yuki's graduation, he felt it was necessary to give her a special gift that honored her hard work.Ja: しかし、ヒロシには限られた予算しかなく、選択肢の多さに圧倒され、自分の決断力を不安に思っていました。En: However, Hiroshi was working with a limited budget, and he felt overwhelmed by the abundance of choices, causing him to doubt his decision-making skills.Ja: 市場は多くの観光客で混雑していました。En: The market was crowded with many tourists.Ja: 色とりどりの雑貨や工芸品が魅力的に並んでおり、目移りするばかりです。En: The colorful array of miscellaneous goods and crafts was alluring, making it difficult for him to decide.Ja: 「何かユキにぴったりのものが見つかるはずだ」と心に決め、ヒロシは時間をかけて商品を見て回りました。En: Determined, Hiroshi thought, "I must find something perfect for Yuki," and he took his time to browse through the merchandise.Ja: ふと、ヒロシの目に止まったのは小さな屋台でした。En: Suddenly, a small stall caught Hiroshi's eye.Ja: そこには手作りの銀のペンダントが並べられ、それぞれに特別な言葉が刻まれていました。En: It displayed handmade silver pendants, each engraved with a special word.Ja: 「勇気」「希望」「信念」など、多くのメッセージがキラリと光ります。En: Messages like "courage," "hope," and "belief" shone brightly.Ja: この一つひとつのペンダントが特別な意味をもたらすように感じました。En: Each pendant seemed to carry a special meaning.Ja: ヒロシの胸にアイデアが浮かびました。En: An idea formed in Hiroshi's mind.Ja: 「これこそ、ユキへの贈り物だ」と。En: "This is the gift for Yuki," he thought.Ja: 彼は「勇気」と刻まれたペンダントを選びました。この言葉は、ユキのこれまでの努力と成長を象徴していると感じたからです。En: He chose the pendant engraved with "courage," as he felt this word symbolized Yuki's hard work and growth thus far.Ja: ペンダントを手にしたヒロシは、妹に伝えたい思いをこの小さな贈り物に込めることができたと感じ、心からほっとしました。En: With the pendant in hand, Hiroshi felt relieved that he could convey the sentiment he wanted to express to his sister through this small gift.Ja: そして、贈り物の価値は価格や華やかさではなく、心をこめることにあると気づきました。En: He realized that the true value of a gift doesn't lie in its price or glamour, but in the heartfelt care put into it.Ja: 市場を後にする頃には、夜の灯りも温かさを増し、ヒロシの心にも満足感が広がりました。En: As he left the market, the evening lights grew warmer and a sense of satisfaction spread within Hiroshi's heart.Ja: 彼は、思いやりをもって選ぶことが何よりも大切であることを学び、これからも自信を持って選択をしていくことでしょう。En: He learned that choosing with consideration is what truly matters and felt confident in making decisions in the future. Vocabulary Words:bustling: 活気あふれるstall: 屋台wandering: 渡り歩くsavory: 香ばしいwafted: 漂いvendors: 売り子たちquest: 探してgraduation: 卒業honored: 称えるabundance: 多さoverwhelmed: 圧倒されdetermined: 心に決めmerchandise: 商品pendant: ペンダントengraved: 刻まれてcourage: 勇気belief: 信念relieved: ほっとsentiment: 思いglamour: 華やかさheartfelt: 心をこめるconsideration: 思いやりmiscellaneous: 雑貨alluring: 魅力的handmade: 手作りのdisplayed: 並べられsymbolized: 象徴しているconvey: 伝えたいshine: キラリと光りますsatisfaction: 満足感

The 20-year-old Auburn student who was last seen walking towards hiking trails in Japan, was found dead on Saturday in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto. The parents of Weston Higginbotham made the tragic announcement after asking for the public’s help in finding their son. The family said Weston took off on his own, after a disagreement during the family trip to Japan to celebrate his younger brother’s high school graduation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 20-year-old Auburn student who was last seen walking towards hiking trails in Japan, was found dead on Saturday in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto. The parents of Weston Higginbotham made the tragic announcement after asking for the public’s help in finding their son. The family said Weston took off on his own, after a disagreement during the family trip to Japan to celebrate his younger brother’s high school graduation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 20-year-old Auburn student who was last seen walking towards hiking trails in Japan, was found dead on Saturday in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto. The parents of Weston Higginbotham made the tragic announcement after asking for the public’s help in finding their son. The family said Weston took off on his own, after a disagreement during the family trip to Japan to celebrate his younger brother’s high school graduation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 20-year-old Auburn student who was last seen walking towards hiking trails in Japan, was found dead on Saturday in a mountainous area outside of Kyoto. The parents of Weston Higginbotham made the tragic announcement after asking for the public’s help in finding their son. The family said Weston took off on his own, after a disagreement during the family trip to Japan to celebrate his younger brother’s high school graduation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just around the corner, Dan Orlowitz re-joins the Krewe to preview Japan's tournament outlook. We break down Samurai Blue's final roster, key players to watch, group-stage matchups, and what a successful World Cup would look like for Japan. Plus, Dan shares his predictions for the tournament's biggest surprises, disappointments, and who he thinks will be lifting the trophy when it's all said and done. Whether you're a diehard soccer fan or a once-every-four-years World Cup viewer, this episode is the perfect primer before kickoff. ------ 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!  ------ Past KOJ Sports-Related Episodes ------ Bridging Communities Through MLB Players Trust ft. Amy Hever & Chris Capuano (S6E18) Japanese Soccer on the World Stage ft. Dan Orlowitz (S6E6) Meet the J.League ft. Dan Orlowitz (S6E4) Kendo: The Way of the Sword ft. Alexander Bennett, 7th Dan in Kendo (S4E16) The Life of a Sumotori ft. 3-Time Grand Champion Konishiki Yasokichi (S4E10) Talking Sumo ft. Andrew Freud (S1E8) ------ About Dan Orlowitz ------ Dan's Socials & Writings J-Talk Podcast ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!

Adrienne and Zealous Wiley are US based Palm Springs designers who fell in love with traditional Japanese houses and are living their dream by purchasing and beautifully renovating a 100-year-old machiya (traditional townhouse) in Kyoto, Japan. This live chat with Adrienne and Zealous gives us insights on their design decisions and steps of renovation as what led them to take on this new lifestyle.Their journey buying and fixing up a Japanese house started with @shumatsuopost and his team of experts for finding houses and getting the paperwork done. Zealous made this beautiful website of their renovation journey: https://higashiyama-machiya.com/YouTube & Instagram: @psiminkyoto Machiya Journal on Substack: https://psiminkyoto.substack.com/

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Rebirth in the Rain: Haruki's Journey at Kyoto's Gardens Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-06-05-22-34-01-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 雨がしとしと降る京都の植物園。En: In the Kyoto botanical garden, where the rain falls gently.Ja: 静かな中に、花の色が一層鮮やかに映える。En: Amid the stillness, the colors of the flowers stand out even more vividly.Ja: 植物好きにとっては天国だ。En: For plant lovers, it's paradise.Ja: ここである日、Harukiは新しい一歩を踏み出そうとしていた。En: Here, on one day, Haruki was about to take a new step forward.Ja: Harukiは風景写真家だが、近頃は創作に行き詰まっていた。En: Haruki is a landscape photographer, but lately, he had hit a creative block.Ja: 新しいインスピレーションを求めて、彼はこの花の写真撮影ワークショップに参加することを決めた。En: Seeking new inspiration, he decided to join this flower photography workshop.Ja: ワークショップの初日、Harukiは人々との交流に少し緊張していた。En: On the first day of the workshop, Haruki was a bit nervous about interacting with people.Ja: そんな中、Mikaが元気よく近づいてきた。En: In the midst of this, Mika approached him cheerfully.Ja: 「こんにちは！私はMika。植物が大好きなの。Harukiさんはどんな植物が好き？」En: "Hello! I'm Mika. I love plants. What kind of plants do you like, Haruki-san?"Ja: Harukiは少し戸惑いながら答えた。「まあ、花はきれいだけど、特に何かと言われると…。まだよくわかりません。」En: Haruki answered somewhat hesitantly, "Well, flowers are pretty, but if you ask me if I have a favorite... I still don't really know."Ja: Mikaは笑顔で続けた。「じゃあ、一緒に写真を撮りましょう！その中で好きなものを見つけられるよ。」En: Mika continued with a smile, "Then, let's take photos together! You might find something you like in the process."Ja: その日の午後、講師が説明をしている間に、雲が低くたれ込め、空は次第に暗くなってきた。En: That afternoon, as the instructor was explaining, the clouds hung low, and the sky gradually darkened.Ja: やがて大粒の雨が降り始めた。En: Soon, large raindrops started to fall.Ja: 参加者たちは木の下や屋根のある場所に避難し始めた。En: The participants began to take shelter under the trees or other covered areas.Ja: HarukiとMikaも一緒に雨宿り。En: Haruki and Mika took refuge together from the rain.Ja: Mikaは花の話を続けた。En: Mika continued talking about flowers.Ja: 「この雨、植物にとっては恵みなんだよ。En: "This rain is a blessing for plants, you know.Ja: 特にこの季節の雨は、花をさらに美しくする力があるの。」En: Especially the rain this season has the power to make flowers even more beautiful."Ja: 雨の中で、Harukiはその言葉に耳を傾け、自分の撮る写真がどのように変わるかを想像し始めた。En: Listening to those words in the rain, Haruki began to imagine how his photos might change.Ja: するとふと、今まで気づかなかった視点を思い出した。En: Suddenly, he recalled a perspective he had never noticed before.Ja: 「Mikaさん、本当にありがとう。この雨の中で見る花は、普段とは違うね。」En: "Mika-san, thank you so much. Seeing the flowers in the rain is different from usual."Ja: Harukiはカメラを取り出し、雨に濡れた花を撮ってみた。En: Haruki took out his camera and tried photographing the rain-soaked flowers.Ja: Mikaは微笑んだ。「一緒に新しいプロジェクトをしない？植物と自然をテーマに。」En: Mika smiled. "How about we start a new project together? With plants and nature as the theme."Ja: Harukiは思い切って頷いた。「ぜひ、一緒にやりましょう。」En: Haruki gathered his courage and nodded. "Yes, let's do it together."Ja: それ以来、Harukiは新しい活力を得て、写真に新たな命を吹き込んだ。En: Since then, Haruki found new vitality and breathed new life into his photographs.Ja: Mikaとのプロジェクトは、彼にとって貴重な体験となった。En: The project with Mika became a valuable experience for him.Ja: 彼は今、もっと多くの美しい瞬間を捉えるために、オープンな心で毎日を迎えていた。En: He now embraced each day with an open heart, eager to capture more beautiful moments.Ja: そして、雨が止んだ後の植物園は一層美しく映えるのだった。En: And after the rain stopped, the botanical garden appeared even more beautiful.Ja: 新しい出会いとともに、Harukiの心にも、植物たちと同じように新しい芽が出ていた。En: Along with new encounters, new buds were sprouting in Haruki's heart, just like the plants.Ja: 彼の視点は雨に打たれて磨かれ、光り輝いていた。En: His perspective, shaped by the rain, was sharpened and shining brightly. Vocabulary Words:gently: しとしとstands out: 映えるparadise: 天国creative block: 創作に行き詰まっていたhesitantly: 戸惑いながらvitality: 活力perspective: 視点sharpened: 磨かれworkshop: ワークショップbotanical: 植物園refuge: 雨宿りblessing: 恵みsprouting: 芽が出ていたbreathed life into: 命を吹き込んだcheerfully: 元気よくinteracting: 交流shelter: 避難darkened: 暗くなってきたgradually: 次第にeven more vividly: 一層鮮やかにimagined: 想像し始めたtake a step forward: 一歩を踏み出そうvaluable: 貴重なcaptured: 捉えるdeclared: 思い切って頷いたapproached: 近づいてきたovercome: 打たれてinstructor: 講師encounters: 出会いgradually: 次第に

D'Hisae Ikenaga huet mexikanesch-japanesch Originnen: si ass 1977 zu Mexico-City gebuer, do och opgewuess, huet duerno Konscht zu Mexiko, da Kyoto, Barcelona a Madrid studéiert, éier si, viru gutt zéng Joer, hei an der Groussregioun ukoum. Hir multimedial Installatiounen hunn zu Lëtzebuerg ewell vill Succès; d'Hisae Ikenaga war Laureatin vum Luxembourg Encouragement for Artists Prize, kuerz LEAP, stellt heefeg aus, ënner anerem hat si 2024 eng grouss Eenzelausstellung an der Escher Konschthal, an duerch hir Lëtzebuerger Galerie konnt si u Konschtprojeten zu Bréissel deelhuelen. Momentan ass hir Installatioun "Anatomy of Use" am Kiosk zu Gand ze gesinn. D'Kerstin Thalau ass vun der Hisae Ikenaga an hirer Curatrice Charlotte Masse gewuer ginn, wéi et dozou koum.

20-year-old Weston Higginbotham was on a family vacation celebrating his younger brother’s high school graduation. After an argument with his mom, Higginbotham went out on his own, last seen walking towards a hiking trail in Kyoto at 8pm last Friday. He’s an experienced solo hiker, but his location services were turned off just before he disappeared and now family is begging anyone with information to help in the search for their son.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20-year-old Weston Higginbotham was on a family vacation celebrating his younger brother’s high school graduation. After an argument with his mom, Higginbotham went out on his own, last seen walking towards a hiking trail in Kyoto at 8pm last Friday. He’s an experienced solo hiker, but his location services were turned off just before he disappeared and now family is begging anyone with information to help in the search for their son.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20-year-old Weston Higginbotham was on a family vacation celebrating his younger brother’s high school graduation. After an argument with his mom, Higginbotham went out on his own, last seen walking towards a hiking trail in Kyoto at 8pm last Friday. He’s an experienced solo hiker, but his location services were turned off just before he disappeared and now family is begging anyone with information to help in the search for their son.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Bolton is expected to enter a plea in a case involving allegations that he mishandled classified information. We'll tell you some of the major decisions still pending on the Supreme Court's docket. Tehran and Washington are sending mixed messages about the status of their fragile ceasefire talks. The House Oversight Committee has asked the Justice Department to investigate new allegations made by Jeffrey Epstein's longtime assistant. Plus, the search for a 20-year-old Auburn University student is underway in Kyoto, Japan.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

20-year-old Weston Higginbotham was on a family vacation celebrating his younger brother’s high school graduation. After an argument with his mom, Higginbotham went out on his own, last seen walking towards a hiking trail in Kyoto at 8pm last Friday. He’s an experienced solo hiker, but his location services were turned off just before he disappeared and now family is begging anyone with information to help in the search for their son.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After two weeks travelling around Japan, I was reminded what it feels like to operate in a language you don't understand - and how uncomfortable that can be.In this episode, I share a few stories from my trip, including getting lost on the Kyoto tram system, chatting with strangers in a traditional onsen, and using a tiny piece of Japanese that went a surprisingly long way.I talk about why language learning is about much more than grammar and vocabulary, and why confidence often comes from trying to communicate before you feel completely ready.If you've ever felt frustrated that you can't express yourself as clearly, naturally, or confidently in English as you can in your first language, this episode is for you.Send us Fan MailSubscribe to the podcastNever miss an episode! Get free English coaching tips here.Get the transcriptFollow me on LinkedIn and subscribe to my newsletter for the transcript of each new episode.Advanced English confidence trainingJoin the Advanced English Academy

In this episode of Career Thoughts Over Coffee, I speak with Brandon about building a career that does not fit into one simple box. Brandon is a New York-qualified lawyer based in Japan, a coach, and a university lecturer. His journey has taken him from the US to Singapore, Kyoto, law school, international legal practice, teaching, and coaching. But what makes his story especially interesting is not only what he does — it is how his career became a combination of different roles, interests, and unexpected opportunities. We talk about working across cultures, what coaching really means, why language matters when building a career in Japan, the discomfort of networking, and how careers can become richer when they do not go exactly as planned.Brandon's Contacts:https://whittakercoaching.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/brandonwhittaker/

durée : 01:24:56 - Retrouvez le concert du projet acid jazz et nu jazz japonais qui fête ses 30 ans sur la Scène Pont-Neuf du festival toulousain avec la formation funk parisienne, Echoes Of A New Dawn Orchestra, dirigée par le fondateur Yoshi Okino. - réalisation : Shirley Adélaïde, Denis Soula - invités : Kyoto Jazz Massive Duo jazz japonais Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Blossoming Love: A Sakura Festival Romance in Kyoto Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-06-01-22-34-01-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 桜の花びらが舞う満開の春、京都では華やかな桜祭りが開催されています。En: In the bloom of spring when sakura petals dance in the air, a splendid sakura matsuri is held in Kyoto.Ja: 風に揺れる提灯の光が、夜空に美しい影を作ります。En: The light of lanterns swaying in the wind creates beautiful shadows in the night sky.Ja: 各ブースには楽しそうな声が響き、訪れる人々の笑顔でいっぱいです。En: Joyful voices echo from each booth, filling the atmosphere with the smiles of visitors.Ja: この祭りの中でも特に目を引くのは、君と出会う場面のように美しく飾られたブースです。En: Among the festival, the booth that particularly catches the eye is decorated as beautifully as the moment you meet someone special.Ja: このブースを担当しているのは、真面目で少し控えめな彼―春斗です。En: The person in charge of this booth is Haruto, who is earnest and a bit reserved.Ja: 彼が秘かに想いを寄せているのは、同僚の元気でクリエイティブなアイコ。En: He secretly harbors feelings for his colleague, Aiko, who is energetic and creative.Ja: 一緒に働く陽気な同僚ユキも加わり、三人で賑やかにお客さんを迎えています。En: Together with their cheerful colleague Yuki, the three of them warmly welcome guests.Ja: 春斗は、アイコの夢を知っています。En: Haruto knows Aiko's dreams.Ja: 彼女はいつか自分のビジネスを立ち上げたいと語ります。En: She talks about wanting to start her own business someday.Ja: でも、どうやってその思いを伝えればいいか、春斗は悩んでいます。En: However, Haruto struggles with how to convey his feelings about this.Ja: 忙しい祭りの中で、そんなチャンスがあるのでしょうか。En: Will there be an opportunity amid the busyness of the festival?Ja: 「春斗さん、このアイデアどう思う？En: "Haruto-san, what do you think of this idea?"Ja: 」アイコが新しいデコレーションのアイデアを持ってきました。En: Aiko brought a new decoration idea.Ja: それを聞いて、春斗の心は明るくなります。En: Listening to this brightens Haruto's heart.Ja: 彼はアイコの創造力をサポートしながら、告白の機会を探ることに決めました。En: He decides to support Aiko's creativity while seeking the chance to confess his feelings.Ja: 祭りの終盤、星明かりの中、桜の下で二人は最後の飾り付けを整えています。En: Toward the end of the festival, under the starlight and sakura trees, the two of them are adding the final touches to the decorations.Ja: 風が静かになると、春斗の心もまた静かでした。En: As the wind calms, so does Haruto's heart.Ja: そして彼は静かに語り始めました。En: Then, he quietly begins to speak.Ja: 「アイコさん、君の夢を応援したいんだ。En: "Aiko-san, I want to support your dream.Ja: 君の力になりたい。En: I want to be your strength."Ja: 」春斗の声には真剣な響きがありました。En: There was a sincerity in Haruto's voice.Ja: アイコは少し驚いた顔をして、すぐに柔らかな笑みを浮かべました。En: Aiko looked slightly surprised and then gave a gentle smile.Ja: 「ありがとう、春斗さん。En: "Thank you, Haruto-san.Ja: でも、それだけじゃないでしょ？En: But it's more than just that, isn't it?"Ja: 」彼女の言葉にハッとしながらも、安心した春斗は微笑み返しました。En: Haruto, slightly taken aback by her words, smiled back relieved.Ja: 「そうさ、君のことが好きなんだ」と春斗は素直に答えました。En: "Yes, I like you," Haruto answered honestly.Ja: 桜の花のように優しい瞬間が流れ、二人の間に小さな共感と初恋の芽生えが訪れました。En: A gentle moment passed like sakura flowers, bringing a small connection and the budding of first love between them.Ja: 祭りの喧騒の中で、二人だけの時間が静かに流れ、未来の約束ではなく、今この瞬間を大切にしました。En: Amid the festival's hustle and bustle, time flowed quietly for the two of them, focusing not on promises for the future but cherishing the present moment.Ja: その日以来、春斗は徐々に自分の気持ちをもっと素直に表すようになりました。En: Since that day, Haruto has gradually become more open in expressing his feelings.Ja: そして、アイコと夢を追う日々が始まります。En: And so began the days of pursuing dreams with Aiko.Ja: 桜祭りの思い出は、二人の新たな始まりを彩りました。En: The memories of the sakura matsuri painted the beginning of a new chapter for the both of them. Vocabulary Words:bloom: 満開sakura: 桜petals: 花びらsplendid: 華やかなmatsuri: 祭りlanterns: 提灯shadows: 影booth: ブースearnest: 真面目reserved: 控えめharbors: 秘かに想うcolleague: 同僚energetic: 元気cheerful: 陽気なconvey: 伝えるopportunity: チャンスbusyness: 忙しいdecoration: 飾りstarlight: 星明かりsincerity: 真剣な響きsurprised: 驚いたgentle: 柔らかなhustle and bustle: 喧騒cherishing: 大切にするexpressing: 表すpursuing: 追うmemories: 思い出chapter: 始まりdecorate: 飾るmoment: 瞬間

Ep 529 - 007 First Light and Mina the Hollower are here, and they're both phenomenal. Bloodworth is back from Kyoto with stories from BitSummit, one of the most important indie conventions in the world. Plus, new Witcher 3 expansion, Dragon Quest XII, Call of Duty, and more! Get the extended cut and support Easy Allies: https://www.patreon.com/posts/extended-bond-29-159550773 00:00 - Intro 03:17 - New Witcher 3 Expansion - Songs of the Past 10:33 - Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams 19:24 - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 Revealed 27:52 - Steam Deck Price Hike 35:20 - My One Thing 43:54 - Damiani's My One Piece 48:37 - 007 First Light Impressions 01:14:43 - HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndacate Preview 01:18:44 - Mina The Hollower Full Game Impressions 01:49:51 - Bloodworth at BitSummit 02:11:52 - Vikings on Trampolines BitSummit Preview 02:13:52 - The Free Shepherd BitSummit Preview 02:15:45 - Yodelee Golf BitSummit Preview 02:17:15 - Corocoro Friends BitSummit Preview 02:19:02 - Kidbash: Super Legend BitSummit Preview 02:22:57 - Top 10 Live Action Trailers 02:35:15 - L&R: Best and Worst Controllers 02:40:33 - L&R: Pleasantly Surprised 02:45:35 - L&R: Detective Games 02:52:47 - Bets 02:56:38 - Closing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Healing Hearts in Kyoto's Bamboo Grove Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-05-31-22-34-01-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 春の陽気が優しく降り注ぐゴールデンウィークのある日、加藤家は京都の嵐山竹林へ向かった。En: On a day during Golden Week, when the gentle spring sunshine was pouring down, the Kato family headed to the Arashiyama bamboo grove in Kyoto.Ja: この場所は、家族の絆を取り戻すために完璧な場所に思えた。En: This place seemed perfect for restoring the family bonds.Ja: 青々とした竹が高くそびえ、静寂の中に心を落ち着けてくれる。En: The lush green bamboo soared high, soothing their hearts in the silence.Ja: リーダーの役割を背負った長男のカイトは、家族の中で懸案事項だった対立を解消したいと思っていた。En: The eldest son, Kaito, who bore the role of leader, wanted to resolve the conflicts that had been a pending issue within the family.Ja: 一方、妹のハナは、家族からの理解を求めつつも、自分を表現することが苦手だった。En: Meanwhile, his sister Hana struggled to express herself, while still seeking understanding from her family.Ja: 再会の機会を設けたのは、いとこのリクだった。En: It was their cousin Riku who organized the reunion.Ja: 彼は皆を呼んで、長らく続いた負の感情を癒すことを願っていた。En: He hoped to call everyone together to heal the prolonged negative feelings.Ja: その日、竹林を歩きながら、カイトは覚悟を決めた。En: That day, as they walked through the bamboo grove, Kaito made up his mind.Ja: 今こそハナと話し合うべき時だ。En: It was time to talk with Hana.Ja: 彼は深呼吸をし、妹の方に歩み寄った。En: He took a deep breath and approached his sister.Ja: 「ハナ、ちょっと話せる？」En: "Hana, can we talk for a moment?"Ja: ハナは少し驚いたが、うなずいてカイトの隣を歩くことにした。En: Hana was slightly surprised but nodded and decided to walk beside Kaito.Ja: 竹林の穏やかな空気が、二人が抱える緊張を和らげてくれる。En: The gentle atmosphere of the bamboo grove eased the tension they both felt.Ja: カイトは言った。「いつも辛くあたってごめん。君を誤解していたのかもしれない。」En: Kaito said, "I'm sorry for always being harsh. I might have misunderstood you."Ja: ハナは黙って足を止めた。En: Hana stopped silently.Ja: 長い沈黙の後、彼女は言った。「私も家族にもっと心を開くべきだった。でも、自分の意見を聞いてほしいって思うこともあるの。」En: After a long pause, she responded, "I should have been more open with the family too. But there are times when I want my opinions to be heard."Ja: 二人の間にあった誤解が少しずつ溶けていくのを感じたカイトは、ゆっくりと微笑んだ。En: Feeling the misunderstandings between them gradually dissolve, Kaito slowly smiled.Ja: 「これからはもっと話そうね、ハナ。家族だからさ。」En: "Let's talk more from now on, Hana. We are family, after all."Ja: 嵐山竹林の中、風が竹を揺らす音が心地よかった。En: In the Arashiyama bamboo grove, the sound of the wind rustling the bamboo was comforting.Ja: 二人は、少しずつ絆を深めることを決意した。En: They resolved to deepen their bond step by step.Ja: その後、家族全員が楽し気に会話を交わし、リクもほっとした様子を見せた。En: Afterwards, the whole family engaged in cheerful conversation, and Riku appeared relieved.Ja: これからは、家族の中での素直なコミュニケーションが大事だと気づいたカイト。En: Kaito realized the importance of honest communication within the family.Ja: 家族の絆は、言葉と理解で強くなるものだ。En: Family bonds are strengthened through words and understanding.Ja: 竹林を抜けると、明るい春の光が二人を包んだ。En: As they exited the bamboo grove, the bright spring light enveloped them.Ja: その日は、家族の新しい始まりとなった。En: That day marked a new beginning for the family. Vocabulary Words:soared: 高くそびえたrestoring: 取り戻すbonds: 絆soothing: 落ち着けるconflicts: 対立pending: 懸案事項resolve: 解消するstruggled: 苦手だったreunion: 再会prolonged: 長らく続いたapproached: 歩み寄ったeased: 和らげてくれるtension: 緊張pause: 沈黙misunderstood: 誤解していたopinions: 意見dissolve: 溶けていくrustling: 揺らすcomforting: 心地よかったengaged: 交わしrelieved: ほっとしたhonest: 素直なcommunication: コミュニケーションstrengthened: 強くなるstep by step: 少しずつbright: 明るいenveloped: 包んだmarked: 始まりとなったgentle: 優しくspring sunshine: 春の陽気

I went to Japan in April and bought 2-3K dollars worth of Kirby merchandise. I traveled to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, and Sapporo. This is partially a slide show of where I went, while also telling you where you can go to get stuff. I went to Kirby Cafes, Train Pupupu, Pupupu Mart, and more. I highly recommend watching the video version. Kirby's Dreamcast is a monthly podcast covering Kirby Right Back at Ya, all of the Kirby games, and the pink puff ball in general.  Youtube version: https://youtu.be/WNOOE4IbAZA http://bit.ly/DreamcastiTunes http://bit.ly/DreamcastGoogle Check out our Discord at http://bit.ly/ScarfCord Scarfplays Twitter (Channel): https://twitter.com/ScarfPlays LostScarf Twitter (Personal): https://twitter.com/LostScarf Jynx Twitter (Editor): https://twitter.com/GameJynx

We close out the Duggars' time in Tokyo with the crew being on a morning show and watching the hardest working PA in the business.  As the crew travels to Kyoto, they do some “ginder” segregated activities with “samurai training” and a traditional clothing and makeup photoshoot.  Inspired by the emails from last week, in our mini dig, Whit explores IBLPs teachings on oral sex.  If bitterness can cause cancer, what can oral lead to?  If you would like to support the work that we do, head on over to www.buymeacoffee.com/diggingupthedug where you can buy us a coffee, if you would just like to support us in a one-off fashion. Or you can support us monthly by becoming a member and then you will get access to our ad-free episodes and bonus content like Pickle episodes, Mildred Mondays, recipes, and two new types of posts; Tell Us Tuesdays and Foodie Fridays . We have a lot of fun over there with our community of Pickle People. We have Merp, I mean Merch! over at https://digging-up-the-duggars.dashery.comTake a peek at our episode visuals and Mildred related contact at instagram.com/digginguptheduggarspod

John is joined once again by Arametha, the man of many pronunciations, as they discuss mostly absolute nonsense for 45 minutes before finally getting into STARDOM's Queen Dynasty show! They break down another strong showing for the World Wonder Ring at the box office, a fun undercard, and then very notable first title defenses for Sayaka Kurara & Hanan! After that it's over to New Japan for continuing coverage of the Best of the Super Juniors tournament, covering night 4 from Korakuen Hall (the final true dual block show for a while) before heading into single block nights from Osaka, Hyogo & Kyoto! Who's been standing out so far, and who's been disappointing?Then it's back to joshi with Marigold's Shine Forever, their annual anniversary show from Ota Ward Gym. We discuss a difficult time for the embattled young promotion due to a mix of injuries and departures, and talk about where they might be able to go from here. Finally, we wrap things up with Tokyo Joshi's 5/22 Shinjuku FACE show, a delightful little event on their road to their next Korakuen show next month.Follow Wrestling Omakase on Twitter: http://twitter.com/wrestleomakaseFollow John on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/justoneenby.bsky.socialAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Beneath the Blooms: An Asthma Attack Amidst Kyoto's Sakura Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-05-26-07-38-19-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 桜が満開になり、京都の町は春の香りで満たされていました。En: The sakura were in full bloom, and the city of Kyoto was filled with the scent of spring.Ja: ゴールデンウィークの中、賑わう通りは屋台で溢れ、ピンク色の桜の下で人々は楽しそうに笑っています。En: During Golden Week, the bustling streets were overflowing with food stalls, and under the pink sakura, people were laughing joyfully.Ja: その中に、ユナ、ハルト、そしてマイの姿がありました。En: Among them were Yuna, Haruto, and Mai.Ja: ユナは、妹のマイにとってこの桜祭りが素晴らしい思い出になるようにしたいと思っていました。En: Yuna wanted to make this sakura festival a wonderful memory for her younger sister, Mai.Ja: マイは興奮しながらも、混雑が少し怖そうでした。En: Although Mai was excited, she seemed a little scared of the crowds.Ja: そこでユナは、マイが安全で快適に過ごせるように特に気を配っています。En: Therefore, Yuna was especially attentive to ensure that Mai could enjoy the festival safely and comfortably.Ja: そんな中、突然マイが咳き込み始めました。En: Amidst all this, Mai suddenly started coughing.Ja: 「大丈夫？」とすぐに声をかけるユナ。En: "Are you okay?" Yuna immediately asked.Ja: しかし、マイの咳は止まらず、顔が苦しそうです。En: However, Mai's coughing didn't stop, and her face looked pained.Ja: ユナはすぐに意を決し、周りの人々に助けを求めました。En: Yuna quickly made a decision and called out for help from the people around them.Ja: 「助けてください！妹が喘息の発作を起こしました！」その瞬間、ハルトが機敏に動き出します。En: "Please help! My sister is having an asthma attack!" At that moment, Haruto sprang into action.Ja: 彼はユナにサポートをし、「このままだと危ない。少し人が少ない場所を探そう」と言いました。En: Supporting Yuna, he said, "It's dangerous if we stay here. Let's find a place with fewer people."Ja: ユナとハルトは、マイの手をしっかり握りしめ、少し離れた静かな庭に行きました。En: Yuna and Haruto held tightly onto Mai's hand and went to a nearby quiet garden.Ja: 幸い、近くに咲いていた桜の木のおかげで、しばしの安らぎがありました。En: Fortunately, there was a moment of peace thanks to the sakura tree blooming nearby.Ja: ユナは、急いでマイの吸入器を取り出し、彼女にそれを使わせました。En: Yuna hurriedly pulled out Mai's inhaler and let her use it.Ja: 心配そうに見守る群衆が近づき、優しく慰めの言葉をかけてきます。En: A concerned crowd approached, offering gentle words of comfort.Ja: 「大丈夫？何か手伝えることは？」と声がかけられました。En: "Are you okay? Is there anything we can do to help?" they asked.Ja: ユナは、「ありがとうございます、もう落ち着いてきたようです」と返事をしながら、助けてくれる人々に感謝の意を示しました。En: Yuna expressed her gratitude to those helping, saying, "Thank you, she seems to be calming down now."Ja: 時間が経ち、ようやくマイは元気を取り戻しました。En: As time passed, Mai finally regained her energy.Ja: その時、静かで平和な桜の木の下に座り、みんなで一息つきました。En: At that moment, they all sat together under the serene, peaceful sakura tree and took a deep breath.Ja: 「ありがとう、ユナお姉ちゃん、ハルトお兄ちゃん」とマイは微笑みました。En: "Thank you, sister Yuna, and brother Haruto," Mai smiled.Ja: ユナの心には達成感と感謝の気持ちが広がっていきます。En: Yuna's heart was filled with a sense of achievement and gratitude.Ja: 彼女は学びました。助けを求めることは弱さの証ではなく、むしろ強さの証だということを。En: She learned that asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength.Ja: そして、多くの人が助けてくれる準備があるのだということを。En: She also realized that many people are ready to offer assistance.Ja: その日の記憶が何よりの宝物になり、ユナ、ハルト、そしてマイの絆はより一層深まったのでした。En: The memory of that day became a priceless treasure, and the bond between Yuna, Haruto, and Mai grew even deeper.Ja: 桜のピンク色が、彼らの心にも優しさの色を染めていきました。En: The pink of the sakura colored their hearts with kindness. Vocabulary Words:bloom: 満開scent: 香りbustling: 賑わうoverflowing: 溢れjoyfully: 楽しそうにattentive: 気を配ってamidst: そんな中coughing: 咳き込みpained: 苦しそうsprang: 機敏に動き出しますinhaler: 吸入器gentle: 優しくgratitude: 感謝regained: 元気を取り戻しましたserene: 静かachievement: 達成感treasure: 宝物bond: 絆colored: 染めてattentive: 気を配っていますcalming: 落ち着いてcrowd: 群衆treasure: 宝物congested: 混雑asthma: 喘息supporting: サポートfortunately: 幸いpeaceful: 平和offering: かけassistance: 助け

Have you ever fallen so in love with a city that you started seriously considering moving there?   That's exactly what happened to us in Kyoto. In part two of our Japan spring break trip recap, my husband Brandon and I continue our family travel story as we settle into five nights at the Park Hyatt Kyoto, a property so beautiful that I can confidently say it's the most stunning hotel I've experienced anywhere in the world. Brandon and I share our honest take on each Kyoto activity we did as a family, from the interactive art experience at Team Labs that became our trip highlight to the Nintendo Museum visit that had Brandon rethinking our packing strategy, to discovering that the famous bamboo forest came with far more crowds than we expected.   We also talk about the incredible food we ate that genuinely made us fantasize about relocating permanently, the travel decision I made for our journey home that turned into a stressful mistake, and the full accounting of what this entire nine-day trip actually cost. Listen as I break down every flight and hotel so you can see the real investment required to make this happen for a family of four.   Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/japan-family-trip-recap-part-2    Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of!    Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy  

This week we kick off with Suze's back problems - luckily Hannah has physio advice. We get into dry cleaner revelations,  a HUGE 23 month anniversary and some owl sex, and we discuss Amanda Knox doing her Edinburgh show at Hannah's venue. Gorge.  We have a stunning voice note from Kendall - about her BFF Lynn who got an anonymous gift from someone... LOL.  Speaking of anonymous gifts.... Jerry Blaze 'the Honkening' has been sent to us... who bequeathed us this magical gift?? Story 1  Big Sue has a story called 'something strange happened to me in Kyoto'... ideally listen during a thunderstorm.  Story 2  Hannah has a spooky tale from a prison: 'I won't tell you who I murdered'...  Story 3 Suze takes us to SOUTH AFRICA baby - wanna work in a haunted DVD store? COW - CREEP OF THE WEEK! From anonymouse... A TWO PARTER! Hannah reads out a tale about Annette and her younger bro Derek - warning: contains ouija board.  We Get Haunted So You Don't Have To.... we finish the eppy with some white noise and conjuring the spirits via spirit writing... WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN? Enjoy the episode and have an amazing heatwave hunsssssss WE LOVE YA xoxoxo  JOIN OUR PATREON! EXTRA bonus episodes AND a monthly ghost hunt for just £4.50!  Or £6 for AD-FREE EPS and weekly AGONY HUNS! We'll solve your problems huns!  Sign up here: www.patreon.com/GhostHuns MERCH IS HERE: https://ghosthuns.co.uk/ HALLOWEEN 2026 TIX HERE: https://podlifeevents.com/event-details/ghost-huns---live-from-cheerful-earful-11-oct-2026-tickets Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dans cet épisode de "Comment j'ai réussi?", Stéphane Pedrazzi reçoit Thierry Maincent, le directeur général de Japan Experience. Il nous fait découvrir les multiples facettes de cette destination touristique en pleine expansion. Fondée il y a plus de 45 ans, Japan Experience est le pionnier du voyage au Japon et offre une expertise unique pour aider les voyageurs à vivre une expérience authentique et inoubliable.L'invité, qui a vécu cinq ans au Japon et possède encore une maison à Kyoto, partage sa passion contagieuse pour ce pays fascinant. Il explique comment le Japon a su préserver sa culture ancestrale tout en s'ouvrant au monde, offrant aux visiteurs une diversité de paysages, de traditions et de gastronomie exceptionnelle.Il révèle que le nombre de touristes français et européens au Japon a presque triplé ces dix dernières années, passant de 150 000 à plus de 400 000 voyageurs. Cette croissance fulgurante s'explique par l'attrait grandissant des voyageurs pour cette destination unique, qui allie modernité et authenticité.Thierry Maincent aborde également les défis liés au coût du voyage au Japon, notamment le prix des billets d'avion et des hébergements. Cependant, il souligne qu'en s'y prenant suffisamment à l'avance, il est possible de visiter le Japon dans un budget raisonnable, même pour un séjour de deux semaines.L'épisode explore également les meilleures périodes pour découvrir le Japon, au-delà des traditionnelles fleurs de cerisier. Il conseille des moments de l'année où la météo est plus clémente, comme les vacances de février ou la fin du printemps.Enfin, l'invité évoque les possibilités offertes aux voyageurs pour s'écarter des sentiers battus et découvrir des aspects plus authentiques de la culture japonaise, grâce notamment aux ryokans, ces auberges traditionnelles réparties à travers le pays.Hébergé par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.

Nintendo HQ just got hit with mailed bomb threats from some 27-year-old unemployed clown in Japan -- the guy sent letters starting back in March claiming he planted multiple bombs and straight-up wrote "I'm going to blow you all up" plus "my plans cannot be thwarted" like he was auditioning for a bad action movie. Kyoto cops arrested him May 12 on business disruption charges, no actual explosives were ever found, and he already admitted everything -- yeah another day in the life of a "fan" who apparently lost too many Splatoon matches and decided the Mario factory had to pay. Watch the podcast episodes on YouTube and all major podcast hosts including Spotify. CLOWNFISH TV is an independent, opinionated news and commentary podcast that covers Entertainment and Tech from a consumer's point of view. We talk about Gaming, Comics, Anime, TV, Movies, Animation and more. Hosted by Kneon and Geeky Sparkles. Get more news, views and reviews on Clownfish TV News - https://more.clownfishtv.com/ On YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/ClownfishTV On Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/4Tu83D1NcCmh7K1zHIedvg On Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clownfish-tv-audio-edition/id1726838629 MORE CLOWNFISH TV - Official Merch Store: http://ClownfishMinus.com Facebook - https://facebook.com/ClownfishTV X - https://x.com/ClownfishTVcom Clownfish TV subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/ClownfishTVOfficial/ Disclaimer: This series is produced by Clownfish Studios and WebReef Media, and is part of ClownfishTV.com. Opinions expressed by our contributors do not necessarily reflect the views of our guests, affiliates, sponsors, or advertisers. ClownfishTV.com is an unofficial news source and has no connection to any company that we may cover. This channel and website and the content made available through this site are for educational, entertainment and informational purposes only. These so-called “fair uses” are permitted even if the use of the work would otherwise be infringing. #News #Podcast #FYP #Shorts #NintendoBombThreat #NintendoHQ #BombThreatJapan #NintendoDrama #GamingThreat #NintendoArrest #AnimeNews #TokyoGaming Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We speak with Reiko Sakata, general manager of the Imperial Hotel Kyoto, which opened its doors this spring. We hear about the hotel’s opening, its new spa and what the location means to the hospitality group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost exactly one year after Season 6's Expo 2025 deep dive with Sachiko Yoshimura, the Krewe closes the loop with two people who were actually there. Lea Disimone & Bridget McCarthy served as Youth Ambassadors at the US Pavilion during Expo 2025 Osaka, and they share what the program was really like from the inside, from a day in the life to the lasting impact it left on them. Two New Orleans connections, one world's fair, and a conversation worth the wait. ------ 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, Threads: @kreweofjapanpodcast & 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!  ------ Past KOJ Episodes ------ Expo 2025: Japan on the World Stage ft. Sachiko Yoshimura [S6E2] Hanging Out In Hyogo ft. Rob Dyer of The Real Japan [S5E14] Checking Out Miyagi ft. Ryotaro Sakurai (Guest Host, William Woods) [S5E5] Explore Matsue ft. Nicholas McCullough [S4E19] Travel Hiroshima ft. Joy Jarman-Walsh [S4E4] Travel Aomori ft. Kay Allen & Megan DeVille [S3E17] Hungry For Travel ft. Shinichi of TabiEats [S3E15] Henro SZN: Shikoku & the 88 Temple Pilgrimage ft. Todd Wassel [S3E12] ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Love in Kyoto: A Spring Festival Romance Unfolds Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-05-22-07-38-19-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 古都の春、五月の京都は美しい。En: Spring in the ancient capital, the month of May in Kyoto is beautiful.Ja: 今日、青葉が揺れる。En: Today, the fresh green leaves sway.Ja: 鴨川の流れが静かに響く。En: The gentle flow of the Kamogawa River softly echoes.Ja: そして、空には青い空と白い雲。En: Above, there is a blue sky and white clouds.Ja: 今日は葵祭だ。En: Today is the Aoi Matsuri.Ja: 伝統の京都では、町が華やぐ日。En: In traditional Kyoto, it's a day when the town comes alive.Ja: 歴史あるこの祭りに、全国から人々が集まる。En: People from all over the country gather for this historic festival.Ja: 京の町の小路。赤い橋をわたると、そこに日本の茶屋がある。En: In the narrow streets of Kyo, there's a Japanese teahouse past the red bridge.Ja: 古びた木のにおい、しっとりした畳の音、そして抹茶の香りが漂う。En: The smell of aged wood, the sound of soft tatami mats, and the aroma of matcha fill the air.Ja: ここは茜の家の茶屋だ。En: This is the teahouse of Akane's family.Ja: 彼女の家族が代々守ってきた場所だ。En: It's a place that her family has preserved through generations.Ja: 茜は茶屋の準備に忙しい。En: Akane is busy preparing the teahouse.Ja: 彼女は明るく、元気な人だ。お客様に笑顔を忘れない。En: She is cheerful and lively, never forgetting to smile at her customers.Ja: 今日は特に忙しい。En: Today is particularly busy.Ja: 葵祭の日だから、人が多い。En: It's the day of the Aoi Matsuri, and there are many people.Ja: その茶屋に、はるとはひとりで来た。En: Haruto has come to the teahouse alone.Ja: 彼は画家だ。En: He is an artist.Ja: 京都の風景や人を描くため、新しいインスピレーションを求めている。En: To capture the landscapes and people of Kyoto, he is seeking new inspiration.Ja: 初めての京都だ。彼は期待と不安でいっぱいだ。En: It's his first time in Kyoto, and he is filled with hope and anxiety.Ja: 茶屋の中、はるとは静かに抹茶を楽しむ。En: Inside the teahouse, Haruto quietly enjoys his matcha.Ja: 茜は彼のもとへ来て、話しかける。En: Akane approaches him and strikes up a conversation.Ja: 「こんにちは、この茶屋は初めてですか？」彼は少し緊張しながら、「はい、素敵なところですね」と答える。En: "Hello, is this your first time at this teahouse?" he replies, a bit nervously, "Yes, it's a lovely place."Ja: 茜は微笑む。彼女の笑顔は暖かく、一瞬で心を落ち着かせる。En: Akane smiles warmly, and her smile instantly puts him at ease.Ja: 茜の幼なじみの優人も茶屋にいる。En: Akane's childhood friend Yuto is also at the teahouse.Ja: 彼は茜を大切に思っている。En: He cares deeply for Akane.Ja: だから、新しい客をちょっと警戒している。En: Therefore, he is a bit wary of new guests.Ja: 優人ははるとのことをよく知らないが、茜を守るため、目を光らせている。En: Yuto doesn't know much about Haruto, but to protect Akane, he keeps a watchful eye.Ja: 日が暮れて、葵祭のパレードが始まる。En: As evening falls, the parade of the Aoi Matsuri begins.Ja: 町の通りは華やかだ。En: The streets of the town are lively.Ja: 人の流れ、音楽と踊り。En: The flow of people, music, and dancing fill the air.Ja: はるとはその中で、心に決めたことがある。En: Amidst it all, Haruto has made up his mind about something in his heart.Ja: 彼は茜への気持ちを確かめたい。En: He wants to confirm his feelings for Akane.Ja: パレードの中で、はるとは舞台に立ち、声を上げた。En: During the parade, Haruto stands on stage and raises his voice.Ja: 「茜、あなたに会えてよかった。あなたを大切に思っています。」その声は人々の耳に届く。En: "Akane, I'm glad I met you. I cherish you." His voice reaches the ears of the people.Ja: 茜は驚いたが、心は嬉しい。En: Akane is surprised, but her heart is happy.Ja: 彼女ははるとのもとに駆け寄る。En: She rushes to Haruto.Ja: 優人は、少し離れた場所に立っている。En: Yuto stands a little way off.Ja: 彼は二人を見て、微笑む。En: He watches the two and smiles.Ja: そして、茜の幸せを感じながら静かに拍手を送る。En: Then, feeling Akane's happiness, he quietly applauds.Ja: 春の風が二人を包み込む。En: The spring breeze envelops the two.Ja: はるとは京都の地で心の居場所を見つけた。En: Haruto has found a place for his heart in Kyoto.Ja: そして、茜は新しい始まりを迎える決意をした。En: And Akane has decided to embrace a new beginning.Ja: 優人は、親友としての新しい役目を受け入れた。En: Yuto accepts his new role as a friend.Ja: 葵祭の夜、町は祭りの熱気に包まれる。En: On the night of the Aoi Matsuri, the town is wrapped in the festival's excitement.Ja: その中で、三人それぞれが新しい一歩を踏み出した。En: In this, each of the three takes a new step forward. Vocabulary Words:ancient: 古都sway: 揺れるechoes: 響くgather: 集まるnarrow: 小路aged: 古びたtatami mats: 畳fill the air: 漂うpreserved: 守ってきたgenerations: 代々preparing: 準備cheerful: 明るくlively: 元気なparticularly: 特にinspiration: インスピレーションhope: 期待anxiety: 不安quietly: 静かにnervously: 緊張しながらapproaches: 話しかけるinstantly: 一瞬でwary: 警戒しているwatchful: 目を光らせているparade: パレードlively: 華やかだamidst: その中でcherish: 大切に思っていますheart: 心embrace: 迎えるexcitement: 熱気

"Behind every number, there is a leader." "If you are a player as well as a coach… that's the single best way to actually have the credibility." "I take the blame. You know, you guys take the credit." "To unlock creativity… protect the odd ideas." "A true leader is somebody who can inspire individual team members to be better than themselves."   Jesper Koll has been in Japan since 1985, when he arrived as a PhD researcher studying global finance. What began as an academic year at Kyoto University became a long-term professional and personal commitment to Japan. Over the decades, he built a distinguished career as one of Japan's most recognised economic and investment commentators, including senior roles as Chief Economist and Chief Strategist at Merrill Lynch Japan and Head of Research at JPMorgan. He has also worked in hedge funds, built his own company, and moved between large institutions and smaller entrepreneurial environments. His career arc reflects a deep adaptability to Japan's business culture, an ability to interpret Japan for global markets, and a leadership style grounded in credibility, humility, local insight, and trust. Jesper Koll's leadership philosophy is rooted in one central belief: in Japan, numbers alone never tell the full story. Behind every figure sits a leader, a team, a community, and a set of relationships that must be understood before meaningful judgement can be made. His experience leading highly skilled research teams in Japan taught him that the Anglo-American model of purely empirical, numbers-first analysis was insufficient in the Japanese context. In Japan, insight came not only from data, but from the human relationships that allowed analysts to understand the people behind the companies they covered. Koll argues that foreign executives in Japan must not assume that global best practice can simply be transferred into Tokyo. What works in New York, London, or Hong Kong will not necessarily work in Japan. The most successful leaders understand the importance of local adaptation. They defend the Japanese way of doing things to headquarters rather than merely transmitting headquarters' orders to Japan. This is where concepts such as nemawashi, consensus-building, ringi-sho, and uncertainty avoidance become important. They are not obstacles to leadership; they are part of the operating system leaders must learn to respect and use intelligently. His own credibility as a leader came from being both a player and a coach. As head of research, he still wrote reports, met clients, appeared on television, spoke at conferences, answered difficult questions, and risked being wrong in public. This gave him standing among a team of highly specialised, confident, and sometimes prima donna analysts. Leadership, for Koll, was not about title or positional power. It was about showing that he could perform, protect the team, make others look good, and take responsibility when things went wrong. Trust, in his view, is created through consistency, humility, and one-on-one relationships. He believes leaders should give credit to the team and take blame themselves. He also stresses the importance of psychological safety, especially in Japan, where fear of failure can limit creativity. Koll deliberately discussed his own mistakes and encouraged analysts to examine failed reports, not as shameful episodes but as learning opportunities. This approach helped reduce defensiveness and made it easier for talented people to speak openly. Creativity, he believes, exists in Japanese teams just as it does anywhere else. The challenge is unlocking it. In brainstorming, the leader must protect unusual ideas and the people who offer them. The outlier, the odd thinker, the person who challenges the consensus may hold the breakthrough. A strong leader prevents early judgement from killing ideas before they can evolve. Koll also cautions against superficial engagement rituals. Going drinking with the team may work for some leaders, but only if it is authentic. People recognise insincerity quickly. Real engagement comes from emotional intelligence, individual attention, and demonstrating that the leader genuinely manages for the team rather than simply managing upward. Ultimately, Koll defines leadership as inspiring individual team members to become better than themselves. In Japan, that means balancing global standards with local realities, protecting the team while challenging them, respecting hierarchy while creating trust, and turning one plus one into three. Q&A Summary What makes leadership in Japan unique? Leadership in Japan is unique because relationships sit behind performance. Koll stresses that data, analysis, and results matter, but they are never enough by themselves. In Japan, the leader must understand the people, teams, and communities behind the numbers. This is especially important because Japanese companies often do not market themselves aggressively or explain their strengths in the polished style common in the United States. The leader must therefore uncover the real story through trust, observation, and long-term relationship-building. Concepts such as nemawashi, consensus, ringi-sho, and hierarchy are not simply bureaucratic customs; they shape how trust is built and how decisions move. Why do global executives struggle? Global executives struggle when they assume that headquarters' methods can be imposed unchanged on Japan. Koll is clear that "our way or the highway" does not work. The foreign leader's natural advantage is the connection to headquarters, but that advantage can be used well or badly. If the leader simply says yes to New York or London, the local team will quickly lose trust. If the leader defends Japan's way of working and helps headquarters understand local realities, credibility grows. The best leaders translate in both directions: they make global strategy understandable locally and make local intelligence valuable globally. Is Japan truly risk-averse? Koll's comments suggest that Japan is less risk-averse than often assumed, but more sensitive to failure, judgement, and uncertainty. In analytical teams, mistakes are inevitable. A good analyst may be right only slightly more than half the time. The issue is not avoiding error, but learning from it. In Japan, where failure can carry stigma, the leader must create psychological safety. Koll did this by openly discussing his own wrong forecasts and encouraging others to analyse mistakes without shame. In this sense, the real leadership challenge is not risk avoidance but uncertainty avoidance: helping people act, learn, and improve even when outcomes are not guaranteed. What leadership style actually works? The leadership style that works is humble, credible, protective, and performance-based. Koll believes leaders must be player-coaches. They must show they can perform the work, face clients, take difficult questions, and contribute directly to results. At the same time, they must give credit to team members and take blame themselves. This combination is powerful in Japan because people watch leaders closely. They notice whether the leader's actions match the message. A leader who protects the team, supports dissenters, and makes others look good earns lasting trust. How can technology help? Technology helps when it supports better process, decision intelligence, and organisational learning, but it does not replace human judgement. Koll described how even a change in production deadlines or software systems could create major disruption because people had deeply embedded ways of working. The leadership task is to manage these transitions firmly and respectfully. In modern terms, tools such as decision intelligence, digital twins, workflow analytics, and AI-supported reporting can help teams understand trade-offs, test scenarios, and improve execution. However, technology only works when leaders respect the human side of adoption: habits, pride, expertise, and fear of disruption. Does language proficiency matter? Koll learned Japanese early, during his time as a student in Kyoto, and that gave him a strong foundation. However, he does not argue that every foreign leader must become fully fluent to succeed. More important is the ability to build relationships with customers, understand the local business environment, and help the team deliver results. Language helps, but humility, curiosity, and direct engagement with clients matter more. A leader who cannot speak perfect Japanese but can make the team look good, win customer trust, and represent Japan effectively to headquarters can still succeed. What's the ultimate leadership lesson? The ultimate leadership lesson is that leaders exist to make others better. Koll defines a true leader as someone who inspires individual team members to become better than themselves. That requires trust, courage, humility, and emotional intelligence. It also requires the ability to select lieutenants wisely, balance different personalities, protect odd ideas, and celebrate periods when the team is simply performing well. Leadership is not constant disruption. Sometimes the right move is to recognise that the team is "in the zone" and preserve momentum. The best leader helps the team become more than the sum of its parts. Author Credentials Dr. Greg Story, Ph.D. in Japanese Decision-Making, is President of Dale Carnegie Tokyo Training and Adjunct Professor at Griffith University. He is a two-time winner of the Dale Carnegie "One Carnegie Award" (2018, 2021) and recipient of the Griffith University Business School Outstanding Alumnus Award (2012). As a Dale Carnegie Master Trainer, Greg is certified to deliver globally across all leadership, communication, sales, and presentation programs, including Leadership Training for Results. He has written several books, including three best-sellers — Japan Business Mastery, Japan Sales Mastery, and Japan Presentations Mastery — along with Japan Leadership Mastery and How to Stop Wasting Money on Training. His works have also been translated into Japanese, including Za Eigyō (ザ営業), Purezen no Tatsujin (プレゼンの達人), Torēningu de Okane o Muda ni Suru no wa Yamemashō (トレーニングでお金を無駄にするのはやめましょう), and Gendaiban "Hito o Ugokasu" Rīdā (現代版「人を動かす」リーダー). In addition to his books, Greg publishes daily blogs on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, offering practical insights on leadership, communication, and Japanese business culture. He is also the host of six weekly podcasts, including The Leadership Japan Series, The Sales Japan Series, The Presentations Japan Series, Japan Business Mastery, and Japan's Top Business Interviews. On YouTube, he produces three weekly shows — The Cutting Edge Japan Business Show, Japan Business Mastery, and Japan's Top Business Interviews — which have become leading resources for executives seeking strategies for success in Japan.

MinnMax's Ben Hanson, Kelsey Lewin, Jeff Marchiafava, and Kyle Hilliard get in the summer mood by attempting to predict Geoff Keighley's Summer Game Fest Showcase and the biggest reveals from PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. Then we celebrate the release of Subnautica 2 in early access and share early impressions for Alabaster Dawn from the creators of CrossCode. Oh, and JeffM has a new roguelike inspired by chess to share called Gambonanza. Then we answer questions submitted on Patreon by the community and award the iam8bit question of the week! You can win a prize and help make the show better by supporting us on Patreon and submitting a question! https://www.patreon.com/minnmax Watch and share the video version - https://youtu.be/CP0hzVUTs54 Learn more about The Deepest Dive on 007 First Light - https://www.patreon.com/posts/get-ready-for-on-158676992 Join MinnMax's community meetup in Kyoto on Friday, May 22nd - https://www.patreon.com/posts/please-rsvp-for-158017663 Help support MinnMax's supporters! https://www.iam8bit.com - 10% off with Promo Code: STRAWBERRYFIELDS To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below... 00:00:00 - Intro 00:02:00 - 007 First Light Deepest Dive 00:03:03 - Yoshi and the Mysterious Book 00:10:34 - Win a code for Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted 00:11:26 - Summer Game Fest predictions 00:47:44 - Subnautica 2 01:03:30 - Alabaster Dawn 01:11:00 - Gambonanza 01:18:43 - Thanking iam8bit - https://www.iam8bit.com/ 01:20:51 - Community questions 02:29:53 - Get A Load Of This Kelsey's GALOT - https://kotaku.com/stores-at-a-loss-for-words-after-being-sent-sealed-copies-of-rare-ps4-game-poop-slinger-2000696767 JeffM's GALOT - https://youtu.be/s_aNH4hXz8I Hanson's GALOT - https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Old_English/I-mutation Kyle's GALOT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POneS8h1jyU Community GALOT - https://www.gamespot.com/articles/an-open-world-middle-earth-rpg-from-kingdom-come-studio-is-officially-happening/1100-6540053/ Disclosure - Games discussed on MinnMax content are most often provided for free by the publisher or developer. Support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/minnmax Support MinnMax directly on YouTube - https://youtube.com/minnmax/join Follow us on Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/minnmaxshow Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/minnmax Subscribe to our solo stream channel - https://www.youtube.com/@minnmaxstreamarchives Buy MinnMax merch here - https://minnmax.com/merch Follow us on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/minnmax.com Go behind the scenes on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/minnmaxshow This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Have you ever been tempted to completely change your vacation plans because of an irresistible points deal?   That's exactly what happened when Japan Airlines did a random first class award dump last April. I couldn't resist jumping on the opportunity to book our family of four in first class to Tokyo - even though it meant splitting us across two different flights and completely scrapping our original Mexico plans.   For the first time in this podcast's history, my husband Brandon joins me at the mic to recap our spring break trip to Japan with our two kids. In part one of this two-part series, Brandon and I walk through how this accidental trip came together, what it was like flying Japan Airlines first class as a family, our stay at the newly renovated Park Hyatt Tokyo, and the reality of traveling with kids in Japan - from the Pokémon Cafe to nearly missing the bullet train to Kyoto.   This is an honest, unfiltered look at what goes right and what goes wrong even with advanced planning, as we cover the flight drama, the Tokyo highlights, and everything that happened before we made it to Kyoto.   Get full show notes and transcript: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/japan-family-trip-recap-part-1    Want to shape the show? Take the Point Me To First Class listener survey and share what you love and want more of!    Eager to learn the secrets of award travel so that you can turn your expenses into unforgettable experiences? Join the Points Made Easy course waitlist here: https://pointmetofirstclass.com/pointsmadeeasy  

We explore how Europe is responding to Russia’s latest large-scale attack on Ukraine. Then: what will the world look like after the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz is over? Plus: South African music lands in Kyoto. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

J-Talk Takeover Week continues as Jon Steele and James Taylor embrace the chaos and present this week's episode of the J-Talk Podcast. In part 1, James reviews the West group action from matchday 16, with a focus on Cerezo Osaka's late win over V-Varen Nagasaki and a chat about Cho Kwi-Jae's possible move from Kyoto to Urawa (to 31:00). Then in part 2, Jon runs through the East group, which included a dramatic late comeback win for FC Tokyo over rivals Tokyo Verdy (to end). Plus all the usual Player of the Round and Games to Watch sections.   Thanks for your continued support of the J-Talk Podcast. We hope you enjoyed Takeover Week! *Join the J-Talk Podcast Patreon here: https://patreon.com/jtalkpod

https://www.patreon.com/minnmax - Unlock the ad-free version of this show a day early and more on Patreon. MinnMax's Ben Hanson, Sarah Podzorski, and Janet Garcia head to Japan (digitally) to talk about the upcoming game from the creators of Yakuza/Like A Dragon called Stranger Than Heaven and review Forza Horizon 6. Then Kyle Hilliard and Jeff Marchiafava join the show to share early impressions of Mina the Hollower from the creators of Shovel Knight, get hands-on with the new Steam controller, and talk about the fantastic 90s PC vibes of Forbidden Solitiare. After that, it's nothing but your sweet community questions submitted on Patreon submitted on Patreon by the community and award the iam8bit question of the week! You can win a prize and help make the show better by supporting us on Patreon and submitting a question! https://www.patreon.com/minnmax Watch and share the video version - https://youtu.be/IzaMo3AZv6E RSVP for the MinnMax community meetup in Kyoto on Friday, May 22nd here - https://www.patreon.com/posts/please-rsvp-for-158017663 Learn more about the BDS boycott of Xbox here - https://bdsmovement.net/news/boycott-microsofts-xbox Help support MinnMax's supporters! https://www.iam8bit.com - 10% off with Promo Code: STRAWBERRYFIELDS https://www.discoverpoco.com - Visit Pocahontas County, Iowa https://www.factormeals.com/minnmax50off - Get 50% off To jump to a particular discussion, check out the timestamps below... 00:00:00 - Intro 00:01:51 - The Kyoto MinnMax meetup 00:07:29 - Stranger Than Heaven 00:19:52 - Forza Horizon 6 00:32:55 - Pocahontas County, Iowa 00:36:00 - Mina The Hollower preview 00:57:31 - Steam controller review 01:09:19 - Factor Meals 01:11:32 - Forbidden Solitaire 01:20:32 - Thanking iam8bit - https://www.iam8bit.com/ 01:13:48 - Community questions 02:15:19 - Get A Load Of This Janet's GALOT - https://www.uscgamesexpo.com/2026-expo-games JeffM's GALOT - https://youtu.be/UtOq7ccTMwI Hanson's GALOT - https://open.spotify.com/album/7qP2RO8Zm1u47l8pbgtU25?si=cmkYYE5fQjWMp4d8DChN7A&nd=1&dlsi=64e0b86b40be4ac9 Kyle's GALOT - https://www.reddit.com/r/nirvannatheband/comments/1t5vtke/update_day_wii_shop_wednesday_but_only_the_game Community GALOT - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NlP-08pVm4 Disclosure - Games discussed on MinnMax content are most often provided for free by the publisher or developer. Support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/minnmax Support MinnMax directly on YouTube - https://youtube.com/minnmax/join Follow us on Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/minnmaxshow Subscribe to our YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/minnmax Subscribe to our solo stream channel - https://www.youtube.com/@minnmaxstreamarchives Buy MinnMax merch here - https://minnmax.com/merch Follow us on Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/minnmax.com Go behind the scenes on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/minnmaxshow This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Dans cet épisode, Cyrus explore les rues japonaises dans Gangs of Kyoto, Flavien pose des dominos en Égypte dans Fertility et Bartouf brasse de la bière et cuit du pain dans D'orge et de Blé.

This week on Paranormal Activity: Monday Mailtime, Producer Dom opens two listener encounters that don't just unsettle, they fundamentally challenge what we think we understand about places, presence, and memory.Calum hiked alone to a hill on the Isle of Skye as the light began to fade. He didn't know the locals call it Hill of the Voice. He does now. What started as a faint, drawn-out note became layers of inhuman singing — overlapping, circling, tightening around him like something adjusting itself. And then he felt it beneath his feet. Not a sound. Not a shape. Something occupied. Something listening back. A local later told him the singing isn't meant for people. And if you hear it clearly… you've already been noticed.Then, Amara travelled alone to Kennin-ji Temple in Kyoto to observe a morning service. She sat quietly. The chanting began. And then without knowing the words, without understanding the language, her mouth started moving. Perfectly in time. In a voice that wasn't hers. Deeper. Older. Worn-in, like it had been used across lifetimes. When it ended, she asked a monk what had happened. His answer has never left her: "Not everyone who arrives here is arriving for the first time."What happens when a place doesn't just hold energy… but uses whoever walks into it? And what does it mean when something ancient recognises you before you recognise it?Producer Dom reacts, unpacks, and explores the folklore and deeper theory behind both: from the fairy mounds of Scottish Gaelic tradition to the Zen Buddhist belief that practice never truly ends… it just waits for the right vessel to return.A Create Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the STR market matures, the next frontier is the 10–20 room boutique hotel—blending guesthouse intimacy with professional hotel features. This session provides a "boots on the ground" guide to navigating this transition, drawing on active knockdown-rebuild and remodeling projects in Kyoto. The autumn session will take place on 17-18th October, 2026 - subscribe & watch this space for the official announcement, early-bird discounted tickets registration, and list of speakers for the next event!

The April downpour of games continues into May as we dig into Forbidden Solitaire, Windrose, and Dead as Disco, plus more Saros and Retro Rewind (and one last time with Pragmata). Also, is there going to be a new Mortal Kombat? How many Street Fighter tattoos are there in the world? Reggie Fils-Aime said what about Amazon? How do you hide a secret track on a record? These questions and many more, pondered!CHAPTERS(00:00:00) NOTE: Some timecodes may be inaccurate for versions other than the ad-free Patreon version due to dynamic ad insertions. Please use caution if skipping around to avoid spoilers. Thanks for listening.(00:00:10) Intro(00:05:13) Pragmata  |  [Nintendo Switch 2, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S]  |  Apr 17, 2026(00:05:35) [SPOILERS] We talk all about the story and ending of the game.(00:25:14) First Break(00:27:54) Forbidden Solitaire  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Apr 30, 2026(00:42:17) Dead as Disco (Early Access) |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  May 05, 2026(00:47:08) Saros  |  [PlayStation 5]  |  Apr 30, 2026(01:02:26) Retro Rewind: Video Store Simulator  |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Mar 17, 2026(01:06:45) Windrose (Early Access) |  [PC (Microsoft Windows)]  |  Apr 14, 2026(01:08:42) Second Break(01:08:43) Exclusives still sell consoles, just not as much(01:17:20) NetherRealm and the future of MK(01:27:57) First-person or third-person? The data is here.(01:36:14) Reggie Fils-Aime calls out Amazon(01:45:34) Paste Games is ending coverage(01:48:43) Emails(01:58:26) Wrapping up and thanks(02:02:27) Mysterious Benefactor Shoutouts(02:06:34) Nextlander Content Updates(02:07:11) See ya!

This week on Sheena Interrupted, we're back from Japan…and it completely lived up to the hype.From the most incredible food (yes… even the pizza), to the level of organization, cleanliness, and thoughtfulness in everyday life, Japan felt like stepping into a completely different world (in the best way). We're sharing everything from our trip: Tokyo vs. Kyoto, our favorite experiences (including what you should book in advance), traveling with kids, and the small moments that ended up meaning the most.We also talk about what's changed since we last lived there, what surprised us, and why Japan continues to leave such a lasting impression.