Podcasts about Shinto

The Krewe gets an exclusive inside look at Expo 2025 Osaka with Sachiko Yoshimura, the Director General of Public Relations & Promotion! We dive into the massive planning behind the event, Japan's rich history with World Expos, what to expect at the event, best times to travel, & of course... the story behind the viral mascot, Myaku-Myaku! A must-listen for potential Expo-goers!------ 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 Travel Episodes ------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)Border Closures Couldn't Stop These Visas! ft. Rob Dyer & Allan Richarz (S3E11)Natsu Matsuri Mania: Summer Festivals in Japan (S3E3)Off the Beaten Path: Kansai ft. Rob Dyer [Part 2] (S2E12)Off the Beaten Path: Kansai ft. Rob Dyer [Part 1] (S2E11)Japan Travel Destination: Hokkaido ft. Kay Allen (S2E7)Japanese Theme Parks ft. Chris Nilghe of TDR Explorer (S2E4)Navigating Nippon: Where to Go in Japan? ft. Kay Allen of JNTO (S1E11)Matsue & New Orleans: Sister Cities ft. Dr. Samantha Perez (S1E2)------ About Expo 2025 ------Expo 2025 WebsiteExpo 2025 on IG------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

Emperor Meiji of Japan’s reign began in 1867, and it marks a time of significant change in the country’s history. After the emperor and his consort died in the early 20th century, the Meiji Jingu shrine was built to memorialize them. Research: Atsushi, Kawai. “Prefectures, Power, and Centralization: Japan’s Abolition of the Feudal Domains.” Nippon.com. Aug. 27, 2021. https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g01159/ Bernard, Rosemary. “Shinto and Ecology: Practice and Orientations to Nature.” Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology. https://fore.yale.edu/World-Religions/Shinto/Overview-Essay Cali, Joseph and John Dougill. “Shinto Shrines: A Guide to the Sacred Sites of Japan's Ancient Religion: A Guide to the Sacred Sites of Japan’s Ancient Religion.” University of Hawaii Press. 2015. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Charter Oath". Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Mar. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/event/Charter-Oath The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Meiji". Encyclopedia Britannica, 31 Jan. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Meiji The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Treaty of Shimonoseki". Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Apr. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/event/Treaty-of-Shimonoseki Furukawa, Hisao. “Meiji Japan'sEncounterwith Modernization” Southeast Asian Studies. Vol, 33, No. 3. December 1995. https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tak/33/3/33_KJ00000131881/_pdf Huffman, James. “Land Tax Reform Law of 1873.” About Japan. https://aboutjapan.japansociety.org/content.cfm/land_tax_reform_law_of_1873#sthash.qp6fLxcO.dpbs Huffman, James. “The Meiji Restoration Era, 1868-1889.” Japan Society. June 11, 2021. https://japansociety.org/news/the-meiji-restoration-era-1868-1889/ Meiji Jingu site: https://www.meijijingu.or.jp/en/ “The Meiji Restoration and Modernization.” Asia for Educators. Columbia University Weatherhead East Asia Institute. https://afe.easia.columbia.edu/special/japan_1750_meiji.htm “Discover Meiji Jingu: A Shrine Dedicated to the Spirits of Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken.” Google Arts and Culture. https://artsandculture.google.com/story/discover-meiji-jingu-a-shrine-dedicated-to-the-spirits-of-emperor-meiji-and-empress-shoken/OQVBs7hVH09QJw Meyer, Ulf. “The Spirit of the Trees.” World Architects. Feb. 3, 2021. https://www.world-architects.com/en/architecture-news/products/the-spirit-of-the-trees#:~:text=The%20Meiji%20Shrine%20is%20the%20most%20prominent,in%20Japan's%20capital%20for%20this%20hatsum%C5%8Dde%20worship.&text=The%20famous%20architect%20Ito%20Chuta%20designed%20the,Japan's%20shrine%20a%20touch%20of%20national%20identity. “Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 6, 1910.” United States Department of State. Office of the Historian. https://history.state.gov/historicaldocuments/frus1910/d705 “Russo-Japanese War: Topics in Chronicling America.” Library of Congress. https://guides.loc.gov/chronicling-america-russo-japanese-war Steele, Abbey, et al. “Constraining the Samurai: Rebellion and Taxation in Early Modern Japan.” International Studies Quarterly. 2017. 61, 352–370. https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/files/pegroup/files/constraining_the_samurai_9.15.pdf “The United States and the Opening to Japan, 1853.” U.S. Department of State, Office of the Historian. https://history.state.gov/milestones/1830-1860/opening-to-japan Wojtan, Linda S. “Rice: It's More Than Food In Japan.” Stanford Program on International and Cross-cultural Education. November 1993. https://spice.fsi.stanford.edu/docs/rice_its_more_than_food_in_japan#rice See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Season 6 kicks off with laughter, tradition, and international flair! The Krewe sits down with Katsura Sunshine, a Canadian-born rakugo performer bringing Japan's 400-year-old comedic storytelling art to audiences around the world. In this episode, we explore what makes rakugo so unique, how Sunshine became one of the few non-Japanese rakugo-ka, and how this traditional form of entertainment is finding new life on the global stage. Plus, hear about the possibility of a rakugo event in New Orleans this fall!Whether you're a longtime fan of Japanese culture or just curious about this captivating performance style, this episode is the perfect way to kick off Season 6 of the Krewe of Japan Podcast!------ 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 Traditional / Historical Japan Episodes ------The Castles of Japan ft. William de Lange (S5E19)Foreign-Born Samurai: William Adams ft. Nathan Ledbetter (Guest Host, Dr. Samantha Perez) (S5E17)Foreign-Born Samurai: Yasuke ft. Nathan Ledbetter (Guest Host, Dr. Samantha Perez) (S5E16)The Thunderous Sounds of Taiko ft. Takumi Kato (加藤 拓三), World Champion Taiko Drummer (S5E13)Yakuza: Past, Present, Future ft. Jake Adelstein, Author of Tokyo Vice (S5E12)The Real World of Geisha ft. Peter Macintosh (S5E7)Inside Japanese Homes & Architecture ft. Azby Brown (S5E6)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)The Intricate Culture of Kimono ft. Rin of Mainichi Kimono (S4E7)Shamisen: Musical Sounds of Traditional Japan ft. Norm Nakamura of Tokyo Lens (S4E1)Henro SZN: Shikoku & the 88 Temple Pilgrimage ft. Todd Wassel (S3E12)Natsu Matsuri Mania: Summer Festivals in Japan (S3E3)Exploring Enka ft. Jerome White Jr aka ジェロ / Jero (S3E1)The Chrysanthemum Throne ft. Dr. Hiromu Nagahara [Part 2] (S2E18)The Chrysanthemum Throne ft. Dr. Hiromu Nagahara [Part 1] (S2E17)Yokai: The Hauntings of Japan ft. Hiroko Yoda & Matt Alt (S2E5)The Age of Lady Samurai ft. Tomoko Kitagawa (S1E12)Talking Sumo ft. Andrew Freud (S1E8)------ About Katsura Sunshine ------Katsura Sunshine on IGRakugo.lol------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

LET THEM COOK! Over the last 5 months, the Krewe has been hard at work cooking up a massive Season 6 line-up. While the main course will begin being served on May 16, how about an appetizer? Just like the carb-loaded instant yakisoba, this preview is CHOU CHOU CHOU Gigamax packed with sneak peeks at what's to come in Season 6. Some snippets include:- Laughing & learning about the world of Rakugo with master storyteller Katsura Sunshine- Prepping for Expo 2025 with Sachiko Yoshimura, Director General of Public Relations & Promotion for Expo 2025- Studying Japanese via language schools with Nihongo enthusiast Langston Hill- Bridging New Orleans & Japan through music with Jazz Trombonist Haruka Kikuchi- Kicking off 2 episodes on Japan's soccer footprint domestically & worldwide with journalist Dan Orlowitz- Exploring vegan cuisine in Japan with Leonore Steffan of ItadakiHealthy- Diving into social media's role in establishing perceptions of Japan - Revisiting Matsue with Sister City Exchange participants Katherine Heller & Wade Trosclair- Brewing up some craft beer with Chris Madere of Baird Brewing & Chris Poel of Shiokaze BrewLab- Restoring some abandoned homes with Akiya enthusiast & YouTuber Anton Wormann of Anton in JapanThis is only HALF of what's to come this season... the 2nd half is top secret! So stay tuned for our season 6 premiere on May 16, 2025 and stick around for the rest of the season to find out what else we have in store on Season 6 of Krewe of Japan Podcast!!------ 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 Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

Only 10 days late, SORRY! Welcome to Cryptic Chronicles, where we delve into the enigmatic and the obscure, exploring the hidden truths behind the world's most fascinating mysteries. In today's episode, we're journeying to the Land of the Rising Sun, unraveling the intricate tapestry of occult practices in Japan. From ancient Shinto rituals to the esoteric teachings of Divinopaths and the modern allure of Japanese magic, we'll explore how the supernatural and the mystical have shaped Japanese culture through the ages. Join us as we uncover the secrets, the stories, and the spirits that dwell within the shadows of Japan's spiritual landscape. BUY MERCH! https://httpscrypticchroniclescom.creator-spring.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/crypticchronicles Magic Mind: https://magicmind.com/products/magic-mind?selling_plan=445022342 SOURCES: -Occult Japan: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2782134-occult-japan -The Dark Side of Japan: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36160783-the-dark-side-of-japan?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=nWVdMARa6o&rank=2 -Summoning Japanese Monsters: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/119313187-summoning-japanese-monsters?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=mgNZ4o4WuW&rank=1 -Demonology Encyclopedia: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/77074456-demonology-encyclopedia-gakken-m-bunko-2003-isbn?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=abGnjmFy1S&rank=8 -Japanese Mythology: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39674006-japanese-mythology?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=8xia3kS1IJ&rank=1

In Japan, cleanliness is cultural and synonymous with well-being. That's down in no small part to the influence of Shintoism, the country's oldest religion. While the number of believers has been steadily decreasing for some time, Shinto philosophy and culture are still widely practised. Cleanliness is seen not just as a physical state but also a spiritual one, as it is closely tied to the respect and reverence shown to Shinto gods. Following this line of thinking, many Japanese people engage in an annual Buddhist cleaning ritual called "Oosouji," aimed at purifying and organising their interiors before entering a new period. What does "Oosouji" mean? What are the steps to follow during "Oosouji"? What are the benefits of it? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here : How can I reduce my belly fat? What are the health benefits of algae? Why do people say that black cats bring bad luck? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. In partnership with upday UK. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shinto, Japan's indigenous religion, is strongly rooted in animism, with Japanese believing that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Shinto does not have a single creator or specific doctrine, and instead exists in a diverse range of local and regional forms emphasising a sacred connection between humans and the natural world.In this episode of the Ikigai Podcast, Nick speaks with Taishi Kato about the deep-rooted significance of Shinto and the ongoing efforts to preserve its rich heritage.Hey it is Nick Kemp here from IkigaiTribe.com, just before we get into this episode I wanted to let you know I am running a Ikigai Workshop Webinar this month. The workshop is 2-hours long and covers the work of pioneering ikigai researcher Mieko Kamiya. We look at her definition of ikigai and her 7 ikigai needs.If you are interested go to https://ikigaitribe.com/ikigai-workshop

In Japan, cleanliness is cultural and synonymous with well-being. That's down in no small part to the influence of Shintoism, the country's oldest religion. While the number of believers has been steadily decreasing for some time, Shinto philosophy and culture are still widely practised. Cleanliness is seen not just as a physical state but also a spiritual one, as it is closely tied to the respect and reverence shown to Shinto gods. Following this line of thinking, many Japanese people engage in an annual Buddhist cleaning ritual called "Oosouji," aimed at purifying and organising their interiors before entering a new period. What does "Oosouji" mean? What are the steps to follow during "Oosouji"? What are the benefits of it? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here : How can I reduce my belly fat? What are the health benefits of algae? Why do people say that black cats bring bad luck? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. Fisrt broadcast: 6/8/23 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy and Jim go all in on a single brewery this time, looking at Akita Prefecture's Aramasa Shuzo. Known as one of the most desirable and hard-to-get labels around, we wonder what exactly makes it that way? The answer may well lie in an obsessive focus on detail, from brewery cleaning to label design. Scrub your kioke, tie up the shimenawa, and fill your cup with a true maboroshi. Kanpai!Vocab for this episodeKioke 木桶 - Wooden tanks for fermentation etc. Aramasa uses all wooden tanks.Shimenawa しめ縄 - A woven straw rope decorated with white paper charms, associated with sacred spaces in the Shinto faith. Used on the tanks at Aramasa.Maboroshi 幻 - Literally a “phantom,” figuratively it's something that is elusive.Kame 亀 - A turtle. Recommendations:Andy - NirukameJim - CosmosDon't forget to support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/SakeDeepDive Also, check out Andy's website at: https://www.originsake.com/ And buy Jim's book, Discovering Yamaguchi Sake wherever you order your books (print and ebook available)!Our theme music is from Lotus Lane by The Loyalist - Preconceived Notions Available at https://soundcloud.com/preconceived-notionsUnder a  Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lotus-laneMusic promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1YVHRMVwwHg 

"I've always been deeply fascinated by the sonic characteristics of sacred spaces. One of my very first experiences of field recording was walking into St. Paul's Cathedral in London equipped with a pair of binaural microphones and recording the choral evensong. That night a change in how I perceived sound occurred, as if revealing an alternate dimension. I have since visited many different spiritual spaces - Buddhist Zen temples and Shinto shrines whilst recording in Japan for the British Library Sound Archive and visiting many of the beautiful French churches and cathedrals in Provence where I now reside. I have immersed myself in listening to the subtle atmospheres of these spaces and appreciating how their fragile sonic fragments contribute to creating such intimate listening environments. "In working with this recording, originally recorded by Colin Hunter at Chartres Cathedral on the outskirts of Paris, I was drawn to its sparseness. I had the opportunity to visit this cathedral last summer and remarked at how unusual and impressive its interior was. One thing that caught my attention particularly was this beautiful 14th Century grand organ, which at the time of my visit was under refurbishment. I suppose with this work I imagined a time when this organ would play - filling these chambers with its powerful drone - a comforting accompaniment to the prayers of pilgrims and passers by. The sacred intimacy confined to a shrine, the peace and serenity we find in places of worship, a solitary candle burning slowly… "Working in Ableton 12, I mainly used pitch shifting and granular synthesis techniques to work on sculpting elements from the original recording to form new sonic textures and implement these into a soundscape. I built this from memories and imagination, vague and mysterious much like the sounds we often encounter in such sacred spaces."  Chartres cathedral reimagined by Mat Eric Hart. ——————— This sound is part of the Sonic Heritage project, exploring the sounds of the world's most famous sights. Find out more and explore the whole project: https://www.citiesandmemory.com/heritage

**SMASH** **BREAKS GLASS** Well folks, here we are with another emergency pod, reviewing another one of Heather Henson's Handmade Puppet Dreams films. This time we opted to forgo spinning the wheel to just go ahead and watch a film suggested to us by a friend over on the discord! (shout out to L_Troemel!)  For the uninitiated, Handmade Puppet Dreams is a series of short films produced by Heather Henson and her puppet company Ibex Puppetry. Founded in 2004, Handmade puppet dreams has provided the means and exposure for smaller puppet artists to create some truly unique films straight out of their own imaginations. This week the boys will be watching a found object puppet piece based on a Japanese Shinto story called Amaterasu.  This one is really special, with beautiful found objects telling a classic mythological story of feuding gods. We hope you enjoy the unique short film from Handmade Puppet Dreams! Join the discussion on our discord! https://discord.gg/JDtWJrhPF6Follow us on twitter @PMoNPodcast and on Instagram and Threads @puppetmastersofnoneFind out more about the puppet masters on our website: https://puppetmastersofnone.wixsite.com/puppetmastersofnoneOriginal Music Composed by Taetro. @Taetro  https://www.taetro.com/Send us a text

Send us a textIn Episode 47 I speak with Reverend Dr. TK Nakagaki. Rev. Dr. Nakagaki is the author of the book 'The Buddhist Swastika and Hitler's Cross: Rescuing a Symbol of Peace from the Forces of Hate'. Published in 2017, the book presents a cross-cultural history of the “swastika”, a symbol of peace used by multiple Eastern religions, including Japanese Buddhism, and indigenous peoples but typically regarded as a hate symbol in the West. Known as 'manji' in Japan, the swastika is commonly found on Buddhist temples along with many Shinto shrines. In keeping with its meaning in Buddhist and Hindu traditions, the swastika is a symbol of peace, light and represents the mind and teaching of the Buddha. It is found at temples and shrines throughout the country yet most international visitors depart without ever gaining an understanding of its meaning is the Japanese Buddhist context. I hope this episode goes some way to addressing that. Rev. Dr. Nakagaki is an ordained priest in the Jodoshinshu tradition of Japanese Buddhism and Founder of the Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York. He is a President Emeritus of the Buddhist Council of New York, an Honorary Board Member of the Interfaith Center of New York and a New York City Police Department Clergy Liaison along with a Hiroshima Peace Ambassador, Nagasaki Peace Correspondent and Honorary President of Sanghakaya Foundation of India. He graduated Ryukoku University in Kyoto in 1983 having majored in Buddhist history before undertaking advanced study in Jodoshinshu doctrine to Gyoshin Buddhist Seminary in Osaka from 1983 to 1985. He has an MA in Linguistics from California State University at Fresno in 1994 and a earned a Doctorate of Ministry in Multifaith Studies from the New York Theological Seminary in 2012. Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Today, we're diving into the world of lucky animals—creatures believed to bring fortune, protection, and prosperity in Japanese culture. From the wise owl to the mystical fox, these animals are more than just symbols; they are deeply woven into Shinto and Buddhist beliefs, folklore, and even modern superstitions. In this episode, we will focus on the Swallow or Tsubame and the Owl, Fukuro, two birds with a long tradition of bringing good fortune to the people of Japan. Follow the podcast: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supernaturaljapanBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/madformaple.bsky.socialFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551918404228&mibextid=LQQJ4dEmail: supernaturaljapan@gmail.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusanKevinWebsite: https://supernaturaljapan.buzzsprout.com

Send us a textIn Episode 46 of the podcast I speak with outdoor guide, Kouhei Nishida. Kouhei is the founder of Shinano Discovery - an outdoor guiding company - and a key member of the team behind creation of the Amatomi Trail. Opened to the public in 2021, the Amatomi Trail stretches 86km / 54 miles from Nagano City through Myoko Togakushi Renzan National Park to Lake Nojiriko and onto Madarao, on the border of Nagano and Niigata Prefectures. The Amatomi Trail is one of, if not the most accessible, hiking trail in Japan and provides access to mixed natural and cultural landscapes, working alpine villages, and important sites including Zenko-ji – one of Japan's oldest and most important Buddhist temples – and the Shinto shrine complex of Togakushi. As Kouhei explains, the Amatomi Trail combines a number of preexisting trails including the pilgrimage trails of the 'Togakushi Kodo', which lead hikers into the national park where they then traverse the foothills of the ‘Shinetsu Gogaku' or ‘Five Peaks of Shinetsu'. The trail can be walked as a through hike or section hike, with Kouhei recommending 4 to 5 days for a through hike, with the most accessible section from Nagano City to Togakushi taking 2 days. With plenty of accommodation along the trail – ranging from hotels and lodges, ‘ryokan' (traditional guesthouses, ‘shukubo' (temple lodgings), ‘minshuku' and ‘pension' (basic guesthouses), and camping sites – there is no shortage of places to stay, catering to all budgets and tastes.I consider walking to be the best way to experience a country and Japan, to be an outstanding walking travel destination. Trails are numerous and varied, increasingly interconnected, well maintained and safe. I hope this episode plays a role in raising the profile of the Amatomi and hiking or walking as one of the best ways to explore Japan. For more information, visit the Amatomi Trail website or Instagram and to follow or contact Kouhei, visit his Shinano Discovery website, Instagram or Facebook. I hope you enjoy!Outland Japan is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by Peter Carnell - a freelance tour guide based in northern Nagano – that transports you to rural, regional and the wilds of Japan in pursuit of stories that lie outside the neon hum of Tokyo and golden trimmings of Kyoto. Stories of travel, life and culture beyond the big cities. Follow the show on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Please note, prior to October 2024, Outland Japan was named Snow Country Stories Japan.

Book review 3 of 5.

Send us a textAlban and Kevin are diving into the hilarious story of Google's NotebookLM and its AI podcast hosts who got a little annoyed when interrupted. Due to snarky comebacks like “I was getting to that” and "as I was saying", Google had to teach its AI to be a bit more polite to humans.Then, the guys discuss why you should be respectful of all things, living or not, and debate the hard-hitting questions, like, "do trees have souls?". Editor's note: If Jordan was able to record this episode, she would have pointed out that in Shinto, there is a belief that kami (spiritual essence or energy) is in both living beings and inanimate objects or nature. So you should have reverence and gratitude for all things, whether they are considered alive or not.From a Shinto perspective, AI could be seen as something that has been given human intent, creativity, and effort, and therefore has energy. Even if AI lacks a soul in the conventional sense, you should give care and respect to it because of its role in the universe.Support the showContact Buzzcast Send us a Text Message Tweet us at @buzzcastpodcast, @albanbrooke, @kfinn, and @JordanPods Send a "boostagram" through Fountain or Castamatic Email us at support@buzzsprout.com Thanks for listening & keep podcasting!

This is the second episode in the trilogy of a lectures by Professor Sarah Paine of the Naval War College.In this second episode, Prof Paine dissects the ideas and economics behind Japanese imperialism before and during WWII. We get into the oil shortage which caused the war; the unique culture of honor and death; the surprisingly chaotic chain of command. This is followed by a Q&A with me.Huge thanks to Substack for hosting this event!Watch on YouTube. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or any other podcast platform.SponsorToday's episode is brought to you by Scale AI. Scale partners with the U.S. government to fuel America's AI advantage through their data foundry. Scale recently introduced Defense Llama, Scale's latest solution available for military personnel. With Defense Llama, military personnel can harness the power of AI to plan military or intelligence operations and understand adversary vulnerabilities.If you're interested in learning more on how Scale powers frontier AI capabilities, go to scale.com/dwarkesh.Buy Sarah's Books!I highly, highly recommend both "The Wars for Asia, 1911–1949" and "The Japanese Empire: Grand Strategy from the Meiji Restoration to the Pacific War".Timestamps(0:00:00) - Lecture begins(0:06:58) - The code of the samurai(0:10:45) - Buddhism, Shinto, Confucianism(0:16:52) - Bushido as bad strategy(0:23:34) - Military theorists(0:33:42) - Strategic sins of omission(0:38:10) - Crippled logistics(0:40:58) - the Kwantung Army(0:43:31) - Inter-service communication(0:51:15) - Shattering Japanese morale(0:57:35) - Q&A begins(01:05:02) - Unusual brutality of WWII(01:11:30) - Embargo caused the war(01:16:48) - The liberation of China(01:22:02) - Could US have prevented war?(01:25:30) - Counterfactuals in history(01:27:46) - Japanese optimism(01:30:46) - Tech change and social change(01:38:22) - Hamming questions(01:44:31) - Do sanctions work?(01:50:07) - Backloaded mass death(01:54:09) - demilitarizing Japan(01:57:30) - Post-war alliances(02:03:46) - Inter-service rivalry Get full access to Dwarkesh Podcast at www.dwarkeshpatel.com/subscribe

Hasbro shows off the final version of HasLab Omega Prime, an anime girl dresses up as Optimus Prime, and the Swapticons are finally revealed. All this and much, much more on this episode of TransMissions! Order our exclusive Skybound Transformers #1 comic with cover art by E.J. Su! Want some TransMissions swag? Check out our online shop, powered by TeePublic! Show Notes: If you enjoy TransMissions, please rate us and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! These ratings greatly help podcasts become more discoverable to other people using those services and is an easy way to help out our show. Contact us: Continue reading The post Episode 626 – Holy Shinto appeared first on TransMissions Podcast Network.

Hasbro shows off the final version of HasLab Omega Prime, an anime girl dresses up as Optimus Prime, and the Swapticons are finally revealed. All this and much, much more on this episode of TransMissions! Order our exclusive Skybound Transformers #1 comic with cover art by E.J. Su! Want some TransMissions swag? Check out our online shop, powered by TeePublic! Show Notes: If you enjoy TransMissions, please rate us and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! These ratings greatly help podcasts become more discoverable to other people using those services and is an easy way to help out our show. Contact us: Continue reading The post Episode 626 – Holy Shinto appeared first on TransMissions Podcast Network.

Though it may not seem like it on first glance, across Asuka there are various remnants of a much grander period.  Postholes tell the story of palaces built over and over on the same spots.  In addition, there are the various temples and various carved stone statues and other features.  This episode we'll talk about some of the stonework and palace complexes built during Takara Hime's reign, as well as the deadly politics that were still the currency of the court. For more, check out our blogpost at:  https://sengokudaimyo.com/podcast/episode-118 Rough Transcription Welcome to Sengoku Daimyo's Chronicles of Japan.  My name is Joshua and this is episode 118: Stonework and Treason Before we dive into the episode, a quick shout out to thank Bodil for supporting us on Ko-Fi.com.  For information on how you can also help support the show, we'll have information at the end of the episode or go check out our podcast page at SengokuDaimyo.com. And now, on with the episode:   Soga no Akaye's mansion was busily quiet.  There was plenty of chatter, but it was mostly in hushed tones as servants busied themselves with their work, but wondered what was going on.  They couldn't help but notice the high ranking visitors that had come.  It was to be expected, though.  After all, their master was in charge while the rest of the court was away on a retreat, comforting the sovereign in her grief.  And so why wouldn't people be showing up to meet with him? But nobody was quite sure what all of these visitors were discussing.  They had all gone into an upper story of the building, but the crowd included some powerful figures, including, some said, a royal prince.  Who's who and where people stood in the court were always topics of discussion, but especially now.  After all, what they were dealing with was unprecedented:  who had heard of a sovereign stepping down in the first place, let alone stepping back up because they then outlived their successor?  But she was no spring chicken, either.  Surely it would be her son that would finally ascend the throne next, right?  But that was never guaranteed. Either way, some of the servants grumbled, a change would be nice.  Ever since the royal family had moved back to Asuka, formally making it the capital again, there had been a flurry of activity. Sure, it meant that a certain amount of prestige returned to that region, and houses that had been in disrepair were suddenly occupied again.  But there was so much more.  Just about all of the available labor pool that wasn't working the fields was working on this project or that—there was almost nothing left for anyone else.  How was anyone else supposed to get things done when all of the able-bodied people were already toiling on the sovereign's own vanity projects?  And after building that giant government complex in Naniwa, no less! Such was, I imagine, the hushed rumor-mongering going on in the house when suddenly there came a loud “crack” as of a piece of wood snapping in two.  Later they would learn that an old wooden rest had broken, but that wasn't immediately obvious.  The servants did notice that shortly thereafter, their visitors began to depart, heading back to their own mansions. As for Soga no Akaye, he said nothing, but he seemed drained.  He had a heavy look, as though he was bearing an incredible weight.  Soon thereafter, he requested a brush and some paper, and he began to write out a letter…   So we are talking about the second reign of Takara Hime, who came back to the throne in 655, following the death of her brother, Prince Karu, known as Koutoku Tennou.  For the first time she reigned, the Chroniclers gave her the name “Kougyoku Tennou”, but for her second reign she would be known in the Chronicles as “Saimei Tennou”. We already discussed some of what was recorded as happening in the north during Takara Hime's second reign, with the Emishi and the Mishihase and the expeditions by Abe no Omi no Hirafu.  This episode we are going to focus more on what was going on in the Home Provinces of Yamato—and most specifically the impact that Takara Hime's reign would have on Asuka. I've noted in the past how modern Asuka can seem like your typical rural Japanese town.  Roads weave between rice fields, flanked by densely packed neighborhoods at the foot of the green hills or lining the shores of the Asuka river.  To the north, the valley opens onto the vast Nara basin—a largely flat region that is much more heavily populated but still would be considered “inaka”, or rural country, by anyone from a metropolis like Tokyo or Ohosaka.  To the south, the land rises up into mountain peaks.  Beyond that ridge, the land drops into the Yoshino River Valley, but otherwise the rest of the Kii peninsula, to the south, is covered in a sparsely populated mountain range, where small villages carve out a life in the nooks and crannies between the numerous ridges, finding the rare spot of flat land to build houses and plant their fields.  Looking at it today, Asuka might seem idyllic, rural, and calm.  And yet, back in Takara Hime's day, it was anything but. When Takara Hime moved back to Asuka, she went on a building spree.  In fact, the Chronicles actually complain about all of the building that she was doing, and we'll get to that.  Much of this episode is going to revolve around her building projects, as well as her comings and goings.  While we'll talk about what the Chronicles say, I also want to talk about some of what still remains in Asuka.  Certainly the grand palaces are gone, for the most part leaving little more than post-holes, lying beneath the rice fields.  A bit more obvious are the various kofun, scattered across the landscape, but beyond that there we also see stone works, including numerous carved stones, which range from crude statues, which may have been minimally worked, to elaborate fountains, which would have used natural water pressure to create impressive waterworks.  These latter works demonstrate the sophistication of the masons of the time, and hint at the grandeur of the various palaces, gardens, and mansion complexes that once populated the landscape.  And if you want a little feeling of what it is like, I talked a bit about walking through Asuka in a bonus episode back in March of 2024—if you are interested, look up “Traveling Through the Ancient Nara Basin, Part 2.   So along with what we see in the Chronicles, I want to talk about some of these other features, even if we aren't entirely sure of when, exactly, they were built.  There are a few, though, that we do suspected were built in this period, by Takara Hime, or at least at her order.  So we'll talk about those as we get there. Her reign wasn't all about building things, though.  Politics in the Yamato court remained as cutthroat as ever.  Although Prince Naka no Oe, Takara Hime's son, had been designated as “Crown Prince” he had not taken the throne, despite being of age, and we aren't told why, though the fact that Takara Hime had previously abdicated because of the events of the Isshi Incident, back in 645 (see Episode XX) may have meant that she was still considered the senior eligible member of the royal line.  Then there was the case of Prince Arima.  Prince Arima was the son of Karu, aka Koutoku Tenno, which made him Naka no Oe's cousin.  This wouldn't have meant anything had his father not ascended to the throne.  And under the succession practices of the time, although Naka no Oe was designated as the Crown Prince, that wasn't a guarantee that he would be next in line, so Prince Arima may have been a potential candidate.  However, there is at least one source that says Prince Arima was not yet of age, but still a teenager.  Still, that was no doubt old enough for some in the court to support him—and as we'll see in later centuries, age limits could be negotiable.  So we'll also discuss that, as well. So let's get into it. When the royal family first moved back to Asuka, in 653,  they took up residence in the temporary palace of Kahabe no Miya.  Unfortunately, this name doesn't tell us much about where the palace was located.  There is one theory that the Kawabe no Miya might be at what is known as the Asuka Inabuchi Palace site, up in the Asuka river valley, in the modern Iwaido district, a little south of the famous Ishibutai kofun site.  This is believed to have been a palace—or at least the mansion of some very wealthy family—given its layout, including what appears to be a cobblestone courtyard, and the lack of any roof tiles, which would have been reserved for temples, at that time. The term “temporary” palace comes up a lot in the Chronicles.  In most of the cases where it is used, it suggests that there was already a building in place and the sovereign took up residence there, hence the term “temporary” palace.  Often times we see that a temporary palace is said to have been “built”, at which point I have to wonder if that is truly the case—did they actually build a brand new structure to temporarily house the sovereign and the royal family—or does it just refer to the fact that they may have taken an existing compound and perhaps made some slight changes to accommodate the royal dignity?  Unfortunately, the Chronicles don't really go into much detail. Wherever the Kawabe no Miya happened to be, it does seem to have been temporary, as we later see Takara Hime back at the Itabuki palace, and indeed she reascended the throne there in 655.  The Itabuki palace first shows up in Takara hime's first reign, and seems to be one of at least two royal palaces in Asuka at the time, the other one being the Woharida Palace.  The Woharida palace had been around for a while – it was noted as early as 603, in the reign of Kashikiya Hime, aka Suiko Tenno, and there is the suggestion that it was still around in the time that Karu, aka Kotoku Tenno, was reigning.  We know that Takara Hime took up residence there at some point during her own reign as well.  But in 643 she had the Itabuki palace built, though apparently that didn't mean that the Oharida palace was completely torn down and abandoned – it just was no longer the primary site of court ritual.  Of course, the Itabuki palace wouldn't be the seat of the government for long, either, as the Isshi Incident took place there in 645, and Karu would subsequently move the capital to Naniwa, building the Toyosaki palace. And so the Itabuki palace remained, but was not exactly kept up, so that when the royal family returned to Asuka, it wasn't ready for them to inhabit, and likely required extensive renovation.  Nonetheless, it was being inhabited two years later, when Takara hime again ascended the throne. A quick note here about the name “Itabuki”, because we think that this likely referred to a very specific style of construction that was used.  Up to this point, as far as we can tell, the primary roofing material for all major buildings was a kind of local thatching – we still see this today on some shrines and other buildings.  “Itabuki”, in contrast, refers to a roof made with wooden boards.  Today, we have buildings with rooves where the roof shingles are overlapping boards of wood or bark from the cypress tree: thin layers stacked one on top of the other.  Even today, the modern Imperial Palace in Kyoto uses wood shingles rather than the curved roof tiles that many people think of when they think of Asian architecture. So that's the Itabuki palace, all spruced up and ready for Takara hime to occupy again.  That said, remember the older Woharida palace, the other one in Asuka? Later in 655, a project was started to update that palace as well.  We are told that as of the 13th day of the 10th month there had been a plan to add roof tiles to one of the buildings at the Woharida palace, but unfortunately much of the timber from the mountains and valleys that was designated for the project was found to be too weak from rot, and so they decided to not go forward with that plan.  I would note here that tiled rooves, while they might seen somewhat easier to put together—after all, you only need a layer of interlocking and overlapping tiles—are extremely heavy.  They are known to deform the wooden structures underneath them, and can weigh hundreds of pounds per square foot.  Much of the classic shape of these tiled rooves developed over time to compensate for some of that weight, so this makes me wonder if the wood the palace craftspeople brought in was really that rotten, or if it was just not strong enough for the work that they were trying to do.  After all, were they applying the same techniques as for a temple, or were they simply trying to replace traditional thatching or shingles with clay tiles?  Either way, the project failed, even after all of the work that had gone into it.  This is a small entry in the Chronicles, but it would have meant levying corvee labor that had to go out to the designated regions to source the timber, not to mention setting up the kilns to make the tiles, as well as other preparations that would have been necessary.  In other words, a lot of work, for apparently no payoff. On top of that, we are told that around that time, in the winter of that year—which would have been the 10th, 11th, or 12th month, roughly corresponding from late November to February of the following year—the Itabuki palace caught fire and burned down, and so the sovereign and her retinue decamped to the temporary palace of Kawara – the River Plain or Field. “Kawara” could theoretically refer to just about any flat area by a river. Aston points out that “Kawara” can also mean “rooftile”, which is interesting given what we just talked about, the entry immediately before that deals with attempting to add new rooftiles to a part of the Oharida palace. However, there is some thought that this refers to the Kawara Temple, Kawaradera, and you can find claims that Kawaradera was built on the site of the temporary palace.  There is a reference to Kawaradera in the previous reign, in the year 653, though another source apparently says it was talking about Yamadadera, instead.  There isn't another mention of “Kawaradera” that I can find until 673, so it is entirely possible that the temple started its life off as a mansion or even a temporary royal palace of some kind, and was later turned into a temple. Kawaradera itself is rather interesting.  If you visit the site, today, you can see large stone bases that help to demonstrate the size of the ancient temple.  It was one of the four Great Temples of Asuka, along with Asukadera, Kudara Ohodera, and Yakushiji.  And yet, unlike the other three, we don't have clear indications about its founding in the Chronicles.  When the capital eventually moved to Heijo-kyo, in Nara city, many of the other temples were removed to the new capital, but not, as far as I can see, Kawaradera.  Donald McCallum suggests that this is because it was replaced, instead, by Koufukuji, a temple with deep ties to the descendants of Nakatomi no Kamatari, the Fujiwara clan.  He suggests that mention of the temple in the official records may have even been suppressed by individuals such as Fujiwara no Fubito.  Kawaradera remained in Asuka.  Eventually it fell to ruin, but there is still a small temple on the site, known as Gu-fuku-ji. As for the Kawara Palace, if Kawaradera really was in operation by 653, it is possible that the sovereign took over some of the buildings at Kawaradera, or perhaps the temporary palace was simply somewhere nearby. In any case, they don't seem to have stayed there for too long—they started work on a new palace the following year.  This was the later Okamoto Palace, and from what we can tell it was built on the same site as the Itabuki Palace, south of Asukadera.  This site would see multiple palaces over the years, and even today you can go and see some of the post-holes that they have found, indicating the size of the complex through the years. Based on the layout and size of the Asuka palaces, it seems that these early palaces focused on the “dairi”, the private quarters of the sovereign.  This seems to have ignored the reforms made with the Toyosaki palace design in Naniwa in the early 650s.  That palace, which was built on an incredibly grand scale, consisted of both the private quarters and the public government offices.  But in Asuka the royal family's “palace” appears to have only consisted of the private quarters, for the most part.  So where was the actual bureaucracy happening?  Were there other facilities we don't know about?  Or perhaps, the Toyosaki palace itself was overly ambitious, and there wasn't actually the staff for such a grand complex?  After all, they were just setting up the bureaucracy and perhaps their reach had exceeded their grasp.  Or was it the case that things werestill being run out of the palace complex in Naniwa while the sovereign lived in Asuka?  That seems to have been roughly 10 hours away, by foot, though perhaps only half that by horse. The northern end of the Asuka valley is not as well suited to a large palace complex.  Not only was it already full of temples and the like, but the ground itself rises to the south, and the hills on either side start to come together.  It certainly isn't the kind of place to layout a grand city.  But perhaps that was not the intent—at least not immediately.  It didn't matter much, though, because the Later Okamoto palace, as it came to be known, was not long for this world.  Scarcely had it been built and occupied but that it caught fire and burned down—another expenditure of funds and labor that were once more counted as nothing. In fact, Takara hime was apparently on a tear, and went ahead and initiated quite a few projects that happened in 656.  We are told that nearby Tamu Peak was crowned with a circular enclosure, close to where two “tsuki” trees grew.  A “lofty” building was erected and called both Futatsuki no Miya (the Palace of the Two Tsuki) and Amatsu Miya (the Palace of Heaven).  She also had a new palace erected in Yoshino, possibly as a seasonal retreat.  And with this she was just getting started. She also had laborers dig a canal all the way from the western end of Mt. Kaguyama all the way to Mt. Isonokami.  We are told that 200 barges were then loaded with stone from Mt. Isonokami and hauled to the mountain east of the palace, where the stones were piled up to form a wall.  This last one had people up in arms.  They called the canal the “mad canal” and said that it wasted the labor of over 30,000 people.  On top of that, she used 70,000 men to build the wall.  To top it all off, the timber for the palace rotted away and the top of the mountain where they were building collapsed.  We are told that people cursed it all, crying out: “May the mound built at Iso no Kami break down of itself as fast as it is built.” So, yeah, people weren't too happy.  We, however, just might be – because all of this building work? It leaves traces in the landscape. We aren't always sure about locations in the Chronicles, as it is very easy for names to shift over time or for things to be renamed at a later date. But what we do know is that there are quite a few examples of stone work in the Asuka region.  There is the kame-ishi stone that looks only vaguely carved—it appears to have two carved eyes, but otherwise appears to use the natural shape of the stone to evoke a tortoise—that sits near the site of Kawaradera and Tachibana-dera.  There are the various saruishi—carved figures that are purportedly based on saru, or monkeys, but are likely meant to represent people.  They may have once adorned an elite family's garden or similar, and they were since moved to the tomb of Kibitsu hime.  There are various fountains and waterworks.  And then there are the Sakafune-ishi ruins, sitting along a ridge east of the palace site.  This consists of a large stone up on the hill, with carved channels that appear to be made to channel water poured into the grooves.  At the bottom of the hill there is a turtle shaped stone basin, filled from a boat-shaped water tank.  Across the hill is example of stone work, including possible walls. Given the apparent age of everything, and its location, it is thought that this may all be part of the Futatsuki no Miya complex that Takara hime built.  Unfortunately, it is still not clear how it was meant to operate.  After Asuka was abandoned as the capital, knowledge of the site also disappeared.  There were some stories that arose about the stone that it was used for some kind of sake-brewing, hence the name, but nothing truly concrete has arisen.  There may have been other structures, perhaps made of wood, that are no longer present, and the stone itself appears to have broken and eroded away over the years.  It may have been meant as a ritual site, or perhaps it was just built as some kind of wonder for the people.  It doesn't fit into any clear model of any Buddhist or even ancient Shinto practice, nor is it clearly connected to other continental practices.  We certainly know that they did plenty with water, given the number of waterworks and other carved stones, including a model of Mt. Sumera, we are told was built to the west of Asukadera on the 15th day of the 7th month of the following year—657. Maybe these are remnants of that project Whatever its purpose, the Sakafune-ishi site does seem to compare favorably with what is described in the Nihon Shoki, and perhaps it was considered such a waste of resources just because it didn't fit in with the prevailing ritual culture.  Maybe Takara hime was too artistically avant-garde for her time. “Wasting resources” would, in fact, become a chief complaint against Takara Hime during her time on the throne.  And that takes us from seemingly harmless construction projects into the court politics of the day.  Now as you should recall, Prince Naka no Oe, Takara Hime's son, was the Crown Prince at this point, and quite influential.  He was supported by various courtiers, such as Nakatomi no Kamatari, the Naidaijin, but his eventual ascendancy to the throne was not entirely assured.  We've seen plenty of examples where someone would seem to be in line for the throne and they didn't ever make it.  We know that there were several other royal princes at this time.  One of the youngest was Prince Takeru, a grandson of Takara Hime, who was born around 651.  Then there was Prince Naka no Oe's brother, Prince Ohoama.  He was also one of Takara Hime's sons, and while we haven't heard much of him in the narrative, we will definitely see more of him in the future.  On top of the two of them, there is Prince Arima, whom I talked about at the beginning of the episode.  Prince Arima was mentioned as the son of Karu and Wotarashi Hime, but his mother was not Karu's Queen—that was Hashibito, daughter of Okinaga Tarashi-hi Hironuka, aka Jomei Tennou, and Takara Hime.  Yup, Karu basically married his own niece, though that may have been an attempt to keep the most direct connection possible to the royal line.  Arima's mom Wotarashi Hime, on the other hand, was the daughter of Abe no Kurahashi no Oho-omi—the Minister of the Left, or Sadaijin, during Karu's reign.  Strictly speaking, based on the way that the succession has been depicted so far, Prince Arima wouldn't technically meet the requirements.  That said, we've seen where that has been bypassed in the past, and no doubt people were aware just how easily it would be to rewrite the history, if they had to.  He was young—but not so young that he couldn't be involved in the politics of the court. Other than a note about his parentage at the start of Karu's reign, Prince Arima isn't mentioned again until the ninth month of 657, and right off the bat you can tell where the Chroniclers fall on his personality.  They describe him as deceitful, and claim that he pretended to be insane—a term that doesn't really show up elsewhere, so it is hard to know what exactly is meant.  Is he the Hamlet of his age?  Arima used this as an excuse to go to Muro Onsen—thought to be modern Shirahama Hot Springs, on the southwestern end of the Kii Peninsula.   When he came back he sang its praises, claiming that “scarce had I seen that region, when my complaint disappeared of itself.”  The Queen wanted to go and see for herself. Overall, this hardly seems to be very “deceitful”, though it is suspected that Arima may have feigned an illness to avoid some of the politics around the start of the new reign.  Given his father Karu's recent death, it would likely have been easy enough to claim that he was greatly depressed.  We aren't told how long he stayed at Muro Onsen, but presumably it was for some time. At the start of the following year, on the 13th day of the first month, Kose no Tokuda no Omi, the Sadaijin, or Minister of the Left, passed away.  This would have no doubt created some ripples, but little more is said—we don't even have the name of who succeeded him in the position, at least not in the Nihon Shoki.  Four months later, which is to say in the fifth month of that same year, 658, Prince Takeru passed away.  He was only 8 years old, but as the grandson of Takara Hime a temporary tomb was constructed in the Imaki valley.  Takara Hime lamented his death greatly, and in the 10th month, she took Arima's advice and went to visit the Ki Onsen.  She had several poems composed and handed them to Hata no Ohokura no Miyatsuko no Mari to record them for posterity. While she was away, Soga no Akaye no Omi was the acting official in charge.  And several weeks in, he addressed Prince Arima.  He noted that there were three problems with Takara Hime's government. First – She builds treasuries on a great scale, collecting the riches of the people. Second – She wastes the public grain revenue in digging long canals. Third – She loads barges with stones and transports them to be piled up into a hill. This may have been popular opinion, but it was also rather treasonous talk.  Prince Arima simply smiled and said: “I have only now come to an age where I am fit to bear arms.” So, yeah, he was basically saying that he was old enough to take up arms—and presumably lead others in a rebellion, if that was the case. Two days later, on the fifth day of the 11th month, Prince Arima met Akaye at his mansion.  They went into one of the upper stories, where they wouldn't be interrupted, and there they conspired together.  Others were also involved, it seems—Mori no Kimi no Oho-ishi, Sakahibe no Muraji no Kusuri, and Shihoya no Muraji no Konoshiro.  There are a few different books that claim to record what the plans were.  One says that Soga no Akaye, Shihoya no Konoshiro, Mori no Oho-ishi, and Sakahibe no Kusuri divined the future of their conspiracy by drawing slips of paper, to see how it would turn out.  Another book states that Arima claimed he would burn down the palace and take 500 men to march down south.  There he would waylay Takara Hime at the harbour of Muro.  They were going to exile her to Awaji island, setting up a fleet of ships to ensure she could never leave. As they were discussing what to do—no doubt talking about how the Prince could take the throne, a leg-rest that they were using broke.  Another book claims it was an arm-rest, instead, but otherwise the details are the same.  They both agreed that was a bad omen, and decided not to proceed any further with their plans.  Prince Arima returned home, but apparently Soga no Akaye had a change of heart.  He apparently figured that his only way out was to turn in the others and admit everything.  And so, that night, Akaye sent Mononobe no Enowi no Muraji no Shibi, who was in charge of the labourers working on the palace.  They surrounded the palace and then Akaye sent a mounted courier to inform Takara Hime. That letter must have laid everything out.  Takara hime had the conspirators arrested and brought to Ki Onsen.  Arima's servant, Nihitabe no Muraji no Yonemaro, followed them.  Prince Naka no Oe himself questioned Arima about why he plotted treason.  Arima's answer is a bit cryptic:  “Heaven and Akaye know.” He responded, “I do not understand at all.” In the end, all of the conspirators were found guilty, and executed.  Tajihi no Wosaha no Muraji no Kuniso was sent to do the task.  Prince Arima was strangled at the Fujishiro acclivity, along with Shihoya no Konoshiro and Nihitabe no Yonemaro.  Before being executed, Konoshiro made a rather macabre request, asking that—presumably after he was dead—they cut off his right hand and make it a national treasure.  The other two conspirators, Mori no Oho-ishi and Sakahibe no Kusuri, were merely banished, presumably having played less of a role. Once again, we must remember that we are only getting one side of the story.  It is definitely convenient for Naka no Oe to have a potential rival out of the way.  At the same time, it is certainly plausible that there was more than a little bit of consternation about how Takara Hime had been spending so much on all of these construction projects.  And yet… were these Takara Hime's projects, alone? Remember, Prince Naka no Oe seems to have had a fair bit of clout.  He orchestrated the original coup, where he killed Soga no Iruka and his father.  And then he declined the throne, but became a major part of the new government.  He was apparently powerful enough that he organized the move back to Asuka against the wishes of Karu no Ohokimi. So would all of these projects have been done without his involvement? This is an area where I have to admit that I probably need to check my bias.  On the one hand, it is rare enough in patriarchal accounts to see women with agency and in positions of power, and so it is easy enough to make an assumption that any agency they are given in the record, they likely had more than is mentioned.  At the same time, in this particular instance, at least, Takara Hime's role in this could just as easily be a cover to preserve the image of Naka no Oe, who is certainly portrayed as a hero figure, bringing much needed change and modernization—such as it was—to Yamato.  His enemies are always shown to be in the wrong, and even if he is accused of something horrible—such as the death of Soga no Ishikawa no Maro—it turns out that it was actually the fault of someone else, such as the person who slandered Maro to him in the first place.  So could it be that these unpopular construction projects were actually his doing, all along?  Was the conspiracy simply to overthrow Takara Hime, or was it focused on both her and Naka no Oe, together? To be honest, I couldn't say for certain.  All we have to go on is what the Chroniclers tell us, and they lay the blame fairly firmly at the feet of Takara Hime.  But do remember that Naka no Oe is not necessarily the Shining Prince that he is often made out to be, and that people rarely come to or stay in power in a society like Yamato's by being nice all the time.  We certainly know what he is capable of from the Isshi Incident, and we shouldn't forget that in the narrative. Now when Takara Hime returned from Ki Onsen after winter ended, in the new year.  We are told that she got back on the third day of the first month of 659.  A couple of months later, on the first day of the third month, she went to Yoshino and held a banquet there—no doubt at the palace she had had constructed.  This may have been at the site of Miyataki Ruins, where excavations have revealed numerous examples of roof tiles and other artifacts that may have come from a building from the Asuka or Nara era. The visit to Yoshino must have been quick, however, as we are told that two days later she visited Hira-ura in Afumi, on the shores of Lake Biwa.  Perhaps this only means she left two days later, since that must have been quite the journey back in the day.  Would she have traveled on horseback, or in a carriage or something similar?  No doubt a full procession would take time, and I doubt that the sovereign would push herself.  We also don't have a reason for her to go, that I can see.  It is an odd entry, to say the least. And I think it may be best to end it there.  I do encourage anyone who can to get down to Asuka and plan to spend a couple of days if you really want to get around.  You may want to rent a bike or even a car to get to everything, though you can walk to most things.  There are several museums and cultural centers set up to expound upon Asuka culture, with a focus on the history and archaeology specifically of that period. The palace site where Takara Hime ruled would continue to be the location of at least two more palaces, which we'll talk about in time.  Before that, though, we'll want to cover a few more things.  Most importantly, we'll want to talk about the relationship with lands outside of the archipelago.  We'll discuss the man from Tukhara—who may have simply been from the Ryukyu islands, or possible from as far aways the Dvaravati Kingdom, in modern day Thailand, or even from the western edge of India and Pakistan, having traveled the Silk Road.  Some have even suggested that he may be a Tocharian, and we'll talk about what that means.  And then, before we finish, we'll have to talk about everything else going on, including the conclusion of the Tang-Baekje war. Until then thank you 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.    

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 58-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 23,070 on turnover of $6.5-billion N-T. Shares in Taiwan closed lower amid continuing concerns over volatility on the U.S. markets and inflationary pressure after the return of Donald Trump, who has vowed to raise tariffs, to the White House in January. And analysts say the financial sector came under heavy pressure, contributing to the downward movement of the Taiex. Miaoli Hits 1 Degree Early Morning Parts of Miaoli County have recorded the lowest temperature of the season this morning. According to the Central Weather Administration, monitoring stations confirmed that San-wan Township reached 1-degree-Celsius at around 7am. And nearby, Hsinchu County's E-mei Township recorded temperatures of 2.1-degrees. Meteorologist Wu De-rong says the extreme low was likely caused by clear skies and strong radiative (輻射的) cooling. He says skies will likely remain clear over the next two days with warmer daytime temperatures, but cold early mornings and nights. Then on Wednesday, another front carrying cold air and rain is expected to move over the island for another two days. (NS) Taiwanese artist wins international postcard contest in Japan A Taiwanese artist was awarded the top prize in a postcard competition at a regional art museum in Japan. Lee Li-chin was the first non-Japanese competitor to win the annual 10x15 World Contest. On Saturday, she received the Mayor's Award for her postcard depiction (描寫) of the Kawai Shrine in Kyoto, which combined embroidery and oil painting. Lee says she was inspired by the striking red color of traditional Shinto gates against surrounding green mountains, during her first visit to Kyoto. Speaking to the Japanese media, she said wanted to enrich her world by participating in the art contest and hoped to convey a message of love through her work. US Cali Firefighting Continues Firefighters are attempting (試圖) to corral wildfires in Los Angeles, but strong winds are forecast to return this week. AP correspondent Julie Walker reports Turkey Rescued Gorilla Recovering at Zoo A young gorilla rescued from a plane's cargo hold is recovering at an Istanbul zoo while wildlife officers consider returning him to his natural habitat. The 5-month-old gorilla was discovered in a box on a Turkish Airlines flight from Nigeria to Thailand last month. After a public competition, he has been named Zeytin, or Olive, and is recuperating (正在康復中) at Polonezkoy Zoo. The director of Istanbul nature conservation says it's important to return the gorilla “to an absolutely safe environment.” Both western and eastern gorillas, which populate central Africa's remote (偏僻的) forests and mountains — are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下訊息由 SoundOn 動態廣告贊助商提供－－－－ 美股開外掛，股價屢屢創新高，好想跟一波，還來得及嗎？ 馬上搜尋009800、中信NASDAQ，美國那斯達克經典濃縮款，產業龍頭All in One！009801、中信美國創新科技，重壓美國科技巨擘，可望駕馭美股多頭！ 哇，太棒了！想讓投資再次偉大，千萬不能錯過！ 10元起步，投資美國頂尖企業，1/13~1/17速洽全台各大證券商。 https://bit.ly/4gMfIti -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

{Trigger warning talk of self-harm} Japanese ghost lore, or "yūrei" culture, has captivated audiences worldwide with its haunting beauty and chilling tales. Rooted deeply in Shinto and Buddhist beliefs and the rich tapestry of Japan's feudal and modern history, yūrei embodies a complex relationship between the living and the dead.  Our Names are Trevor and Riley.  We are from West Michigan and we are best friends who have had a love for the things that go bump in the night for years, after many years of talking about doing a podcast and going out and investigating the paranormal ourselves. We Finally did it. Thus What Goes Bump In the Night was born in 2019. Since the creation of the podcast we have been all over the US investigating the paranormal and covering the spookiest creepypastas and urban legends we can find Through our time doing this, we covered a wide range of topics from local urban legends to mythical creatures and bizarre events that have occurred over the globe. So if you believe or want to believe in the things we can't explain, we ask you to keep your ears and eyes open for what goes bump in the night. If you have your own paranormal stories or a creepypasta you would like us to share or be featured on the podcast please email us at Whatgoesbumppodcast@gmail.com   Feel free to send donations to help the podcast to our Cashapp $Whatgoesbump or Venmoo @whatgoesbump Thank you Night Crew! - Trevor & Riley

2024 was a special year for Carnival and the Japan-New Orleans connection! Lafcadio Hearn's life & works inspired the theme for Rex Parade 2024: "The Two Worlds of Lafcadio Hearn - New Orleans & Japan". But why Hearn? What went into the float design? What other ways has Hearn left a lasting impact on both New Orleans & Japan? Find out today with a super-sized special Mardi Gras bonus episode, featuring insights from Rex historian/archivist Will French & historian/archivist emeritus Dr. Stephen Hales, Royal Artists float designer/artistic director Caroline Thomas, Lafcadio Hearn's great grandson Bon Koizumi,  legendary chef John Folse, Captain of the Krewe of Lafcadio John Kelly, JSNO's resident Lafcadio Hearn expert Matthew Smith, and even the Mayor of Matsue Akihito Uesada! Get ready for Mardi Gras 2025 by reflecting on this unique connection between New Orleans & Japan!------ 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!------ Music Credits ------Background music provided by: Royalty Free Music by Giorgio Di Campo for Free Sound Music http://freesoundmusic.eu FreeSoundMusic on Youtube  Link to Original Sound Clip------ Audio Clip Credits ------Thanks to Dominic Massa & everyone at WYES for allowing us to use some of the audio from the below Rex Clips:Segment about Royal Artist & Float DesignFull 2024 Rex Ball Coverage (Krewe of Lafcadio/Nicholls State segment)Thanks to Matsue City Hall & Mayor Akihito Uesada for their video message below:Message from Matsue Mayor Akihito Uesada------ 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 Hearn/Matsue/History Episodes ------Foreign-Born Samurai: William Adams ft. Nathan Ledbetter (Guest Host, Dr. Samantha Perez) (S5E17)Foreign-Born Samurai: Yasuke ft. Nathan Ledbetter (Guest Host, Dr. Samantha Perez) (S5E16)Explore Matsue ft. Nicholas McCullough (S4E19)Jokichi Takamine: The Earliest Bridge Between New Orleans & Japan ft. Stephen Lyman (S4E13)The Life & Legacy of Lafcadio Hearn ft. Bon & Shoko Koizumi (S1E9)Matsue & New Orleans: Sister Cities ft. Dr. Samantha Perez (S1E2)------ Links about Rex ------2024 Rex Parade/Float PDF with Full DesignsCaroline Thomas's Website------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

Sumo wrestling will return to London for the first time in 34 years in 2025 as the historic Royal Albert Hall hosts a Grand Sumo Tournament next October—just the second official event to be hosted outside of Japan in the sport's 1500-year history. The Victorian concert venue was built in 1871 and has witnessed performances from the likes of Muhammad Ali, The Beatles, and Adele in its storied history—but also hosted the first-ever official sumo tournament held outside Japan in 1991. It is the first five-day basho outside Japan since that tournament, which was won by the current Chairman of Sumo Kyokai, the Japan Sumo Association, Nobuyoshi Hakkaku, who was in London to promote the event. Each evening will feature traditional ceremonial events, including a dohyō-iri ring entrance ceremony and approximately twenty bouts of sumo wrestling from over forty makuuchi rikishi (wrestlers) from Japan's top-level sumo division. A champion will be crowned at the end of the five-day tournament between October 15th and 19th, which is so rarely taken abroad due to the specific hosting requirements. A variety of factors, including the financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, delayed the sport's return to London. But organizers believe the time is right because sumo is having a bit of a moment. The 1991 event was broadcast live to millions across the UK as part of the Japan Festival and witnessed in person by sold-out crowds, who paid up to 100 GBP for a ticket, around 227 GBP today (288 USD). The correct clay for the sacred dohyo (wrestling ring) had to be sourced from a quarry near Heathrow Airport, while a huge drum, the ceremonial canopy, and the yokata, were shipped in specially from Japan. The Hall had to have the backstage lavatories weight-tested, chairs reinforced, and extra-large showers fitted. The main attraction back then was Hawaiian Konishiki, the heaviest sumo wrestler ever, nicknamed the ‘Dump Truck', who weighed in at 238 kg. Sumo is the national sport of Japan and originated around 1500 years ago in sacred ceremonial Shinto rites to pray for prosperity and bountiful harvest. This article was provided by The Associated Press.

Ever wondered why those two-tiered rice cakes with a tiny orange on top are everywhere in Japan during the New Year? Meet Kagami Mochi! In this episode, we unwrap the symbolism, history, and spiritual significance of this unique tradition—from Shinto rituals to hopes for family prosperity. Plus, we'll tell you why you shouldn't point a knife at it on January 11th! 日本のお正月に、なぜあの小さな橙が乗った二段重ねの鏡餅がどこにでもあるのか、不思議に思ったことはありませんか？今回は「鏡餅」について徹底解説します！このユニークな伝統の象徴や歴史、そして神道の儀式や家族繁栄への願いなど、そのスピリチュアルな意味に迫ります。そして、1月11日に鏡餅を包丁で切ってはいけない理由（硬くて切れない説‼笑）もお話しします！ Support the showhttps://linktr.ee/Sojapanese

Did you know there is a Shinto kami (god or spirit) of salt? [This description contains Amazon affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no additional cost to you.] Uncanny Japan is author Thersa Matsuura. Check out her books including The Book of Japanese Folklore by clicking on the Amazon link.  If you'd like to help support the podcast and have a bedtime story read to you monthly, please visit Patreon. Discord: https://discord.gg/XdMZTzmyUb Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thersamatsuura Website: https://www.uncannyjapan.com/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UncannyJapan Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/uncannyjapan.bsky.social Mastodon: https://famichiki.jp/@UncannyJapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/UncannyJapan Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uncannyjapan/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uncannyjapan/ Books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Thersa-Matsuura/e/B002CWZ73Y/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1500180689&sr=8-1 Buy Me a Coffee (one-time contribution): https://buymeacoffee.com/uncannyjapan

What do you wish I asked this guest? What was your "quotable moment" from this episode? Kat Sketch, a renowned artist celebrated for her mesmerizing beauty and makeup effects on YouTube, joins us to share her extraordinary spiritual journey. Growing up with Japanese and Native American roots, Kat has always felt a deep connection with her ancestors. This connection intensified when she moved into a haunted apartment in Pasadena, leading to fascinating ghostly encounters. Her spiritual practices, influenced by Shinto traditions, include working with ancestral altars and nature, revealing the profound significance of New Year's rituals in her culture. Kat's story inspires us to embrace our cultural heritage in both personal and creative pursuits.Ever felt like a fraud? You're not alone. Imposter syndrome is a common struggle among creatives, and we explore this through Kat's experiences. With inattentive ADHD adding another layer of complexity, Kat discusses her journey to balance work and creativity without succumbing to the pressure of perfection. She opens up about her evolving spiritual practices, such as crafting personal alternatives to traditional rituals, which help maintain her connection with ancestors. We also delve into the liberating power of meditative practices, like magical bathing, as a means of spiritual rejuvenation and connection.Our conversation is a tapestry of stories, from facing stereotypes in vibrant spiritual communities to the heartwarming tales of influential figures like Kat's grandmother. We celebrate the diversity and representation that enrich our spiritual paths, alongside the support of individuals who encourage us to grow. With a hint of humor and affection, we touch on potential guests for future episodes, promising more witchy content to fuel your spirit. Don't forget to connect with Your Average Witch Podcast on social media and join us next Tuesday for another enchanting journey.Follow Kat Sketch on YouTube here!Grandma Yoshi story part 1Grandma Yoshi story part 2ClairvoyagingLauren & Frank explore esotericism, intuition, psychic growth, healing, and bad jokes.Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySupport the showSupport the show and get tons of bonus content, videos, monthly spell boxes, and more at CrepuscularConjuration.com!Or become a paying subscriber on Buzzsprout: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1777532/supportWant to see if you're a good fit for the show? (Hint: if you're a witch, you probably are!) email me at youraveragewitchpodcast at gmail.comFollow YAW at:instagram.com/youraveragewitchpodcastfacebook.com/youraveragewitchpodcastReview the show on Apple podcastspodcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/your-average-witch-podcast/id1567845483

This week: Taiwan was the first overseas territory annexed by Japan with a large existing population. So how did the government's policies on religion--and especially Shinto--help shape the nature of Japanese colonial rule there? And how did those policies evolve as Taiwan's own place in the empire changed? Show notes here. 

This season was a long one! The Krewe re-groups to reflect on Season 5 as a whole, and everything that went into it...  with a SPECIAL GUEST! Join us for one last audio journey in Season 5 as we discuss all the milestones, top moments, challenges, & fun anecdotes, in addition to a look ahead to Season 6 & listener feedback! Let's GO!------ 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 Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

Dr. Adam Francisco, author, “One God, Many Gods” One God, Many Gods The post Christianity and Other World Religions: Confucianism, Daoism, Shinto and Sikhism – Dr. Adam Francisco, 12/9/24 (3442) first appeared on Issues, Etc..

This week: how does the history of Shinto intersect with the colonization of Hokkaido? What role does Shinto's transition from religion to "cultural institution" play in the process that has made that island indisputably a part of Japan itself? Show notes here. 

How many original castles does Japan ACTUALLY have standing? Where is Japan's oldest castle located? When counting castles in Japan, do castle ruins factor in? The Krewe is joined by William de Lange, the author of An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles & many other Japan-related publications, to get the answer to these questions and so many more!------ 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 Architecture & History Episodes ------Foreign-Born Samurai: William Adams ft. Nathan Ledbetter (Guest Host, Dr. Samantha Perez) (S5E17)Foreign-Born Samurai: Yasuke ft. Nathan Ledbetter (Guest Host, Dr. Samantha Perez) (S5E16)Change in Urban & Rural Japanese Communities ft. Azby Brown (S5E15)KOJ Podcast S5E6 - Inside Japanese Homes & Architecture ft. Azby Brown (S5E6)Kendo: The Way of the Sword ft. Alexander Bennett, 7th Dan in Kendo (S4E16)Jokichi Takamine: The Earliest Bridge Between New Orleans & Japan ft. Stephen Lyman (S4E13)The Chrysanthemum Throne ft. Dr. Hiromu Nagahara [Part 2] (S2E18)The Chrysanthemum Throne ft. Dr. Hiromu Nagahara [Part 1] (S2E17)The Age of Lady Samurai ft. Tomoko Kitagawa (S1E12)------ Links about William de Lange ------An Encyclopedia of Japanese Castles (Amazon)Japan Then & Now (Amazon, Released June 2024)Walking the Edo Sanpu (Amazon, Released August 2024)William's Website------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!

Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Prayers, Torii, and Hope: A Father's Autumn Wish Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2024-11-29-23-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 秋の朝、空気は新鮮で、風がほんの少し肌に冷たく感じる。En: On an autumn morning, the air felt fresh, with the wind just slightly cold on the skin.Ja: その日、年に一度の七五三の祭りが行われる伏見稲荷大社で、カイトは娘のユミと親友のヒロシと一緒に歩いていた。En: That day, Fushimi Inari Taisha was hosting the annual Shichi-Go-San festival, and Kaito was walking there with his daughter Yumi and his close friend Hiroshi.Ja: 細い道の両側には赤い鳥居が果てしなく続き、遠くまで伸びている。En: On both sides of the narrow path, red torii, or traditional gates, stretched endlessly and extended far into the distance.Ja: カイトは未熟な父親だと感じていた。En: Kaito felt like an inexperienced father.Ja: ユミが三歳になったこの特別な日、彼は娘の未来のために、少しでも幸運を得たいと願っていた。En: On this special day when Yumi turned three, he hoped to gain a bit of fortune for his daughter's future.Ja: しかし、心の奥底ではお金の不安がずっと彼を悩ませていた。En: However, deep in his heart, financial concerns constantly bothered him.Ja: 「いい父親になれるだろうか？ユミの未来はどうなるのだろうか？」と。En: "Can I be a good father? What will Yumi's future look like?" he wondered.Ja: 「ここが重要な場所だよ、カイト。」ヒロシが少し先から振り返って言った。En: "This is an important place, Kaito," Hiroshi said, turning around from a little ahead.Ja: 大きな鳥居の前には、清められた水が置かれ、小さな賽銭箱が鎮座していた。En: Before the large torii, purified water was placed with a small offering box solemnly standing.Ja: カイトは深呼吸をして、真剣な顔つきで歩を進めた。En: Kaito took a deep breath and proceeded with a serious expression.Ja: 神社の中では、人々が祈りを捧げ、恵まれた日常に感謝していた。En: Inside the shrine, people offered prayers and gave thanks for their blessed daily lives.Ja: カイトもヒロシと一緒に神主からお祓いを受け、ユミの健康と幸せを心から願った。En: Kaito, together with Hiroshi, received purification rites from the kannushi, a Shinto priest, and sincerely wished for Yumi's health and happiness.Ja: しかし、一番重要なのはその後だった。En: However, the most important moment came afterward.Ja: カイトはポケットから小さな紙を取り出し、そこにそっと願いを書き記した。En: Kaito took a small piece of paper out of his pocket and quietly inscribed his wish upon it.Ja: その紙には、彼の心からの思い、妻と娘への愛、そして未来への不安が詰まっていた。En: That paper contained his heartfelt desires, love for his wife and daughter, and anxieties about the future.Ja: カイトはその紙を丁寧に結び、そっと目を閉じた。En: Kaito carefully tied the paper, gently closing his eyes.Ja: 「ユミの人生が素晴らしいものでありますように。」彼の心の中で強く願いながら、En: "May Yumi's life be wonderful," he wished strongly in his heart.Ja: 目を開けた瞬間、色とりどりの秋の葉が風に舞い、彼らの上に舞い降りてきた。それはまるで、お祝いのメッセージのようだった。En: As he opened his eyes, colorful autumn leaves were carried by the wind, dancing above them like a celebratory message.Ja: カイトはその光景に感動し、心の中で大きな喜びと安らぎを感じた。En: Kaito was moved by the scene and felt a profound joy and peace within.Ja: 「すべてはきっと大丈夫だ」と。En: "Everything will surely be alright," he thought.Ja: 神社を後にしたカイトは、重かった心が軽くなったような気持ちになり、これからの生活に対する新たな希望を感じていた。En: Leaving the shrine, Kaito felt as if the weight on his heart had lightened and sensed newfound hope for the future.Ja: 彼はユミの手をしっかりと握り、笑顔でヒロシと共に家路へと向かった。En: Holding Yumi's hand firmly, he smiled and headed home with Hiroshi.Ja: どんな未来が待っていても、彼は今、できることをしようと思った。En: No matter what future awaited them, he decided to do what he could now.Ja: 最も大切なのは、愛と希望があれば、どんなことも乗り越えられるということを知ったからである。En: He came to understand that with love and hope, any challenge could be overcome. Vocabulary Words:autumn: 秋fresh: 新鮮endlessly: 果てしなくinexperienced: 未熟fortune: 幸運concerns: 不安solemnly: 鎮座proceeded: 進めたprayers: 祈りpurification: お祓いrites: 儀式health: 健康happiness: 幸せinscribed: 書き記したheartfelt: 心からのtied: 結びprofound: 大きなjoy: 喜びpeace: 安らぎweight: 重いlightened: 軽くなったhope: 希望overcome: 乗り越えcelebratory: お祝いmessage: メッセージdesires: 思いwhirl: 舞うblessed: 恵まれたprofound: 大きなgently: そっと

What even is religion, when you get down to it? Why do we treat religion the way that we do? And when our modern notions of religion came up against an empire whose very legitimacy was based on a religious myth, how did those tensions play out? Show notes here. 

Cheserae Scala is a certified Death Midwife, bringing families together around a dying loved one, facilitating the transition and providing ceremonies and sacred rites, grief counseling, death-care directives, after-death care and funeral planning. She talked about growing up in northern Michigan to an entrepreneurial family, and how her mother's terminal cancer diagnose awoke in her the desire to serve people as they deal with inevitable. She speaks about the taboos about talking frankly about death, as well as the laws which govern in-home dying and how they discourage healing and humane practices. We talked about own experiences with death, as she shared anecdotes about some of her experiences, cultural practices around the world, and much more. We did not discuss Shinto animism, NFL referees or Space X launches. Scale co-owns Alquimia Wellness on El Roblar in Meiners Oaks with her husband, Dr. Eric Baumgartner. Check out their website at www.alquimia.life ...

The Buddhist temples throughout Japan had worked hand-in-hand with the Shogunate to help prevent the spread of Christianity in Japan. Now that the Shogunate was gone, anti-Buddhist sentiment in the country boiled over into a violent response. Support the show My latest novel, "Califia's Crusade," is now available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple Books, Bookshop.org, and many other online platforms!

In Japan, cleanliness is cultural and synonymous with well-being. That's down in no small part to the influence of Shintoism, the country's oldest religion. While the number of believers has been steadily decreasing for some time, Shinto philosophy and culture are still widely practised. Cleanliness is seen not just as a physical state but also a spiritual one, as it is closely tied to the respect and reverence shown to Shinto gods. Following this line of thinking, many Japanese people engage in an annual Buddhist cleaning ritual called "Oosouji," aimed at purifying and organising their interiors before entering a new period. What does "Oosouji" mean? What are the steps to follow during "Oosouji"? What are the benefits of it? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here : How can I reduce my belly fat? What are the health benefits of algae? Why do people say that black cats bring bad luck? A podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. Fisrt broadcast: 6/8/23. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Travel Along with Laura to the lovely city of Kyoto, known for its exquisite temples and traditional wooden houses.  As the former capital, Kyoto offers a unique blend of ancient history and modern life, making it a stop on most travelers first visit to Japan.  Join Laura, Carrie and the kids as they struggle with jet lag, visit a famous Shintu temple and a sake museum, eat everything they see at the Nishiki fish market... and also at 7-11... visit a pig cafe and wander the streets of Gion.Want to support the podcast? Go to Laura's Patreon site to see photos from the episode, maps of places she talks about and you can become a patron too!Follow the show on instagram or facebook. Music Credits:Tracks: "Chugging Along", Purrple Cat, "Establishing Tokyo", "Roasted Turnt" and "Walk it Off provided by https://slip.streamSense by Sergey Cheremisinov is licensed under a Attribution 4.0 International License.Support the show

This one goes out to all the ladies out there... well, and the fellas too if you're interested! The Krewe sits down with avid shojo enthusiast Taryn of Manga Lela Instagram/TikTok fame to talk all things shojo. Together they explore the variety of shojo genres, some challenges faced in the shojo industry, & what makes shojo different from those rambunctious shonen titles! Don't miss out!------ 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 Anime/Manga/Pop Culture Episodes ------The Japanese Pop Music Scene ft. Patrick St. Michel (S5E10)Akira Toriyama: Legacy of a Legend ft. Matt Alt (S5E3)The History & Evolution of Godzilla ft. Dr. William (Bill) Tsutsui (S5E1)Thoughts on Godzilla Minus One ft. Dr. William (Bill) Tsutsui (S4Bonus)The History of Nintendo ft. Matt Alt (S4E18)Visiting Themed Cafes in Japan ft. Chris Nilghe of TDR Explorer (S4E15)Japanese Mascot Mania ft. Chris Carlier of Mondo Mascots (S4E8)Tokusatsu Talk with a Super Sentai ft. Sotaro Yasuda aka GekiChopper (S4E6)The Evolution of PokéMania ft Daniel Dockery [Part 2] (S4E3)The Evolution of PokéMania ft Daniel Dockery [Part 1] (S4E2)Japanese Independent Film Industry ft. Award Winning Director Eiji Uchida (S3E18)City Pop & Yu ft. Yu Hayami (S3E14)How Marvel Comics Changed Tokusatsu & Japan Forever ft Gene & Ted Pelc (Guest Host, Matt Alt) (S3E13)Talking Shonen Anime Series ft. Kyle Hebert (S3E10)Japanese Pro Wrestling ft. Baliyan Akki (Part 2) (S3E6)Japanese Pro Wrestling ft. Baliyan Akki (Part 1) (S3E5)Exploring Enka ft. Jerome White Jr aka ジェロ / Jero (S3E1)Japanese Arcades (S2E16)How to Watch Anime: Subbed vs. Dubbed ft. Dan Woren (S2E9)Japanese Theme Parks ft. TDR Explorer (S2E4)Manga: Literature & An Art Form ft. Danica Davidson (S2E3)The Fantastical World of Studio Ghibli ft. Steve Alpert (S2E1)The Greatest Anime of All Time Pt. 3: Modern Day Anime  (2010's-Present) (S1E18)The Greatest Anime of All Time Pt. 2: The Golden Age  (1990's-2010's) (S1E16)The Greatest Anime of All Time Pt. 1: Nostalgia (60's-80's) (S1E5)We Love Pokemon: Celebrating 25 Years (S1E3)Why Japan ft. Matt Alt (S1E1)------ Links about Taryn/Manga Lela------Taryn's LinksTaryn on TikTokTaryn on InstagramTaryn on Twitter/X------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJapan Fest Sign-UpJSNO Annual Meeting RegistrationJoin JSNO Today!

This week on the Hemp Podcast, we travel to Japan. Not literally, but vicariously. Our three guests recently attended the inaugural Tokyo International Hemp Conference last month and toured an 8th generation hemp farm and processing facility called Golden Hemp that makes sacred ropes used in Shinto temples. On this episode we will talk to Jean Lotus, Robin Destiche and Patrick Atagi. The trip was organized by the National Industrial Hemp Council of America and was funded by USDA's Regional Agricultural Promotion Program. Lotus, the publisher of Hemp Build Magazine, was fascinated to learn about the ancient traditions and processing methods that are still in use today, and thinks Japan will embrace hemp building practices. “I really see some opportunities there with hemp building materials just because of the decarbonization,” she said. “The Japanese have really embraced all of the United Nations sustainability goals for construction.” Robin Destiche, a co-founder of American hemp seed company KonopiUS, said he sees the potential for growth, but doesn't expect it overnight. “Like many things in the hemp industry,” he said, “I can see it maybe in three to five years, but it definitely feels like there's traction, there's development.” Patrick Atagi, the president and CEO of the National Industrial Hemp Council, organized the trip in conjunction with the Thailand Industrial Hemp Trade Association. “Our goal is to market and create a market for hemp domestically and globally,” he said. Learn More: National Industrial Hemp Council of America Hemp Build Mag KonopiUS Regional Agricultural Promotion Program (RAPP) Texas Hemp Building Event: Architect/Builder Training and Tour, San Marcos, TX October 24-25 Greenbuild 2024 News Nuggets US Hopes Green Construction Awakens Japan's Hemp Industry Honeywell and SGP BioEnergy to develop plant-based biochemicals, reducing industry's reliance on fossil fuels Thanks to our Sponsors! IND HEMP Americhanvre Forever Green and the KP4 Hemp Cutter

Ise Jingu is the preeminent shrine in Japan, providing sanctuary for Amaterasu, the sun goddess. In Jainism we find the Cosmic Mother, and in both South Arabia and Germany the ultimate deity was also female. In Catholicism it is Mary. In other examples we find a triune, dualistic, or all-encompassing force, again, sometimes male and sometimes female. These terms matter little, however, since what the story conveys is the key to understanding. Names and identities are just languages. Amaterasu dies for three days and is resurrected; she reflects in a mirror like the Hebrew God; her sanctuary is protected by a white veil not unlike the red veil of Isis; in myth the veil separates the earthly and spiritual planes, and the mirror is placed on a tree around which the other gods celebrate the sun goddess resurrecting and gifting life to the world - essentially a Christmas or Yule party. Her worship dates back 2,000 years to at least the time of Jesus, and before.-FREE ARCHIVE & RSS: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-secret-teachings Twitter: https://twitter.com/TST___Radio Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesecretteachings WEBSITE (BOOKS, RESUBSCRIBE for early show access): http://thesecretteachings.info Paypal: rdgable@yahoo.com CashApp: $rdgable EMAIL: rdgable@yahoo.com / TSTRadio@protonmail.com

Historians Nathan Ledbetter & Dr. Samantha Perez rejoin the Krewe to continue our conversation on foreign-born samurai, this time highlighting the life of William Adams! In this episode, we explore his relationships with both Japanese & non-Japanese while in Japan, the similarities between William Adams's story & House of the Dragon (what?!), how he was a big inspiration for James Clavell's classic novel (and the adaptations) Shogun... AND SO MUCH MORE!------ 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 History Episodes ------Foreign-Born Samurai: Yasuke ft. Nathan Ledbetter (Guest Host, Dr. Samantha Perez) (S5E16)Kendo: The Way of the Sword ft. Alexander Bennett, 7th Dan in Kendo (S4E16)Jokichi Takamine: The Earliest Bridge Between New Orleans & Japan ft. Stephen Lyman (S4E13)How Marvel Comics Changed Tokusatsu & Japan Forever ft Gene & Ted Pelc (Guest Host, Matt Alt) (S3E13)The Chrysanthemum Throne ft. Dr. Hiromu Nagahara [Part 2] (S2E18)The Chrysanthemum Throne ft. Dr. Hiromu Nagahara [Part 1] (S2E17)The Age of Lady Samurai ft. Tomoko Kitagawa (S1E12)The Life & Legacy of Lafcadio Hearn ft. Bon & Shoko Koizumi (S1E9)------ Links about Nate ------Ubisoft's Echoes of History "Japan's First Unifier: Oda Nobunaga"Ubisoft's Echoes of History "Samurai vs Shinobi: The Tensho Iga War"Nate on BlueSky------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------JSNO Event CalendarJoin JSNO Today!