Podcasts about Tokyo

“Track running has really exploded recently in America. Everyone's running super fast times. Even in the half marathon, people have dipped under 60 [minutes] this year. I think the same thing could happen in the marathon... I certainly think that American marathoners can be competitive on the global stage.”Our guest today is Ethan Shuley. If you didn't know his name a few weeks ago, you weren't alone. But after what he just did in Japan, the entire American distance running community is paying attention.At the Osaka Marathon, Ethan ran 2:07:14 and finished 14th overall to become the 7th-fastest American marathoner ever on a record-eligible course. No sponsorship. No professional team. No long résumé of NCAA accolades. Just a runner who, until recently, was training largely on his own while living in Tokyo and going to film school. And that's what makes this story so remarkable.Ethan's path to 2:07 doesn't follow the traditional pipeline. After a promising high school career, injuries derailed his time at BYU, where he raced just once before stepping away from competitive running altogether. For a stretch, running meant little more than a few casual miles a week. Then came a move to Japan, an interest in trails and ultras, and a gradual realization that (almost accidentally) he was getting very fit again.From there, the progression was steady and stunning: a sub-15:00 5K for the first time in his life, a 2:20 marathon in Nara, then 2:18, 2:11, a 63-minute half, a 1:01 in Osaka and finally, the breakthrough that changed everything.What began as an unsponsored, self-coached experiment has become one of the most unlikely rises in American marathoning. Ethan Shuley went from unknown to the all-time list overnight and suddenly finds himself very much in the conversation heading into the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.In this episode, we get into the unconventional journey, the training he built largely outside the traditional system, how stacking consistent high-mileage weeks unlocked a new level, and what it actually feels like to go from anonymous to historic in a single race.____________Host: Chris Chavez | ⁠⁠@chris_j_chavezGuest: Ethan Shuley | @ethanshuleyProduced by: Jasmine Fehr | ⁠⁠⁠@jasminefehr____________SUPPORT OUR SPONSORSUSATF: The USATF Indoor Track and Field Championships presented by Prevagen are back in New York City from February 28th to March 1st at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. This is where legends don't just race; they punch their ticket to the world stage. The pressure is real, the margins are razor thin, and every athlete is fighting for one thing: a spot on Team USATF at the World Indoor Championships. Grab your tickets now at USATF.org/tickets and experience track and field at its absolute loudest.OLIPOP: A blast from the past, Olipop's Shirley Temple combines smooth vanilla flavor with bright lemon and lime, finished with cherry juice for that nostalgic grenadine-like flavor. One sip of this timeless soda proves some flavors never grow old. Try Shirley Temple and more of Olipop's flavors at DrinkOlipop.com and use code CITIUS25 at checkout to get 25% off your orders.

Recorded: Tuesday 24th February, 2026Location: Melbourne, Airport.Sponsors:A Note To The Runners: ⁠Get my book here.⁠Register for my mentorship! ⁠⁠Fill it out the form here.Poem:World buzzing, fly screamingTv hissing, foreign tongues screeching,Heavy legs, heavy brain,Tired eyes, distant rains.Coffee, matcha, eggs, and avocado,Tomorrow, coffee, matchaEggs, and rice.The world moves With lightnessWith heavinessIt talks in mumblesit talks in riddlesit never gives you an answer,Only an intuition,It only gives you questions,And sometimesA path

The 2026 NRL Season is finally upon us with Las Vegas playing host for the third year in a row for a rugby league triple header featuring the Bulldogs, Dragons, Knights, Cowboys, as well as Super League clubs the Leeds Rhinos and World Champion Hull Kingston Rovers. The boys unpack the LV triple-header as well as a stacked opening segment of our fan-favourite ‘Bunker Review'.——TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Intro11:02 - Episode Overview14:02 - Bunker Review: Mitch Barnett quits NZ Warriors18:37 - Bunker Review: Isaiah Iongi investigated by NRL integrity unit21:29 - Bunker Review: Nathan Cleary free to play; escapes ban26:38 - Bunker Review: Jackson Topine drops legal action against Bulldogs29:50 - Bunker Review: Captains no longer required for Press Conferences32:30 - Bunker Review: NRL review stadium policy for finals34:38 - Bunker Review: Jahrome Hughes rejects QLD Maroons37:07 - Bunker Review: Should Zac Lomax's legal fees be added to Storm salary cap?41:23 - Las Vegas Preview: Hull KR v Leeds Rhinos (Super League)47:21 - Las Vegas Preview: Is Willie Peters NRL-bound?50:00 - Las Vegas Preview: Newcastle Knights v NQ Cowboys (NRL)55:54 - Las Vegas Preview: Canterbury Bulldogs v STGI Dragons (NRL)1:14:46 - ATG: Hull KR win 2026 World Club Challenge1:22:25 - ATG: Parramatta Eels win Pre-Season Challenge1:24:03 - ATG: Super League Round 2 Results1:27:18 - Outro——Click the link to follow us on Instagram, Facebook & TikTok, or to listen on your preferred podcasting platform:https://linktr.ee/thesidelinestoryrlpodcast——Hosted by Daniel Tassone, Nicholas Guild & Ryan Clarke.Podcast distributed to all major listening apps.Music credit ‘Chase' [prod. Yrii Semchyshyn from Pixabay].Logo designed by Tahlia Tassone.© The Sideline Story: Rugby League Podcast, 2021.——“You're listening to The Sideline Story Rugby League Podcast: The Greatest View of Rugby League from the Sideline”

Last time we spoke about General Zhukov's arrival to the Nomohan incident. The Kwantung Army's inexperienced 23rd Division, under General Komatsubara, suffered heavy losses in failed offensives, including Colonel Yamagata's assault and the annihilation of Lieutenant Colonel Azuma's detachment, resulting in around 500 Japanese casualties. Tensions within the Japanese command intensified as Kwantung defied Tokyo's restraint, issuing aggressive orders like 1488 and launching a June 27 air raid on Soviet bases, destroying dozens of aircraft and securing temporary air superiority. This provoked Moscow's fury and rebukes from Emperor Hirohito. On June 1, Georgy Zhukov, a rising Red Army tactician and tank expert, was summoned from Minsk. Arriving June 5, he assessed the 57th Corps as inadequate, relieved Commander Feklenko, and took charge of the redesignated 1st Army Group. Reinforcements included mechanized brigades, tanks, and aircraft. Japanese intelligence misread Soviet supply convoys as retreats, underestimating Zhukov's 12,500 troops against their 15,000. By July, both sides poised for a massive clash, fueled by miscalculations and gekokujo defiance.   #190 Zhukov Unleashes Tanks at Nomohan Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. At 4:00 a.m. on July 1, 15,000 heavily laden Japanese troops began marching to their final assembly and jump-off points. The sun rose at 4:00 a.m. and set at 9:00 p.m. that day, but the Japanese advance went undetected by Soviet/MPR commanders, partly because the June 27 air raid had temporarily cleared Soviet reconnaissance from the skies. On the night of July 1, Komatsubara launched the first phase. The 23rd Division, with the Yasuoka Detachment, converged on Fui Heights, east of the Halha River, about eleven miles north of its confluence with the Holsten. The term "heights" is misleading here; a Japanese infantry colonel described Fui as a "raised pancake" roughly one to one-and-a-half miles across, about thirty to forty feet higher than the surrounding terrain. For reasons not fully explained, the small Soviet force stationed on the heights was withdrawn during the day on July 1, and that night Fui Heights was occupied by Komatsubara's forces almost unopposed. This caused little stir at Zhukov's headquarters. Komatsubara bided his time on July 2.   On the night of July 2–3, the Japanese achieved a brilliant tactical success. A battalion of the 71st Infantry Regiment silently crossed the Halha River on a moonless night and landed unopposed on the west bank opposite Fui Heights. Recent rains had swollen the river to 100–150 yards wide and six feet deep, making crossing difficult for men, horses, or vehicles. Combat engineers swiftly laid a pontoon bridge, completing it by 6:30 a.m. on July 3. The main body of Komatsubara's 71st and 72nd Infantry Regiments (23rd Division) and the 26th Regiment (7th Division) began a slow, arduous crossing. The pontoon bridge, less than eight feet wide, was a bottleneck, allowing only one truck at a time. The attackers could not cross with armored vehicles, but they did bring across their regimental artillery, 18 x 37-mm antitank guns, 12 x 75-mm mountain guns, 8 x 75-mm field guns, and 4 x 120-mm howitzers, disassembled, packed on pack animals, and reassembled on the west bank. The crossing took the entire day, and the Japanese were fortunate to go without interception. The Halha crossing was commanded personally by General Komatsubara and was supported by a small Kwantung Army contingent, including General Yano (deputy chief of staff), Colonel Hattori, and Major Tsuji from the Operations Section. Despite the big air raid having alerted Zhukov, the initial Japanese moves from July 1–3 achieved complete tactical surprise, aided by Tsuji's bold plan. The first indication of the major offensive came when General Yasuoka's tanks attacked predawn on July 3. Yasuoka suspected Soviet troops south of him attempting to retreat across the Halha to the west bank, and he ordered his tanks to attack immediately, with infantry not yet in position. The night's low clouds, no moon, and low visibility—along with a passing thunderstorm lighting the sky—made the scene dramatic. Seventy Japanese tanks roared forward, supported by infantry and artillery, and the Soviet 149th Infantry Regiment found itself overwhelmed. Zhukov, hearing of Yasuoka's assault but unaware that Komatsubara had crossed the Halha, ordered his armor to move northeast to Bain Tsagan to confront the initiative. There, Soviet armor clashed with Japanese forces in a chaotic, largely uncoordinated engagement. The Soviet counterattacks, supported by heavy artillery, halted much of the Japanese momentum, and by late afternoon Japanese infantry had to dig in west of the Halha. The crossing had been accomplished without Soviet reconnaissance detecting it in time, but Zhukov's counterattacks, the limits of Japanese armored mobility across the pontoon, and the heat and exhaustion of the troops constrained the Japanese effort. By the afternoon of July 3, Zhukov's forces were pressing hard, and the Japanese momentum began to stall. Yasuoka's tanks, supported by a lack of infantry and the fatigue and losses suffered by the infantry, could not close the gap to link with Komatsubara's forces. The Type 89 tanks, designed for infantry support, were ill-suited to penetrating Soviet armor, especially when faced with BT-5/BT-7 tanks and strong anti-tank guns. The Type 95 light tanks were faster but lightly armored, and suffered heavily from Soviet fire and air attacks. Infantry on the western bank struggled to catch up with tanks, shot through by Soviet artillery and armor, while the 64th Regiment could not keep pace with the tanks due to the infantry's lack of motorized transport. By late afternoon, Yasuoka's advance stalled far short of the river junction and the Soviet bridge. The infantry dug in to withstand Soviet bombardment, and the Japanese tank regiments withdrew to their jump-off points by nightfall. The Japanese suffered heavy losses in tanks, though some were recovered and repaired; by July 9, KwAHQ decided to withdraw its two tank regiments from the theater. Armor would play no further role in the Nomonhan conflict. The Soviets, by contrast, sustained heavier tank losses but began to replenish with new models. The July offensive, for Kwantung Army, proved a failure. Part of the failure stemmed from a difficult blend of terrain and logistics. Unusually heavy rains in late June had transformed the dirt roads between Hailar and Nomonhan into a mud-filled quagmire. Japanese truck transport, already limited, was so hampered by these conditions that combat effectiveness suffered significantly. Colonel Yamagata's 64th Infantry Regiment, proceeding on foot, could not keep pace with or support General Yasuoka's tanks on July 3–4. Komatsubara's infantry on the west bank of the Halha ran short of ammunition, food, and water. As in the May 28 battle, the main cause of the Kwantung Army's July offensive failure was wholly inadequate military intelligence. Once again, the enemy's strength had been seriously underestimated. Moreover, a troubling realization was dawning at KwAHQ and in the field: the intelligence error was not merely quantitative but qualitative. The Soviets were not only more numerous but also far more potent than anticipated. The attacking Japanese forces initially held a slight numerical edge and enjoyed tactical surprise, but the Red Army fought tenaciously, and the weight of Soviet firepower proved decisive. Japan, hampered by a relative lack of raw materials and industrial capacity, could not match the great powers in the quantitative production of military materiel. Consequently, Japanese military leaders traditionally emphasized the spiritual superiority of Japan's armed forces in doctrine and training, often underestimating the importance of material factors, including firepower. This was especially true of the army that had carried the tactic of the massed bayonet charge into World War II. This "spiritual" combat doctrine arose from necessity; admitting material superiority would have implied defeat. Japan's earlier victories in the Sino-Japanese War, Russo-Japanese War, the Manchurian incident, and the China War, along with legendary medieval victories over the Mongol hordes, seemed to confirm the transcendent importance of fighting spirit. Only within such a doctrine could the Imperial Japanese Army muster inner strength and confidence to face formidable enemies. This was especially evident against Soviet Russia, whose vast geography, population, and resources loomed large. Yet what of its spirit? The Japanese military dismissed Bolshevism as a base, materialist philosophy utterly lacking spiritual power. Consequently, the Red Army was presumed to have low morale and weak fighting effectiveness. Stalin's purges only reinforced this belief. Kwantung Army's recent experiences at Nomonhan undermined this outlook. Among ordinary soldiers and officers alike, from the 23rd Division Staff to KwAHQ—grim questions formed: Had Soviet materiel and firepower proven superior to Japanese fighting spirit? If not, did the enemy possess a fighting spirit comparable to their own? To some in Kwantung Army, these questions were grotesque and almost unthinkable. To others, the implications were too painful to face. Perhaps May and July's combat results were an aberration caused by the 23rd Division's inexperience. Nevertheless, a belief took hold at KwAHQ that this situation required radical rectification. Zhukov's 1st Army Headquarters, evaluating recent events, was not immune to self-criticism and concern for the future. The enemy's success in transporting nearly 10,000 men across the Halha without detection—despite heightened Soviet alert after the June 27 air raid—revealed a level of carelessness and lack of foresight at Zhukov's level. Zhukov, however, did not fully capitalize on Komatsubara's precarious position on July 4–5. Conversely, Zhukov and his troops reacted calmly in the crisis's early hours. Although surprised and outnumbered, Zhukov immediately recognized that "our trump cards were the armored detachments, and we decided to use them immediately." He acted decisively, and the rapid deployment of armor proved pivotal. Some criticized the uncoordinated and clumsy Soviet assault on Komatsubara's infantry on July 3, but the Japanese were only a few hours' march from the river junction and the Soviet bridge. By hurling tanks at Komatsubara's advance with insufficient infantry support, Mikhail Yakovlev (11th Tank Brigade) and A. L. Lesovoi (7th Mechanized Brigade) incurred heavy losses. Nonetheless, they halted the Japanese southward advance, forcing Komatsubara onto the defensive, from which he never regained momentum. Zhukov did not flinch from heavy casualties to achieve his objectives. He later told General Dwight D. Eisenhower that if the enemy faced a minefield, their infantry attacked as if it did not exist, treating personnel mine losses as equal to those that would have occurred if the Germans defended the area with strong troops rather than minefields. Zhukov admitted losing 120 tanks and armored cars that day—a high price, but necessary to avert defeat. Years later, Zhukov defended his Nomonhan tactics, arguing he knew his armor would suffer heavy losses, but that was the only way to prevent the Japanese from seizing the bridge at the river confluence. Had Komatsubara's forces advanced unchecked for another two or three hours, they might have fought through to the Soviet bridge and linked with the Yasuoka detachment, endangering Zhukov's forces. Zhukov credited Yakovlev, Lesovoi, and their men with stabilizing the crisis through timely and self-sacrificing counterattacks. The armored car battalion of the 8th MPR Cavalry Division also distinguished itself in this action. Zhukov and his tankmen learned valuable lessons in those two days of brutal combat. A key takeaway was the successful use of large tank formations as an independent primary attack force, contrary to then-orthodox doctrine, which saw armor mainly as infantry support and favored integrating armor into every infantry regiment rather than maintaining large, autonomous armored units. The German blitzkrieg demonstrations in Poland and Western Europe soon followed, but, until then, few major armies had absorbed the tank-warfare theories championed by Basil Liddell-Hart and Charles de Gaulle. The Soviet high command's leading proponent of large-scale tank warfare had been Marshal Mikhail Tukhachevsky. His execution in 1937 erased those ideas, and the Red Army subsequently disbanded armored divisions and dispersed tanks among infantry, misapplying battlefield lessons from the Spanish Civil War. Yet Zhukov was learning a different lesson on a different battlefield. The open terrain of eastern Mongolia favored tanks, and Zhukov was a rapid learner. The Russians also learned mundane, but crucial, lessons: Japanese infantry bravely clambering onto their vehicles taught Soviet tank crews to lock hatch lids from the inside. The BT-5 and BT-7 tanks were easily set aflame by primitive hand-thrown firebombs, and rear deck ventilation grills and exhaust manifolds were vulnerable and required shielding. Broadly, the battle suggested to future Red Army commander Zhukov that tank and motorized troops, coordinated with air power and mobile artillery, could decisively conduct rapid operations. Zhukov was not the first to envision combining mobile firepower with air and artillery, but he had rare opportunities to apply this formula in crucial tests. The July offensive confirmed to the Soviets that the Nomonhan incident was far from a border skirmish; it signaled intent for further aggression. Moscow's leadership, informed by Richard Sorge's Tokyo network, perceived Japan's renewed effort to draw Germany into an anti-Soviet alliance as a dangerous possibility. Stalin and Vyacheslav Molotov began indicating to Joachim von Ribbentrop and Adolf Hitler that Berlin's stance on the Soviet–Japanese conflict would influence Soviet-German rapprochement considerations. Meanwhile, Moscow decided to reinforce Zhukov. Tens of thousands of troops and machines were ordered to Mongolia, with imports from European Russia. Foreign diplomats traveling the Trans-Siberian Railway reported eastbound trains jammed with personnel and matériel. The buildup faced a major bottleneck at Borzya, the easternmost railhead in the MPR, about 400 miles from the Halha. To prevent a logistics choke, a massive truck transport operation was needed. Thousands of trucks, half-tracks, gun-towing tractors, and other vehicles were organized into a continuous eight-hundred-mile, five-day shuttle run. The Trans-Baikal Military District, under General Shtern, supervised the effort. East of the Halha, many Japanese officers still refused to accept a failure verdict for the July offensive. General Komatsubara did not return to Hailar, instead establishing a temporary divisional HQ at Kanchuerhmiao, where his staff grappled with overcoming Soviet firepower. They concluded that night combat—long a staple of Japanese infantry tactics—could offset Soviet advantages. On July 7 at 9:30 p.m., a thirty-minute Japanese artillery barrage preceded a nighttime assault by elements of the 64th and 72nd Regiments. The Soviet 149th Infantry Regiment and supporting Mongolian cavalry were surprised and forced to fall back toward the Halha before counterattacking. Reinforcements arrived on both sides, and in brutal close-quarters combat the Japanese gained a partial local advantage, but were eventually pushed back; Major I. M. Remizov of the 149th Regiment was killed and later posthumously named a Hero of the Soviet Union. Since late May, Soviet engineers had built at least seven bridges across the Halha and Holsten Rivers to support operations. By July 7–8, Japanese demolition teams destroyed two Soviet bridges. Komatsubara believed that destroying bridges could disrupt Soviet operations east of the Halha and help secure the border. Night attacks continued from July 8 to July 12 against the Soviet perimeter, with Japanese assaults constricting Zhukov's bridgehead while Soviet artillery and counterattacks relentlessly pressed. Casualties mounted on both sides. The Japanese suffered heavy losses but gained some positions; Soviet artillery, supported by motorized infantry and armor, gradually pushed back the attackers. The biggest problem for Japan remained Soviet artillery superiority and the lack of a commensurate counter-battery capability. Japanese infantry had to withdraw to higher ground at night to avoid daytime exposure to artillery and tanks. On the nights of July 11–12, Yamagata's 64th Regiment and elements of Colonel Sakai Mikio's 72nd Regiment attempted a major assault on the Soviet bridgehead. Despite taking heavy casualties, the Japanese managed to push defenders back to the river on occasion, but Soviet counterattacks, supported by tiresome artillery and armor, prevented a decisive breakthrough. Brigade Commander Yakovlev of the 11th Armored, who led several counterattacks, was killed and later honored as a Hero of the Soviet Union; his gun stands today as a monument at the battlefield. The July 11–12 action marked the high-water mark of the Kwantung Army's attempt to expel Soviet/MPR forces east of the Halha. Komatsubara eventually suspended the costly night attacks; by that night, the 64th Regiment had suffered roughly 80–90 killed and about three times that number wounded. The decision proved controversial, with some arguing that he had not realized how close his forces had come to seizing the bridge. Others argued that broader strategic considerations justified the pause. Throughout the Nomonhan fighting, Soviet artillery superiority, both quantitative and qualitative, became painfully evident. The Soviet guns exacted heavy tolls and repeatedly forced Japanese infantry to withdraw from exposed positions. The Japanese artillery, in contrast, could not match the Red Army's scale. By July 25, Kwantung Army ended its artillery attack, a humiliating setback. Tokyo and Hsinking recognized the futility of achieving a decisive military victory at Nomonhan and shifted toward seeking a diplomatic settlement, even if concessions to the Soviet Union and the MPR were necessary. Kwantung Army, however, opposed negotiations, fearing it would echo the "Changkufeng debacle" and be read by enemies as weakness. Tsuji lamented that Kwantung Army's insistence on framing the second phase as a tie—despite heavy Soviet losses, revealed a reluctance to concede any territory. Differences in outlook and policy between AGS and Kwantung Army—and the central army's inability to impose its will on Manchukuo's field forces—became clear. The military establishment buzzed with stories of gekokujo (the superiority of the superior) within Kwantung Army and its relations with the General Staff. To enforce compliance, AGS ordered General Isogai to Tokyo for briefings, and KwAHQ's leadership occasionally distanced itself from AGS. On July 20, Isogai arrived at General Staff Headquarters and was presented with "Essentials for Settlement of the Nomonhan Incident," a formal document outlining a step-by-step plan for Kwantung Army to maintain its defensive position east of the Halha while diplomatic negotiations proceeded. If negotiations failed, Kwantung Army would withdraw to the boundary claimed by the Soviet Union by winter. Isogai, the most restrained member of the Kwantung Army circle, argued against accepting the Essentials, insisting on preserving Kwantung Army's honor and rejecting a unilateral east-bank withdrawal. A tense exchange followed, but General Nakajima ended the dispute by noting that international boundaries cannot be determined by the army alone. Isogai pledged to report the General Staff's views to his commander and take the Essentials back to KwAHQ for study. Technically, the General Staff's Essentials were not orders; in practice, however, they were treated as such. Kwantung Army tended to view them as suggestions and retained discretion in implementation. AGS hoped the Essentials would mollify Kwantung Army's wounded pride. The August 4 decision to create a 6 Army within Kwantung Army, led by General Ogisu Rippei, further complicated the command structure. Komatsubara's 23rd Division and nearby units were attached to the 6 Army, which also took responsibility for defending west-central Manchukuo, including the Nomonhan area. The 6 Army existed largely on paper, essentially a small headquarters to insulate KwAHQ from battlefield realities. AGS sought a more accountable layer of command between KwAHQ and the combat zone, but General Ueda and KwAHQ resented the move and offered little cooperation. In the final weeks before the last battles, General Ogisu and his small staff had limited influence on Nomonhan. Meanwhile, the European crisis over German demands on Poland intensified, moving into a configuration highly favorable to the Soviet Union. By the first week of August, it became evident in the Kremlin that both Anglo-French powers and the Germans were vying to secure an alliance with Moscow. Stalin knew now that he would likely have a free hand in the coming war in the West. At the same time, Richard Sorge, the Soviet master spy in Tokyo, correctly reported that Japan's top political and military leaders sought to prevent the escalation of the Nomonhan incident into an all-out war. These developments gave the cautious Soviet dictator the confidence to commit the Red Army to large-scale combat operations in eastern Mongolia. In early August, Stalin ordered preparations for a major offensive to clear the Nomonhan area of the "Japanese samurai who had violated the territory of the friendly Outer Mongolian people." The buildup of Zhukov's 1st Army Group accelerated still further. Its July strength was augmented by the 57th and 82nd Infantry Divisions, the 6th Tank Brigade, the 212th Airborne Brigade, numerous smaller infantry, armor, and artillery units, and two Mongolian cavalry divisions. Soviet air power in the area was also greatly strengthened. When this buildup was completed by mid-August, Zhukov commanded an infantry force equivalent to four divisions, supported by two cavalry divisions, 216 artillery pieces, 498 armored vehicles, and 581 aircraft. To bring in the supplies necessary for this force to launch an offensive, General Shtern's Trans-Baikal Military District Headquarters amassed a fleet of more than 4,200 vehicles, which trucked in about 55,000 tons of materiel from the distant railway depot at Borzya. The Japanese intelligence network in Outer Mongolia was weak, a problem that went unremedied throughout the Nomonhan incident. This deficiency, coupled with the curtailment of Kwantung Army's transborder air operations, helps explain why the Japanese remained ignorant of the scope of Zhukov's buildup. They were aware that some reinforcements were flowing eastward across the Trans-Siberian Railway toward the MPR but had no idea of the volume. Then, at the end of July, Kwantung Army Intelligence intercepted part of a Soviet telegraph transmission indicating that preparations were under way for some offensive operation in the middle of August. This caused a stir at KwAHQ. Generals Ueda and Yano suspected that the enemy planned to strike across the Halha River. Ueda's initial reaction was to reinforce the 23rd Division at Nomonhan with the rest of the highly regarded 7th Division. However, the 7th Division was Kwantung Army's sole strategic reserve, and the Operations Section was reluctant to commit it to extreme western Manchukuo, fearing mobilization of Soviet forces in the Maritime Province and a possible attack in the east near Changkufeng. The Kwantung Army commander again ignored his own better judgment and accepted the Operations Section's recommendation. The main strength of the 7th Division remained at its base near Tsitsihar, but another infantry regiment, the 28th, was dispatched to the Nomonhan area, as was an infantry battalion from the Mukden Garrison. Earlier, in mid-July, Kwantung Army had sent Komatsubara 1,160 individual replacements to make up for casualties from earlier fighting. All these reinforcements combined, however, did little more than replace losses: as of July 25, 1,400 killed (including 200 officers) and 3,000 wounded. Kwantung Army directed Komatsubara to dig in, construct fortifications, and adopt a defensive posture. Colonel Numazaki, who commanded the 23rd Division's Engineer Regiment, was unhappy with the defensive line he was ordered to fortify and urged a slight pullback to more easily defensible terrain. Komatsubara, however, refused to retreat from ground his men had bled to take. He and his line officers still nourished hope of a revenge offensive. As a result, the Japanese defensive positions proved to be as weak as Numazaki feared. As Zhukov's 1st Army Group prepared to strike, the effective Japanese strength at Nomonhan was less than 1.5 divisions. Major Tsuji and his colleagues in the Operations Section had little confidence in Kwantung Army's own Intelligence Section, which is part of the reason why Tsuji frequently conducted his own reconnaissance missions. Up to this time it was gospel in the Japanese army that the maximum range for large-scale infantry operations was 125–175 miles from a railway; anything beyond 200 miles from a railway was considered logistically impossible. Since Kwantung Army had only 800 trucks available in all of Manchukuo in 1939, the massive Soviet logistical effort involving more than 4,200 trucks was almost unimaginable to the Japanese. Consequently, the Operations Staff believed it had made the correct defensive deployments if a Soviet attack were to occur, which it doubted. If the enemy did strike at Nomonhan, it was believed that it could not marshal enough strength in that remote region to threaten the reinforced 23rd Division. Furthermore, the 7th Division, based at Tsitsihar on a major rail line, could be transported to any trouble spot on the eastern or western frontier in a few days. KwAHQ advised Komatsubara to maintain a defensive posture and prepare to meet a possible enemy attack around August 14 or 15. At this time, Kwantung Army also maintained a secret organization codenamed Unit 731, officially the Epidemic Prevention and Water Purification Department of the Kwantung Army. Unit 731 specialized in biological and chemical warfare, with main facilities and laboratories in Harbin, including a notorious prison-laboratory complex. During the early August lull at Nomonhan, a detachment from Unit 731 infected the Halha River with bacteria of an acute cholera-like strain. There are no reports in Soviet or Japanese accounts that this attempted biological warfare had any effect. In the war's final days, Unit 731 was disbanded, Harbin facilities demolished, and most personnel fled to Japan—but not before they gassed the surviving 150 human subjects and burned their corpses. The unit's commander, Lieutenant General Ishii Shiro, kept his men secret and threatened retaliation against informers. Ishii and his senior colleagues escaped prosecution at the Tokyo War Crimes Trials by trading the results of their experiments to U.S. authorities in exchange for immunity. The Japanese 6th Army exerted some half-hearted effort to construct defensive fortifications, but scarcity of building materials, wood had to be trucked in from far away—helped explain the lack of enthusiasm. More importantly, Japanese doctrine despised static defense and favored offense, so Kwantung Army waited to see how events would unfold. West of the Halha, Zhukov accelerated preparations. Due to tight perimeter security, few Japanese deserters, and a near-absence of civilian presence, Soviet intelligence found it hard to glean depth on Japanese defensive positions. Combat intelligence could only reveal the frontline disposition and closest mortar and artillery emplacements. Aerial reconnaissance showed photographs, but Japanese camouflage and mock-ups limited their usefulness. The new commander of the 149th Mechanized Infantry Regiment personally directed infiltration and intelligence gathering, penetrating Japanese lines on several nights and returning crucial data: Komatsubara's northern and southern flanks were held by Manchukuoan cavalry, and mobile reserves were lacking. With this information, Zhukov crafted a plan of attack. The main Japanese strength was concentrated a few miles east of the Halha, on both banks of the Holsten River. Their infantry lacked mobility and armor, and their flanks were weak. Zhukov decided to split the 1st Army Group into three strike forces: the central force would deliver a frontal assault to pin the main Japanese strength, while the northern and southern forces, carrying the bulk of the armor, would turn the Japanese flanks and drive the enemy into a pocket to be destroyed by the three-pronged effort. The plan depended on tactical surprise and overwhelming force at the points of attack. The offensive was to begin in the latter part of August, pending final approval from Moscow. To ensure tactical surprise, Zhukov and his staff devised an elaborate program of concealment and deception, disinformation. Units and materiel arriving at Tamsag Bulak toward the Halha were moved only at night with lights out. Noting that the Japanese were tapping telephone lines and intercepting radio messages, 1st Army Headquarters sent a series of false messages in an easily decipherable code about defensive preparations and autumn-winter campaigning. Thousands of leaflets titled "What the Infantryman Should Know about Defense" were distributed among troops. About two weeks before the attack, the Soviets brought in sound equipment to simulate tank and aircraft engines and heavy construction noises, staging long, loud performances nightly. At first, the Japanese mistook the sounds for large-scale enemy activity and fired toward the sounds. After a few nights, they realized it was only sound effects, and tried to ignore the "serenade." On the eve of the attack, the actual concentration and staging sounds went largely unnoticed by the Japanese. On August 7–8, Zhukov conducted minor attacks to expand the Halha bridgehead to a depth of two to three miles. These attacks, contained relatively easily by Komatsubara's troops, reinforced Kwantung Army's false sense of confidence. The Japanese military attaché in Moscow misread Soviet press coverage. In early August, the attaché advised that unlike the Changkufeng incident a year earlier, Soviet press was largely ignoring the conflict, implying low morale and a favorable prognosis for the Red Army. Kwantung Army leaders seized on this as confirmation to refrain from any display of restraint or doubt, misplaced confidence. There were, however, portents of danger. Three weeks before the Soviet attack, Colonel Isomura Takesuki, head of Kwantung Army's Intelligence Section, warned of the vulnerability of the 23rd Division's flanks. Tsuji and colleagues dismissed this, and General Kasahara Yukio of AGS also went unheeded. The "desk jockey" General Staff officers commanded little respect at KwAHQ. Around August 10, General Hata Yuzaburo, Komatsubara's successor as chief of the Special Services Agency at Harbin, warned that enemy strength in the Mongolian salient was very great and seriously underestimated at KwAHQ. Yet no decisive action followed before Zhukov's attack. Kwantung Army's inaction and unpreparedness prior to the Soviet offensive appear to reflect faulty intelligence compounded by hubris. But a more nuanced explanation suggests a fatalistic wishful thinking rooted in the Japanese military culture—the belief that their spiritual strength would prevail, leading them to assume enemy strength was not as great as reported, or that victory was inevitable regardless of resources. Meanwhile, in the rational West, the Nazi war machine faced the Polish frontier as Adolf Hitler pressed Stalin for a nonaggression pact. The German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact would neutralize the threat of a two-front war for Germany and clear the way for Hitler's invasion of Poland. If the pact was a green light, it signaled in both directions: it would also neutralize the German threat to Russia and clear the way for Zhukov's offensive at Nomonhan. On August 18–19, Hitler pressed Stalin to receive Ribbentrop in Moscow to seal the pact. Thus, reassured in the West, Stalin dared to act boldly against Japan. Zhukov supervised final preparations for his attack. Zhukov held back forward deployments until the last minute. By August 18, he had only four infantry regiments, a machine gun brigade, and Mongolian cavalry east of the Halha. Operational security was extremely tight: a week before the attack, Soviet radio traffic in the area virtually ceased. Only Zhukov and a few key officers worked on the plan, aided by a single typist. Line officers and service chiefs received information on a need-to-know basis. The date for the attack was shared with unit commanders one to four days in advance, depending on seniority. Noncommissioned officers and ordinary soldiers learned of the offensive one day in advance and received specific orders three hours before the attack.   Heavy rain grounded Japanese aerial reconnaissance from August 17 to midday on the 19th, but on August 19 Captain Oizumi Seisho in a Japanese scout plane observed the massing of Soviet forces near the west bank of the Halha. Enemy armor and troops were advancing toward the river in dispersed formations, with no new bridges but pontoon stocks spotted near the river. Oizumi sent a warning to a frontline unit and rushed back to report. The air group dispatched additional recon planes and discovered that the Japanese garrison on Fui Heights, near the northern end of Komatsubara's line, was being encircled by Soviet armor and mechanized infantry—observed by alarmed Japanese officers on and near the heights. These late discoveries on August 19 were not reported to KwAHQ and had no effect on the 6th Army and the 23rd Division's alertness on the eve of the storm. As is common in militaries, a fatal gap persisted between those gathering intelligence and those in a position to act on it. On the night of August 19–20, under cover of darkness, the bulk of the Soviet 1st Army Group crossed the Halha into the expanded Soviet enclave on the east bank.  I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. By August, European diplomacy left Moscow confident in a foothold against Germany and Britain, while Sorge's intelligence indicated Japan aimed to avoid a full-blown war. Stalin ordered a major offensive to clear Nomonhan, fueling Zhukov's buildup in eastern Mongolia. Kwantung Army, hampered by limited logistics, weak intelligence, and defensive posture, faced mounting pressure. 

Episode Description: “Which city would you choose if Austin could offer a nonstop flight anywhere in the world?” ✈️ That's the question fueling this episode of The JB and Sandy Show, where travel dreams, quirky stories, and international rivalries take center stage.

What if leadership isn't just shaped by strategy, structure, or individual capability but by the energetic field we are participating in together?In this deeply spacious episode of the Sacred Changemakers Podcast, I'm joined by Alan Briskin and Mary Gelinas, longtime practitioners and teachers whose work bridges collective wisdom, neuroscience, spirituality, and conscious social change.Together, we explore the reality that space is not empty, that it is alive with information, relationships, and potential. Drawing on insights from their book Space Is Not Empty, Alan and Mary invite us to sense leadership as a relational, emergent practice rather than a position or role. This conversation moves beyond concepts into a felt, lived experience. We speak about field awareness, language, shared power, polarization, and what becomes possible when leaders learn to listen not just to words, but to the space between us.This episode is an invitation to slow down, to feel, and to experience leadership differently, not as control, but as participation in something wiser than any one of us.About Today's Guests:Alan Briskin, PhD is an award-winning author, leadership consultant, and a pioneer in the field of collective wisdom. For over four decades, he has worked with nonprofits and mission-driven organizations, including Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, and the George Lucas Educational Foundation. Alan is a co-founder of the Collective Wisdom Initiative, a Noted Humanist Scholar at Saybrook University, and has served as Senior Advisor to the Institute of Noetic Sciences, the Goi Peace Foundation in Tokyo, and the One Humanity Institute in Poland.Mary Gelinas, EdD is a managing director of Gelinas James, Inc., and an author, consultant, educator, and executive coach devoted to conscious social change. She is the author of Talk Matters! Saving the World One Word at a Time and brings decades of experience in organizational change, neuroscience, and embodied leadership. For 20 years, she co-led the Cascadia Center for Leadership, graduating over 500 leaders across sectors, and has worked with organizations including Genentech, California State Polytechnic University Humboldt, and public-sector institutions.Learn More About Today's GuestsSpace Is Not Empty website →www.spaceisnotempty.netAlan's website ****→ www.alanbriskin.comMary's website → www.gelinasjames.comSpace Is Not Empty on LinkedIn →https://www.linkedin.com/company/space-is-not-empty/about/Alan on LinkedIn →https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-briskin-a9637b6/

It's another great episode of Jumping Bomb Audio with Kelly and Taylor!The boys deep dive into Tokyo Joshi's Max Heart Tournament Finals, with discussion on the build for the Grand Princess main event, the rut that TJPW sometimes finds themselves in, and a dissection of the tag team division!After that, they cover action in Stardom, Marigold and SEAdLINNNG before turning their attention to the next two weeks in joshi, featuring interesting Korakuen Hall shows from Stardom and Marigold and a big ChocoPro show!Check it out!Please follow us on BlueSky: @jbombaudioYou can support this podcast at http://redcircle.com/jumping-bomb-audio/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We speak with Mike Sfraga, the US’s former ambassador at large for Arctic affairs, about Nordic co-operation. Plus: winners and losers at the Baftas and we meet Chilean artist Alfredo Jaar in Tokyo.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

durée : 00:05:28 - Tanguy Pastureau maltraite l'info - par : Tanguy Pastureau - Punch, un bébé macaque du zoo de Tokyo a été rejetté par sa mère et maltraité par les autres macaques. Vraiment, à part Punch, Tanguy déteste les macaques. Vous aimez ce podcast ? Pour écouter tous les autres épisodes sans limite, rendez-vous sur Radio France.

This week, we go all-in on the Tokyo Marathon with our final preview before wheels up. We dig into what makes Tokyo such a bucket-list race, from its place in marathon history to the major-event energy that makes it feel like more than just another 26.2. We also take a virtual tour of the course and talk through the landmarks, neighborhoods, and moments that make this race feel like a guided sprint through the heart of the city. Of course, we spend time on the topic that has so many runners sweating before they even reach the start line: the Tokyo cutoff mats. We break down why they feel so intimidating, what the timing really means, and how to think about them without spiraling into panic. We also get into the race etiquette and rules that make Tokyo unique, especially the cleanliness standards, aid station flow, and the small details that matter in a race this organized. Along the way, we share fun facts about both the marathon and Tokyo itself to help paint the full picture of what race week is really like. This episode is part travel guide, part race strategy session, and part reminder to stay calm and run smart. If Tokyo is on the calendar this year, this is the episode to hear before heading to the airport. Let's get ready to run one of the biggest and most unforgettable races in the world.

Welcome to season 6 of the Runner's Round Table. This is the Beyond Pace season and features stories that capture each guest's favorite running memory. In this episode Stephanie speaks with Kim Silverstein (@coachkimla) about her experience at the 2025 Tokyo Marathon and how the people there reminded her that, when it comes to running, she is never truly alone on running's beautifully non-linear path. Please support this podcast with a rating, review, or a share. Until next time, don't forget to run happy, run strong, and run true to you.To watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/7tiL3Hct1A0About Stephanie Diaz:Stephanie is an RRCA (Road Runner's Club of America) and McMillan Running certified running coach with over 10 years of running experience. Additionally, Stephanie is a yoga teacher with advanced certifications in yoga for athletes, Yoga For All, and Empowered Wisdom Yoga Nidra. Stephanie believes that to be a runner is to believe in your possibility as a human through movement. Her favorite running distance is the half marathon (13.1 miles/21 kilometers).https://instagram.com/thecookierunner/https://thecookierunner.netAbout Kim Silverstein:Kim Silverstein is an RRCA (Road Runner's Club of America) Level II certified running coach and a high school cross country and track coach. She loves working with adults on achieving big running goals as well as mentoring teens to become runners for life. Kim's approach is to celebrate the running community and make sure everyone finds their place in it, regardless of experience, goals, age, or body size. https:// www.coachkim.lahttps://instagram.com/coachkimla

VOV1 - Ngày 23/2 là sinh nhật của Nhà vua Nhật Bản Naruhito. Nhân dịp này, nhiều hoạt động kỷ niệm long trọng đã diễn ra, trong đó có lễ chúc thọ tại Hoàng cung ở thủ đô Tokyo.Ngay từ đầu giờ sáng nay 23/2, hơn 15.000 người dân Nhật Bản đã tập trung tại quảng trường trước Hoàng cung ở thủ đô Tokyo để chúc mừng sinh nhật lần thứ 66 của Nhà vua Naruhito. Nhà vua, Hoàng hậu cùng hoàng tử, công chúa và các hoàng thân, hoàng phi cũng xuất hiện 3 lần để đáp lại thịnh tình của thần dân trăm họ. Bên cạnh đó còn có nhiều nghi lễ khác như nghi thức chúc thọ của Thủ tướng và Chủ tịch lưỡng viện Quốc hội đương nhiệm, thiết yến, ghi sổ lưu niệm… Trong một thông điệp được tuyên đọc trước quốc dân đồng bào Nhà vua Naruhito nói: “Mùa đông năm nay đã mang lại băng tuyết và sự lạnh giá khắc nghiệt đến nhiều vùng đất của chúng ta. Tôi xin gửi lời thăm hỏi từ trái tim mình đến những ai phải gánh chịu thiệt hại do thiên tai gây ra. Tôi cũng cảm nhận được mùa Xuân đang đến từng ngày. Mong rằng mùa Xuân sẽ mang an lành cho mọi nhà. Xin cầu chúc sức khỏe và hạnh phúc cho muôn dân”Nhà vua và Hoàng hậu Nhật bản trong nghi thức tuyên đọc thông điệp (ảnh Jiji Press)

A Tokyo woman who worked as a support staff member at a workshop for people with disabilities said she witnessed repeated physical and verbal abuse of service users by colleagues shortly after starting her job in 2019. The alleged misconduct extended beyond frontline staff to a male executive of the operating social welfare corporation, who she said repeatedly grabbed the groins of male users with intellectual disabilities when they did not comply with instructions. The woman, identified by a pseudonym as Yoshimi Kurita, said she reported the abuse multiple times to the corporation's executives, but they “turned a blind eye.” Episode notes: ‘Tokyo Disability Facility Worker Says She Was Fired After Reporting Abuse': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/02/23/tokyo-disability-facility-worker-says-she-was-fired-after-reporting-abuse/

Welcome to the Tech Latest podcast. Every Tuesday, our tech experts Katey Creel and Shotaro Tani deliver the hottest trends and news from the sector.In this episode, Katey speaks with Tokyo correspondent Tsubasa Suruga about SoftBank's AI investment strategy. == == == == == == == ==Check out this episode's ⁠⁠⁠⁠featured stories below: ⁠⁠⁠⁠SoftBank profit quintuples as OpenAI bet lifts Vision Funds== == == == == == == ==And ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠register for our weekly #techAsia newsletter here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find more of our tech coverage here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.And for the Asian business, politics, economy and tech stories others miss, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠please subscribe to Nikkei Asia here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Thanks for listening!

Traveling abroad is usually a fun adventure, but what happens when you get sick in a different country? In this week’s bonus episode, Andrew shares a story about his recent trip to Tokyo. He traveled there to see a concert and meet Culips listeners. However, a sudden illness almost ruined his plans. You will hear about how he tried to finish his trip and his long journey back to South Korea to find a doctor. Listening to this story will help you improve your English fluency. You will also learn useful, everyday words about traveling, being sick, and getting better. Important links: Become a Culips member Study with the interactive transcript Join the Culips Discord server Small-group speaking class schedule

Let’s get ready for the World Baseball Classic as games are about to begin in Houston, Miami, San Juan and Tokyo.

Japan's health ministry ordered a clinic in Tokyo to improve its operations on Friday 20th February over its violations of the law on safety in regenerative medicine. An on-site inspection of Ginza Phoenix Clinic found violations, including administrations of cultured cells using stem cells and dendritic cells by five doctors not listed in 10 regenerative medicine plans submitted by its director, Hisashi Nagai, to the ministry. Medical institutions face penalties for false or missing entries in mandatory regenerative medicine treatment plans. Episode notes: ‘Regenerative Medicine Clinic in Tokyo Gets Biz Improvement Order': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2026/02/21/regenerative-medicine-clinic-in-tokyo-gets-biz-improvement-order/

Der Podcast über Softeis und alles andere.In Folge 153 raschelt die Nase, trinkt Mario mit Tobias Franzbrötchen und klebt Dominique Ohren an. Unser offizieller Music-Act, den wir in dieser Folge NICHT spielen durften: White Lies mit "Tokyo (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwM_mK1HJaA)PLAYLIST - Lieder, die wir nicht spielen dürfen: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDH5jUniu0x4uJUmwV_3yz6Paoy5ufMG0Eismanns Hommage an David Lynch, "Twin Peaks" und seinen Heimatort Unterwellenborn: https://youtu.be/Xfuv_o6RGNI#davidbyrne #talkingheads #grönemeyer #baresfürrares #whitelies #diamantfeder #otz #Saalfeld #unterwellenborn #yetiketchup #parkerlewis #ddrsofteis #softeis #podcast #Tohuwapodcast #Berlin #Humorpodcast #Talkpodcast #Laberpodcast #Gesprächspodcast #Talk #softeisliebe #softeiswiefrüher #eiskombinat

I'm back with another fortnightly In My Opinion episode - sharing running observations, Q&A and personal updates. Train with Matt: https://sweatelitecoaching.com/matt-fox/ Private Podcast Feed + Discord: https://www.sweatelite.co/shareholders/ Contact: matt@sweatelite.co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattinglisfox/ Strava Training Log: https://www.strava.com/athletes/6248359 I wished friends luck at Osaka and Tokyo and spoke about returning to YouTube to document a marathon comeback despite not running yet and feeling imposter syndrome. I explained why I moved away from pro-athlete travel content - doping concerns, COVID restrictions, visa limits and tax complications. The channel is shifting toward my own journey. On training, I addressed the effort vs pace debate. Context matters. Effort leads, especially when fatigued. I spoke about avoiding the anxiety spiral by focusing on sensation and adaptation rather than numbers and judgment. I touched on influencer culture, unnecessary products, and doping speculation - urging caution without proof. I discussed coaching as an optional performance tool, like super shoes, and may use a coach in an advisor role. I'll likely train mostly in standard shoes and race in super shoes. Current context: I'm around 79 kg and believe 65-66 kg aligns with a 2:12-2:15 goal. I reflected on running 2:20 off ~105 km per week in 2021. I'm considering cycling and stair climbing to maintain fitness while reducing impact and avoiding ego-driven mileage. I also covered my 10-year Japan ban, alcohol vs cannabis culture, pre-race nerves, speed after 40, Australia's social media ban for under-16s, and moving Workouts of the Week into a paid Supporters Club to build a healthier community. Closed with plans for stairs, weights and a cold plunge. Topics 00:00 - Welcome Back to 'In My Opinion' (Format, cadence, and what to expect) 00:54 - Race Week Shoutouts + Osaka Marathon Feelings 02:16 - Carb-Loading Stories & Filming a Marathon Comeback Series 03:17 - Why I Stepped Away From the 'Pro Athlete Training' Travel Life 04:45 - COVID-Era Australia, Visas, and Getting Stuck at Home 07:26 - US Immigration Reality Check + A Detour Into Money, AI, and the Future 09:37 - Q&A Starts: Training by Effort vs Pace (Ben's tempo run 'contradiction') 11:52 - Email/Inbox Mindset + Running Content Creator Fatigue 14:15 - Brands, Influence, and What Running Really Needs (Nutrition & authenticity) 15:55 - Make It About You: Imposter Syndrome, YouTube strategy 18:33 - More Listener Mail: Helsinki banter + Switching to new questions 19:49 - Fraser's Big Idea: Sensation vs Measurement (escaping the anxiety spiral) 21:53 - Truett/Luke 'hate' discourse: Entertainment vs negativity in the pod 23:53 - Osaka Marathon Q: Can I watch? Japan ban, cannabis vs alcohol, and moving on 26:12 - When Do You Actually Need a Coach? (Ken Rideout example) 26:52 - Supplements, ketones & super shoes: what you actually need 28:33 - Why chase a faster marathon: goals, weight loss & the reset mindset 29:45 - Coaching plans and past drama: finding the right advisor 30:46 - Train in trainers, race in supers? Injury risk & adaptation 32:34 - Influencers, supplements & doping gray zones (L-carnitine, EPO, T) 37:58 - Supporters club + Discord: keeping the community clean and paid 40:46 - Quick-fire training Qs: cycling/stairs, bathroom nerves, speed after 40 52:47 - Wrap-up: more questions, today's workout & how to reach out

The Krewe wraps up Season 6 with an episode looking back at the highs, the lows, & what's to come! Join Doug & Jenn for listener feedback and behind-the-scenes stories as they put a bow on the 6th chapter of KOJ 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, Threads: @kreweofjapanpodcast & the Krewe of Japan Youtube Channel). Until next time, enjoy! ------ Support the Krewe! Offer Links for Affiliates ------ Use the referral links below & our promo code from the episode! Support your favorite NFL Team AND podcast! Shop NFLShop to gear up for football season! Zencastr Offer Link - Use my special link to save 30% off your 1st month of any Zencastr paid plan!  ------ JSNO Upcoming Events ------ JSNO Event Calendar Join JSNO Today!

“What most people want to get out of choir is to feel a progression, that they slowly master the craft of choral music. For every warm-up, I boil it down to make it simple but also find the sweet spot where I can challenge the singers to get out of their comfort zone or dare to fail. The bravery to fail is crucial to the music making we'll be doing after the warm-up. Exercises that are on the brink of what is doable will have them on the edge of their seat in a playful spirit. It's always with a smile, always fun. If you make a mistake, no one will judge you. We can't grow if we don't make mistakes.”Jonas Rasmussen (b. 1992) is a Danish conductor, composer, content creator and educator who has quickly established himself as one of the most distinctive choral voices of his generation. Known for his ability to combine artistic ambition with playfulness and accessibility, he is the Artistic Director of Ensemble Novum, Academic Choir Aarhus and Youth Choir Aarhus U, and teaches classical choral conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, Aarhus.Jonas' ensembles have won some of the most prestigious international choral prizes, including the World Choral Championship in Tokyo (2019), the Grand Prix at the Rimini International Choral Competition (2018), the European Broadcasting Union's competition Let the Peoples Sing in Barcelona (2019), and the World Choral Cup in Barcelona (2022). In 2023 and again in 2025, he brought home multiple gold medals at the European Choir Games, Europe's biggest choral competition. Both his ensembles choirs are now ranked in the top 10 on INTERKULTUR's official top 1000 list of choirs from all around the world – with Youth Choir Aarhus U as #2 and Academic Choir Aarhus as #8.Education and mentorship are central to Jonas' work. In 2025, he started to post content online for a wider international audience and the response has been remarkable. In the first 10 months, Jonas has achieved just short of 350.000 followers across platforms and that number is quickly growing. He is frequently invited as a workshop leader for choral organizations in Denmark and abroad where his engaging style and ability to connect with singers of all levels are widely appreciated. Jonas' vision is to position choral music as a living, evolving art form – not a museum piece, but something that constantly redefines itself through collaboration, innovation, and community. Whether on the concert stage, in a classroom, or online, his work is driven by the belief that choir singing is one of the most powerful ways to create meaning and connection between people.To get in touch with Jonas, you can find him on Instagram (@choirconductor).Email choirfampodcast@gmail.com to contact our hosts.Podcast music from Podcast.coPhoto in episode artwork by Trace Hudson

Paralympic long jumper Lex Gillette shares how technology and resilience have shaped his journey to becoming a five-time Paralympian. From AI tools like Be My Eyes to advanced training tech, discover how innovation drives inclusion in sport.In this inspiring episode of Double Tap Weekend, Lex Gillette reflects on his extraordinary journey as a visually impaired athlete competing at the highest level. He discusses the evolution of accessible technology—from screen readers to AI-powered navigation tools—and how these innovations empower athletes to train, compete, and live independently. Lex also shares personal insights into the Paralympic experience, including the transformation of athletes' villages across Games and navigating the unique challenges of Tokyo 2020. He highlights how technology, from biometric tracking to services like Aira, has been the great equaliser in his career, closing the gap between vision and performance. With LA 2028 on the horizon, Lex's message is clear: losing sight does not mean losing vision. His story is a powerful reminder of perseverance, innovation, and the human spirit. Relevant LinksLex Gillette Official Site: https://www.lexgillette.com Find Double Tap online: YouTube, Double Tap Website---Follow on:YouTube: https://www.doubletaponair.com/youtubeX (formerly Twitter): https://www.doubletaponair.com/xInstagram: https://www.doubletaponair.com/instagramTikTok: https://www.doubletaponair.com/tiktokThreads: https://www.doubletaponair.com/threadsFacebook: https://www.doubletaponair.com/facebookLinkedIn: https://www.doubletaponair.com/linkedin Subscribe to the Podcast:Apple: https://www.doubletaponair.com/appleSpotify: https://www.doubletaponair.com/spotifyRSS: https://www.doubletaponair.com/podcastiHeadRadio: https://www.doubletaponair.com/iheart About Double TapHosted by the insightful duo, Steven Scott and Shaun Preece, Double Tap is a treasure trove of information for anyone who's blind or partially sighted and has a passion for tech. Steven and Shaun not only demystify tech, but they also regularly feature interviews and welcome guests from the community, fostering an interactive and engaging environment. Tune in every day of the week, and you'll discover how technology can seamlessly integrate into your life, enhancing daily tasks and experiences, even if your sight is limited. "Double Tap" is a registered trademark of Double Tap Productions Inc. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Plenty to discuss on this week's episode of AvTalk: More clarity on what exactly led to the closure of airspace above El Paso last week A United Airlines flight from Lagos experiences an extraordinary series of events (UA613 leg 1 | UA613 leg 2) ANA operates a 14 hour flight from Tokyo to Tokyo An […] The post AvTalk Episode 358: Not how you want the day to go appeared first on Flightradar24 Blog.

As we look ahead to the first Marathon of the new season in Tokyo, we catch up with US long-distance great Sara Hall as she prepares to return to the Japanese capital for the 3rd time. And we'll hear from Abbott World Marathon Majors' David Macnamara with a round-up of things happening during race week. On this episode of Marathon Talk: 00:00 - Intro 01:00 - Happy Birthday, Deena! 05:40 - Tokyo Marathon Preview 16:00 - Sara Hall joins us to talk about her prep for Tokyo, her career and more. 39:11 - David Macnamara is here to tell us all about what is happening in Tokyo on race week. Links & References: Abbott World Marathon Majors Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Marathon Talk Facebook | Instagram | TikTok Martin Yelling | Instagram Deena Kastor | Instagram Sara Hall | Instagram  

This Week on In Stride    Sinead Halpin-Maynard is joined by international sports commentator John Kyle for a behind-the-scenes look at life behind the microphone.   Meet the Guest: John Kyle  John Kyle is an international sports commentator whose storytelling and insightful analysis have made him a familiar presence in the equestrian world. He has served as an equestrian commentator at four Summer Olympic Games, including London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024, and has also taken his craft to the Winter Olympic stage at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Known for blending deep technical knowledge with engaging narrative, John brings clarity and context to eventing and high-performance sport for audiences around the world.  In This Episode, John and Sinead Discuss:    • His role at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics and what it entails  • How his path into commentary unfolded and opportunities opened along the way  • Learning to blend research and knowledge with pace and cadence on air  • The responsibility that comes with representing and shaping the narrative of the sport of eventing    Episode Sponsor EquiHealth App Keep your horse's training, health records, and goals organized in one place. -  Visit https://www.equihealth.net/ to learn more. In Stride Is Brought to You by Ride iQ Ride iQ helps everyday riders ride with more clarity, confidence, and purpose through on-demand audio lessons from world-class coaches. Members also get: - Weekly live Q&As with equestrian experts - Exclusive podcast episodes - Dressage test prep resources - A supportive learning community Start your free 14-day trial at Ride-iQ.com Looking for More? Want straightforward, expert advice on keeping your horse sound and thriving?  Dr. Erica Lacher's Horse Health Essentials eight-part program is available now. -  Save 35% with code POD35 at RideIQElevate.com/horse-health. Ask An Expert is your go-to podcast for practical, real-world advice from top equestrian professionals.  -  Listen anywhere: https://pod.link/1776969830

Our guest is Reverend Dr. Masaki Matsubara, who is an eighteenth-generation Zen priest in the Japanese Rinzai tradition. His career is unique and impressive. Following his Zen monastic training in Heirinji Monastery in Japan, he moved to the US in 1999 to study at Cornell University, where he eventually earned a PhD in Asian religions. Since then, he has taught Buddhist studies at prominent institutions, including U.C. Berkeley, Stanford University, Cornell University, Brown University and the University of Tokyo. Also, Rev. Matsubara is the head abbot of Butsumoji Zen Temple in Chiba, Japan Reverend Matsubara joined us in Episode #377 in September 2025 and discussed important ideas underlying Japanese society, such as the true meaning of Zen and the difference between Zen and mindfulness. Now, he is back to talk about food in Zen practice. Generally speaking, in business organizations, the lower level of the hierarchy tends to be in charge of food matters. CEO's would not choose and order lunch items for their employees, for instance. However, in Zen practice, preparing and serving meals is a very important part of training and the cook is called Tenzo. The idea of prioritizing meal preparation, as much as meditation and studying Buddhism, came from the classic book Tenzo Kyokun, written by the Japanese Zen Buddhist master Dogen in 1237. The book is old and sounds aloof from our daily lives, but there are many valuable lessons for living mindfully in our modern lifestyle. In this episode, we will discuss why food is essential in Zen practice, the precious lessons in the book Tenzo Kyokun, how you can practice a mindful approach to food in your daily life, how Japanese vegetarian cuisine Shojin Ryori exemplifies the essence of mindful eating and much, much more!!! The latest information on Reverend Matsubara's meditation sessions is found here on Instagram:@masakimatsubara.zen@the.gallery.nyc@o.d.o_nySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Episode 802 Welcome back to GOT FADED JAPAN, the podcast where the sun is rising… but the headlines are absolutely unhinged. This week on the wildest news show east of sanity: Guy decides marriage wasn't dramatic enough and goes full vampire on his wife. We've got attempted murder and straight-up mayhem rocking the trains of Japan. And in a plot twist nobody asked for, “Porno Johnny Appleseed” finally gets busted. From the bizarre to the brutal, from the absurd to the “you-can't-make-this-up,” we break down the stories that make you laugh, cringe, and question reality, all with that signature GOT FADED flavor. So crack a drink, brace yourself, and prepare for chaos. This… is GOT FADED JAPAN. FADE ON!

Brian Stolz has cracked the code — literally and figuratively — on what it takes to build thriving teams in biotech. Episode 110 of The Hennessy Report by Keystone Partners features Brian Stolz, Chief People Officer at Element Biosciences, joined by Keystone Partners West Coast Market Leader Charlene Hutchins. Brian shares how growing up in Tokyo shaped his global perspective, his philosophy on building high-performing teams through diversity of thought, and how Element Bio's culture is rooted in respect, authenticity, and collaboration. He also dives into how AI is transforming HR and talent management, why the bio life sciences industry is poised for a major turnaround, and what he sees driving investment in the sector heading into 2026. Plus, Keystone's Vicky Rayel closes out the episode with practical career development advice in Coach's Corner.

The episode of Black Dragon Biker TV you're gearing up for mixes international youth gang drama, a heartfelt veteran tribute, and the real-world toll of social media creation—timely topics for raw discussion. Here's a breakdown with the latest details (as of February 20, 2026) to frame your show.Tokyo Mass Brawl & Teen ArrestsIncident: On February 19–20, 2025, a large-scale fight broke out in a housing complex in Fussa (western Tokyo suburbs). Around 40 members of the bosozoku (biker gang) Suiren (based in Sagamihara, Kanagawa Prefecture) clashed with 20 members of the delinquent group Kyowakai (or Kyokuwakai, based in Hachioji, Tokyo). The rivalry dates back years and involved weapons, leading to injuries among several teens.Arrests: Tokyo Metropolitan Police announced on February 19, 2026, the arrest of 23 boys (aged 16–18) on suspicion of assembling with dangerous weapons (a charge under Japanese law for group violence). The arrests followed a months-long investigation; no major new incidents in 2026, but police have intensified surveillance amid fears of renewed unrest.Context: Bosozoku (motorcycle gangs/delinquent youth groups) in Japan often involve modified bikes, loud exhausts, and territorial fights—echoing outlaw MC dynamics but more youth-oriented. This highlights ongoing youth gang issues in Japan, with police cracking down hard on weapons and assembly.Dandridge Motorcycle Group Gives Vietnam Vet One Last RideStory: On Thursday, February 19, 2026, a local motorcycle group in Dandridge, Tennessee (Jefferson County) organized a final ride for Vietnam Veteran Willard Fields, who is in hospice care. Fields (a Vietnam-era vet) rode in a sidecar or lead position with family and riders escorting him.Details: Organized with help from Caris Healthcare (Morristown hospice), the ride gave Fields and his family a memorable moment—his grandson-in-law described it as a powerful reminder of community support for veterans. Riders from the area joined to honor his service, with emotional scenes of gratitude and patriotism.Why it resonates: Heartwarming contrast to MC news—shows bikers' positive side in community service, veteran respect, and "one last ride" traditions common in riding groups.Mental, Physical, & Emotional Hazards of Being a Social Media Content CreatorThis is a growing concern in the creator economy—especially relevant for biker media folks dealing with comments, backlash, and constant posting. Recent studies and reports highlight:Mental/Emotional Hazards:High rates of anxiety, depression, burnout, and isolation (e.g., a 2025 Creators 4 Mental Health study found creators twice as likely to experience suicidal thoughts as the general U.S. population—10% linked to work pressures).Dopamine addiction from likes/views, leading to obsession over metrics, comparison (FOMO), and toxicity (cyberbullying, hate comments).Stress "bleeds" into offline life, harming relationships; emotion-focused coping (e.g., venting) vs. problem-focused (e.g., boundaries) often fails.Parasocial relationships with audiences can distort self-identity.Physical Hazards:Sedentary lifestyle → poor posture, eye strain, repetitive stress injuries (from filming/editing).Disrupted sleep from blue light/late-night posting.Neglected exercise/eating due to irregular schedules.Broader Impacts: Financial instability (chasing trends), body image issues (filtered content), and burnout from constant creation. Recommendations include platform income stability, peer communities, mental health resources, and setting boundaries (e.g., no metrics obsession).Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-dragon-s-lair-motorcycle-chaos--3267493/support.Sponsor the channel by signing up for our channel memberships. You can also support us by signing up for our podcast channel membership for $9.99 per month, where 100% of the membership price goes directly to us at https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-.... Follow us on:Instagram: BlackDragonBikerTV TikTok: BlackDragonBikertv Twitter: jbunchiiFacebook: BlackDragonBikerBuy Black Dragon Merchandise, Mugs, Hats, T-Shirts Books: https://blackdragonsgear.comDonate to our cause:Cashapp: $BikerPrezPayPal: jbunchii Zelle: jbunchii@aol.com Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/BlackDragonNPSubscribe to our new discord server https://discord.gg/dshaTSTSubscribe to our online news magazine www.bikerliberty.comGet 20% off Gothic biker rings by using my special discount code: blackdragon go to http://gthic.com?aff=147Join my News Letter to get the latest in MC protocol, biker club content, and my best picks for every day carry. https://johns-newsletter-43af29.beehi... Get my Audio Book Prospect's Bible an Audible: https://adbl.co/3OBsfl5Help us get to 30,000 subscribers on www.instagram.com/BlackDragonBikerTV on Instagram. Thank you!We at Black Dragon Biker TV are dedicated to bringing you the latest news, updates, and analysis from the world of bikers and motorcycle clubs. Our content is created for news reporting, commentary, and discussion purposes. Under Section 107 of the Copyright

Hey yall sorry for the late episode Brandon had a mild medical issue he had to deal with. In this ep we talk Valentines Day, have some reviews, discuss the merits of Predator 2, white's soon to be the minority, new Epstein file dump, Obama says aliens are real, AI messes up a company because no one checked behind its math, Olympics run out of condoms, HGTV star fired for slur, Erika Kirk makes interesting choices to podcast set, Gallup calls it quits on presidential polling, and much more! Email here: tokyoblackhour@gmail.com Check us out Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/TokyoBlackHour/   Check out the Youtube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX_C1Txvh93PHEsnA-qOp6g?view_as=subscriber Follow us on Twitter @TokyoBlackPod Get your apparel at https://tkbpandashop.com/  You can also catch us Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify Check out the mix here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=outOhNt1vBA&t=1167s Need a logo for your business go here www.fiverr.com/eyeballa/buying 

In this episode, we sit down with Steven Cooper, principal designer of Cooper Pacific Kitchens and Cabinet Los Angeles, to explore the intersection of art and functionality in kitchen design. As Cooper Pacific Kitchens approaches its 40th anniversary, Steven shares insights from nearly four decades of creating bespoke kitchens for clients around the world—from Tokyo to Palm Beach's iconic Tiffany's building. He discusses his collaboration with British brand Cabinet, his work on the Le Cornue global design council, and how Los Angeles' diverse architectural landscape continues to inspire his creative vision.Steven takes us through his design philosophy, emphasizing the critical balance between form and function, the importance of listening deeply to clients, and how beauty can transform everyday rituals into meaningful moments. He shares the lessons learned from his father and grandfather—both builders who instilled in him the value of meticulous craftsmanship and the mantra "measure twice, cut once." From mixing materials in unexpected ways to appreciating the patina that natural stone develops over time, Steven reveals what makes a kitchen not just functional, but soulful.Whether you're a design enthusiast, a homeowner dreaming of your perfect kitchen, or simply someone who appreciates the artistry of well-crafted spaces, this conversation offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a designer who sees kitchens as more than just rooms—they're stages where life's most authentic moments unfold. Join us as Steven Cooper shares his journey, his passion for natural materials, and his vision for the future of personalized, intentional design.

Kon'nichiwa! Den store fordelen med å jobbe med spill, er å kunne oppfylle store drømmer som en del av jobben. Og det har redaktør i Pressfire.no, Erik Fossum, gjort denne høsten! Han har nemlig vært på verdensutstillingen i Osaka, på Tokyo Game Show, på spillsjapper i Hiroshima og på gamifiserte restauranter i Tokyo. Til Sidequest kommer han for å fortelle om alt han har opplevd. For en nydelig time det ble! Arigatōgozaimasu

This week on aBlogtoWatch Weekly, Rick is back in the hosting seat and joined by Ariel, Ripley, and David for a typical wide ranging conversation that moves from Japanese watch culture to retail power plays, with only a mild amount of chaos along the way. Ariel shares highlights from his recent trip to Tokyo, including how Seiko, Grand Seiko, Citizen, and Casio are presented at home, why Seiko currently wins the prettiest display contest, and what it feels like to stand in front of an entire rainbow of Mount Iwate dials. The team then dives into a deep discussion about Rolex and the growing pressure placed on authorized dealers, from costly boutique remodels to brand controlled retail experiences, sparking a lively debate about independence, real estate strategy, and who really benefits when luxury retail gets a facelift.From there, the episode rolls straight into Hit Miss Maybe, covering a new pilot inspired release from Oris, a lightweight Zagato concept from Chopard, and a technical deep dive into a high end Ferdinand Berthoud piece, complete with chain drives, constant force mechanisms, and strong opinions about skeletonization. The Brand Wheel of Death makes its long awaited return, putting Tudor and Tissot back in the spotlight, while Czapek quietly exists. Along the way, the crew debates value, design direction, and whether some brands need a 50 year timeout. The episode wraps with plenty of laughs, sharp industry takes, and just enough Brand Wheel energy to remind everyone that no watch company is ever truly safe.To check out the ABTW Shop where you can see our products inspired by our love of Horology:- Shop ABTW - https://store.ablogtowatch.com/To keep updated with everything Superlative, aBlogtoWatch Weekly, and aBlogtoWatch, check us out on:- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ablogtowatch/- Website - https://www.ablogtowatch.com/- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/aBlogtoWatch If you enjoy the show please Subscribe, Rate, and Review!

Empress Myeongseong (Queen Min), born Min Ja-yeong in 1851, was the child bride of the young King Gojong of Korea. This was during the Joseon isolationist era, overseen by her father-in-law, the conservative regent Heungseon Daewongun. As foreign powers pressured the "Hermit Kingdom," a 1870s coup to sideline the regent lead to an era of modernization. Japan's 1895 victory in the First Sino-Japanese War ended Chinese influence, and Queen Min's secret appeals to Russia for aid provoked Tokyo. On October 8, 1895, Japanese Minister Miura Gorō orchestrated her assassination, unleashing a process that would lead to Japan annexing Korea in 1910. Korean nationalist lore casts Queen Min as a heroic modernizer and defender against imperialism. But many scholars highlight the virtual inevitability of the peninsula's subordination to one foreign power or another, her factionalism, and risky foreign intrigues. Her brutal murder nevertheless forged an enduring legend of resistance.To find out more about the people and music featured in today's episode, visit the Assassinations Podcast website, www.AssassinationsPodcast.com While there, you can check out our Bookstore, where we recommend some great episode-related books and reading material, or shop our Merch Store to nab a logo tee or tote bag. You can also contact us through the website — we love to hear your comments, questions, corrections, and suggestions!You can find us on Twitter @AssassinsPodAnd to support the show and gain access to exclusive content, go to patreon.com/assassinationspodcastAssassinations Podcast was created by Niall Cooper, who researches and writes the show. Lindsey Morse is our editor and producer. Our theme music was created by Graeme Ronald. If you'd like to hear more from Graeme, check out his band, Remember Remember. You'll find them on iTunes.

Welcome back to When Words Fail, Music Speaks, the podcast where host James Cox uses the universal language of music to battle depression, spark creativity, and explore the hidden stories behind the sounds that shape our lives.In today's episode James sits down with John Von Seggern, a true sonic architect whose career reads like a world‑tour playlist: from jazz clubs in New York and Tokyo to massive Chinese pop concerts in Hong Kong, from avant‑avant ambient bass‑guitar experiments to cutting‑edge electronic production. John walks us through his musical evolution—starting on cello, trombone, and even a flute, then falling in love with the upright bass, discovering the 10‑string Chapman Stick, and finally forging an identity that blends live improvisation with immersive digital soundscapes.Together they dive into:The therapeutic power of music in moments of depression and how ambient textures can become both background and foreground.The gritty realities of making a living as a jazz musician versus the discipline required on pop‑star stadium tours.The cultural contrasts James and John observed while performing in Japan, Hong Kong, and Los Angeles, and why Asian pop musicianship is often underestimated in the West.A “happy accident” story from the making of John's Taking Shots of Mountain album, sparked by a chance encounter with a Chapman Stick.The future of music education through FutureProof Music School, where AI‑driven personalized pathways meet human mentorship to help beginners and pros alike create electronic dance music without losing the tactile joy of playing an instrument.Whether you're a seasoned bassist, a bedroom producer, or simply someone looking for a melodic lift, this conversation offers a deep, heartfelt look at how one artist turned curiosity, discipline, and a love for…​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​...Grab your headphones, tune in, and let the conversation remind you that when words fail, music always speaks.Go to John's website at:https://learn.futureproofmusicschool.com/home

Most people go on vacation to escape, but David's trip to Japan turned into a comedy of cultural misunderstandings, absurd truths, and epic food battles. Ever wondered what happens when a white guy tries to speak Japanese, refuses to take his shoes off, and still ends up at a crazy American-style restaurant in Tokyo? Or how the Winter Olympics are just a little more wild when you mix figure skating glory, curling controversy, and epic social media meltdown? In this episode, we break down David's jet-lagged adventures across Tokyo—from climbing the tower that's actually 400 stories tall (not quite), to witnessing Mount Fuji's fleeting beauty and the mysterious art of the automatic taxi doors. Plus, we expose the truth about the halftime show, the real story behind the NFL's dunk contest disaster, and why the Winter Olympics might just be the most underrated sports spectacle on the planet. You'll discover why Japan's frictionless flow beats New York's chaos, the secret behind the best sushi spots, and how to survive a trip without losing your mind—or your shoes. We also get into the social-media hysteria over Bad Bunny's halftime, the hidden truths of the Olympics' judging sleight of hand, and why baseball's new balls have everyone excited. Perfect for travel junkies, sports fans, culture explorers, and anyone tired of boring podcasts—this wildly entertaining episode is your ticket to ‘what really happened' on Dave's trip and inside the crazy world of Winter Olympics drama. Bonus: We reveal the true hero of the Super Bowl, the disgrace of NBA All-Star Weekend, and what it really takes to excel in the global sports universe. Pull up a chair and join the conversation!

We hear from a tour guide in Tokyo as the number of oversees visitors to Japan has fallen for the first time in four years partly because of a big drop in tourists from China after a diplomatic row between the two countriesAlso a farmer tells us about the impact of a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in South Africaand inflation falls in the UKPresenter: Leanna Byrne Producers: Amber Mehmood and Huma Shah Editor: Justin Bones

Clad in armour and guided by a strict code of honour, Japan's samurai were more than elite warriors; they were the architects of a society shaped by loyalty, discipline and power.　　The history and culture of Japan's Samurai warriors are being celebrated in a new museum in Tokyo. - 外国人観光客の姿が目立つ、東京にある侍の博物館。侍の文化を海外に広く知ってもらうことで、日本でも自国の文化を理解してもらうことにつながれば、との声が聞かれます。

What if intuition isn't something you think — but something you feel? In this episode, Doug Bytes sits down with embodiment teacher and author Philip Shepherd, author of Radical Wholeness, Deep Witness, and co-author of Deep Fitness, to explore how modern culture disconnects men from their bodies — and how reclaiming embodied awareness restores intuition, clarity, and grounded strength. Philip shares the story of his teenage bicycle journey across Europe, the Middle East, India, and Japan — a self-initiated rite of passage that shaped his understanding of culture, identity, and embodied intelligence. We explore: ·         Why intuition lives in the body, not the thinking mind ·         The intelligence of the pelvic floor and "pelvic bowl" ·         How cultural conditioning pulls us out of our center ·         A simple pelvic floor breathing practice ·         The concept of embodied presence ·         Energy integration and healing "stuck" emotion ·         The science of myokines and muscle as metabolic medicine ·         Why strength training (not cardio) may be foundational for longevity ·         Training to momentary muscular failure and deep fitness principles ·         Breath, panic, and remaining calm under pressure This conversation bridges somatics, men's personal development, neuroscience, evolutionary biology, and strength science — offering practical tools for men who want to develop intuition, resilience, and grounded leadership. If you're interested in embodiment, radical wholeness, conscious masculinity, breathwork, metabolic health, or strength training for longevity — this episode delivers both philosophy and practical insight.

Think vampires are just spooky fun from movies and books? Wait until you hear about the real-life people who took their bloodthirsty obsession way too far.IN THIS EPISODE: If you're a fan of U.S. History, you might already know that camels once roamed the American Southwest – brought to Texas by the military because they'd be perfect for the desert climate. But once it was all over a legend remained… a terrifying one. (The Red Ghost of Arizona) *** Just because an official government report is released about a UFO sighting or incident doesn't mean that Ufologists and researches are going to accept those findings – or the story the government tells. Thus is the case with a UFO incident in 1952 outside of Tokyo at the Haneda Air Force Base. (The Heneda Incident) *** When it comes to horror and fantasy, you'd be hard-pressed to find something more dangerous or terrifying than the vampire. Skulking around at night, feeding off the blood of the living, shapeshifting into a wolf or bat, hypnotic powers… it's creepy stuff. Good thing it's just fiction. But when you discover criminals in our actual world who think they are vampires – that horror and danger becomes all too real. (Real Life Vampiric Villains)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = The Foreboding00:01:28.476 = Show Open00:03:27.117 = The Heneda Incident00:12:55.697 = Real Life Vampiric Villains ***00:33:30.481 = Red Ghost of Arizona ***00:42:11.329 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakHELPFUL LINKS & RESOURCES…https://WeirdDarkness.com/STORE = Tees, Mugs, Socks, Hoodies, Totes, Hats, Kidswear & Morehttps://WeirdDarkness.com/HOPE = Hope For Depression or Thoughts of Self-Harmhttps://WeirdDarkness.com/NEWSLETTER = In-Depth Articles, Memes, Weird DarkNEWS, Videos & Morehttps://WeirdDarkness.com/AUDIOBOOKS = FREE Audiobooks Narrated By Darren Marlar SOURCES and RESOURCES:“The Heneda Incident” by Marcus Lowth for UFOInsight.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/4xfsnzxpBOOK: Unexplained Mysteries of the 20th Century by Janet and Colin Bord: https://amzn.to/2UbRK6p“Real Life Vampiric Villains” by Amy Robleski for Ranker's Unspeakable Times: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/wamwxb35“The Red Ghost of Arizona” by Rachel Souerby for Ranker's Weird History: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ftcv6td=====(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: January 02, 2019EPISODE PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/VampireMurderersABOUT WEIRD DARKNESS: Weird Darkness is a true crime and paranormal podcast narrated by professional award-winning voice actor, Darren Marlar. Seven days per week, Weird Darkness focuses on all things strange and macabre such as haunted locations, unsolved mysteries, true ghost stories, supernatural manifestations, urban legends, unsolved or cold cases, conspiracy theories, and more. Weird Darkness has been named one of the “20 Best Storytellers in Podcasting” by Podcast Business Journal. Listeners have described the show as a blend of “Coast to Coast AM”, “The Twilight Zone”, “Unsolved Mysteries”, and “In Search Of”.DISCLAIMER: Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.#WeirdDarkness #RealLifeVampires #VampireKillers #TrueCrime #KillersWhoDrankBlood #VampireMurders #EvilOrInsane #DarkHistory #ParanormalTrueCrime #VampireObsession #BloodDrinkers #RodFerrell #ElizabethBathory #FritzHaarmann #RichardTrentonChase #TraceyWigginton #VampireCult #SatanicRituals #TrueCrimeDocumentary #CreepyStories #DarkestMinds #VampireLore #TrueCrimeCommunity #HorrorHistory #ScaryStories #CriminalMinds #SerialKillers #VampireMyth #Bloodlust #TrueCrimeStories

In this interview I'm joined by the Reverend Dr. Thomas Plant to discuss the relationship between Christianity and Platonism, as well as how Platonism might serve as a bridge for inter-religious dialogue. The Rev'd Dr Thomas Plant (Fr. Thomas) was installed and licensed as Rector on Monday 12 May 2025 following four years as a university chaplain in Tokyo. He has previously served in Lichfield Cathedral School, St Michael's Camden Town and St Peter's Berkhamsted. A theologian and classicist, he has published in the fields of Christian Platonism and Buddhist-Christian dialogue. He holds a 2nd dan black belt in Aikido and enjoys playing blues piano and the Japanese shakuhachi flute. He is also a sci-fi, fantasy and real ale fan. Read the Book: https://amzn.to/3Olrdz0Want to support the channel? Here's how!Give monthly: https://patreon.com/gospelsimplicity  Make a one-time donation: https://paypal.me/gospelsimplicityBook a meeting: https://calendly.com/gospelsimplicity/meet-with-austinRead my writings: https://austinsuggs.substack.com/Support the show

Last time we spoke about the beginning of the Nomohan incident. On the fringes of Manchuria, the ghosts of Changkufeng lingered. It was August 1938 when Soviet and Japanese forces locked in a brutal standoff over a disputed hill, claiming thousands of lives before a fragile ceasefire redrew the lines. Japan, humiliated yet defiant, withdrew, but the Kwantung Army seethed with resentment. As winter thawed into 1939, tensions simmered along the Halha River, a serpentine boundary between Manchukuo and Mongolia. Major Tsuji Masanobu, a cunning tactician driven by gekokujo's fire, drafted Order 1488: a mandate empowering local commanders to annihilate intruders, even luring them across borders. Kwantung's leaders, bonded by past battles, endorsed it, ignoring Tokyo's cautions amid the grinding China War. By May, the spark ignited. Mongolian patrols crossed the river, clashing with Manchukuoan cavalry near Nomonhan's sandy hills. General Komatsubara, ever meticulous, unleashed forces to "destroy" them, bombing west-bank outposts and pursuing retreats. Soviets, bound by pact, rushed reinforcements, their tanks rumbling toward the fray. What began as skirmishes ballooned into an undeclared war.   #189 General Zhukov Arrives at Nomohan Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Though Kwantung Army prided itself as an elite arm of the Imperial Japanese Army, the 23rd Division, formed less than a year prior, was still raw and unseasoned, lacking the polish and spirit typical of its parent force. From General Michitaro Komatsubara downward, the staff suffered a collective dearth of combat experience. Intelligence officer Major Yoshiyasu Suzuki, a cavalryman, had no prior intel background. While senior regimental commanders were military academy veterans, most company and platoon leaders were fresh reservists or academy graduates with just one or two years under their belts. Upon arriving in Manchukuo in August 1938, the division found its Hailar base incomplete, housing only half its troops; the rest scattered across sites. Full assembly at Hailar occurred in November, but harsh winter weather curtailed large-scale drills. Commanders had scant time to build rapport. This inexperience, inadequate training, and poor cohesion would prove costly at Nomonhan. Japan's army held steady at 17 divisions from 1930 to 1937, but the escalating China conflict spurred seven new divisions in 1938 and nine in 1939. Resource strains from China left many under-equipped, with the 23rd, stationed in a presumed quiet sector, low on priorities. Unlike older "rectangular" divisions with four infantry regiments, the 23rd was a modern "triangular" setup featuring the 64th, 71st, and 72nd. Materiel gaps were glaring. The flat, open terrain screamed for tanks, yet the division relied on a truck-equipped transport regiment and a reconnaissance regiment with lightly armored "tankettes" armed only with machine guns. Mobility suffered: infantry marched the final 50 miles from Hailar to Nomonhan. Artillery was mostly horse-drawn, including 24 outdated Type 38 75-mm guns from 1907, the army's oldest, unique to this division. Each infantry regiment got four 37-mm rapid-fire guns and four 1908-era 75-mm mountain guns. The artillery regiment added 12 120-mm howitzers, all high-angle, short-range pieces ill-suited for flatlands or anti-tank roles. Antitank capabilities were dire: beyond rapid-fire guns, options boiled down to demolition charges and Molotov cocktails, demanding suicidal "human bullet" tactics in open terrain, a fatal flaw against armor. The division's saving grace lay in its soldiers, primarily from Kyushu, Japan's southernmost main island, long famed for hardy warriors. These men embodied resilience, bravery, loyalty, and honor, offsetting some training and gear deficits. Combat at Nomonhan ramped up gradually, with Japanese-Manchukuoan forces initially outnumbering Soviet-Mongolian foes. Soviets faced severe supply hurdles: their nearest rail at Borzya sat 400 miles west of the Halha River, requiring truck hauls over rough, exposed terrain prone to air strikes. Conversely, Hailar was 200 miles from Nomonhan, with the Handagai railhead just 50 miles away, linked by three dirt roads. These advantages, plus Europe's brewing Polish crisis, likely reassured Army General Staff and Kwantung Army Headquarters that Moscow would avoid escalation. Nonetheless, Komatsubara, with KwAHQ's nod, chose force to quash the Nomonhan flare-up. On May 20, Japanese scouts spotted a Soviet infantry battalion and armor near Tamsag Bulak. Komatsubara opted to "nip the incident in the bud," assembling a potent strike force under Colonel Takemitsu Yamagata of the 64th Infantry Regiment. The Yamagata detachment included the 3rd Battalion, roughly four companies, 800 men, a regimental gun company, three 75-mm mountain guns, four 37-mm rapid-fires, three truck companies, and Lieutenant Colonel Yaozo Azuma's reconnaissance group, 220 men, one tankette, two sedans, 12 trucks. Bolstered by 450 local Manchukuoan troops, the 2,000-strong unit was tasked with annihilating all enemy east of the Halha. The assault was set for May 22–23. No sooner had General Komatsubara finalized this plan than he received a message from KwAHQ: "In settling the affair Kwantung Army has definite plans, as follows: For the time being Manchukuoan Army troops will keep an eye on the Outer Mongolians operating near Nomonhan and will try to lure them onto Manchukuoan territory. Japanese forces at Hailar [23rd Division] will maintain surveillance over the situation. Upon verification of a border violation by the bulk of the Outer Mongolian forces, Kwantung Army will dispatch troops, contact the enemy, and annihilate him within friendly territory. According to this outlook it can be expected that enemy units will occupy border regions for a considerable period; but this is permissible from the overall strategic point of view". At this juncture, Kwantung Army Headquarters advocated tactical caution to secure a more conclusive outcome. Yet, General Michitaro Komatsubara had already issued orders for Colonel Takemitsu Yamagata's assault. Komatsubara radioed Hsinking that retracting would be "undignified," resenting KwAHQ's encroachment on his authority much as KwAHQ chafed at Army General Staff interference. Still, "out of deference to Kwantung Army's feelings," he delayed to May 27 to 28. Soviet air units from the 57th Corps conducted ineffective sorties over the Halha River from May 17 to 21. Novice pilots in outdated I 15 biplanes suffered heavily: at least 9, possibly up to 17, fighters and scouts downed. Defense Commissar Kliment Voroshilov halted air ops, aiding Japanese surprise. Yamagata massed at Kanchuerhmiao, 40 miles north of Nomonhan, sending patrols southward. Scouts spotted a bridge over the Halha near its Holsten junction, plus 2 enemy groups of ~200 each east of the Halha on either Holsten side and a small MPR outpost less than a mile west of Nomonhan. Yamagata aimed to trap and destroy these east of the river: Azuma's 220 man unit would drive south along the east bank to the bridge, blocking retreat. The 4 infantry companies and Manchukuoan troops, with artillery, would attack from the west toward enemy pockets, herding them riverward into Azuma's trap. Post destruction, mop up any west bank foes near the river clear MPR soil swiftly. This intricate plan suited early MPR foes but overlooked Soviet units spotted at Tamsag Bulak on May 20, a glaring oversight by Komatsubara and Yamagata. Predawn on May 28, Yamagata advanced from Kanchuerhmiao. Azuma detached southward to the bridge. Unbeknownst, it was guarded by Soviet infantry, engineers, armored cars, and a 76 mm self propelled artillery battery—not just MPR cavalry. Soviets detected Azuma pre dawn but missed Yamagata's main force; surprise was mutual. Soviet MPR core: Major A E Bykov's battalion roughly 1000 men with 3 motorized infantry companies, 16 BA 6 armored cars, 4 76 mm self propelled guns, engineers, and a 5 armored car recon platoon. The 6th MPR Cavalry Division roughly 1250 men had 2 small regiments, 4 76 mm guns, armored cars, and a training company. Bykov arrayed north to south: 2 Soviet infantry on flanks, MPR cavalry center, unorthodox, as cavalry suits flanks. Spread over 10 miles parallel to but east of the Halha, 1 mile west of Nomonhan. Reserves: 1 infantry company, engineers, and artillery west of the river near the bridge; Shoaaiibuu's guns also west to avoid sand. Japanese held initial edges in numbers and surprise, especially versus MPR cavalry. Offsets: Yamagata split into 5 weaker units; radios failed early, hampering coordination; Soviets dominated firepower with self propelled guns, 4 MPR pieces, and BA 6s, armored fighters with 45 mm turret guns, half track capable, 27 mph speed, but thin 9 mm armor vulnerable to close heavy machine guns. Morning of May 28, Yamagata's infantry struck Soviet MPR near Nomonhan, routing lightly armed MPR cavalry and forcing Soviet retreats toward the Halha. Shoaaiibuu rushed his training company forward; Japanese overran his post, killing him and most staff. As combat neared the river, Soviet artillery and armored cars slowed Yamagata. He redirected to a low hill miles east of the Halha with dug in Soviets—failing to notify Azuma. Bykov regrouped 1 to 2 miles east of the Halha Holsten junction, holding firm. By late morning, Yamagata stalled, digging in against Soviet barrages. Azuma, radio silent due to faults, neared the bridge to find robust Soviet defenses. Artillery commander Lieutenant Yu Vakhtin shifted his 4 76 mm guns east to block seizure. Azuma lacked artillery or anti tank tools, unable to advance. With Yamagata bogged down, Azuma became encircled, the encirclers encircled. Runners reached Yamagata, but his dispersed units couldn't rally or breakthrough. By noon, Azuma faced infantry and cavalry from the east, bombardments from west (both Halha sides). Dismounted cavalry dug sandy defenses. Azuma could have broken out but held per mission, awaiting Yamagata, unaware of the plan shift. Pressure mounted: Major I M Remizov's full 149th Regiment recent Tamsag Bulak arrivals trucked in, tilting odds. Resupply failed; ammo dwindled. Post dusk slackening: A major urged withdrawal; Azuma refused, deeming retreat shameful without orders, a Japanese army hallmark, where "retreat" was taboo, replaced by euphemisms like "advance in a different direction." Unauthorized pullback meant execution. Dawn May 29: Fiercer Soviet barrage, 122 mm howitzers, field guns, mortars, armored cars collapsed trenches. An incendiary hit Azuma's sedan, igniting trucks with wounded and ammo. By late afternoon, Soviets closed to 50 yards on 3 fronts; armored cars breached rear. Survivors fought desperately. Between 6:00 and 7:00 p.m., Azuma led 24 men in a banzai charge, cut down by machine guns. A wounded medical lieutenant ordered escapes; 4 succeeded. Rest killed or captured. Komatsubara belatedly reinforced Yamagata on May 29 with artillery, anti tank guns, and fresh infantry. Sources claim Major Tsuji arrived, rebuked Yamagata for inaction, and spurred corpse recovery over 3 nights, yielding ~200 bodies, including Azuma's. Yamagata withdrew to Kanchuerhmiao, unable to oust foes. Ironically, Remizov mistook recovery truck lights for attacks, briefly pulling back west on May 30. By June 3, discovering the exit, Soviet MPR reoccupied the zone. Japanese blamed:  (1) poor planning/recon by Komatsubara and Yamagata,  (2) comms failures,  (3) Azuma's heavy weapon lack. Losses: ~200 Azuma dead, plus 159 killed, 119 wounded, 12 missing from main force, total 500, 25% of detachment. Soviets praised Vakhtin for thwarting pincers. Claims: Bykov 60 to 70 casualties; TASS 40 killed, 70 wounded total Soviet/MPR. Recent Russian: 138 killed, 198 wounded. MPR cavalry hit hard by Japanese and friendly fire. Soviet media silent until June 26; KwAHQ censored, possibly misleading Tokyo. May 30: Kwantung Chief of Staff General Rensuke Isogai assured AGS of avoiding prolongation via heavy frontier blows, downplaying Soviet buildup and escalation. He requested river crossing gear urgently.   This hinted at Halha invasion (even per Japanese borders: MPR soil). AGS's General Gun Hashimoto affirmed trust in localization: Soviets' vexations manageable, chastisement easy. Colonel Masazumi Inada's section assessed May 31: 1. USSR avoids expansion.  2. Trust Kwantung localization.  3. Intervene on provocative acts like deep MPR air strikes. Phase 1 ended: Kwantung called it mutual win loss, but inaccurate, Azuma destroyed, heavy tolls, remorse gnawing Komatsubara. On June 1, 1939, an urgent summons from Moscow pulled the young deputy commander of the Byelorussian Military District from Minsk to meet Defense Commissar Marshal Kliment Voroshilov. He boarded the first train with no evident concern, even as the army purges faded into memory. This rising cavalry- and tank-expert, Georgy Konstantinovich Zhukov, would later help defend Moscow in 1941, triumph at Stalingrad and Kursk, and march to Berlin as a Hero of the Soviet Union.Born in 1896 to a poor family headed by a cobbler, Zhukov joined the Imperial Army in 1915 as a cavalryman. Of average height but sturdy build, he excelled in horsemanship and earned the Cross of St. George and noncommissioned status for bravery in 1916. After the October Revolution, he joined the Red Army and the Bolshevik Party, fighting in the Civil War from 1918 to 1921. His proletarian roots, tactical skill, and ambition propelled him: command of a regiment by 1923, a division by 1931. An early advocate of tanks, he survived the purges, impressing superiors as a results-driven leader and playing a key role in his assignment to Mongolia. In Voroshilov's office on June 2, Zhukov learned of recent clashes. Ordered to fly east, assess the situation, and assume command if needed, he soon met acting deputy chief Ivan Smorodinov, who urged candid reports. Europe's war clouds and rising tensions with Japan concerned the Kremlin. Hours later, Zhukov and his staff flew east. Arriving June 5 at Tamsag Bulak (57th Corps HQ), Zhukov met the staff and found Corps Commander Nikolai Feklenko and most aides clueless; only Regimental Commissar M. S. Nikishev had visited the front. Zhukov toured with Nikishev that afternoon and was impressed by his grasp. By day's end, Zhukov bluntly reported: this is not a simple border incident; the Japanese are likely to escalate; the 57th Corps is inadequate. He suggested holding the eastern Halha bridgehead until reinforcements could enable a counteroffensive, and he criticized Feklenko. Moscow replied on June 6: relieve Feklenko; appoint Zhukov. Reinforcements arrived: the 36th Mechanized Infantry Division; the 7th, 8th, and 9th Mechanized Brigades; the 11th Tank Brigade; the 8th MPR Cavalry Division; a heavy artillery regiment; an air wing of more than 100 aircraft, including 21 pilots who had earned renown in the Spanish Civil War. The force was redesignated as the First Army Group. In June, these forces surged toward Tamsag Bulak, eighty miles west of Halha. However, General Michitaro Komatsubara's 23rd Division and the Kwantung Army Headquarters missed the buildup and the leadership change, an intelligence failure born of carelessness and hubris and echoing May's Azuma disaster, with grave battlefield consequences. Early June remained relatively quiet: the Soviet MPR expanded the east-bank perimeter modestly; there was no major Japanese response. KwAHQ's Commander General Kenkichi Ueda, hoping for a quick closure, toured the Fourth Army from May 31 to June 18. Calm broke on June 19. Komatsubara reported two Soviet strikes inside Manchukuo: 15 planes hit Arshan, inflicting casualties on men and horses; 30 aircraft set fire to 100 petroleum barrels near Kanchuerhmiao. In fact, the raids were less dramatic than described: not on Kanchuerhmiao town (a 3,000-person settlement, 40 miles northwest of Nomonhan) but on a supply dump 12 miles south of it. "Arshan" referred to a small village near the border, near Arshanmiao, a Manchukuoan cavalry depot, not a major railhead at Harlun Arshan 100 miles southeast. The raids were strafing runs rather than bombs. Possibly retaliation for May 15's Japanese raid on the MPR Outpost 7 (two killed, 15 wounded) or a response to Zhukov's bridgehead push. Voroshilov authorized the action; motive remained unclear. Nonetheless, KwAHQ, unused to air attacks after dominating skies in Manchuria, Shanghai (1932), and China, was agitated. The situation resembled a jolt akin to the 1973 North Vietnamese strike on U.S. bases in Thailand: not unprovoked, but shocking. Midday June 19, the Operations Staff met. Major Masanobu Tsuji urged swift reprisal; Colonel Masao Terada urged delay in light of the Tientsin crisis (the new Japanese blockade near Peking). Tsuji argued that firmness at Nomonhan would impress Britain; inaction would invite deeper Soviet bombardments or invasion. He swayed Chief Colonel Takushiro Hattori and others, including Terada. They drafted a briefing: the situation was grave; passivity risked a larger invasion and eroded British respect for Japanese might. After two hours of joint talks, most KwAHQ members supported a strong action. Tsuji drafted a major Halha crossing plan to destroy Soviet MPR forces. Hattori and Terada pressed the plan to Chief of Staff General Rensuke Isogai, an expert on Manchukuo affairs but not operations; he deferred to Deputy General Otozaburo Yano, who was absent. They argued urgency; Isogai noted delays in AGS approval. The pair contended for local Kwantung prerogative, citing the 1937 Amur cancellation; AGS would likely veto. Under pressure, Isogai assented, pending Ueda's approval. Ueda approved but insisted that the 23rd Division lead, not the 7th. Hattori noted the 7th's superiority (four regiments in a "square" arrangement versus the 23rd's three regiments, with May unreliability). Ueda prioritized Komatsubara's honor: assigning another division would imply distrust; "I'd rather die." The plan passed on June 19, an example of gekokujo in action. The plan called for reinforcing the 23rd with: the 2nd Air Group (180 aircraft, Lieutenant General Tetsuji Gigi); the Yasuoka Detachment (Lieutenant General Masaomi Yasuoka: two tank regiments, motorized artillery, and the 26th Infantry of the 7th). Total strength: roughly 15,000 men, 120 guns, 70 tanks, 180 aircraft. KwAHQ estimated the enemy at about 1,000 infantry, 10 artillery pieces, and about 12 armored vehicles, expecting a quick victory. Reconnaissance to Halha was curtailed to avoid alerting the Soviets. Confidence ran high, even as intel warned otherwise. Not all leaders were convinced: the 23rd's ordnance colonel reportedly committed suicide over "awful equipment." An attaché, Colonel Akio Doi, warned of growing Soviet buildup, but operations dismissed the concern. In reality, Zhukov's force comprised about 12,500 men, 109 guns, 186 tanks, 266 armored cars, and more than 100 aircraft, offset by the Soviets' armor advantage. The plan echoed Yamagata's failed May 28 initiative: the 23rd main body would seize the Fui Heights (11 miles north of Halha's Holsten junction), cross by pontoon, and sweep south along the west bank toward the Soviet bridge. Yasuoka would push southeast of Halha to trap and destroy the enemy at the junction. On June 20, Tsuji briefed Komatsubara at Hailar, expressing Ueda's trust while pressing to redeem May's failures. Limited pontoon capacity would not support armor; the operation would be vulnerable to air power. Tsuji's reconnaissance detected Soviet air presence at Tamsag Bulak, prompting a preemptive strike and another plan adjustment. KwAHQ informed Tokyo of the offensive in vague terms (citing raids but withholding air details). Even this caused debate; Minister Seishiro Itagaki supported Ueda's stance, favoring a limited operation to ease nerves. Tokyo concurred, unaware of the air plans. Fearing a veto on the Tamsag Bulak raid (nearly 100 miles behind MPR lines), KwAHQ shielded details from the Soviets and Tokyo. A June 29–30 ground attack was prepared; orders were relayed by courier. The leak reached Tokyo on June 24. Deputy Chief General Tetsuzo Nakajima telegrammed three points: 1) AGS policy to contain the conflict and avoid West MPR air attacks;  2) bombing risks escalation;  3) sending Lieutenant Colonel Yadoru Arisue on June 25 for liaison. Polite Japanese diplomatic phrasing allowed Operations to interpret the message as a suggestion. To preempt Arisue's explicit orders, Tsuji urged secrecy from Ueda, Isogai, and Yano, and an advanced raid to June 27. Arisue arrived after the raid on Tamsag Bulak and Bain Tumen (deeper into MPR territory, now near Choibalsan). The Raid resulted in approximately 120 Japanese planes surprising the Soviets, grounding and destroying aircraft and scrambling their defense. Tsuji, flying in a bomber, claimed 25 aircraft destroyed on the ground and about 100 in the air. Official tallies reported 98 destroyed and 51 damaged; ground kills estimated at 50 to 60 at Bain Tumen. Japanese losses were relatively light: one bomber, two fighters, one scout; seven dead. Another Japanese bomber was shot down over MPR, but the crew was rescued. The raid secured air superiority for July.   Moscow raged over the losses and the perceived failure to warn in time. In the purge era, blame fell on suspected spies and traitors; Deputy Mongolian Commander Luvsandonoi and ex-57th Deputy A. M. Kushchev were accused, arrested, and sent to Moscow. Luvsandonoi was executed; Kushchev received a four-year sentence, later rising to major general and Hero. KwAHQ celebrated; Operations notified AGS by radio. Colonel Masazumi Inada rebuked: "You damned idiot! What do you think the true meaning of this little success is?" A withering reprimand followed. Stunned but unrepentant, KwAHQ soon received Tokyo's formal reprimand: "Report was received today regarding bombing of Outer Mongolian territory by your air units… . Since this action is in fundamental disagreement with policy which we understood your army was taking to settle incident, it is extremely regretted that advance notice of your intent was not received. Needless to say, this matter is attended with such farreaching consequences that it can by no means be left to your unilateral decision. Hereafter, existing policy will be definitely and strictly observed. It is requested that air attack program be discontinued immediately" By Order of the Chief of Staff  By this time, Kwantung Army staff officers stood in high dudgeon. Tsuji later wrote that "tremendous combat results were achieved by carrying out dangerous operations at the risk of our lives. It is perfectly clear that we were carrying out an act of retaliation. What kind of General Staff ignores the psychology of the front lines and tramples on their feelings?" Tsuji drafted a caustic reply, which Kwantung Army commanders sent back to Tokyo, apparently without Ueda or other senior KwAHQ officers' knowledge: "There appear to be certain differences between the Army General Staff and this Army in evaluating the battlefield situation and the measures to be adopted. It is requested that the handling of trivial border-area matters be entrusted to this Army." That sarcastic note from KwAHQ left a deep impression at AGS, which felt something had to be done to restore discipline and order. When General Nakajima informed the Throne about the air raid, the emperor rebuked him and asked who would assume responsibility for the unauthorized attack. Nakajima replied that military operations were ongoing, but that appropriate measures would be taken after this phase ended. Inada sent Terada a telegram implying that the Kwantung Army staff officers responsible would be sacked in due course. Inada pressed to have Tsuji ousted from Kwantung Army immediately, but personnel matters went through the Army Ministry, and Army Minister Itagaki, who knew Tsuji personally, defended him. Tokyo recognized that the situation was delicate; since 1932, Kwantung Army had operated under an Imperial Order to "defend Manchukuo," a broad mandate. Opinions differed in AGS about how best to curb Kwantung Army's operational prerogatives. One idea was to secure Imperial sanction for a new directive limiting Kwantung Army's autonomous combat actions to no more than one regiment. Several other plans circulated. In the meantime, Kwantung Army needed tighter control. On June 29, AGS issued firm instructions to KwAHQ: Directives: a) Kwantung Army is responsible for local settlement of border disputes. b) Areas where the border is disputed, or where defense is tactically unfeasible, need not be defended. Orders: c) Ground combat will be limited to the border region between Manchukuo and Outer Mongolia east of Lake Buir Nor. d) Enemy bases will not be attacked from the air. With this heated exchange of messages, the relationship between Kwantung Army and AGS reached a critical moment. Tsuji called it the "breaking point" between Hsinking and Tokyo. According to Colonel Inada, after this "air raid squabble," gekokujo became much more pronounced in Hsinking, especially within Kwantung Army's Operations Section, which "ceased making meaningful reports" to the AGS Operations Section, which he headed. At KwAHQ, the controversy and the perception of AGS interference in local affairs hardened the resolve of wavering staff officers to move decisively against the USSR. Thereafter, Kwantung Army officers as a group rejected the General Staff's policy of moderation in the Nomonhan incident. Tsuji characterized the conflict between Kwantung Army and the General Staff as the classic clash between combat officers and "desk jockeys." In his view, AGS advocated a policy of not invading enemy territory even if one's own territory was invaded, while Kwantung Army's policy was not to allow invasion. Describing the mindset of the Kwantung Army (and his own) toward the USSR in this border dispute, Tsuji invoked the samurai warrior's warning: "Do not step any closer or I shall be forced to cut you down." Tsuji argued that Kwantung Army had to act firmly at Nomonhan to avoid a larger war later. He also stressed the importance, shared by him and his colleagues, of Kwantung Army maintaining its dignity, which he believed was threatened by both enemy actions and the General Staff. In this emotionally charged atmosphere, the Kwantung Army launched its July offensive. The success of the 2nd Air Group's attack on Tamsag Bulak further inflated KwAHQ's confidence in the upcoming offensive. Although aerial reconnaissance had been intentionally limited to avoid alarming or forewarning the enemy, some scout missions were flown. The scouts reported numerous tank emplacements under construction, though most reports noted few tanks; a single report of large numbers of tanks was downplayed at headquarters. What drew major attention at KwAHQ were reports of large numbers of trucks leaving the front daily and streaming westward into the Mongolian interior. This was interpreted as evidence of a Soviet pullback from forward positions, suggesting the enemy might sense the imminent assault. Orders were issued to speed up final preparations for the assault before Soviet forces could withdraw from the area where the Japanese "meat cleaver" would soon dismember them. What the Japanese scouts had actually observed was not a Soviet withdrawal, but part of a massive truck shuttle that General Grigori Shtern, now commander of Soviet Forces in the Far East, organized to support Zhukov. Each night, Soviet trucks, from distant MPR railway depots to Tamsag Bulak and the combat zone, moved eastward with lights dimmed, carrying supplies and reinforcements. By day, the trucks returned westward for fresh loads. It was these returning trucks, mostly empty, that the Japanese scouts sighted. The Kwantung interpretation of this mass westbound traffic was a serious error, though understandable. The Soviet side was largely ignorant of Japanese preparations, partly because the June 27 air raid had disrupted Soviet air operations, including reconnaissance. In late June, the 23rd Division and Yasuoka's tank force moved from Hailar and Chiangchunmiao toward Nomonhan. A mix of military and civilian vehicles pressed into service, but there was still insufficient motorized transport to move all troops and equipment at once. Most infantry marched the 120 miles to the combat zone, under a hot sun, carrying eighty-pound loads. They arrived after four to six days with little time to recover before the scheduled assault. With Komatsubara's combined force of about 15,000 men, 120 guns, and 70 tanks poised to attack, Kwantung Army estimated Soviet-MPR strength near Nomonhan and the Halha River at about 1,000 men, perhaps ten anti-aircraft guns, ten artillery pieces, and several dozen tanks. In reality, Japanese air activity, especially the big raid of June 27, had put the Soviets on alert. Zhukov suspected a ground attack might occur, though nothing as audacious as a large-scale crossing of the Halha was anticipated. During the night of July 1, Zhukov moved his 11th Tank Brigade, 7th Mechanized Brigade, and 24th Mechanized Infantry Regiment (36th Division) from their staging area near Tamsag Bulak to positions just west of the Halha River. Powerful forces on both sides were being marshaled with little knowledge of the enemy's disposition. As the sun scorched the Mongolian steppes, the stage was set for a clash that would echo through history. General Komatsubara's 23rd Division, bolstered by Yasuoka's armored might and the skies commanded by Gigi's air group, crept toward the Halha River like a predator in the night. Fifteen thousand Japanese warriors, their boots heavy with dust and resolve, prepared to cross the disputed waters and crush what they believed was a faltering foe. Little did they know, Zhukov's reinforcements, tanks rumbling like thunder, mechanized brigades poised in the shadows, had transformed the frontier into a fortress of steel. Miscalculations piled like sand dunes: Japanese scouts mistook supply convoys for retreats, while Soviet eyes, blinded by the June raid, underestimated the impending storm. Kwantung's gekokujo spirit burned bright, defying Tokyo's cautions, as both sides hurtled toward a brutal reckoning. What began as border skirmishes now threatened to erupt into full-scale war, testing the mettle of empires on the edge. I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Patrols in May led to failed Japanese offensives, like Colonel Yamagata's disastrous assault and the Azuma detachment's annihilation. Tensions rose with air raids, including Japan's June strike on Soviet bases. By July, misjudged intelligence set the stage for a major confrontation, testing imperial ambitions amid global war clouds.

Kate Adie introduces stories from Japan, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Poland and Pakistan.A snap election has given Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi the strongest majority for a Japanese government in more than 70 years, thanks to a growing fan-base among young voters. Shaimaa Khalil reports from Tokyo on growing cult around the country's first woman leader.The visit by the Prince of Wales to Saudi Arabia was among the most diplomatically sensitive of his official trips to date. While the focus was energy transition and improving prospects for young people, questions lingered over Saudi human rights, and controversies back home in the UK. Daniela Relph followed Prince William's visit.Uganda has been feeling the bite of international aid cuts, imposed by the likes of the UK, the EU, and notably by President Trump. The closure of the USAID agency has disrupted an array of relief projects, including those providing treatment for HIV-AIDS. Bel Trew met some of the people directly affected.An art exhibition in the Polish city of Gdansk has ignited a row over the country's role in World War Two. John Kampfner went to see the exhibit for himself and reflects on the country's fractious culture war.And the skies above Lahore in Pakistan have been filled with thousands of kites, as the festival of Basant returned. It's the first time in two decades the celebrations have been allowed to go ahead - following a surprising spate of deaths. Caroline Davies joined generations of Lahoris in the celebrations.Producer: Serena Tarling Production coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie Hill Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Kate Adie introduces stories from Japan, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Poland and Pakistan.A snap election has given Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi the strongest majority for a Japanese government in more than 70 years, thanks to a growing fan-base among young voters. Shaimaa Khalil reports from Tokyo on growing cult around the country's first woman leader.The visit by the Prince of Wales to Saudi Arabia was among the most diplomatically sensitive of his official trips to date. While the focus was energy transition and improving prospects for young people, questions lingered over Saudi human rights, and controversies back home in the UK. Daniela Relph followed Prince William's visit.Uganda has been feeling the bite of international aid cuts, imposed by the likes of the UK, the EU, and notably by President Trump. The closure of the USAID agency has disrupted an array of relief projects, including those providing treatment for HIV-AIDS. Bel Trew met some of the people directly affected.An art exhibition in the Polish city of Gdansk has ignited a row over the country's role in World War Two. John Kampfner went to see the exhibit for himself and reflects on the country's fractious culture war.And the skies above Lahore in Pakistan have been filled with thousands of kites, as the festival of Basant returned. It's the first time in two decades the celebrations have been allowed to go ahead - following a surprising spate of deaths. Caroline Davies joined generations of Lahoris in the celebrations.Producer: Serena Tarling Production coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie Hill Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

Kate Adie introduces stories from Japan, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, Poland and Pakistan.A snap election has given Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi the strongest majority for a Japanese government in more than 70 years, thanks to a growing fan-base among young voters. Shaimaa Khalil reports from Tokyo on growing cult around the country's first woman leader.The visit by the Prince of Wales to Saudi Arabia was among the most diplomatically sensitive of his official trips to date. While the focus was energy transition and improving prospects for young people, questions lingered over Saudi human rights, and controversies back home in the UK. Daniela Relph followed Prince William's visit.Uganda has been feeling the bite of international aid cuts, imposed by the likes of the UK, the EU, and notably by President Trump. The closure of the USAID agency has disrupted an array of relief projects, including those providing treatment for HIV-AIDS. Bel Trew met some of the people directly affected.An art exhibition in the Polish city of Gdansk has ignited a row over the country's role in World War Two. John Kampfner went to see the exhibit for himself and reflects on the country's fractious culture war.And the skies above Lahore in Pakistan have been filled with thousands of kites, as the festival of Basant returned. It's the first time in two decades the celebrations have been allowed to go ahead - following a surprising spate of deaths. Caroline Davies joined generations of Lahoris in the celebrations.Producer: Serena Tarling Production coordinators: Katie Morrison and Sophie Hill Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith

We return to North Dakota to see whether the combined power of Jesus and Kristen Stewart can steal the crown from Monster Trucks - but we also find out about strange DVD stores in Tokyo that definitely don't have footage of Will looking at tentacle porn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're joined by Olympic fencer Nick Itkin who has two Olympic medals from both the Tokyo and Paris games. We talk what it's like to be on the Olympic stage, what the Olympic Village is actually like, his experience as a Nike athlete, walking the runway for Peter Do at NYFW, his new Retail Therapy-dubbed nickname "The Hitman," and more.Subscribe to the newsletter: retailpod.substack.com willdefries.substack.com Shop the Sunday Scaries Scented Candles: www.vellabox.com/sundayscariesWatch all Retail Therapy episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/sundayscariespodcastSupport This Week's SponsorsCash App: For a limited time, new Cash App customers can earn $10 if they use code FAMILY10 in their profile at signup and send $5 to a friend within 14 days. Terms apply.Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/xq5te9ht #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App's bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Direct deposit and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.Follow AlongRetail Therapy on Instagram: www.instagram.com/retail.podWill deFries on Twitter: www.twitter.com/willdefriesWill deFries on Instagram: www.instagram.com/willdefries Barrett Dudley on Twitter: www.twitter.com/barrettdudleyBarrett Dudley on Instagram: www.instagram.com/barrettdudleySunday Scaries on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sundayscariesSunday Scaries on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sunday.scaries

Tokyo, 2020: After what should've been a typical reality TV dispute, a 22 year old cast member of the hit dating show Terrace House has just been discovered dead. Leading to the most recent season being scrubbed from the internet overnight. Her name was Hana Kimura. Terrace House was heartwarming, gentle and provided a level of calmness rarely seen in reality TV today. Only, what appeared on screen, wasn't the reality contestants faced behind it. Resources:Body & Soul - https://bodyandsoulcharity.org/ Remember Hana - https://rememberhana.com/en/home-english-2/ https://linktr.ee/eleanornealeresourcesSuicide Helplines:UKCanada USA GermanyNetherlandsComprehensive List of Suicide & Emergency Hotlines across the WorldWatch OUTLORE Podcast:https://www.youtube.com/@EleanorNealeFollow Me Here for Updates & Short Form Content:InstagramTikTok

London, Paris, maybe Tokyo, Hilary Duff is embarking on a global headlining tour… Plus, SNL announced the next host and musical supporting act for March! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heightmaxing, in a Tokyo hotel shower cubicle with the lads. AbroadInJapanPodcast@gmail.com for all your messages - do say hello! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.