I know I said I was going to do a season type format like Apoc D., but it just isn’t in the cards. I am currently working full time and finishing up the last of my pre-reqs for nursing school which starts next January. Here’s the deal though….

I’m leaving the website up. I’m leaving the feed active. I’m leaving all the old files up. Everything is going to stay just as it has for the last 3 years….. frozen in time. I may get a hair up my butt with some free time and change the look or update the database here or there but that’s all I see happening for now. My microphone and mixer are packed (poor excuse) but most importantly, I’M NOT IN JAPAN! I have no ideas for a show because I have nothing to stimulate any new ideas. I know what life is like in Japan from 3 years ago. Lots of things change (including my life). My wife isn’t into reliving her life back home because she wants to enjoy life here. I can understand that. But life here is also going to be temporary. The goal is for us to return as a family after I finish my RN degree and get my BSN. I want to work in the same hospital on the base in Yokosuka as I did before, but this time as a civilian.

This is the plan now, and we expect to be back home in about 4-5 years. Things change though. You never know what will happen, especially in the world we currently live in.

Me being a nurse is our only ticket to getting back to Japan right now. However, if some recruiting agent is looking for an American Paramedic to come to Japan for consulting…. or blogging about Japan, I’m available.

Take it easy, and we’ll talk later….

Mata-ne!

Josh

So, don’t expect the mess of a show that JiJ used to be. It’s going to be short, simple and to the point each and every week. I might introduce the “season” concept that ApocD has been talking about. It sounds good for lazy people like me.

That’s it for now, just thought I’d give a bit of an update.

Until next time, mata-ne

Anywhoo, if there is anyone still left reading this, the email was taken down for server purposes since I was never reading it. I’ll have a gmail email address set up soon as well as maybe reinstating the old @joshinjapan email once I start recording again.

I’m going to try and talk my wife into doing something with me but I’m not sure how well it will end up. I do know I miss podcasting and want to do something but am bone dry with ideas. I’m no longer in Japan, there are too many EMS podcasts, and entirely too many tech podcasts. I’ll come up with something.

I hope everyone is doing well, and if you ever want to meet up with me on the wii, go to the moon masters wii page and get my info and leave your info.

It’s kind of odd thinking that I should be discussing life in Japan when it’s been over a year since I’ve actually lived there. There are many more people who are way more qualified than myself to speak on the topic since I’m not there. True, I visit Japan every once in a while (including an upcoming trip next month) but that is far from making me an expert (even though I never was to begin with). The closest I come to Japan nowadays is playing pokemon on my Nintendo DS.

I would like to continue some sort of podcast but I’m not sure what the topic should be. I’ve thought of doing a podcast with my wife but that is pretty much not an option since she is so shy and wants nothing to do with podcasting. So, I don’t know…….. maybe I should give up on it all together. It’s not like when I started podcasting and there were so many options. There’s a podcast for everything now. All of my interests are more than well taken care of in the podcasting realm.

As for me, there’s been some updates…..

• I am fatter thanks to school.
• I’m done with school and am now a Florida Paramedic.
• I modded my Japanese Wii to be able to play US games.
• I stood in line for the iPhone on iDay.
• I’ve hacked my iPhone.

Exciting huh? Well, I’ll figure things out while I’m in Japan and get back to you on what the future will hold.

Thanks to everyone who has written and given me encouragement. Thanks to everyone for sticking with the feeds. Take care and talk to you soon.

Mata-ne!

I am still alive and running my butt off. I just started the second semester of paramedic school as well as working full time on an ambulance. The wife and kids will be arriving here in Florida in a month or so. Homework, apartment prep, clinicals, 48 hour work weeks, and trying to get a better paying job. Other than that I have all the time in the world.

I closed and deleted the forums due to the overwhelming porn spam. I can’t and don’t want to keep up with all of it so bye bye it went. I’m also going to delete the josh in japan email address because of the 100+ spams I get per day. Again, the give o’ shite meter for the email has gone down to 0 when it comes to email clean-up. In the future I’ll set up a gmail account for the podcast when it gets it’s feet again.

I want to finally say thank you to the 1400 odd people who are still staying subscribed to the feeds. You are the “man/woman”.
Take care guys and talk to you again in the undetermined future.

Mata-ne!

We introduced a new segment called “Places in Japan”. This week we focused on Tokushima which is in the Shikoku region of Japan. Pretty interesting stuff.

As always, don’t forget to email your questions or comments to josh \at\ joshinjapan.com. Also, hit up the forums when you have some free time to spare.

Until next week,

mata-ne!

For iPod owners, go HERE for the new Josh in Japan AAC Podcast feed.

For non-iPod owners or those who don’t want to switch, you can still keep subscribing to the feed you have right now.

I know that some might be skeptical about the podcast now that I’m in Florida, but please don’t worry. I’m still just as tuned in to what’s going on in Japan as I was before I left. Now that I am only a student, you might even say that I have more time to keep up on all things Japan.

Episode #41 is more feedback. I have one, maybe two shows of just pure feedback left before we can start doing more interesting things with the show. I made new segment intros since I have so much more functionality with the new computer.

Enough of my rambling. Let’s get on with the show.

Mata-ne!

For iPod owners, go HERE for the new Josh in Japan AAC Podcast feed.
For non-iPod owners or those who don’t want to switch, you can still keep subscribing to the feed you have right now.

Princess Kiko gives birth to boy

Princess Kiko gave birth to a boy on Wednesday morning. (Mainichi file photo)

Prince Akishino heads toward the Aiiku Hospital in Tokyo’s Minato-ku on Wednesday morning. (Pool photo)

Princess Kiko gave birth to a baby boy Wednesday morning at the Aiiku Hospital in Tokyo, the Imperial Household Agency said.

The boy was born at 8:27 a.m. and weighed 2,558 grams.

He was in good health, according to the agency.

Princess Kiko, 39, gave birth by Caesarean section, the first in the history of the Imperial Family. Princess Kiko’s procedure was completed successfully just after 9 a.m., the agency said.

The birth is the first male to have been born into the Imperial Family since his father, Prince Akishino, 41 years ago. The child becomes third in line to succeed the Imperial Throne, behind Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino.

Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko’s boy is their first child in 12 years. They have two daughters, Princess Mako, 14, and Princess Kako, 12. Their son is the first grandson for Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko. Their other grandchild is Princess Aiko, the daughter of Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako. (Mainichi)

So, I should be getting shows out within the next week or two. Talk with you soon.

-Josh

For iPod owners, go HERE for the new Josh in Japan AAC Podcast feed.

For non-iPod owners or those who don’t want to switch, you can still keep subscribing to the feed you have right now.

the blingo button on the right hand side of the blog takes you to a google search within their website. with each search you do through their google box, you have a chance to win prizes. just thought it was something cool that i’d bring up with ya’ll.

as for the family and i, we’ve moved to obachan’s house while we’re waiting on my paperwork to clear back in Yokosuka. the further away i can get from the base the better. lately i’ve had a bad taste for base…. you guys know what i’m saying.

the other day while in yokosuka however there were some odd things going on that i wanted to mention. we were driving to コジマ でんき and noticed that there was a very, very large population of yakuza very close to our house. normally you never see even one yakuza around our area, but that day, it was like the entire household was in our neighborhood. license plates from all over kanto. it was kinda odd. it must have been some sort of meet up.

then 3 minutes later once getting on the highway, we noticed policemen on every block with their 1.5 meter nightsticks, riot shields lying on the ground and rolling baracades. at each large intersection, there was a paddywagon bus that i’ve described before. at each of those paddywagon busses, there was an accordian baracade like you see when in tokyo at the US embassy. when we got to kojima, i had the wife go ask the cop standing at the corner what the police were for because there was just too much police for the group of yakuza that was concentrated close to our house.

my wife was holding the youngest daughter when she asked the cop for info. he gave her a scowel and said it was a protest about the upcoming deployment of a nuclear carrier and about the upcoming realignment of US forces (even though Yokosuka is not going to be affected in any with with the realignments). they were expecting about 20,000 people to attend. it was all peaceful of course, but still that’s a hell of alot of people.

and about this whole nuclear carrier controversy. i honestly see the protesting about it as just something for older people to have to bitch about. the carrier in question is the george washington which will be stationed here towards the end of next year when the kitty hawk goes back for decomissioning. those protesting have no footing in my opinion about how dangerous it will be for the environment. if they knew anything about how much pollution the KHK puts out every day inport and especially when pulling out, they would beg for a non-polluting alternative like a CVN (designator for a nuclear carrier). they have no clue how many nuclear submarines visit the base each and every month (we do house the commander for sub group seven on base). there have been numerous studies done upon the US side of the base measuring radiation, and many times when a US nuclear sub pulls in, a JN coast guard boat stays close by at all times to monitor any lost radiation. surprisingly, there is none. all nuclear propelled ships are designed to contain themselves should a meltdown occur. i never went to nuc school, but it is common sense. this isn’t an arguemet about weapons since we house nothing nuclear here. it’s all about the tiny reactor on the GW that will be permanently housed here. and ya know what, japan has a nuclear power plant no more than 20 miles away in kannonzaki. i don’t see any protests about it or any of the other numerous nuclear power plants that are scattered around this country.

i’m sorry if i sound aggitated, but the media here has shined such a bad light on us military here since the relocation plans were thrown up. the media is complaining that the GOJ spends more on the US military in japan than on the entire SDF. there’s a reason for that. it’s because we are the only protective entity here. Japan’s SDF role is purely inland defense. the US military role is projected defense of japan as well as holding all offensive duties in case japan is attacked. we have to maintain personnel and that takes housing, healthcare, food and morale establishments because unlike SDF troops who all live close to their bases and rotate far less freuent than US troops, we have to maintain our troops and their families within the base’s structure. The vast majority of families on US installations are all american (no japanese spouse like myself). i can fend for myself on the local economy because I have been taught to do so by a native, they on the other hand can not. i can read japanese, they can not. i speak some japanese, they can not. it is a novelty for many families just to leave the base for a couple hours because they are not equipped with the ability to live off the economy. they have no choice but to reside on base and consume US goods because that’s all they know. the media was bitching about resturaunts and bowling alleys and movie theaters on base. americans who can’t live off the economy need these things. happy people are productive people. the SDF needs none of this because this is their country. they can go to a movie after work anywhere they choose. they can go to any hospital they choose. they can get drunk at any establishment they choose. americans can’t. you all get my point. i’m just upset at the media’s portrayal of how we are a waste of japanese money. without us here, japan just wouldn’t have the defensive capabilities they need to be the economic superpower they are. MY OPINION! ALL MY OPINION! IT’S ALL HERESAY BECAUSE IT’S………MY OPINION!
it’s 0230 so you can tell by the typos (edit: which i fixed… i think) that it’s time for me to go. don’t forget to check out bilngo….

ja-mata!

I play some great promos:

Mignon from Absolute Science talks about pickle people…

The man himself, J.C. Hutchins Talks about his new partnership with the Share the Pain contest…

I also discuss some upcoming events with the family and I so please be sure to listen until the end so you don’t miss what’s going to happen with my family, myself, and the show.

For the last time from 日本,

Mata-Ne!

I cover a ton of emails, and barely scratch the surface of going over all the feedback I received while I was gone. I let everyone know what was happening with the family and I, and why I was absent from their MP3 players.

どうもありがとうございました to everyone who stayed subscribed to the show, and again to everyone who helped put me in the Podcast Pickle Hall of Fame!

Promos this week are from Barely of the Barely Podcasting Podcast, and from Steve and Maureen of the Wicked Good Podcast.

So, thanks again, and until the next time,

Mata-Ne!

Buy lunch and a magazine at any Japanese convenience store, and you’re likely to get your drink in one plastic bag, hot lunch box in another, and your magazine in yet a third.

The mega-packaging keeps your food hot, your drink cool and your newspaper clean, but environmentalists say it also creates a mountain of plastic waste that fouls the air, pollutes the oceans and contributes to global warming.

The world uses between 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags a year, according to the advocacy Web site, reusablebags.com. Wrapping-happy Japan is a major player, consuming some 30 billion — about 300 for each adult.

Those figures don’t include the tons of extra wrapping — individual plastic covers for shirts from the cleaners, tiny packages for single cookies — used in Japan, experts say, suggesting the country is among the world’s premier consumers of plastic sheet.

“Japan probably uses more plastic than most societies in the world,” said Hideki Nakahashi, a spokesman at the Japan Polyolefin Film Industry Trade Association.

Facing criticism from environmentalists, Japan is now trying to reduce plastic use with a law revision that lets the government issue warnings to retailers that don’t do enough to reduce, reuse and recycle.

The revised law was approved by Parliament Friday. But for a country famous for elaborate wrapping, cutting back will be an uphill task.

“We consider wrapping a part of the product,” said Shinji Shimamura, a spokesman for the Japan Franchise Association, which represents over 125 franchise chains in Japan.

“Of course it’s good to cut down on plastic bag use,” Shimamura said. “But we can’t hand customers a hot lunch box or cold ice cream without a bag. That would be unhygienic and very rude.”

Still, wrapping habits in Japan border on the excessive. Some fruit stores even wrap each apple or banana in plastic. And when purchased, all they all go in yet another plastic shopping bag.

The impulse to wrap may stem from Japan’s traditional attitudes toward gift-giving, which is geared to presentation more than content. The layering of wrapping also has important social meaning — more wrapping means more politeness and formality.

And the bags are so cheap that shops don’t have the incentive to reduce or recycle, analysts say.

Some retailers have taken the initiative to cut back even before the revised law comes into effect in 2007.

Lawson, Inc., a convenience store chain with almost 8,400 stores in Japan and sales of over 130 billion yen in 2005, launched a monthlong campaign in June urging customers to make do with fewer bags.

“We’re asking people who buy only one bottled soft drink or one packet of gum whether they don’t mind going without a plastic bag,” said Lawson spokesman Shin Nakamura.

But a lot of people want the bag, he says.

“If it’s a can of hot drink, for example, customers don’t want to carry it in their hand,” he said

That convenience is bad news for the environment, said Yoshitaka Fukuoka, a professor of environmental science at Tokyo’s Rissho University.

Plastic bags waste valuable oil resources and the energy it takes to produce them contributes to global warming. Some can release harmful toxins when burned, and many end up in the sea and can kill sea turtles and other marine animals that mistake them for food.

Moreover, Fukuoka says the revised law — with only a system of warnings, with no legal liabilities — doesn’t go far enough.

“Stores must be forced to charge for bags. That’s the only way Japanese consumers can be persuaded to cut down on the plastic bags they use,” Fukuoka said.

Germany, for example, saw plastic bag use fall by 70 percent after the government introduced a small levy in 2002. Similar strategies have been successfully employed in Ireland, South Africa, Bangladesh, Australia, Shanghai and Taiwan.

The Environment Ministry, however, argues the revision is a step in the right direction.

“The law is about raising awareness and a sense of responsibility,” said Yoichi Horigome, an official at the ministry’s recycling policy bureau. “We expect retailers to be very cooperative.”

The ministry is also suggesting more traditional and ecological alternatives to plastic. It recently launched a campaign to revive the traditional “furoshiki,” a piece of fabric for carrying things by simply wrapping them.

“Japanese weren’t always so wasteful,” Horigome said. “We once led more environmentally friendly lifestyles. I think we can draw on that.” (AP)

June 11, 2006

Thanks for being patient, and sticking with me. Hopefully you’ll hear a new show soon.

read more | digg story

Today I made it into the HALL OF FAME at podcast pickle. Your votes put me at the #1 position for 12 consecutive weeks. For being at that top spot for 12 weeks, Josh in Japan gets placed in a permanent place of infamy in the HALL OF FAME.

DOMO ARIGATOU GOZAIMASHITA!

Click here for the original Japanese story

May 14, 2006

I have a lot of family and personal obligations that have been falling behind lately, so until everything is taken care of, I’ll be taking a leave of absence. This is not an announcement of me quitting. I AM NOT POD-FADING! I am just cleaning up my homework backlog, and family issues. As always, the family comes first and foremost.

The podcast will stay as it is, just not weekly produced until I’m caught up with everything. When I get a chance, I will put out an episoide, but as all hobbies go (as this is a hobby since i’m getting no money), the priority drops when other situations arise.

So, to summarize, DO NOT UNSUBSCRIBE… for all I know, I could be done next week and be back in front of the mic. Josh in Japan is not going anywhere, just taking a little bit of a break.

I’ll still be checking email occasionally so feel free to drop me a line whenever you like. Take care, and see you all soon.

mata-ne,

Josh

We go over what to do when it’s time to pack a lunch, where to buy kitchen stuff, and how you can either stay healthy or get fat while in Japan.

There’s also a lot of news I put out about the show since I haven’t been behind the mic for two weeks. I want to say thanks to everyone who has stuck with the show, and please stand by for a feedback show (hopefully this week).

Intro this week is from the C-Dogg himself of the PMC Top Ten. This week’s promo is from the author of the new hit podcast novel 7th Son, J.C. Hutchins.

As always, please hit me up on the forums or email me with any questions or comments you may have. That’s it for now, so until next time,

mata-ne!

Lots of adventures, trials and tribulations. I talk a lot about my second favorite place on the vacation, and give you an insider’s view of Universal Studios Japan.

You also get to see what kind of fun my family and I had in Kyoto. It was amazing…..

That’s it for now. Enjoy the show, and don’t forget to visit the vacation picture gallery, and the FORUMS. Until next time,

mata-ne!

I started to record the entire show, and was only 1/2 way done and was already at 1 hour and 16 minutes. So, to set a precedent with josh in japan, we made this a 2 part series. I feel like i’m in a sitcom now…..

We welcome back some of the old Josh in Japan favorites that everyone’s been asking for. I’m happy since it’s more comfortable (and fun) to record with some of the old content!

Stay tuned for next week’s episode for the conclusion to the cliff hanger you find at the end of this show (uh huh).

So, thanks for sticking with me, and i’ll see you all soon. Until then,

mata-ne!

Thanks,

Josh

This is Josh from the Josh in Japan Podcast. Recently I was informed by a person named MEL K. DIXON of Tokyo that he (or she) was using my Podcast in their English class for secondary education students here in Japan. MEL emailed me to let me know that he was not concerned with the quality or topic of my show but more concerned that I would quit podcasting for good. Mel implored me to keep podcasting so as not to loose the free resource that he (or she) was using in their class. Not only is Mel using my Podcast as lesson material in his class here in Tokyo, but informed me that there are other branches of this secondary education facility where the instructors are using my Podcast as a learning tool. These branches are located in the areas of Okinawa, Sendai, and two in Fukushima, as well as Mel’s facility in Tokyo. Mel was reluctant to inform me which school or university he (or she) works for. There’s a reason for Mel’s defiant stance to not letting me know what the name of this school was. His (or her) use of my Podcast along with the other teachers and the school as a whole is illegal without my consent (or prior knowledge) to make money off of their students. These Japanese students pay money to attend the English classes in question. My podcast is played for the students, and they are in turn instructed to find different types of grammatical errors within the show. This is the same as using a text book or English instruction tape as a classroom aide. The only difference is that no one gained permission from me in advance to use my podcast as a teaching aid with no reimbursement. I was notified that this was happening only because one of the instructors using this free teaching aid (MEL) was worried that they would no longer have material if I quit podcasting. I am only concerned that after this message, the school in question just picks another un-consenting and uninformed Podcaster to use in the same fashion I was used. I was going to give the school in question an offer to avoid any reimbursement for past illegal use of my Podcast. Unfortunately, Mel decided to cover his or her self by not naming the school in question. If only Mel had told me, I would have never mentioned his or her to the thousands of Josh in Japan listeners. If anyone knows the name of the school in question, please contact me at josh (at) joshinjapan.com with any information you may have. I have absolutely NO PROBLEM (REPEAT NO PROBLEM) with people using my Podcast for whatever they want as long as there is no money made for using my Podcast, and no one is trying to defame my character. People can use my Podcast on an individual basis for learning English, learning how not to speak English, learning about Japan, or whatever they want. It is in fact very rude, disrespectful and most importantly, illegal for a person, or organization to use a podcast to make money without that podcast owner’s knowledge or consent. So in summary, MEL K. DIXON was concerned that he (or she) would have to start paying for a new learning aid for his English class if I quit podcasting. This in turn informed me that someone (actually a whole school spread throughout Japan) was using my podcast to make money without my prior knowledge, consent or offer of reimbursement. Using a podcast or any other type of creative art to make money without the owner’s consent is a very obvious and flagrant violation of international copyright laws. My podcasts are all marked with “copyright 2006, joshinjapan.com”. It does not get clearer than that. If anyone has any information on which school MEL K. DIXON or his associates work for, I would greatly appreciate it. Please email josh (at) joshinjapan.com. You will stay completely anonymous. Thank you for your attention, and I now return you to your previously scheduled podcast.

the links for all the shows throughout the blog are all fixed. all shows from anytime before this moment are located on the joshinjapan.com servers. everything after this point will be stored on the libsyn servers. thanks for the patience everyone!

-josh

-josh

http://www.joshinjapan.com/images/hiroshima

I put everything up (excluding the family ones) for you to see. Please take a look and let me know what you think. Thanks, and see you this weekend.

-Josh

A) broken, and not able to be fixed, or

B) taken down without any advanced warning because of over use.

i have relied on a very faithful and extremely helpful listener in the past to host these hefty files, and i’m not sure what the future holds in store for it all. until then, if you’re looking for any of the previous podcasts, you can cut and paste the following link into your browsers (replacing XX for show number i.e. 01, 02, 30, 31, etc…)

http://www.joshinjapan.com/podcasts/josh_in_japan_XX.mp3

sorry once again for the problems. it appears that the man is trying to keep me down and out when it comes to podcasting, or anything else for that matter. thanks and i’ll see y’all this weekend when/if i can get the show about our recent vacation out.

we should be back by thursday, and hopefully i’ll be able to get a show out detailing our journeys next weekend. so, thanks for sticking in there with us, and i should have some pretty good stories to tell when i get back. i’m going to make sure i jot down notes on everything i want to remember for the show on my handheld. so, until next weekend,

mata-ne!

Gift giving in Japan is a very rich tradition, and if you want to live as a purposeful member of the Japanese society, you’ll need to know the rules to gift giving. The wife and I pored over this topic for over an hour just to give you the most accurate info possible. As always, nothing is all inclusive, but we believe that this should be of a big help should you decide to live here.

As always, visit the FORUMS to discuss this topic, or anything else you want to talk about.

Music this week is a song called WALK by John Consalvo.

Until next time,

mata-ne!

I go over all the different types of visas, and how to obtain them.

We also discuss the weekend that my family and I had. Much fun and excitement was had by all. Below are some pictures of two of the places discussed in the podcast. Ironically enough, they are only steps away from each other. So, that’s all for now. Enjoy the podcast, and until next time,

mata-ne!

Behold….. the ipot!

http://keywords.oxus.net/archives/2005/04/13/ipot-blendie/

Well, here’s the second part of the bargain that I agreed to. The much anticipated FEEDBACK SHOW…… ok, well, the almost anticipated feedback show. Either way, here it is.

So, for the first time since I started podcasting, I have a show for everyone on a Tuesday (2 days after making a previous show). Maybe I should save this and let the excitement grow. Well, maybe not. Anyways, on to the show….

I just thought i’d write and let you all know that there’s a new promo for the podcast. If you go to http://www.joshinjapan.com/podcasts and then click on joshinjapanpromo2.mp3, you’ll find it.

Thanks for all the support as always. I don’t think this promo is as good as the first, but hey. No one’s perfect.

Mata-ne!

Josh

This week’s show is all about Amusement Parks. Who in their right mind doesn’t love going to an amusement park with their family? I cover everything from Tokyo Disney Land to the abandoned amusement parks you may find littering the Japnese woodlands.

So, I switched up the show format a bit and decided to go with the majority on the survey who wanted a topic related show during the weekend and a feedback related show when I can find the time. This should work out for everyone involved. If however you feel that the changes aren’t so good, please let me know by posting your opinions on the forums.

Enjoy the new simplified show format, and I’ll talk with you soon…..

Mata-ne!

I’m asking your opinion of this because it is your show. Please vote, and let me know what we should do about this. I am dedicated on presenting you all with the information that you want to hear about. Unfortunately, I can’t do it as it’s set up for much longer.

I want to continue this exciting podcast experience, but need your input. Please vote, and discuss your reasons (if you want) on the Forums. Please try not to email me with your comments, but leave them on the forum for all to see. With some collective reasoning, we can make this show better!

Thanks as always for your continued support and attention!

mata-ne!

Josh

I haven’t done one of these in a while, and decided to go for it since I was having such a difficult time figuring out what this week’s topic would be about. I talk about all kinds of stuff ranging from futons to dog poop. It’s the best show to date by far….. well, maybe second best…… well, nevermind.

I also get some awesome emails, and one of them takes me down a very morbid discussion. You will be sure to have a couple new sights to visit for your next trip after hearning what I have to say!

Promos this week came to us from Today in Podcasting (again… it’s a good show!), and from Me and the Bean.

Music as always was provided to us from Tom Shad. Podcasters, you must go talk to Tom if you need great music that’ll fit your show!

So, until next time,

mata ne!

Here is the correct link to EPISODE #30. I changed it in the original post as well. Sorry, but hey, only one screw up for 2:00 A.M. isn’t bad!

We talk about how Japanese poeple “diet”, and how the food choices you make while in Japan will have a direct impact on how you feel. The myth about all Japanese food being good for you is discussed. Also, we talk about the different health fads that they have here in Japan just like they do in the states. Unless you think that vinegar pills do make you younger…..

Well, I finally got a show out. Be it, 1am on a Monday. I couldn’t let 2 weeks go by without giving you awesome listeners something to, well, listen to….

My wonderful, very large paperweight sitting on my desk decided to go blue and shut down on me again, so of course, I rant about that for a bit as well.

The intro music as well as the outtro you heard was from a man named Tom Shad. He’s an awesome musician! You can check out his work at the following links:

• http://www.myspace.com/tomshad1
• http://www.myspace.com/tomshadsoundtrack
• http://www.tomshad.com
• http://www.shadsongs.com

Promos this week were from Today in Podcasting amd from All Axis Radio.

That’s it for this week. Don’t forget to hit me up on myspace or on my forums when you get a chance.

Until next time,

Mata-ne!

I’ll be sure to catch up with you all next week though.

Thanks,

Josh

If you’ve ever wanted to know when to visit Hokkaido, I’ll be sure to tell you. That, and you’ll be sure to figure out what my least favorite season in Japan is. Be sure to keep your umbrellas handy because you never know when the rain will come.

Promos this week came from Systris of the Triscast, and from the Dismay podcast.

This week’s music is a song called Interlude by Shotgun No Blitz.

Links discussed this week were the blog from Toesan where he is plannin gon summarizing all of the Josh in Japan shows into text: http://www.2san.nl

Also listed is the asahi beer robot story on gizmodo.

Don’t forget guys, you have a right to demand your Valentine’s Day gifts from the woman in your life!

So, until next time,

mata-ne!

I wanted to wait until the wife and I could go out and reminisce about our dating days, but with 2 kids it’s impossible to get more than an hour away. So, instead of recent firsthand experience, I talk about what it was like when I was out and about as a single lad here in Japan.

I also had a casualty this weekend. The computer decided to crap out, and windows left me with a nice blue screen of death. I saved almost everything but emails. If you and I were in communications about something, please re-send me that info so I’m not totally in the dark.

Promos this week were from Radio A.d.d. and from eBlo the Weblog and Podcast .

Music was a song called Blues be Gone by a man named Tulei .

So, until next time,

mate-ne!

My email has piled up once again after taking almost 2 weeks off. Other than that, I give a brief interpretation of the results of the Podtrac Survey. Lots of interesting stuff learned…. The show is too long, I ramble too much, and my wife needs to be more present within the show. Changes will occur, but baby steps are needed so I don’t trip up too hard.

Next week will be a topic, and I will try my damndest to keep it under an hour. I did make it close this week with a total of right at 1 hour and 6 minutes.

Promos this week came from Cinema Slave and from The Cult of UHF.

Music submitted this week is a song called “Mind Control” by HK.Daijobou who is a member of the band Lifeless Animation.

As always, don’t forget to hit up the FORUMS to ask any question you may have.

So, until next time,

mata-ne!

I discussed this on the cell phone episode #8 and now it’s reality!

Mobile phones become train tickets East Japan Railway Company has begun a service that allows passengers to pass through ticket gates by simply swiping their IC-chip-embedded cellphones at turnstiles in train stations.The service began on Saturday in Tokyo and two other cities. A cellphone containing a special IC chip can be used as a ticket or as a commuter pass. The train fares are automatically deducted from the owner’s bank account. A rail user wanting to use the system must first sign up for a JR East credit card and download software from JR East’s website. The credit card can then be used to transfer credit to the cellphone for rail journeys and to pay for other services.

just not enough time in the day today to get a show out. we had a birthday party to go to this evening so that left even less time to do the 6 or so hours of production needed.

sorry again, but please keep the questions and comments flowing!

mata-ne!

I discuss many different parts of the Japanese National Healthcare System from normal checkups to ambulance services, to normal inpatient hospital stays.

If you’re new to Japan, you need to know some of this info if planning on staying a while.

Promos this week came to us from Of Rice and Zen, and from Jpop Blast.

Music this week is a song called Ten in the Pen by a band called Minus Vince from California.

As always visit me on the FORUMS, check out the MYSPACE, and most importantly, the FRAPPR MAP!
So, until next time,

mata-ne!

I discuss all kinds of questions posed to me over the last few weeks. Everything from food basics once again to the outcome of the Hide Museum, to how to respond to a drunken Japanese man spewing profanities.

I also discuss a little more about myself, and also discuss a little bit of local news and how I am thoroughly disappointed in a few of my fellow Americans.

I want to apologize for taking a week off, but it’s all for the best. This way, we have lots of cool listener emails that provide much more than a topic at times.

Many thanks to all who donated to the paypal button, and to those who have completed the survey. Both provide me with much help to continue this adventure.

Please don’t forget to re-add me to your favorites at the podcast pickle. Also, we now have the frappr map, as well as the Josh in Japan myspace. Check them both out!
Promos this week came from Pod2Peer, and from Audio Collective.

Music provided this week was the song “sound scientist” by bill.

So, until next time,

mata-ne!

pointless japanese info: did you know that there is a person who during the winter will walk around the neighborhood in the evenings clacking 2 dry pieces of wood together? well, there is, and do you know why they do it?

dry wood burns very easily, and makes a very loud, high pitched sound when hit together. the high pitched clacks lets everyone know how dry the air is, and to be extra cautious with their floor heaters. interesting huh? see you all next week….

mata-ne!

Happy New Year!

mata-ne!

The 10 things you never want to see in Japan, but probably will……..

good for a laugh.

We also discuss mannerisms, and how people here in Japan are polite, but not in the way we think of it as gaijins. Many many things are discussed, and we go a into a little bit of a tangent for a while, but it’s all fun. Nothing too boring, and plenty of information to go along for those knowledge hungry folks out there.

We also bring back (on probation) the “Japanese Phrase of the Week”. We’ll see how it goes and take it from there.

Promos this week came from Podgy’s Tokyo Talk, and from the much anticipated Podcast Christmas Carol.

Music provided this week was “Christmas in the Sun” by Joel Kopischke.

Josh in Japan Listener Survey
Please fill out the survey when you get 5 free minutes. It would be very helpful!

mata-ne!

***This episode of Josh in Japan is brought to you by TOKYO ARCHITECTURE***

We talk about all kinds of relaxation techniques from what the typical person does every day, to how they plan their trips to include a relaxing getaway.

We also find a way to burn $3,000 in one fowl swoop.

Music this week came from American Heartbreak.

Be sure to visit the FORUMS so you can discuss everything related to Japan.

So, until next time,

mata-ne!

***This episode of Josh in Japan is brought to you by TOKYO ARCHITECTURE***

Learn all about rice cakes unlike you know them, the Japanese version of Rockin’ New Years Eve, and most importantly, where to go to get caught in a line of tens of thousands of people….

I apologize for the delay in getting the show out (once again). Sometimes work comes first.

As discussed in the episode, here is the infamous かどまつ (kadomatsu)…

This Episode of Josh in Japan sponsored by Tokyo Architecture

until next time,

mata-ne!

Learn about how serious the paid firefighters are about their jobs, and how non-serious the volunteers are. Learn how the ambulance system works, and how if you need a burn center, you might end up at a children’s hospital.

Lots of interesting and serious items are discussed. This is a not to be missed show for those seriously thinking of living here full time. Well, not too serious, but about as far as I can take it.

I apologize for missing a week, but you’ll find out why if you read below, or look over at the forums.

Josh in Japan is now sponsored by TokyoArchitecture.info. Check them out for all of your Japanese Metro architecture desires.

Most importantly though, THE DOG IS BACK!

Promos this week come to us from Corby at “The Twisted Pickle”, and Nate and Di from “The Nate and Di Show”. Both filled my ears with listening pleasure for 30 hours this last week.

Don’t forget to find me over on the FORUMS!!!

Also, please check out the survey on the sidebar, or at the top of the forums. It would really help me out.

Until next time,

mata-ne!

no longer is it….

behold….

images taken this evening outside the local headquarters for global domination…. i mean, my old 7-11……

(i’m back BTW….. flying 16 hours is a royal pita)

josh

they are under the Sounds of Japan page located above….

enjoy!

jack, ya just squeezed in for the last comment! w00t! 300M? oops, my bust thanks for the clear up!

see you all on the forums!

josh

We go over each of the Japanese holidays, and discuss what to go do, and what to be careful of when visiting during discussed holidays.

Find out what podcast will be resulting from a trip I plan on taking this week, and help me find my dog! Oreo, where the hell are you?

Lots of stories this week from some awesome listeners, and a news story that makes no sense.

“Japanese Phrases of the Week”:

かっこいい = kakkoi = that’s cool
こわい = kowai = that’s scary
かわいい = kawaii = that’s cute

Promos this week come from my first and favorite podcast, Bibb and Yaz (no longer take over the world), and from another great podcast featured on the Podcast Pickle, Sturgeon’s Law.

Hit me up on the pickle, or if you want, you can write a review of Josh in Japan on Yahoo Podcasts, by visiting me on my Yahoo Podcasts Page.

Also, Please find a moment and fill out the podcasting survey I have going on. It’ll take 5 minutes of your time, and even though it’s a little more than just clicking a google ad, it will help me put together a paper to sell advertisers on the show….. which in turn will help me sound better…. which in turn will get you more entertainment…. which in turn will make you happier and more successful….

mata-ne

I’m not a big fight fan, but some of the fights they do have are pretty cool. They talk up some really crappy fighters, and it’s always fun to watch them fight other crappy fighters. It’s like a bunch of school girls in a slap fest…..

I apologize first off for putting the show up so late. I have just had a very busy weekend, and just have not had the time until now to put anything together. It was all ready to be recorded, I just needed mic time.

I went off show format a bit this week, but I am just a nut about Japanese History, and I love the way the Imperial Family has had everything to do with the development of this country up until the 1950’s! I know it’s not the most exciting show you’ll hear, but it’s a little informative to those who don’t have much knowledge about the history of Japan.

If you have the money, I would highly suggest you get a “Podcast Art Calendar” made by the famous Len from JawBone Radio

“Japanese Phrases of the Week” go back to the basic of the basics this week…..

good morning = ohayo gozaimasu = おはよございます
hello (daytime) = konnichiwa = こんにちわ
good evening = konbanwa = こんばんわ

Promos provided by The Weekly Anime Review Podcast, and by The PodDog Show with Daryl and Kuma

Music provided by Mattias of Warner Music Sweden. The song “Live Tomorrow” from the self titled album by Laleh

That’s it for this week. Sorry again about the late posting! You all know how to reach me…

Until next time,

mata-ne!

We received some excellent questions that I just thought should be included. I already had a topic lined up, but the emails started stacking so high, and they were all such great questions and observations that the topic had to be set aside for a week.

Thanks to everyone who emailed me. We covered alot….. including small toilets, small bus seats, and well, the homeless population…..

Also, some great observations, and some great stories from people who have spent some time in the land of the rising sun…..

Promos came from The Cinema Slave Podcast, and from The Iron Dove Podcast.

Music comes from 6 Under Par, with the song “Bad Timing”……

Pimp the Pickle is in full swing this month! Visit the Podcast Pickle ’cause that’s where all the cool podcasters and listeners hang out!

Any questions, visit the Josh in Japan Forums and speak your mind. That, or email me at the address listed in the show.

Until next time,

mata-ne!

this weekend has been about the busiest weekend at work that i’ve seen in a long time. that and i’m sick with a touch of a cold/bronchitis……

i will also be catching up on some behind the scenes stuff that i’ve been procrastinating about for a while now….

please post on the forums, keep up the spirit of podcasting, and i will meet you all sometime late next week or weekend.

すみません！　ごめんねさい！

I let you know where and how to get a dog or cat, how much they will be, and what kind of weird and wacky stuff they have for sale here for pets. Make sure to listen closely because there’s something here that ben and jerry’s is missing out on!

We review the last couple weeks of Japanese lessons, and introduce the numbers 100; 1,000; 10,000; 100,000; 1,000,000 and so on. It gets a bit confusing since you’re all unable to see what i’m discussing, so I would suggest you visit here, for a visual representation.

Promos this week come to us from LD Planet, and from one of the podcasts on my ipod, Israelisms.

Music this week is the song “summertime” by Brother Love.

As always, please be sure to email me any questions or comments, but even better, leave me those messages on the forums!!!

So, until next time,

mata-ne!

It was a great discussion, and I had loads of fun! L was a great interviewer, and an even better post-production master! Wink

You can check out iron dove at http://www.irondove.com.

Thanks L!,

Josh

Hey dude… I should wait until the show is done I guess. but IKEA is not a rumor… I was on my way to Costco yesterday I saw it under construction. It may have been the distribution, but it was in Chiba ken like out past Disneyland. I saw the IKEA sign, and it’s really big, so liek I said it may be the dist. center. I thought I saw something about the first store being down south but I may be wrong. It’s on the IKEA site, and I can’t wait! I’m from SoCal.. we have a bunch of IKEA stores there. Anyway dude… it’s true.. supposed to be open in early 2006 sometime.

Josh

that’s right folks, it’s a rumor no more! IKEA IS COMING TO TOWN! (well, a town far away, but nevertheless, a town in japan)

The promos for this week were from The Closet Geek Show, and Quick Hitts

The Japanese lesson of the week is as follows:

to count any two digit number, do as i instructed you to do on the show (sorry there’s not much i can explain here. just listen to the show to find out).

As always, email me at josh[at]joshinjapan[dot]com or visit The Josh in Japan Forums…..

Music today provided by the group De La Vega. The song is “Let it Burn”. You can reach them at www.dlvmusic.com

so, as always, thanks for listening, and until next time,

mata-ne!

it was a good day overall. even though it was raining, it was just a lisht mist, and it was cool so that made it a little easier. we went with friends a-san, m-chan and k-chan (that how japanese bloggers describe their friends so as not to reveal identies…. i personally find it lame) so it was a bit more fun since there were two kids there…..

we got to studio park and walked in on a live show with waku waku san. he shows kids how to make interesting and fun toys out of stuff just lying around the house…. he’s on every day with the rest of the afternoon nhk gang. the purpose of his so is to teach kids to use everything they can to save refuse, and to understand that you don’t have to spend alot of money to have fun! i love this dude!

we then hopped right in line and waited 30 minutes for picture taking with wan wan. as we were waiting, i think i was more excited than my kid! it was pretty cool. he was as furry in person as he is his on TV.

we then went all throughout the NHK museum portion (not really the museum, but a mini version of it). we got to see all kinds of cool exhibits, and got to walk over all of the active sets where shows are being shot. we even got to walk over the set of the show “yoshitsune” which is one of the historical drama shows, as well as the set for one of the afternoon kids shows, “okasan toishyo”. it’s the show with lots of music and dancing. we weren’t supposed to take pics, but i turned my flash off and shot one pic from up above. i’ll post it once i break it sown from being 1.5mb…..

after that we went to a great hamburg shop (yes i spelled it like that since there’s no bun on the hamburger) called Gold Rush. We saw it on debyua one night and decided we had to go. I got a dish with 2 hamburg patties and cheeses with a baked potato all sitting in curry! damn was it good! (unfortunately, i’m still tasting it)…….

after that we made our way slowly back to shibuya eki to catch the kaitoku back home……. we were all reminiscing back to our single/dating/honeymooner days. pretty much back to the time before we had kids…… there was so much to look at in all the stores there in shibuya, but because of the stollers and crying, it makes it a bit more difficult to shop. especially in those tiny tiny stores….

well, that’s pretty much it….. i guess i’ll try to get the pics up tomorrow…..

mata-ne!

EDIT:the pics from nhk studio park are posted in the sights of japan tab up top…. or you can click here.

Promos this week included sounds from Podcast 411, Comedy4Cast, and Gabber Jaw.

The “Japanese Phrases of the Week” have been changed to “Japanese Easy as Hell Lessons for the Week”

いち = ichi = one
に = ni = two
さん = san = three
よん or　し =yon or shi = four
ご = go = five
ろく = roku = six
なな = nana = seven
はち = hachi = eight
きゅ　= kyu = nine
じゅ = jyu = ten

Intro music provided by Cedric of POPmo

As always, visit the Forums and let me know how you feel!

until next time,

mata-ne!

but the main reason i’m posting is because i noticed something a little strange…..

when we go shopping for groceries, we’ll usually go to the commissary on base and get all of the american food we need, then we’ll go to the Japanese grocery store for all of the Japanese food and veggies we need…..

well, today was a rainy misty day all day (and i had to ride my scooter home in it which sucked!)…. and the commissary was packed! busy as all get out. it isn’t payday, and there’s no holiday coming up. just a normal wednesday afternoon/evening….

and then the Japanese store which is usually packed by the time we got there was dead. practically no one was there….

point being….. why do americans all go out in hordes to grocery shop when it is raining, but the Japanese who go shopping daily for groceries all stay home? you would think that the americans who shop once a week would be in their houses, and the Japanese who shop daily would pay no attention to the rain…..

my wife told me that they’ll check the weather the day before, and if it’s going to rain, they’ll stock up and buy two days worth of groceries…. that or just eat whatever they have at the house….

this isn’t coincidence, but something that i noticed long ago before i had the blog or show….

just something to ponder.

that and i was picked to be a moderator at the podcast pickle forums today.

i have been spending all of my time there at the pickle since my previous podcasting home started allowing white supremecists to list their podcasts as well as promote their shows of hate on the forums….

that and now they have a “childlove” podcast listed there, and also are allowing the makes of that show to post their views of filth all over the forums….. yet you are no longer allowed to use cuss words on those forums…..

odd huh?

i will no longer promote or talk about the other podcasting directory since there is no need for my awesome listeners to have to see that filth! that’s not what podcasting is about!

so….. josh in japan is now all about the PODCAST PICKLE!

if you ever get the time, i would highly suggest you go there, and add me to your favorites….. you can get there by clicking on the podcast pickle button at the top of my blog…. add me to your favorites and that’s it. no monthly voting, not pestering for votes….

any comments, please let me know by visiting my new forums at http://www.joshinjapan.com/forums…

so, until next time,

mata-ne!

actually, i probably surpassed 1000 listeners a couple weeks ago since feedburner is always a conservative number, but i just wanted to say….

THANK YOU!

even though it will most likely fluctuate below and above 1k for a week or two, it can only get better as time goes on!

mata-ne!

josh

I focus on crime, police, and the legal system a bit. Many emails read, busy week overall!

Make sure to visit the forums, drop a line and let me know how you feel about the show!

Props go out to Steve Friess, the writer who published my show in his Wired.com news story about podcasting!

Promos this week were from Reaching for Lucidity, and Bill Grady’s “You are the Guest”

The “Japanese Phrases of the Week” are as follows:

おあいそおねがいします = oaiso onegaishimasu = bill please (do me a favor and please bring the bill) relating to when you’re ready to pay for your Japanese meal.

ひだり = hidari = left

みぎ = migi = right

The link to the vending machine site is http://www.photomann.com/japan/machines i’ll try to get that on the forums as well…..

as always, email me with any concerns, gripes, or anything else josh\at\joshinjapan\dot\com

until next time,

mata-ne!

http://www.joshinjapan.com/forums

let’s see if this is any easier than the comments……

he was looking for help on what podcasters thought about finding paid sponsorship, and what we thought about the lack of current resources to do so. i gave him my honest opinions, and as any journalist, he took one line of mine, wrote it to make it sound more dramatic, and ran with it.

at least he linked me in the article.

you can read the article HERE.

and i’m sorry, but i do not beg for money. he just assumed that since i have a paypal button on the blog……

For those of you just joining us, I took a weekend, and went up to Tokyo to take a soundseeing tour for the show. Day #1 ended up with me visiting the Apple Store in Ginza, then a quick trip home just to be followed by a night’s stay at the Green Plaza Capsule Hotel in Shinjuku.

Day #2 entails me going from the hotel to the district of Akihabara, the electronics capital of Japan. I took my iriver and the crapiest mics I could find, and pretty much recorded anything I thought was interesting. I hope you enjoy it! Now everyone can quit asking for a show on Akihabara!

The “Japanese Phrases of the Week” are:

あつささむさもひがんまで = atsusa samusa mo higan made = neither the heat of summer, or the cold of winter last beyond higan (listen to the show to understand what higan is) ….. thanks to Ken for this one!

さんむい = sanmui = a cold environment

つめたい = tsumetai = a cold or frozen item

The computer I was referring to from the email James sent me is right here.

Thanks for bearing with me as I figure out how to make the show sound the best. For you tech types, I encoded this one at 40kbps with a sampling rate of 24k in mono. I found that the reason the files were so big was because my tag editor was adding something onto the files in excess of 80mb. I now have to tear it apart and find out what it was. I really do not like the sound quality at 40 so maybe when I get some time I will switch it over to VBR or a straight 64kbps…. who knows when that will be though!

ok, so until next time……

mata-ne!

WWW.LIBSYN.COM has lost my business!

i think one of my fellow podcasters should be able to help me with my bandwidth, but if anyone has a different solution, i again am all ears…..

and if you need to download any shows, please go to www.joshinjapan.com/podcasts and directly download the show that you would like to hear.

I feel terrible about this folks! I know i’m loosing some of you because of this so i’m sorry for that! Take care!

josh

here.

if i just post the file, it’ll end up as a podcast, and that’s not necessary. also, i go back to work tomorrow after being gone for almost 30 days so please wish me luck!

i apologize again to all of you who got stuck with the bad servers yesterday and partially today. and as for that wonderful company…. fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice……

apparently my file host http://www.libsyn.com experienced some errors and had some server outtages about 24 hours ago. the were unable to let anyone know of the problem due to their mail server being down as well.

they are doing everything they can to regain connectivity. I apologize for the inconvenience!

In the meantime, if you’d like, you can download episode #12 directly from my servers on joshinjapan.com

the file for podcast 12 is

http://www.joshinjapan.com/podcasts and then just click on episode #12.

i apologize angain for this, and will soon be finding a new host for my files if this error does not resolve itself quickly, or if someone can bring me a cheap solution for unlimited bandwidth hosting!

sorry,

josh

For this week, I play the clips I recorded while on my way to the Apple Store, at the Apple Store, and my misadventures in trying to find the Capsule Hotel. I also whisper a report to you guys from inside my capsule. What a wild ride it was.

Next week, I will be playing the clips from my day in Akihabara. Both episodes are filled with all kinds of useless knowledge, so sit back and enjoy!

The “Japanese Phrases of the Week” are:

いくらですか = ikura desuka? = how much is it? (in relating to price)

おなかすいた = onakasuita = i am hungry

Also, don’t forget to check out my new “Sights of Japan” gallery. It’s located permanently in the header of my blog. You also see what’s going to come next once I get some sleep!

Here’s a pic of what Japanese Yen used to look like about 1 year ago. The 500 piece pictured is actually about 5 years old (the new one is gold and isn’t the exact weight of a Mexican Peso), and the design on the bills changed early this year……

And here’s a link to the Japanese MAGLEV train that I was discussing on the show……

So, enjoy, and until next time,

mata-ne!

look up above this post at “sights of japan”………

hope ya like ‘em!

:::EDIT::: also just added is a list of show topics….. right above this post in the header…… i decided to no longer keep this secret :p

on podfinder, episode #7, i am featured talking about the disaster notification system on all of the cell phone carriers over here……

check it out if you get a chance…..

and thanks to Jason for bringing this to my attention!

i got one in my house! what about you? :p

Oh, and today is still Sunday in my book, and yes elections did take place on a Sunday. Why you may ask…… greater turnout at the polls, that’s why! common sense, it’s so cool!

Also, the “Japanese Phrases of the Week” are as follow:

いただきます = itadakimasu = let’s eat / we are going to now eat (listen to the show for proper use)
ごちそうさまです = gochisousamadesu = this was a feast / that was good food (listen to the show for proper use)
ごちそうさまでした = gochisousamadeshita = past tense of above

Also as promised, Kris sent me this link to Japander. It’s a website that showcases idiot celebrities that come over here for cold hard advertising cash…. pretty cool! I had never known this existed. Thanks Kris!

Well, as always, if you have any questions, please feel free to shoot me an email at josh@joshinjapan.com, or leave me a comment on the blog.

Until next time,

mata-ne!

Sorry for not writing back in response to many of your emails! This has been a very hectic week! We discuss many things about TV, so if you’re a couch potato, but want to go to Japan, this is your episode!

The following are the “Japanese Phrases of the Week”:

すみません　たすけて　ください
Sumimasen, tasukete kudasai = Excuse me, please help!

じぶん　で　はらうよ
Jibun de harauyo = Please let me pay for this. / I want to pay.

Don’t forget to do your part for those caught up in hurricane katrina.

And, if you get a chance, please take a second, and vote for the Josh In Japan podcast at podcastalley.com using the “PCA | vote now” button to the right.

As always, email me Josh@JoshInJapan.com with any comments, suggestions or questions.

Until next time, mata-ne!

josh

Bill had some great “out of the box” questions that didn’t focus too much on one particular subject. Join us as we go over some questions that the typical gaijin might have about life in Japan.

Our “Japanese Phrases of the Week” are as follows:

えいご　は　はなせ　ますか？
(ay-go wa ha-na-say-ma-sue-ka) Can you speak english?

て　を　やかすな　よ！
(tay o ya-ka-su-na yo) Dont give me any trouble/crap/shit!

As always, shoot any comments or suggestions for show material to josh|at|joshinjapan|dot|com.

until next time, mata-ne!

Also, I talked about a great flash movie about the kikkoman-man. Thanks to John from Newport News for that one!

This episode is hosted on libsyn this week. If you experience any slow downloads or down times, please let me know, and I will publish the address of the file on my blog servers.

The “Japanese Phrases of the Week” are as follow:

しんじて　いい　(shin-gee-tay ee ee) may i trust you?

つまがいたらきみをあいしちゃいけんあいの (tsu-ma ga ee-tara key-me oh aye-she-cha ee-ken-ah-ee no) i can’t love you if i have a wife

sorry about my pronunciation since I never read these before until i actually read them on the podcast

thanks, and until next time,

mata-ne!

also, something that i wanted to point out…. i discovered a new drink…. it’s soda, so don’t get all excited…. i had never seen it before, but 2 weeks ago at “soreyu no oka” my wife introduced me to LAMUNE. it comes in a glass bottle, and is sealed at the top with a plastic mouthpiece, and a glass marble….

to open it, you remove the seal, and when you take it off, a plastic piece falls out. you put it on the top of the bottle as pictured below, and press down really hard…. that breaks the pressure seal of the glass marble which is holding it closed… fizz sprays everywhere if you’re not careful, and now you have a nice cold beverage…..

it tastes pretty good… it has a little bit of a lemon/lime taste, but not too strong…. it is very well carbonated though so be careful when you open it, especially if you are out in the hot sun, it will spray everywhere…. below you can see the empty bottle with the marble inside…. kids will try their hardest to pop the plastic top to recover the marble, but you definitely need some sort of pry bar or something to get it out…. some kids succeed though, and keep their marbles as souveniers….. kinda like the yoo-hoo commercials from when i was growing up….. you weren’t cool unless you could flick a yoo-hoo top into a fishbowl…..

ok, well that’s it for today, until next time…… mata-ne!

oh, BTW, if you click on the ad, i make a couple cents……

The audio levels on this episode are very shitty! Please excuse the LOUD intro music. My monitor levels weren’t exactly what I was actually recording at!

The “Japanese Phrases of the Week”……

はじめまして　hajimemashite (ha-gee-may-mahshe-tay) “it’s nice to meet you”

どいてでぶちゃん doite debu-chan (doy-e-tay deb-bu-chan) “move fat kid!”

As always, if you have any questions or comments, post a comment, or email me at Josh@JoshInJapan.com….

until next time, mata-ne!

i couldn’t leave work all day, but the wifey and I took the kid to the waterfront after work to watch the fireworks. they were pretty cool, and it was a very long show!

if you’re not sure what friendship day is, it is one of the few days of the year where the base is open to all persons. the public service areas are all open, but the housing, hospital, secured buildings, and other places where strangers shouldn’t be are roped off and patrolled by security personnel. all of the restaurants close their doors, and bring all of their food out to tables set up for outdoor sales…….. since pizza is so cheap by japanese prices on base, there is always a very, VERY long line to get anthony’s (exchange service pizza), and sbarro’s pizza. most of the Japanese people who get pizza wait a good 3 hours in line to get a pie, and it’s one pie per person for each restaurant. you see people walking all around all over town outside of base with pizza boxes in their hands. it’s friggin hillarious!!!!! it’s the one time a year when pizza is affordable for normal Japanese citizens (japanese pizza hut costs on average $35 for one meal, and anthony’s is $11). it’s not just pizza though. they also love the larger sizes of our mc’donalds servings….

all in all, it’s a great way for japanese people to find out how we live on base, and for americans to get a good feeling of what japanese festivals are all about… great time had by all…..

Also, a new portion of the show was added…… the weekly “Japanese Phrases of the Week”…. now you can learn from my limited Japanese skills

As always, email me at josh(at)joshinjapan.com if you have any comments, suggestions, corrections, gripes, moans, bitches, whatever….

Also, if you’re a podcaster, and have a promo, please send them my way…….

Many improvements are on the way for the blog and the cast, so just stay tuned!

take care, and until next time….. mata-ne!

Thanks to all of you new listeners for all of your support. And by support, I mean listening to my lame ass!

For episode #7, I will be moving the files over to Libsyn, but my blog will stay where it is. I’ll just be moving the big files to save my bandwidth. I know i’ve been talking alot about this crap lately, and I know not many care, but I honestly have not much else to talk about.

Ok, until next time…..

mata-ne!

As always, if you have any questions, comments or concerns, leave me a comment here on this post, or shoot me an email…… josh|at|joshinjapan|dot|com (spamalizer protection).

Also, if some of you Nihonjin’s out there find that I totally screwed something up (or Gaijin’s too for that matter), PLEASE email me and tell me so I can get the correct word out. Thanks, and happy listening!

mata-ne!

i need a little more than what I got going now, and a whole 5 gig will not cover me. i hate to say it, but i might have to switch to libsyn……….

more to come later, mata-ne…..