Just Japan Podcast Just Japan Podcast

In this episode of the podcast, Kevin Chats with Joseph Fowler, host of the Ishikawa: Summit to Seas Podcast. They talk about Joe’s Japan origin story.  He talks about his podcast as well as about the J-Pops Podcast. Joe also talks about becoming a new father in Japan and buying a house there. Learn about life in a part of Japan you don’t hear about so often.
 
Ishikawa: Summit to Seas Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ishikawa-summit-to-sea/id1528933719
 
 
J-Pops Podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-j-pops-attempting-parenting-in-japan/id1595489571
 
 
Follow Joe on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/KumaYama100
 
Instagram (Joe’s Father):
https://www.instagram.com/john_fowler_art
 
 
 
 
 
 
Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin:
 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justjapanstuff
 
X: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple
 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlandkev
https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes

In this episode, Kevin chats with Evan and Dani Benton who have renovated two Akiya (empty homes) on the island of Omishima in Ehime Prefecture in Japan. They have a wonderful website and YouTube channel called “Benton Homestead” that documents their journey. They have renovated these two buildings, turning one into a guesthouse and the other, their home. They are also diving into the world of natural agriculture and bee keeping. They discuss the process of buying and renovating these old homes as well as how they were able to get visas to stay in Japan to complete this project.
Benton Homestead:
https://bentonhomestead.com/
Follow their YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@bentonhomestead
 
 
 
Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justjapanstuff
X: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlandkev
https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@busankevin
 
My new Instagram about my health journey…from bad to good!
https://www.instagram.com/turnaround_strength

In this episode, Kevin chats with Emily Bell about returning to Japan. Emily was born in Santa Barbara, but at the age of 2 moved to Shizuoka, Japan. She grew up in rural Japan and at the age of 14 returned to the United States. She faced challenges such as lacking English fluency and starting high school in a very different culture, but she persevered! She just graduated from university and is about to move to Tokyo. She decided to accept a job offer and will soon start a new adventure, this time as an adult and instead of the Japanese countryside, in the biggest of big cities! Listen to her fascinating story!
 
BTW….Emily’s father is Kurt Bell, aka “Softypapa.” He was our best on episode 217!
 
You can learn a lot about Emily’s adventures by following her father, Kurt Bell:
X: https://twitter.com/softypapa
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/softypapa
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LylesBrother
 
 
Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justjapanstuff
X: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlandkev
https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes
 
 
My new Instagram about my health journey…from bad to good!
https://www.instagram.com/turnaround_strength

In this episode, Kevin chats with one of the original Japan YouTubers (jvloggers), Kurt Bell, aka, Softypapa. In the early days of YouTube, Kurt made fascinating videos about his life in rural Shizuoka and brought us along on countless hiking adventures in the deep forests and mountains. We explored abandoned villages and learned about long forgotten shines with Kurt. After 10 years in Japan, he returned to America. After 10 years in California, Kurt is on the verge of retirement and will return to Japan to continue his rural adventures. Learn more about his amazing story in this episode!
 
Kurt on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@softypapa
 
Kurt on “X’:
https://twitter.com/softypapa
 
 
 
Socials:
Follow the Podcast on social media:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple
 
Instagram (travel and life): 
https://instagram.com/jlandkev
https://instagram.com/japannightscenes
 
YouTube: http://youtube.com/@busankevin

In this Episode, Kevin chats with Tokyo-based entrepreneur, Gregorio. Gregorio is an American who came to Japan in 2008 as a university student and worked for years working in various industries. During the pandemic, he started Monsta Sweets, a cookie company! He made cookies and sold them at pop-ups in Tokyo. He has now opened a full-time brick-and-mortar “Monsta Sweets” shop in Tokyo. Listen to his fascinating story about starting a business from scratch in Tokyo.
Follow Monsta Sweets:
X: https://twitter.com/Monsta_Sweets
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monsta_sweets
 
 
Check out our website!
https://justjapanstuff.com/
 
Sign up for the FREE Just Japan Podcast newsletter if you'd like to receive it!
https://mailchi.mp/12afe98c5d57/just-japan-podcast
 
Support the Podcasts on Patreon:
patreon.com/JustJapanPodcast97
 
 
Socials:
Follow the Podcast on social media:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff
X: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple
Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/japannightscenes
YouTube: http://youtube.com/@busankevin
 

In this episode, Kevin chats with Japanese pop culture expert, Matt Alt. Matt is a Tokyo-based writer who writes extensively about how Japanese pop culture has impacted the world. He has written books about Japanese folklore with his wife, Hiroko Yoda, and worked extensively as a translator and localization expert for the Japanese gaming industry. They talk about Japanese toys, pop culture, folklore, and a lot more. Matt also talks about his latest book, “Pure Invention” all about many of the Japanese inventions that had huge impacts on the rest of the world.
Sign up for the FREE Just Japan Podcast newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/12afe98c5d57/just-japan-podcast
 
Support my podcasts and other creative endeavors on Patreon:
patreon.com/JustJapanPodcast97
 
Follow all the things Matt Alt does:
https://www.mattalt.com/
 
Check out Matt Alt’s books on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Books-Matt-Alt/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AMatt+Alt
 
 
Follow the Podcast on social media:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple
Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/jlandkev
Japan Night Scenes: https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes
Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com