Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

JapanKyo.com
  • 4.8 (20)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Weekly

Japan Station helps you understand Japanese culture, language, and society on a deeper level. Hosted by The Anime Linguist, Tony R. Vega, the show features expert interviews and deep dives into topics you won't find anywhere else—sometimes with ridiculous tangents. Each episode dives into everything from Japanese language and linguistics to history, food, travel, and pop culture. You'll also hear stories from foreigners living in Japan, giving perspective on life in the country beyond the usual guidebook tips. Whether you're learning Japanese, planning a trip, or just passionate about Japan, each episode delivers insight, humor, and useful information. Topics we explore include: ・Japanese culture and society ・The Japanese language (learning, linguistics, nuance) ・Japanese history and traditions ・Food, regional specialties, and travel tips ・Anime, manga, and pop culture ・Experiences of foreigners living in Japan ・And much more Contact: mail@japankyo.com About the host Tony R. Vega is the founder of JapanKyo.com and creator of The Anime Linguist YouTube channel. He holds an M.A. in Japanese language and linguistics from the University of Hawaii and has hosted Japanese-language content for native speakers. As a legally blind creator, Tony advocates for accessibility while offering a perspective on Japan and its language that few can match.

  1. 10h ago

    Japan's (linguistic) harassment problem explained

    On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about the ridiculous amount of terms for different types of "harassment" in Japanese. 👉Topics Discussed We go over some well known and some very obscure "hara" (ハラ) words What is sekuhara セクハラ What is pawahara パワハラ What is morahara モラハラ What is harahara ハラハラ What is manehara マネハラ Why calling everything "harassment" can be problematic And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Mobal Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan  👉Get a T-Shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None this time. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/

  2. 5d ago

    Why you GOTTA go to IZUMO TAISHA

    On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking all about one of Japan's most famous shirnes: Izumo Taisha. 👉Topics Discussed About the history of Izumo Taisha The origins of Izumo Taisha The kuniyuzuri story How tall Izumo Taisha is How Izumo Taisha used to be the tallest building in Japan About the Kamiari Festival How archaelogical discoveries seem to confirm Izumo Taisha having once been 48 meters tall About Izumo Taisha's status as one of Japan's most famous shrines for "matchmaking" About the architecture of Izumo Taisha About the Izumo Taisha curse/why it's said couples break up after visiting Izumo Taisha Gods partying after going to Izumo Taisha About Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Sponsor This episode was sponsored by PlayPodcast.net. PlayPodcast.net is a free podcast player you can use on any device in your browser. You can listen to episodes from your favorite hosts. You do not need an account, an app, or to download anything to listen to the best free podcasts. 👉Mobal Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan  👉Get a T-Shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None this time. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/

  3. Sep 26

    My Next Japan ADVENTURE & Tokyo Meet Up

    On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about my upcoming long distance walking challenges and the event I'll be holding at Pintology in Tokyo On November 15th, 2026. 👉Topics Discussed About the Izumo Challenge About the Chichibu 34 Challenge About the Utsunomiya Challenge About the sponsors and special supporters of my 2026 long distance walking challenges About the get together happening on November 15th, 2026 at Pintology in Sasazuka, Tokyo And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Mobal Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan  👉Get a T-Shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. This year's sponsors: Mobal: http://mobal.com/ United Neko Alliance: https://x.com/nekoalliance Special supporters: Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii: https://www.izumotaishahawaii.com/ Hawaii Association of the Blind: https://hab50.org/ Outdoor Vitals: https://outdoorvitals.com/ Pintology Craft Beer and Whisky Sasazuka Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pintologytokyo/ 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/

  4. Sep 23

    EXTREME walkers in Japan have a new name?!

    On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about the emergence of a new slang term used to describe people who walk abnormally long distances/long amounts of time. 👉Topics Discussed What does Inō Tadataka kaiwai mean? (伊能忠敬界隈) Who Inō Tadataka 伊能忠敬界隈 was The origin of Inō Tadataka Kaiwai About the "kaiwai" term trend And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Mobal Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan  👉Get a T-Shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None this time. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/

  5. Sep 21

    She Recreated a 300-Year-Old Epic Journey in Northern Japan IN 1989

    On this episode of Japan Station, Lesley Chan Downer tells us about what it was like walking and hitchiking through the Tohoku area in the '80s while recreating Matsuo Basho's most famous journey. 👉Topics Discussed About moving to Japan in the 1980s About participating in the predecessor of the JET Program About On the Narrow Road to the Deep North Lesley's interest in Japanese poetry Why Lesley decided to recreate Matsuo Basho's 1689 journey to the north of Japan About hitchhiking in Japan Visiting Hiraizumi Exploring villages in the Tohoku area The three sacred mountains How to mummify yourself About building a relationship with a family from a village in the Tohoku area Working with NHK on films inspired by Lesley's journey The reissue of One the Narrow Road to the Deep North That time someone tried to sell Lesley a house in a village in Tohoku About the Shogun Quartet of historical novels About The Shortest History of Japan And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Mobal Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan  👉Get a T-Shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. Here are links to Lesley Chan Downer: On the Narrow Road to the Deep North: Journey into a Lost Japan: https://www.amazon.com/Narrow-Road-Deep-North-Classics/dp/1780602308/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1 The Shortest History of Japan: From Mythical Origins to Pop Culture Powerhouse―The Global Drama of an Ancient Island Nation: https://www.amazon.com/Shortest-History-Japan-Mythical-Powerhouse_The/dp/1891011669/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1 The Shogun's Queen: The Shogun Quartet, Book 1: https://www.amazon.com/Shoguns-Queen-Shogun-Quartet-Book/dp/055216349X/ref=sr_1_4?s=digital-text&sr=1-4-catcorr 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/

  6. Sep 14

    Rural Japan VS Urban Japan: Which is BETTER?

    This is a rebroadcast of an episode of Ichimon Japan that was originally released 4/12/2020. Today's Question On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What's better: rural life or city life in Japan? Topics Discussed The pros and cons of living in rural Japan The pros and cons of living in a big city in Japan Life in Ishikawa Prefecture Life in Kobe Life in Osaka Where Ishikawa Prefecture is located Whether rural people are friendlier than city people in Japan Eating udon meshi at Sururi in Shinjuku, Tokyo Eating gator in Ueno, Tokyo Magic: The Gathering in Japan The not so great rainy wather of Ishikawa Cheap and/or free housing in rural Japan Ishikawa's delicious carrots How Japan's declining population is affecting Japan's rual areas The general lack of adults in their 20s and 30s in rual Japan And more! Note: This episode was recorded before the declaration of the global coronavirus pandemic. While you should visit Japan as Ryan suggests, obviously, April 2020 is a pretty bad time to try to do so. Listen to Japan Station on [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1492400997" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Apple Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://podcasts.google.com/?feed=aHR0cHM6Ly9pY2hpbW9uamFwYW4ubGlic3luLmNvbS9yc3M" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Google Podcasts[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/japankyocom/ichimon-japan-a-podcast-by-japankyocom" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Stitcher[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://open.spotify.com/show/1ZVgnljVM8gcR1ar98eK0D" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]Spotify[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://www.podbean.com/podcast-detail/mv3zr-ad2df/Ichimon-Japan-A-Podcast-by-Japankyo.com" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]PodBean[/btn] [btn btnlink="https://ichimonjapan.libsyn.com/rss" btnsize="medium" bgcolor="#0568bf" txtcolor="#ffffff" btnnewt="1" nofollow="1"]RSS[/btn] Support on Patreon If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude. Support on Patreon Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.   Get 10% off a Mobal voice & data plan! https://mobal.com/tonyjapan Support the show, get a t-shirt! https://mechanekosushi.com/ The restaurant serving udon meshi that was referenced in this episode is called Sururi. You can find the location information for Sururi's Shinjuku location below. Sururi Shinjuku Main Store (するり新宿本店, Sururi Shinjuku Honten) 1-2-9 Kabuki-cho, 2F Citadine Central Shinjuke Tokyo, Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo The Japankyo article on Sururi can be accessed via the link below. 18,000 Calorie Udon Rice Bowl Goes on Sale in Japan During the episode a reference is made to a town in Japan that was giving houses to those who would agree to live in them for seven years. This was a mistake. It was actually 15 years. The name of the town is Okutama and you can find out more by watching the video below. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7iFZrhVKoQ&fbclid=IwAR3UQH_aozxbVc98fH_DcAgm6V64P2F0LM82Z0GhfdFiNJCpRnoZv6dm0xM[/embed] If you'd like to find out more aboutthe differences in escalator etiquette that exist between the eastearn and western regions of Japan, then check out the Ichimon Japan episode below. Why do Japanese train stations do that? | Ichimon Japan 03 Japanese Vocabulary List Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here's some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC. Inaka 田舎 【いなか(gikun)】 (n,adj-no) (1) (sens) rural area; countryside; the sticks; (2) hometown Beddotaun ベッドタウン : ベッドタウン; ベットタウン(ik); ベッド・タウン; ベット・タウン(ik) (n) commuter town (wasei: bed town); bedroom community; dormitory town Kisha 汽車 【きしゃ】 (n) (1) train (esp. long distance train); (2) (orig. meaning) steam train We Want Your Questions Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com. Special Thanks Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr) Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R. Follow Japankyo on Social Media Facebook (@JapankyoNews) Twitter (@TonyRVega) Full Show Notes https:///japankyo.com/ichimonjapan

  7. Sep 7

    DEAD Keitai Slang Only OLD People Remember EXPLAINED

    On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about dead slang from the heyday of Japanese cell pnones (ケータイ, kētai). 👉Topics Discussed About the evolution of Japanese cell phones Wha tis a shame 写メ What is dekome デコメ The origins of shame About decorating Japanese cell phones keitai The connection between gyaru and Japanese cell phones About "straps" sutorappu  What keitai is written in katakana And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Mobal Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan  👉Get a T-Shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None this time. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/

  8. Sep 1

    Even Japanese Forget This Prefecture (But You Shouldn't!)

    On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about life in Shimane Prefecture. 👉Topics Discussed About the unique cultural quirks of life in Shimane Prefecture Where Shimane is located How people often get Tottori and Shimane confused A funny example of a dialect from Shimane Prefecture About food in Shimane Prefecture What is wariko soba? About Izumo Time What is shijimi? Abut the famous story of The White Hare of Inaba How wani are actually sharks and not crocodile in the Kojiki And much more 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad free versions and occassional bonus content Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo Support via a one time donation! Ko-fi: https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo Venmo: https://venmo.com/tonyrvega Paypal.me: https://paypal.me/tonyrvega 👉Mobal Use my Mobal affiliate link to get a 10% discount on their voice & data plan. Their voice & data plan is perfect for those who want a Japanese phone number while in Japan. Using this link gets you a discount and it provides me with a small commission which I use to fund JapanKyo. Get 10% off of Mobal's Voice & Data plan: https://www.mobal.com/tonyjapan  👉Get a T-Shirt! MechaNekoSushi.com 👉Links, Videos, Etc. None this time. 👉Follow on Social Media X/Twitter: https://x.com/tonyrvega Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/tonyrvega.bsky.social Instagram: https://instagram.com/tonyrvega The Anime Linguist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theanimelinguist Japan Station YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews Website: https://japankyo.com/ Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony Tony R. Vega Personal Website: https://tonyrvega.com/

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About

Japan Station helps you understand Japanese culture, language, and society on a deeper level. Hosted by The Anime Linguist, Tony R. Vega, the show features expert interviews and deep dives into topics you won't find anywhere else—sometimes with ridiculous tangents. Each episode dives into everything from Japanese language and linguistics to history, food, travel, and pop culture. You'll also hear stories from foreigners living in Japan, giving perspective on life in the country beyond the usual guidebook tips. Whether you're learning Japanese, planning a trip, or just passionate about Japan, each episode delivers insight, humor, and useful information. Topics we explore include: ・Japanese culture and society ・The Japanese language (learning, linguistics, nuance) ・Japanese history and traditions ・Food, regional specialties, and travel tips ・Anime, manga, and pop culture ・Experiences of foreigners living in Japan ・And much more Contact: mail@japankyo.com About the host Tony R. Vega is the founder of JapanKyo.com and creator of The Anime Linguist YouTube channel. He holds an M.A. in Japanese language and linguistics from the University of Hawaii and has hosted Japanese-language content for native speakers. As a legally blind creator, Tony advocates for accessibility while offering a perspective on Japan and its language that few can match.

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