Conbini Cult

Conbini Cult Pod
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  • Society & Culture
  • Weekly

Living in another country sure can be interesting. Is being foreigners in Japan our whole personality? I guess so. Stick around for silly stories (from us and you, the listeners) about work, dating, language learning, embarrassing moments, current events, and deep dives on Japan-related topics we’re curious to learn more about.

  1. 2d ago

    Toyoko Kids: Japan’s Runaway Youth | Conbini Cult Episode 119

    The Toyoko Kids are a group of runaway youth that have found community in Kabukicho, Tokyo’s red light district. Today we chat with Kaja, a public health expert who has volunteered and worked with NPOs supporting the Toyoko Kids to find out more about the kinds of home lives the kids are escaping from, the kind of support they currently receive, and what us regular folks can do to spread awareness and help.  TW: child abuse, self harm, s*xual abuse  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Kaja’s socials (other resources below!): https://www.tiktok.com/@kaja.jpn https://www.instagram.com/pasteldirt  Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms Jingle by SATSUKI Words mentioned/useful words: 帰国子女 (kikoku shijo) - returnee, students who spent time abroad and have returned to Japan こども食堂 (kodomo shokudo) - children’s cafeteria (provides meals and social support for children, families, and elderly in need) パパ 活 (papa katsu) - compensated dating, sugar dating (kind of) ゴミ拾い (gomi hiroi) - litter picking 振込 (furikomi) - bank transfer References/sources: Toyoko Kids resource masterlist by Kaja: https://note.com/lemon_jpn/n/n9898156e00b0  Nippon Kakekomidera: https://www.nippon-kakekomidera.com/  Youth Kakekomidera: https://youth-kakekomi.jp/  ARTE.tv documentary: https://youtu.be/Z68Qa2yVsIg?si=wPmjL-VdfYpD5RwP  Find a doc: https://www.findadoc.jp/  WHO Report: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AES7zee4IYKKRcrhVgrqFGjJILHkmvRQDJwuqrcaOAU/edit?tab=t.0  Japanese Man Arrested for S*xual Enslavement of Toyoko Minor: https://unseen-japan.com/kabukicho-arrested-sexual-enslavement-papakatsu/  Tokyo man arrested for luring girl into prostitution: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/05/15/japan/crime-legal/man-arrest-girl-prostitution/  Time stamps 00:00 Toyoko Kids intro & volunteer work 05:41 Kaja’s background in public health 10:06 Toyoko Kids stats, home life, exploitation 21:38 social media —> more exploitation 25:34 the NPO (funding, what they do), who is responsible? 37:30 other groups in other cities 39:35 what can we do to help? 57:12 Kaja’s current ventures in public health

  2. 6d ago

    Dating Horrors in Japan | Conbini Cult Episode 118

    What better way to end spooky season than with some real life horrors?! It’s that time again to share dating stories. Buckle up because some of these stories are pretty wild. Disclaimer: the stories happened in Japan but they don’t all say whether or not the person was Japanese. Just because some of the people in the stories were pretty unhinged, doesn’t mean everyone here is.  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms References/sources: https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/zglnxe/weird_experience_at_a_love_hotel_last_night/ https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/comments/1wzyq52/tinder_and_older_japanese_woman/ https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/comments/1ao5y6p/are_japanese_wives_more_likely_to_have_affairs_if/ https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/rzyz98/give_me_your_awful_japan_dating_stories_so_i_can/  https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/vkv7mt/dating_horror_stories/ https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/165fs9e/its_that_time_again_dating_horror_stories_2023/ Time stamps 00:00 what’s going on in these streets 06:00 reddit stories 46:06 TW - self harm & su*cide  54:42 listener story

  3. Oct 18

    Real Hauntings in Japan | Conbini Cult Episode 117

    Our second edition of Halloween 2026. We’ve curated some more real life hauntings to chill your bones and keep you awake at night. Sleep tight!  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms Jingle by SATSUKI Words mentioned/useful words: 神隠し kami kakushi - concealed by the gods, spirited away References/sources: https://www.reddit.com/r/Kyoto/comments/1hboojl/has_anyone_had_any_strange_experiences_in_fushimi/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalEncounters/comments/1uzo0as/weird_vacation_experience_in_japan/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Kyoto/comments/15ggkdb/teleporting_old_lady_in_pontocho_alley/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Ghosts/comments/4mxmkh/japans_haunted_locations_ugh_tunnels/ https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/comments/1esmv96/experiences_with_japanese_ghosts/?share_id=G1DdQQt_U-IT8niYqGBPK&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf&utm_source=share&utm_term=1  Time stamps 00:00 creepy experience in Tokyo 05:45 spirited away at Fushimi Inari 21:11 unexpected visitor in Tokyo 26:12 teleporting ghost of Pontocho 31:15 haunted tunnels 39:02 something followed us from the shrine 43:23 experiences with Japanese ghosts

  4. Oct 11

    The Dark Side of Sumo Wrestling | Conbini Cult Episode 116

    Sumo is one of the most renowned sports in Japan, but every industry has a dark side too. From hazing incidents, ab*se, cover ups, gambling ties, and health risks like heart disease and CTE, let’s learn more about sumo’s dark underbelly.  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms Jingle by SATSUKI Words mentioned/useful words: 横綱 Yokozuna (grand champion) 関取 Sekitori (upper tier) References/sources: Japan’s police see no evil: https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-nov-09-fg-autopsy9-story.html  Sumo diet: https://sumowrestlingshow.jp/1576/  CTE: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/feb/06/conservative-world-of-sumo-slow-to-take-action-on-concussion  Sumo wrestler dies one month after suffering head injury in Japan: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/apr/30/sumo-wrestler-dies-one-month-after-suffering-a-concussion-in-japan  SAT-691 Lifestyle, Comorbidities, and Longevity of Sumo Wrestlers https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12544268/#:~:text=Sumo%20wrestlers%20eat%20massive%20quantities%20of%20high%2Dprotein,average%20body%20mass%20index%20over%2047%20kg%2Fm%C2%B2. The Structure of Sumo https://www.sumotalk.com/structure.htm#:~:text=Professional%20sumo%20consists%20of%20approximately%20550%20rikishi,top%20two%20divisions%2D%2DMakuuchi%20and%20Juryo%2D%2Dare%20called%20%22sekitori.%22 Jail for Sumo bashing mastermind https://www.abc.net.au/am/archive/articles/2009/05/30/s2585256.htm Brutal beating death exposes sumo's dark side https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23553832 Sumo grand champion Harumafuji felled by assault allegations https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/nov/29/sumo-grand-champion-harumafuji-felled-by-assault-allegations Sumo wrestler Takanoiwa retiring after allegedly assaulting fellow wrestler https://www.espn.com/olympics/wrestling/story/_/id/25474514/sumo-wrestler-takanoiwa-retiring-allegedly-assaulting-fellow-wrestler SUMO BOUT FIXING: HISTORY, INCENTIVES AND THE 2010-2011 MATCH-RIGGING SCANDAL https://factsanddetails.com/japan/cat21/sub138/item1779.html Sumo wrestling hit by match-fixing scandal https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/feb/02/japan-sumo-wrestling-match-fixing Stable masters gave front-row seats to mob https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2010/05/27/national/stable-masters-gave-front-row-seats-to-mob/ JSA must live up to its words https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2010/09/14/editorials/jsa-must-live-up-to-its-words/ Michinoku-Beya Violence Scandal Update https://tachiai.org/2023/06/24/michinoku-beya-violence-scandal-update/ Ban on women: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/nov/12/japan-pm-sumo-wrestling-ban-women  https://sumowrestlingshow.jp/1979/ Time stamps 00:00 2007 hazing death + intro 06:20 health risks 16:18 hierarchy & ranking 22:38 bullying, hazing, abuse 29:20 match fixing, yakuza, gambling 33:10 why are women banned

  5. Oct 4

    Forbidden Games & Spooky Tales from Japan | Conbini Cult Episode 115

    Would you live in an apartment with discounted rent if something tragic had happened there prior? Would you be willing to ride an elevator alone to another world? Or risk your own safety to deliver a cursed talisman to your enemies? Let’s learn about stigmatized properties in Japan (a very real thing), along with some forbidden games and ghost stories. Happy October!  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms Jingle by SATSUKI Words mentioned/useful words: 事故物件 jiko bukken - stigmatized property  References/sources: Jiko bukken: https://suumo.jp/baikyaku/guide/entry/jikobukken https://www.osoujiyasan.jp/jikobukken/column/jikobukken-sale-price https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalEncounters/comments/1vb82qm/my_little_sister_just_moved_to_rural_japan_and/  Elevator game: https://ihorror.com/elevator-game-rules-how-to-play/  Someone who played it: https://www.reddit.com/r/scarystories/comments/ik4qf9/i_played_the_elevator_game/  https://japan-makes-me-scared.com/kotoribako/  https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/10h7wqz/anyone_here_lived_in_jiko_bukken_or/  https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/comments/142jf8w/anyone_have_any_ghost_stories/  https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/comments/1j37zgn/have_you_ever_experienced_something_paranormal_in/  Time stamps 00:00 stigmatized property 08:59 the elevator game 19:29 kotoribako 25:22 I’ve never been so happy to leave a town 29:26 living in a stigmatized property 32:17 creepy apartment 34:50 ghost is pissing me off 37:52 little sister haunted in rural Japan 42:34 Tokyo execution ground 45:25 don’t forget your greetings 51:20 time slip in the rice field

  6. Sep 27

    Work Nightmares in Japan with Ami | Conbini Cult Episode 114

    How do you properly resign from a Japanese company? How can you report labor law violations? Can you be fired for medical reasons? Let’s read some stories with Ami today about work culture in Japan, red flags for exploitative companies, and more! *We are not lawyers and cannot give legal advice*. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Thanks Ami for joining us!  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ami_and_coo/  TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@amiandcoo  Website & Consultations - https://www.ami-and-co.com/ Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms Words mentioned/useful words: 浪人 rōnin - high school graduate waiting for another chance to enter university after having failed the yearly entrance examination 中途採用  chuto saiyo - mid-career recruit 手取り tedori - after tax income, net income  私用 shiyou - personal business/reasons (eg when requesting a day off from work)  大企業 (dai kigyō) - big company  正社員 seishain - regular, permanent, full-time employee  引き継ぎ hikitsugi - passing on, handover 社会保険 shakai hoken - social insurance 退職証明書 taishoku shomeisho - certificate of employment separation 労働審判 rodo shinpan - labor tribunal  退職届 taishoku todoke - formal resignation notice Stories: Company asking for medical info: https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/s/WsIR0gptDA Can you be fired for IBS: https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/s/H3TGePQWMy Resignation basics: https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/s/40oWuD4f4S Boss wants the bonus back: https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/s/qvUDzJsSQX Winning settlement after dismissal: https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/s/AqeuToGLlu Office drama: https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/s/TvBH20IQnz Time stamps 00:00 how y’all doin 01:38 job hunting as a grad student 04:59 first job Sony then recruited by a startup 09:49 reporting illegal practices 15:10 worst interview  23:42 forced medical leave 28:18 can you get fired for medical condition?  35:04 proper resignation  37:53 boss wants the bonus back 44:07 unfair dismissal + settlement 54:51 workplace drama 1:03:03 palate cleanser

  7. Sep 20

    Foreigners in Japan Before Social Media | Conbini Cult Episode 113

    What was traveling and living in Japan like before social media? Was any foreigner here just to spread religion? Who was the first native English teacher? Who was the first glazer? We shall find out all this and more in today’s episode, highlighting some early travelers in Japan that we’ve learned about through our own travels.  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms References/sources: Hearn - https://www.hearn-museum-matsue.jp/english.html https://apjjf.org/2014/12/38/roger-pulvers/4186/article Rita Taketsuru - https://greatdrams.com/the-remarkable-tale-of-rita-cowan-taketsuru-the-mother-of-japanese-whisky/ https://www.nikkawhisky.eu/nikka-story/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2014/11/10/issues/foreign-wives-of-japan-offer-nhk-and-massan-criticism-and-kudos/ The real history of Yasuke, Japan’s first Black samurai https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/the-real-history-of-yasuke-japans-first-black-samurai Assassin’s Creed Shadows- Who is Yasuke and why did the developers choose him? https://automaton-media.com/en/news/assassins-creed-shadows-who-is-yasuke-and-why-did-the-developers-choose-him/#:~:text=The%20revelation%20that%20you%20will%20play%20as,characters%20being%20based%20on%20real%20historical%20figures. New Ubisoft Game 'Assassin's Creed Shadows:' Why the Criticism? https://japan-forward.com/new-ubisoft-game-assassins-creed-shadows-why-the-criticism/#:~:text=However%2C%20the%20game%20has%20encountered%20significant%20backlash,What%20exactly%20has%20upset%20the%20Japanese%20fans%3F Isabella Bird and Her Travels in Nineteenth-Century Japan https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g00829/#:~:text=Isabella%20Bird%20and%20Her%20Travels%20in%20Nineteenth-Century,Japan%2C%20carried%20by%20Bird%20on%20her%20travels. Isabella Lucy Bird’s Unbeaten Tracks https://papersky.jp/en/isabella-bird/#:~:text=Unbeaten%20Tracks.%20The%20nineteenth%20century%20expedition%20of,few%20(if%20any)%20Westerners%20had%20set%20foot. Ranald MacDonald https://www.leechtownhistory.ca/viee-biographies/ranald-macdonald/ Ranald MacDonald (1824-1894) https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/macdonald_ranald/#:~:text=*%20MacDonald%20left%20his%20job%20at%20the,had%20been%20isolated%20for%20two%20hundred%20years. Time stamps 00:00 how y’all doin 03:39 Ranald Macdonald 08:46 Yasuke the African samurai  21:11 Lafcadio Hearn 27:34 Isabella Bird  37:50 Rita Taketsuru

  8. Sep 16

    Badly in Love S2 Pt 2 - this show is WILD | Conbini Cult BONUS Ep

    *Spoilers in this episode!* Please finish all of season 2 before watching. Is being foreigners in Japan our whole personality? I guess so. Stick around for silly stories (from us and you, the listeners) about work, dating, language learning, embarrassing moments, current events, deep dives on Japan-related topics we’re curious to learn more about.  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms 00:00 how y’all doin 04:17 real yankis or just hosts there for clout? 13:08 S2 pt 2 cast 33:09 big fights/arguments  43:13 confessions/final couples 49:43 fave and least faves 57:00 misuse of English words 58:56 the commentators

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About

Living in another country sure can be interesting. Is being foreigners in Japan our whole personality? I guess so. Stick around for silly stories (from us and you, the listeners) about work, dating, language learning, embarrassing moments, current events, and deep dives on Japan-related topics we’re curious to learn more about.

Information

  • Creator
    Conbini Cult Pod
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    123
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Conbini Cult Pod
  • Show Website
    Conbini Cult

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