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Articles from this week's episodeWeak yen may actually deter Bank of Japan from hiking rates soonhttps://www.reuters.com/markets/rates-bonds/weak-yen-may-actually-deter-bank-japan-hiking-rates-soon-2024-04-11/Japan and NASA plan a historic lunar RV roadtrip togetherhttps://www.popsci.com/science/japan-lunar-rv/Japan's population falls for 13th straight year, pinned below 125 millionhttps://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/a857f5993191-japan-population-falls-below-125-mil-down-for-13th-straight-year.htmlJapan Lower House Panel OKs Joint Custody Billhttps://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2024041200116/Mega Japanese Pop Group Arashi Sets Up New Companyhttps://goemon-jp.com/vi/news/mega-japanese-pop-group-arashi-sets-up-new-company-jWu2cr1VXyfj96ru95PxdT?language=en性的暴行…2歳以下の女児、乳児施設で悲劇　元職員の男逮捕、自分の行為を撮影…SNSで写真を公開し発覚　20人以上に乱暴していた可能性、黙秘中の26歳　逮捕は4度目https://www.saitama-np.co.jp/articles/75597/postDetailWidower sues Japan gov't, claiming stricter pension requirements for men unconstitutionalhttps://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240410/p2a/00m/0na/017000c「トー横」周辺で31人を一斉補導、最年少は小学6年生　警視庁「安易な気持ちで来てはいけない」https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/319848Cake shop worker remains dream job for many children starting schoolhttps://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/08/japan/society/japan-children-dream-jobs/Imitation crab meat shrine built in Kobehttps://soranews24.com/2024/04/09/imitation-crab-meat-shrine-built-in-kobe/

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DIRT Japan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrv9dmWpNKA
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Articles from this week's episode

Jimmy Kimmel says his trip to Japan last week made him realize that the US is a 'filthy and disgusting country'
https://www.businessinsider.com/jimmy-kimmel-visiting-japan-made-him-realize-us-disgusting-2024-4

Japan bullet train halted after cup of instant noodles thrown at it
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240403/p2a/00m/0bu/005000c

Osaka working to help students maintain their cultural roots
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15195744

Man in Kumamoto loses 110 million yen over “romance scam”
https://goemon-jp.com/vi/news/man-in-kumamoto-loses-110-million-yen-over-romance-scam-fRT1g7bhUt8ExKp6eDi3gs?language=en

Everyone in Japan will be Mr. or Mrs. Sato by 2531, according to study
https://soranews24.com/2024/04/03/everyone-in-japan-will-be-mr-or-mrs-sato-by-2531-according-to-study/

Pal World developers make timely announcement of adults-only romance simulator with naked pals
https://soranews24.com/2024/04/02/pal-world-developers-make-timely-announcement-of-adults-only-romance-simulator-with-naked-pals/

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Articles from this week's episode

Japan adds four new industries to skilled foreign worker visa
https://japantoday.com/category/national/japan-adds-driver-railway-roles-to-skilled-foreign-worker-visa

Explainer: Japan hiked interest rates. Why is the yen falling?
https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/japan-hiked-interest-rates-why-is-yen-falling-2024-03-25/

Japan imperial family to make Instagram debut in April
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/03/8ef160fa2f54-japan-imperial-family-to-make-instagram-debut-in-april.html

“弁護士が取り調べ立ち会い” 日弁連が4月から支援制度始める
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20240323/k10014400421000.html

US, Japan plan biggest upgrade to security pact in over 60 years, FT reports
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/us-japan-plan-biggest-upgrade-to-security-pact-in-over-60-years-ft-reports/ar-BB1ks6zM

Thousands call for end to aroma capsules, citing ‘scent pollution’
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15175024

Timeline of events in Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal
https://sports.yahoo.com/timeline-events-shohei-ohtani-gambling-172658250.html?guccounter=1

Nara considering increasing number of deer that can be killed each year, expanding culling zone
https://soranews24.com/2024/03/29/nara-considering-expanding-number-of-deer-that-can-be-killed-each-year-expanding-culling-zone/

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Articles from this week's episode

Forced head shave for transgender inmate a human rights violation: Osaka lawyers
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240312/p2a/00m/0na/007000c

Japan high court rules same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/03/44aa6f4888ea-japan-court-says-same-sex-marriage-ban-in-unconstitutional-state.html

Space One rocket explodes immediately after liftoff in Japan【Videos】
https://soranews24.com/2024/03/14/space-one-rocket-explodes-immediately-after-liftoff-in-japan%E3%80%90videos%E3%80%91/

Opinion: Japan must reform its refugee and immigration system to avoid further tragedies
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240306/p2a/00m/0op/002000c

School rules presuming black, straight hair perplex children with foreign roots in Japan
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240311/p2a/00m/0na/018000c

Hokkaido's Niseko to introduce lodging tax of up to 2,000 yen a night
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/03/6007ac6157d0-hokkaidos-niseko-to-introduce-lodging-tax-of-up-to-2000-yen-a-night.html

Support us on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan

Articles from this week's episode

LDP Members Quit as Division Heads after ‘Inappropriate’ Gathering; Dancer Reportedly Performed in Scanty Outfit
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20240309-173549/

ソフト・オン・デマンドの“新作ビデオ”が「あきらかにDJ SODA」と批判噴出→「諸般の事情」で発売中止に
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2cdcb2a69b4e57f88b68c86434a17c9c5f84e3d2

As Japan enters recession, some young workers are leaving Tokyo to earn more in Australia
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-29/japan-cost-of-living-young-people-leaving-for-australia/103520934

Japanese women's working conditions ranked 3rd-worst among 29 OECD nations
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240307_15/

Akira Toriyama, creator of 'Dragon Ball,' dies at 68
https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Obituaries/Akira-Toriyama-creator-of-Dragon-Ball-dies-at-68

Kyoto to ban tourists from Geisha district over ‘out of control’ behaviour
https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/geisha-district-kyoto-tourist-ban-b2509208.html

Nagoya elementary students caught defrauding classmate for nearly 1 million yen
https://soranews24.com/2024/03/07/nagoya-elementary-students-caught-defrauding-classmate-for-nearly-1-million-yen/

Dino monument among projects funded by COVID-19 grants
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15188288

Osaka Pref. eyes collecting fixed fee for inbound tourists from 2025
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/03/334b9fe5e5e7-osaka-pref-eyes-collecting-fixed-fee-for-inbound-tourists-from-2025.html

Japan to revise official romanization rules for 1st time in 70 yrs
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/03/250d39967042-japan-to-revise-official-romanization-rules-for-1st-time-in-70-yrs.html

We talk about Otani, Ghibli, teachers fighting students, and a whole lot more!