Small Talk Japan Small Talk Japan
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- Society & Culture
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This is a weekly English podcast about all things Japan! If you want to learn English or about Japanese culture, news life, and other fun things, give us a listen.
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The biggest Data Theif in Japan: THE WIND | STJ 242
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan
Articles from this week's episode
https://soranews24.com/2024/04/26/japanese-city-loses-residents-personal-data-which-was-on-paper-being-transported-on-a-windy-day/
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/4955c6d472ab-update1-yen-sinks-to-157-range-vs-dollar-new-34-yr-low.html
https://www.cnn.com/travel/japan-mount-fuji-view-barrier-tourists-intl-hnk/index.html
https://www.uhb.jp/news/single.html?id=42179
https://www.tvlife.jp/drama/689354
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/23bbd6318802-number-of-young-women-to-halve-in-40-of-japan-localities-by-2050.html
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/e900d0fe5210-ex-japan-pm-aso-visits-trump-tower-apparently-to-meet-ex-us-pres.html
https://www.theregister.com/2024/03/28/japan_nk_arrests/
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/6b7e5d6282c6-japan-eyes-cashless-tax-refunds-to-stem-illicit-resale-by-tourists.html
https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/cbd6d15dc491-japanese-sugar-baby-gets-9-yrs-for-scamming-men-out-of-155-mil-yen.html -
Toyota is Going to the Moon! | STJ 240
Wanna become a supporter? https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan
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/ -
Jimmy Kimmel Says US 'Filthy and Disgusting' | STJ 239
Wanna show your support? https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan
DIRT Japan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrv9dmWpNKA
Samurai of Culture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QojixAAtv6M&t=858s
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/ -
What's going on with Ohtani? | STJ 238
Want to show your support? https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan
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/ -
Trans Prisoner's Human Rights Abused? | STJ 237
Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan
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 -
Leave DJ Soda ALONE! | STJ 236
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
Customer Reviews
Fun show
I enjoy this podcast and look forward to each show. Thank you
Cringe
As a former Kagoshima JET from the early 2000’s I was so excited to find this podcast. But host Mitch has made that an impossibility. Mitch is a Las Vegas bro dropped in southern Kyushu who seems to loathe everything about the country he now calls home. From mocking Japanese people, including his co-hosts, to lamenting the customs of his adopted home, I can’t help but wonder why he chooses to continue to live in Japan—a place he so obviously disdains. The only thing that seems to bring him joy is his clearly problematic drinking habit, details of which he proudly boasts in soliloquy form each episode. He’s the white, misogynist American template, looking to be a big fish in a rural, homogeneous pond. Desiring only to drink to excess, bed Japanese women, and exploit the culture, this man-child has sullied the reputation of the once prestigious JET program. Stay away and check out Abroad in Japan with Chris Broad instead.
The main guy is rude and unlistenable
EDIT:
thank you for addressing this. I can be as rude, and as sarcastic as they come, but when you do it to a Japanese woman, it comes off awkward, and it makes me uncomfortable, because of just how respectful their culture is. thanks for addressing this. Just more mindfulness because it could turn off some new listeners.
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You would think the main guy learned a little bit of respect from living in Japan, he’s consistently, rude and disgusting to that Japanese girl and in general. And it’s a shame because it’s good content but I just can’t do it. Have more respect bro.