181 episodes
Voices in Japan Voices in Japan
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- Society & Culture
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4.9 • 39 Ratings
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Discover what everyday life in Japan is REALLY like! Weekly podcast episodes with half-Japanese/half-American Burke (20 years in Japan), Ben from England (15 years in Japan), and Matt from Australia (18 years in Japan). All three of them are based in Hokkaido, which is Japan's #1 domestic travel destination! These guys and their guests share their experiences with dating, marriage, working at Japanese companies, teaching at all education levels, traditions, martial arts, the struggles of life here, and the reasons why Japan is truly an amazing place to be living!
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The Best Ways to Spend Your Free Time in Japan
While Matt is still on vacation, Ben and Burke look at the news about flying taxis, a strange new dish from Domino’s Pizza in Japan that is covered with an egg sauce, and Coca-Cola's newest alcoholic drink in Japan, an official Jack and Coke. Then, they dive deep into the most enjoyed hobbies by Japanese people and how those compare with the most popular hobbies for Western people. And who takes their hobbies more seriously, Japanese or Westerners?
Sponsors:
Bearfoot Bar
Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A wide range of regular and unique spirits and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. With friendly English and Japanese speaking staff. https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar
The Red House
Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/
Rusutsu Lodges
Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com
Hokkaido Guide
Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com
Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!
Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://youtube.com/@voicesinjapanpodcast
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/
Get in touch:
voicesinjapan@gmail.com
Help support us at:
https://www.patreon.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan
Support the show -
Sushi Shops Strike Back!
Ben and Burke catch up on the latest developments in the ongoing saga of sushi terrorists versus "kaiten zushi" (conveyor belt sushi) restaurants in Japan. Arrests have been made, AI cameras have been installed, and the service level has dropped. Ben and Burke also discuss their recent visits to some chain sushi restaurants in Japan and the changes they've noticed, and also discover the most popular sushi dishes of Japanese people!
Sponsors:
Bearfoot Bar
Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A wide range of regular and unique spirits and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. With friendly English and Japanese speaking staff. https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar
The Red House
Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/
Rusutsu Lodges
Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com
Hokkaido Guide
Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com
Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!
Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://youtube.com/@voicesinjapanpodcast
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/
Get in touch:
voicesinjapan@gmail.com
Help support us at:
https://www.patreon.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan
Support the show -
Understanding Akira Kurosawa's High and Low
Special guest and friend Danny joins Ben and Matt on the podcast to break down and discuss one of Akira Kurosawa's lesser known but still great movies, High and Low. WARNING: there are spoilers!
Sponsors:
Bearfoot Bar
Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A wide range of regular and unique spirits and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. With friendly English and Japanese speaking staff. https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar
The Red House
Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/
Rusutsu Lodges
Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com
Hokkaido Guide
Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com
Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!
Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://youtube.com/@voicesinjapanpodcast
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/
Get in touch:
voicesinjapan@gmail.com
Podcast:
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Help support us at:
https://www.patreon.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan
Support the show -
Space Balloon Tourism and Japanese People Struggling to Love Work
Ben, Matt, and Burke discover a space balloon tourism company in their very own city of Sapporo! Meanwhile, Matt recently visited one of Hokkaido's most popular festivals in the port city of Otaru and calms Ben's fears of any possible fire hazards at the festival. Then Ben dives deep into understanding why Japanese people continue to hate their jobs in Japan. Do the guys feel the same? Listen to find out now!
Sponsors:
Bearfoot Bar
Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A wide range of regular and unique spirits and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. With friendly English and Japanese speaking staff. https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar
The Red House
Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/
Rusutsu Lodges
Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com
Hokkaido Guide
Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com
Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!
Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://youtube.com/@voicesinjapanpodcast
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/
Get in touch:
voicesinjapan@gmail.com
Help support us at:
https://www.patreon.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan
Support the show -
The Best Japanese for Traveling and Daily Life in Japan
Ben, Matt, and Burke review the best Japanese words and phrases for traveling and daily life in Japan. They also go over some rules related to photography in Japan, hear about an epic snowboarding trip on Kurodake (one of Hokkaido's tallest mountains), and discuss a Yale professor's comments that seemed to suggest elderly people in Japan should consider mass suicide.
Sponsors:
Bearfoot Bar
Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A wide range of regular and unique spirits and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. With friendly English and Japanese speaking staff. https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar
The Red House
Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/
Rusutsu Lodges
Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com
Hokkaido Guide
Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com
Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!
Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://youtube.com/@voicesinjapanpodcast
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/
Get in touch:
voicesinjapan@gmail.com
Help support us at:
https://www.patreon.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan
Support the show -
Useful Phrases for Meeting Japanese People
Matt, Ben, and Burke discuss useful phrases for meeting Japanese people based on an article from Jobs in Japan. They also review the recently completed 73rd Sapporo Snow Festival, gross crimes occurring at conveyor belt sushi restaurants in Japan, and Japanese crime bosses living in the Philippine jail system.
Sponsors:
Bearfoot Bar
Located in downtown Sapporo, walking distance from the subway station. There are variety of Japanese made craft bottled beers. A wide range of regular and unique spirits and basic cocktails also available. Burgers and pub style snacks. With friendly English and Japanese speaking staff. https://www.facebook.com/bearfootbar
The Red House
Located in the heart of Rusutsu Ski Resort, just cross the main road and it’s behind the Seicomart Convenience store. The restaurant features a mix of Japanese, Asian fusion, and western Style dishes, including shabu-shabu with wagyu beef and Hokkaido wagyu beef steak. Open winter and summer, 12-3pm for lunch, 5-9pm for dinner, with prices ranging from under Yen 1000 to about Yen 5000. https://theredhouse.jp/
Rusutsu Lodges
Open all year round. Located 5 minutes walk to the main Rusutsu Ski Resort Gondola. There are Japanese, Western, and apartment style rooms with breakfast packages available. There’s a Japanese sento (public bath), two convenience stores less than a minute walk, ski room and tune up tables, plenty of free parking space, and summer BBQ packages available. Check out the website for more information and availability. http://rusutsulodges.com
Hokkaido Guide
Established over 10 years ago, written by locals for locals and international tourists. The guide contains information on all types of businesses and locations around Hokkaido. There's information regarding all things Hokkaido such as sightseeing, nightlife, events, services, food and restaurants, entertainment, outdoor activities, and more. Currently offered in English and Thai, advertising space available. Check out website for everything you need to know about this beautiful prefecture. https://hokkaidoguide.com
Use our Buzzsprout affiliate link to start your podcast today!
Website:
https://www.voicesinjapan.com/
Follow us and check out our other content:
https://youtube.com/@voicesinjapanpodcast
https://twitter.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.facebook.com/voicesinjapan/
https://www.instagram.com/voicesinjapan/
Get in touch:
voicesinjapan@gmail.com
Help support us at:
https://www.patreon.com/voicesinjapan
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/voicesinjapan
Support the show
Customer Reviews
Big Fan of the Pod
I listen to VIJ at work almost every day. I really enjoy the dialogue and the info these goobers put out, as I have been interested in visiting Japan for a very long time. Now that the country is opened back up, hopefully soon I will get the opportunity to visit Sapporo myself- a place I didn’t know anything about until this podcast. Keep up the good work!
Finally kept a podcast app installed.
I don’t really listen to podcast very much, though I do turn on YouTube and let it play in the background and listen. Not sure, but I generally seem to prefer the content on YouTube, and all the podcast apps I’ve ever installed have been uninstalled after a week or so because everything I find is boring, even if the topic would interest in another format. However, I’ve found myself binging these throughout work today (I work in solitude with a few breaks where I interact with clients) and I’ll keep binging. For me, the content has been really enjoyable.
I’m learning so much about Japanese culture!
I’d been searching for months for a good podcast that talks about Japanese culture, and finally found this amazing podcast. This is a great podcast that delves into what it’s like to live in Japan, Japanese culture and customs, and even travel tips. Not only is this podcast informative, but it’s also relaxing to listen to, sort of like hanging out with your friends. I’ve listened to almost all of the episodes now going from beginning to present and every episode is wonderful.