Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Platform Reach
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Est. Listeners
Based on iTunes & Spotify (publisher stats).
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
1,001 - 10,000 - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
1 - 5,000 - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
501 - 5,000
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
—
* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
Recent episodes
195: Kabukicho: Tokyo's 'stadium of desire'
Jul 22, 2024
41m 44s
194: Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one
Jul 4, 2024
34m 15s
193: Tokyo underground: The city beneath our feet
Jun 20, 2024
28m 27s
192: The sweaty pleasure of Japan’s inconvenient art
Jun 6, 2024
30m 11s
191: What does climate change sound like?
May 23, 2024
39m 17s
Social Links & Contact
Official channels & resources
Official Website
Login
RSS Feed
Login
| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7/22/24 |  195: Kabukicho: Tokyo's 'stadium of desire' | What do street-kid influencers, fantasy boyfriends and around 280 bars crammed into six allies have in common? They are all a part of Kabukicho, an area of Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward that is either a tourist trap or sleazy red-light district depending on who you ask. This week, join us to hear stories from one of Japan's most infamous neighborhoods. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X | InstagramAlex K.T. Martin: Articles | X Moeka Iida: X Yukana Inoue: Articles Read more: Christmastime in Shinjuku Golden Gai (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) How Japan’s host clubs trap young women under mountains of debt (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times) The controversial cult of the host club in Japan (Moeka Iida, The Economist) Toyoko Kids: The lonely street children of Tokyo (Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: One of the many entrances to the Kabukicho neighborhood in Tokyo’s Shinjuku Ward. | GETTY IMAGES | 41m 44s | ||||||
| 7/4/24 |  194: Japan’s summer music festivals are feeling the heat in more ways than one | Japan’s summer music festivals survived the pandemic but they now face new threats: extreme heat, a weak yen and aging audiences. Music writer Patrick St. Michel joins us to talk about the “Big Four” festivals and how these challenges are changing the way we have fun during summer. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramPatrick St. Michel: Articles | Twitter Read/watch more: Can Japan’s summer music festivals adapt to a post-pandemic reality? (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) Is Creepy Nuts’ catchy, rapid-fire ‘Bling-Bang-Bang-Bong’ the song of the year? (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) Japan’s summer offerings include jazz and classical music festivals (Alyssa I. Smith, The Japan Times) “Scream inside your heart” (YouTube) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: You can often see generations of families enjoying performances together at Fuji Rock Festival. | JAMES HADFIELD | 34m 15s | ||||||
| 6/20/24 |  193: Tokyo underground: The city beneath our feet | On this week’s Deep Dive, we speak to Alex K.T. Martin who has done a series of pieces exploring what lies beneath the surface of Tokyo. Hidden rivers, ancient artifacts and crumbling infrastructure are just a few of the discoveries he made during his reporting. And while it’s important to know how we’re going to manage these things as climate change — or more importantly, the possible flooding that comes with it — worsens, sometimes it’s just fascinating to learn about the city beneath our feet. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramAlex K.T. Martin: Articles | Twitter Read/watch more: Tracing Tokyo’s hidden rivers (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Tokyo’s hidden rivers (The Japan Times YouTube channel) The complications in digging up Tokyo’s ancient past (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Tokyo underground: Exploring what lies beneath the world largest city (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Why half of Japan’s cities are at risk of disappearing in 100 year (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: A person walks among thegiant columns supporting the Metropolitan Area Outer Underground Discharge Channel in Saitama Prefecture. | JOHAN BROOKS | 28m 27s | ||||||
| 6/6/24 |  192: The sweaty pleasure of Japan’s inconvenient art | Japan is known for its convenience, but if you want to see some of the best artwork the country has to offer you’ll need to travel way off the beaten path. It involves trekking, sweating and, on the odd occasion, you don’t even know if the art will be there when you arrive. This week, writer Thu-Huong Ha is our tour guide into the world of Japan’s inconvenient art movement. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramThu-Huong Ha: Articles | Twitter | InstagramRead more: Why is the most exciting art in Japan so hard to get to? (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) A list of Japan's remote art sites (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Sixteen hours in Marina Abramovic’s nightmare hotel (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Japan’s birth rate hit new low in 2023 (Kanako Takahara, The Japan Times) Tokyo government to launch dating app in bid to boost birth rate (AFP-Jiji) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: Yayoi Kusama’s “Pumpkin,” once the victim of high waves that dragged it into the sea, sits at the end of a pier on the south side of Naoshima. | LANCE HENDERSTEIN | 30m 11s | ||||||
| 5/23/24 |  191: What does climate change sound like? | With temperatures rising we can all feel how climate change is affecting our lives, but what if we could hear it too? This week, Japan Times climate editor Chris Russell joins us to discuss what researchers at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology are listening to when it comes to biodiversity on the island.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode:Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Chris Russell: Articles | XRead more: Hearing the impact of climate change in Okinawa, one bird at a time (Chris Russell, The Japan Times) Yen rebounds strongly after first slide past ¥160 since 1990 (Bloomberg, Reuters) Weary of overtourism, Japan town blocks one popular view of Mount Fuji (Caroline Gardin, AFP-JIJI) Many COVID experts in Japan harassed after speaking to media, survey shows (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) The politicians moving Japan forward on climate change (Eric Margolis, The Japan Times) Why half of Japan’s cities are at risk of disappearing in 100 years (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: Toshihiro Kinjo (center), a research support technician at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, inspects an audio recording device in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, on April 3 as Masako Ogasawara, a research support specialist at OIST, looks on. | CHRIS RUSSELL | 39m 17s | ||||||
| 4/16/24 |  Japan is doing better on accessibility than you think | With an increase in tourists heading to these parts, some may be wondering if Japan is a safe destination for those with disabilities. If you’re concerned, Josh Grisdale from the website Accessible Japan is here to help. Check out this past interview with him on everything from accessibility in Tokyo to dealing with trains and the country’s shifting attitudes. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.Read more: Accessible Japan Breaking down barriers (Andrew McKirdy, The Japan Times) Tokyo named among the world’s best destinations for disabled travelers (William Lang, The Japan Times) Behind the push to improve universal access in Japan (Mara Budgen, The Japan Times) New film honors life and legacy of disability pioneer Mark Bookman Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X!Photo: From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers. | REUTERS | 29m 16s | ||||||
| 3/25/24 |  190: Sakura stories revisited: Getting in the mood for hanami | We are revisiting some past content on the science, economics and culture of cherry blossom season. Most importantly, we talk about some of the best spots to check them out in the Tokyo and Osaka areas. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.Read more: In Japan, cherry blossom forecasting is a big deal. Warming is making it harder. (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) We invite you to get ready for this year’s cherry blossom parties (Cassandra Lord, The Japan Times) Toshio Katsuki: ‘The cherry blossoms have been my vehicle to find new relationships’ (Himari Semans, The Japan Times) Cherry blossoms are just as beautiful on a plate as a branch (Elizabeth Andoh, The Japan Times) Japan’s economy to bloom as hanami season kicks off (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times) Our guide to family hanami hot spots (Jason Jenkins, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! | 26m 06s | ||||||
| 3/7/24 |  189: A lawsuit puts alleged racial profiling by police on trial in Japan | Three residents with foreign roots have filed a lawsuit claiming Japanese police officers routinely target visible minorities with searches. In this week’s episode, we speak with the lawyer and one plaintiff about what prompted them to bring the case forward and what they hope to achieve with it. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Read more: Lawsuit filed in Tokyo over alleged racial profiling by police (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times) Making Japanese history by being Black history (Baye McNeil, The Japan Times) Brazilian files discrimination suit (Toshi Maeda, The Japan Times) Racial profiling in Japan is prevalent but unseen, some residents say (Victoria Kim and Hisako Ueno, The New York Times) Lawsuit to end racially discriminatory police questioning (CALL4.jp) Stop racially discriminatory police questioning (change.org) How Shohei Ohtani mastered the media (Jason Coskrey, The Japan Times) How to be an all-star sports parent (Mai Yoshikawa, The Japan Times) Ohtani is taken. It’s enough to make you cry. (Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Motoki Taniguchi (left) and one of his clients, Maurice Shelton, hope their lawsuit can change alleged police practices involving stop-and-search. | LOUISE CLAIRE WAGNER | 38m 21s | ||||||
| 2/29/24 | ![[Rebroadcast] Traveling Okinawa with a broken heart episode artwork](https://audioboom.com/i/41450694/s=1400x1400/el=1/rt=fill.jpg) [Rebroadcast] Traveling Okinawa with a broken heart | This week on Deep Dive, contributing writer and photographer Lance Henderstein reads us his article on traveling Okinawa during the rainy season. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | InstagramLance Henderstein: Articles | Instagram | ThreadsRead/Listen more: My annual pilgrimage to Okinawa (Lance Henderstein, The Japan Times) Akiko Mizuno: ‘Time moves forward. Photographers stop time.’ (Lance Henderstein, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: Aoi Suzuki’s son runs past a home in Taketomi on Iriomote Island (not to be confused with Taketomi Island, which lies to the east of Iriomote). The Suzukis run the Takemori Inn, one of the few hotels on Iriomote. | LANCE HENDERSTEIN | 20m 26s | ||||||
| 2/22/24 |  188: A young 3/11 survivor and her vow to protect the ocean | At 12, Miku Narisawa experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake. The ensuing and tsunami destroyed her home. Instead of running from the ocean, however, she is now working to try to protect it through her Odyssey Nature Japan initiative. On this episode:Miku Narisawa: Instagram | Odyssey Nature JapanRead more/Listen more: After 3/11, an environment education rethink takes shape in Japan (Francesco Bassetti, The Japan Times) COP28, didn't the oceans deserve more attention? (Miku Narisawa, The Japan Times) Japan is about to release 1.3 million tons of Fukushima wastewater. Should we be concerned? (Mara Budgen, Deep Dive from The Japan Times) Anger at Fukushima’s wastewater; hope in its renewables (Gabriele Ninivaggi, Anika Osaki Exsum, Francesco Bassetti Deep Dive from The Japan Times) Preparing for the hottest year Japan has ever seen (Eric Margolis, The Japan Times) TOMODACHI Kibou for Maui Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: Yasuhiro Otomo and Miku Narisawa during one of Odyssey Nature Japan's educational fishing programs. | ODYSSEY | 32m 37s | ||||||
Want analysis for the episodes below?Free for Pro Submit a request, we'll have your selected episodes analyzed within an hour. Free, at no cost to you, for Pro users. | |||||||||
| 2/15/24 |  187: Hunting in Hokkaido; Taylor Swift comes to Tokyo | You probably don’t think of guns when you think of Japan, but Hokkaido’s hunters do. Hokkaido-based writer Justin Randall says newly proposed gun laws may make their lives more dangerous. Later, Shaun McKenna and Alyssa I. Smith discuss something less dangerous: Taylor Swift’s sold-out Tokyo shows.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode:Justin Randall: Articles | LinktreeAlyssa I. Smith: Articles Read more/Listen more: Hokkaido hunters say more firepower means more humane kills (Justin Randall, The Japan Times) How are firearms regulated in Japan? (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times) Bear goes the neighborhood? Japanese wildlife is on the move. (Alex K.T. Martin, Deep Dive from The Japan Times) Most Japanese outside major urban areas say they do not engage with foreign nationals (Kyodo) Taylor Swift slays her Tokyo era (Allan Richarz, The Japan Times) Fans share love for Taylor Swift at sold-out Tokyo shows (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) Welcome to Japan, Taylor Swift fans. Please remain seated as you cheer. (Motoko Rich and Kiuko Notoya, The New York Times) Seiji Ozawa’s boundless experiment (Chiho Iuchi, The Japan Times) The story behind my favorite photo of Seiji Ozawa (Dan Szpara, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: Naoko Motooka began hunting 10 years ago. Her hobby is one way Hokkaido hopes to curb a current boom in the deer population. | JUSTIN RANDALL | 35m 35s | ||||||
| 2/8/24 |  186: Japan’s take on immortality; problems in Palworld | Who wants to live forever? As scientists and tech billionaires attempt to tackle the problem of aging and death, we discuss Japanese ideas about immortality. Later, our games writers discuss the recent Palworld-Pokemon flare up. On this episode: Elizabeth Beattie: Articles | X Owen Ziegler: Articles Ann-Loy Morgan: Articles Read more/Watch more/Play more: Eternal pursuits: A history of Japanese quests for immortality (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Living until 100, if not forever, in good health (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) The digital beyond: Is an eternal existence within grasp? (Elizabeth Beattie, The Japan Times) Reverse aging mogul discusses regimen as he strives for the biological age of an 18-year-old (ABC News) Overnight smash Palworld is much more than ‘Pokemon with guns’ (Ann-Loy Morgan, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: GETTY IMAGES | 34m 53s | ||||||
| 2/1/24 |  185: Japan’s historic moon landing was right on target | Japan made history last month when it became the fifth nation to soft land on the moon. What’s more, they landed it close to their target, a feat that could be a gamechanger for space travel. This week we discuss the science and the politics behind Japan’s lunar landing. On this episode:Joel Tansey: Articles | XTomoko Otake: Articles | XGabriel Dominguez: Articles | XRead more/Watch more/Play more: Japan makes history as spacecraft lands on the moon (Tomoko Otake and Joel Tansey, The Japan Times) One small step for a JAXA spacecraft, one giant leap for exploration (Elizabeth Tasker, The Japan Times) Japan’s moonshot may mark breakthrough for future lunar missions (Gabriel Dominguez, The Japan Times) Geopolitics in space: Why great powers are scrambling for the moon (Gabriel Dominguez, The Japan Times) SLIM Moon Landing Live & Press Conference (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, YouTube) SORA-Q Flagship Model (Takara Tomy) SLIM: The pinpoint moon landing game (JAXA Space Education Center) Artemis Accords (U.S. Dept. of State) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) is seen on the surface of the moon in an image released Jan. 25. | JAPAN AEROSPACE EXPLORATION AGENCY (JAXA), TAKARA TOMY, SONY GROUP, DOSHINSHA UNIVERSITY/ VIA REUTERS | 35m 21s | ||||||
| 1/18/24 |  184: Japan rings in 2024 with an unwelcome disaster | It was a rough start to 2024 for Japan, with a magnitude 7.6 earthquake and an airplane collision at Haneda airport in the first week of January. On our first episode of the year, we report on the impact of the Noto Peninsula earthquake and what can be learned from rural disasters. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Jordan Allen: Articles Karin Kaneko: Articles | X Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | X Read more: “Noto is kind, right down to its soil”: A community’s long road to recovery (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) How Japan’s violent New Year’s quake felt in Toyama (Jordan Allen, The Japan Times) In Ishikawa, shelter for people but not four-legged friends (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times) Nationwide donation effort for earthquake-hit Ishikawa gains steam (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times) Noto quake: “In times of crisis, all we have is each other” (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times) Photo essay; Inside the Ishikawa earthquake disaster zone (Daniel Traylor, The Japan Times) Noto community’s long road to recovery from the New Year’s quake (Dave Cortez, YouTube) “Our minds are blank”: How ‘earthquake resilient’ Japan fails its ageing rural communities (Justin McCurry, The Guardian) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: Cars drive past a damaged road, in the aftermath of an earthquake, in Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture. | KIM KYUNG-HOON, REUTERS | 38m 02s | ||||||
| 12/14/23 |  183: Big in Japan 2023: Anime, Murakami and Legend of Zelda | For our last episode of the year, we’re summing up the year in culture with Matt Schley, Alyssa I. Smith, Thu-Huong Ha and Owen Ziegler, who tell us why anime dominated in 2023, which books stood out among a lackluster crowd and why the Zelda franchise is experiencing a renaissance.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode:Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Matt Schley: Articles | X Alyssa I. Smith: ArticlesThu-Huong Ha: Articles | X Owen Ziegler: Articles Read more: The year that defined the post-Miyazaki era (Matt Schley, The Japan Times) J-pop's global ambitions came closer to reality in 2023 (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) ‘The Great Reclamation’ details the horrors of the foreign occupation in Singapore (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Saou Ichikawa’s 'Hunchback': A darkly funny portrait of disability (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Understanding the LDP political funding scandal and its implications (Kanako Takahara, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: A still from The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom | NINTENDO | 35m 04s | ||||||
| 12/7/23 |  182: Feeling anxious? Wastewater, heat and Japan’s year in climate | In a year that saw Japan release 24,000 tons of wastewater (so far) from Fukushima No. 1 as the planet smashed heat records, it’s no wonder climate anxiety is on the rise. Mara Budgen joins us to break down the year in environment news, where we could see hope, and what we should be worried about.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.Excerpt for Audioboom: On this episode:Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Mara Budgen: Articles | X Read more: How simple steps can help alleviate climate anxiety (Joel Tansey, The Japan Times) Fall is the new summer: Warming threatens Japan’s cultural calendar (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) In Japan, extreme heat and an aging population are a deadly mix (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) The concrete forest: Bears, boars and more head to the cities (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) New solutions tackle Japan’s waste problem at its core (Mariko McTier, The Japan Times) Japan is about to release 1.3 million tons of Fukushima wastewater. Should we be concerned? (Mara Budgen, The Japan Times) Japan sticks with climate solution that critics say is far from clean (Annelise Giseburt, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: The Climate Action Network holds an event at the venue of the U.N. climate change conferences in Dubai on Sunday to give its "fossil" award to countries including Japan. | KYODO | 32m 39s | ||||||
| 11/30/23 |  181: A problematic otaku dictionary and the Japanese approach to sitting | An “Otaku Dictionary” has Japan’s subcultures upset at an attempt to define them. Thu-Huong Ha and Yukana Inoue join us to explain the linguistic scandal before discussing whether or not Japan has mastered “sitting.” On this episode:Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Thu-Huong Ha: Articles | X Yukana Inoue: ArticlesRead more: How a dictionary came to spark outrage among the web’s otaku (Thu-Huong Ha and Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times) Test your otaku vocabulary, from 'oshi' to bacon lettuce’ (Thu-Huong Ha and Yukana Inoue, The Japan Times) Let the gaming begin: A guide to Tokyo’s video game landmarks (W. Tanner Kirk, The Japan Times) Has Japan mastered sitting? (Thu-Huong Ha, The Japan Times) Bedbugs are spreading in South Korea and China. Is Japan next? (Karin Kaneko, The Japan Times) Japan to start trial of over-the-counter sales of morning after pill (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: Pages from a new Otaku Dictionary catalog the lexicons of Japan’s various subcultures. | TAIDGH BARRON | 38m 30s | ||||||
| 11/22/23 |  180: Things get warmer with Xi; Johnny’s get the cold shoulder | Chinese President Xi Jinping made the rounds at APEC last week, Gabriel Dominguez tells us what it means for Japan. At home, NHK has announced its “Kohaku” lineup — with nary a Johnny’s act to be found. Patrick St. Michel discusses the year’s most notable snub. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Gabriel Dominquez: Articles | X Patrick St. Michel: Articles | X Read more: Kishida and Xi aim for trade progress despite lingering tensions (Gabriel Dominguez and Gabrielle Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) 'Offensive' and 'defensive' diplomacy: Managing ties with China (Hotaka Machida, The Japan Times) NHK ditches Johnny's acts for year-end musical bonanza (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) Takeshi Kitano, comedian, film director, actor, painter, writer, singer (FCCJ, YouTube) Scandal-hit Takarazuka to set up experts panel to improve culture (The Japan Times) With ‘Idol,’ Yoasobi pens a new chapter in J-pop’s story (Patrick St. Michel, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Photo: An official shot for this year’s lineup for NHK’s annual “Kohaku Uta Gassen.” | KYODO | 35m 48s | ||||||
| 11/16/23 |  179: Bear goes the neighborhood? Japanese wildlife is on the move | As nature reclaims depopulated villages and climate change wreaks havoc on food sources, Japan’s animal population has been inching closer to the country’s urban areas. This week, Alex K.T. Martin joins us to discuss why people are encountering bears, boars and other wildlife in the most unlikely of places.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Alex K.T. Martin: Articles | X Dave Cortez: Articles | XRead more: The concrete forest: Bears, boars and more head for the cities (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) A saury state of affairs: How the price of ‘autumn’s fish’ skyrocketed (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) In the shadow of the Fukushima disaster, an unusual experiment in rewilding (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Samurai Restaurant Time gives kitschy thrills fit for Kabukicho (Laura Pollacco, The Japan Times) Japan set to scrap rule requiring testing of new drugs on Japanese (Kathleen Benoza, The Japan Times) Japan women prisoners suffer serious abuse: Human Rights Watch (Tomohiro Osaki, AFP-JIJI) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: Bears doing yoga? If you’re in the city, why not? | GETTY IMAGES | 22m 13s | ||||||
| 11/9/23 |  178: Japan’s ‘four-eyed tax hiker’ and the curse of Colonel Sanders | Baseball writer Jason Coskrey and editor Joel Tansey discuss the Hanshin Tigers’ Japan Series victory; Gabriele Ninivaggi explains how the prime minister hopes to get a home run with his tax plan.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Gabriele Ninivaggi: Articles | X Dave Cortez: Articles | XJason Coskrey: Articles | XJoel Tansey: Articles | XRead/View more: Hotly debated tax cuts risk backfiring on Kishida administration (Gabriele Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) Kishida unveils ¥17 trillion stimulus package amid pushback (Gabriele Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) G7 top diplomats call for ‘humanitarian pauses’ in Israel-Hamas war (Gabriele Ninivaggi, The Japan Times) Tigers beat Buffaloes in Game 7 to end 38-year Japan Series drought (Jason Coskrey, The Japan Times) Sheldon Neuse and the catch that ended the Tigers’ 38-year drought (Jason Coskrey, The Japan Times) Osaka erupts in celebrations as Tigers win Japan Series (Joel Tansey, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: A man dressed as Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Colonel Sanders jumps into the Dotonbori River in Osaka after the Hanshin Tigers won the Japan Series. | KYODO | 32m 02s | ||||||
| 11/2/23 |  177: Why single mothers in Japan have been left behind | Single parents in Japan have it tough, but these hardships seem to disproportionately affect single mothers more. This week, filmmaker Rionne McAvoy joins us to discuss the hidden poverty present in one of the world’s richest nations.Hosted by Mara Budgen and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Mara Budgen: Articles | X Rionne McAvoy: Website | X Read/View more: Documentary shines a spotlight on Japan’s single mothers (Louise George Kittaka, The Japan Times) Pandemic magnifies household gender roles in Japan (Mara Budgen, The Japan Times) “The Ones Left Behind: The Plight of Single Mothers in Japan” (official website) Heartful Family Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on X! Image Caption (JT): A scene from "The Ones Left Behind," which documents the successes and struggles of single mothers in Japan. | JAPAN MEDIA SERVICES | 36m 54s | ||||||
| 10/26/23 |  176: The specter of Itaewon has Shibuya spooked | One year on, Elizabeth Beattie joins us to discuss where Itaewon stands after its Halloween disaster, and what its legacy means for celebrations in Japan. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X Elizabeth Beattie: Articles | X Read/View more: Halloween’s rise in the 2010s provided Shibuya crossing with plenty of tricks and treats (Mike Sunda, The Japan Times) Halloween spooks Shibuya (Matt Alt, Matt Alt’s Pure Invention) Calls grow to abolish Japan’s surgery requirement for gender change (Tomoko Otake, The Japan Times) Germany set to eclipse Japan as No. 3 economy in 2023, IMF says (Elizabeth Beattie, The Japan Times) What South Korea’s frequent protests say about its politics (Choe Sang-hun and Chang W. Lee, The New York Times) What went wrong in the South Korean ferry disaster (The New Yorker, YouTube) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: A banner at the entrance to Shibuya’s Center Street makes it clear this is no place for a party. | TAIDGH BARON | 32m 14s | ||||||
| 10/19/23 |  175: Table for one? What depopulation in Japan means for dinner. | This week on Deep Dive, Alex K.T. Martin noticed a dip in the national caloric intake and it turns out that a graying population that is increasingly single has something to do with why Japan is gradually downsizing dinner.Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X | InstagramAlex K.T. Martin: Articles | X | Instagram Read/Listen more: Downsizing dinner: Aging Japan is eating less (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Inside Japan’s oldest village (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Work forever: Japan’s seniors brace for life without retirement (Alex K.T. Martin, The Japan Times) Boom in ‘pet guardianship’ amid rise in elderly and singles (Kyodo) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: A woman takes her meal alone in Tokyo's Yanaka neighborhood. | LANCE HENDERSTEIN | 28m 23s | ||||||
| 10/12/23 | ![[Rebroadcast] Japan’s got ghosts episode artwork](https://audioboom.com/i/41007373/s=1400x1400/el=1/rt=fill.jpg) [Rebroadcast] Japan’s got ghosts | This week on Deep Dive, Shaun McKenna and Dave Cortez discuss a few horror movies before “Uncanny Japan” podcast host Thersa Matsuura tells a classic Japanese ghost story. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez.On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | X | InstagramDave Cortez: Articles | X Thersa Matsuura: Website | X | Instagram | YouTubeRead/Listen more: The ghosts that have been haunting cinema-goers in Japan for over a century (Mark Schilling, The Japan Times) 10 days of J-horror: From funny frights to shock and gore (Mark Schilling, The Japan Times) Scary Japanese stories to read in the dark (Haruka Murayama, The Japan Times) Uncanny Japan Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. For a transcript of the show, visit japantimes.co.jp, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: The classic Japanese ghost story often features a vengeful female ghost. | GETTY IMAGES | 41m 46s | ||||||
| 10/5/23 | ![[Rebroadcast] What should you expect when you land a job in Japan? episode artwork](https://audioboom.com/i/40983667/s=1400x1400/el=1/rt=fill.jpg) [Rebroadcast] What should you expect when you land a job in Japan? | The team at Deep Dive is taking a short break. We'll be back in mid-October, but in the meantime, enjoy this rebroadcast of our discussion with consultant Rochelle Kopp in April about how best to navigate your work life in Japan. Hosted by Shaun McKenna and produced by Dave Cortez. On this episode: Shaun McKenna: Articles | Twitter | Instagram Rochelle Kopp: Articles | Twitter Read more: Help wanted: The (sleeper) agent of change (Rochelle Kopp, The Japan Times) Get in touch: Send us feedback at deepdive@japantimes.co.jp. Support the show by rating, reviewing and sharing the episode with a friend if you’ve enjoyed it. And don’t forget to follow us on Twitter! Photo: A businessman waits to cross a street in Tokyo in April 2011. | REUTERS | 13m 17s | ||||||
Showing 25 of 214
Sponsor Intelligence
Sign in to see which brands sponsor this podcast, their ad offers, and promo codes.
Chart Positions
1 placement across 1 market.
Chart Positions
1 placement across 1 market.