The Tofugu Podcast: Japan And Japanese Language

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty The JET Program recruits hundreds of new English teachers every year to live and work in Japan. You could be one of them. But before you apply, there are some things to consider. What is the salary like? What are the benefits? Do you get any support? And most importantly, what is living in Japan REALLY like? Jamal asks Michael, a former JET ALT and current President of JET Alumni Association in Portland, all these questions and more (a lot more). The JET Program isn’t for everyone, but it could be for YOU! The only way to know for sure is to get your questions answered, and this podcast will answer almost all of them (probably about 90%). The rest you can ask us on Twitter (https://twitter.com/tofugu). --- For a complete guide on the JET Program, outlining the experience from start to finish, check out Tofugu’s JET Program Guide: https://www.tofugu.com/series/jet-program/ iTunes:https://tfg.li/tofugu-podcast Google Play: https://tfg.li/tofugu-gplay

To learn more about Japanese black companies, check out our article on Tofugu: https://tfg.li/2v0V0jv --- Do you want to work in Japan? Sure, we all do. But before you take that sweet new job with the Tokyo semiconductor conglomerate, maybe you should do some research to find out if it's a... BLACK COMPANY! (dun dun dun) "Black company" is the name Japanese people give to companies that are not so great to work for. Sexual harassment, unpaid overtime, required alcohol consumption, bullying; you name and a black company does it (to you). Kanae, our current Tofugu intern, used to work at a black company in Tokyo, and she shares her experience so YOU can avoid these problems. Learn all the warning signs of Japanese black companies, which may be hard for foreigners to see (because they're entering into unfamiliar territory anyway). After listening to this podcast, you'll be able to steer clear of unhealthy work environments and straight into that sweet, sweet dream job in Japan. iTunes:https://tfg.li/tofug

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty This week, Michael and Koichi discuss career opportunities in Japanese Studies with Shinpai Deshou blog founder, Paula Curtis. Paula is well acquainted with the academic and professional aspects of Japanese Studies and dedicates her time in assisting others to further their careers along with contributors to the blog. Discussed in the episode: - What Japanese Studies entails - Options after getting your B.A. - Resources on finding and landing a career - Integrating secondary skills into your career hunt You can hear more from Paula at: Shinapi Deshou: shinpaideshou.wordpress.com Paula's digital portfolio: prcurtis.com Paula's bilingual digital archive: http://carvingcommunity-dentouart.com/ Paula's Twitter: @paularcurtis iTunes:https://tfg.li/tofugu-podcast Google Play: https://tfg.li/tofugu-gplay

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty What if you were forced to live using ONLY Japanese vending products for one whole year? Impossible, right? Maybe not. Koichi, Kanae, and Michael answer this question as they live through the scenario, step-by-step. Follow their journey from naked in Narita airport to living like royalty on the bounty of Japan’s vending services. After listening to this podcast, you’ll know every kind of Japanese vending machine there is, as well as WHY there are so many vending machines in Japan. And on your next trip, you’ll be able to enjoy the rich blessings of vending machines without the curse of butthole money (all will be explained in the podcast). iTunes:https://tfg.li/tofugu-podcast Google Play: https://tfg.li/tofugu-gplay

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty For the first time ever, members of the Tofugu staff sit around and answer your Japanese language, living, and visiting questions. We answer questions like: - Are the Yakuza dangerous? - How old do you have to be to be an ALT through JET? - Should you go to a nomikai even if you don't drink alcohol? - Have we ever eaten Crayons? - Should someone live in Japan for six months or twelve? - And more? Probably? We didn't check carefully, so there are probably more questions that I didn't add to the description. iTunes:https://tfg.li/tofugu-podcast Google Play: https://tfg.li/tofugu-gplay

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty Hotels are easy, comfortable, and consistent. But did you know that there are other--sometimes odd--places that you can spend the night? Michael and Koichi talk about their experiences staying in love hotels, capsule hotels, manga cafes, business hotels, ryokans, hostels, and more. Be sure to stay in one of the places if you can. They're experiences worth trying (and much cheaper than hotels usually, too)! iTunes:https://tfg.li/tofugu-podcast Google Play: https://tfg.li/tofugu-gplay

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty There's a good chance that you're using a Japanese resource that's merely tricking you into thinking you're being efficient. These companies make more money, and you get a false sense of "feeling good" and "feeling like you're making progress." In actuality, you aren't learning nearly as effectively as you could be, not to mention efficiently! In this episode, Michael and Koichi argue that actual efficiency has more to do with "creating the right kind of suffering" in your Japanese studies. They also talk about which popular Japanese learning tools actually help you to be efficient, versus the ones that trick you into thinking you're being efficient. And, of course, because this episode is about efficiency, they also show why (and how) you should spend less time so you can learn more Japanese. Sounds like it doesn't make sense, but if you listen, you'll understand why this is important. By the way, we also write about learning Japanese: http://tofugu.com/japanes

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty Visiting Japan and don't know what to eat? Sushi and ramen are great, but you don't want to spend your vacation eating the same things every day. That's why Michael and Kanae discuss their favorite Japanese foods (and where to find them), so you can step off the plane ready to eat. Whether you're a picky eater to the steel-stomached vacuum, this podcast has something for everyone. Oh, and if you think you've tried everything Japan has to offer, Kanae has a special list of "adventurous" foods you've definitely (probably) not tried. You'll learn: - Where to eat Japan's batter-fried goodness - What Japanese fishermen eat on the regular - Places to eat chicken buttholes - The main types of Japanese restaurants iTunes:https://tfg.li/tofugu-podcast Google Play: https://tfg.li/tofugu-gplay

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty This week, Koichi and Michael chat with Kewl0210, a manga scanlator. For those who don't know, a scanlator is a person who scans, translates, and uploads manga online for free. This practice is highly controversial in the translation community and technically illegal. Michael and Koichi discuss the many facets of this practice, including: - How to learn Japanese through scanlation - Where scanlators source their manga - How they choose which manga to scanlate - Why they're faster than the pros - Bitter scanlation group rivalries For more from Kewl0210:
http://hiwamatanoboru.com/ We do not condone, endorse, or support this practice or project and do not encourage others to attempt it. iTunes:https://tfg.li/tofugu-podcast Google Play: https://tfg.li/tofugu-gplay

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty The whole gang gets together this week to discuss learning Japanese in a classroom. Everyone on the show has had different experiences learning Japanese, so it's an especially interesting look into the process. If you're currently in or considering taking a Japanese class, this is an essential listen. You'll hear a range of perspectives from: - Kristen's traditional route - Koichi's mixed educational experiences - Michael's self-taught journey - Kanae's native Japanese classes

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty This week, Michael and Koichi get the opportunity to chat with writer, translator, and interpreter, Frederik Schodt. Fred is known for working closely with the “God of Manga” himself, Osamu Tezuka, as a translator and interpreter. He is also one of the first writers to help bring manga to the western world with his landmark book, "Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics." Fans of Osamu Tezuka (and manga in general) will enjoy this interview with the man who helped shape Tezuka’s voice and influence in the West. They discuss: - Fred’s roots in manga translation - What working with Osamu Tezuka is like - His thoughts on the manga translation industry - The path he took to become an interpreter - What was under Osamu Tezuka’s famous beret - The process in translating "The Osamu Tezuka Story" biography To hear more from Frederik Schodt, check out the links below: Frederik Schodt’s website: http://www.jai2.com/index.htm Twitter: https://twitter.com/fschodt *Ne

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty This week the whole gang comes together to discuss their personal experiences with discrimination in Japan. Join us as we try to navigate this complex issue without painting Japanese people with a “broad brush.” In this episode, we discuss: - What it means to be “accepted” by Japan - Passive & active curiosity - Why Michael stared down a foreigner - Why old Japanese ladies hate Koichi

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty In this episode, Michael, Koichi, and Kristen talk about their top onsen experiences. We discuss our initial impressions with onsen, how their first time getting naked in front of a bunch of people went, break down some myths and fears surrounding onsen, and even talk about monkey poop. Learn why Koichi thinks public onsen are better, nobody cares if you're naked, and how Michael almost became an internet celebrity for his "buns".

Visit our guest: http://www.altjapan.com/ This week Michael sits down with the co-founder of AltJapan, Matt Alt, to discuss the content and process of localizing ancient Japanese texts by the original yokai scholar, Toriyama Sekien, to create his new book, "Japandemonium Illustrated." They discuss the arduous process Matt and his team went through to find, translate, and annotate these Edo period texts. This is a must-listen for aspiring translators and students of Japanese. It provides a fascinating look into the process of localization and the history of Japanese publishing. To hear more from Matt and AltJapan, check out the links below: AltJapan: http://www.altjapan.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Matt_Alt *New Book!* Japandemonium Illustrated: https://www.amazon.com/Japandemonium-Illustrated-Encyclopedias-Toriyama-Sekien/dp/0486800350

Visit our guest at: http://www.spoon-tamago.com/ This week, Michael has a conversation with the creator and curator of Spoon & Tamago, Johnny Strategy. As an architecture expert, Johnny gives Michael (and you) four excellent Tokyo walking tours that show off some of Japan's most stellar buildings. Johnny also touches on the Japanese design scene and what his experience was like growing up in Japan. Plus, there are a some neat anecdotes like the time Johnny ruined Studio Ghibli for everybody and the time Johnny changed the course of One Punch Man. To hear more from Johnny, check out the links below: Spoon & Tamago: http://www.spoon-tamago.com/ S&P eShop: https://shop.spoon-tamago.com/ Curated Tokyo Guides: http://www.spoon-tamago.com/tokyoguide/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SpoonTamago

Find us at: www.tofugu.com/ This week Koichi and Michael discuss the advantages of going to Japan to learn Japanese rather than spend time and money in a classroom. They offer practical advice for making your trip to Japan an impactful learning experience and a fun, long-lasting memory. Topics include: - One (basically) free trick to get a ton of random Japanese people to talk to you, in Japanese, so you can have non-stop conversation practice while in Japan. - When to get the really cheap airplane tickets to Japan. - Getting over your fear of talking to strangers (that speak Japanese). - How being in Japan is like a "natural SRS," and how it guides you to what you need to learn next (something very difficult for teachers to do). - How to make convenience stores, police officers, and people trying to get you into their restaurant into language practice partners. - How flying to Japan, renting a hotel room, and eating three meals a day can be cheaper than taking a class. - What to do to prepare yourself for

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty This week Koichi and Michael talk to Zack Davisson, an award winning translator, writer, and Japanese folklore expert to discuss yokai. From the well known kappa to the obscure nebutori, Zack covers it all in this week's podcast! What you can take away from today's episode: - What is a yokai? - Different types of yokai - History of Japanese folklore - Different types of folklore - Japan's views on ghosts - Koichi's views on ghosts If you'd like to hear more from Zack, visit his blog: https://hyakumonogatari.com/ Zack's Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZackDavisson Zack's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaidankai/ Zack's books: https://hyakumonogatari.com/book-store/

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty Strap in, folks. This is a long one. We invited Jack and David from SakéOne, a local sake brewery in Oregon, to come to the Tofugu office so we could learn how to taste sake. And boy, did we taste some sake. They brought six bottles, three domestic and three imported, and drank our way to knowledge about the sake brewing process, different types of sake, and how Michael is actually a grain of rice. Here's some things you'll learn in today's episode: - How sake is made - Why sake tasting is more fun than wine tasting - Why American sake, historically, hasn't been that great (and why that's changing) - Prefectures that make the best sake - Why sake doesn't give you hangovers - The different types of sake - What foods pair well with sake - If sake is better chilled or warmed - The future of the sake business Big thanks to Jack and David from SakéOne for trekking all the way to our office and bringing so much delicious booze. We had a great time. Everybody, go check

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty Koichi and Michael talk with Kay from the Japan National Tourism Organization (that's the Japanese government's official travel promotion arm, btw) about 5 prefectures worth visiting. Of course, this doesn't include Tokyo, Kyoto, or Osaka. No, these are hidden gems, prefectures that you may not have known about. If you're looking for a unique and memorable Japan travel experience, you're gonna wanna listen to this one all the way through. The prefectures Kay talks about have a lot to offer, and you could spend weeks in any one of them. So before you plan your Tokyo vacation, listen to this podcast and see if you don't change your plans. Get in touch with JNTO: Facebook: www.Facebook.com/visitjapan Twitter: https://twitter.com/Visit_Japan Website: us.jnto.go.jp

Get more from us at: https://tfg.li/2fEcRty In this episode, Michael talks with Helen McCarthy, one of the top anime researchers ever. She wrote the Anime Encyclopedia and the first book on Miyazaki in English. She founded the UK’s first anime magazine, and was instrumental in growing anime fandom throughout the 90s and 2000s. Helen talks about: - Her meeting with Miyazaki. - What anime fandom was like before there was anime fandom. - How she founded and ran the first anime magazine in the UK. - The time she saw a beautiful man. - Why Makoto Shinkai is not the next Miyazaki (yet). - Where anime fandom is headed. If you’d like to hear Helen’s speak on cosplay, she’ll be at FANS Conference on March 18th at Yamanashi Gakuin University. Admission is free. Info can be found, Here in Japanese: http://bit.ly/2mu9m9L Here in English: http://bit.ly/2hoMvtG For more from Helen, check out her many books on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2mJVkl4 Helen’s website: https://helenmccarthy.wordpress.com/ Helen’s Twitter: https://t