Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language – Details, episodes & analysis

about, it's its significance and its fascinating manga adaptations.

• What The Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) is about
• The historical significance of The Tale of Genji
• The influence of The Tale of Genji 
• About the ending of The Tale of Genji
• About the English translations of The Tale of Genji and their differences
• About the many manga adaptations of The Tale of Genji
• About the manga II ne, Hikaru Genji
• About what is so interesting about The Tale of Genji
• About how The Tale of Genji is taught in schools in Japan
• About the versions of The Tale of Genji that are cleaned up and adapted for children
• About tourist sites related to The Tale of Genji
• About Dr. Lynne Miyake's book: The Tale of Genji through Contenporary Manga
• And more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB

• Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

• You can use the link below to pick up a copy of The Tale of Genji through Contemporary Manga by Lynne MiyakeHere's the 11 words we discussed in this episode:
  • The Tale of Genji through Contemporary Manga on the Bloomsbury Website: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/tale-of-genji-through-contemporary-manga-9781350424944/

• X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/japankyonews
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• Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about 10 words that only exist in Japanese and how Japanese may not be as unique as you think it is.

• x
• x
• What komorebi means and what its parts mean
• What unkai means
• About kanji compounds in Japanese
• About the many meanings that can be found in a single kanji
• The different readings of kanji in Japanese
• What shinrinyoku means
• Whats tsundoku means
• What irusu means
• What konbi means
• What kogarashi means
• What betsubara means
• What kuchisamishii means
• What tatemae means
• What macchipompu means
• And more!

• Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/japan-station-a-podcast-by-japankyo-com/id1440454968
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6lDoFFt4M0HyyKaVeDyKkB

• Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

• The Article referenced in this article:
  • 10 Words That Exist Only In Japanese
• Here's the 11 words we discussed in this episode:
  • 木洩れ日 : 木漏れ日; 木洩れ日; 木漏れ陽; 木洩れ陽 【こもれび】 (n) sunlight filtering through trees
  • 雲海 【うんかい】 (n) sea of clouds
  • 森林浴 【しんりんよく】 (n) forest bathing; forest therapy; peaceful walk through the woods for health benefits
  • 積読 : 積ん読(P); 積読; つん読 【つんどく】 (n,vs) (1) buying books and not reading them; stockpiling books; tsundoku; (n) (2) books bought but not read
  • 居留守 【いるす】 (n) pretending to be out
  • 甘美 【かんび】 (adj-na,n) (1) sweet (taste); luscious; (adj-na,n) (2) sweet (melody, dream, etc.); delightful; pleasant; mellow; mellifluous
  • 木枯らし : 木枯らし(P); 木枯し(P); 凩; 木枯 【こがらし】 (n) cold wintry wind
  • 別腹 【べつばら】 (n) dessert stomach; having room for dessert despite being full
  • 口寂しい : 口寂しい; 口淋しい 【くちさびしい; くちざみしい; くちさみしい】 (adj-i) craving for food, a cigarette, etc.; longing to have something in one's mouth
  • 建前 : 建前(P); 建て前(P); 立前; 立て前 【たてまえ】 (n) (1) (See 本音) face; official stance; public position or attitude (as opposed to private thoughts); (n) (2) (建前, 建て前 only) ceremony for the erection of the framework of a house
  • マッチポンプ : マッチポンプ; マッチ・ポンプ (n) (in ref. to lighting a match and then putting it out with a water pump) stirring up trouble in order to get credit for resolving it (wasei: match, wasei: pomp); profiting from solving problems created by oneself

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• Website: https://japankyo.com/
• Tony R. Vega Personal X/Twitter: https://x.com/thevegatony

On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about why I decided to walk the old Tokaido Road in 2023 and the impact it had. This episode features a speech I did for the 2024 state convention of the Hawaii Association of the Blind.

• Why I walked the Tokaido in 2023
• What my goal was
• How I raised awareness of the blind & visually impaired community by walking from Kyoto to Tokyo
• And more!

If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month. Patrons get first access to podcast episodes, as well as updates on what I'm working on for JapanKyo.com. If you join the $3 a month tier you get access to the back catalog of the Japanese Plus Alpha podcast (a short series on interesting Japanese words and features of the Japanese language). If you would like to do a one time donation, that is also possible. Just use the Ko-fi link below. All donations are greatly appreciated! And if you can't support financially, that's ok. Consider telling a friend about the show!

• Support on Patreon https://patreon.com/japankyo
• Support on Ko-fi https://www.ko-fi.com/japankyo

• The Tokaido Challenge Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYU41Z0G4Uc&list=PL7ALB_S1KyWunL6kIbGu_Vtmswe1qxlHq
• Hawaii Association of the Blind: https://hawaii.acb.org/
• Tony Dot Vega on X: https://twitter.com/thevegatony

JapanKyo on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@japankyonews

For more of my Japan-focused content, visit the JapanKyo website JapanKyo.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, award-winning author Peter Tieryas talks about his alternate history book series, United States of Japan, as well as answers many of the lingering questions at the end of his most recent book, Cyber Shogun Revolution.

Peter Tieryas is the award-winning author of the United States of Japan books (United States of Japan, Mecha Samurai Empire, Cyber Shogun Revolution). Inspired by Philip K. Dick's The Man in the High Castle and Japanese popular media such as the Zone of the Enders and Metal Gear series of video games, the United States of Japan books present a dark but super technologically advanced world filled with epic mecha battles, hyper realistic video games, and a version of the United States that was split into two after Imprial Japan and Nazi Germany came out victorious in World War II. The United States of Japan books have been translated into multiple languages, including French, Spanish, and even Japanese. Tieryas is the recipient of two Seiun Awards for the Japanese translations of United States of Japan and Mecha Samurai Empire. Aside from his work as an author, Tieryas has also worked as a technical writer for LucasArts and a character artist for major motion pictures such as Guardians of the Galaxy. And he also really enjoys video games.

• Why Peter chose Beniko as the name of one of the main characters of United States of Japan
• Why Peter decided to reference Punch Out and Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit) through the name of the main character of Mecha Samurai Empire (Makoto Fujimoto/Mac)
• The symbolism of Akiko Tsukino's dreams
• Unites States of Japan as a general commentary on militarism
• Why Peter decided to make Akiko Tsukino of mixed French Korean heritage rather than ethnically Japanese
• Why technology is so advanced in the United States of Japan universe
• Why Japan developed mecha in the universe of United States of Japan
• Peter's writing process for the United State of Japan trilogy
• Some of the things the mecha that appear in Cyber Shogun Revolution reference
• How Peter goes about creating mecha
• The positive reception of the United States of Japan books by fans around the world
• Winning the Seiun Award
• Traveling to Japan for the first time to attend the Seiun Award ceremony in 2017
• Why Peter decided not to focus on mainland Japan in the United States of Japan books
• Whether Peter plans to write more books in the United States of Japan series
• The dark undertones of the United States of Japan series
• Having Hideo Kojima write a blurb for Mecha Samurai Empire
• Peter's upcoming novel focusing on what would happen to the world if people stopped dying
• And a whole lot of spoiler talk regarding Cyber Shogun Revolution (after the outro mousic)
• And much more!

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support Japan Station on Patreon

All three books in the United States of Japan series are available for purchase now. If you would like to support Japan Station, please use the Amazon Associates links below.

• United Stes of Japan (Book 1)
• Mecha Samurai Empire (A United States of Japan Novel Book 2)
• Cyber Shogun Revolution (A United States of Japan Novel Book 3)

If you want to stay up to date with everything Peter is working on, then make sure to follow him on Twitter

• @TieryasXu

You can also check out Peter's YouTube channel.

• TieryasXu YouTube Channel

If you would like to learn more about Peter's first trip to Japan and his experience attending the Seiun Award ceremony, check out the article below.

• Big in Japan: United States of Japan Author Peter Tieryas Reflects on Traveling East, Winning the Seiun, and What Comes Next

This episode includes a spoiler-heavy section after the outro sequence in which Peter Tieryas answers questions about characters and story elements that were left out of Cyber Shogun Revolution. Here's a list of some of the main things he discusses in this section. If you have not read the United States of Japan books yet, you should not continue reading or listen to the spoiler section of this episode. Please come back after you have read all three books.

• Where Mac (Makoto Fujimoto) and Grisalda are during the events of Cyber Shogun Revolution (they are teachers at the Berkeley Military Academy)
• Some of the things that were left out of the final draft of Cyber Shogun Revolution
• How Peter considered killing off Mac
• How Peter tried killing Kujira in a draft of Cyber Shogun Revolution
• Difficulties trying to figure out how Kujira would react to Akiko's actions in the events of Cyber Shogun Revolution
• Dreaming about being in Mecha Samurai Empire
• Kujira's growth as a character
• The existence of an unreleased novella focusing on Kujira that is titled The United States of Kujira
• The sequel to United States of Japan that Peter tried to write before he began working on Mecha Samurai Empire
• Akiko's role in the United States of Japan series
• Whether Peter has heard from fans regarding the identity of Bloody Mary
• The thought process that went into writing the ending of Cyber Shogun Revolution
• The meaning behind Kujira's name

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Peter Tieryas

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• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're exploring the history of Japanese aidoru (idols) and discussing the dynamics behind one of Japan's most popular idol groups: AKB48.

Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith is a lecturer at Senshu University in Tokyo. He is one of the world's leading experts on the topic of Akihabara and the related subcultures that are often associated with this famous district of Tokyo. Galbraith is the author of man y books and articles, including Tokyo Realtime (2010), The Otaku Encyclopedia: An Insider's Guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan (2014), The Moe Manifesto: An Insider's Look at the Worlds of Manga, Anime, and Gaming (2017), and others. His most recent book, published by Duke University Press Books in 2019, is Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan.

• The emergence of idols (aidoru) in Japan during the 1970s
• Japan's Golden Age of idols (1980s)
• Seiko Matsuda
• The role Yasushi Akimoto played in the evolution of the modern idol
• The importance of Onyanko Club in the history of Japanese idols
• What led to the end of Onyanko Club
• How the Latin boy band Menudo helped inspire the interchangeable idol system employed by idol groups such as Morning Musume and AKB48
• The success of Rino Sashihara
• The ingenious marketing strategy of Yasushi Akimoto that has led to the massive success of AKB48
• AKB48's General Election and how it drove CD sales during a time when CD sales were on the decline
• What idols do
• Whether we should think of idols as musicians/singers
• What it means to "idol"
• The connection between idols and fans
• The peculiar location and composition of the AKB48 Theater in Akihabara
• How the success of AKB48 helped spark a surge in the number of independent and "underground" (chika) idols
• The massive variety that exists in the independent idol scene
• How the coronavirus pandemic has affected idol groups and how idols are adapting
• What a chekki is
• Th effects of the coronavirus pandemic on maid cafes in Akihabara
• AKB48 and the Tokyo 2020/2021 Olympics
• How Yasushi Akimoto's idol groups have been evolving in recent years to appeal more to women
• Overwork and exploitation in the world of idols
• The case of Maho Yamaguchi
• Why so many idols have great difficulties after they "sotsugyō" (leave the group)
• The success of Atsuko Maeda
• The short-lived Pink Lady show that aired in the U.S. on NBC in 1980
• And much more!

Note: The conversation on this episode was recorded on April 24, 2020 (JST).

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support Japan Station on Patreon

The book on which much of the conversation heard during this episode was based is called AKB48 and was written by Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith and Dr. Jason G. Karlin. You can purchase it via the Amazon affiliate link below. A Kindle version is available.

• AKB48 (33 1/2 Japan)

AKB48 is part of a series of books published by Bloomsbury that is called 33 1/2 Japan. If you would like to purchase any of these, you can use the Amazon affiliate links below.

• Yoko Kanno's Cowboy Bebop Soundtrack (33 1/3 Japan)
• Joe Hisaishi's Soundtrack for My Neighbor Totoro (33 1/3 Japan)
• Cornelius's Fantasma (33 1/3 Japan)
• Perfume's GAME (33 1/3 Japan)
• Nene's Koza Dabasa (33 1/3 Japan)
• Supercell Featuring Hatsune Miku (33 1/3 Japan)
• Shonen Knife's Happy Hour (33 1/3 Japan)
• Koji Kondo's Super Mario Soundtrack (33 1/3 Japan)

If you would like to purchase Dr. Galbraith's most recent book--Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japani--you can use the Amazon affiliate link below.

• Otaku and the Struggle for Imagination in Japan

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Patrick W. Galbraith

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• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're joined by Anthony Joh of Tokyo Podcast.

Anthony Joh is an entrepreneur, digital marketing consultant, and longtime podcaster. After moving to Thailand about a decade ago Anthony helped start The Bangkok Podcast. He then started the long-running Tokyo Podcast after relocating to Japan. He recently started releasing episodes of Tokyo Podcast again after an extended hiatus.

• Some of the most memorable episodes of Tokyo Podcast
• How and why Anthony decided to start podcasting while living in Thailand
• What led Anthony to move to Japan
• What frustrated Anthony about working in Japan
• Why Anthony decided to move back to Canada
• Life in Victoria, Canada
• Why Anthony decided to go back to Japan
• Anthony's plans for Tokyo Podcast
• And much more!
• Note: The conversation on this episode was recorded on April 20, 2020 (JST).

Note: The conversation on this episode was recorded on April 20, 2020 (JST)

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $1 a month you'll get access to extra blog posts and additional input on future content. You'd also receive Tony's eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support Japan Station on Patreon

To listen to Tokyo Podcast, check out the links below

• Tokyo Podcast Website
• Tokyo Podcast on Apple Podcasts
• Tokyo Podcast on Spotify
• Tokyo Podcast on Stitcher

Here are the episodes of Tokyo Podcast that were mentioned during this episode.​

• Photographing the Japanese Yakuza with Anton Kusters
• How the Shinkansen Rebuilt Japan with Christopher Hood
• Cycling Across Japan with Sachi Takao
• From Classical to Bluegrass with Leona Tokutake
• Why I Left and then Moved Back to Japan

Follow Tokyo Podcast on Twitter.

• Tokyo Podcast on Twitter

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Featured image: Courtesy of Anthony Joh

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about the fascinating history and culture of soba noodles.

Dr. Lorie Brau is an assistant professor at the University of New Mexico where she teaches courses on Japanese literature and culture. Dr. Brau has conducted research on a variety of topics, including rakugo and the history and culture of soba noodles. Her research on soba noodles resulted in Soba, Edo Style: Food, Aesthetics, and Cultural Identity, an article which appeared in the book Devouring Japan: Global Perspectives on Japanese Culinary Identity. Currently, Dr. Brau is working on a book called Gourmanga, which focuses on food manga..

• What soba is
• Soba's usage as a general word meaning "noodles"
• What distinguishes soba noodles from udon and ramen
• What an Edokko is
• Some of the places soba is closely tied to
• A brief history of soba noodles
• Okinawa soba
• Izuomo soba
• Nishin soba
•  
• Soba's emergence as street food during the Edo period
• Soba's ties to the pleasure quarters of Edo
• The "proper" way to eat soba noodles
• Soba's evolution from street food to refined Japanese cuisine
• What a sobalier (sobarie) is
• What it was like dining at a members-only soba restaurant in Tokyo
• Soba's ties to kabuki
• What iki is
• Soba's link to the concept of iki
• Dr. Brau's research on manga centered around food
• Whether there is a difference between chūka soba and ramen
• Why the word soba can be used to refer to ramen but not udon
• And much more!

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support Japan Station on Patreon

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Image: Japankyo.com

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

• Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're exploring the history of chicken production in Japan and the fascinating world of artisan jidori chicken.

Dr. Benjamin Schrager is an expert on Japanese food systems and heritage cuisine. He completed his PhD at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2019. His doctoral dissertation--titled Placing Trust: The Political Ecology of Chicken Meat in Japan--focused on the Japanese chicken industry and jidori chicken, with particular emphasis on the Miyazaki Jitokko brand of jidori. Currently, Dr. Schrager is a postdoctoral researcher at Kyoto University's Graduate School of Agriculture.

• What broiler chicken is and what Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) jidori chicken is
• Chicken Nanban and its origins
• The many regulations that the Japanese government has implemented to determine what qulifies as JAS jidori chicken
• The Onagadaori breed of chicken and its incredibly long tail
• The Tennen Kinenbutsu (Natural Monument) standard
• How Miyazaki Jitokko compares in terms of its standards to that of other brands of JAS jidori
• The problems jidori breeders face
• A brief overlook of the history of chicken breeding in Japan
• The connection between samurai and chicken breeding
• What a Native Heirloom Breed is
• The industrialization of chicken breeding in Japan
• The introduction of Western chicken breeds into Japan in the 1960s
• The phenomenon of regional cuisines and specialties in Japan
• Meeting Emperor Akihito
• The Crown Prince Akihito Scholarship
• Chicken sashimi from Miyazaki
• Health concerns over chicken
• The experience of talking to Japanese men taking part in a cooking class
• The difficulty explaining the difference between jidori and broiler chicken to the average person
• The various meanings of the word jidori
• Tsukada Nojo
• Jidori in Hawaii
• Sumibiyaki chicken
• And much more!

If you enjoy Japan Station and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support on Patreon

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Images: Courtesy of Benjamin Schrager. Image shows Benjamin Schrager holding a Natural Monument Jitokko.

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• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

Get full show notes at www.japanstationpodcast.com

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're digging into the world of Japanese spycraft and the history of Japan's intelligence community with one of the world's leading experts on the subject: Dr Richard Samuels.

Richard Samuels is Ford International Professor of Political Science and director of the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a highly distinguished scholar whose research has focused on Japanese intelligence and security, Japan's relationship with the U.S. and China, energy-related policies in Japan, and more. His latest book was published  in 2019 and is title Special Duty: A History of the Japanese Intelligence Community.

• Whether Japan has an equivalent intelligence agency to the CIA
• The composition of Japan's intelligence agencies
• The biggest problem Japan's intelligence agencies have had to deal with
• What stovepipring is
• How people working in intelligence in Japan were sometimes looked down on in the past
• How spycraft training in Japan has changed from pre-World War II to today
• How losing to the U.S. impacted Japan's intelligence capabilities and its focus
• How 9/11 and Shinzo Abe becoming prime minister in 2012 affected Japan's intelligence community
• The States Secrets law of 2013
• The creation of the National Security Council in 2013
• The push and pull in Japan's government between those who want to be closer to China and those who prefer to be closer to the United States
• Why Japan's intelligence community became known for information leaks
• The Musashi Kikan
• The history and importance of the Nakano School
• Akashi Motojiro
• Hirō "Hiroo" Onoda and his connection to the Nakano School
• The early history of Japanese espionage and the so-called tairiku ronin (continental adverturers)
• Whether Japan has an equivalent to D.A.R.P.A. (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)
• And much more!

You can purchase a copy of Special Duty: A History of the Japanese Intelligence Community via the link below. It is an Amazon affiliate link, so using it will support the show and won't cost you anything extra.

• Special Duty: A History of the Japanese Intelligence Community by Richard Samuels.

Follow Dr. Richard Samuels on Twitter via the link below

• @dicksamuelsMIT

Here are a few of some of Dr. Samuel's other books in case you are interested. These are also Amazon affiliate links.

• "Rich Nation, Strong Army": National Security and the Technological Transformation of Japan
• Securing Japan: Tokyo's Grand Strategy and the Future of East Asia
• 3.11: Disaster and Change in Japan

If you're interested in the book about the Nakano School that Dr. Samuels mentions, you can get it via the affiliate link below.

• The Shadow Warriors of the Nakano School: A History of the Imperial Japanese Army's Elite Intelligence School by Stephen Mercado

The links below are for the two episodes of the Ichimon Japan podcast that were mentioned during this episode

• What was it like in Fukushima during the 2011 earthquake? (Part 1)
• What was it like in Fukushima during the 2011 earthquake? (Part 2)

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

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• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

On this special solo episode of the Japan Station podcast, I discuss being visually impaired and how my decision to study abroad in Japan helped me realize that I wasn't limited by the loss of my eyesight.

Tony Vega is a writer, editor, and podcaster. He has lived in Japan as both a student and participant of the JET Programme. He possesses an M.A. in Japanese language and linguistics from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Tony is the creator of Japankyo.com and he produces both the Japan Station Ichimon Japan podcasts. Tony enjoys pizza, sushi, burritos, puns, and overanalyzing absurd things.

• The process of becoming legally blind due to Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON)
• Deciding to study Japanese in college
• The first time Tony went to Japan
• Difficulties adjusting to life with low vision
• Deciding to study abroad at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata City, Osaka
• Tony's decision to study Japanese every single day before leaving to study abroad
• How studying abroad in Japan made Tony realize that he was capable of much more than he thought he was
• And much more!

Opening/Closing song: Oedo Controller (大江戸コントローラー) by Yunomi featuring Toriena (Used with permission from Yunomi)
To listen to more of Yunomi's music, check out his Soundcloud page or YouTube channel.

Japan Station cover art: Provided by Erik R.

Images: Courtesy of Susan Spann

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Aside from subscribing to Japan Station, the next best thing you can do to support the show, is using the Amazon affiliate link below to do your shopping. Best of all, it doesn't cost you anything extra.

• Use this link to shop on Amazon and support Japan Station