Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society – Details, episodes & analysis

On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about how I was able to save money on airfare for my latest trip to Japan. I also share how I almost lost money due to a luggage issue and I talk about why regional JR passes can save you lots of money while traveling in Japan.

• How I get the cheapest plane ticket to Japan ever
• About smartfares.com
• Why you should check how many bags you are allowed to check in on a flight
• About regional JR passes and why they can be better than the national JR pass
• And much more!

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This is a rebroadcast of episode 76 of Ichimon Japan.

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we talk about the history of pillows in Japan and an absurd belief regarding the sleeping

• About the history of pillows in Japan
• About early pillows in Japanese history
• About the evolution of pillows in Japan
• About pillows during the Edo Period
• About hakomakura (box pillows)
• About the oldest pillow in Japan
• X
• About stereotypes regarding Japanese people versus Westerners
• About the idea Japanese people have longer intestines than Westerners
• About Sobagawa/Sobakawa buchwheat pillows
• About dakimakura (hug pillows)
• About anime waifu dakimakura
• About the Shironeri Ayano Oomakura (the oldest pillow in Japan) in Shosoin Temple in Nara
• About the mistaken idea that Japanese people sleep on their sides due to being an agricultural society
• About Japan's unique status as the only place in the world with four seasons
• About nihonjinron
• And much more!

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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!

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Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com.

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Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R.

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This was originally broadcast as episode 21 of Ichimon Japan.

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What's so scary about the hour of the ox?

• All about Japan's old way of telling time that was based on the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac (eto)
• Which "animals" in the old Chinese Zodiac based way of telling time correspond to which hours in the modern way of telling time
• Why the "hour of the ox" (ushi no koku) was thought to have associations with demons and inauspicious things
• What a "demon gate" (kimon) is
• In which direction you would find a kimon (demon gate)
• What ushimitsudoki is and what time it corresponds to
• The punctual nature of demons
• What ushi no koku mairi is
• How people performing ushi no koku mairi are typically depicted today
• The historical origins of ushi no koku mairi
• The story of Uji no Hashihime
• The various tools involved when placing a curse on someone ushi no koku mairi style
• The potentially deadly consequences of catching someone in the act of performing ushi no koku mairi
• Websites/companies that offer to places curses on your behalf
• Whether performing ushi no koku mairi or cursing someone is illegal in Japan
• Two actual cases of people threatening others using straw dolls (wara ningō)
• Why you could get arrested if you were to perform a full ushi no koku mairi ceremony
• How you can purchase ushi no koku mairi kits from online retailers like Amazon Japan
• One man's attempt to curse the coronavirus ushi no koku mairi style
• And more!

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• Support on Patreon

There are various ways of referring to the old way of telling time used in Japan that was based on the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac. The two most common terms are kojikoku (古時刻) and jūnijishin (十二時辰). Much of the information this episode was based on was gathered from the Japanese-language sources below.

• Jūnijishin (十二時辰)
  • This is the Japanese-language Wikipedia entry.
• 昔の時間の古時刻・十二時辰とは？初刻や正刻の鐘の意味は
  • This is an in-depth article focusing on the old system used in Japan for telling time.

Although it is not as thorough as the Japanese language articles above, the Japan Times article below does give some general information on the old Chinese Zodiac based system of telling the time that Japan used to use.

• Telling time with animals

In the Chinese Zodiac-based way of telling time the day would start with the hour of the rat (ne no koku) and end with the hour of the boar (i no koku). Below you can see the terms used for all 12 animals/time divisions) and what two hour block each corresponds to. Also it should be noted that both English and Japanese-language sources are unclear on when exactly each two hour block of time begins. In general sources go with wording like "between 11 and 1," thus I have been unable to determine with 100% certainty if, for example,  the last minute of the hour of the rat is 12:59 (which seems more likely) or 1:00. While this degree of precision was likely not a matter of concern for most people when this method of telling time was still being used, the question of when exactly each block of time ends is nevertheless one that remains and is unfortunately not solved in the information below.

• 11:00 p.m - 1:00 a.m. Rat 子 (鼠) ne
• 1:00 a.m. - 3:00 a.m. Ox 丑 (牛) ushi
• 3:00 a.m. - 5:00 a.m. 寅 (虎) tora
• 5:0 am. - 7:00 a.m. Rabbit 卯 (兎) u
• 7:00 a.m.  - 9:00 a.m. Dragon 辰 (竜) tatsu
• 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Snake 巳 (蛇) mi
• 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Horse 午 (馬) uma
• 1:00 p.m.  -3:00 p.m. Sheep 未 (羊) hitsuji
• 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monkey 申 (猿) 酉 saru
• 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.  Rooster 酉 (鳥) tori
• 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Dog 戌 (犬) inu
• 9:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. Boar 亥 (猪) i

Information about the two articles by Salvador Jimenez Murguia that were mentioned in this episode can be found below. Only the second article is accessible for free.

• The Cursing Kit of Ushi no Koku Mairi
• Cyber Execration: A Case Study of Ushi No Koku Mairi

The link below is for a video about the "Curse Demon Association" (呪鬼会, Jujikai), which is, according to the video, a group of Shinto priests that will curse people for you in exchange for money.

• Video About the Curse Demon Association

The link below will take you to the Nikkan Spa article mentioned in this episode. The article describes one person's attempt to curse the coronavirus using ushi no koku mairi in order to stop the pandemic. Although the article is in Japanese, it's worth a look even if can't read Japanese since he pictures are pretty amusing.

• コロナを呪って終息へ！ リモート丑の刻参りに挑戦

Here is a staged video of a couple guys claiming to have come across someone performing ushi no koku mairi.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGKRCIgWHhA[/embed]

Here is the tutorial style video mentioned in this episode. The video walks you through the the entire process of cursing someone using a home kit that you can purchase online.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyAvy9s5e3w[/embed]

To listen to the latest episode of Japan Station, use the link below.

• Talking Translation w. Sarah Moon | Japan Station 43

Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here's some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC.

• Eto
  • 干支 【えと; かんし】 (n) (1) sexagenary cycle (60-year cycle of 12 animal zodiac and 5 elements in the traditional Chinese calendar); (2) 12-year Chinese zodiac
•  Ushi no koku mairi
  • 丑の刻参り 【うしのこくまいり】 (exp,n) cursing ritual where one visits a shrine at 2am and nails a doll representing a person to a tree, praying for said person's death
• Hakamairi
  • 墓参り : 墓参り(P); 墓参(P) 【はかまいり(P); ぼさん(墓参)】 (n,vs) visit to a grave
• Ushimitsudoki
  • 丑三つ時 【うしみつどき】 (n) (1) dead of night; middle of the night; midnight; (2) (See 丑の刻) third quarter of the hour of the ox
• Wara ningyō
  • 藁人形 : 藁人形; わら人形; ワラ人形 【わらにんぎょう(藁人形,わら人形); ワラにんぎょう(ワラ人形)】 (n) straw doll; straw figure; straw effigy
• Kyōhaku
  • 脅迫 【きょうはく】 (n,vs) threat; menace; coercion; terrorism

Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com.

Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr)

Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R.

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On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking with Alex from the Sakura Stardust YouTube channel. She tells us about Japanese lost media and digs into some specific examples like Saki Sanobashi and the mysterious Akihabara cassette tape.

Alex runs the popular YouTube channel Sakura Stardust. In her videos Alex focuses primarily on Japanese lost media. She has covered everything from internet mysteries to lost anime and more.

• How Alex from the Sakura Stardust became interested in Japan and the Japanese language
• The evolution of the Sakura Stardust YouTube channel
• The abundance of lost media videos and creators on YouTube
• About Japanese lost media
• The case of the mysterious Akihabara cassette tape
• Dealing with copyright issues as a YouTuber covering Japanese media
• About Totally Not Mark's copyright problems with Toei Animation
• About Saki Sanobashi (Go for a Punch)
• Whether we think Saki Sanobashi exists
• Finding a recording of the NHK show Monster School
• About Sazae-san
• Alex (Sakura Stardust)'s process for doing research in Japanese
• Japanese internet slang
• About visiting Japan
• Future plans for the Sakura Stardust YouTube channel
• 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 early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

• • Support Japan Station on Patreon

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

• • Support us on Ko-fi

Subscribe to the Sakura Stardust YouTube channel for more content on Japanese lost media. You can also follow Alex on Twitter to stay up to date with what she is working on.

• Sakura Stardust YouTube Channel
• Alex on Twitter

Here is the video about the mysterious Akihabara cassette tape.

• The Most Mysterious Song of Japan: The Akiba Tape (AKA "Fly Away")

Alex covered Saki Sanobashi in this video.

• 16 MORE Lost Pieces of Japanese Media (REVISED & UPDATED) - Lost Media of Japan Episode 2

The popular YouTuber Whang covered Saki Sanobashi in this video.

• The Lost Deep Web Anime - Tales From the Internet

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

• Should you watch "In This Corner of the World?" (About Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni) | Ichimon Japan 58

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

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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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Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about archaeology in Japan and the case of Tsukumo No. 24, the world's oldest known shark attack. Our guest for this episode is J. Alyssa White from the University of Oxford.

J. Alyssa White is a PhD candidate in Archaeology at the University of Oxford. Her research focuses on. Her research focuses on the trauma found in skeletal remains from the southwestern Japanese archipelago during the end of the Jōmon hunter-gatherer period through the early Yayoi agricultural period (ca. 2500 BC – 250 AD). She is also one of the researchers who worked ont he fascinatingly unique case of Tsukumo No. 24 (the world's oldest known shark attack).

• How J. Alyssa White became interested in archaeology, Japan and the Japanese language
• Kyoto University's collection Jōmon era remains
• How J. Alyssa White got started in the fields of Japanese archaeology and biological anthropology
• About Japanese archaeological site reports
• Discovering the remains of Tsukumo No. 24
• Archaeological sties in Japan
• Characteristics of archaeological sites in Kyushu
• Burial practices (pit burials, shell mounds) in prehistoric Japan
• Archaeology in Japan
• What we can learn from skeletal remains
• About the case of Tsukumo No. 24
• How it was determined that Tsukumo No. 24 was likely killed by a shark attack
• What injuries the remains of Tsukumo No. 24 exhibits
• Jōmon era ritual tooth extraction
• J. Alyssa White's research on the changes and violent conflict seen during the transition from the Jōmon to the Yayoi periods
• 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 early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

• • Support Japan Station on Patreon

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

• • Support us on Ko-fi

The original article about Tsukumo No. 24 can be found via the link below. Unfortunately, it is behind a pay wall.

• 3000-year-old shark attack victim from Tsukumo shell-mound, Okayama, Japan

Here's a free article about Tsukumo No. 24 in case you would like to read more.

• Reconstruction of the oldest shark attack on a human, from Tsukumo shell-mound, Japan Reconstruction of the oldest shark attack on a human, from Tsukumo shell-mound, Japan Reconstruction of the oldest shark attack on a human, from Tsukumo shell-mound, Japan

Use the link below to view the 3D model of Tsukumo No. 24.

• 3D Model of Tsukumo No. 24

Here is the episode of the Beyond Japan podcast in which J. Alyssa White is interviewed.

• Beyond Japan Ep. #44: Prehistoric Tragedy: The Oldest Shark Attack Victim with J. Alyssa White

Don't forget to check out the latest episode of the Ichimon Japan podcast.

• Should you watch "In This Corner of the World?" (About Kono Sekai no Katasumi ni) | Ichimon Japan 58

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

• KimitoDesigns.com

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 J. Alyssa White

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Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about translation, learning Japanese and more with translator/podcaster Jenn O'Donnell.

Jenn O'Donnell is a Japanese to English translator and podcaster. She lives in Osaka where she works as a Localization Director for a video game company. She also produces the podcasts The Translation Chat and Otafu Susume.

• About how it was that Jenn began learning Japanese
• Working on farms in Fukuoka
• Learning Japanese as someone with dyslexia
• On the struggle to get work as a Japanese-English translator
• On becoming a freelance Japanese to English translator
• About some of the pitfalls often seen in media translation
• False friends in Japanese/English
• Denotation vs connotation
• Examples of some Japanese to English translations Jenn enjoys
• About the Miracles at the Namie General Store translation
• About the English translation of The Miracles at the Namiya General Store
• About the English translation of the All You Need Is Kill  novel
• About translating a novel vs manga/anime/light novels
• About The Translation Chat podcast
• About the Recommendation from My Otaku Spouse (Otafu Susume) podcast
• About The Faraway Paladin (Saihate no Paradin)
• 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 early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

• • Support Japan Station on Patreon

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

• • Support us on Ko-fi

• @JENTranslations

Check out the list below for links to the websites, podcats, and articles mentioned in this episode.

• Japanese Talk Online
  • Where Jenn writes about learning Japanese
• J-EN Translations
  • Where Jenn writes about translation
• An article about Jenn's experiences participating in WOOF/working in farms in Japan
• An article about the English translation of the All You Need Is Kill novel
• The Translation Chat Podcast
• Recommendation from My Otaku Spouse (Otafu Susume)

Check out the episode of Japan Station featuring Dr. Wesley Robertson.

• A Wonderful Mess: About the Japanese Writing System w. Dr. Wes Robertson | Japan Station 80

Don't forget to listen to the latest episodes of Ichimon Japan.

• What katakana words do you hate? (Funny/confusing/annoying katakana words) | Ichimon Japan 56
• Why is Argentina "Aruzenchin" in Japanese? | Ichimon Japan 57

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

• KimitoDesigns.com

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 Jenn O'Donnell

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Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about Japan's stressful job hunting process (shūkatsu) and how it--along with work in general--can be even more stressful and difficult for women in Japan.

Anna Lughezzani, PhD candidate in anthropology at University of Padova, Ca' Foscari University of Venice and University of Verona (Italy).

• The stressful and rigid nature of the job hunting process (shūkatsu) for new graduates in Japan
• About group job interviews
• About why many traditional Japanese companies prefer hiring newly graduated university students rather than experienced workers
• About the hierarchical nature of many traditional Japanese companies
• About motherhood protection rhetoric (boseihogo) and its role in shaping Japan's dual career track system
• How Japanese companies used the dual career track system to discriminate against women
• How people in the managerial career track in Japan often have to endure getting relocated to different branches/offices of the company
• How overtime is often expected from those in the managerial career track in Japan
• How women in Japan are expected to abide by different rules when going through the job hunting process
• How women are expected to wear makeup in a particular way when going through the job hunting process and being interviewed
• About how some women navigate the job hunting process and white collar work in Japan
• About the idea that information about parental leave and childcare related matters is not relevant to men
• About researching setsumeikai and the job hunting process in Japan
• How foreign companies and start-ups are offering those seeking jobs in Japan a different and more progressive way of doing things
• 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 early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

• Support Japan Station on Patreon

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

• Support us on Ko-fi

You can find the video of Anna Lughezzani's presentation below.

• Skirts, Compulsory Makeup, and Maternity Leave

Check out the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

• What is that sound? (Funny/Wacky Japanese Onomatopoeia) | Ichimon Japan 55

don't forget to subscribe!

• JapanKyo Docs YouTube Channel

Don't forget to listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

• What is that sound? (Funny/Wacky Japanese Onomatopoeia) | Ichimon Japan 55

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

• KimitoDesigns.com

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 N/A

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)
• Instagram (@JapanKyoNews)

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

• Life growing up in Hawaii
• On the Japanese influence present in Hawaii
• Why J.J. Walsh decided to go to Japan
• About gethiroshima.com
• About the Seek Sustainable Japan show
• On moving to Hiroshima
• About akiya and minka remodeling in Japan
• J.J.'s experiences remodeling her old Japanese home in Hiroshima
• How much abandoned houses in Japan can cost
• On buying a house in Japan as a foreign national
• Recommendation on where to visit in Hiroshima
• About Hiroshima's Rabbit Island
• About the history of Hiroshima
• 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 early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

• Support Japan Station on Patreon

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

• Support us on Ko-fi

Check ou tthe Seek Sustainable Japan YouTube channel via the link below.

• Seek Sustainable Japan YouTube Channel

Check out gethiroshima.com via the link below.

• Gethiroshima.com

Follow J.J. Walsh on Twitter.

• J.J. Walsh on Twitter

Don't forget to check out the episode of Seek Sustanable Japan where J.J. Walsh interviews Tony Vega.

• JapanKyo Founder Tony Vega - Japan Stories & Language Tips from Hawaii | 333

Please check out the JapanKyo Docs YouTube channel and don't forget to subscribe!

• JapanKyo Docs YouTube Channel

Don't forget to listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

• What is that sound? (Funny/Wacky Japanese Onomatopoeia) | Ichimon Japan 55

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

• KimitoDesigns.com

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 J.J. Walsh

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)
• Instagram (@JapanKyoNews)

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about depictions of Japan and Japanese people on popular American TV shows with Dr. Alisa Freedman.

Alisa Freedman is a Professor of Japanese Literature, Cultural Studies, and Gender at the University of Oregon and the Editor-in-Chief of the U.S.–Japan Women's Journal. Her books include Tokyo in Transit: Japanese Culture on the Rails and Road, an annotated translation of Kawabata Yasunari's The Scarlet Gang of Asakusa, and co-edited volumes on Modern Girls on the Go: Gender, Mobility, and Labor in Japan, and Introducing Japanese Popular Culture. She has published widely on Japanese modernism, Tokyo studies, youth culture, gender, television, humor as social critique, teaching pedagogies, and digital media, along with publishing translations of Japanese literature. Alisa has been nationally recognized for excellence in mentoring and enjoys presenting at cultural events like anime cons and Japan festivals.

• About Japan on American TV: Screaming Samurai Join Anime Clubs in the Land of the Lost
• About depictions of Japan and Japanese people in American TV shows
• The taboo regarding the depiction of the Japanese royal family in Japanese media
• Self-censorship in Japan and Japanese media
• How Japanese mainstream media stays away from political topics
• About the Japanese version of SNL that aired in 2011
• The variety show Pink Lady (and Jeff)
• How trends and tropes have shaped the depictions of Japan and Japanese people on American TV shows
• How Marie Kondo presents herself as both "Japanese" and "American"
• About Queer Eye: We're in Japan!
• About the SNL skit JPop America Fun Time Now
• The influence of Japanese pop culture on the generation that grew up consuming it
• About Big Bird in Japan 
• 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 early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

• Support Japan Station on Patreon

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

• Support us on Ko-fi

To purchase a copy of X while at the same time supporting the show, please use the Amazon affiliate link below.

• Japan on American TV: Screaming Samurai Join Anime Clubs in the Land of the Lost

Use the link below to check out the latest JapanKyo Docs video.

• Emus in Tokyo: Inside the Life of a Japanese Emu Rancher

Don't forget to listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

• What is that sound? (Funny/Wacky Japanese Onomatopoeia) | Ichimon Japan 55

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

• KimitoDesigns.com

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 Alisa Freedman

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)
• Instagram (@JapanKyoNews)

Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/

On this episode of the Japan Station podcast, we're talking about the Japanese vengeful spirits known as onryō with Jennifer Yoo.

Jennifer M. Yoo is a doctoral candidate in Japanese Theatre at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

• On working as a food tour guide in Kyoto
• What tsunokakushi is and the origins of this custom
• About the term oni (demon) and its historical origins
• About Ushi no Koku Mairi and the link between oni and kimon
• What onryō (vengeful spirits/wrathful spirits) are
• Differences between male and female onryō
• How male onryō are often historically/politically important figures
• The difference between yūrei and onryō
• About Sugawara no Michizane (Tenjin)
• Depictions of onryō in Japanese theater
• About modern onryō in Japanese horror films
• The impact of the original Ringu film
• The motivations of classic female onryō
• The lack of motive in modern female onryō depicted in Japanese horror films
• About Sadako from Ringu
• The prevalence of the Sadako style ghost in films
• About the term "dead wet girls"
• The role of water in Shinto and Buddhism, beliefs about death and onryō
• The long hair of onryō and its historical roots in kabuki theater
• About deadly hair in Japanese horror films
• About the 2007 Japanese horror film Exte (Ekusute)
• 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 early access to all JapanKyo podcasts, bonus content, and more. And for $3 a month, you'll get access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and all of its fascinating quirks. Also, all pledges get a shout-out on the show and my undying gratitude. Thank you in advance!

• Support Japan Station on Patreon

You can also do a one time donation via Ko-fi.

• Support us on Ko-fi

Here is the video of the presentation Jennifer Yoo gave for the University of Hawaii.

• Monstrous Wives, Murderous Lovers, and Dead Wet Girls

For even more ghost-related content, check out episode 50 of Japan Station.

• Yūrei, Ghosts & Yōkai, A Chat w. Zack Davisson | Japan Station 50

To learn even more about Ushino Koku Mairi (the curse of the hour of the ox), check out the Ichimon Japan episode below.

• What's so scary about the hour of the ox? (About Ushi no Koku Mairi) | Ichimon Japan 21

Use the link below to check out the latest JapanKyo Docs video.

• Emus in Tokyo: Inside the Life of a Japanese Emu Ranche

Don't forget to listen to the latest episode of Ichimon Japan.

• Should I go to Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan (USJ)? | Ichimon Japan 54

If you would like to support the show by picking up some merchandise, make sure to visit KimitoDesigns.com.

• KimitoDesigns.com

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 Jennifer Yoo

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)
• Instagram (@JapanKyoNews)

• • Get the full version of show notes at https://www.japankyo.com/category/podcasts/japanstation/