Explore every episode of the podcast Let's Talk Japan Podcast

In this episode, Nick and Maurice Maloney (JET Alum, Fukui 2004-06) review the 2015 Cinematsuri Japanese Film Festival and share their opinions on which of these films you should see for yourself.

In this episode, author, translator and folklorist Zack Davisson shares his vast knowledge of the Japanese supernatural.  Zack has written extensively about this topic  on his website hyaku-monogatari and is the author of the upcoming and much anticipated book, Yurei: The Japanese Ghost.

In this episode, Nick speaks with Catherine Rackley of DISCO International, a human resources firm specializing in Japanese-English bilingual recruitment.  Whether you’re currently job searching or just curious about bilingual employment possibilities, this episode is full of useful information.  

It’s late summer, and that means hundreds of new JET Program participants have recently started their new life in Japan. In this episode, I share my thoughts on what steps they can take to have an enjoyable and memorable Japan experience. The Association for Japan Exchange and Teaching  Smile Kids Japan Temple University Japan Testing […]

Welcome to a special JET Talks Edition of the Let’s Talk Japan Podcast.  This episode features a panel discussion with the producers of “Kokoyakyu,” a documentary about high school baseball in Japan and the quest to qualify for the national summer baseball tournament at historic Koshien Stadium.  High school baseball in Japan is a national […]

A few weeks ago, I was invited to a pre-departure orientation for new JET Program participants, organized by the JET Program Office at the Embassy of Japan.   The orientation covered a wide range of topics, and I am very grateful to the Japanese Embassy for allowing me to record the event and use the […]

In this episode, Nick speaks with Dave Carlson, a longtime resident of Japan and host of the popular Japanofiles Podcast.  Originally from Michigan, Dave first came to Japan in 1983.  Since then, he has resided in Japan on and off for 21 of the last 30 years.  Together, Nick and Dave discuss a wide range of […]

In this episode, Nick speaks with Ambassador John Malott, President emeritus of the Japan American Society of Washington, DC about the inaugural Cinematsuri Japanese Film Festival.   In addition to discussing what it takes to organize such an event, they cover recent trends in Japanese cinematography and introduce some of the best new films from Japan. As always, you […]

In this episode, Nick sits down with Washington, D.C. native Jan Evans Hauser to discuss her experience living in Kyoto, Japan during the American occupation following WWII.   At the time, Jan’s step-father was Brigadier General Eugene Harrison, who was the Chief of Staff to Major General Joseph Swing, the commander of the U.S. Army’s 1st Corps.  […]

In this episode, Nick speaks with Stacy Smith about the joys and challenges of working as a professional Japanese translator and interpreter.  Stacy worked as a Coordinator of International Relations (CIR) for the Japan Exchange Teaching (JET) Program in Kumamoto prefecture before eventually returning to the United States and turning her love of Japanese into a […]

In this episode, Nick speaks with Michael Veltri, the owner and chief instructor of DC Aikido, about the history, philosophy and benefits of Aikido. If you live in the Washington, DC area and are interested in learning more about Aikido, I highly recommend you take a look at Veltri-sensei’s dojo.  In addition to their webpage, […]

In today’s episode, Nick speaks with Bruce Stronach, the dean of Temple University Japan, the oldest and largest foreign university in Japan.  Together they discuss the unique undergraduate and graduate opportunities available at Temple’s Tokyo campus as well as recent trends and the likely future of higher education in Japan. TUJ Social Media:  Facebook; Twitter […]

In this episode, Nick speaks with Johnnie Stroud, the owner of Sake´ Nomi, a premium sake´ shop and tasting bar in Seattle, Washington.  Together they discuss how Johnnie discovered sake´, what motivated him to open a business specializing in sake´, and why you should be drinking more sake´, preferably bought from Sake´ Nomi! Johnnie and […]

In this episode, Nick speaks with JET Program alumni Chelsea Reidy and Elayna Snyder about their upcoming 900-mile bicycle tour of Shikoku’s famous 88 temple pilgrimage.   Listen to hear them describe their creative “Temple by Temple Project,” which they are funding through Kickstarter, and how they plan to share their adventure with others. To learn […]

In this episode, Nick speaks with Leslie Helm, author of Yokohama Yankee: My Family’s Five Generations As Outsiders In Japan.  The Helm family’s connection with Japan begins with Mr. Helm’s German great grandfather, Julius, who traveled to Japan as a young man in 1869, looking to make his way in the world. Julius would go on to […]

This episode of the Let’s Talk Japan podcast was recorded at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina.  Well-known in the region’s gardening circles, Masashi Oshita, or “Mike” as he is known locally, is a master of traditional Japanese garden design.  Together, Nick and Oshita-san discuss what makes Japanese gardens unique, the challenges of creating […]

Six months have passed since the podcast launched and looking back, I have really enjoyed talking with others who share my interest in Japan and I hope you found the first 12 episodes interesting and informative.   It has been quite a learning process and I am working hard to constantly improve the quality of both […]

In this episode, Nick speaks with members of the Washington, DC-based J Book Club about their summer reading recommendations.   If you would like to support the podcast, please consider purchasing some of the books discussed in this episode using the print and Kindle links below.  By doing so, the podcast will receive a small […]

    Let me be the first to welcome you to “JET Talks”, a brand new speaker series organized by the JET Program Alumni Association of Washington, DC (“JETAADC”).  JET Talks is modeled after the TED Talks concept and will feature dynamic and interesting speakers with the goal of inspiring innovative ideas and conversations on […]

In this episode, Nick speaks with film director Regge Life about his documentary, Live Your Dream, chronicling the lives of JET Program participants Taylor Anderson and Monty Dickson, who passed away in the March 11, 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.  This is a moving tribute and a must see for anyone who loves Japan and […]

In this episode, Nick speaks with Meredith Smith, Media and Public Relations Director for Smile Kids Japan.   Since 2008, Meredith has worked as an ALT on the JET Program and has volunteered with Smile Kids Japan since 2009.  Smile Kids Japan is a volunteer organization that encourages visits to Japanese orphanages.  Through its website […]

  In this episode, Nick provides an overview of other great Japan-related podcasts available to listeners on the Internet.  This list is by no means meant to be exhaustive.  If one of your favorite podcasts did not make the list, feel free to email letstalkjapan@gmail.com and Nick will add it to the “listener recommended” category […]

In this episode, Nick speaks with Aaron Packard, assistant curator of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, which is located within the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C.  Together they discuss: The history of bonsai How Aaron became interested in this art form and was able to make it a full-time career The contents of the […]

It’s officially hanami season and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom here in Washington, D.C.  Each spring, over a million and a half people come to see the most famous cherry blossoms outside of Japan.  In this episode, Nick speaks with Ambassador John Malott, president of the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C., about this living […]

In this episode, Nick speaks with baseball historian and author Robert K. Fitts about his most recent book, Banzai Babe Ruth: Baseball, Espionage, & Assassination During the 1934 Tour of Japan. While its been referred to as “One of the greatest road trips in sports history,” the 1934 tour was about much more than the game of […]

        In this episode, Nick speaks with Ayako Smethurst and Drew Scronce about Kizuna Across Cultures.  Ayako is the President of Kizuna Across Cultures and Drew is the organization’s Educational Director.  Drew also teaches Japanese at Langley High School, just outside of Washington, DC. Kizuna Across Cultures is an innovative educational organization […]

In this episode, Nick speaks with Keiko Eto Fore, a close family friend, about her experiences growing up in wartime Japan, surviving the Hiroshima atomic bomb, and raising a family in rural America.   Keiko and her older sister Michiko               Keiko in kimono standing on the far left with […]

  In this episode, Nick Harling speaks with Jennelle Root Martelle and Paul Rothman about the mission of Sister Cities International.  Jennelle is the Director of Programs and Grants and Paul is the membership coordinator at Sister Cities International. Topics covered in this interview include: An explanation of what a sister-city partnership is The history […]

In this episode, Nick Harling talks with Sara Tilliotson, program director of the JET office at the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C., about the JET Program application process. Together, they discuss the JET Program’s: purpose & history types of positions & responsibilities eligibility criteria salary & benefits common application mistakes application deadline & hiring process timeline […]

In this introductory episode of the Let’s Talk Japan Podcast, host Nick Harling discusses his personal relationship with Japan, why he decided to create the Let’s Talk Japan Podcast, and what he hopes it will achieve.