BANCHA TALKS in the inaka

INOW•www.inowkamikatsu.com

Linda and Kana are two Canadians living in Kamikatsu, the famous “zero-waste” village in Japan. Kamikatsu is famous for its comprehensive recycling system, where 80% of all the waste produced in the village is recycled into a whopping 45 different categories. But there’s more to life in this tiny mountainside village beyond just environmental consciousness. Come dive into what it’s really like for two foreigners living in the Japanese countryside. Get ready to sip some tea (we recommend the Kamikatsu speciality, awa bancha!) while we spill the tea.👩🏻‍❤️‍👩🏻🌿🍃

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Episodes

Winter Is HERE 🎄- A (Zero-Waste) Christmas Exchange And Other Surprising Stories

Hello friends! The winter chill has crept into our bones after an unseasonably warm autumn 🍂 Join Linda, Kana, and their special guest - Sil, new arrival in Kamikatsu all the way from Belgium! - as they huddle around the maki stove and talk about a year in review. Don’t miss the ideas for holding a zero-waste gift exchange, stories of bike trips across Europe (low emissions way to travel!), and other tidbits from life in the Japanese countryside. Happy Holidays to all and to joy in the new year...

Dec 22, 2022•39 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Tis The Season For CHANGE - What’s About To Happen???

Summer’s skipped away into fall, and there’s more change happening in Kamikatsu than just the leaves turning colour…🍂 Harvest festivals, finishing this year’s batch of Two Ladies awa bancha, the partners in our lives 🙈… tune in to hear all the new autumn tea 🍃freshly made! Recommendations: 1) Climate recommendation: let's take a moment to RETHINK travel. What are the right next steps to "do" or participate in sustainable travel ? 2) A ten-day residential course to Vipassana Meditation Course ...

Nov 18, 2022•33 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Troubles in Paradise - Our Personal Struggles with Life in Kamikatsu

Welcome back to our countryside talks, thank you once again for joining us! 🌰 This month with summer drawing to a close, we wanted to catch up on all things tea - like Two Ladies Awa Bancha, of course 😉, as a new tea season is suddenly upon us. We also catch up on summer festivals (like the famous 'Awa Odori' in Tokushima), and finally some deep talks about what happens when life is not always roses and blue skies. We hope you like this talk, and as always, leave us a comment on what you would...

Sep 13, 2022•38 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Dating In The Japanese Countryside…And Other Burning Questions

Welcome back to Kamikatsu! It’s episode 3 and this month Linda and Kana open the floor to your burning questions 😉 What is it like living in the Japanese countryside if you can’t speak the language well? What were we most nervous about before moving to the countryside? And of course, what is dating like in the smallest village on all of Shikoku? Thanks to everyone for their curiosity, and keep the questions coming. We’d love to do a follow-up episode! 🌿 Recommendations 🌿 1) Flourish: Design P...

Jun 28, 2022•30 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Why Are Two Canadians Living In Kamikatsu??

Welcome to episode 2, long-awaited we know. Sorry!!! In this episode Linda and Kana talk about why they are living in Kamikatsu, and what is the INOW program, which they co-founded back in July 2020. Enjoy! 🌸 Recommendations 🌸 1) Loofah sponge (Hechima へちま) Dried gourds are soaked in water, peeled, and their seeds are removed. Once they’re completely dry, they can be sliced, cut, or shaped in a variety of ways before they’re sold as sponges. 2) Exchange goods in abundance for other goods witho...

May 21, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Why We Are No Longer Calling Ourselves “ZERO-WASTE”

Welcome to our first episode! We are so excited for you to join us. In our inaugural episode, we (Linda and Kana) introduce ourselves, giving a little background as to how two Canadians found themselves moving to Kamikatsu, the smallest village on the main island of Shikoku. We also introduce Kamikatsu, and why it is famous for being a “zero-waste” village. But we also talk about why we believe this moniker is incorrect and why we no longer want to keep using the term when describing the town. G...

Mar 21, 2022•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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