Japan Times Journalist Magdalena Osumi updates us on Japan's border entry sitch, and outlines Japan's new "vaccine passport" system, which could help lift some restrictions when entering certain countries (Not Japan, tho). Ollie is MIA and Bobby won't even watch the pirated stuff. Topics discussed on this episode range from: Brian's big debut What happened with the Belarusian Olympic sprinter who criticized her coaches on Instagram Differences in public reactions to the above story and the story...
Aug 05, 2021•29 min•Ep. 94
What's that awful groaning sound?? Nope, it's not us talking about the Olympics, it's Japanese horror! Lindsay Nelson tells us all about the world of scary Japanese movies, and seven days later, we die. Ollie recommends a battery powered river cruise that has run into a familiar problem. Bobby used to like that quote about how on a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero, but now he's worried that the long enough timeline isn't long enough. Topics discussed on this epi...
Jul 30, 2021•30 min•Ep. 93
The Olympics have begun, but more importantly, the MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE OLYMPICS HAS BEGUN! Officially accredited press person Oscar Boyd tells us about all of the rules the press are ignoring, and why he's rooting for American Samoa. Ollie recommends an Amazon sponsored river cruise that helps teach you how to save the planet, while having one foot out the backdoor. Bobby cleans up some poop. Topics discussed on this episode range from : How Oscar broke both his arms The stress of being a gaij...
Jul 23, 2021•28 min•Ep. 92
Japanese comedian Meshida talks what it's like to be a Japanese resident of Tokyo during the ramp up to the Olympics, and how yeah, we're "witnessing history," but so were Black Death survivors. Ollie recommends a cruise that accidentally discovers what's more popular than "canal." Bobby gets into the rainy season cruise spirit. Topics discussed on this episode range from : What Anti-Japanese Groups actually think about the Olympics How Brian's Eikaiwa work is going Bach-kaicho calling the Japan...
Jul 15, 2021•32 min•Ep. 91
Dogen drops by to talk about keeping professional and personal separate, how to mine the same old Japan for new jokes, and to settle the issue of whether or not sarcasm exists in Japan, which is great, because NO ONE ELSE has EVER had ANYTHING to say about it. Ollie recommends a River Cruise that teaches the traditional Japanese custom of "commercialism." Bobby finds out what's gonna happen to all of those bafflingly useless technological marvels from SoftBank. Topics discussed on this episode r...
Jul 02, 2021•29 min•Ep. 90
Unseen Japan's new manager Noah Oskow stops by to talk social media social justice, how Summer Sonic's hopes to skip the visa application line up for THEIR lineup, and how Olympic Fever is on the rise, starting with the Ugandan Team... Ollie talks about the harder to get delicacies available aboard the Olympic Athlete's Dining Cruise. Bobby has news about GariGari-kun doing something VERY GROSS and VERY ON BRAND. Topics discussed on this episode range from : Noah's beef with a "Kosher" Kobe Rive...
Jun 25, 2021•31 min•Ep. 89
A 50-yr-old Japanese lawmaker says it would be "absurd" if he got arrested for sleeping with a 14-yr-old. The fascinating, funny Dr. Alexandra Hambleton talks about the issues surrounding this story, and also demonstrates how to deny consent when she refuses to let us scan her zairyuu card. Ollie continues to be British. Bobby continues to think way too highly of his parenting abilities. Topics discussed on this episode range from : What every father really wants for father's day We finally find...
Jun 17, 2021•31 min•Ep. 88
Japan's closed borders mean that foreign production crews can't get in to produce Japan travel features, so creator Alisha Ivelich is taking the opportunity to fill the demand with a Japan travel series that actually cares about Japan. Ollie recommends a privacy-focused cruise that, due to the ToS, we are not allowed to tell you about. Bobby looks at how our favorite indoor river cruise, "It's a Small World," is getting a little smaller. Topics discussed on this episode range from : Naomi Osaka'...
Jun 11, 2021•30 min•Ep. 87
Sarah Moon, anime and game translator, talks about her journey from "weeb suspicious of translation," to "translator that weebs are suspicious of," in the great anime circle of waifu. Ollie recommends a cruise for animal lovers but not loved animals. Bobby looks at how one river cruise company is leveraging the power and lack of power of petitions. Topics discussed on this episode range from : This Nike Japan Commercial: New Girl, New Play What to do you if you want to do stuff, but you have a v...
Jun 04, 2021•30 min•Ep. 86
Go sign the petition ! And here's your eco/anti-olympic activism vocab list: 剪定 (せんてい、sentei) pruning of trees 伐採 （ばっさい、bassai) felling of trees 請願書 (せいがんしょ、seigansho) petition 署名者 (しょうめいしゃ、shoumeisha) signers of a petition ★ Support this podcast ★...
May 29, 2021•17 min•Ep. 85
Author of "Regimes of Desire: Young Gay Men, Media, and Masculinity in Tokyo," Dr. Thomas Baudinette talks about Japan's young gay men and the emotional damage done by the pressure to act out their gayness in an unfortunate way, namely emulating straight dudes. Ollie's recommendation is pretty worthless this week, because there's NO WAY you don't already know about it. Bobby greats ready for Pride on a river boat and sets some google alerts for Hashimoto Kotoe and Sugita Mio. Topics discussed on...
May 27, 2021•29 min•Ep. 85
Author of "PURE INVENTION," (sorry) Matt Alt takes us through his latest for the New Yorker on "Japan's Olympic Sized Problem." If you want to find out just WHAT exactly that Olympic-sized problem is, you'll have to listen to the show. Ollie recommends a cruise that features a very traditional brand of online-connectivity. Bobby seeks adventure on the high... rivers. Topics discussed on this episode range from : Ollie's continued transformation into man who lives in his mum's basement Kono Taro'...
May 20, 2021•31 min•Ep. 84
Japanese history scholar Chelsea Szendi Schieder talks about the inconsistent ways Japan chooses to deal with the dark chapters of its past and how denial is NOT just a river with some amazing cruises. Ollie looks into how the Sumidagawa River Cruise is finally adapting to foreign widths. Bobby makes a joke that hinges on ignoring the difference between a ワクチン and a 予防接種 Topics discussed on this episode include: Chelsea's book Coed Revolution about the female voices in social movements in Japan ...
May 13, 2021•30 min•Ep. 83
Music industry and Visual Kei Insider Sarahphina teaches Bobby and Ollie about stuff they're totally unfamiliar with, like X Japan, Japanese rock fandom and humility. Ollie looks into a river cruise dating service for vaccinated singles. All ten of them. Bobby organizes the kind of tourist activities HE wants the foreign Olympic athletes to experience. Topics discussed on this episode include: This Tweet Ollie's lack of decoration and decorum Sarahphina's amazing cottage core interior design Sar...
May 07, 2021•31 min•Ep. 82
Co-founder of Tanuki Games, Stephen Case talks about the relationship between community building and quality of life abroad and how the rhythms of Japan expat experience have changed during the past year. (They're f***ed.) Ollie recommends a river cruise that's partnered with Elon Musk, so you know it's got its priorities in line. Bobby does a quick self-exam to make sure we're not liable for fraud. Topics discussed on this episode range from : How many memberships Brian should buy How Comedy Fu...
Apr 30, 2021•30 min•Ep. 81
Sustainable travel consultant JJ Walsh (and everyone else in Hiroshima) gets a free PCR test! Here's hoping this saliva-filled undertaking amounts to more than just spitting into the wind. Ollie recommends our first ever Fukushima based river cruise, with some pretty interesting side effects. Bobby recommends a Ramadan cruise that should make things WAYYYYY easier for all of our practicing Muslim listeners. Topics discussed on this episode range from : What Ollie did to pay his respects for Prin...
Apr 16, 2021•29 min•Ep. 80
Jason Mitchell, from Nihongodomo, a resource for parents "raising kids in Japanese," stops by to talk about how his parenting process is basically the opposite of Bobby's, by which we assume he means, HE'S doing a GOOD job. Ollie makes the most of an online resource to gather river cruise recommendations, while he still can. Bobby is on the worst trip ever, and it's affecting his ability to make light parody. Topics discussed on this episode range from: Brian's kids Jason and his family dealing ...
Apr 09, 2021•31 min•Ep. 79
David McNeill explains why sometimes the ancient art of jya-narizamu intersects with the even more ancient art of bullshitto, and how exoticizing foreign countries meant the British newspaper industry died a little slower than it could have done. Ollie recommends a cruise that maritime insurers hate. Bobby explores which Covid variants will form part of the Olympic boating legacy. Topics discussed on this episode range from: What 'soap talk' means and how much of a thing it's become. Slips of th...
Apr 02, 2021•31 min•Ep. 78
Rochelle Kopp tackles the question of whether or not Japan has finally crossed the Rubicon when it comes to going forward with the Olympics? If they have, we hope they checked out the really nice Rubicon River Cruise while they were in the area. Ollie takes a river cruise that lets you play the second most dangerous game. Bobby withdraws his name from consideration for something that he probably wasn't being considered for. Topics discussed on this episode range from: How to Get in Shape to rein...
Mar 26, 2021•32 min•Ep. 77
Former-idol, former-hostess, and current maid Alice talks about how the pandemic has devastated nightlife businesses, and how the fact that that they might never bounce back could be a blessing in disguise, if the disguise is a really sparkly cocktail dress. (We’re assuming that you know "idol," "hostess," and "maid" are words we are using in English to describe things that are RADICALLY different when used in Japanese. If you didn't know, then listen to the show!) Ollie looks back on the first ...
Mar 19, 2021•32 min•Ep. 76
Long time editor of "Fukuoka Now" Nick Szasz brings his inbound expertise to bear on the proliferation of virtual tourism in Japan, a trend in which regional tourist destinations all over Japan try to learn how to use the internet. Ollie recommends a cruise that's currently booking for next year, which is still gonna be too early. Bobby has a new river cruise segment which will probably not be as popular as its namesake. Topics discussed on this episode range from : What you can do to help make ...
Mar 12, 2021•31 min•Ep. 75
Bloomberg Journalist Marika Katanuma joins us to discuss the ways in which Japan's gender inequality has created a bleak financial outlook for Japan's women, and the government's quick and decisive action to talk about thinking about what to do. Ollie recommends a river cruise that, seriously, you guys, he was only on for the purposes of the review. Bobby checks out Japan's only river cruise themed love hotel with his wife and another guy. Topics discussed on this episode range from : A great wa...
Mar 05, 2021•29 min•Ep. 74
Pro-cosplayers Kat Gunn and Reika talk to us about Japan's recent attention to the rules around copyrighted character cosplay. We'll look at why cosplay is okay if you're only fans, but not okay if you're ON OnlyFans. Ollie recommends a boba boat. Bobby tries out a sink or swim fitness regimen. Topics discussed on this episode range from : A law firm in need of a good law firm Kat being our first ever guest who's never been to Japan... except for that time she won the All Japan Dead or Alive 4 R...
Feb 25, 2021•30 min•Ep. 73
Attn: Non-Japanese employees in Japan who are likely to be fired! Atsuro Tsujino, member of the Japan Lawyers Network for Foreigners tells us how two wrongs might not make a right, but YOUR rights might make your termination wrongful. Everything you need to know about your rights under Japanese law, and what to do if you find yourself the victim of harassment or wrongful termination in Japan. Ollie uses the skills he picked up bankrupting hedge funds to help you get cheaper river cruise tickets....
Feb 18, 2021•31 min•Ep. 72
Bloomberg journalist Stephen Stapczynksi talks about Japan's renewable energy goals, its nuclear power plants, and its dependence on fossil fuels. Oh and speaking of wastes of energy, Tokyo Olympics chief Mori comes up too. Ollie gets into the renewable spirit of the show by recycling the contents of THIS EPISODE into this week's river cruise recommendation. Bobby tries out a Clubhouse inspired river cruise company, then ends up endlessly switching boats because of FOMO. Topics discussed on this...
Feb 12, 2021•29 min•Ep. 71
Co-host of "The Konnichiwa Podcast" Dan Yoder trades tips with Bobby on how to raise the perfect multicultural, well-rounded, native-level bilingual children in an episode that might AGE HORRIBLY. Listen now, then check back in 10-15 years to find out. Ollie recommends a river cruise that maybe should have been included on our vaccine ep with Lisa Du . Bobby looks at a how the JET Programme's first foray into the River Cruise industry is more of the same from them. Topics discussed on this episo...
Feb 04, 2021•31 min•Ep. 70
Lisa Du from Bloomberg tells us what she's learned on the Corona vaccine beat in Japan, which yeah, if you go by rollout DATE, Japan is behind the West, but if you go by mortality figures, you could say they're ahead? Ollie recommends a river cruise that reminds us not to take the Disney Navy lightly. Bobby looks at a Ninja Cruise that might have to rebrand as a CATCH 22 Cruise. Topics discussed on this episode range from: What kind of jigsaw puzzle Ollie's Nan is doing Brief thanks to all the l...
Jan 28, 2021•31 min•Ep. 69
YouTuber KemushiChan, AKA Loretta Scott, shares lessons from her 20-year Japanese Odyssey, including her cheat codes and advice about the "genki plateau," specifically how to avoid falling from it to your death. Ollie recommends a cruise line that would benefit from a minimum wage hike... or would it? It would still be minimum. Join Bobby in a last minute review of the Japanese River Cruise Academy's entrance exam, so you don't get absolutely keelhauled by it again this year. Topics discussed on...
Jan 21, 2021•31 min•Ep. 68
Outspoken LDP (& JBRC) critic Jake Adelstein updates his 100-day Suga progress report to include the State of Emergency soft reboot, and Suga's inability to commit to anything... except hosting the Olympics. Ollie recommends a cruise that got itself a recommendation as part of the negotiations. Bobby helps a couple of Guinness World Record Adjudicators rethink their life decisions. Topics discussed on this episode : A sponsored message from DoomScroll-kun: Don't just be helpless. Feel Helple...
Jan 15, 2021•30 min•Ep. 67
Getting a work visa in Japan can seem like a daunting task, especially because it's currently IMPOSSIBLE. But just in case that changes, we talk to Ann Kilzer about the ways to go about it and hear how she started from the bottom, now she's here. Ollie recommends a cruise that lets you be a part of Asahi Beer's brewing process, including some of its closest trade secrets. Bobby talks about how one river cruise company and their passengers are getting into New Year's fukubukuro lucky bags, litera...
Jan 08, 2021•31 min•Ep. 66
