Japan Vibes

English audio podcast (auto-dubbed into English from the Japanese original, with permission) Discover how a small neighborhood bar in Tokyo became part of Japan’s craft gin movement. In this episode of PICO’s World , we sit down with Kota, owner of BAR NICO in Fukagawa, to discuss his journey from studying in the United Kingdom to running one of Tokyo’s pioneering craft gin bars. Topics include: •...

Japanese audio podcast. To view YouTube version with English subtitles: Discover how a small neighborhood bar in Tokyo became part of Japan’s craft gin movement. In this episode of PICO’s World , we sit down with Kota, owner of BAR NICO in Fukagawa, to discuss his journey from studying in the United Kingdom to running one of Tokyo’s pioneering craft gin bars. Topics include: • Life in Fukagawa and...

Discover Tokyo’s hidden music scene, one dish and record at a time as we explore the intersection of Japanese punk culture, local food, and community. Description: This episode is the English dubbed version of the original Japanese-language documentary, which can be viewed, with English subtitles, as well as samples of their music and clips of their concerts and cafe, on YouTube: Is it possible to...

Explore traditional Japanese kite making in this documentary podcast featuring Mr. Ogawa, a 4th-generation master artisan in Tokyo. Discover the 150-year history of the Ogawa Kite Shop near Morishita and Kiyosumi-shirakawa, where the ancient Edo-period craft of “Tako-e” (kite painting) meets modern Japanese culture. In this English-dubbed episode, we dive into the technical mastery of splitting ba...

[Note for English Listeners] This episode features the original Japanese-language documentary audio. · English Subtitled Video: Available now on YouTube: · English Podcast Version: Releasing here after April 1 . Is it possible to balance the life of a legendary garage-punk band with running a full-service cafe in the heart of Tokyo? 伝説のガレージパンクバンドとしての活動と、東京の中心部でフルサー...

日本の伝統的な凧作りの世界を紹介します。江東区・森下で150年続く「小川凧店」の四代目、小川さんの技と情熱の物語。 日本の伝統的な凧作りは、厳選された和紙と割った竹ひごを組み合わせることから始まります。骨組みとなる竹のバランスを細かく調整することで、風をしっかりと捉え、空高く安定して揚がる凧が完成します。 凧に描かれる「凧絵（たこえ）」は、浮世絵の流れを汲む勇壮な武者絵が伝統的ですが、現代では花やカッ...

(English follows Japanese, below). See English subtitles in Youtube version: こもれびカフェは、東京の静かな街角にひっそりと佇む小さな隠れ家。その名は「木漏れ日」を意味します。🌿『Japan Vibes / Pico’s World』の12分間のエピソードでは、こもれびカフェのオーナー・正雄さんと対談。コーヒー、コミュニティ、そして人々がペースを落とせる場所づくりについて語ります。インタビューは日本語で進行し、英語字幕付き。...

Japan has never heard bagpipes like this. In this episode of Japan Vibes , Pico sits down with Ally the Bagpiper —the rising Japanese bagpipe talent whose street and stage performances are captivating audiences across the country. We talk about: * How she discovered the Great Highland bagpipes * Why Japanese audiences react so strongly to Celtic sound * Her rigorous daily practice routine * The fu...

✨ Welcome to Japan Vibes — Pico’s World series on Japanese art, music, and culture. In this episode, Pico interviews Sari-san, a kimono accessories designer at the heart of Japan’s new kimono culture. 🌸👘 We talk about: - How Sari first fell in love with kimono fashion - The rise of casual and avant-garde kimono during the pandemic - Influence of brands like ROBE JAPONICA and creators like Sanka...