The Kimi Kato Show

Launching ”Kimi’s Japan Journey: 47 Prefectures Unraveled”!  Across 47 episodes, we’ll journey from north to south, uncovering each prefecture’s must-see spots, flavors, and stories! First stop: Hokkaido—Japan’s northern frontier of vast nature, rich traditions, and vibrant culture! From the Sapporo Snow Festival and Shiretoko National Park to the lavender fields of Furano, Hokkaido inspires in ev...

Meet Beverly—a powerhouse vocalist from the Philippines who made her debut in Japan in 2017! 💎 She has earned numerous awards at music festivals across the U.S. and Asia and is celebrated for her soaring high tones and silky, soothing voice. Beverly has performed theme songs for TV dramas, anime, Kamen Rider, video games, and commercials, with her music videos and social media content surpassing...

Step into the colorful world of Stephanie Yanez—a J-POP artist and content creator who blends anime nostalgia, original music, and kawaii culture. 🌸 She was the first American to release an original song with Hatsune Miku and has performed across the U.S. and Japan, collaborating with brands like Sanrio, Crunchyroll, and Bandai while sharing her love of retro anime, fashion, and all things cute w...

Feel the blazing heat and nostalgia of August in Japan! ☀️ In today’s episode, we dive into the cultural significance of Mountain Day and Obon, the thrill of summer festivals and sports, and the delicious summer foods that keep us cool.🍧 From climbing iconic peaks like Mt. Fuji to enjoying beer gardens and traditional dishes like Somen, we’ve got the full summer experience covered. Whether it’s c...

We’re joined by gb—a soulful singer-songwriter known for his groovy, heartwarming sound. The son of George Brown of Kool & The Gang, gb blends organic soul with Gen Z appeal. He rose to fame when his track “STRESS” went viral on TikTok. In this intimate conversation, we explore his roots, creative process, thoughts on J-POP, and what’s next—including his upcoming single, “Smile In Your Face.” 🔗 F...

Nostalgia and New Sounds: A Catch-Up with Summer Salt Ready to soak in some feel-good vibes? 🌞 On this episode of The Kimi Kato Show, Kimi sits down with Summer Salt—the indie trop-pop legends behind your favorite mellow tracks—for a deep, fun, and heartwarming chat. We’re talking evolution, inspiration, and that signature Summer Salt magic. Whether you're a longtime fan or just discovering them,...

Meet UPIKO — a rising Japanese singer-songwriter turning viral buzz into international acclaim with her raw acoustic style and powerful, socially conscious lyrics! UPIKO - Originally from Yamaguchi, Japan, UPIKO moved to Tokyo in November 2020 to pursue her music career. With her distinctive songwriting style and genre-defying approach, UPIKO is now recognized as one of the most promising emerging...

We’re crossing continents—from Japan to Norway—with special guests BEK & Moberg, the Scandinavian pop duo making waves across the globe. From viral hits in Japan to festival anthems in Sweden. How “Storeulv” blew up in Japan... Behind-the-scenes stories, music talk, and their brand-new Japanese track “Luna Dansu” out now! Tune in for an episode packed with beats, global vibes, and real stories fro...

This week on The Kimi Kato Show, we dive into the heart of Japanese summer with HANABI TAIKAI – Fireworks Festivals! 
From ancient alchemy in China to dazzling riverside displays in Tokyo, discover the colorful history, culture, and artistry behind Japan’s beloved fireworks season. We’ll take you from Osaka to Akita, sharing the top 5 must-see fireworks events, how they’re made, and what makes eac...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW with Jeremiah Featuring THE KIMI KATO SHOW with one of Japan’s most iconic and beloved bands, THE ALFEE! From their explosive debut to their record-breaking achievements, THE ALFEE has captivated hearts and rocked the Japanese music scene for over half a century. Formed in college in 1973 by MASARU SAKURAI (vocals and bass), KOHNOSUKE SAKAZAKI (vocals, acoustic guitar, and percu...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW With JEREMIAH - Featuring July In Japan From dazzling fireworks lighting up the night skies to energetic matsuri dances echoing through the streets, July is when Japan truly comes alive. Let’s explore together what makes this month so uniquely unforgettable. July in Japan is hot – and not just a little. We’re talking full-on humid, sweat-through-your-shirt heat. But what makes i...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW with Jeremiah - Featuring MACO, Japanese Singer-Songwriter MACO began writing songs at the age of 17. She started out writing original Japanese lyrics to Mariah Carey's songs. Her singing and songwriting skills were recognized by the agency ONEPEACE, which also manages Matt Cab and tofubeats. To promote her talent, MACO began publishing Japanese covers of songs by Western artist...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW with Jeremiah Featuring June: The Rainy Season in Japan Today, we’re wading into the wet and wonderful world of June in Japan—a month known for rain, romance, reflection, and rhythm. Pull out your umbrellas, put on your headphones, and take a walk in the June rain in Japan with us! - - - - - - - - - - THE KIMI KATO SHOW Host - Kimi Kato Co-Host - Jeremiah D. Higgins Executive Pr...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW with Jeremiah Kimi visited four major cities on his trip back to Japan: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and Kyoto. He visited three shrines, attended the Music Awards Japan 2025, bought new fashion from his friend, attended three concerts, and also visited his parents in Nagano. How's that for a two-week trip? Kimi's primary reason for traveling to Japan was to attend Music Awards Japan 2...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW with Jeremiah Featuring Music Awards Japan 2025 The Music Awards Japan is a brand-new international music award designed to celebrate and elevate Japanese and Asian music on the global stage.  Organized by the Japan Culture and Entertainment Industry Promotion Association also known as CEIPA, a coalition of five major Japanese music organizations, Music Awards Japan aims to prom...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW with Jeremiah Featuring Golden Week - Japan's Springtime Spectacle Golden Week, or "Gōruden Wīku" (ゴールデンウィーク) in Japanese, is a collection of four national holidays, that occur within seven days, typically from April 29th to May 5th. It's one of Japan's busiest holiday seasons, alongside New Year and Obon. During this time, many Japanese people look forward to this week...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW Featuring CHI - from CHAMELEON LIME WHOOPIEPIE CLWP is a solo unit founded by CHI -, known for her bright orange hair. The band also includes two other members, Whoopies No.1 and Whoopies No.2. Their first single, “Dear Idiot,” was released in December 2019. In 2021, they were selected as one of the artists for Spotifyʼs RADAR: Early Noise 2021. They have performed at one of the...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW Featuring EXPO 2025 Osaka, Japan Welcome to one of the most anticipated global events of the decade—EXPO 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan! From April 13 to October 13, 2025, this six-month celebration will unite over 150 countries and regions to showcase the theme: "Designing Future Society for Our Lives." What is the concept of this Expo? They say it’s A Living Laboratory of the Futur...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW with Jeremiah Featuring Japanese Tea From ancient tea temples to trendy matcha cafés, we are taking you through the journey of Japanese tea. So the next time you sip that green goodness, remember—you’re tasting history, health, and harmony. THE KIMI KATO SHOW Host - Kimi Kato Co-Host - Jeremiah D. Higgins Executive Producers - Kimi Kato & Jeremiah D. Higgins Sound Engineer - Gra...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW with Jeremiah Featuring Matsuri '25 The 2025 MLB season is officially underway, and what better way to kick things off than in Tokyo? In front of a packed Tokyo Dome, the Dodgers took down the Cubs 4-1 in Game 1 of the Tokyo Series—　Seiya Suzuki from the Cubs and Shohei Ohtani played, and yep, Shohei Ohtani was at the center of the action (because of course he was). Kimi recaps...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW with Jeremiah Featuring Koinobori & Hina Dolls: Japan’s Festivals of Growth & Fortune Today, we’re diving into one of Japan’s most cherished traditional festivals—Momo no Sekku, known as Girls’ Day or Hinamatsuri, which is on March 3rd, and as we cover Girl’s Day, "When we think of Japan’s seasonal festivals, most people know about Girls’ Day (Hinamatsuri) and Children’s Day (Ta...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW with Jeremiah Featuring Japanese Urban Legends The term “urban legend” was first popularized by an American folklorist named Jan Harold Brunvand in the 1970s. He used it to describe modern folklore—stories that weren’t ancient myths or fairy tales but circulated in everyday life. Today, we talk about Urban Legends: Japan vs. The U.S.A. We’ll cover: What makes urban legends diffe...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW with Jeremiah Featuring Koinobori & Hina Dolls: Japan’s Festivals of Growth & Fortune Today, we’re diving into one of Japan’s most cherished traditional festivals—Momo no Sekku, "Girls’ Day" or Hinamatsuri. (March 3rd) When we think of Japan’s seasonal festivals, most people know about Girls’ Day (Hinamatsuri) and Children’s Day (Tango no Sekku). But did you know these are part...

THE KIMI KATO SHOW with Jeremiah - Featuring The Rise of Japanese Street Fashion – Beyond Harajuku Today's episode is about Japanese street fashion—and no, we’re not just talking about Harajuku’s kawaii styles. There’s so much more to Japan’s fashion culture! Japan has influenced global fashion for decades, but it’s not just about big brands like Comme des Garçons (Rei Kawakubo) or Yohji Yamamoto....

THE KIMI KATO SHOW With Jeremiah - Featuring Graduation in Japan In this episode we’re diving into a big part of Japanese culture that’s coming up soon—graduation!  Graduation in Japan is a pretty major event, and it’s so different from what we might be used to in the U.S. Today. We’re going to explore all the details—how it’s celebrated, why it’s so special, and even why graduation happens in Mar...