Dispatches from Japan

In Fukushima, northern Japan, there's an anomalous section of the border - a long thin strip of land. What's that all about? #Japan #Geography #History

What's it like having surgery in Japan? And what is otosclerosis? Find out all about my first surgery and hospital stay experience in this episode. #Otosclerosis #Japan

Who was Ito Noe and what did she do in her short 28 years? Quite a lot, in fact. Find out about this anarcha-feminist in this episode. There's arranged marriage! A love tri..quadrilateral! Bertrand Russell! Throat stabbing! Government censorship! And more! #Japan #History #WomensHistory #Feminism

I read an article claiming Japan is a great place to ride your bike. But is it really? A lot of it depends on where you are and what kind of riding you want to do. Let's break it down and see where Japan is good for cyclists, and where it ain't. #Cycling #Japan

In March of 1657, a fire destroyed most of Edo (Modern day Tokyo). What started the fire? Why is it sometimes called the furisode fire?

One of the recent trends in Japanese fashion is US university sweatshirts. And sometimes they are not the obvious schools.

It's a rite of passage for Japanese kids entering elementary school. But not having grown up here, it's slightly baffling to me, even though I "get it." What is a randoseru? And what up with that?

In August of 1981, three suspicious men were spotted in a small rubber boat in Oga, Akita, northern Japan. Who were they? And why were people on the Japan Sea coast on edge at the time?

She was featured in a Google Doodle in 2021. But why? Who was Tsujimura Michiyo?

Down in Hiroshima, there is a short and, dare I say it, unique public transit line. It's not particularly flashy or fast. But it does stand out in its own ways.

In 1976, Hakodate airport had a very unexpected landing, one that would destroy the mystique of a new, still little known about plane. Listen to find out what happened on a cloudy day in September, 1976.

What does it mean to "graduate" or "卒業"? Let's talk about differences in how the words are used.

Do you know about Shirase Nobu? Yes? Well, you're either a liar or a total Japanese history otaku. Don't know who that is? Well, listen and find out about Japan's entry into the race for the South Pole. (Spoiler - they didn't win the race, but it was still a success.)

In 1998, an electricity transmission tower in Kagawa prefecture collapsed. What caused it? And what's up with the copycat crime? Listen to this shorty and find out.

What is university life like in Japan? Well, I'm not a university student, but as an instructor, I have at least a reasonable idea. Listen and find out some of the ways university life differs here in Japan.

Japan has two separate power grids, operating at two different frequencies. 50hz in the east, and 60hz in the west. How did that happen? And why won't anyone fix it?

Let's talk about the wide diversity of animals in Japan. Well, at least land and air based animals. No aquatic wildlife in this one. But Monkeys! And Bears! And wild boars! And others. Get outside of the big cities and find the wildlife. And maybe get chased by it.

On September 26, 1954, the train ferry Toya Maru capsized less than a kilometer off the coast near Hakodate, killing more than 1000 people. Listen to hear about what happened and the legacy of the disaster. The report I quoted from a couple of times: http://www.shippai.org/fkd/en/cfen/CA1000609.html

You might have seen something about Princess Mako's wedding in the news. I share some thoughts about the Japanese royal family and the whole situation. #Content

Find out some about the town of Kisakata. Why did Matsuo Basho go and visit? Check it out!

According to a few people, Jesus Christ didn't die on the cross in the middle east. Nope. He died an old man in a rural area of northern Japan. Listen and find out the full story. And check out the really good article from the Smithsonian cited in the episode: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-little-known-legend-of-jesus-in-japan-165354242/?utm_source=pocket_mylist

In September of 1942, the mountains of south western Oregon were bombed by a Japanese pilot. What the!? Not much came of the two bombing runs, but they are an interesting footnote in history. Listen and find out more!

Following the Great Kantō Earthquake in 1923, vigilantes, fueled by false rumors, massacred thousands of foreign residents in the Yokohama and Tokyo. How did it happen?

1923 September 1: A massive earthquake rocked the Tokyo area just before lunchtime. Here a little about what happened in this short episode.

In June of 1995, a plane was hijacked on its way to Hakodate. What happened? And why did it happen? Listen and find out.