Saké This

https://www.instagram.com/sakethispodcast/ Lyrics: A Sake in Hand, and a body drenched-in-lotion. I’m Sensei de Balzac … worship my motion. Japan cancels thousand-year-old ‘Naked Man Festival’: organisers have blamed the cancellation on an ageing population. Source-ish Saucy Sources: https://travel.japanvoyage.jp/festivals/saidaiji-eyo The brain of Big Russ Smith (Comedy Writer). Got a Tip for the...

Japan is employing professional Crane Game Coaches to help customers dominate their next trip to the arcade. This leads to the question: what other things could use some expert instruction? Sing-along: A Sake in Hand? The other a prize grabber. Get a coach and train-the-crane …. don’t be a slapper. Coaching In Japan. Bowing. Kaiju. Capsule Hotels. Seppuku ( hara-kiri) . Kamikaze IBS. Coaching In G...

Are you ready to "polish your manners" just to keep your seat? Saucy Source-ish: https://japantoday.com/category/national/taxi-drivers-to-be-granted-right-to-kick-rude-passengers-out-of-their-cabs-before-destination Quote. “Anyone who’s gotten into the habit of throwing their weight around when they hop in a taxi would be advised to polish their manners sooner rather than later.” End Quote. (LSK)...

According to JapanToday.com, “elite competitive sleepers” are coming together from all across Japan to see who can nap the fastest and sleep the deepest in a new competition called Matt Race. Source: https://japantoday.com/category/national/ready-set-snooze-sleep-deprived-japanese-compete-for-best-rested Your host Josh is keen to take part in the comp – mostly because it's the only sport we can th...

Author and YouTuber Chris Broad has delivered another enjoyable and soon-to-be classic audiobook, 'Journey Across Japan' – it's a shame some of his reviewers aren't anywhere near as interesting. • MS on Amazon gave J.A.J 5 Stars. • PB on Goodreads gave J.A.J 2 Stars. • Josh gave J.A.J 4 Stars on Joshreads Author's Note: the following 4 Star review on Goodreads from 'Paul' didn't make the cut (othe...

According to Snopes.com, road signs warning drivers in Japan that cats may dive into traffic, are at least in part based on real world signage from around Japan. ( 'At least in part' is absolutely "in part" enough for us here at Saké This ). Sources: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/japan-cat-road-signs/ Possibly Unfactual Facts: The Chinchilla (cat) is a specific form of the Persian cat, but the...

According to SoraNews24.com, price-gouging might be alive and well at Osaka’s 'Kansai International Airport' – with a gourmet beef sandwich selling for ¥19,250 (or $175). Source: https://soranews24.com/2026/09/24/japanese-airport-offering-19250-yen-sandwiches-as-last-japan-meal-for-international-travelers/ .... Want to be part of the show? Email sakethispodcast@gmail.com or DM @sakethispodcast on...

According to the Tokyo Reporter, ‘sick’ Yokosuka official was fired after boss spotted her heading overseas. Source: https://www.tokyoreporter.com/japan-news/sick-yokosuka-official-fired-after-boss-spots-her-heading-overseas/ .... Want to be part of the show? Email sakethispodcast@gmail.com or DM @sakethispodcast on Instagram to send us your very best travel stories and Japanese tidbits.

The Chant: Ni-SHI-KORI Kei Kei Kei .... Ni-SHI-KORI Kei Kei Kei. It was January 16th 2014 at the Australian Open. It was 41ºC or 106ºF (even hotter at court-level). Myself and brother were watching Japanese tennis legend Kei Nishikori and Serbia's Dušan Lajović slug it out on a side-court, and it was EPIC! And freakin' HOT! Kei Nishikori defeated Dušan Lajović 6-1, 6-1, 7-6(3) at the Australian Op...

Intro Sing-Along: Sake in hand, this dance-group is cringey .... I hope you all stub your toes, on the bottom of a torii. According to SoraNews24, officials at Kyoto's famous Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine have condemned foreign tourists who think it’s okay to dance and film videos at sacred sites. Source: https://soranews24.com/2026/09/23/famous-kyoto-shrine-has-a-message-for-foreign-tourists-who-th...

According to the BBC, Yamanashi prefecture is introducing a fee to deter reckless and poorly prepared climbers during Mount Fuji's off-season. A similar per-5-minute fee is already being issued in nearby Saitama prefecture. The Math: ¥8,000 per-5-mins = ¥2.3 million per day (or $20,500 AUD per day). Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw8r6mvjdvedo Follow @joshlistoncomedy on Instagram - htt...

According to the Times of India, Yasutomo Ihara (aka The Green Ranger from Super Sentai) breaks into 43 homes in Japan - making off with ¥8.2 million. "Ihara used his vast experience as a professional stuntman, acrobat and climber to perform these crimes, and said that after hurting his knee and seeing his stunt career stall, he was desperate for income." Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.co...

See the Hamster Butt Earbuds - https://www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com/hamster-butt-earbuds-they-exist/ Would you wear earbuds fashioned after a rodent's backside? And would you buy a Hamster Butt Headphones loot box? DM us your Japanese travel stories: @sakethispodcast on Instagram.

DM us your Japanese travel stories: @sakethispodcast on Instagram. Saké This #19: 01:33 Japanese religion says NO. 04:44 Japan's ninja certification exam. 07:31 Anime characters come to the eyeball. 09:49 Japan plans a backup capital city. 14:25 Gaming Disorder on the rise. 18:20 Reviewing Tokyo's Michelin star restaurants. 21:06 L’Effervescence has a car park. 23:20 A fishy review and a guinea pi...

Sake This Episode 18: Human fridges keep people cool in Japan's scorching summer [01:19] Japan grapples with an invasive raccoon population [05:10] Japan sketches faces onto plastic lettuce bags [07:59] Guesstimation Japan: Japanese place names, real or not real? [10:15] Sources: https://japantoday.com/category/features/new-products/japan-now-has-human-refrigerators-inspired-by-vending-machines ht...

Josh and Justin stopped on the way home to put on some sunscreen, cash in some points, and share some of the wildest Japanese news stories they've had on the podcast so far. Strap in ( maybe use a keychain ). • Deer Opens a Bank Account. [01:00] • A Fraudulent Frequent Flyer. [03:09] • Bizarre Japanese School Rules. [08:14] • Guesstimation Japan: Train Station or Anime? [15:15] • Roasting Reviews:...

Grab ya longest selfie-stick folks, and check you're wearing enough skin - Josh and Justin are here to share the coldest Japanese news stories ever told. Woman Breaks into Home to Slap Stranger. Criminals Using Crabs and Beetles for Find Burglary Victims. Man Sues Wife for Burning Collectables. Guesstimation Japan: Anime Character Names (Real or Not Real?) — vibe. @joshlistoncomedy on Instagram. @...

This week Josh and Justin share the absolute most important Japanese news stories EVER. Banning Testicle Cups. Man Steals a Toilet. Love Doll Demand Surges. Japanese Rules & Customs. Japanese Punk Bands. Guesstimation Japan: True or False? (Japanese Customs and Rules Edition). — vibe. @joshlistoncomedy on Instagram. @justinrlittle on Instagram. .... Story Links: https://soranews24.com/2026/03/...

This week Josh and Justin share more fun news stories all the way from Japan, including a student needing to be rescued from Mount Fuji (twice), a Soba noodle chain asking tourists to avoid the lunch rush, and an official Tamagotchi Factory opening in Harajuku. Guesstimation Japan: Ryokan or Japanese Drink? Rating Reviews: Harajuku's Harry Potter Shop, and the One Piece Mugiwara Shop. — vibe (or p...

This week Josh and Justin share the most important Japanese news stories, including a woman named Kano marrying an AI Character she created, customers buying old train station ticket gates for their own homes, and the mighty Stamina-destroying "Paralysis Noodles." Guesstimation Japan: Japanese Game Show - Yes or No? Rating Reviews: (KFC) Kentucky Fried Chicken Shinjuku West Exit. — vibe. @joshlist...

This week Josh and Justin share the most important Japanese news stories, including the possibility of Japan raising their departure taxes to combat overtourism, Tokyo's coffin meditation sessions, and burial ceremonies for toys and dolls. Guesstimation Japan:  Japanese Cultural Festivals - Real or Not Real? Rating Reviews:  Es Con Field Hokkaido. — vibe. .... @joshlistoncomedy on Instag...

This week Josh and Justin chat about Pyjamas for Otaku Traveler's Plushies, a Two-Hour Cap on Smartphone Use, and the Laugh Once Per Day Ordinance. Otaku (in Japan) a young person who is obsessed with computers or particular aspects of popular culture to the detriment of their social skills. Guesstimation Japan: What are these Japanese Toys? Rating Reviews: McDonald's Japan. — vibe. .... @joshlist...

This week Josh and Justin discuss the invention of a Speech-Jamming device, a thief stealing 700 pairs of women's underwear, and the expansion of Handsome Weeping Boys into manual work. Guesstimation Japan: Japanese Horror Comedies (Real or Not Real?) Rating Reviews: Himeji Castle. — vibe. .... @joshlistoncomedy on Instagram. @justinrlittle on Instagram.

This week Josh and Justin discuss an Aussie idiot drinking burial offerings at Mt. Fuji, getting arrested for breaking into your old school to retrieve confiscated items (40 years late), and finding a man under your hotel bed. Plus the guys review the reviews for a (a not-large) 7-11 in Japan. Guesstimation Japan: Japanese Lolly or Beauty Product? Rating Reviews: (a not-large) Japanese 7-11. — vib...

This week Josh and Justin discuss Drunk Train Staff, Hiring Monsters to Scare Kids, Bear Attack Prevention Apps, and The Meatball of Destiny. Guesstimation Japan: Sumo Nicknames (Real or Fake?). Rating Reviews: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle. — vibe. .... @joshlistoncomedy on Instagram. @justinrlittle on Instagram.