Rambling Ramsbothams

This week we'll read an email from a listener about his interactions with a neighbor, talk about what weddings are like in Japan (both traditional Shinto style and "white" weddings) , and describe the unexpected things that Annie brought back to Japan from the US. (Hint, one thing could be described as the southern US version of edamame!) Listen to the end of every episode to hear o...

Tune in to this episode to hear about what Zeb did with his brother & sister in-law when they visited him in Kanazawa, Annie's trip to Asheville's River Arts District, and more.  Thanks for sticking with us through all the travel and remote episode! Next week Annie returns to Japan and we'll finally be back to recording in our home.  Listen to the end of every episode to hear ou...

 For the first time, Zeb and Annie aren’t recording from the same room! Zeb flew back to Japan and Annie has a little more time in the US - this week we’re talking about jet lag, taking the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test), respect for the aged day (Keirō no Hi - 敬老の日), and gifts that centenarians receive in Japan.  You can find more information about the online customs forms here: ht...

This week we've been enjoying some time in our North Carolina hometowns with family and friends - it got us thinking about the character mascots that some towns and regions have in Japan. These laid-back characters are called "Yuru-kyara" (ゆるキャラ) and advertise the specialties and attractions that an area is known for.  What would the Yuru-kyara be like in our hometowns?   We al...

Annie is now licensed to drive a car in two countries! This week we'll start by talking about the process in Japan, memorizing the course for the driver's license test, and differences that surprised us.  We're also recording this episode from North Carolina, because we're back in the USA for the first time in over a year! It's been fun to catch up with family, drive aroun...

This one is all about our summer break bike touring trip! We cycled around 4 prefectures in Japan (Ishikawa, Toyama, Gifu, and Nagano) for 7 days, covering 430 Miles and 34,824 feet  (or 690 Kilometers, 10,601 Meters ). Our cycling route took us from Uchinada (outside Kanazawa) to Hida to Kanayama to Tsumago-juku to Matsumoto to Shirakawa-go and back to Uchinada.  We talk about riding on the histo...

Happy Mountain Day! We’re recording this in advance because we'll be heading out towards the Japanese Alps on our biggest bike touring trip yet. How do you plan a cycling trip? Zeb shares his tips on setting your goals, mapping your route, and finding lodging. Let us know what trips you've been on, or where you plan to ride!  Also, did you know that Japan has 72 seasons? You can see them...

Earlier this year we hit our 1-year "podcast anniversary", but this week was our "Japan-iversary" which was more special! Join us as we celebrate one year of living in Japan, share some of our favorite sounds from life here, hit the highlights of each month, and touch on the hardest parts about life abroad. Thanks for listening to our ramblings so far, here's to the next y...

This week we talk about our first appointment to convert our International Driver's Licenses to a Japanese Driving License, Annie's first bike race in over a year at the Shimano Biker's Festival, and cycling into the alps and across the Utsukushigahara Highlands in Nagano Prefecture.  The 31st annual Shimano Biker's Festival was at Fujimi Panorama Resort, and it was a ton of fu...

This week we talk about some summer break activities at Zeb’s workplace, including his upcoming annual employee health check. What’s included in the standard yearly health exam?  (Called Ippan Kenko Shindan or Ippan Kenshi 一般健康診断・一般健診) Annie talks about some art opportunities in Japan this past week, including a kutaniyaki (九谷焼) painting experience, and participating in a local flea...

This week we talk about seeing Miyazaki's new movie, "How Do You Live?" (君たちはどう生きるか), or the english title, "The Boy and the Heron." Don't worry, no spoilers! What are Japanese movie theaters like? Did the marketing plan work well for Miyazaki's last film? We also talk about Zeb's weekend "mission" in town with other English teachers, how...

This week we're responding to a listener email about extraterrestrial life, talking about the Noto Abare Matsuri, or the "fire and violence rampage festival," and discussing the pay that language teachers receive while on the JET Program. We're also talking about Tanabata, the festival that celebrates long-distance relationships, and what Annie was surprised to see in a nearby...

This week we talk about hydrangea flowers (one perk of rainy season!), discuss work culture with Japanese and American friends, and mention cool things we saw on our bike rides this weekend (including Wakutama-kun, the onsen egg mascot of Wakura, and Sekidousan, a nearby holy mountain). Here's the Honko-ji temple's website if you are in the area and want to admire some hydrangea flowers:...

This week we're talking about cool new animals we saw on bike rides, anime recommendations from listeners, Japan's tourism statistics, debate contest judging, our new Japanese class, and saying goodbye to our futon! How long into the Ishikawa summer do you think we can last before turning on our AC for the first time?... Here's the article Zeb referenced about the movie Belle, and t...

This week is our anniversary! Well, the anniversary of starting this podcast! We'll talk about why we started it, how our podcasting setup changed, revisit questions about Japan that we had in our first episodes, and share some plans we have for the future. We'll also read an email from a listener, and talk a little about Kinosaki Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture. What would you like to hear fr...

This week we went back to Gunma Prefecture for another one of Zeb's JBCF road cycling races! We talk about how the racing went, and also the hotel we stayed in at Shima Onsen. We visited Sekizenkan, a Taisho Era bath house that is one of Japan's oldest, with a red bridge that is rumored to have inspired the bath house bridge in Miyazaki's Spirited Away.  Back in the Kanazawa area, w...

We're starting this week's episode with a crazy update on the drone we found in the river! But, the main event from this past week was the Hyakumangoku Festival, an annual parade and weekend celebration in Kanazawa. We'll talk about the history behind the festival, the meaning of the name, and highlights from the parade.  Also this week, we talk about Zeb's guest appearance on...

This week, we answer some listener questions! We'll talk about different types of kimono, whether there's a specific day of the week to visit shrines,  and new grocery store staples for us. It's also about the time of year when other JET Programme participants are hearing back about their placements! If you're a 2023 JET, we'd love to hear where you got placed! Listen to t...

This week's episode is about Zeb's most recent bike race weekend in beautiful Nagano Prefecture! He raced a hill climb event starting in Otaki and riding up Mt. Ontake (a sacred and active volcano) with 4000' of elevation gain. We also got to stay in an onsen ryokan (a hot spring inn) that's part of Japan's "Secret Hot Spring Society," and admired the beautiful t...

This week we're reading a couple emails from listeners! One with tips on renting city bikes in Kanazawa, and another with a question about making friends in a foreign country. We're also talking about the Uchinada World Kite Festival this past weekend, what kids in Japan do with their baby teeth, and special birthdays in Japan.  Listen to the end of every episode to hear our Japanese &qu...

For the first time, this podcast episode is also available as a video! Check out our brand new YouTube channel @RamblingRamsbothams (the video quality will continue to improve as this was the first try!) :)  As for the content, this week we're talking about a couple big earthquakes that happened here on the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture (up to a 6.5 of 7 on the Shindo Scale out in Suz...

Giveaway News! In this episode we mention a postcard mailing for anyone who gives this podcast a review! The first 6 people to write reviews will get a hand-painted watercolor postcard mailed from Japan, with a frog on it for good luck (Kaeru means both frog and "to return" in Japanese, which is why they're seen as symbols of good fortune returning!) Anyone after those 6 will receiv...

This past week we went to the Tonami Tulip Fair in Toyama Prefecture, one of the biggest Tulip Festivals in Japan! There were 3 million tulips of 300 different varieties, and we also got to enjoy some new (to us) cycling routes in that prefecture. Also in this episode we talk about getting a library card, Zeb getting to meet the new First Year students, starting the drivers license process (Intern...

We finally got a car! We also immediately let the battery die... But aside from that mistake, it's been another great week in Uchinada. Zeb has a new school schedule with the JET Programme, some friends from the US visited, and we're enjoying spring weather (and sounds). One spring sound we're not enjoying so much are the "election cars" - more on that in the episode. Fina...

This episode format is a little different than usual because we're taking the recorders out of the house and along with us on a trip! Not just any trip through Japan though...Annie's family is visiting from the USA! We'll bring you along through Tokyo, Kyoto, and Kanazawa, so you can hear all the city sounds, nature noises, and first reactions to traveling in Japan.  We start with t...