Ichimon Japan: A Podcast About Japan and the Japanese Language by JapanKyo.com

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What katakana words do you hate? Basically, we're talking about funny, quirky and annoying katakana words! Topics Discussed Katakana-ified words that people hate Annoying katakana pronunciations Some possible reasons for why katakana words are pronounced in peculiar ways How katakana words are sometimes closer to the original pronunciation of the word they...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is that sound? This time we're talking about Japanese onomatopoeia and yes, we're talking about some really wacky ones too! Topics Discussed About onomatopoeia in Japanese How onomatopoeia are used in Japanese The difference between  giongo  and  gitaigo What giongo are What gitaigo are Examples of giongo What  donburako  means The story of Momotaro Wh...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Should I go to Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan? Topics Discussed Whether we think it's worth visiting Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan in Osaka About Ryan's experience at Super Nintendo World in Universal Studios Japan About Universal Studios Japan's Cool Japan special event About the appointment system used for Super Nintendo...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Whar are  buruma ? Topics Discussed What buruma/bloomers are A brief overview of the history of school uniforms in Japan About the  gakuran  style school uniform About the supposed link between gakuran uniforms and Prussian military uniforms About sailor uniforms (sērā fuku) About "blazer" style uniforms The controversy over whether it was a school in Kyoto...

Tony Vega has teamed up with Kyle from the Tokyo Splosion podcast to launch a new YouTube channel called JapanKyo Docs. On the channel we will be introducing people to doing interesting things in Japan via documentary style videos! Click on the link below to check it out. Please subscribe and support us in this endeavor! https:// bit.ly/3b38cKJ And in case you haven't listened to the Tokyo Splosio...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What are gyaru? Topics Discussed What the term  gyaru /gal means/refers to About the word gyaru How the word gyaru was used in Dragonball  by Master Roshi What a  kogyaru /kogal is About the singer Namie Amuro and her role in popularizing the gyaru subculture About Ayumi Hamasaki's influence on the gyaru subculture About the supposed but unconfirmed connect...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why do hands come out of the toilet in Japan? Topics Discussed Japanese stories/legends/folklore/urban legends ( toshi densetsu ) involving hands, toilets and hands coming out of toilets The hand in the bathroom/toilet from  The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask The story of  Akai Kami Aoi Kami ( Red Paper, Blue Paper ) and its various versions The hilarious b...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Is Yamaguchi cursed to have "ugly" girls? We also discuss other places in Japan known for having many beautiful/ugly women. Topics Discussed The three most scenic views in Japan What the  Sandaibijin  (三大美人) is What places in Japan are most known for having beautiful women Fukuoka (Hakata), Akita, and Kyoto's status as places in Japan known for having m...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Does "Your Name" live up to the hype? Topics Discussed Whether the movie Your Name (Kimi no Na wa) is as good as many people say it is The reception of Your Name ( Kimi no Na wa ) within Japan and abroad The basic plot of  Your Name  ( Kimi no Na wa ) Some potential problems with the plot of  Your Name  ( Kimi no Na wa ) The work of Makoto Shinkai Theories...

For more information on  B & B Bad Sisters , check out the official website. https://bbbadsisters.com/ Here's the link for the  B & B Bad Sisters  NFT shop. https://opensea.io/kazuomaekawa Follow  B & B Bad Sisters  on social media. Twitter https://twitter.com/bbbadsisters Facebook https://www.facebook.com/bbbadsisters Instagram https://www.instagram.com/bbbadsisters/ Here's affiliate links for cr...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What are Japan's most famous dogs? Topics Discussed Who Japan's most famous dogs are About Yukimaru, Prince Shotoku Taishi's beloved dog About Prince Shotoku Taishi Yukimaru's supposed ability to talk to Shotoku Taishi and chant Buddhist sutras The drone Nara made based on Yukimaru Sakhalin huskies/Karafuto-ken The story of Taro and Jiro The movie Nankyoku...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What was good and bad about your JET experience? Topics Discussed What the JET Programme is The various positions available to JET applicants Some troubles experienced while on the JET Programme Rural placements Japan's shrinking population On getting placed in Yamagata Prefecture On the lack of privacy that comes with living in a rural place in Japan Posit...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Did Tama-chan the seal save the world and cause immigration reform? Topics Discussed The story of the famous seal that appeared in Tokyo's Tama River in the summer of 2002 About Tama-chan the seal How Tama-chan being granted a jūminhyō (residency certificate) by Yokohama's Nishi Ward led to foreigners protesting this action The last sighting of Tama-chan Ab...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is a yankī or furyō? Topics Discussed What a furyō  is The literal meaning of furyō All about juvenile delinquent culture in Japan The possible origin of the term furyō What a yankī is The possible origins of the Japanese term yankī and its links to Osaka's Amemura area What a  tsuppari  is Classic furyo fashion About the rīzento (pompadour/duck's tail...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Is the story of Kaguya Hime proof that aliens have visited Japan? Topics Discussed An overview of the story of Kaguya Hime ( Taketori Monogatari , The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter ) The history of  Taketori Monogatari How the tale of Kaguya Hime is sometimes called Japan's first science fiction story Peculiarities and confusing things found in the story of Kag...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: How do you count that in Japanese? Topics Discussed The counter system used in Japanese Japanese counter suffixes The sometimes confusing nature of Japanese counters The correct suffix for counting chopsticks in Japanese Various counters used with different kinds of chopsticks How to properly count squid in Japanese How the shape of a fish can affect what c...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is Kansai-ben? Topics Discussed What the Kansai dilaect is The different that are found within the Kansai region of Japan Osaka-ben vs other dialects within the Kansai-ben umbrella The stereotype of the Ōsaka no obachan (older lady from Osaka) Leopard print clothing Who uses ōkini and where it is typically used The characteristic intonation of the Kans...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Are rabbits counted as birds because eating meat was taboo in Japan? Topics Discussed The practice of counting rabbits as if they were birds in Japanese Whether Japanese people eat meat What exactly qualifies as meat The history of meats "bans" in Japan The hypocritical and dubious nature of meat "bans" in Japan What the earliest written Japanese records sa...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Do students in Saga Prefecture still have to wear white underwear? Topics Discussed The decision by Saga Prefecture's Board of Education to get rid of an existing rule in some of its schools that made it mandatory for students to wear white underwear under their school uniforms The possibility that some school rules in Japan are human rights violations Whet...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What should I know about Japan's Bubble Era? Topics Discussed What was Japan's "Bubble Era" The Japanese bubble economy of the late '80s and early '90s Examples of some of the over the top ways people are said to have spent money during Japan's bubble economy era Golden Bomber's "Dance My Generation" Bubble Era fashion trends The colorful suits that were po...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What first person pronoun should I use when speaking Japanese? Topics Discussed The most common first person pronouns used in Japanese The tendency for Japanese speakers to avoid using pronouns The lack of true pronouns in Japanese How choosing which first person Japanese pronoun to use can be confusing even for native Japanese speakers Whether  ore  is onl...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Do you have any funny or embarrassing Japanese mistake stories? Topics Discussed How "sayonara" is not used in most situations when saying "goodbye" in Japanese A mix up at a convenience store Getting used to referring to people in the Japanese language What exactly a  rōtari is Being asian Dealing with people that want to speak English even when they're En...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why did samurai have such weird haircuts? Topics Discussed What a chonmage is The Japanese people's pursuit of  excellence of the hairstyle The historical origins of the topknots in Japan Hats and their connection to the topknot The supposed reason why samurai started using topknots and shaving the front of their heads The chonmage as a status symbol during...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we once again ask: What is the best Japanese name for a bear that isn't actually a bear? Topics Discussed Japanese names of animals that have "kuma" in them but are not actually bears What an anaguma is How you say badger in Japanese What a mujina is What honey badger is in Japanese What fukuroguma are What the word fukuro means What "bag bears/pouch bears" are How...

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we once again ask: What annoys you about living in Japan? Topics Discussed The frustratingly useless nature of many English-language versions of Japanese websites Booking hotels in Japan The frustrating but hilarious nature of bad English translations of Japanese (a.k.a. Engrish) Engrish t-shirts The practice of using Japanese readings for kanji when reading a Chin...