Made in Japan-- Conversations with Meljo Catalan

In the fourth installment of my chat with Japan based Podcasters brings us back to what I would say is “essential” podcast listening when we talk about the foreigner community in the Tokyo area of Japan. Cliff showcases the honest and real international voices that have integrated in the international community here in Tokyo. If it’s one podcast in this series that highlights diversity of Tokyo ba...

On the third installment of my chats with other Japan-based podcasters, I step into Japanese myths and fables that are explained by Thersa, a fiction writer and long time Japan resident, who created Uncanny Japan Podcast. While doing research for her own publications, she has stumbled upon many cultural oddities and folklore that displays the rich, voluminous tales within Japanese culture that con...

Continuing with my series of chatting with other Japan-based podcasters, I want to push an up and coming podcast that cuts deep into Japanese politics and social commentary. Alicia, along with her co-host Mizuki have started +81 podcast with the drive to investigate what is going down with the state of affairs in current Japanese politics. They also probe what is happening and reacting to contempo...

Here’s the first of my series of conversations with other Japan-based podcasters. Tim Romero needs no introduction: when it comes to one of the most reputable and popular Japan based podcasts dealing with entrepreneurs and innovation in Japan, Disrupting Japan is at the forefront in telling those stories. Having founded several startups in Japan for over two decades, He recently became the Head of...

Hi folks. Here’s what I’m cooking up for my next few episodes.

You’re never too old to pick up and learn a musical instrument. All it takes is practice. But if I could turn back time, I’d like to pick up drumsticks and start wailing on a drum kit as a toddler. I think it’s one of the most difficult instruments that can take decades to master. Here’s a man that’s used his time wisely to fulfill his dream. Yuji has played in a notable punk band, toured and did...

Usually the things we take for granted are the things we can't live without during alarming moments in our lives. All over the world, education is being tested to halt.  Meet Coco who has built her company around these kind of moments.  She also happens to be in the same field of work that I've ended up being in (and thoroughly enjoy doing) over my years as an educator.   Howev...

In Western Culture, compliments are often given to one's characteristics or possessions through speech while inversely  the Japanese give "subtle" compliments based on one's ability or work ethic.  Rarely do the younger Japanese receive vocal praise or appreciation from their seniors in the workplace.  However it's slowly changing as the future generations have to be  culturall...

Japanese cuisine is no doubt one of the attractive lures to visit this country. For every Japanophile, there will always be a glorification for one’s favorite ramen bowl, sushi bite or okonomiyaki plate. We all hold these experiences so dearly. However most visitors and foreign residents often miss out on the chance to cook and eat home cooked “Washoku” until recently. Here’s Junko and Eiko runnin...

"Kikokushijo" is a Japanese word referring to a child born outside the country but returns back to Japan.  It also coincides with the child of a Japanese expatriate who receives a part of their education outside Japan.  The latter term is often held in high esteem within the Japanese society however the child undoubtedly attracts the weight of jealousy and alienation among one's peers.  I'm going...

I was fortunate to share a cup of tea high above the fashion hub district of Shibuya with an insightful individual.  Matthew ( @thinglove ) is the founder of  NOOKA but recently is one of the forefront professors at Keio University Graduate School of Media Design.  This chat was lengthy compared to my average episode yet the unhindered conversation was very vital in understanding (if only the surf...

Happy New Year!  Thank you listeners for keeping this party train cruising through to a new decade.  Speaking of which, here we have two likeminded and complimentary music enthusiasts.  A professional dance instructor and DJ teamed up to grow  one of the most popular  parties Tokyo has to offer.  In barely its five years of existence, they've managed to bring in notab...

It's officially my first anniversary of this podcast.   My outlook has changed and fortunately the mission has stayed the same.  Thank you for being here and riding this journey with me; for better or worse.  As a bonus episode to cap this "first season" of Made in Japan podcast, here's an interview I gave early this year for my friend, Akil doing his thing at @japanaccordingtoakil .    I hope my...

Honestly, who doesn't like tacos? For me, it's one of those comfort foods that makes me smile with every bite.  If I've gone out and eaten tacos with you, you're either a relative or one of my closest friends.  For the Tokyoites, you may have noticed a sudden boom of Tex/Mex joints sprouting throughout the city and even the outskirts.  I'm not complaining but I'm here to proclaim I discovered a ge...

Last month, a well known Shibuya "gaijin bar" closed its doors to the public in a foreseeable rebranding.   This venue's longevity was mostly successful due to  a monthly event of a Hip-Hop basement party vibe called "The Breakdown".  I had the opportunity to visit their very last farewell and convinced the DJs who've kept the scene alive for over a decade to chat with me.   A nostalgic banter & h...

Have you ever wanted to be bilingual or trilingual?  On top of that, try putting yourself on a stage and get your audience's attention with telling jokes outside of your native tongue.  Here we have Kilara Sen  ( @kilaracomedy ) who does this for a living and rocking out in a spotlight where very few Japanese dare to step in.  I was delighted to hear her become a Conan O`Brien stalker as well as t...

What’s it like to be “Living the Dream” in Japan? I often receive this hypothetical question (as with many of my foreigner peers who have weathered many cherry blossoms on these shores) and there is never an accurate answer. Some say it’s living a life of self reliance among the communal pressure or others can argue its to be fully assimilated in that same community.  What I do know is that those...

Japanese Professional Wrestling.  I can't think of another hobby  that blurs the lines of its fan base between otaku game nerds, martial arts enthusiasts and just old fashioned wrestling fanatics...I love it!  Here's Martin Kirby  ( @MKirbyProEgo   : IG & Twitter)  who is a prominent fighter in the  UK wrestling scene and now making a big splash in one of Japan's premier wrestling company, Dragon...

Sooner or later I was bound to run into another “Mel-Sensei” in Tokyo. And she is a grammarian badass! Meet Mel, a once veteran English teacher/ translator who decided to take that leap from academia into well...academia!  She works at GLOBIS University, Japan’s top MBA program, but she's the editorial director of its online newsletter, GLOBIS Insights which provides professors and writers an outl...

Growth Hacking. I’m sure most people outside of digital marketing have never heard the term including myself.  I’ve only learned about it this year and fortunately I happen to know one individual in Tokyo who belongs in this new field of business growth; a ghost in the social media machine. And he also happens to be prominent with his off-the-beaten path travel blog. Here’s Donny, dropping some re...

Real Talk: The Japanese food culture is one of the strongest in the world.  5 years ago, Washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine) has been recognized by UNESCO (as well as most of anything Japan-related which may as well be an entire episode to reflect on) as an intangible cultural heritage.  In lay terms and if you don't know by now, most of Japanese society LOVE food.  And not just by consumption...

I've never been starstruck with musicians or singers (well...except seeing Neutral Milk Hotel or Mineral or The Roots live). Although I AM awestruck meeting people with intense passion, integrity and sincerity.  Here we have Manami who is a Japanese singer that embodies all three characteristics in her life.  We haven't met in at least a decade but I'm proud to have her as a student and as a frien...

I wanted to do an episode of something traditionally Japanese; something I honestly had no knowledge or experience about it.  Ikebana was the first thing that came to my mind (It might have to do with recently watching "Lost in Translation" again and that scene with Scarlett Johansson appeared).  I couldn't even finish the film because I knew who my next guest was going to be.  I called Kaz, whom...

Episode 13— Isaac “Tac” Aquino, creator of Tokyo Interlopers Sooner or later I was bound to encounter a guest that runs parallel with me. Someone with a similar vision but on a different medium. Here’s Tac, who had gone through the cogs of the Japanese higher education system and the draconian rule-based corporate world. Three years ago, he’s created a website, @Tokyointerlopers which mirrors “Hum...