Tokyo Wave

Tokyo Olympics: was holding the games a good idea or not? What is the deal with those now infamous "anti-sex" beds? Aaron and Parker discuss the reopening of the North-South Korea communications line, Toyota keeping its crown as the world's best-selling automaker in 2021, and Japanese educators busted for having a golf party amid the pandemic.

What inspired a Yokohama-based programmer to create an open-source database of clinics offering waiting lists for appointments to get a COVID-19 vaccine? Aaron and Parker discuss the Bank of Japan's move to keep ultra-easy monetary policy and a traffic light pole in central Japan that collapsed from years of getting urinated on by local doggos.

Akiya hunter, black metal musician, and real estate consultant Matt Ketchum talks about his recent experience re-entering Japan from the US, the landslide in Atami, and recent developments with his Akiya & Inaka project. Aaron and Parker discuss Tokyo's fourth COVID-19 state of emergency and an evacuation order for Fuchu, Hiroshima that was mistakenly sent to Rakuten users in Fuchu, Tokyo.

What will happen to post-pandemic Tokyo office space as Goldman Sachs reaffirms its commitment to office work while other players reduce their footprint? What will be the fate Uniqlo and other retailers accused by the French government over Xinjiang abuses? Aaron and Parker discuss the death of Pepper the robot as SoftBank suspends production and Mitsubishi Electric's admission that they used rigg...

Why does a dorm at Kyoto University keep getting raided by the local police riot squad? Aaron and Parker discuss the Toshiba chairman's ouster over an ongoing governance scandal, the chances for an LDP Tokyo assembly election success amid Gov. Koike's surprise medical leave, and an ex-banker who was caught red-handed for trespassing while wearing a stolen girl's school uniform in a school toilet.

Has a new expert panel report paved the way for Japan to allow medical marijuana? Aaron and Parker discuss the latest restrictions under Japan's quasi state of emergency, the latest COVID-19 vaccination progress, and the condom-less Tokyo Olympics swag bag that threatens to leave athletes unprotected.

What does it take to travel from Japan to Europe under the current restrictions? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's COVID-19 vaccination rollout, the Japanese government's decision to fund CO2 reduction steps by bankrolling cities and firms, and an increase in DUI cases among home drinkers at earlier times of day amid the pandemic.

iOS developer, app developer, and entrepreneur Tim Isenman shares his experience coming to Japan and developing the Pocket Rocket app. Aaron and Parker discuss PM Suga scrapping his Tokyo Olympic reception, Fukushima farmers hoping to get a boost from endorsements from French chefs, and Tokyo Metro unveiling a new purple train on its Hanzomon Line.

International relations specialist, ocean policy researcher, and geopolitics commentator Dr. Fabrizio Bozzato shares his insights on the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Aaron and Parker discuss the extension of Japan's COVID-19 state of emergency, a recent article featuring Prime Minister Abe's picks for Suga's successor, and a British national prosecuted for stuffing bentos into mailboxes in K...

Will Kanagawa's beaches reopen to swimmers this summer after being closed throughout 2020 due to the pandemic? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's approval of the Moderna and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines, rising convenience store sales as customers return, and a Japanese bullet train conductor disciplined for leaving the cockpit for a toilet break while running at 150kph.

What's going to happen with Guam's "Air V&V" vaccination tourism program, which could soon open to foreign tourists? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's large-scale vaccination center scheme, the outlook for better foreign relations between South Korea and Japan, and a 42-year-old mayor in eastern Japan who got their COVID shot ahead of the elderly.

Asian public policy expert, political science professor, and politics commentator Dr. Stephen Nagy shares his insights on the upcoming G7 Summit and the first bilateral meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Suga. Aaron and Parker discuss SoftBank suing Rakuten over using leaked 5G technology info, Nintendo's booming profits, and an arrest made for the 2018 murder of the self-proclaime...

What's going to happen to Japan's kanpai culture after the pandemic, which brought a major shift in social drinking habits? Aaron and Parker discuss  Japan's third COVID-19 state of emergency,  Japanese apparel makers in a catch-22 over Uyghur cotton revelations, and a  man who was fined ¥300,000 for defecating at a supermarket checkout.

What did PM Suga achieve for Japan's vaccination schedule by speaking with the CEO of Pfizer during his visit to meet President Biden in Washington? What do Japan's new tightened rules for COVID-19 test certificates mean for international travelers? Aaron and Parker discuss Japanese firms reducing new hires for FY2022 amid the pandemic, and reports of local governments throwing away leftover vacci...

When will Prime Minister Suga call a snap election? With the current House of Representatives term ending in October, time is running out. Aaron and Parker discuss the Japanese government's decision to release Fukushima wastewater into the sea, a foreign ownership probe into Fuji Media and 600 broadcasters, and Asahi Beer's new mug-cans selling out nationwide.

Thanks for listening to Tokyo Wave! This week is a special retrospective on the past year, looking back on each of our guest interviews, what it was like in the beginning starting out, and what's next. Aaron and Parker also discuss the Tokyo Olympics plan to pay up to $2,700 per day for each venue official, the possibility of Japan establishing a Children's Agency, and a group of schoolkids who ch...

Writer, translator, Cool Japan Ambassador, global communications specialist, and mahjong expert Benjamin Boas shares his experience as a senshusei, the intensive, 11-month aikido training program conducted at Yoshinkan Aikido's honbu dojo. Aaron and Parker discuss PM Suga's Olympics invite to Biden, the end of popular Japanese TV news program Tokudane, and the Japanese ship that got stuck in the S...

How have local governments in Japan effectively cancelled Hanami? What is up with the NFT craze that has suddenly come to the forefront of magic internet money trends? Aaron and Parker discuss the three new apps that inbound travelers to Japan are now required to download and the sudden resignation of the Tokyo 2020 creative director.

Media training specialist and public relations industry veteran David Wagner explains how he played a role in the Japanese government's global communications in the aftermath of the March 11, 2011 triple disaster. Aaron and Parker discuss the upcoming Suga-Biden summit and the Tokyo Electric Power Company chief's decision to skip visiting Fukushima on the 3/11 anniversary.

Asian public policy expert, political science professor, and politics commentator Dr. Stephen Nagy shares his insights on Japan's vision for a free & open Indo-Pacific and the situation in Myanmar, and his report card for the start of the Biden administration. Aaron and Parker discuss Tokyo's COVID-19 state of emergency extension, TEPCO's plan to spend $28M on a village hosting a new nuclear plant...

Akiya hunter, black metal musician, and real estate consultant Matt Ketchum talks about his experience escaping from a 38 meter tall tsunami on March 11, 2011 and what the experience taught him about resilience and being prepared for a disaster. Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's reaction to the Myanmar coup, US military helicopters flying at dangerous altitudes over Tokyo, and Japanese government o...

Who is Seiko Hashimoto, the new chief of the Tokyo 2020 Games organizing committee? How is Japan's Covid vaccine distribution coming along? Aaron and Parker discuss a Japanese town's plan to give residents who get their vaccine ¥1,000 gift certificates, and the sudden popularity of the Clubhouse app in Japan.

Global communications strategist, public diplomacy professor, and nation branding expert Dr. Nancy Snow shares her insights on the Yoshiro Mori debacle and what it means for Japan's nation brand. Aaron and Parker discuss when Japan's foreign residents will get COVID-19 vaccines and a local mayor's objections to a new rail line up Mt. Fuji.

What is going on in the world of speculative day trading with Reddit, Robinhood, GameStop, and Elon Musk? Aaron and Parker discuss the wild world of global markets in the age of stonk memes, the Yoshiro Mori debacle, the future of the Quad dialogue on Info-Pacific defense policy, and the Imperial Hotel's new high-end apartment service.

What was the CFO of Florida smoking when he publicly proposed moving the Tokyo 2021 Olympics to the Sunshine State? What did Biden and Suga discuss in their first phone call? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's vaccine roll out plan and a $29 million dollar ruby that was (not) stolen in Ginza.