Japan Podshow - The Podcast all about Japan

In the second of their Welcome to Akiba video-shorts, Steve Nagata and Joseph Tame take a look at some of the weird and wonderful things you can find on the streets of Akihabara. From body parts to fake mobile phones, you name it, Akiba has it. Your viewing options: * Download the video here [mv4 format for iTunes 38.7mb (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/media/series01/japanpodshow_Akiba_BodyParts.m4v)] * Watch the video embedded below * Subscribe to our iTunes feed (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=310413183) * Subscribe to our RSS feed (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/JapanPodshow) * Watch a larger version on our Facebook Group page (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67794439768) (which we invite you to join!).

(http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/arudou_debito_by_wwwalfiegoodrichcom.jpg) Arudou Debito by Alfie Goodrich. For more of Alfie's stunning photography from Japan visit www.alfiegoodrich.com In June 2009, writer, lecturer and human rights campaigner Aurdou Debito made a trip down to Tokyo to attend a conference. Whilst in town, he was kind enough to provide Japan Podshow with an interview. About Arudou Debito Debito first came to prominence in early 2000s when, upon taking a trip to an onsen in Otaru, Hokkaido, he and his family and friends were turned away because they 'weren't Japanese' - despite their being naturalised Japanese citizens. After lengthy negotiations, the onsen still refused to change its 'no gaijin' policy: this led to Debito and two others to take the case to court. For more information on the Otaru Onsen Case please visit Debito's site (http://www.debito.org/otarulawsuit.html). Since the Otaru onsen case Debito has continued to campaign against discrimination - Japan is still the only developed country without any form of law banning racial discrimination. He has a regular columns in the Japan Times (http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/JTsearch5.cgi?term1=DEBITO%20ARUDOU) and maintains a website (http://www.debito.org) aimed at helping others who face discrimination whilst charting the progress of the anti-discrimination movement within Japan. In this interview Debito talks about: * The first few years of his life in Japan * The Otaru Onsen Case * The new Gaijin cards and associated human rights issues, and what you can do to stop their introduction * Foreigners who defend discrimination against other foreigners claiming that 'We are guests in Japan' * Has the situation improved for foreigners in Japan in recent years? * His public image, and new beard, Arthur. Debito has published a book on the Otaru Onsen Case - available here (http://www.debito.org/?page_id=2) He is also co-author of the Handbook for Newcomers, Migrants and Immigrants to Japan (http://www.debito.org/publications.html) The interview with Debito is available in a variety of formats. AUDIO The full 40-minute interview is available as an MP3: download it here [37mb, 40 mins (http://tr.im/on43)] VIDEO Watch the video in its entirety here Japan Podshow Interview: Arudou Debito (http://vimeo.com/5140292) from japanpodshow (http://vimeo.com/japanpodshow) on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com). Alternatively, you can watch the video in parts embedded below, or download individual sections as mp4 video files. Part 1: Meet Debito [Download: 20.7mb (http://tr.im/oqPt)] Part 2: The Otaru Onsen Case [Download 20.6mb (http://tr.im/oqPw)] Part 3: The New Gaijin Cards: Tracking Foreigners [Download 33.8mb (http://tr.im/oqPA)] Part 4: "Foreigners in Japan are guests - we have no right to protest" - Debito responds [Download 13.2mb (http://tr.im/oqPB)] Part 5: How has the situation for non-Japanese in Japan changed in recent years? [Download 21.9mb (http://tr.im/oqPC)] Part 6: Debito's public image, and his new beard, Arthur. [Download 24.1mb (http://tr.im/oqPD)]

(http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/episode005-300x300.png)Episode 5 of Japan Podshow (http://www.japanpodshow.com) is the most musical to date, as George and Joseph invite you in to their Karaoke booth in central Tokyo. Listen to the show here (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/media/series01/JapanPodshow_Episode5_Killer-Karaoke.mp3) Download it direct here (http://tr.im/nK8i), Subscribe and listen in iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=310413183) or Listen via our RSS feed (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/JapanPodshow) Karaoke does of course play a vital part in keeping Japanese society moving, providing an opportunity for stressed out salarymen and swine-flu infected school children to relax and express themselves. Entrepreneur interview: Heather Russell of Rinkya.com (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/media/series01/shownotes/rinkya.png)Episode 5 also features an interview with Heather Russell, founder and president of http://www.rinkya.com (http://jp.rinkya.com/) - the fantastic Japan Auction & Online Shopping Service! Heather is a truly inspirational entrepreneur, and over the past 8 years has built www.rinkya.com (http://jp.rinkya.com/) up to be one of the most popular sites for people wanting to buy things from Japanese sites. Competition time! We're GIVING AWAY $100 of Rinkya commision! Listen in to find out how you can win - entering is easy! Just listen to the show for the question - and you'll find the answer on Rinkya.com (http://Rinkya.com) - you might want to check out their blog (http://rinkya.blogspot.com/) too! (See the Rinkya Page (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/guests/heather-russell-rinkya/) in our Guests section) Next on the show we introduce the kansai-based Nandeyonen podcast, available from http://nandeyanenyo.podbean.com/ (http://nandeyanenyo.podbean.com/). (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/_doctor-foster_prof-wild554-300x225.jpg) Meet Dr. Foster and Professor Wild! The doctor and the professor are new contributors to Japan Podshow, and will be appearing on a regular basis. In addition to Japan Podshow, you'll also be able to catch them on Tokyo's Metropolis Magazine podcast, the Metpod http://www.metpod.com (http://www.metpod.com). The professor gives his reaction to some of the stories featured in Metropolis Magazine (http://metropolis.co.jp/)'s Small Print section (http://metropolis.co.jp/tokyo/recent/smallprint.asp). We then announce the winners of the episode 4 (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/2009/05/kanda-festival/)competition to win vouchers on Edufire - the online video learning platform (http://www.edufire.com). Congratulations to the winners who correctly identified the secret voice as saying 'Zenmaisamurai' and then a few days after release just 'Samurai': Perminder Suman, Sylvain vedrenne, Alexandre Coutu, Jeff Smith and Miako Kuran! Check out Edufire today - there's lessons available 24 hours a day, it's easy to use, and there's hundreds of subjects to choose from. If you want to learn Japanese, we recommend Rainbowhill (http://edufire.com/rainbowhill/) (aka Brett Fyfield (http://rainbowhill.blogspot.com/)), the incredibly popular instructor who featured on Japan Podshow episode 4 (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/2009/05/kanda-festival/). Listener's feedback This week, that includes @TokyoDan (http://twitter.com/TokyoDan) @ShaneSakata (http://twitter.com/ShaneSakata) @Tokyotopia (http://twitter.com/Tokyotopia) @socialpreneur (http://twitter.com/socialpreneur) @kelly62 (http://twitter.com/kelly62) @deizu (http://twitter.com/deizu) @papadimitriou (http://twitter.com/papadimitriou) @michaelqtodd (http://twitter.com/michaelqtodd) Thanks also to messages from BusanKevin (http://www.youtube.com/user/BusanKevin) and Vinai Norasakkunkit. ...and a very special thank you to Craig and Linda Martin of the Indie Travel Podcast (http://indietravelpodcast.com/),

(http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/daruma-poster-300x181.jpg)In this special episode of Japan Podshow, we welcome back to the studio Honor Dargen and Shane Sakata, our guest travel experts, to talk about their groundbreaking Japan travel resource - Japan Discovered (http://www.japandiscovered.com), a live Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/japandiscovered) tweet chat held every Friday. Listen here [Japan Discovered Special] (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/media/series01/JapanPodshowSpecial_JapanDiscovered.mp3) or download here (http://tr.im/mXpF) (MP3 8min 7.3mb). You can also subscribe for free in iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=310413183), or via our standard RSS feed (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/JapanPodshow). From their website (http://www.japandiscovered.com): The Japan Discovered! weekly Japan Travel Tweetchat will be hosted by Honor Dargan and Shane Sakata. Honor has made Tokyo her since 2001 and owns TokyoTopia (http://www.tokyotopia.com), a website dedicated to Tokyo travel planning. Her Goal - “Tokyo Made Simple” Shane has spent five and a half of the last fifteen years in Japan and owns The Nihon Sun (http://www.nihonsun.com/), Japan’s Online Culture and Travel Magazine. How does it work? Every Friday at Noon (Japan Standard Time) we answer your Japan travel questions on Twitter for an hour. You ask, we answer, and if we can’t answer your question straight away we’ll tell you and follow up with the answer on the Japan Discovered! website. Follow Japan Discovered on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/japandiscovered) to be reminded of upcoming chats and visit the Japan Travel Tweetchat (http://www.japandiscovered.com/japan-travel-tweetchat/) page to follow along and post your questions. Check out their blog www.japandiscovered.com (http://www.japandiscovered.com) to learn more.

(http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/314989744_5b5a852b47-150x150.jpg) In the first in a short series of videos focusing on Akihabara, Steve Nagata (http://twitter.com/stevenagata) (an Akiba Pro) shows Joseph a small shop specialising in cool little USB devices. It's in here that they come across the ultimate tools for spying on baddies - watches and ties with embedded video cameras! Next time you go into a meeting with the enemy, make sure you're prepared. With 4GBs of memory and absolute invisibility, you will never be left without evidence! The video is also available via our Japan Podshow iTunes feed (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=310413183), or via our audio/video RSS feed (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/JapanPodshow), or as a direct download (http://pokya.jp/japantechshow/media/series01/JapanTechshow01-hiddenCamera.mp4) (m4v format). It is also being cross-posted on our sister show Japan Techshow (http://pokya.jp/japantechshow). We look forward to getting your feedback, and will have more Akiba videos out soon! The music in this video comes from Liquicity on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7NdLrS63nc). The 'Akihabara' voice is from a Yamanote Line train. [Image: 56:365 by Practicalowl on Flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/practicalowl/314989744/)]

(http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/ccedille_special-300x275.jpg)Japan Podshow is delighted to bring to its listeners an exclusive interview and live performance by C Cedille, a new band headed by Emily who, with over 33,000 subscribers, is Japan's 3rd most subscribed YouTuber. View the video by subscribing in iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=310413183), or view it on our Facebook group page here (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67794439768), or check it out on our YouTube channel (http://www.youtube.com/japanpodshow), or download it direct from our server here (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/media/series01/japanpodshow_music-special_c-cedille2.mp4) (.mp4 format, 50mb) (n.b. Facebook and YouTUbe versions may still be being processed by their servers) Emily (www.youtube.com/applemilk1988 (http://www.youtube.com/applemilk1988)), well known for her videos online, proves that she's more than just a film producer; having teamed up with guitarist Serey late last year she has been working on a number of hauntingly beautiful songs - one of which we bring to you in this episode of Japan Podshow - shot live at a bus stop near CC Lemon Hall in Shibuya. 60% discount for Japan Podshow Listeners! The band is having its first live event on Saturday 23rd of May from 6.30pm in Shinjuku, and Japan Podshow listeners can get in for less than half price! Just turn up at the door - and mention Japan Podshow! It's not just Emily's band that's playing, there's also going to be a talk session and a meet and greet - Oh, and did we mention that it's also Emily's birthday party? * Website: http://ameblo.jp/c-cedille/ (http://ameblo.jp/c-cedille/) * Price: 1,500 yen (Japan Podshow listeners only - usually 3,800 yen!) * Date: May 23rd, 2009 * Time: 6:30 DOORS OPEN, 7:00PM START ?:?? END * Place: 東京・東京宣伝美術社 新宿駅東口より徒歩15分 Tokyo Senden Bijutsusha - 5 minute walk from Shinjuku station East exit * Google Map (http://tr.im/lU3R)

(http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/episode004_kandamatsuri-300x300.jpg)In episode 4 of Japan Podshow we take you to Akihabara, scene of the Kanda Matsuri (festival), a fantastic spectacle in which thousands of people crowd the streets carrying impossibly heavy mobile shrines. Listen to the podcast now here (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/media/series01/JapanPodshow_Episode004_Kanda-Matsuri.mp3) or download it here (http://is.gd/B3Kp). We would love it if you subscribed in iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=310413183); Non-iTunes user? Here's our standard RSS feed (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/JapanPodshow). Join Joseph and George as they make their way up the street behind the Omikoshi (shrines), meeting people along the way who insist that we enjoy traditional Japanese Culture (and we did). The podcast also features a very enthusiastic policeman with a whistle. (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/images/TokyoTopia-Logo-300x100.jpg) Tokyotopia - how to get into Tokyo from Narita International Airport Honor Dargen is back! Having told us (in episode one) what happens when you arrive at the airport, Honor Dargen of Tokyotopia (http://www.tokyotopia.com) now tells us how to get into Tokyo. For more information on the options honor mentions visit www.tokyotopia.com (http://www.tokyotopia.com/tokyo-international-airport.html). (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/mag-photo.jpg) Hiragana Times Competition Winner! In this episode we also announce the winner of the Hiragana Times competition! The winner receives a 12-month subscription to the electronic version of the Hiragana Times (http://www.hiraganatimes.com), a fantastic bilingual magazine that brings you up to date news and views from Japan - with all articles having direct translations and furigana, it's suitable for any level. You can also listen to some of the sections online - and there's even native support for users of the learning platform Smart.fm. This week's competition - 5 lucky listeners can win vouchers to use for free 1-on-1 lessons on Edufire, the only learning tool with live video Brett Fyfield, an Australian teaching Japanese on the Edufire platform, introduces this week's competition, in which you can win free tickets for lessons in ALMOST ANYTHING! Want to learn Japanese? Spanish? PHP? Photoshop? Or perhaps you're a teacher yourself - give Edufire a go. It's incredibly easy to use and gives you access to a huge pool of students and teachers worldwide. (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/logo-tagline-flame.gif) Listen to the podcast to hear how you can enter the competition. Brett Fyfield (also known as Rainbowhill) can be found in the following places: on Edufire (http://edu​fire.com/r​ainbowhill) on Blogger (http://rainbowhill.blogspot.com/) and on Twitter (http://twitter.com/rainbowhill) Brett also mentions Smart.FM (http://smart.fm/) and Anki (http://ichi2.net/anki/). There's listener feedback too! Thanks to News from the Other side (http://www.newsfromtheotherside.libsyn.com/); Kobe Kevin (http://kobekevin.blogspot.com/); supreme_nothing (http://supremenothing.blogspot.com/) (Brian); Nick Ramsay (http://www.longcountdown.com/); Tokyo Dan (http://twitter.com/tokyo_dan); Doug of Planet Japan (http://planetjapan.com); AnoBaka (http://twitter.com/AnoBaka); Ongakuhenjin (http://twitter.com/Ongakuhenjin)... and thanks to all our listeners for listening! As always your feedback is welcomed. Join our Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67794439768) group; follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/japanpodshow), write a review on iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=310413183), email or Skype us (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/contact/) (24 hour answerphone enabled!) You can alsosubscribe to us in iTunes here

(http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/pachinkoballs1-225x300.jpg)In the second of their series 1 special episodes, George and Joseph dive into the world of Pachinko, that incredibly popular form of legal 'gambling' seen on every street corner in Japan. Listen to Japan Podshow Special: Pachinko here (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/media/series01/japanpodshow_pachinko_special.mp3), or download it here (http://is.gd/B0FE) What exactly goes on behind the sliding doors of noise? Is it really true that you can make a fortune in a day if you know the secrets of the Pachipros? How quickly can you lose 2000 yen? What are pachinko parlours doing to attract a younger generation? ...and how do George and Joseph do on their first ever trip to a pachinko parlour? Join them for an orgy of metallic noise, before they go on to sooth their ears by interviewing Ben, a pachinko expert who frequently contributes to http://www.pachitalk.com (http://www.pachitalk.com). Full-length interview also available In this version of the podcast you just hear about the basics of pachinko. For an in-depth exploration of this world of hazy rooms and hair-care products, check out the full-length interview in our Bonus Features section (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/bonus-features/pachinko-in-japan/). In the full interview, Ben also talks about the history of pachinko, the types of machines in modern parlours, he gives further details about the odds of winning and techniques employed by the pros, and explains why we see people lined up outside pachinko parlours in the mornings. As always your feedback is welcomed. Join our Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67794439768) group; follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/japanpodshow), write a review on iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=310413183), email or Skype us (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/contact/) (24 hour answerphone enabled!) You can alsosubscribe to us in iTunes here (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=310413183) - this really helps us spread the word! For non-itunes users we have a standard RSS feed (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/JapanPodshow). Thanks for listening!

(http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/003_hiragana_hostess-300x300.png) In Episode 3 of the longest running podshow ever produced by www.pokya.jp (http://www.pokya.jp), George and Joseph go mobile and broadcast the show from a row boat on a pond in Meguro, Tokyo. [subscribe for free in iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=310413183)] Listen now. (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/media/series01/JapanPodshow_Ep003_The-Hiragana-Hostess.mp3) Hannah the Hostess From their watery studio they bring you an interview with Hannah the Hostess, who reveals what it's like to work in Tokyo's entertainment world. What does she have to do at her club ...and what exactly do her clients expect of her? Hiragana Times (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/mag-photo.jpg)We then have an interview with Mr. Hasegawa, founder of the Hiragana Times (http://www.hiraganatimes.com), one of Tokyo's longest-running magazines catering for the foreign population in Japan, and those outside of the country interested in its customs and culture, and wanting to learn Japanese. Mr. Hasegawa tells us of how the Hiragana Times started out in the 1980s and how it has since evolved. Recently, they have teamed up with Smart.FM (http://www.smart.fm) to bring you two free articles to study every month - click here to visit the Smart FM Hiragana Times page (http://smart.fm/landing/Hiragana). Competition TIme - win an annual subscription to the digital Hiragana Times! To win an annual subscription to the digital edition of the Hiragana Times just listen to the show to hear what the question is. You'll find the answer on page 17 of the latest edition of the Hiragana Times (http://www.hiraganatimes.com) (May 2009), which is available from all good book stores. If you are not in Japan you can find the answer in the digital excerpt - click here to download it for free now! (http://www.hiraganatimes.com/hp/magazine/sample/010.pdf) You can also listen to the audio here (http://is.gd/wDHi). We announce the winner of last week's Tokyo Comedy Store (http://tokyocomedy.com/c878026270a058b430828f1c8a996a73~tcs_crocodile_show) tickets: congratulations to @macduckston (http://www.twitter.com/macduckston) for his winning entry: "At first I thought maybe your show would be a CROCK, but then I gave it A DIAL. It's all I WANI in a podcast!" Mac wins two tickets to the Tokyo Comedy Store Crocodile Show, (http://tokyocomedy.com/c878026270a058b430828f1c8a996a73~tcs_crocodile_show) which is held every last Friday of the month in Shibuya (Fourth Friday Funny!) More about the TCS This is TCS's 14th year of making Tokyo laugh. It was started by comedy-starved expats, and the motto of the show is "Funnier Than You Think We'll Be!" The location is The Crocodile in Shibuya, on Meiji Dori. Doors open at 7:15, and the show starts at 8:00pm Show line-up: stand-up comedy in the first half, improv comedy in the 2nd half, and special guest performers on occasion Reservations: Write to: reservations@tokyocomedy.com Website: tokyocomedy.com (http://tokyocomedy.com) Listener's Feedback We have some very Zen feedback from one of our listeners this week via skype, listen in to join the trance. Thanks also to everyone for the feedback via Twitter. Special thanks to Doug DeLong and Jen of Planet Japan Podcast (http://planetjapan.org/) for the kind words on their latest edition - very much appreciated - they helped inspire us to go into production! Music provided by Natural Groove Inn Finally, we play Switch On - スイッチオン by Natural Groove Inn (http://www.naturalgrooveinn.com/). It's taken from their EP 'Rest or Stay', available from iTunes here (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=270256743&s=143462). Super funky, acoustic groove. These few words encapsulate the spirit of NGI. Comprising five members, two guitars, violin, cajon and melodion,

(http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/specialtell600600-300x300.png)In the first of a series of special episodes that will pop up now and then between regular episodes of Japan Podshow, we highlight the work of TELL - the Tokyo English Lifeline (http://www.telljp.com/). Listen now (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/media/series01/Japan_Podshow_Special-TELL.mp3). Joseph recently went along to the TELL offices and spoke with Venera Jordon, who is overseeing the forthcoming 10th Annual TELL Charity Walk & Runathon (http://www.telljp.com/index.php?/en/event/runathon_2009), which is happening this Saturday, the 2nd of May. The run will take place around the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo - and anyone can take part. You don't need to register in advance, and there are prizes for the top ten runners in each category. Joseph will be taking part, and encourages podshow listeners to do the same! What is TELL? Tokyo English Life Line seeks to be an accessible, community-serving organization that provides effective, confidential support and counseling for the international community. ...[It] is a multifaceted, nonprofit organization that has been serving the international and business communities since 1973. Our services include free phone counseling and information, professional face-to-face counseling, and educational workshops.

(http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/episode002_jengamaid-300x300.png)Episode Two is out in the feed! [iTunes (http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=310413183)] [non-iTunes (http://feeds2.feedburner.com/JapanPodshow)] After a whole week without sleep we've finally got episode two out to you - trying to squeeze those maids into an 8 minute slot was pretty tricky. Listen to or download the show here (http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/media/series01/JapanPodshow_Episode002_Maid-Cafe.mp3). In this episode: Interview: Nick Ramsey of JapanSoc We start off with an interview with Nick Ramsey - founder of www.Japansoc.org (http://www.Japansoc.org) and www.japansoc.com (http://www.japansoc.com) - the full interview will be made available within a few days on this site - if you'd like to know when it's out make sure you subscribe to our twitter feed (http://www.twitter.com/japanpodshow). The Japan Tourist Top Ten We then have Shane Sakata of The Nihon Sun (http://www.nihonsun.com/) presenting the Japan Tourist Top Ten - What Not To Do - check out the accompanying post on The Nihon Sun (http://www.nihonsun.com/2009/04/21/top-10-things-not-to-do-when-you-visit-japan/). Made in Akihabara - the Maid Cafe Experience Next up, Joseph tells the story of his trip to MaiDreamin, a maid cafe in Akihabara. Listen in as Joseph and his friends are made to say cutey things to make their food taste better, and then an audio insight into a dramatic game of Jenga ...and the batsu game that followed, in which Joseph and his friends are made to look like complete fools... All in the name of experience. Background music in the maid cafe section was Eezeebro01 by Alex Brooke (http://music.podshow.com/music/producers/producerLibrary/artistdetails.php?BandHash=dfad1507256f9a67e967eacd17ee9991), talented producer of the Learn Japanese Pod (http://learnjapanesepod.com/). Competition Time Who has won the Poken? Congrats to: * @Szotasensei for their Poken amazing entry (http://twitter.com/Szotasensei/status/1465562550) * @TokyoDan for his pokogrified tweet (http://twitter.com/TokyoDan/status/1466381357); * @AnoBaka for her threatening threat (http://twitter.com/AnoBaka/status/1470221271) ...and on to this week's episode - win tickets to the Tokyo Comedy Store Crocodile Show (http://www.tokyocomedy.com/tcs_crocodile_show) More about the Tokyo Comedy Store This is TCS's 14th year of making Tokyo laugh. It was started by comedy-starved expats, and the motto of the show is "Funnier Than You Think We'll Be!" The location is The Crocodile in Shibuya, on Meiji Dori. Doors open at 7:15, and the show starts at 8:00pm Show line-up: stand-up comedy in the first half, improv comedy in the 2nd half, and special guest performers on occasion Reservations: Write to: reservations@tokyocomedy.com Website: tokyocomedy.com (http://tokyocomedy.com) To enter, send us your tweet (http://twitter.com/japanpodshow) with the magic word in! Listeners' Feedback We've got listeners feedback - who is that crazy girl on Skype? Music Background music in the maid cafe section was Eezeebro01 by Alex Brooke (http://music.podshow.com/music/producers/producerLibrary/artistdetails.php?BandHash=dfad1507256f9a67e967eacd17ee9991), talented producer of the Learn Japanese Pod (http://learnjapanesepod.com/). Thank you Alex. Captain Yamaguchi is our band of the episode, playing Serotonin - check them out on MySpace (http://myspace/captainyamaguchi). Contact / Feedback As usual, we welcome feedback - help us shape this podcast by contacting us via any of the 3 billion channels we have open. First off, we have a 24 hour jPodline, ready to take your messages. If you're in Japan, the UK or the US, simply use your local number. Listeners in other countries can of course also use these numbers, although they will be charged at the standard international rate (depending on their calling plan).

(http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/001_konnichiha-300x300.jpg)It's been a long time in the making, but finally Episode One is out! The best way to listen is to subscribe to our feed in iTunes

(http://pokya.jp/japanpodshow/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/000_trailer.jpg)The Japan Podshow crew are happy to announce the release of their first episode of Japan Podshow, which isn't in fact a real episode at all. You can download it directly from the 'download' link at the top of the page, or listen using our flash player below. In this taster, you'll meet the hosts, George and Joseph, and hear what they have planned for you when the series kicks-off proper in April 2009. Within a few days of this being published we'll have an iTunes feed available for you to subscribe to. We'll notify the world here, and on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/japanpodshow). Initially we'll just be releasing .mp3 versions, but in the future you can expect fully funky interactive audio-video medleys of greatness. Listen now! (http://www.pokya.jp/japanpodshow/media/series01/JapanPodshow_Episode00-Trailer.mp3). We'd welcome your feedback, either via this blog, on Twitter @japanpodshow (http://twitter.com/japanpodshow), on skype (skype:japanpodshow?call) or facebook (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=67794439768). We also have a 24-hour answerphone to take your messages - the wonders of modern technology means you can call us from the UK, the US or Japan using a standard national rate number - just call the number for your country. (http://www.pokya.jp/japanpodshow/images/japanPodshow_phone_numbers.png) We look forward to hearing from you!