Shows
Amakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 27 - Changing the Japanese school yearThis week, Steven, Michelle and Yasushi discuss the impacts and possible changes to the school year due to Covid-19. Discussions from the Japanese governments address starting the school year in September as opposed to April to coincide with international schooling systems.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/1071/
https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Education/September-school-year-to-put-Japan-in-line-with-world
2020-05-1720 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 26 - Why Japan's numbers seem so lowThis week, Steven, Yasushi and Michelle discuss why the Covid-19 cases in Japan seem to be on the lower end compared to the rest of Europe and the US.2020-04-2820 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 25 - Getting to know your podcasters - Part 3The last of getting to know your podcasters as we discuss the cultural aspects we want to adopt into our home countries vs. the aspects we are glad aren't apart of our home culture.2020-04-2123 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 24 - Getting to know your podcasters - Part 2We're back again this week discussing more about ourselves and what we miss about our travels, as well as the things we were glad to get back in our home countries2020-04-0524 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 23 - Getting to know your podcastersIn this episode, we decided to take an escape from the real world and let our listeners get to know the real us and our experiences in each other's respective countries. So come listen to Yasushi's take on American culture and Steven and Michelle's first impressions of Japan. Enjoy!2020-03-2920 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 22 - The Role Reversal of Nations with COVID-19In our last episode, the Coronavirus was mostly a focus only in Asia and eastern countries. Yet within a couple of weeks, the whole world has been affected and in this episode, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss why Japan goes about business as normal while the rest of the world shuts down.2020-03-2219 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 21 - The Coronavirus... of course we are talking about itThe hot topic this week all over Japan (and all over the rest of the world too) is the Coronavirus, so of course Yasushi, Steven and Michelle are discussing it. School closures, limited large gatherings, the reasoning behind it all -- we talk about all of it and how it's affecting everyone's lives and the Japanese economy.2020-02-2819 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 20 - Banning sexism at the University of TokyoThis week, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the recent decision of the University of Tokyo (Todai) to ban clubs that discriminate against women.
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13082948
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13054988
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/08/world/asia/tokyo-university-women-japan.html
2020-02-2215 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 19 - OvertourismIn this recording, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the ever rampant topic of overtourism in Japan's most popular areas and ways the government is hoping to tackle the crowds for the future
https://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0005970099
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13060063
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190920/p2a/00m/0na/022000c2020-02-1316 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 18 - Face mask cultureThis week, Yasushi, Steven, and Michelle discuss the face mask culture in Japan. We discuss customer service staff wearing masks, the fashion statements of mask-wearing and the outbreak of the coronavirus and the lack of masks available.
https://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/policies-differ-concerning-retail-staff-wearing-face-masks-to-ward-off-colds
https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/why-do-japanese-people-wear-surgical-masks-its-not-always-for-health-reasons2020-02-0213 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 17 - Nissan CEO's disappearing act from JapanOn this episode, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the international headline of Carlos Ghosn's dramatic escape from Japan to Lebenon and the Japanese legal system.2020-01-1016 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan - Ep 16. - Japan's gender gapOn this episode, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the ever rampant gender inequality in Japan, the reasons why and ways to try to narrow the gap.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/12/17/national/social-issues/japan-121st-global-gender-equality-ranking/#.XfmMX2T7TIU
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2019/07/04/commentary/japan-commentary/japans-systemic-barriers-gender-equality/#.XfmO7WT7TIU2019-12-2216 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep 15. - Privatized entrance exam English tests postponedThis week, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the recent postponement of the new university entrance exams due to economic issues.
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201911010039.html
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191101/p2a/00m/0na/013000c2019-12-1517 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 14 - The tragedy of the elderly taking care of the elderlyThis week, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the recent tragedy of a 71-year-old woman taking the lives of her husband and in-laws after the emotional exhaustion associated with caring for them for years.
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201911230046.html
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191118/p2a/00m/0na/004000c2019-12-0516 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 13 - Bullying in school... by teachers to a teacherOn this episode, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss a tragic story of an elementary school teacher in Kobe who suffered awful bullying from his teacher co-workers, so much so that he quit his job.
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201910150030.html2019-11-2316 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 12 - Free childcare: is it a good thing or a bad thing?In this episode, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle talk about the recent change allowing the majority of childcare programs to be free for most parents
https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/d00489/japan%E2%80%99s-free-childcare-program-no-panacea-for-daycare-waitlists.html
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/japan-daycare-birth-rate-mothers-childcare-education-family-a8952276.html2019-11-1518 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 11 - Olympic Marathon change of venueThis week, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the recent change of venue for the Olympic Marathon from Tokyo to Sapporo due to summer heat concerns.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/11/01/national/tokyo-governor-gives-up-sapporo-olympic-marathon/
https://qz.com/1740231/tokyo-olympics-marathon-moved-to-sapporo-over-heat-concerns/2019-11-0813 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 10 - Consumption Tax HikeYasushi, Steven, and Michelle discuss the recent consumption tax rate hike from 8% to 10% in Japan and how it has affected businesses and consumers.
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20191001/p2g/00m/0na/001000c2019-11-0111 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 9 - Performing for the Yakuza, genome editing, and child discipline gone wrongThis week, Yasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss Japanese comedians taking side jobs performing for the Yakuza just to make ends meet. We also discuss the relaxed rules in Japan regarding genetically edited foods as well as talk about an extreme case of a father accidentally murdering his child in the name of discipline.
Yoshimoto
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201907300063.html
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201907250040.html
Genetically-edited foods
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201907110024.html
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...2019-08-2030 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 8 - Whaling, Royalty fees, and hotel bookings for the 2020 OlympicsIn this episode, Yashushi, Steven and Michelle discuss Japan starting the whaling industry again for commercial purposes, along with the royalty fees lawsuit with JASRAC against a music school. We finish up the podcast discussing the lack of hotel rooms available for lottery ticket winners for the Olympic Game.2019-08-0822 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 7 - What does "Amakara" mean; the gangs of Japan; Teaching time vs. hours worked; customer is "king"On this episode, Yasushi and Michelle respond to listeners' question about the meaning of Amakara. We also discuss the crackdown on payoffs to the Yakuza in preparation to the 2020 Olympics; how Japan's teachers work the most hours internationally, but the fewest hours actually teaching in the classroom; as well as discuss if the customer really is "king" in Japan.2019-07-2423 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 6 - #Kutoo, Paternity leave, and mandatory English for fencersYasushi, Steven and Michelle discuss the recent controversy of workplace rules and regulations, including females wearing high heels at work, a man's repercussions of taking paternity leave and mandatory English learning in order to be on Japan's national fencing team.2019-07-1621 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 5 - Minimum Wage, High school baseball and a sexual assault caseThis week, Yasushi, Steven, and Michelle discuss the minimum wage in Japan, a new rule for high school baseball teams and a very controversial case regarding rape/sexual assault.2019-07-0920 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 4 - Vacation days, child rearing and sports festivalsYasushi, Steven, and Michelle discuss the new laws that have passed regarding mandatory vacation days, corporeal punishment, and safety concerning Japanese sports festivals.2019-06-2119 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 3 - New policies for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, pregnant women and Japanese namesIn this episode, Yasushi and Michelle discuss new laws being created in Japan in regards to the 2020 Olympics, fees for pregnant women and how Japanese people hope to soon introduce themselves to foreigners.2019-06-0222 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan Ep. 2 - Old age drivers and overworked teachersYasushi, Michelle and Steven discuss recent news about an auto accident caused by a high ranking senior citizen. We also discuss the working culture of Japanese teachers and the side-effects of depression for them.2019-05-2711 minAmakara JapanAmakara Japan - Ep. 1 - Reiwa - The New Era of JapanYasushi and Michelle discuss the recent abdication of the Imperial Throne and the history behind the traditions2019-05-1317 min