The bois are back in town!
Jon is has finally returned to the UK, and is jet-lagged as all hell. In this episode, we give a quick run-down of the closing of the 2021 Olympic Games, a giant pumpkin fighting a typhoon, and Jon's adventures in international flights.
Sources: https://soranews24.com/2021/08/09/tokyo-olympics-comes-to-a-close-with-anime-opening-at-closing-ceremonys-ska-remix%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ https://www.tokyoreporter.com/business/tv-asahi-staffers-party-after-closing-ceremony-1-hospitalized-after-tumbling-out-of-bar/ https://soranews24.com/2021/08/09/japans-new-canned-curry-is-ready-to-drink-and-ready-to-delight-the-curry-loving-nation/
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
The Geeks & Gaijins Season Finale! It's our final episode on-location in Japan! The sun is shining (too much), the Olympics are in full swing (unfortunately), and there are no fun crimes stories this week (predictably). So join us on a trip back in time to 1984, as Jon regales us with the story of the Glico-Morinaga Extortion Case.
Also in this episode: Ghibli Museum fundraising, delicious non-radioactive peaches, and yet another typhoon.
Thanks to everyone who's listened in to us over the last two years. This podcast has been very important to the both of us during this time, and we're grateful to every open ear who shared in our joy, anger, and general nonsense throughout.
We'll be back in two weeks with a slightly revamped format, but the same lunacy as ever. Same Geek-Time, same Gaijin-Channel.
Until then, Sayonara Japan!
Sources: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2021-07-19/the-ghibli-museum-meets-10-million-yen-crowdfunding-goal-in-24-hours/.175253 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1964_Summer_Olympics https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/118577 https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14401598 https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/57959891 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glico_Morinaga_case
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
Enter the Nyanopticon
With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics finally about to start, Japan continues to be buffered by articles about just how badly things are going. This week features a tag-team of trouble, with Thomas Bach exacerbating the public's anger at the IOC, and Keigo Oyamada being announced as composer for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games opening and closing ceremonies, in spite of a history of abusive behaviour.
Before all that though, there's robot cat ears that read your brain waves, a way to stop crime without actually doing anything, and consuming the faces of beloved anime characters.
Enjoy!
Sources: https://soranews24.com/2021/07/19/japans-brain-wave-reading-cat-ears-are-back-with-a-brand-new-twist/ https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14387529 https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14398503 https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/07/15/national/bach-hiroshima-visit/ https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210717/p2a/00m/0sp/020000c https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14396489 https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14397380 https://twitter.com/HirokoTabuchi/status/1416812548217835520 http://www.japansubculture.com/japans-olympic-composer-tortured-disabled-children-and-the-olympic-committee-says-to-the-world-eat-shit-no-problem/#.YPKTX84AZ_w.twitter https://www.telegraph.co.uk/olympics/2021/07/17/composer-forced-disabled-classmates-eat-faeces-masturbate-will/ https://soranews24.com/2021/07/20/cornelius-resigns-from-olympics-suddenly-pulled-from-sony-webpage-and-nhk-shows-too/
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot
Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
Alternative Title: Yakucumbers
This Week In Japan: - A giant cat appears in Shinjuku - Being vaccinated four times does not improve effectiveness - Police catch cucumber poachers wet-handed - Tottori turns torrential - Japan does not want vaccinated foreigners - Tokyo locks down for the Olympics - The government asks banks to threaten bars - and a lone gunwoman attempts to douse the Olympic flame.
Sources: https://soranews24.com/2021/07/05/giant-cat-appears-on-new-3-d-billboard-outside-shinjuku-station-%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/
https://www.tokyoreporter.com/japan-news/breaking/hokkaido-man-vaccinated-4-times-i-thought-it-would-be-more-effective/ https://soranews24.com/2021/07/06/ibaraki-woman-arrested-for-attacking-olympic-torch-with-water-gun/ https://soranews24.com/2021/07/11/oceans-11-heist-of-over-2m-yen-in-sea-cucumbers-thwarted-by-japanese-coast-guard/ https://www.mcdonalds.co.jp/campaign/50thburger/ https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20210707_07/ https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210708/p2g/00m/0na/047000c https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Japan-needs-mutual-recognition-for-vaccine-passports-AmCham https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210711/p2g/00m/0na/024000c https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210711/p2g/00m/0na/024000c https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14392012
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins
Frapp Mapp? Frapan?
Anyway, This Week In Japan, enjoy cool masks, get kicked out of politics for your cool mask, and drink away your sorrows with your local prefectures new unique frappucino. Also, Jon visited a sword museum, and Tom watched Zombieland Saga Revenge and OddTaxi.
Sources: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210703/p2a/00m/0na/030000c https://soranews24.com/2021/07/03/japanese-politician-skull-reaper-a-ji-sues-city-for-refusing-to-show-his-masked-face/ https://stephano.me/blog/jimoto-frappuccino/
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
Fly me to the Pokemon Sun & Moon.
This Week In Japan, you can: fly via Pikachu Airlines (if you're vaccinated), break into a school (if someone else has already broken in), steal toilet paper (if you're the police chief), silence political criticism (if you're Twitter), or not say anything about the Olympics (if you're the Emperor). Sadly, neither Jon or Tom are the Emperor (yet), so they are not allowed to not say anything about the Olympics.
Sources: https://soranews24.com/2021/06/24/pikachu-learns-how-to-fly-as-japans-new-pokemon-airliner-takes-fight/
https://www.tokyoreporter.com/crime/unfit-ex-banker-collared-after-sporting-stolen-sailor-suit-in-school-toilet/ https://www.tokyoreporter.com/crime/ex-police-chief-not-prosecuted-over-drunken-theft-of-5-rolls-of-toilet-paper/ https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210626/p2a/00m/0na/018000c http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14381782 http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14380930
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
I sure do love Jelly Donuts!
This Week In Japan:
Timmy tries to break into a museum
A Crime Trilogy!
Tasteful Beef Art
Superman steals Jon's Schtick
and, of course, more Olympics misery! Yay!
Sources:
https://soranews24.com/2021/06/18/superman-to-star-in-upcoming-gourmet-manga-series/
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210620/p2g/00m/0sp/015000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210618/p2g/00m/0na/030000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210618/p2g/00m/0na/004000c
https://soranews24.com/2021/06/20/tokyo-olympics-to-allow-spectators-provided-they-cheer-quietly/
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot
Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
Get Bready for another week in Japan!
This week, we have a mask even your aunt will want to wear, the end to open-carry crossbows (without a permit), busting open the used recorder black market, and Japan's seeming national inability to have a fat friend.
Oh also some rich ****s decide it's cool if a bunch of Japanese people die from a preventable disease, so long as said ****s get their international sports show.
Don't you know that the world is built with blood?
Sources:
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000003.000072311.html
https://the-labo.com/maskpan.html
https://soranews24.com/2021/06/12/you-can-now-rent-fat-people-in-japan/
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14372230
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14371375
https://the-labo.com/maskpan.html
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot
Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
This Week In Japan: Dancing Cats, Pickle Shop Spitting, & A Sleep-Depriving Schedule
Sources:
https://soranews24.com/2021/06/03/the-japanese-train-station-famous-for-mysterious-dancing-cats/
https://www.tokyoreporter.com/crime/american-english-teacher-suspected-of-smuggling-cannabis-oil/
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot
Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
Learn one simple trick to beat all the girls in an entrance exam! Feminists HATE it!*
This Week In Japan, we have:
Levi AttackOnTitan cleans up!
Illegal Maid Cafes!
Murdeerer has sentence suspended
And controversey over high school entrance exams rocks the nation!
All this, and more, for one week only (apart from the sexism, that's pretty much constant) in Japan!
(*The trick is to be a dude)
Sources:
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/8548345e85846a8b6dc81d7ff08c5d78284a369c
https://news.yahoo.co.jp/byline/ishiimasumi/20210304-00225414/
https://twitter.com/writerofscratch/status/1398987969369980935?s=09
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210526/p2a/00m/0na/017000c
https://unseenjapan.com/st-marianna-japan-womens-scores-changed/
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot
Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
Content warning for Homophobia, Transphobia, and general anti-LGBT bigotry starting at 14:45. Skip to 20:15.
Editor's Note: Jon's Japanese tongue twister does not mean "The customer next to me is eating white peaches". Instead, it means "The customer next to me is eating lots of persimmons".
This Week In Japan: The legendary missing python has been discovered in an unexpected location, a train driver takes world's riskiest sh*t, Japanese officials debate LGBT discrimination, foreigners banned from dinner, President Macron announces visit to Japan, and Jon poses as a reporter to see the Olympic Torch relay.
Also, Kentaro Miura, creator of the legendary manga Beserk, passes away. Sources: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210522/k10013045901000.html?utm_int=all_side_ranking-access_001
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210520/k10013042571000.html
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210521/p2a/00m/0na/032000c
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20210522/k10013044921000.html
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210521/p2g/00m/0na/075000c
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot
Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune
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Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
Jon's Note: I Like my homosexuals FLAMiNg, no WAIT NOT LIKE THAT!
Wah-ah-ah-ah.
This Week In Japan: Demon Slayer, so hot right now
Kindergarten Cop
The code is more like guidelines, anyway
It takes queue
Robocide in Shinjuku?
And, inevitably, the mess that is Japan, covid, vaccines, and... the Olympics.
Sources:
https://soranews24.com/2021/05/13/has-shinjukus-robot-restaurant-closed-permanently/
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210515/p2a/00m/0na/002000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210515/p2a/00m/0na/006000c
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14347702
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14349720
http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14349808
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot
Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune
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Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
Snake? Snake! Snaaaaaaaaake!
In other news, Japan makes the same bad puns as us, a tower that should not exist hasn't been demolished yet, cake is sporty now, and drying clothes on a wacky wavy inflatable-arm tube man. I promise no drugs were involved in this. I know, I'm dissappointed too.
Sources:
https://allabout-japan.com/en/article/9527/
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210507/p2a/00m/0na/007000c
https://www.tokyoreporter.com/business/nakagin-capsule-tower-could-be-headed-demolition/
https://soranews24.com/2021/05/10/sports-cake-developed-by-legendary-japanese-castella-company/
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
Sources: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210502/p2a/00m/0li/001000c https://soranews24.com/2021/04/30/japanese-cat-enjoys-walks-in-the-rain-with-his-adorable-tiny-umbrella%E3%80%90photos%E3%80%91/ https://soranews24.com/2021/04/29/japan-to-open-its-first-ever-esports-gym-in-tokyo-with-options-to-pay-for-professional-training/ https://www.tokyoreporter.com/crime/national-diet-upping-security-amid-report-of-peeping-tom/ https://www.tokyoreporter.com/crime/kyoto-woman-accused-of-stalking-police-officer-who-previously-arrested-her-for-stalking/ https://soranews24.com/2021/05/03/japanese-schoolgirl-and-karate-teen-subdue-violent-shoplifter/ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-56978075
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here: Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
This week in Japan: Another one bites the dust, a wild not-so-jiggly-puff appears!, mascot marketing, a real-life harem anime protagonist, what's the deal with airline food?, and the Rise of the Planet of the Boars!
Sources:
https://soranews24.com/2021/04/23/let-godzilla-do-the-cleaning-with-the-new-godzilla-dust-mop-cover/
https://soranews24.com/2021/04/26/kyoto-police-investigating-cream-puff-attack-on-bentley/
https://soranews24.com/2021/04/22/kansai-man-arrested-for-defrauding-his-35-girlfriends/
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210426/p2g/00m/0na/011000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210425/p2g/00m/0bu/023000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210423/p2a/00m/0na/028000c
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot
Itunes: https://tinyurl.com/Ge-Gaitune
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GGaijins
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
There's a surprising amount of original content in this one. Is any of it any good? That remains to be seen. Or...heard, I guess. It's a podcast, innit.
This Week In Japans features baby otters, infinite cats, creepy clothes crime, a lucky bag blind buffet, police shooting a man upon request, and radioactive water. Mmmm, tingly!
Also, Jon plans how to make the Olympics safe (from covid, at least), because no-one else seems to be doing it.
How hard can it possible be?
Sources:
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210416/p2a/00m/0li/010000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210417/p2a/00m/0li/028000c
https://soranews24.com/2021/04/16/reminder-never-ask-the-cops-in-japan-to-shoot-you/
https://soranews24.com/2021/04/16/hyogo-man-arrested-for-stealing-13-tiny-fish-valued-at-52000-yen/
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot
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Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
This Week In Japan: Guest Starring The Geek Tom as The Snack Breaker.
If last week's fishy flavour left you a little salty, you'll be happy to hear that this week features a menagerie of morsels, a fountain of food, a... cornicopia of... consumables?
Anyway, in This Week In Japan, a man fights a crab, there are vending machines for sweet potatoes, and an Okinawan woman goes on hunger strike to protect her family's bones.
This Week In Japan: What else did you expect, really?
Sources:
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210408/p2a/00m/0li/002000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210410/p2a/00m/0na/016000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210319/p2a/00m/0bu/013000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210408/p2a/00m/0na/011000c
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot
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Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
It's time to dress to impress in This Week In Japan. We've got the hottest Harry Potter holders, suspicious suits, stolen schools, fugu fun, and sexist boats.
Yeah, you heard me. Sexist Boats.
I wish I was making this up.
Sources:
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210402/p2a/00m/0na/011000c
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot
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Haha, you were expecting an elaborate ruse to celebrate April 1st, but it was us: Geeks & Gaijins!
Is not doing an April Fools prank technically an April Fools prank in and of itself? Would that be a paradox? Does anyone actually care?
Sources:
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210326/p2a/00m/0bu/018000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210327/p2a/00m/0sc/021000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/graphs/20210326/hpe/00m/0na/001000g/
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210323/p2a/00m/0na/005000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210326/p2g/00m/0na/165000c
https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20210327/p2g/00m/0na/016000c
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:
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Here we go again...
This Week In Japan, we celebrate the opening of Super Nintendo World, Disaster Survival Dogs, Train Phones, and a victory for LGBT rights.
We do not celebrate another high-profile figure planning the Olympics saying something dumb and sexist. Like, have you guys considered just not?
Just take the whole thing around the back of the barn, already.
Sources:
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/03/18/business/corporate-business/mario-super-nintendo-world/
https://soranews24.com/2021/03/22/japans-shinkansen-bullet-trains-to-remove-all-onboard-payphones/
https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/56461152
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56438842
Would you like to hear us talk about Japan some more? Find our podcast here:
Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/G-GSpot
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Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/y5kk5key
