In this third part of this Spirited Away cultural walkthrough series, show host Kyota clarifies the mystery of Chihiro's sudden maturing and the trick Miyazaki plays in the scene where Chihiro signs an employment contract.Support the show

In this second part of the Spirited Away cultural walkthrough series, show host Kyota clarifies who all the absurd-looking monsters are and the peculiar nature of the world Chihiro wanders into. Support the show

Ghibli's Spirited Away is undoubtedly one of the best films of all time, but fully "getting" what goes on in the movie may be difficult without some knowledge of Japanese culture. In this podcast series, Japanese culture researcher/enthusiast/The Metro-classic Japanese show host Kyota Ko will share with you insights that will help you to enjoy the epic Miyazaki film two fold. Support the show

Buddhist monks are not supposed to harm anyone, but "soldier monks" were a long-lasting profession in middle age Japan - why did these people arm themselves and why were they even allowed to exist?Podcast host Kyota Ko explains the historical controversy in this insightful and hilarious podcast episode.Support the show

Samurai were not only busy swinging around swords and spears taking people's lives. They also gave life. To goldfish. Goldfish were mass-produced and became a popular pet among Japanese people in the 18th-19th century, thanks to a creative samurai.Show host Kyota Ko narrates how the beautiful Japanese breeds of goldfish came to be, tracing back their origin to a single samurai lord who lived and thrived over 250 years ago.Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun co...

Many Japanese people didn't even have last names until around 150 years ago. In this short episode, show host Kyota Ko explains the background and potentially embarrassing secrets behind Japanese names. Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture.Support the show

Japanese people are terrible at being religious. Shintoism allows Japanese people to be religious whenever and only when they need supernatural help. In this episode, show host Kyota Ko explains the meaning and cultural background behind the proverb 困った時の神頼み "Turning to God in times of trouble". Great listen for students looking for an interesting essay topic.Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture.Support the show

The Japanese language, like any other language, has a rich inventory of witty and useful proverbs.In this short episode, show host Kyota Ko explains the meaning and cultural background behind the proverb 及ばぬ鯉の滝登り "Waterfall climbs of feeble Koi".Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture.Support the show

The Japanese language, like any other language, has a rich inventory of witty and useful proverbs.In this short episode, show host Kyota Ko explains the meaning and cultural background behind the proverb 虎穴に入らずんば孤児を得ず "No entry into a tiger's den brings about no capture of its cub."Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture.Support the show

The Japanese language, like any other language, has a rich inventory of witty and useful proverbs. In this short episode, show host Kyota Ko explains the meaning and cultural background behind the Japanese proverb 女心と秋の空 "The minds of women and the autumn sky."Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture.Support the show

Trains are not just a transportation means or infrastructure in Japan, but a cultural experience. If your next trip is to a Japanese city such as Tokyo or Osaka, prep for it with this podcast to enrich your Japanese train experience. Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture.Support the show

Nihonbashi is a must-go location for second-timers to Tokyo looking to experience a modern yet cultural Japan. As a Tokyo local, show host Kyota Ko introduces his reasons for having made Nihonbashi one of his favorite weekend hangout place.Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture.Support the show

You hear it on the Internet. Japan is a paradise on Earth when you visit there as a tourist, but not so much when you try to live there. Many Japanese people will agree to that, as Japanese society can suffocate you with loads of rules and social guidelines. But that's not the whole story. Japan is in fact a paradise on Earth for those, Japanese or not, who have figured out the real nature of its culture. Show host Kyota Ko explains what makes Japan hell and paradise for different people. Che...

"Japanese culture, once upon a time, encouraged and celebrated sex openly. Now we do so secretly." Shungas are windows to the sexually liberal lives of 17th to 19th century Japanese people, and a vital hint to solving the mysterious gap between the clean, polite and disciplined image of Japan and the fact that the keywords "Japanese" and "Hentai" became No. 1 and 2 (respectively) search words on Pornhub in 2019. Show host Kyota Ko presents to you a hilarious explanation of Japanese people's l...

Samurais used to rule Japan for over 9 centuries, but they are nowhere to be found anymore. Where did they go? Show host Kyota Ko explains how samurais disappeared from the face of Japan.Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture.Support the show

Japan has a treasury of horror stories that will traumatize you and ruin your day, whether it be old folklore or modern urban myths. Show host Kyota Ko brings you one of each, to contribute some scare to your Halloween experience.Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture.Support the show

What's the point of Japanese tea ceremony? Show host Kyota Ko explains in layman terms its enlightening goal, its link with Zen, its intriguing gimmicks, and why you should make it your next new hobby.Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture.Support the show

TOKUGAWA Tsunayoshi was an iconic ruler of Japan during the age of the samurais. Nicknamed Dog King, he is remembered as a maker of laws that beheaded people for killing or straying puppies, and was criticized for devaluing human lives. But recent studies have reevaluated Tsunayoshi's policies as perhaps a major contributor to developing Japanese people's ethical values now. Show host Kyota Ko narrates a story for all canine- and humanity-lovers. Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and ...

Metro-Tokyo houses the world's biggest population at 37 million people, having gone through rapid growth at an unprecedented pace since the 17th century. As strange as it sounds, the driver of its population growth was in "disastrous losses."Show host Kyota Ko explains the secrets behind Tokyo's immense success as a megacity.Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture.Support the show

Japanese men are incapable of saying "I love you." There are a couple of cultural reasons behind it and they are both absurdly unromantic and romantic. The key lies in the Japanese language and Japanese history.Show host Kyota Ko gives an explanation to the indirectness of Japanese love. Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture.Support the show