The Tokyo Cheapo Podcast | Tokyo Cheapo: Recent Episodes
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Angela An |credit| Listen Now. This week the pod team sits down with Angela An of the very popular YouTube channel ‘Intenatoinally Me.’ Angela shares some horror stories from working at a Japanese ‘black company’ and how, after a well-deserved recovery holiday, she slowly worked her way up into becoming a successful full-time YouTuber. Plus, her fascinating plan for leverging her channel into helping the dying Japanese countryside. And on our Tokyo Stories this week, we’re down a cheapo as Greg is off handling real business. Meanwhile, Chris talks about having some fun with Japanese at a coffeeshop in London, and Taryn reveals the embarassing story behind why her foot is broken. Produced/edited/mixed by Taryn The post Episode 12: Out of the Dark, Into the Country appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Joseph Tame |credit| Listen Now. This week, we welcome to the pod an old friend, known to some as ‘Tokyo Marathon Man’, ‘Sakuraman’, or, our personal favourite, ‘The Running Christmas Tree’ – Joseph Tame. Jospeh tells the podcast team some amazing tales, including living on top of a mountain with a terrifying Swiss lady, being caught on CNN running around Tokyo inside a Christmas tree, and gradually building a successful creative agency. Plus, Joseph explains why he came to the podcast recording wearing 4 massive pinwheels – the answer to which kind of explains his whole Japan trajectory. And this week on our Tokyo Stories, Chris ‘hogs the mic’ to tell Greg and Taryn what it was lThe post Episode 11: Run For Your Life appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Selena Hoy
Listen Now. This week the pod team sits down with freelance-writer success story Selena Hoy, who boasts pieces in everything from the Atlantic to the Independent to Playboy. Selena has spent the past 15 years in Japan trying her best to marry her two loves: writing and social work. She shares some harrowing tales from the Fukushima nuclear disaster, discusses Japan’s bizarre refugee policies and tries to explain how she actually found success as a full-time freelance writer (and what other aspiring writers should do too). Plus – on our Tokyo Stories this week, Taryn, Greg and Chris reunite after a 2-month separation. Chris shares an expert travel tip, Greg brags about landing Olympic tickets after much queueing, andThe post Episode 10: Lost Dogs & Found Blogs appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
John Daub
Listen Now. This week the pod is thrilled to sit down with hitchhiker, videographer and Naked Man festival participant John Daub, best known for his mega-famous YouTube channel ‘Only in Japan’. John tells the pod crew about being royally set up by a sneaky newspaper columnist, losing $30,000 on a popular video series, and turning all that around to become one of Japan’s most sucessful YouTubers. Also, John shares some moving but devastating stories about being in Japan during the 2011 earthquake, and how that changed his whole Japan trajectory (in a good way). Plus! On our Tokyo Stories, while Chris is gallivanting around Europe, Greg and Taryn swap tales about gallivanting around Hiroshima. Greg finds himself The post Episode 9: Post-Disaster Artist appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Jasper Degens
Listen Now. This week, the podcast team sits down with teamLab’s Jasper Degens, one of the geniuses behind the Borderless Mori Digital Art Museum. As one of teamLab’s first and only gaijin, Jasper tells us about landing his dream job with zero Japanese and a lot of ingenuity (and persistent e-mailing), plus arriving in Vietnam without a job or plan and teaming up with an engineer/DJ. And here in Japan it’s festival season! So in our Tokyo Stories Greg hops the mic to tell us what it’s like to actually join a festival – from buying a festive loincloth to shaking a 400 kg portable shrine. Produced/edited/mixed by Taryn Siegel Music by Ryan Carter Links teamLab homepage Apply to work at teamLab! JThe post Episode 8: Analog Swirls & Digital Worlds appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Adrian Hogan Adrian along Meguro River Listen Now. This week the podcast team sits down with illustrious and alarmingly nice illustrator Adrian Hogan, best known for his viral ‘panoramic coffee cups’. Adrian takes us through his winding Japan journey, from being a ‘will draw for food’ starving artist to being commissioned as the Starbucks Tokyo Roastery muralist, plus some viral instagram moments, what fascinates him about the Japanese color palette and illustration style, and why Jesus Christ is buried in northern Japan. And in our Tokyo Stories, Greg befriends some drunken ojisans and explains what the Japanese drink ‘hoppy’ is, Chris has two serendipitous encounters in one cafe, and Taryn is obsessed The post Episode 7: Forest Blues, Train-car Yellows, Haunted House Greens appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Mike Sheetal Mike Sheetal Listen Now. This week the podcast team sits down with Mike Sheetal, founder and CEO of Playbrain (among many other things). Mike tells us about landing in Japan with two suitcases and zero job leads, making his way onto the club scene with home-made VJ software, working on a music TV show, running a fake political campaign – oh, and starting two companies. A mind-boggling CV, indeed. And in our Tokyo Stories, Chris finds the bank culture in Japan confounding, Greg tries to explain how a political candidate won his election with the platform ‘people should smile more’ and Taryn shares another tale from the Ruby Room open mic. Produced/edited/mixed by Taryn Siegel Music by Ryan Carter Live music peThe post Episode 6: Gaming the System appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Yan Fan and Kani Munidasa
Listen Now. This week on the pod we sit down with Yan Fan and Kani Munidasa, the founders of Code Chrysalis. Yan and Kani take us through their worldwide wanderings where they ‘flip the table’, quit their stable jobs, and ultimately land in SF where they meet each other and start plotting their new company: a coding bootcamp in Tokyo. Why Tokyo? Yan and Kani explain everything that’s fascinatingly wrong with software engineering in Japan – and how they’re going to fix it. Also: while our notorious cheapo Greg is notoriously absent, Chris and Taryn swap stories about discussing climate change naked in a salt sauna and the magic of the Ruby Room open mic night in Shibuya. Got somethingThe post Episode 5: Coding Out of the Cave appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
BJ Fox
Listen Now. This week on the pod we sit down with comedian BJ Fox of Stand Up Tokyo and the NHK Sitcom ‘Home Sweet Tokyo’. BJ tells us how he landed a job at Pokémon by NOT choosing pikachu, what it was like to jump into stand up comedy in Singapore and bomb repeatedly, all the way through his successful stand up career in Tokyo. PLUS: how to make knocking down a baby funny in any country. Also: a very special Tokyo Stories! This week, Taryn takes over the mic to regale the podcast team with a truly bizarre story featuring handymen you can hire to be your fake family, a shack in the middle of the Shizuoka countryside, and Japan’s one and only ‘Apology Agency’. Produced/edited/mixed by Taryn SieThe post Episode 4: Pokémon Branding, Sitcom Landing appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Daniel Harris Rosen
Listen Now. The Tokyo Cheapo Podcast is BACK after a sizable hiatus – here with our third episode! This week, we sit down with ‘the godfather of the international Tokyo art scene’ Daniel Rosen of TokyoDex. Daniel takes us through his long journey discovering his love for art and Japan, culminating in making one of the first viral YouTube videos all the way back in 2006. Daniel has revolutionized the Tokyo art scene in the decade and a half he’s been hitting the pavement here, and believes Japan is on the brink of an art renaissance. And we’re once again bringing you our new segment – Tokyo Stories! Every episode the podcast team will share some of their own stories – salacious,The post Episode 3: Artists Without Borders appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Jared Campion
Listen Now. The Tokyo Cheapo Podcast is BACK after a sizable hiatus – here with our second episode! This week, we sit down with ‘most illustrious gentleman’ Jared Campion of DreamDrive vans. Jared takes us through 12 years in Japan – from failing as an English teacher to succeeding as a real/fake ‘bling bling’ priest and eventually starting his own #vanlife company. A big fan of the roadtrip, Jared also takes us through some of his favourite travel stories, like sneaking on to a grape farm in Australia and posing as a tractor driver. And we’re once again bring you our new segment – Tokyo Stories! Every episode the podcast team will share some of their own stories – salaciThe post Episode 2: Dream Drive – The Roads Less Travelled appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Alvin Cheung
Listen Now. The Tokyo Cheapo Podcast is BACK after a sizable hiatus. In our pilot episode, we’re joined by Alvin Cheung of ABC Coffee, Hapnick, and Tokyo Keyboards. Alvin takes us through a whirlwind of stories, from coffee roaster handshakes to Blade Runner-like dystopians to playing with keyboards. Also introducing a new segment – Tokyo Stories! Every episode the podcast team will share some of their own stories – salacious, otherworldly and everything in between. This week Chris tells us why he loves going to the doctor in Japan, Taryn discovers a love hotel-style bar in the middle of Shibuya and Greg talks aliens.
Music by Ryan Carter Links: ABC Coffee Club Tokyo Mechanical Keyboard Meetup Follow AlviThe post REBOOT Episode 1: Coffee Beans and Slick Machines appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Host of the Just Japan Podcast Kevin O’Shea talks to Tokyo Cheapo co-founder Greg Lane about the origins of the site, how it has grown, how the site is run and also about the crowdfunding campaign to produce a Cheapo’s Guide to Tokyo ebook.
Kevin also talks about the results of the 2015 Podcast Awards, the Just Japan Podcast community, the SecretPandas podcast, upcoming episodes and chocolate! The Just Japan Podcast is produced by Kevin O’Shea. Kevin is a writer, podcaster and YouTube content creator from Canada, living in Kobe, Japan. SUBSCRIBE to the Just Japan Podcast on Apple Podcasts. LISTEN to the podcast on Stitcher Internet Radio. The Just Japan Podcast is on Sound Cloud. Listen using the Libsyn web player. The The post Just Japan Podcast 61: Tokyo Cheapo appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
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Pets in Tokyo To discuss the art of successful ownership of pets in Tokyo, we’re joined this week by rabbit handler and cheapo extraordinaire Aaron Baggett. Owning pets in Tokyo can be tricky and expensive, with many landlords not accepting pets and certain logistical issues that Tokyo presents. We discuss where to get yourself a healthy pet from an outlet that cares about animal welfare (unlike many of the questionable pet shops in Tokyo, that put profit before happy animals), finding an apartment that allows pets, and more. We also give a run down of interesting up and coming events, plus the usual round up of top content on Tokyo Cheapo. And of course we announce our crowdfunding campaign for the Tokyo Cheapo BThe post Guide to Keeping Pets in Tokyo – Podcast appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
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In this podcast episode your intrepid Cheapos venture into the deepest darkest depths of Akihabara. With their guide Aaron Baggett, Cheapo extraordinaire and author of our book “A Cheapo’s Guide To Akihabara“, hear them dodge maids, escape the clutches of full size dolls and run in shock from the rather sketchy moe posters plastered just about everywhere. Akihabara is the Otaku mecca of the universe, with electronics, games and manga making up the mainstay of shopping. It’s most definitely a key pin on the “Weird Japan” map.
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Download Podcast Your favourite cheapos are back with a special on location recording of the “Best Of Japan Tour” in Coredo Muromachi. The tour is organised by the Nihonbashi Tourist Information Center who provide a few different tours and experiences with English speaking guides. The tour we went on is essentially a food tour with nibbles, you can hear our munching sounds on the podcast. They also offer a few other experiences, including Tea Ceremony, Geisha and Kimono, and you can book from their website. Our delightful kimono-clad hosts for the afternoon Okui Kaiseido – kombu and colourful boxes from Fukui prefecture Food Samples
Food Being Prepared Some hand made sweets: Shaving Bonito flakes (we also got to tryThe post Nihonbashi Best Of Japan Tour appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Download Podcast This week your favourite cheapos catch up with Brad Stephenson from 25 cafes. Get the low down on the choicest spots for smoke free coffee, afternoon tea and free wifi in Tokyo. And of course some banter on up coming events in Tokyo, recent articles and cheapo news. Podcast edit and production by Podcast Magic Brad from 25 Cafes
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This week the cheapos tackle good parks for picnics (and grass) in Tokyo, and some craft beers you can take with you. Parks Shinjuku Gyoen – 200yen for adults, 50yen for childrenYoyogi park (secret park as well)Tachikawa Showa Memorial Park – 410yen for adults, 80yen for childrenInokashira KoenKitanomaru Koen Ikuta KoenToyama KoenFutago Tamagawa Area And of course the Beer Antenna America (need to mention it’s like a club rooms – unpretentious) 10 Best Value Craft Beer bars Brimmer Beer Box Antenna America – 400yen Shinshu Osake Mura – from 260yen Craft Beer Bar iBrew Beer Horn – Otaru Brewery Hachiban – Ginza Koenji Bakushu Kobo 390yen Towers Craft Beer Bar Beersaurus HappThe post Beer, Parks and Picnics appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Download Podcast With the exception of language learning, even the most raving Japanophile will agree that Japanese TV is slightly less enjoyable than being sat on by a very fat and sweaty man, so what is a cheapo to do? Fortunately one can easily get round the location specific problems of connecting to popular TV station internet broadcasts or streaming sevices from back home like Netflix, BBC iplayer etc using a VPN. A VPN, which stands for virtual private network (amongst other things) allows one to connect to a website as if one is located somewhere else, e.g. you can use a British VPN to connect to BBC iPlayer, which will think you are inside the UK and therefore allow you to access all it’s warez. And for the unix geeks If yoThe post Events, Cherry Blossom Forecasts, the Cheapo Market and VPNs appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Download Podcast Musicians are by definition cheapos – they put the starving in “starving artist” – so here’s a special feature on picking up a musical bargain in Ochanomizu’s Medai Dori or “Guitar Street”, Tokyo’s music shop district or even “The Guitar Mecca of the (cheapo) Universe”. Joined by our resident muso extraordinaire TJ Eckleberg, hear our expert commentary on what kind of bargains to look out for. Top bargains include Japan Fender Strats, Telecasters and a plethora of made in Japan boutique effect pedals. Guitar Street is easy to find, just head to the JR Ochanomizu station and take the Ochanomizu Bashi (bridge) exit.
Editing and production by Podcast Magic. TThe post Ochanomizu, Guitar Street and General Muso Paradise – Podcast #20 appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
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Boroichi Flea Market On location this week from the Boroichi Flea Market in Tokyo. Hear your favorite cheapos scramble around Tokyo’s oldest flea market (dating back hundreds of years!), checking out the broad spectrum of wares and battling off the stall owners tempting them into buying Maneki Neko and the like.
The Market is on the 15th and 16th of December and January every year, find out more about Boroichi market here: December Market, January Market Cheapo Eat: Nikushokudo Tobi (almost translates to flying meat cafeteria) The post Boroichi Flea Market appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo. The post Boroichi Flea Market appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
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This week your favourite cheapos take a stroll down Takeshita Dori Harajuku. Squeezing through the school girls, socks, crepes and rabbit bags, Chris, Greg and his daughter give you a running commentary on what the cheapo can find amongst the stalls and shops of the legendary Takeshita Dori. Takeshita Dori is a narrow pedestrian only shopping street (or shotengai 商店街) just across from Harajuku station and is a popular area amongst the younger crowd, well more specifically the teenage girls :). It’s been known as an epicenter of fads, fashion and Crepes since as far back as the 70’s. Cheapo eat this week: Nikushokugyou
Podcast editing and production by: Podcast Magic The post TakeshitaThe post Takeshita Dori, Harajuku – Podcast #18 appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Download Podcast Please feed Kitty-chan properly Back again this week, Chris is joined by TJ Eckleberg and Ayumi, two very special Kansai cheapos to finish the discussion of the various types of Japanese Cuisine and of course where the cheapo can find them. “Hanburg” Beef burger without a bun, family resturants are the worst (still okay though). But some really good independent places, e.g. Nikugami. Donburi Cheapo meal of choice “rice bowl”. Typically varieties include fresh (raw) fish (try Ginchachidon or maguro ichiba), tempura, beef or 牛丼 (gyudon) (try matsuya, yoshinoya, tsukiya – these chains are absolutely everywhere) don’t forget to say “つゆだく”The post Cheapo Japanese Cuisine Part 2 – Podcast #17 appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Download Podcast This week Chris is joined by TJ Eckleberg and Ayumi, two very special kansai cheapos to discuss the various types of Japanese Cuisine and of course where to get the best value! Yakiniku Not such a cheapo option alas, Korean BBQ might be the best value. If you like to eat a lot of meat look out for tabehodai (eat all you like) deals, sometimes for ¥2,500 or less. And for the cheapo who likes to cook at home look out for 50% off high grade wagyu beef from supermarkets after 9pm Yakitori A cheapo favourite, cheap and fairly ubiquitous, try out “piss alley” near the west exit of shinjuku station. Shabushabu Similar deal to yakiniku i.e. not so cheapo, again look out for tabehodai for best value – but notThe post Cheapo Japanese Cuisine Part 1 – Podcast #16 appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
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Tokyo Day Trips This week Chris and Greg into cheapo Tokyo day trips. From romantic getaways to family outings, we look at hiking, hot springs, temples, beach and childrens’ play parks we cover a wide variety of cheapo day out trips around Tokyo. Mentioned in this episode Cheapo eatsHappy SaladaA to Z Cafe, Aoyama. Day Trip notes Kamakura day trip, beach trip Nikko – Tobu line info Kasai Rinkai Park West Tokyo/Saitama Mountains, Onsen near itsukaichi (japanese) Hakone – Odakyu romance car and Hakone Free Pass Showa Kinen Park Edited and Produced by: Podcast Magic The post Cheap Tokyo Day Trips – Podcast #15 appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo. The post Cheap Tokyo Day Trips – Podcast #15 appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Download Podcast How can a cheapo in Tokyo save money cooking at home? Chris and Greg give you the lowdown this week on why it’s cheaper shopping Japanese style and where to get the best bargins on your fresh fruit, veg and A4 Wagyu beef, plus some bonus cheapo gormet recipes! Mentioned in this episode Cheapo eats: Omohara Beer Forest Shinshu Osake Mura Where to buy cheap fruit, veg, meat and fish? Hanamasa OK Supermarket Ozeki Supermarket JA outlet shop farmers markets And don’t forget to grab the 50% off deals at many supermarkets later in the evening. Recipes: Broccoli soup – boil head of brocolli in beef or veg consume/stock till tender, then blend. Salt and pepper to taste. Easy 🙂Tuna Sashimi Salad – SashimThe post Being a cheapo gourmet at home appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
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Your favourite cheapos Chris and Greg return with tales from Tokyo beaches and beer gardens for your summer time enjoyment. With the arrival of summer weather, we give you the low down on the beaches in the Tokyo area plus how to be a cheapo and not spend much drinking at beer gardens. Mentioned in this episode The Third Burger More info about Tokyo Beaches Edited by Podcast Magic The post Tokyo Beaches, Beer Gardens and Smoothies appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo. The post Tokyo Beaches, Beer Gardens and Smoothies appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
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This week we dig into cheapo apps and technology. Websites and apps giving discounts, directions, price comparison, language learning and art.Communication Line Skype Getting around Jorudan – tokyo metro navigation Eating Guru navi – restaurant reviews Tabelog on iOS and Android restaurant reviews and coupons (Japanese) Hot Pepper, restaurant reviews and coupons also apps on itunes and iOS (Japanese) Learning Japanese Remembering the Kanji, and companion site imiwa Other Meetup.com – finding things to do, people to meet. Kakaku.com – price comparison site coneco.net – price comparison site (no longer exists) Tokyo Art Beat – art galleries and events Mentioned in this episode Cheapo EatThe post Podcast: Websites and Apps for Cheapos appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Download Podcast Photo by Victor Lee, used under a Creative Commons LicenseA controversial topic amongst cheapos, where is the best place to live in Tokyo? Following on from our two posts on the topic, Chris and Greg dig into the details of the top ten cheapo neighbourhoods in Tokyo, along with some anecdotal references to public nudity… Mentioned In This Episode Sento – The Japanese Public Bath by Elizabeth Ishiyama. And thanks for cheapo contributions from: Felix Wenzel – be sure to buy in bulk from Hanamasa crazyfruitbat – don’t live in Shinkoiwa (unless you love pachinko) Susan Elizabeth-Marsh Tanabe – check out the Omotesando La Boheme cocreatr.typepad.com – reduce your electricity bill, useThe post Podcast: Top Ten Cheapo Neighbourhoods in Tokyo appeared first on Tokyo Cheapo.
Be sure to see our comprehensive list of Tokyo Drop in coworking spaces Being a businessman or woman in no way precludes one from being a cheapo! In this episode Chris and Greg dig into the details of working from a cafe or coworking space and saving a bundle on office costs. Which cafes have the best wifi? is it more cost effecting to us a co-working space or pay for the two or three coffees for a days ‘entrance’ fee to a cafe? listen in to find out… Mentioned In This Episode Cheapo Eat: Nan Station Kanda Matsuri Starbucks free wifi Ueshima Coffee (japanese site) Some Casual Co-working spaces in Tokyo: Open Source Cafe Lightning Spot Startup 44 Connecting the Dots (closed)
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