Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan Podcast: Recent Episodes
JAPAN Forward
For the Summer Basho, yokozuna Terunofuji's return to sumo competition after undergoing surgery on both knees is the biggest storyline to follow.
Listen in as Ed Odeven and Colin Morrison chat with JAPAN Forward's Galileo Ferrari about boxer Naoya Inoue and his one-sided destruction of British fighter Paul Butler, in their bantamweight title unification bout.
The much-anticipated match took place at Tokyo's Ariake Arena on December 13. Morrison's pre-fight analysis suggested Butler would need to rely on his maturity and experience to scrape out a tough win against Inoue.
As Odeven declared in his prediction, "Inoue, at age 29, is in the prime of his career." Fans were expected to be treated to another KO or a one-sided domination. And that was what happened.
RELATED STORIES: Why Naoya Inoue Will Win The Undisputed Bantamweight Title Fight * Naoya Inoue Becomes The Undisputed Bantamweight World Champion * Why Paul Butler Will Win The Undisputed Bantamweight Title Fight*
Join the conversation live every week. The announcements will be made on our Twitter account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as Colin Morrison chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team regarding the Japan national soccer team's achievement of winning the group stage in the FIFA World Cup.
A combination of superb strategic coaching from Hajime Moriyasu and world-class execution by the Samurai Blue produced memorable come-from-behind wins against former FIFA World Cup champions Germany and Spain.
The Samurai Blue trailed both games at halftime.
Key substitutions and formation changes in both matches impacted the action immediately, resulting in the upset victories over the two European giants.
During our conversation, Morrison expressed caution for the round of 16 match against Croatia, and forecast what became a difficult game for Japan. (The Samurai Blue lost 3-1 in the penalty shootout.)
RELATED STORIES: Japan Shocks Germany in Teams' Group E Opener at the FIFA World Cup * Japan Stuns 2010 World Cup Champion Spain To Reach Knockout Stage * Test Your Knowledge Of Japan's History At The FIFA World Cup*
Join the conversation live every week. The announcements will be made on our Twitter account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as Colin Morrison chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team regarding the Japan national soccer team's shocking come-from-behind-win against Germany in their FIFA World Cup opener in Qatar on November 23.
Morrison attributes the win to great coaching by Hajime Moriyasu. He led Samurai Blue from a 1-0 halftime deficit into being a fiercely competitive team that would go on to win its opening match.
A combination of other factors are also articulated in the recording. For example, great goalkeeping by Shuichi Gonda and outstanding touch by Takuma Asano to complete the comeback. He also talks about Germany's defensive struggles in the podcast.
RELATED STORIES: * Japan Shocks Germany in Teams' Group E Opener at the FIFA World Cup * [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] Samurai Blue Stumble in Final FIFA World Cup Tuneup * SOCCER | 10 Things to Pay Attention to During the World Cup Group Stage
Join the conversation live every week. The announcements will be made on our Twitter account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as sports editor Ed Odeven and reporter Jim Armstrong review the top highlights ー and lowlights ー of this year’s Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.
For starters, Tamawashi claimed the Emperor’s Cup at age 37 years, 10 months on Sunday, September 25, becoming the oldest man to win a title in the modern era.
The podcast features a brief analysis of the significance of the Mongolian’s second title at this stage of his career. Insights are also shared on the disappointing performances of two ozeki, Mitakeumi and Shodai, both of whom went 4-11 in the tournament.
Armstrong shares his thoughts on Sumo’s Flying Monkey Tobizaru‘s impressive 10-5 tournament record, which included big wins over lone yokozuna Terunofuji, who later pulled out of the tourney with a knee injury, and Kiribayama.
RELATED: * Veteran Tamawashi Captures Second Emperor’s Cup And Etches His Name In The History Books * Ageless Veteran Tamawashi Moves A Step Closer To Title At Autumn Basho * Flying Monkey Tobizaru Records Another Big Upset At Autumn Basho
Join the conversation as SportsLook goes live with Twitter Spaces every month. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Author: Ed Odeven
Follow Ed on JAPAN Forward’s [Japan Sports Notebook] here on Sundays, in [Odds and Evens] here during the week, and Twitter ＠ed_odeven
Listen in as Daniel Robson and Arielle Busetto chat with the JAPAN Forward editorial team from the Tokyo Game Show exhibition venue at Makuhari Messe in Chiba.
After being forced by COVID-19 to close its doors to the public and instead offer a virtual online event for two years, the Tokyo Game Show once again welcomed the world to come in and play.
In 2019, there were 655 exhibitors from 40 countries. This year, there were 605 registered exhibitors representing 37 countries. The numbers reflected the game show’s return to near normalcy in 2022.
PC and Nintendo Switch titles led the way with the most offerings at the show. However, virtual reality (VR) gaming has seen a huge increase since 2019, and PlayStation VR2 made its presence known at the show, alongside Meta Quest 2.
RELATED STORIES * 8 Things to Look Out For at Tokyo Game Show 2022 * [Gamer’s World] Making the Most of the Calm Before June * INTERVIEW | TGS 2022: ‘Sonic Frontiers’ to Enter New ‘Open Zone,’ Says Game Director * ‘So Excited To Be Back’: Celebrating at the Tokyo Game Show
Join the conversation live every week. The announcements will be made on our Twitter account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as Grant Newsham chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team on Japan’s security budget increase and strategic proposals for the near future that would make it more effective.
Newsham is a retired United States Marine Officer and a former US diplomat with many years of experience in Japan. He is a Senior Fellow with both the Center for Security Policy and the Yorktown Institute in the United States, and a Senior Fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Japan.
Newsham was the first US Marine liaison officer to the Japan Ground Self Defense force and was instrumental in promoting the JSDF’s initial moves towards an amphibious capability.
RELATED STORIES * Serious About the Defense of Japan: More Details, Please * ‘Heightening Tensions’ in the Taiwan Strait: China Can’t Get Japan Out of Its Mind * Kishida’s Shangri-La Speech: What He Means, Why It Matters * New Report Helps Answer Key Questions About the Defense of Japan
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Listen in as Susan Yoshimura chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team about the launch of Japan 2 Earth, a new website which is setting out to spark progress in the transition toward achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Bringing information from Japan to the world in English (and Japanese), the website will foster the conversation on SDGs, including a focus on innovations and initiatives by companies and communities in Japan and the region.
Managing Editor of the new website, Yoshimura, who lives in Japan and has been based in Asia for over 20 years, is an American with a postgraduate degree in Environmental Education. Passionate about the environment, her background includes research program assistant at the United Nations University and more than 15 years of experience in Japanese-to-English translation in the environmental management field.
RELATED STORIES * ‘Japan 2 Earth’: New Website Launches to Help Communities Achieve Development Goals * Our Logo: A Play-on-Words with a Deeper Meaning * Japan 2 Earth Launch Makes Top News in the The Sankei Shimbun
Join the conversation live every week. The announcements will be made on our Twitter account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as Arielle Busetto, and Daniel Robson, wrap up the 2022 Fuji Rock Festival, in Naeba, Niigata, sharing their highlights of Day 3 and the overall event.
COVID-19 has made it challenging for promoters to host large scale events involving the participation of international artists and meeting the demand of consumers, but Fuji Rock managed both for the 2022 festival.
Arielle and Daniel both commented on how positive the Fuji Rock Festival experience was. But on the other hand, ‘Fuji-rockers’ they spoke to expressed their concerns about COVID-19 as the latest wave continues to record big numbers in Tokyo and nationwide.
Despite COVID’s attempt to take center stage in the consciousness of festival goers, it was the power of music that brought everyone together for this special three day outdoor occasion.
Arielle and Daniel recalled their interviews with Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra and other bands they met on the last day. And they detailed some of the touching moments as they absorbed the live music surrounded by the beauty of nature at the Naeba ski resort.
Look for our live coverage on Twitter, and our most recent Fuji Rock articles. First, though, check out these articles on the festival:
- HIGHLIGHTS: Fuji Rock 2022, Day 1
- VIDEO: Fuji Rock 2022 and COVID-19, Man on the Street Interviews
- HIGHLIGHTS: Fuji Rock 2022, Day 1
- VIDEO: Fuji Rock 2022 and COVID-19, Man on the Street Interviews
- INTERVIEW | The Hu Bring Metal Laced with Mongolian Folk to Fuji Rock 2022
- Fuji Rock 2022: One of Japan’s Biggest Music Festivals Offers More Than Just Bands
- FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2022: Eight Artists to Look Out For
Join the conversation live every week. The announcements will be made on our Twitter account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as Arielle Busetto, Daniel Robson, and Micah Go, wrap up the second day of the 2022 Fuji Rock Festival, in Naeba, Niigata, sharing their highlights and giving a preview of Day 3.
The Green Stage produced a lot of memorable performances for the day. The team were impressed with Jack White, Bloodywood, and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra’s sets – with the latter two bands mentioned in the Day 1 wrap-up.
As Day 2 melts into the early hours of the final day of Fuji Rock, ZOMBIE-CHANG’s performance is one of the last performances on Saturday’s (early Sunday morning) schedule.
For Day 3, The team expressed their interest in covering JAPANESE BREAKFAST, ZUTOMAYO (ずっと真夜中でいいのに。), and veteran Fuji Rock artist, Takkyu Ishino.
Ishino is known for being one of the members of the techno-pop group, Denki Groove, and will close out the Fuji Rock Festival this year.
Look for our live coverage on Twitter, and our most recent Fuji Rock articles. First, though, check out these articles on the festival:
- HIGHLIGHTS: Fuji Rock 2022, Day 1
- VIDEO: Fuji Rock 2022 and COVID-19, Man on the Street Interviews
- INTERVIEW | The Hu Bring Metal Laced with Mongolian Folk to Fuji Rock 2022
- Fuji Rock 2022: One of Japan’s Biggest Music Festivals Offers More Than Just Bands
- FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2022: Eight Artists to Look Out For
Join the conversation live every week. The announcements will be made on our Twitter account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as Arielle Busetto, Daniel Robson, and Micah Go, wrap up the first day of the 2022 Fuji Rock Festival, in Naeba, Niigata, sharing their highlights and giving a preview of Day 2.
In terms of the Day 1 highlights, the team shared their thoughts on Bonobo, and Awich.
Bonobo is a British musician, producer, and DJ, and his music is a combination of genres with influences from jazz and world music.
Awich is a female Japanese rap artist who grew up in Okinawa, and spent her adolescence in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. After many trials and tribulations, Awich returned to Japan to restart her career and life. She brings a new perspective of hip hop culture to the Japanese music industry.
The second day of the Fuji Rock Festival is the first day of the weekend. With the increase in audience size, the atmosphere and overall energy in the festival notches up a gear.
The group’s focus is on Bloodywood, an Indian metal band from New Delhi, on the Green Stage for day 2. Veteran Fuji Rock and Japanese bands such as Glim Spanky, and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra are also on the menu.
Look for our live coverage on Twitter, and our most recent Fuji Rock articles. First, though, check out our preview articles for the festival:
- INTERVIEW | ZOMBIE-CHANG on Centerstage at Fuji Rock 2022: Be Yourself
- INTERVIEW | The Hu Bring Metal Laced with Mongolian Folk to Fuji Rock 2022
- Fuji Rock 2022: One of Japan’s Biggest Music Festivals Offers More Than Just Bands
- FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2022: Eight Artists to Look Out For
Join the conversation live every week. The announcements will be made on our Twitter account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as Arielle Busetto, Daniel Robson, and Micah Go, share their plans for the 2022 Fuji Rock Festival.
The 3.5-day-long event started on July 28, Thursday afternoon, with a pre-party to set the tone for the weekend of live music and entertainment.
Fuji Rock, the largest outdoor music festival in Japan, is held over three days in July at the Naeba Ski Resort in Yuzawa, at the southern end of Niigata Prefecture. It returns to the entertainment scene in 2022 by once again ー for the first time since 2019 ー hosting international artists who were missed dearly due to COVID-19 protocols.
This year has also lost some key artists due to COVID-19, such as YOASOBI, when vocalist Lilas Ikuta tested positive after her PCR test.
Arielle, Daniel, and Micah, have a busy schedule ahead of them, interviewing artists like Elephant Gym and Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra, as well as Vampire Weekend, Jack White, AWICH, and many others.
Look for our live coverage on Twitter, and our most recent Fuji Rock articles. First, though, check out our preview articles for the festival:
- INTERVIEW | The Hu Bring Metal Laced with Mongolian Folk to Fuji Rock 2022
- Fuji Rock 2022: One of Japan’s Biggest Music Festivals Offers More Than Just Bands
- FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2022: Eight Artists to Look Out For
Join the conversation live every week. The announcements will be made on our Twitter account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as Kei Hirata chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team in a discussion on what it’s like to be a professional cheerleader, closing a chapter as an NBA dancer with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and pursuing new opportunities with the Washington Wizards.
Hirata is a long-time cheerleader who worked for the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder for six years on the team’s dance squad. She first joined the team in 2011, and has just completed her second stint.
Originally from Chiba, Kei was also a cheerleader for Nippon Professional Baseball’s Chiba Lotte Marines and the X League American football team IBM Big Blue before pursuing her dream of being a cheerleader in the United States.
In addition to her cheerleading duties in the United States, she has served concurrently as a dance team director for the Albirex cheerleading squad, remaining a visible presence with the organization’s B.League and J.League dancers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic via online communication and instruction.
Participating in clinics at schools and instructional camps while back in Japan before her second stint with the Thunder Girls, as well as on visits to Japan, Hirata has mentored young cheerleaders, offering encouragement and inspiration.
Related Articles * Rui Machida Makes Winning Debut in WNBA * Rui Hachimura Makes Season Debut In Wizards’ 40th Game * [ODDS and EVENS] Wizards’ Rui Hachimura Fired Up About NBA Relaunch
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as William Lee chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team in a discussion on the ongoing political unrest with China and Hong Kong, and details some of the impacts of the new National Security Law that took effect at the end of June 2020.
William Lee organizes rallies and demonstrations in Japan with the non-profit organization, Stand With Hong Kong – an independent, grassroots, crowdfunded advocacy group consisting of individuals who have come together to fight for freedom and democracy for Hong Kong.
Their most recent rally was held in Shibuya, on July 2, the day after the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong to China from the United Kingdom.
Related Articles * When Free Speech Gets You Arrested: Hong Kong Protestors Gather in Shibuya * EDITORIAL | Xi Jinping Kills Freedom in Hong Kong and Calls It a ‘Success’ * ‘The Week’ Podcast #13: Death of Hong Kong, Japan’s Energy Crunch, and Fuji Rock is Back * Hong Kong Activists Express Disgust at Xi’s Visit to the City * July 1, 2020 Marks the Death of Hong Kong
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as Dr Jagannath Panda chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team in a discussion on Japan and Korea’s relationship, and as he outlines how proactive diplomatic discourse between both nations can repair and rebuild a better future.
Dr Jagannath Panda is currently the head of Stockholm Centre for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs at the Institute for Security & Development Policy in Sweden. He is deeply focused on Indo-Pacific affairs and relations of the region with Europe, and is the author of the “Asia’s Next Page” column on JAPAN Forward.
Related Articles * [Asia’s Next Page] Japan’s Stance on a United Korea: Ambivalence or Realpolitik? * President Biden Brokers Historic Meeting Between the Leaders of South Korea and Japan * Bad Faith? Under New President, South Korea Sends Vessel to Japan’s Takeshima * South Korean Group Tackles the Antagonism and Hatred Spread By Comfort Women Statues * EDITORIAL | President Yoon Show You Really Want Improved Ties With Japan
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and we’re typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as Jennifer Zeng chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team in a discussion on the CCP’s aggressive actions in attempting to ‘unify’ with Taiwan using the Senkaku Islands territorial issue, among others.
Jennifer Zeng was a researcher at the Development Research Center of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, the highest level governmental policy research and consultant body. Jennifer operates a YouTube channel called “Inconvenient Truths” which aims to offer the fastest, authentic, uncensored first-hand information from inside China, as well as unique in-depth analysis and insights about China’s current affairs and politics.
Related Articles * [Bookmark] Unifying Taiwan Begins with the Senkakus * [Bookmark] Leaked Recording Hints at China’s Army Planning a ‘Final Battle’ over Taiwan * Leaderless, Cut Off, and Alone: The Risks to Taiwan in the Wake of Ukraine * INTERVIEW | US 7th Fleet Commander Karl O. Thomas: On Alert in the Indo-Pacific * Deterring China: The Vanishing Kissinger Magic
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and we’re typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team chats with Dr. Lew Seok Choon and Dr. Lee Woo Youn, South Korean scholars and co-chairs and co-founders of the non-profit organization, End Comfort Women Fraud. Members of the organization will be traveling to Berlin, Germany, at the end of June to discuss important matters related to the comfort women statue in the city.
As its name suggests, this group seeks to end the 30 years of falsehood and deception surrounding the comfort women issue, which they see as propagated mainly by special interests organized to prevent a resolution.
The erroneous historical narrative promoted by groups like the Korea Council and Korean textbooks impairs bilateral ties vis-a-vis Japan, creating a schism that impedes peace and prosperity in East Asia.
The group End Comfort Women Fraud is also urging the South Korean government to investigate the comfort women issue more thoroughly, and verify the veracity of testimonial evidence by former comfort women.
To achieve their goals, End Comfort Women Fraud holds academic seminars, workshops, and assemblies in various locations, including a public demonstration every Wednesday in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, South-Korea.
Related Stories: * South Korean Group Tackles the Antagonism and Hatred Spread By Comfort Women Statues * South Korean Civic Group to Berlin: Remove the Comfort Women Statue
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team chats with boxing writer Colin Morrison regarding the much-anticipated Naoya Inoue versus Nonito Donaire rematch that took place at Saitama Super Arena on June 7.
Colin Morrison, who resides in Scotland, is a regular contributor at nyfights.com and spitballingpod.com, covering boxing and soccer, including major events in both sports.
He breaks down key details from the Inoue-Donaire 2 fight, offers predictions for Inoue’s path forward in becoming the undisputed bantamweight champion, and potentially moving up a weight class.
Related Stories:
- ‘Monster’ Inoue Lives Up to Expectations, Overpowers Nonito Donaire in Rematch
- ‘Monster’ Inoue is Gunning for Japan’s First Boxing ‘Triple Crown’
- Inoue vs. Donaire play-by-play and live results
- Inoue-Donaire World Boxing Super Series Match: A Battle of Generational Legends
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and we’re typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team catches up with Arielle Busetto, journalist and podcast host, who updates us on what’s in store for teamLab’s Borderless exhibition.
Arielle shares her experience of being immersed in the art, and details some comments from teamLab spokesperson, Yoko Kuwabara. While the exhibition is set to close, Arielle explains why that’s just the beginning of the next step for teamLab’s digital art.
Related Stories: * Changes Coming as teamLab Borderless Digital Art Museum Reimagines Its Future * Inside the teamLab Sauna: Sweat, Steam, and Floating Artworks * Odaiba’s teamLab Borderless Named as a Guinness World Record Holder * ‘Borderless’: Sensory Overload at teamLab’s New Exhibition * Permanent Art Space in Tokyo Odaiba: ‘Borderless’ Exhibit by teamLab
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and we’re typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team chats with Daniel Moore regarding sansai foraging (loosely translated as: ‘mountain vegetables’), and his background with inbound travel in Japan.
After spending the first 16 years of his life in Japan and then briefly moving away, Daniel is now based in Nagano. He is an entrepreneur, author, and founder of Active Travel Japan. Among the many enterprises he is involved in, Daniel is particularly well known for working with local businesses and travel agencies to create unique tours and adventures for visitors.
Find Daniel Moore’s articles on JAPAN Forward: * Back to My Roots: Foraging Wild Foods in Japan’s Mountains * Flower Blossom Hunting: A New Way to Enjoy Spring in Japan
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and we’re typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team chats with Marisa McKnight regarding the cryptocurrency industry and growth of Web 3.
Marisa McKnight has over 5 years experience in the cryptocurrency industry across key economic regions, including Asia and the Americas.
Having lived in the United States, Japan, and Singapore, Marisa currently lives in Europe and is the founding partner of MultiSummit – a consultancy firm founded on the principle of believing in a multichain future in the blockchain and digital assets space. She introduces concepts of web 3, sharing her insights about Japan and the sector, and the up and coming potential for growth in the industry.
Multisummit focuses on product marketing, partnerships, growth, community management, social media management, and business operations.
Related Articles * Kyoto-based Company Develops the World’s First Audio Metaverse Platform, an Inclusive Digital Space for all * [Corona ni Makeruna] Possibilities Expand for ‘Osaka Nation’ in the Metaverse * Cryptocurrency Control Boosts China’s Expansionist Strategy * Rakuten Coin: New Cryptocurrency Promises to Revolutionize Commerce and Communications
Listen in as Ed Odeven and Jason Halayko chat with the JAPAN Forward editorial team in a discussion on April’s trending sports headlines in Japan that have caught the attention of fans around the world.
Ed Odeven is a longtime sports journalist with over 20 years of experience and is the co-founder of JAPAN Forward’s SportsLook. Odeven writes a couple original columns, such as ODDS and EVENS and JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK, and hosts a podcast called, Sports Talk.
Jason Halayko is a professional photographer who also writes the column [A Photographer’s Notes], retelling his recent photo shoots, great photography tips and equipment reviews. Halayko was the lead photographer at X Games Japan for its inaugural event.
Related Articles
GOLF | Nasa Hataoka Wins LA Open by Five Strokes
BASEBALL | Roki Sasaki’s Perfect Streak Ends Quickly, but the 20-Year-Old Still Gets the Win
X Games Chiba Entertains with Endless Array of Twists and Turns
BASKETBALL | Alvark Tokyo Hold off Pesky Gunma Crane Thunders to Complete Series Sweep
BASEBALL | Marines’ Roki Sasaki Pulled After Eight Perfect Innings in Start After His Perfect Game
EDITORIAL | Sasaki’s Perfect Game a Lesson in Skills, Courage, and Power
[ODDS and EVENS] Roki Sasaki’s Perfect Game Provided Exciting Display Of His Pitching Prowess
BASEBALL | Big Boss Determined to Do Things His Way
BOXING | Gennadiy Golovkin Wears Down Ryota Murata, Unifies World Middleweight Titles
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and we’re typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as Dr. Monika Chansoria chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team in a discussion on Sri Lanka’s economic crisis, how it accumulated its heavy burden of debt, and what steps can be taken by this geographically strategic island nation as it faces one of the worst economic failures in modern history.
Dr. Monika Chansoria is a senior fellow at The Japan Institute of International Affairs in Tokyo. She specializes in contemporary Asian security and weapons’ proliferation issues, nuclear strategy, and Great Power politics in the Indo-Pacific. A prolific analyst and writer, find her essays and reports here on JAPAN Forward.
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Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis Leads to Strategic Gains for Beijing
Sri Lanka and The Danger from China’s Debt Traps
Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis Threatens Indian Ocean Regional Security
Success of the U.S. SALPIE Initiative for Smaller Islands Needs Japan’s Help, Too
U.S., Japan Should Not Stand By as China Preys on the Caribbean
Sri Lanka Revives Port Project with India and Japan, signals ‘China Caution’
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and we’re typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as Sheila Cliffe chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team in a discussion on how kimono are evolving now and as part of Japan’s innovation throughout the times.
Sheila Cliffe is a professor emerita at Jumonji Gakuen Women’s University in Japan. A kimono researcher, author and stylist in Tokyo, she has lectured at conferences, museums and events in Japan, England, Hawaii and South Korea, and is one of the first non-native Japanese people to hold an official kimono dressing and teaching license.
Find her column, “Kimono Style” on JAPAN Forward.
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[Kimono Style] Tokyo Dyers Welcome the Spring
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[Kimono Style] Try Your Own Creative Kimono for Sparkling Holidays
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and we’re typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
The post #26 Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan Podcast – Kimono with Sheila Cliffe first appeared on JAPAN Forward. Related posts:
The Kimono Will Survive: Sheila Cliffe Says It’s A ‘Complete, Fulfilling Fashion System’
Kanto Region Waiting to Be Rediscovered As Center of Kimono Production
London’s Victoria and Albert Museum Presents ‘Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk’ Exhibition in 2020
Listen in as Dr. Jagannath Panda chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team in a discussion on Japan’s opportunity to deepen ties with nations of the European Union amidst Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Dr. Jagannath Panda is currently the head of Stockholm Centre for South Asian and Indo-Pacific Affairs at the Institute for Security & Development Policy in Sweden. He is deeply focused on Indo-Pacific affairs and relations of the region with Europe, and is the author of the “Asia’s Next Page” column on JAPAN Forward.
Related Articles
[Asia’s Next Page] In Search of an EU-India-Japan Trilateral
[Asia’s Next Page] The Revitalizing of Japan’s Burgeoning European Connections
[Asia’s Next Page] Why Tokyo Needs a Renewed Outreach in the Nordic Region
[Asia’s Next Page] Consolidating Japan’s Economic Diplomacy with the European Union
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and we’re typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
The post #25 Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan Podcast – Dr. Jagannath Panda on EU-Japan Relations first appeared on JAPAN Forward. Related posts:
14 Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan Podcast – 2021 Security Priorities with Dr Monika Chansoria
23 Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan Podcast – Council on Geostrategy and UK-Japan Relations
08 Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan Podcast – Impacts of the U.S. Election on Japan and Asia
Listen in as Davide Rossi chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team sharing insights about transitioning to Japan, and some of the many hurdles prospective international students face.
Davide Rossi is the CEO and co-founder of Go! Go! World, an organization with the objective of helping international students understand the entry rules and support for making their experience in Japan the best possible. They offer services for other countries, including Italy, Spain and South Korea. The organization has accommodated over 8000 students who have come to Japan, including 1500 in 2019 alone.
Related [How to Start Life in Japan] on JAPAN Forward
Japan Announces New Raised Cap for Daily Arrivals, Are Tourists Going to Be Next?
Prioritizing Students, Japan Increases Daily Immigration from 5,000 to 7,000
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as the Council on Geostrategy’s Co-founder and Director of Research Mr. James Rogers and Associate Fellow Dr. Philip Shetler-Jones join the JAPAN Forward editorial staff and special guest Dr. Rieko Hayakawa for a far-reaching discussion of UK-Japan relations amidst the increasingly tense geopolitical environment.
Celebrating its one-year anniversary in March 2022, the Council on Geostrategy is an independent non-profit organization situated in the heart of Westminster with research focus on a strong Britain, geopolitics, and environmental security. Arriving on the scene just as the UK was defining its “Global Britain” strategy, the Council significantly contributed to the conversation through its research and analysis, as well as in articles shared on JAPAN Forward.
Related Articles New Think Tank Explores Challenges as ‘Global Britain’ Returns to Indo-Pacific
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Much More than Symbolism: U.K.-Japan ‘Quasi Alliance’ Charts a New Course for Regional Security
[Bookmark] A New Type of Britain-Japan Alliance
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as journalist and scholar Jay Alabaster chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team on the recent whaling season in Taiji and changes with activism in the area. Sharing some glimpses of the lifestyle of this coastal town, he gives us an idea what it’s like to live far from Japan’s urban centers.
Jay Alabaster is a longtime journalist and now a PhD student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. He is also an adjunct professor teaching at Waseda University from April.
Related Articles Japan’s Non-lethal Whale Survey Continues in the Faraway Antarctic
Audience Choice: New Accolades for Bon Ishikawa’s Indigenous Whaling Film ‘Lamafa’
New Whale Meat on Plates in Taiji as Fishermen Adjust to Whimsical Kuroshio Current
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as guest Jason Halayko chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team about his new Nikon Z9 camera and preparing as a professional photographer for the upcoming X Games Chiba event.
Jason Halayko writes the column [A Photographer’s Notes] which retells his recent photo shoots, great photography tips and equipment reviews. As a professional photographer, he details key moments and learnings in his experiences so others can learn.
Related Articles Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as Galileo reconnects with former Fukushima JET Programme colleagues to talk about some of their experiences during the Great East Japan Earthquake.
First, about the people on the recording:
Billy McMichael was and is currently living in Fukushima City. After the Great East Japan Earthquake, McMichael coordinated volunteer activities to help clean up the city and coastal areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami.
Fane Malieta was living in Tomioka-machi, a town along the east coast of Fukushima Prefecture at the time. The town was heavily affected by the tsunami, and had strict evacuation regulations due to its proximity to the TEPCO Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
Gene Lyu was living in Shinchi-machi, which is near the border of Miyagi Prefecture in the northeast part of Fukushima. Gene wasn’t able to return to his apartment for a couple of months.
John Au-Yeung was living in Iwaki, a coastal city in the eastern part of Fukushima. The fishing ports near him were greatly affected by the disaster.
Jastin M. was living in Koriyama City, which is in the center of Fukushima Prefecture. Jastin volunteered in the city and coastal areas in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Related Stories * #20 Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan Podcast – [Remembering 3.11] 11 Years on From the Great East Japan Earthquake
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as guest Peter Tasker chats with the JAPAN Forward editorial team about culture and politics from the Beijing Olympics to his favorite Olympic-themed movies and recent Japanese works.
Related Articles Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in as veteran music journalist Daniel Robson, Editor in Chief of popular video game and entertainment website IGN Japan joins the JAPAN Forward editorial team to chat about his recent interview and the latest hits in the entertainment market.
Listen in to the conversation as the JAPAN Forward editorial team chats with foreign correspondent Agnes Tandler on living through the historic snowfall in Sapporo this winter, the city’s famous soup curry, and world sporting events that face climate challenges.
Related Articles Sapporo is Snowed In, and it’s All Natural
Amidst Omicron Surge, Restrictions Threaten to Dampen Beijing Winter Olympics
‘Healthy Soul Food’ Hokkaido’s Soup Curry Creates a Frenzy
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
Listen in to the conversation as the JAPAN Forward editorial team talks about February festivals – from the 2022 Winter Olympics and differences between the Tokyo and Beijing host cities, to Japan’s Setsubun traditions, and cherry blossom expectations.
Join the conversation live every week. The announcement will be made on our Twitter account and typically hosting the event at 2:00 PM JST either on Thursdays or Fridays. Feel free to share any suggestions in our comment section below.
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Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team chats with professional action and sports photographer, Jason Halayko about the New Year’s predictions in his article, “Expect Innovations in the Photography Industry in 2021” and what it’s like to work in Japan.
Find other articles by Jason Halayko here.
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Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team chats with Senior Fellow at The Japan Institute of International Affairs (JIIA), researcher and commentator on Asia’s security affairs, Dr. Monika Chansoria about the regional priorities she identifies in her New Year’s essay – 2021 Security Priority: Better Integration of Indo-Pacific, Partner Nations.
Find other articles by Dr. Monika Chansoria here
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Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team chats with author and finance guru Peter Tasker about predictions in his New Year’s essay – Peering Into 2021: Tanjiro Kamado Battles Big Tech, including his take on some of the big choices we’ll face in the coming year.
Find other articles by Peter Tasker here.
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Listen in as JAPAN Forward sports journalist, Ed Odeven, and guest, Ice Time’s Jack Gallagher weigh in on key sports highlights of Japanese teams, events and individual athletes in 2020.
Articles mentioned in the podcast:
- [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] NPB’s Hawks, J. League’s Frontale Reign Supreme TENNIS | Naomi Osaka Captures Second U.S. Open Title Sports Replay 2020: A Banner Year for Top Japanese Teams Sports Replay 2020: Athletes Displayed Mettle, Overcame Obstacles Sports Replay 2020: How COVID-19 Impacted Athletes, Teams and Events* Sports Replay 2020: Most Read Sports Stories
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Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team discusses the stories that continue to shape our outlook after dominating Japan’s headlines over the last year.
Articles mentioned in the podcast:
- The Year in Our Stories: International Friction that Focused Our Attention in 2020 The Year in Our Stories: International Cooperation Shores Up 'Free and Open Indo-Pacific' The Year in Our Stories: Japan's Democracy in Action (Domestic Politics) The Year in Our Stories: Economy and Technology Battle COVID, Bring Inspiration The Year in Our Stories: Pop Culture Brings Fun Relief to Japan and the World
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team reflects on their favorite articles published throughout the year, and discuss how Japan’s trending words have impacted our lives in 2020.
Articles mentioned in the recording:
Top 25 JAPAN Forward Reader’s Favorites of 2020: 25 - 21
Top 25 JAPAN Forward Reader’s Favorites of 2020: 20 - 16
Top 25 JAPAN Forward Reader’s Favorites of 2020: 15 - 11
Top 25 JAPAN Forward Reader’s Favorites of 2020: 10 - 6
Top 25 JAPAN Forward Reader’s Favorites of 2020: 5 - 1
Japan’s Trending Words in Our 2020 Stories: Online「〇〇」
Japan’s Trending Words in Our 2020 Stories: Animal Crossing
Japan’s Trending Words in Our 2020 Stories: Demon Slayer
Japan’s Trending Words in Our 2020 Stories: Amabie
Japan’s Trending Words in Our 2020 Stories: 3Cs
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team and German journalist Agnes Tandler chat about her career as a seasoned foreign correspondent covering key conflict stories in the Middle East and several parts of Asia before she arrived in Japan, life in Japan, and what’s coming up in her career.
Recommended Stories by Agnes Tandler for JAPAN Forward:
- In Hokkaido Town of Yoichi, the Best Whisky You Can Never Try A Vanishing Culture: Japan’s Ainu People are Finally Getting a National Museum – But will Visitors Come? Finding the Rhythm of the Seasons in Sapporo’s Coronavirus Gardens ‘Healthy Soul Food’ Hokkaido’s Soup Curry Creates a Frenzy Inca Awakening, Shadow Queen, Northern Ruby: Hokkaido Potatoes Get a Fancy Makeover
Listen in as JAPAN Forward Editor in Chief Yasuo Naito and veteran journalist Yoshihisa Komori discuss some of the impacts of the 2020 U.S. election on Japan and the Indo-Pacific region, and how the outcome could influence U.S.-Japan relations going forward.
Find articles in English by Yoshihisa Komori here, on JAPAN Forward:
- Huge Polling Flops in U.S. Election: The ‘Great Blue Wave’ for Biden Never Arrived End of Conciliatory Engagement: A Guide to the Trump Administration’s China Policy Ruling Party Lawmaker Voices Rare Criticism of China in the National Diet* China Rapidly Dwarfing Japan in Naval Power, Would Establish Superiority in a Senkakus Showdown
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team chats with Julian Gregory and Jonathan Howard, two members of the world-famed a cappella group, The King’s Singers, just days away from their Digital Online tour, ‘ Finding Harmony in Japan, Heiwa’ (peace).
We learn about their recent activities and hobbies during the pandemic period, reminisce about their 2019 visit to Tokyo to welcome the Reiwa era, and hear about their favorite pieces in the new ‘Heiwa’ repertoire.
Read more about the King’s Singers on JAPAN Forward in our pieces here:
WATCH HERE: The King’s Singers ‘Finding Harmony in Japan’ October 24 Concert
[Bookmark] ‘We Can’t Wait To Be Back!’ The King’s Singers on Touring in Japan, Life During COVID-19
JAPAN Forward Streams The King’s Singers’ ‘Finding Harmony in Japan’ Starting October 24
INTERVIEW| The King’s Singers During COVID-19: Looking Forward to their Japan Tour
“Back in Harmony” The King’s Singers Bring A Live Concert Online for Fans All Over the World
The King’s Singers Perform ‘One Day’ Exclusively For Fans During Covid-19 Crisis
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team is joined by Sports Journalist Ed Odeven for a discussion on the status of Japanese teams, athletes and competitions in and outside Japan. Ed takes our questions and shares his analysis of sports in the coronavirus era.
Access articles on today’s topic: [JAPAN SPORTS NOTEBOOK] A Wide Range of Sports to Follow During Autumn Months
BASKETBALL | B. League Completes Action-packed Opening Week
BASEBALL | MLB Wraps Up Regular Season, Prepares for Unusual 16-team Playoffs
ODDS and EVENS | Takuma Sato Navigates New Territory as Two-Time Indy 500 Winner
FIGURE SKATING | Yuzuru Hanyu to Skip Upcoming Grand Prix Series
[ODDS and EVENS] Cubs Pitcher Yu Darvish on Top of His Game
TENNIS | Kei Nishikori Tests Positive for COVID-19, Withdraws From U.S. Open Tuneup Event
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team discusses Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, his background, low-key but decisive role in national initiatives and future ambitions for the nation.
Access articles on today’s topic: Yoshihide Suga Reveals ￥170 Billion Yen Japanese Aid to Help World Fight COVID-19 in First UN Speech
Big Challenges and Humble Origins: Prime Minister Suga Might Just Be Able to Pull it Off
Continuity and Balance: Meet Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s Cabinet
Yoshihide Suga Wins LDP Party Leadership Race With Overwhelming Support
[Bookmark] Three Candidates Aim to Lead Japan Post-Abe; Here Are Their Key Policies
Support for Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet Surges in Its Last Days
The Man on Shinzo Abe’s Side: Yoshihide Suga, Top Bet for Japan’s Next Prime Minister
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team chats with graduate student and intern Mariko Azuma, who has returned from Kyoto to deliver insights and updates on Japan’s world-renowned Gion festival.
We apologize for the inconvenience of light static in a few brief sections.
Access articles on today’s topic: Gion Festival Amid the Pandemic: Smaller Events, Closer Communities
The Men of Koiyama: Keeping the Gion Festival Tradition for the Next Generation
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team discusses the government’s initiative known as the “Go To Campaign” and their personal experiences with the challenges of domestic travel amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
Access articles on today’s topic: Japan’s ‘Go To’ Domestic Travel Campaign: Here Are the Discounts You Can Enjoy Starting July 22
‘Man-made Calamity’: Opposition Explodes vs Japan’s ‘Go To’ Tourism Push Amid COVID-19
‘Go To’ Tourism Campaign Off to a Bumpy Start with Tokyo’s Exclusion
Websites mentioned in the podcast as some of the many ways to support local businesses without having to travel: https://furunavi.jp/
https://furu-sato.com/
https://www.tabechoku.com/products
https://jasaga.or.jp/
https://www.shibori-hisada.com/
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team discusses the new norm for fans returning to sports venues and events with longtime sports journalist, Ed Odeven.
Access articles on today’s topic: Spectators Permitted to Attend July Grand Sumo Tournament
NPB / Extra-Inning Games to be Limited to 10 Innings This Season
Japan’s J. League To Relaunch Season on July 4
Listen in as the JAPAN Forward editorial team discusses our latest Mythbusters articles on foreign media misperceptions of Japan with author Prof. Earl Kinmonth.
Access articles on today’s topic: [Mythbusters] Paper Jam: Foreign Reporting is Short on Facts About Fax in Japan[Mythbusters] Voting in Japan: Pencils-and-Paper System Isn’t Broken, Don’t Fix It