Podcast - Go For Gaijin: Recent Episodes
Erikku Rebensoru
This is a Japodcast for Japeople about the unanswered questions and rampant confusion that ensue when a man who speaks no Japanese and knows little to nothing about Japanese culture got sent to live and work in Osaka, Japan for 1 year.
Eric tries to summarize his incredible year in Japan. Topics include the Holocaust, Jesus the Hymie, Japanese wedding culture, sex with soup and religious listening habits. To anyone who's ever listened to any of the episodes and everyone who's helped make my experience in Japan so wonderful, どうもありがとうございました!!! (Domo arigatou gozaimashita!!!)
Eric guest lectures about the Grateful Dead and 1960s American history at Osaka University for a group of Japanese linguistics students. Stay tuned to the end for an acoustic performance of 3 Grateful Dead songs in Japanese from Takakazu Sasaki and Chee Sukegawa of the Warlocks of Tokyo. Special Guest: Ashlyn Moehle
In this extra-special, blockbuster, live-from-Osaka episode, Eric talks to his friend Corey Mintz, co-founder of the New York Pizza Project, along with return guest Adam Rubin (without his own microphone, hence the low audio levels) about the perfect slice of pizza, Andy Richter, Japanese eggs, the amount of weird white people in Japan, Eric's Japanese language skills, "getting spiked," and what it's like to go out with Eric in Osaka. Buy Corey's pizza book when it comes out in April, and buy Adam's books now.
Eric plays selections from a recent stand-up comedy performance by Osaka's gaijin comedy geniuses ROR Comedy. That's R. O. R. Comedy. Not LOL, but ROR. Clips from Rodney Smith, Tom Law, Edd Daggers and previous guest Tony Romani.
Eric talks to his friend Phil Crouse, the Diddy of artisanal beverages, about the making of the podcast, Zima and Eric's (mostly silent) protest against Japanese food website tabelog, and Eric recounts his epic hippie-fied Japanese business card presentation.
Eric talks to his friend and confidant Brian Turner, a freelance producer whose work can be viewed at btonset.com, about Thanksgiving in Japan, Pittsburgh pizzerias, making commercials in Japan, snake shochu, and the Japanese jam band Big Frog.
Eric finally brings on an oft-requested special guest, addresses some new issues that have come to light, discusses his experience watching the Japanese art of rakugo storytelling, and shares some haikus from Kobayashi Issa.
Eric talks to his friend Danyk Jason Amyot of Osakan rock band Union Trouble about Gypsies, IJing, the 5 linguistic reactions and what it's like being married to a Japanese woman. http://www.uniontrouble.com https://soundcloud.com/uniontrouble Special Guest: previous guest Ashlyn Moehle. https://soundcloud.com/theoracleashlyn
Eric talks to his friend Rafi Kohan of the New York Observer about sports talk radio, #SeanandRach, Love Hotels, raw chicken, cod ejaculate, and smeared feces.
Eric talks to his friend Colin Pigott about cats, vacuuming, Nashville, EDM, the Fuji Rock Festival, and the iPhone 6.
Eric talks to his English friend Tim Love about online dating, the English countryside, jazz, American football and Denki Bran liquor from Kamiya Bar.
Eric talks to his friend, author Brad Griffith (@griffithpublish on Twitter), about recently enacted Colorado legislation, Linda Tripp, partying in Osaka, living in Toyama, and the pressure to conform in Japan. Buy Brad's books on Amazon.
Eric talks about the last few months at work, addresses the potential Asian bread conspiracy, and closes with more haiku.
Eric talks to his friend Tony Romani about Cornell University, calico cats, teaching English in Japan, and the Japanese fascination with bowel movements.
Eric talks to his friend Ashlyn Moehle, a resident of Japan for 6 years and counting, about Japanese culture, July 4th, and Judaism in small town Texas, and learns how to curse in Japanese.
Eric talks to his friend and colleague Jeremy about homogeneity, the 1990s, pedestrian's rights, movie promos, future business opportunities, and chameleons.
Eric talks to his journalist friend Joel Walsh (@nwajoel) of the Northwest Arkansas Times about the city of Fayetteville, Jews, Razorbacks, and Japanese media. Joel's work for the NWA Times can be found here.
Eric talks about a Japanese comedy and variety show called Hakurai 2014 that he recently saw at a Yoshimoto theater.
Eric talks to his friend Jonathan Zale about Japanese supremacy and dominance, Josef Mengele, Harvey Fierstein, sunglasses, and leukemia.
Eric talks to his friend Dan about white privilege, the state of the American public education system, "cherryboys," and Japanese right wingers.
Eric talks about his 30th birthday trip to Taiwan, including to the incredible Taroko Gorge, during the Japanese national holiday Golden Week.
Eric talks to his friend and NYTimes Bestselling author Adam Rubin about Japanese toilets and women, Jumanji, and karaoke, and Adam makes a plea to Eric's mom to appear on the podcast. Order Adam's new book Big Bad Bubble on Amazon! And his older books too!!
And for the record, the band's name is actually AKB48 and it has 48, not 38, members.
Eric talks to his Japanese friend Yoshie about her many businesses and Japanese styles and grooming habits.
Eric rambles about a smattering of subjects, including the Japanese respect for lawyers and the Japanese sense of humor. Read more on "kawaii," which means cute, and its pervasiveness in Japanese culture here.
Eric talks to his friend Jon "La Tortuga Bonita" Frapart about being a nurse, Bruce Springsteen, and the company physical, and answers some of Jon's questions.
Eric talks with his friend Ryan Malleus, G4G's resident baseball expert, about his Japan celeb-filled night out and the "Curse of the Colonel." Diamond Rocks Rock Rock Loudness Akira Takasaki Curse of the Colonel
Eric takes his listener through the morning ritual at his Japanese workplace. BBC News Article from 2004 on Japanese company songs.
Eric attends the Hadaka Matsuri (Naked Man Festival) in Okayama, Japan and tries to make sense of the madness. More information plus photographs here and here.
Eric talks with his close friend Michael Fodera, a filmmaker from Queens, NY. www.michaelfodera.com www.lunarcypictures.com
Eric finds out about Osaka Bluegrass Appreciation Night from his waitress at a Thai restaurant, shows up, sits in, and is truly blown away by the Japanese love for folk/country/bluegrass/Americana. Note: This one's extra special and longer than usual because the last ~8 minutes consists of recordings of several of the Japanese performers.
Eric talks about some aspects of work he left out of Episode 2 and discusses the lunch situation in the office.
Eric ventures outside of the hotel/apartment for excursions to a yakiniku restaurant, some expat bars, and a few clubs.
Eric talks about his job working for a Japanese company and the differences between the American and Japanese workplace.