Just Japan Podcast

Just Japan Podcast: Tech Japan - Hackers and Rakuten Invests in Lyft Some of the latest tech news from Japan. The Japanese government creates new initiatives to combat cyber crime and terrorism, Seven Bank comes out with a new mobile ATM for disaster situations and Rakuten buys a stake in San Francisco ride sharing company Lyft. VOTE DAILY for the podcast (2015 Podcast Awards): http://podcastawards.com   Shownotes: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com 

In Episode 56 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea talks to Ryan Sprague, an American business owner living in Osaka, Japan. Ryan recently left the security of a full-time teaching job to start Melody English, a language school for children with his wife. Kevin and Ryan discuss the transition from being an employee to becoming your own boss as well as what it takes to be an entrepreneur here in Japan. In this episode Kevin also talks about "Just Japan Podcast: Tech Japan", weddings in Japan, the Just Japan Podcast FREE SNACK contest as well as the 2015 Podcast Awards nomination for Best Travel Podcast! VOTE daily for the Just Japan Podcast at the 2015 Podcast Awards: http://podcastawards.com   Shownotes: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In the first episode of Just Japan Podcast: Tech Japan, host Kevin O'Shea brings you some quick tech news stories from Japan. In this week's episode, we look at Nissan's BBQ Car as well as the end of days for Sony's Robot Dogs in Japan.  VOTE DAILY for the podcast (2015 Podcast Awards): http://podcastawards.com   Shownotes: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 55 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea speaks with professional photographer Stephen Jackson. Stephen came to Japan interested in photography, but landed his first job as an English teacher. He used teaching as a springboard to his photography career. Teaching got him to Japan where he honed his photography skills. Now he has left the education industry behind is a successful professional photographer working in Japan as well as around the world.  Kevin also talks about Hina Matsuri (Girl's Day) in Japan and the fact that the Just Japan Podcast has been nominated for the 2015 Podcast Award for Best Travel Podcast! YOU CAN VOTE TODAY- we need your help -  (information in the shownotes and in the show itself)! VOTE DAILY for the podcast: http://podcastawards.com   Shownotes: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 54 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea speaks to Jason "aka J-San" of NapaJapan.com. Jason is a Canadian who lives and works in the most northern prefecture and island in Japan, Hokkaido. Jason talks about some of the employment opporunites in the city of Sapporo where he lives. Jason also talks about the weather, lifestyle and differences between life in Hokkaido versus other parts of Japan. Jason talks about NapaJapan.com, a service that allows you to purchase Japanese snacks and treats from anywhere in the world.  Kevin announces the FIRST ever Just Japan Podcast contest! You can win one of 3 Japanese snack packs from Napajapan.com simply by leaving a review and rating on iTunes or Stitcher! Listen to this episode for more details.  Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/busankevin

In Episode 53 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea talks to Japan-based YouTube content creators, Rachel and Jun. In just a few years Rachel and Jun have watched their YouTube channel grow fom its humble beginnings to having more than 300,000 subscribers. On this week's episode we talk about vlogging on YouTube, Rachel and Jun's channel, how it began to take off and what it's like to be in an international relationship in Japan. Rachel also gives some great tips to aspiring bloggers and vloggers who hope to make themselves noticed online! Hint...become part of the vlogging community! Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com YouTube: http://youtube.com/busankevin 

In Episode 52 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea talks to returning guests PeeJay and Mully about a wide variety of "Japan topics."  We asked Just Japan Podcast listeners (you guys) to send us questions and you did! We talk about topics such as medication in Japan, unfriendly foreigners, old technolgy, gyms and health clubs, food, geocaching, cycling in Japan and more. Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 51 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea talks to returning guest Jenny Silver about her experiences as a Western woman living and working in Japan. Do the challenges foreign women working in Japan differ from their male counterparts? What opportunities do foreign women working in Japan have and what can they do to prepare themselves for working in such a different culture? In this episode of the podcast, Jenny and Kevin discuss Valentine's Day in Japan. Kevin also talks about the tragic murder of well-known freelance journalist Kenji Goto, Setsubun in Japan and his recent interview on the "Kind of Epic Show" podcast. Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 50 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea looks at getting involved in the local Japanese community. Some foreigners in Japan feel they are separated from Japanese people, but Josh who lives near Osaka decided to really get involved in is community. Josh talks about his involvement with multiple community organizations in Japan and how it has given him a sense of place here.     Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 49 of the Just Japan Podcast we look back on the Great Hanshi-Awaji Earthquake (Kobe Earthquake). It struck at 5:46 am on January 17th, 1995 while the people of the city of Kobe slept. This booming port city in Japan was crippled and thousands of people lost their lives. Host Kevin O'Shea discusses the history of the event and talks to Caterina, a Kobe native who lived through the event as well as Mai, who lived in nearby Osaka at the time of the earthquake. They share their first hand experiences of that terrible day.  This is a special episode for the Just Japan Podcast since the show is based in Kobe, Japan.  Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 48 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea talks to friends of the show Mully and Pee Jay about fast food in Japan. What types are available in Japan? How does it hold up quality-wise against fast food in other countries? We aslo talk about the ever-growing list of food quality scandals with McDonalds Japan in recent days and weeks! Can I have some human teeth with that burger and fries????? Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 47 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea speaks to Yokohama-based writer Baye McNeil about being a writer in Japan. Hailing from New York City, Baye has been in Japan for more than 10 years. He is well-known for his blog "Loco in Yokohama" and has written two books, "Hi! My Name is Loco and I am a Racist" and "Loco in Yokohama." Baye, also a columnist for The Japan Times discusses how he became a writer, talks about his books and other projects.  Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 46 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea talks to Nate Helman, producer and host of the "Nate's English Lab" podcast. Nate's podcast is an ESL show found on iTunes and is targeted at Japanese people interested in learning English. Nate talks about the history of his podcast, what it takes to produce and episode and what inspired him to come to Japan and eventually begin podcasting.  Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 45 of the Just Japan Podcast, "Christmas in Japan", host Kevin O'Shea talks to friends' of the show and long-term Japan residents Jim and Josh about what it's like to be in Japan during the Christmas holidays. Many funny experiences and stories are shared. They cover everything from Christmas illuminations to KFC! Kevin also talks to friend of the show Pee Jay about the tradition of year-end parties or "bonenkai" in Japan. They aren't just typical parties. The success of your career can sometimes be impacted your desire to participate and drink!  Some Christmas in Japan trivia is also thrown around in this fun episode. Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 44 of the Just Japan Podcast (an extra "bonus" episode), host Kevin O'Shea talks about keeping warm in the Japanese winter. This can be more challenging than you think! With winter vacation season here, it was a great time to put up two episodes in one week. The Just Japan Podcast Christmas EXTRAVAGANZA episode will be available in a few days! Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/busankevin Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 43 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea talks to YouTube video blogger Josh Hill (jHillLife on YouTube) about his journey to Japan. Josh discusses how his love of Japan and Japanese culture formed and how he was able to make the move from England to Japan and start a new and exciting life in Tokyo. Kevin also answers your questions in his Japan FAQ mail bag section and talks about the winter holidays here in Japan.  Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 42 of the Just Japan Podcast, contributor Felicity Tillack talks to some foreign women who have lived in Japan about their experiences dating Japanese men. Host Kevin O'Shea answers some FAQ's about Japan. Kevin also talks about teaching in Japan as well as running (or covering via social media) the 2014 Kobe Marathon. It's also time for the 2014 YouTube Christmas (jvlog) collaboration video. Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Epsidoe 41 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea interviews Victor Boggio, aka Gimmeaflakeman/Gimmeabreakman of YouTube about owning and operating an English school (eikaiwa) in Japan. Aside from being a very well-known YouTube celebrity, Victor owns and operates his own English school here in Japan. Victor discusses the history of his school and talks about what goes into opening aschool. In this episode Kevin also talks about the oddness of being in Japan during the Christmas season. Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 40 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea interviews Jenny Silver, a professional voice actor and narrator living just outside Tokyo, Japan. Jenny talks about the ins and outs of voice acting in Japan as well as how she got her start in the industry. Jenny shares her interesting story as well as some insights into the world of voice acting and narration work in Japan.  Show notes / website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com

In Episode 39 of the Just Japan Podcast, host Kevin O'Shea talks to returning guest, Brian Waters, an American living in Kyushu who is in the process of building a house here in Japan. Brian discusses his experience deciding to build a home for his family in Japan and the process they have gone through up until the start of construction. This fascinating interview will give a lot of information and motivation to anyone out there thinking of building or buying a home in Japan. Kevin also discusses the Autumn  tradition of Imohori or sweet potato digging, a rite of passage for any kindergarten student here in Japan.  Shownotes/Website: http://busankevin.com RSS Feed: http://justjapan.libsyn.com/rss Twitter: http://twitter.com/jlandkev Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com