I did it again! Being a guest is too much fun
This time I was invited to The WRap It Up Podcast to speak about Japan Explained, how and why it started, my favourite topics and plans. I also told Brooks about my work as a tour guide in Japan and some places I’ve never got bored of visiting. So check it out! The WRap It Up Podcast is an interview-style,…
I was a podcast guest!
Last month I had a great talk with Kyle Wood from Who ArtEd podcast. Now the episode is finally released and I’m inviting you to check it out to learn about contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. Kyle and I talked about Takashi’s connection to traditional Japanese art, manga and yokai. My voice is a bit shaky (I was nervous), but…
Perry in Japan Explained
Hi guys! The time has come for my first collaboration with a fellow podcaster. Please welcome Garret McCorkle from the “No Country for History” podcast. And we have a great topic to discuss. In 1853 Commodore Perry came to the shores of Japan and “opened” it to the world. Or did he? Let’s see what actually happened when four black…
Q&A. My first time answering your questions
You asked me about Japan Explained, my life in Japan and a lot of other things, so I did my best to answer all your questions. Check out this Patron-exclusive Q&A session on Patreon.
Yokai Explained
We all love something cooling during the summer heat. And what can be more refreshing than a spooky story that makes you shiver? But sorry, I can’t handle scary stories. They are, well, scary. Japanese people, on the other hand, are really good at making and retelling them. So this time let me introduce you to the Japanese monsters –…
Nabe Hotpot Explained
Nabe hot pot cuisine is an essential part of winter in Japan. Seafood, meat, mushrooms, tofu, vegetables, rice cakes and many other ingredients find their way into thick clay nabe pots in homes and restaurants all around the country. Nabe is one of 3 Japanese dishes I, a very lazy cook, make at home. That’s like an ultimate sales point:…
Sugawara Michizane Explained
Today I want to tell you about a man of humble origin who became a renowned scholar and poet, kept the imperial court in fear long after his death, turned into a wrathful spirit, a deity and a bodhisattva (all at once), got thousands of shrines dedicated to him all around the country and is respected by Zen monks, praised…
The Golden Pavilion Explained
The Golden Pavilion also known as Kinkaku-ji is probably one of the most famous places in Japan. It’s shiny and gorgeous, it’s protected by UNESCO and it even has a famous novel written about it. So this time let me explain you the Gorgeous Golden Pavilion. Contents: The good old days of Saionji estate Ashikaga Yoshimitsu and the Golden Pavilion…
Deer of Nara Explained
There is a rather popular opinion that deer were put to roam streets of Nara as a pure tourist attraction. Well, there is a grain of truth in it. The city does cash out on deer as they drive a constant flow of tourists, but deer have been there way before the first foreign tourist ever set his foot on…
Shoyu Explained
You can make a ton of different sauces out of soy. And they will all be called a… soy sauce in English. Even though they come from different countries and are made in rather distinct ways. But since this podcast is about Japanese culture, the only sauce I’m going to talk about is shoyu – the Japanese soy sauce. This…