Just Japan Podcast - 203: Life in Small-Town Japan and The Bean Pod
Release Date: 11/28/2023
Just Japan Podcast - 223: Summer in Tokyo and Tourism in Japan with Riki Ohkanda (PaprikaGirl_JP)
Just Japan Podcast
In this episode, Kevin welcomes Riki Ohkanda (PaprikaGirl) back on the podcast. Riki talks about how to cope with the summer heat in Tokyo and some life updates. They chat about breaking out of the expat bubble in Japan to find more happiness in life, health, and fitness as well as the recent news all about overtourism in Japan. Follow Riki on Twitter (X): Check out my other podcast on YouTube (Nature Talks Podcast): Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin: Facebook: X: Email: Instagram: YouTube: My new Instagram about my...
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Just Japan Podcast - 222: Saving Trees and Environmental Activism in Tokyo
Just Japan Podcast
Just Japan Podcast - 222: Saving Trees and Environmental Activism in Tokyo In this episode, Kevin chats with Tokyo-based marketing specialist and consultant, Rochelle Kopp. Rochelle has spent more than 30 years living in Japan and working in the business world. She is also a passionate environmental activist focusing on saving trees and parks in the Tokyo area. In a time when we are feeling the burn or climate change more than ever, we need trees, but many in Japan don’t think that way! Listen to Rochelle’s story and how you can help protect trees across Japan. Follow Rochelle Kopp...
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Just Japan Podcast - 221: Watching Your Kids Complete School in Japan
Just Japan Podcast
In this episode, host Kevin O’Shea chats with returning guest Brian Waters. When Brian moved to Japan permanently from the United States his children were 5 and 3 years old. Now his oldest is in university and his youngest near completing high school. Brian reflects on his experiences as an American parent watching his children navigate the Japanese public school system. Follow Brian on Twitter (X): Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin: Facebook: X: Email: Instagram:
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Just Japan Podcast - 220: Ishikawa Exciting!
Just Japan Podcast
In this episode of the podcast, Kevin Chats with Joseph Fowler, host of the Ishikawa: Summit to Seas Podcast. They talk about Joe’s Japan origin story. He talks about his podcast as well as about the J-Pops Podcast. Joe also talks about becoming a new father in Japan and buying a house there. Learn about life in a part of Japan you don’t hear about so often. Ishikawa: Summit to Seas Podcast: J-Pops Podcast: Follow Joe on Twitter: Instagram (Joe’s Father): Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin:...
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Just Japan Podcast -219: Renovating Old Homes in Japan - Benton Homestead
Just Japan Podcast
In this episode, Kevin chats with Evan and Dani Benton who have renovated two Akiya (empty homes) on the island of Omishima in Ehime Prefecture in Japan. They have a wonderful website and YouTube channel called “Benton Homestead” that documents their journey. They have renovated these two buildings, turning one into a guesthouse and the other, their home. They are also diving into the world of natural agriculture and bee keeping. They discuss the process of buying and renovating these old homes as well as how they were able to get visas to stay in Japan to complete this project. Benton...
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Just Japan Podcast - 218: Returning to Japan with Emily Bell
Just Japan Podcast
In this episode, Kevin chats with Emily Bell about returning to Japan. Emily was born in Santa Barbara, but at the age of 2 moved to Shizuoka, Japan. She grew up in rural Japan and at the age of 14 returned to the United States. She faced challenges such as lacking English fluency and starting high school in a very different culture, but she persevered! She just graduated from university and is about to move to Tokyo. She decided to accept a job offer and will soon start a new adventure, this time as an adult and instead of the Japanese countryside, in the biggest of big cities! Listen to her...
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Just Japan Podcast - 217: Adventure in Japan -Softypapa 2.0 (with Kurt Bell)
Just Japan Podcast
In this episode, Kevin chats with one of the original Japan YouTubers (jvloggers), Kurt Bell, aka, Softypapa. In the early days of YouTube, Kurt made fascinating videos about his life in rural Shizuoka and brought us along on countless hiking adventures in the deep forests and mountains. We explored abandoned villages and learned about long forgotten shines with Kurt. After 10 years in Japan, he returned to America. After 10 years in California, Kurt is on the verge of retirement and will return to Japan to continue his rural adventures. Learn more about his amazing story in this episode!...
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Just Japan Podcast - 216: Starting a Business in Tokyo (Monsta Sweets)
Just Japan Podcast
In this Episode, Kevin chats with Tokyo-based entrepreneur, Gregorio. Gregorio is an American who came to Japan in 2008 as a university student and worked for years working in various industries. During the pandemic, he started Monsta Sweets, a cookie company! He made cookies and sold them at pop-ups in Tokyo. He has now opened a full-time brick-and-mortar “Monsta Sweets” shop in Tokyo. Listen to his fascinating story about starting a business from scratch in Tokyo. Follow Monsta Sweets: X: Instagram: Check out our website! Sign up for the FREE Just Japan Podcast...
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Just Japan Podcast - 215: Japanese Pop Culture with Matt Alt
Just Japan Podcast
In this episode, Kevin chats with Japanese pop culture expert, Matt Alt. Matt is a Tokyo-based writer who writes extensively about how Japanese pop culture has impacted the world. He has written books about Japanese folklore with his wife, Hiroko Yoda, and worked extensively as a translator and localization expert for the Japanese gaming industry. They talk about Japanese toys, pop culture, folklore, and a lot more. Matt also talks about his latest book, “Pure Invention” all about many of the Japanese inventions that had huge impacts on the rest of the world. Sign up for the FREE Just...
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Just Japan Podcast - 214: The Most Exciting Job in Japan
Just Japan Podcast
In this episode Kevin shares an amazing conversation with James Reynolds, a British extreme weather and natural events filmmaker based in Tokyo, Japan. James has been traveling the world for almost 20 years filming volcanoes, typhoons, and the aftermaths of earthquakes and tsunamis. James has arguably the most exciting job in Japan! His job stalled during the cover years, but he is now back in the full swing of things. Kevin later shares some listener requests tales of odd transportation events in Japan. This interview originally aired on the Just Asia Podcast in 2023. Sign up for the FREE...
info_outlineWe are back! Are you still out there listening? In this episode, we chat with Casey Bean, an American living in Ishikawa Prefecture 石川県. He talks about how he found his way to Japan, life in a slower-paced area of Japan, and his podcasts, The Bean Pod, and Ishikawa Summit to Sea. We also talk about forest gardening, chickens, and recording original music, and Casey advises listeners seeking the slow life in rural Japan.
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Just Japan Podcast:
Facebook:
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple
Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/jlandkev
Instagram (nature stuff): https://instagram.com/shizenwildlife
YouTube: http://youtube.com/@busankevin
Casey’s Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TBeanpod
The Bean Pod: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-beanpod-podcast/id1466025228
Ishikawa Summit to Sea: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ishikawa-summit-to-sea/id1528933719
Casey’s original music:
Apple Music:
https://music.apple.com/jp/artist/casey-bean/1651202917?l=en
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1S3zduDWaH7xzmwbuP3t8p?si=C52ld3tPTlmsp83-ewfImQ&nd=1
Bandcamp Album Links:
https://caseybean.bandcamp.com/album/black-white
https://caseybean.bandcamp.com/album/before-dark