What is wasei eigo? (Funny "Japanese" English) | Japan Station 179/Ichimon Japan 71
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
Release Date: 10/15/2025
What you should know about KUMAMON (+ my CRAZY Kumamon story) | Japan Station 188
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, we talk all about Jaan's most famous "local mascot" Kumamon. We cover everything you should know about Kumamoto's most beloved bear. I also share an absolutely crazy story that happened to me when I went to see the Kumamon show in Kumamoto in the fall os 2025. 👉Topics Discussed About Kumamon How Kumamon was created The history of Kumamon Who created Kumamon How Kumamon used to look quite different when he was first unveiled How Kumamon's appearance changed About Kumamon's creepy appearance About the Osaka press conference that introduced Kumamon to the...
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Understanding Christmas in Japan (About Japanese Christmas) | Japan Station 187/Ichimon Japan 67
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
This is a re-broadcast of episode 65 of the Ichimon Japan podcast (originally published on 12/21/2022). On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is Christmas like in Japan? (About Japanese Christmas) Topics Discussed All about Christmas in Japan Japanese Christmas customs in Japan All about fried chicken and Christmas in Japan Why KFC is the thing to eat during Christmas in Japan How Christmas is seen as a romantic holiday in Japan Christmas light displays About reserving KFC fried chicken for Christmas About KFC's Premium Roast About Christmas cake in Japan The first Christmas in Japan...
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Hanakin: What does it mean? (Dead Japanese Slang) | Japan Station 186
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, I dig into the world of dead Japanese Bubble Era slang. Specifically, I talk about the term hanakin (花金). Also I talk about the days of the week during World War II in Japan. 👉Topics Discussed What is hanakin What hanakin means About the kanji used to write hanakin How I learned the days of the week in Japanese How there were no weekends during World War II in Japan And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get early access to episodes, ad...
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He WALKED 3200 km across ALL of JAPAN! (Sensei Martian) | Japan Station 185
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, Sensei Martian talks about what it was like walking 3200 km from Cape Sata, the southernmost point on mainland Japan, to Cape Soya, the northernmost point on mainland Japan. 👉Topics Discussed About the Kyushu Challenge Why Sensei Martian decided to walk 3200 km/3000 miles+ across Japan About walking the old Tokaido Road About walking from the southern end of Japan to the northern end About encounters Sensei Martian had with people while walking across Japan About booking lodging while walking across Japan About getting injured while walking across Japan...
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I walked across KYUSHU! Here's what happened (Kyushu Challenge Wrap Up) | Japan Station 184
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about the Kyushu Challenge, my recent 558 km walk from Iwakuni, Yamaguchi to Sakurajima, Kagoshima. 👉Topics Discussed About the Kyushu Challenge The route I took to walk from Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture to Sakurajima in Kagoshima Prefecture About how a restaurant owner gave me money How I appeared on TV in Yamaguchi Prefecture About kawara soba About okonomiyaki About the scariest tunnel I ever had to walk through About walking through rural southern Kumamoto and Kagoshima About the Hisatsu Orange Railway The benefit of regional JR rail passes...
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How I got my CHEAPEST Japan ticket EVER! | Japan Station 183
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, I talk about how I was able to save money on airfare for my latest trip to Japan. I also share how I almost lost money due to a luggage issue and I talk about why regional JR passes can save you lots of money while traveling in Japan. 👉Topics Discussed How I get the cheapest plane ticket to Japan ever About smartfares.com Why you should check how many bags you are allowed to check in on a flight About regional JR passes and why they can be better than the national JR pass And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! 👉Affiliate Links Support...
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The STUPIDEST belief about Japanese sleep habits EVER! (About Pillows in Japan) | Japan Station 182/Ichimon Japan 76
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
This is a rebroadcast of episode 76 of Ichimon Japan. On this episode of Ichimon Japan we talk about the history of pillows in Japan and an absurd belief regarding the sleeping Topics Discussed About the history of pillows in Japan About early pillows in Japanese history About the evolution of pillows in Japan About pillows during the Edo Period About hakomakura (box pillows) About the oldest pillow in Japan X About stereotypes regarding Japanese people versus Westerners About the idea Japanese people have longer intestines than Westerners About Sobagawa/Sobakawa buchwheat...
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How Japanese terms get abbreviated! Explaining 4 MORA words | Japan Station 181
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about 4 more words in Japanese. What's a mora? And why are there so many four mora words in Japanese? We talk about all taht and more! 👉Topics Discussed What is a mora? What's the difference between a mora and a syllable The possible origins of nikujaga How Japanese love to shorten terms to four mora/four kana The possible origin of the word jagaimo Examples of other four more abbreviations in Japanese And much more! 👉Subscribe to the Podcast! 👉Support on Patreon & Ko-fi Support for as little as $1 a month to get...
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Tokyo Tourist Traps: Are these popular Tokyo destinations worth your time? | Japan Station 180
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
On this episode of Japan Station, we talk about some of Tokyo's most popular tourist sites. Are they tourist traps or worth your time? We're also joined by stand up comedian and tour guide Shuhei "Shoe" Murakami. 👉Topics Discussed Is Tokyo Skytree a tourist trap? Should you visit it? Should you visit Tokyo Tower? Should you visit Tokyo Disneyland? Is it a tourist trap? Is Tokyo Disneyland expensive? Is Akihabara a tourist trap? Is Akihabara expensive? About the observation deck on the 45th floor of Tokyo Metropolitan Main Building No. 1 Is Golden Gai a tourist trap? What...
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Party in TOKYO! (November 1st at Pintology Tokyo)
Japan Station: A Podcast About Japanese Culture & the Japanese Language
Hey guys! I'm holding another get together in Tokyo. This time it's to celebrate the end of the Kyushu Challenge. It will be on Nov 1st at 6 pm at Pintology Tokyo! Here is Pintology Tokyo's Instagram I'll be back soon enough with the usual programming!
info_outlineThis episode was originally broadcast as an episode of Ichimon Japan.
On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is wasei eigo? (Funny "Japanese" English)
Topics Discussed
- What wasei eigo is
- About English sounding words made in Japan
- tenshon ga takai
- pākā
- How SNS is not English
- arubaito
- nōtopasokon
- buraindotacchi
- misu
- misesu
- rippukurīmu
- hocchikisu
- OL
- sararīman (salaryman)
- shīchikin
- interi
- haiso
- furonto
- hōmu
- chakku
- majikkutēpu
- majikku
- majikkumirā
- Gpan
- jampāsukāto
- wagomu
- atakku
- faito
- charenji
- And much more!
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If you enjoy Ichimon Japan and want to ensure that we're able to produce more episodes, then please consider becoming a patron on Patreon.com. You can join for just $1 a month and that comes with perks like early access to episodes, a shout-out at the beginning of a future episode, bonus content, and discounts to Kimito Designs. For $3 a month you get all that plus access to Japanese Plus Alpha, a podcast produced by me (Tony Vega) that focuses on the Japanese language and its many quirks. Whether you are studying Japanese or just enjoy learning about language and linguistics, you'll enjoy Japanese Plus Alpha.
And it goes without saying that if you sign up, you'll also get my undying gratitude. Thanks in advance!
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We Want Your Questions
Is there something about Japan that confuses you? Is there something about Japanese culture that you would like to learn more about? Is there something in Japanese history that you would like us to explain? We're always looking for new questions about Japan to answer, so if you have one, please send it to ichimon@japankyo.com.
Special Thanks
Opening/Closing Theme: Produced by Apol (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, Fiverr)
Ichimon Japan cover art: Produced by Erik R.
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Full Show Notes