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Okuribito: Mortician or millionaire? What does it mean? | Japaan Station 191

Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

Release Date: 01/07/2026

Tokyo is FED UP with tourists dumping their trash show art Tokyo is FED UP with tourists dumping their trash

Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about how there's been an increase in the number of tourists from overseas who are dumping their suitcases in the Ikebukuro area of Tokyo. We also talk about what you can do if you need to dispose of your suitcase when visiting Japan. 👉Topics Discussed Foreign tourists are dumping their suitcases illegally in the Ikebukuro area of Tokyo Japan's complicated trash system How Toshima Ward's oversized trash collection system wdoes not serve foreign tourists What you should do if you need to throw away your suitcase while in Japan Options for...

info_outline What's it like being a fake priest in Japan? | Japan Station 209/Ichimon Japan 04 show art What's it like being a fake priest in Japan? | Japan Station 209/Ichimon Japan 04

Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

This is a rebroadcast of Ichimon Japan episode 04 which originally was released on 2/12/2020. Today's Question On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What's it like being a fake priest in Japan? Topics Discussed What a nisebokushi is The different terminology for priests in Japanese (shinpu vs bokushi) The phenomenon of having foreigners dress as priests to officiate weddings in Japan How most "fake priests" in Japan tend to be white men The experiences of someone who worked as a fake priest in Japan How much money one might expect to get paid when working as a fake priest The job duties of...

info_outline Why fans of the supernatural should visit Iwate Prefecture | Japan Station 208 show art Why fans of the supernatural should visit Iwate Prefecture | Japan Station 208

Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about Hanamaki and Tōno, two cities in Iwate prefecture known for being great places to visit if you're a fan of the supernatural and fantastic. 👉Topics Discussed How to get to Hanamaki City from Tokyo Station How long the bullet train to Iwate from Tokyo takes About traveling by train from Hanamaki to Tōno About Tōno City and its spooky/supernatural vibe About Tōno Monogatari (The Tale of Tōno) What to expect at the Tōno Folktale Museum What Goemon ramen is About Hanamaki City The Marukan Daishokudō (Marukan Grand Cafeteria)...

info_outline Why life in Iwate is DIFFERENT! | Japan Station 207 show art Why life in Iwate is DIFFERENT! | Japan Station 207

Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about Iwate Prefecture! We're focusing on the geography, general stats, language and food. 👉Topics Discussed Where Iwate Prefecture is About Iwate Prefecture's large size and sparse population About the weather of Iwate Prefecture About the dialects of Iwate Prefecture About Fukuda Pan/Fukuda Bread, it's history and its many varieties About wanko soba About the supposed origins of wanko soba About Morioka's three famous noodles About jajamen About the other meaning of soba About Morioka reimen How reimen in Iwate is different The...

info_outline A guide to MOVING in Japan | Japan Station 206/Ichimon Japan 73 show art A guide to MOVING in Japan | Japan Station 206/Ichimon Japan 73

Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

This ia rebroadcast of epsode 73 of Ichimon Japan originally released on 7/21/23. On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What is it like moving in Japan? Topics Discussed About what it's like moving in Japan When people in Japan usually move What it costs to move in Japan Why people in Japan usually move in March Expenses associated with moving in Japan About rent prices in Japan Rent subsidies for JET Program participants Setting up internet in Japan About finding an apartment in Japan About reikin/key money The cost of hiring a moving company in Japan Disposing of large garbage in Japan...

info_outline He's walked 30,000+ km across Japan! | Japan Station 205 show art He's walked 30,000+ km across Japan! | Japan Station 205

Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

On this episode of Japan Station, we're joined by Jake Davies, a resident of Shimane Prefecture who has walked over 30,000 km in Japan. He talks about his experiences walking around Japan and what it's like living in Shimane, one of Japan's least populated prefecture. 👉Topics Discussed Why Jake Davies moved to Shimane Prefecture What it's like living in rural Shimane Prefecture Why Jake Davies started doing long distance walks in Japan How Jake Davies walked over 30,000 km in Japan Where Jake Davis sleeps while doing long distance walks in Japan About walking the Sea of Japan costline...

info_outline This Japanese pilgrimage should be more famous! A 5-day trip to the Kumano Kodō (plus crazy conbini socks) | Japan Station 204 show art This Japanese pilgrimage should be more famous! A 5-day trip to the Kumano Kodō (plus crazy conbini socks) | Japan Station 204

Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

On this episode of Japan Station, travel writer Jennifer Bain joins us to talk about one of Japan's most ancient and famous pilgrimages: the Kumano Kodō (熊野古道). We also talk about Japanese convenience stores and the famous conbini socks. 👉Topics Discussed What the Kumano Kodō (熊野古道) is How to get the Kumano Kodō (熊野古道) is An example of a five day itinerary on the Kumano Kodō (熊野古道) pilgrimage About Daimonzaka and Kumano Nachi Taisha About mikan and oranges in the Kumano area About lodging along the Kumano Kodō (熊野古道) How old empty schools have...

info_outline The ORIGINS of The ORIGINS of "scammy" SAKURA | Japan Station 203

Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about the origins of the word sakura. No not that sakurai. The other sakura. The scammy kind of sakura. Also we're talking about madorā. 👉Topics Discussed The possible origins of the word sakura (サクラ) Why sakura means a fake "scammy" customer What a madorā is 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 free versions and occassional bonus content https://patreon.com/japankyo ...

info_outline Why breakfast deals in Japan are CRAZY now | Japan Station 202 show art Why breakfast deals in Japan are CRAZY now | Japan Station 202

Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

On this episode of Japan Station, we're talking about the rise of Japan's $3.5 billion breakfast industry and why Japan is currently in the midst of it's 4th "breakfast boom." 👉Topics Discussed What a typical Japanese breakfast consists of The history of breakfast in Japan Breakfast in the Edo Period Breakfast in Edo vs Kansai during the Edo Period Japan's four "Morning Booms" What 'morning" (モーニング, mōningu) is The origin of "morning" in Aichi Prefecture The rise of kissaten (cafes) in 1950s Japan About Rūe Burajiru (ルーエぶらじる), a restaurant in Hiroshima...

info_outline Akihabara is DYING? How Ikebukuro Became Japan's New Otaku Capital | Japan Station 201 show art Akihabara is DYING? How Ikebukuro Became Japan's New Otaku Capital | Japan Station 201

Japan Station: Deep Dives into Japanese Culture, Language & Society

On this episode of Japan Station, we're joined by Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith to talk about the current status of Akihabara and the rise of Ikebukuro as Japan's newest capital of all things anime, manga and otaku culture. 👉Topics Discussed Whether Akihabara is dying The history of Akihabara How Akihabara has evolved in recent years What locals think of Akihabara today How Mercari has impacted Akihabara The price of anime figures/merch in Akihabara The decline of AKB48 Why Akihabara has changed in recent years The rise of Ikebukuro as Japan's new otaku capital How the Toshima ward government...

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More Episodes

On this episode of Japan Station, I break down the two very different meanings of the word okuribito.

👉Topics Discussed

  • About the 2008 Japanese film Departures (Okuribito)
  • What does okuribito mean?
  • What does おくりびと mean?
  • What does okuribito 億り人 mean?
  • The Japanese slang term okuribito
  • Why it is more difficult to become an "okuribito" in Japan now
  • And much more!

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