Tokyo Wave

Weekly updates from Japan with Aaron & Parker, two Americans with a passion for telling you what's going on right now on the ground in Tokyo, straight from our studio in Harajuku. Join us in segments featuring this week's top news, political happenings, business, and absolutely random garbage. Also, there's a rad synth intro.

#142 - Dating App 02/05/2024

#142 - Dating App Why is Tokyo Metropolitan Government releasing a dating app? Aaron and Parker discuss PM Kishida vowing stronger steps for recovery of central Japan quake, Kyoto Animation arsonist sentenced to death, and retired Japan bullet train snack carts up for sale. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/29797423

#141 - Lauren Kocher 01/19/2024

#141 - Lauren Kocher Japanese music industry expert and entrepreneur Lauren Rose Kocher shares her insights on Japan's music industry, PR in the entertainment space, and how Japanese artists and music labels have the potential to reach a global audience. Aaron and Parker discuss the recovery effort in the wake of a massive earthquake in central Japan, what will happen to a burned aircraft from a Tokyo airport collision, and government efforts to stabilize Japan's population at 80 million by year 2100. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/29557608

#139 - Synthetic Weed 12/20/2023

#139 - Synthetic Weed What is HHCH and why did Japan move to ban this substance after it became known as a synthetic variant of marijuana? How did this become an issue taken up by Japan's Ministry of Health? Aaron and Parker discuss the Japan PM resigning as ruling party faction head amid funds scandal, host clubs in Tokyo nightlife district vowing to stop running up huge customer tabs, and a Tokyo taxi driver who was arrested for allegedly running over a pigeon. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/29159423

#138 - Revisiting Hell-o-ween 11/20/2023

#138 - Revisiting Hell-o-ween What ended up happening in the aftermath of Shibuya's war on Halloween? Aaron and Parker discuss Shibuya Halloween's tight security, the end of snack carts on the Tokaido Shinkansen, and a Japan minister admitting to paying rent to their mom using political funds. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/28712423

#137 - We're back! 11/02/2023

#137 - We're back! Will people heed Shibuya's calls to stay away as it braces for the Halloween crowd? How many in Japan are calling newly-renamed Twitter 'X'? What happened to a wild boar swimming at a port in central Chiba after 3 were bitten? Aaron and Parker talk about coming back to Tokyo Wave after a 3+ month hiatus, and what is in store for future episodes. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/28495010

#132 - AI Policy 07/07/2023

#132 - AI Policy What is the future of AI in Japan? Is Japan falling behind the rest of the world on this new technology? Will the Japanese government open its arms to the upcoming AI era? Aaron and Parker address Japan’s first official stance on AI and discuss the first-ever instance of a woman attending a committee at the Prime Minister’s office with her newborn, Kobe enacting Japan’s first ordinance on the use of ChatGPT, and the accusation of a Tokyo host club employee for abetting prostitution in the first case in 60 years. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/27397947

#131 - Hitomi Abiko 05/24/2023

#131 - Hitomi Abiko Accomplished entrepreneur, designer, and artist Hitomi Abiko shares her insights on being a character designer, creating the meetup group Creative Tokyo, and running a startup in Japan. Aaron and Parker discuss Japan rolling the dice on Japan's 1st casino resort in Osaka, Uniqlo's ambitious plans to triple sales, and the battle over the impending demolition of a Tokyo park where Babe Ruth played. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/26937153

#130 - ChatGPT Galapagos 03/31/2023

#130 - ChatGPT Galapagos Why are SoftBank and other Japanese firms moving to limit ChatGPT use? Will Japan Inc. suffer again from the Galapagos effect as other global companies embrace the latest trend in AI tech? Aaron and Parker discuss China-wary Japan establishing a new military base on Ishigaki Island, hotels in western Japan being urged not to request ID from foreign residents, and a Japanese language school warned after calling Ukrainian students "refugee aristocrats". /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/26403450

#129 - Japan Web3 03/26/2023

#129 - Japan Web3 The Government of Japan has released a detailed roadmap of their Web3 plans. Will the economy ministry's embracement of Web3 bring massive changes to Japan? Aaron and Parker discuss Seven & i exiting the apparel business, zoo lions dying after being infected with COVID, and the Governor of Aichi lashing out against Ghibli Park guests posting improper photos online. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/26343459

#128 - Honda Jetting 03/17/2023

#128 - Honda Jetting Will Honda's soon to be released jet-sharing service bring private jet flight to a larger market? Is it going to bring down the price of private jet flight considerably, given Honda makes and owns their own jets? Is more private jet flight a boon for travel in rural Japan or just another emissions nightmare? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan dropping to 104th in gender disparity, Japan's job availability down in January for the 1st time in over 2 years, and a government recount of listed Japanese islands finding more than 2x the previous statistic. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/26223228

#127 - Anthony Griffin 03/14/2023

#127 - Anthony Griffin Digital marketing consultant, entrepreneur, and cross-cultural communication expert Anthony Griffin tells us about his journey to Japan, his tricks of the trade for maximizing engagement on LinkedIn, and that one time he asked for directions and was asked to pay for it! Aaron and Parker discuss the new Bank of Japan chief's stance on monetary easing, Japan's average condo price hitting a new record high, and a mysterious 1.5-meter metal ball found washed up on the beach. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/26223201

#126 - Kishida's Budget 02/26/2023

#126 - Kishida's Budget How will PM Kishida finance his ambitious plans to increase both defense and child care spending? Will raising the consumption tax and other taxes be inevitable? Aaron and Parker discuss January's foreign entries to Japan hitting 1.5 million, the trade deficit at a record 3.5 trillion yen on energy imports, and a local city doctor fired for verbally attacking students for not wearing masks, and then berating their teachers while wielding a baseball bat. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/26048586

#125 - Revolving Sushi 02/19/2023

#125 - Revolving Sushi What has happened in the aftermath of a viral video featuring a revolving sushi restaurant patron displaying gross behavior? Is conveyor belt sushi fun and kitschy or cheap and not that tasty? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan potentially enacting an LGBT law before this year's G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Mitsubishi Heavy throwing in the towel on their passenger jet project, and Gunma's ambitious move to bring Gunma-chan to the US. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/25976766

#124 - Luffy Busted 02/10/2023

#124 - Luffy Busted What did the phone scam crime group led by a mysterious man who called himself “Luffy” and “Kim Jong Un” avoid the long arm of the Japanese lawman by hiding in a Philippines prison? Aaron and Parker discuss the ex-deputy manager of Tokyo 2020 test event body getting busted in a bid-rigging case, Honda’s ambitious plans to go big on hydrogen power, and local Geisha joining a traditional bean-throwing Setsubun event at Kyoto’s Yasaka Shrine after a 3-year COVID hiatus. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/25888590

#123 - Ugly Inaka 01/29/2023

#123 - Ugly Inaka Rural real estate expert, Akiya Hunter, and black metal baron Matt Ketchum gives his take on a recent Tokyo Weekender article that suggests that the Japanese countryside is ugly and undesirable. Aaron and Parker discuss PM Kishida's order to downgrade the classification of COVID-19, Echizen knives hitting record sales amidst overseas demand from chefs, and the recent rise in theft of 90's Japanese sports cars driven by overseas demand. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/25758969

#122 - Culture Shock 01/21/2023

#122 - Culture Shock After a month back home in America, Aaron shares his take on the reverse culture shock after being in Japan throughout the pandemic. Aaron and Parker discuss new US-Japan plans to strengthen their defense alliance, TSMC considering to build a 2nd chip plant in Japan, and a whale’s tragic end after mistakenly venturing into Osaka Bay. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/25684815

Rewind: Riki Ohkanda 01/13/2023

Rewind: Riki Ohkanda Director, storyteller, and consultant for Japanese film and TV productions Riki Ohkanda shares her experience working inside Tokyo's entertainment industry, the secret to enjoying tea ceremony, and some hilarious anecdotes. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/25522470

Rewind: Benjamin Boas 01/06/2023

Rewind: Benjamin Boas Writer, translator, Cool Japan Ambassador, global communications specialist, and mahjong expert Benjamin Boas shares his insights on Japan's efforts to use anime and manga to improve its image and the ins and outs of Japanese mahjong culture. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/25522449

Rewind: Christiane Brew 12/27/2022

Rewind: Christiane Brew On this late Christmas present Rewind, actress, comedienne, and entrepreneur Christiane Brew shares her experience working with Hideo Kojima as a motion capture actress in hit video game Death Stranding, leading the Perfect Liars Club Tokyo improv group, and starting her newest venture StoryKraft. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/25437393

Rewind: Matt Ketchum 12/18/2022

Rewind: Matt Ketchum On this rewind, we revisit our first episode with Akiya Hunter and black metal warlock Matt Ketchum, who tells us about his experience escaping from a 38 meter tall tsunami on March 11, 2011, and his passion for cataloging Japan’s infamous millions of abandoned houses. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/25366158

#121 - Special Eggs 12/10/2022

#121 - Special Eggs What does the future hold for the administration of PM Kishida, who is facing low support ratings, a string of scandals and resignations, and rising discontent? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's largest labor union calling for the highest pay hike in 28 years, the Japanese government ruling coalition agreeing on acquiring counter-strike capability, and two Tokyo men arrested over a suspected pyramid scheme built on special eggs. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/25284492

Rewind: Jim Andretta 12/02/2022

Rewind: Jim Andretta On Tokyo Wave Rewind, we revisit insightful, awesome, and sometimes outrageous past interviews. This Rewind features improv comedian, DJ, wine expert, and Scatman aficionado Jim Andretta, who shares stories about his time as part of the Charred Goosebeak / Broken Lizard improv group of Super Troopers fame, importing wine to Japan, the Japanese comedy scene, and collecting vinyl records. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/25198701

#120 - Tweet Storm 11/26/2022

#120 - Tweet Storm What is going to happen to Twitter now that Elon Musk is in charge? Will it lead to an exodus of Japan’s gaijin Twitter scene? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's consumer prices rising the quickest in 4 decades, Shohei Ohtani, Naomi Osaka and other FTX brand ambassadors getting embroiled in a class-action lawsuit over the now-bankrupt crypto exchange, and 2 Peruvians caught smuggling 10 kg of cocaine into Japan in shampoo bottles. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/25134933

#119 - Screwed Enix 11/11/2022

#119 - Screwed Enix Why is Square Enix doing a fire sale of its Western studios? The founder of Eidos Montreal called it, "A train wreck in slow motion." Aaron and Parker discuss North Korea's ongoing missile marathon, another automaker calling on owners to replace their airbags after 3 new Takata airbag deaths, and the culling of 1,000,000 chickens as bird flu cases emerge in Ibaraki. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/24978603

#118 - Shibuya Hell-o-ween 11/07/2022

#118 - Shibuya Hell-o-ween Why is Shibuya waging war on Halloween, yet again, and why do all of Tokyo's costumed revelers always go to the same place? Will Akie Abe, the widow of slain ex-PM Abe, succeed her late husband in Japan's lower house? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's latest economic package designed to combat economic malaise worsened by the weak Yen and Tokyo police mistakenly arresting the wrong man months after a truck driver was threatened with a sword. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/24926571

#117 - Japanese Film 10/29/2022

#117 - Japanese Film What are our favorite Japanese films? What's going to happen to an ex-Tokyo 2020 exec who has been slapped with a new arrest warrant on additional bribery charges? Aaron and Parker discuss the Yen hitting the 150 mark vs the USD and a man arrested after going on a rampage attacking junior high school students with a bamboo sword. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/24838248

#116 - Your Japan 10/22/2022

#116 - Your Japan Writer, Translator, Cool Japan Producer, and Global Communications Specialist Benjamin Boas talks about his upcoming new book, From Cool Japan to Your Japan, which explains why the Japanese government and local organizations need to change their tourism promotion strategy. Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's plan to scrap non-digital health insurance cards, new legal action against the Unification Church, and how a Japanese YouTuber recently elected to Parliament has opened a can of legal worms by choosing to stay in Dubai. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/24765585

#115 - More Missiles 10/14/2022

#115 - More Missiles Why is North Korea upping its pace of conducting missile launches, including one that went straight over northern Japan? Are they on the verge of conducting a nuclear bomb test, and do they pose a tangible threat to Japan's national security? Aaron and Parker discuss rising Japanese household spending, Japan's largest airport hotel complex to open at Haneda after almost 3 years sitting empty, and an escaped 1.6-meter-long snake that turned up in the owner's neighbor's toilet. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/24688761

#114 - Oku Nikko 10/07/2022

#114 - Oku Nikko How can you avoid the impending throngs of tourists and enjoy Japan's autumn foliage in Oku-Nikko? How is the Japanese government trying to fight inflation, address the weak yen, and rev up the economy? Aaron and Parker discuss what to expect from the Japanese parliament's extraordinary session and a Tokyo confectionary firm chief who resigned after video footage of him going hog wild in a road rage incident spread online. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/24615771

#113 - Andrew Klim 09/23/2022

#113 - Andrew Klim Video game translator, localization expert, and video game music DJ Andrew Klim tells us about his journey from being an English teacher in a rough and tumble junior high school in Yamanashi to working on localizations for massive titles including Final Fantasy, Shenmue, One Piece, Attack on Titan, and... erotic games. Aaron and Parker share awe at Andrew's tales of brawling with chimpira in Koenji, and discuss the evolving Tokyo Olympics corruption case, a Tokyo doctor accused of forging COVID vaccine docs, and a man mistakenly arrested for drunk riding by cops while pushing his motorbike. /episode/index/show/tokyowave/id/24469035

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