ichimonjapan

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we finish off the discussion on seppuku that we started in episode 18 with two very interesting examples of people cutting themselves open.

Topics Discussed

• General Maresuke Nogi
• The death by (kind of sanctioned?) seppuku of General Nogi Maresuke
• The cork-sized plugs found in General Nogi's rectum
• Nogi Shrine in Tokyo
• The story of Matsudaira Tadaaki, a samurai who should not have fallen asleep near his swords
• And more!

Note/Kind of a spoiler: In the episode Ryan asks if the two plugs General Nogi used to prevent anal leakage were used only by General Nogi or by General Nogi and his wife. The footnote in Seppuku by Andrew Rankin makes it clear that two plugs were found in General Nogi's rectum. It makes no mention of what was found in General Nogi's wife's rectum.

Support on Patreon

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. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support on Patreon

Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.

The vast majority of the information cited during this episode came from the book Seppuku: A History of Samurai Suicide by Andrew Rankin. It is a very well-researched, informative, and fun to read book that has a whole lot more information than what we were able to cover in this episode. If you would like to get a copy of the book for yourself, please consider using the Amazon affiliate link below. It won't cost you anything extra and it will help support what we're doing here at Japankyo.com.

• Seppuku: A History of Samurai Suicide by Andrew Rankin

You can also just use the link below to do your shopping on Amazon, while at the same time supporting Japankyo.

• https://www.japankyo.com/amazon

A few more details about Matsudaira Tadaaki can be found in his Japanese language Wikipedia entry.

• About Matsudaira Tadaaki (Japanese Wikipedia)

Just in case you read Japanese and would like more information on Nogi Shrine, you can check out the shrine's website via the link below.

• Nogi Shrine/Jinja Website.

If you haven't gotten your fill of disembowelment and are curious about the "intestines episode" that was mentioned during this episode, then check out episode two of Ichimon Japan.

• Do Japanese people have longer intestines than Westerners? | Ichimon Japan 02

Japanese Vocabulary List

Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC.

• Seppuku
  • 切腹 【せっぷく】 (n,vs) seppuku; harakiri; ritual suicide by disembowelment
• Hara-kiri
  • 腹切り : 腹切り; 腹切 【はらきり】 (n,vs) (See 切腹) harakiri; seppuku; ritual suicide by disembowelment
• Utatane
  • うたた寝 【うたたね】 (n,vs) doze; nap; snooze
• Majime
  • 真面目 : 真面目(ateji)(P); 眞面目 【まじめ(P); マジメ(P)】 (adj-na,n) serious; honest; sober; grave; earnest; steady
• Shōki
  • 正気 【しょうき】 (n,adj-no) (See 狂気) sanity; consciousness; soberness

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.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

Full Show Notes

• https:///www.japankyo.com/ichimonjapan

 

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why do Japanese people love Hawaii so much?

Topics Discussed

• Why Hawaii is such a popular travel destination among Japanese travelers
• How many Japanese people came to Hawaii in 2019
• How the amount of Japanese travelers to Hawaii compares to the amount of travelers from other places
• How many Japanese people went to Guam and Okinawa in 2019
• The surge in popularity of Guam among Japanese tourists
• A brief look at the history of Hawaii and how it may have helped make Hawaii so popular among Japanese travelers
• The 1948 song "Akogare no Hawaii Kōro" ("The Hawaii Cruise I Long For," 憧れのハワイ航路)
• How much it would have cost someone from Japan to purchase a package tour to Hawaii in 1964
• What year the average Japanese salary rose above the cost of a package tour from Japan to Hawaii
• How pancakes from Hawaii became so popular in Japan
• The connection between Hawaiian pizza and Canada
• What loco moco is
• Eggs n' Things
• The aggressive sales tactics of some vendors in Ala Moana Center and how they target Japanese tourists
• How much money Japanese tourists spend on average while in Hawaii and how this compares to the amount of money spent by those from the mainland U.S.
• How you should "Discover Guam"
• And more!

Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.

If you would like to listen to the 1948 song "Akogare no Hawaii Kōro," you can do so via the video below.

• Akogare no Hawaii Kōro

Here are some of the main English language articles used as references for this episode.

• Japanese tourists' longing for Hawaii is still worth banking on
• Japanese “Pancake Boom” Fuels Renewed Relations with Hawaii
• Hawai‘i Visitor Statistics Released for 2019

Here are some of the main Japanese-language sources used as references for this episode.

• なぜ日本人はみんなハワイが好きなのか？ (English: Why do all Japanese people love Hawaii?)
• 【図解】日本人旅行者数、ハワイ・グアム・沖縄の直近10年間をグラフで比較してみた（2019年版）(English: Comparing the past ten years of the total number of travelers to Hawaii, Guam, and Okinawa)
• なぜ日本人は世界で一番｢ハワイ｣が好きなのか (English: Why is Hawaii the favorite place of Japanese people?)

To listen to episode 40 of the Japan Station podcast, use the link below.

• Comedian & TV Personality Bobby Judo | Japan Station 40

Japanese Vocabulary List

Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC.

• Akogare
  • 憧れ : 憧れ(P); 憬れ 【あこがれ】 (n,adj-no) yearning; longing; aspiration; adoration; admiration;

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.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

Full Show Notes

• https:///www.japankyo.com/ichimonjapan

 

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Have you ever had any weird experiences in Japan?

Topics Discussed

• Weird/crazy/surprising experiences had in Japan
• Peculiar Japanese coworkers/teachers
• A teacher who wanted to go to France to become a witch
• Whether English is the lingua franca of witches trained in France
• Eating cat... not really, but kind of
• Being accosted by an individual that appeared to be a far right nationalist
• A sarcastic Japanese guy
• Getting called handsome by a yakuza while urinating
• And more!

Support on Patreon

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. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support on Patreon

Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.

In the story about the yakuza in the bathroom a magician named Sero is mentioned. This is the Japanese pronucniation of his name. His real name is Cyril Takayama. Also, it should be noted that it was mistakenly stated that is part Turkish. According to Wikipedia he is of French, Moroccan, and Japanese descent. He has performed in many countries around the world and even had numerous specials air on Japanese television.

As for the temple in Kyoto that was mentioned during this episode, it is called Sanjūsangen-dō. It is a place I (Tony) highly recommend visiting when in Kyoto and if you would like to know more about it you can start by checking out the Wikipedia page for it. Another thing you can do is listen to episode 22 of the Japan Station podcast.

• Japan Station 22: Discovering Buddhist Sculptures w. Michael VanHartingsveldt

Japanese Vocabulary List

Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC.

• Majo
  • 魔女 【まじょ】 (n,adj-no) witch
• Otokomae
  • 男前 【おとこまえ(P); オトコマエ】 (n) handsome man; man's looks; good looks
• Neko
  • 猫 【ねこ(P); ネコ】 (n) (1) cat (esp. the domestic cat, Felis catus); (2) shamisen; (3) geisha; (4) (abbr) (See 猫車) wheelbarrow; (5) (abbr) (See 猫火鉢) clay bed-warmer; (6) (uk) (col) (ant: タチ) bottom; submissive partner of a homosexual relationship

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.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

Full Show Notes

• https:///www.japankyo.com/ichimonjapan

 

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: Why are vegetables so unsulting in Japanese? On this episode we are honored to once again be joined by Kyle Broyles of the Tokyo Splosion podcast and Hard Officers YouTube channel.

Topics Discussed

• Some funny Japanese vegetable-based insults and their (supposed) etymologies
• What the term daikon ashi means
• Why daikon ashi is so insulting and reserved only for use on women
• The usage of the term "dumpling legs"
• What the term daikon yakusha means
• Why daikon yakusha is considered an insult
• Why it's insulting to call someone a bean sprout (moyashi) in Japanese
• What it means to "stink of potatoes" (to be imokusai)
• What a "country milkboy" is
• What an "embankment pumpkin" is (dote kabocha)
• The most commonly cited story explaining the insulting meaning of the term dote kabocha
• A tip for training yourself to like vegetables
• Interesting Japanese slang involving the the Japanese word for eggplant (nasu)
• What the term bokenasu means
• Why it is insulting to be called a bokenasu
• What the heck an otankonasu is
• Two theories for where the "otanko" part of otankonasu derived from
• The most common etymologies of the term otankonasu
• The potential connection between otankonasu and Edo period pleasure districts
• Bubble era Japanese slang
• How pīman (green pepper) was used as an insult in Japan in the 1970s
• The difficulties localizers face when translating idioms from Japanese into English
• Whether the Japanese word for "vegetable" (yasai) totally overlaps in meaning with its English counterpart
• Why there seem to be more vegetable-related insults in Japanese than fruit-related insults
• And more!

Note: All of the etymologies provided during this episode were found in Japanese language sources and are the most commonly cited. However, just because they are the most commonly cited etymologies that does not mean they are true, so please keep this in mind.

Support on Patreon

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. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support on Patreon

Kyle Broyles Links

This episode features Kyle Broyles as a special guest. If you would like to follow him on Twitter, please use the link below.

• Kyle Broyles on Twitter

Kyle is one of the hosts of the Tokyo Splosion podcast. If you would like to check his podcast out, you can look it up wherever you get your podcasts or use the links below.

• Tokyo Splosion on Libsyn
• Tokyo Splosion on Apple Podcasts
• Tokyo Splosion on Twitter

The latest episode of Tokyo Splosion as of the time of this posting can be found below.

• Tokyo Splosion Quarterly: Spring 2020

Kyle also produces the YouTube series Hard Officers. Check out the channel via the link below.

• Hard Officers YouTube Channel

Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.

Here's a link to the previous episode Kyle Broyles was a guest on.

• What's life like in Japan during the coronavirus pandemic? (Uncovering the cute sneeze conspiracy | Ichimon Japan 13

Just to review, here's a list of all the insults that were covered on this episode, including how you write them in Japanese.

• Daikon ashi
  • 大根足 : 大根足; 大根脚 【だいこんあし】 (n) thick legs; fat legs; cankle; cankles (literally: daikon radish legs)
• Daikon yakusha
  • 大根役者 【だいこんやくしゃ】 (n) (yoji) ham actor; hack actor (literally: daikon radish actor)
• Moyashi
  • もやし (n) bean sprouts (in certain contexts it can also be used to mean as an insult meaning lanky, gangly or frail)
• Moyashikko
  • もやしっ子 【もやしっこ】 (n) weak child; frail child; gangly child
• Imokusai
  • イモくさい 【いもくさい】 (n) country bumpkin; unsophisticated; hick (literally to stink of potatoes)
• Dote kabocha
  • どてかぼちゃ (n) incompetent person; halfwit; blockhead; fool (literally: embankment pumpkin)
• Bokenasu
  • ぼけなす (n) (1) faded, dull-colored eggplant; (2) (derog) slow-witted, abstracted person; halfwit
• Otankonasu
  • おたんこなす (n) fool; twit; idiot; bird-brain
• Atama ga pīman (Note: This term was popular in the 1970s and is rarely, if ever, used today.)
  • 頭がピーマン 【あたまがぴーまん】 stupid; dumb (literally: your head is a green pepper)
• Hanashi ga pīman
  • 話がピーマン 【はなしがぴーまん】 what you are saying is stupid/pointless (literally: what you are saying/your story is a green pepper.)

If you'd like to check out episode 38 of Japan Station, you can do so via the link below.

• Understanding Idols and the Success of AKB48 (Dr. Patrick W. Galbraith) | Japan Station 38

If you missed the Japanese study tips episode of Ichimon Japan, check out the article below.

• What are your Japanese studying tips? | Ichimon Japan 08

Japanese Vocabulary List

Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC.

• Yasai
  • 野菜 【やさい】 (n,adj-no) vegetable
• Kudamono
  • 果物 : 果物(P); 菓物 【くだもの(P); かぶつ(果物)】 (n) fruit
• Oden
  • おでん (n) (food) oden; dish of various ingredients, e.g. egg, daikon, potato, chikuwa, konnyaku, etc. stewed in soy-flavored dashi
• Shokuatari
  • 食あたり : 食あたり; 食中り 【しょくあたり】 (n) food poisoning
• Shokubutsu
  • 植物 【しょくぶつ】 (n) plant; vegetation
• Emoi
  • エモい (adj-i) (1) (sl) emo; sad; melancholic; (2) (sl) (pun on エロい and キモい) (See エロい,キモい) erotic in a disgusting way
• Inakakusai
  • 田舎臭い : 田舎臭い; 田舎くさい 【いなかくさい】 (adj-i) rustic; unsophisticated; provincial; hick; cornball
• Ume
  • 梅 : 梅(P); 楳 【うめ(P); むめ(ok); ウメ】 (n) (1) Japanese apricot (Prunus mume); Japanese plum; ume; Chinese plum
• Tnkō
  • 炭坑 : 炭鉱(P); 炭坑; 炭礦 【たんこう】 (n) coal mine; coal pit

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.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

Full Show Notes

• https:///www.japankyo.com/ichimonjapan

 

On this episode of Ichimon Japan we ask: What's life like in Japan during the coronavirus pandemic? We also investigate the cute sneeze conspiracy that is going on in Japan. This episodes features special guest Kyle Broyles of the Tokyo Splosion podcast and Hard Officers YouTube channel.

Topics Discussed

• What it's like living in central Tokyo during the coronavirus pandemic
• What it's like living in Ishikawa Prefecture during the coronavirus pandemic
• Precautions supermarkets in Japan have taken during the coronavirus pandemic
• Whether there are have been any noticeable food shortages
• Making the switch to working from home
• The state of emergency declared by the governor of Ishikawa Prefecture
• Restrictions on bars/izakaya in Tokyo and whether they are being followed
• What the past few weeks have been like in Hawaii during the coronavirus pandemic
• How a robot cabal is promoting "cute sneezing" in order to further spread the coronavirus in Japan
• How to sneeze like a cute Japanese girl
• Fuku's dinosaur museum
• Ishikawa's famous carrots
• The solution to the "cute sneezing" problem
• The dirty handholds on Japanese trains
• And more!

Note: This episode was recorded on April 19, 2020 (JST)/April 18 (HST). On April 20 (JST) Ryan found out that the movie theater he mentions in the episode had closed on April 18 (one day before this episode was recorded).

Support on Patreon

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. For a minimum pledge of $2 a month you'll get access to exclusive content and our eternal, profound, and undrying gratitude.

• Support on Patreon

Sources, Links, Videos, Etc.

This episode features Kyle Broyles as a special guest. If you would like to follow him on Twitter, please use the link below.

• Kyle Broyles on Twitter

Kyle is one of the hosts of the Tokyo Splosion podcast. If you would like to check his podcast out, you can look it up wherever you get your podcasts or use the links below.

• Tokyo Splosion on Libsyn
• Tokyo Splosion on Apple Podcasts
• Tokyo Splosion on Twitter

The episode of Tokyo Splosion involving the "stinky buddies" that was mentioned at the beginning of this episode can be accessed via the link below.

• Tokyo Splosion - Stinky Buddies

Kyle also produces the YouTube series Hard Officers. Check out the channel via the link below.

• Hard Officers YouTube Channel

Japanese Vocabulary List

Most episodes feature at least one or two interesting Japanese words or phrases. Here’s some of the ones that came up on this episode. All information is from Jim Breen's WWWJDIC.

• Kushami
  
  • くしゃみ (n) sneeze
• Seki
  • 咳 【せき】 (n) cough; coughing; tussis
• Yarikata
  • やり方 【やりかた】 (n) manner of doing; way; method; means

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.

Follow Japankyo on Social Media

• Facebook (@JapankyoNews)
• Twitter (@JapankyoNews)

Full Show Notes

• https:///www.japankyo.com/ichimonjapan