Grab your bachi and join the Krewe as they sit down with Takumi Kato (加藤 拓三), world champion taiko drummer, to explore the sounds of taiko, his personal experiences and approaches to taiko, & his current adventure across the United States performing 1,000 times in all 50 states. ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly e…

The Krewe is joined by journalist & author of Tokyo Vice, Jake Adelstein, to dive into the yakuza. How did these organizations gain prominence in Japanese society, and how have the police & government responded over time to their presence? What behind-the-scenes decisions went into the TV adaptation of Jake's thrilling memoir? Find out all this and…

Prepare for lift off as the Krewe sits down with returning guest Dr. Kate Kitagawa of JAXA to look deep into the past, present, and future of Japan's space program! From pencil rockets & SLIM landers to international collaborative efforts, discover Japan's role in exploring the far reaches of outer space. ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of …

The Krewe is joined by Patrick St. Michel, Japan-based writer for the Japan Times and author of Make Believe Melodies blog. Patrick shares his passion and expertise on all things J-Pop, what's popular now, where to find it, and so much more! Are you a life-long fan of Japanese pop music? Or maybe you are looking for ways to discover more about J-Po…

The MEXT Scholarship deadline is quickly approaching (May 24, 2024 for the Nashville Consulate). But what is a MEXT Scholarship Program? The Krewe is digging into this today. We sit down with returning guest Tye Ebel, JET/MEXT Coordinator for the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville, & a current MEXT research scholar, William Archambeault. Throu…

Japanese language programs in a non-university setting are a rarity in Louisiana, but fortunately for some students in the Greater New Orleans area, one school has them covered! The Krewe sits down with Dr. Tara Sanchez to discuss how she established a Japanese language program at Chalmette High School and how that program is providing opportunitie…

Kyoto-based geisha culture guru Peter Macintosh joins the Krewe to take a look at geisha culture, reality vs. perception, how societal changes impact the geisha scene today & much more. If you are a fan of traditional Japanese culture, this episode is for you! ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast spo…

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a Japanese home? Is it the scent of tatami mats? Shoji-style sliding doors? What are other major components and influences that go into making the Japanese home, be it traditional or modern, as well as Japanese Architecture as a whole? With special guest Azby Brown, the Krewe is going to d…

Joined by travel expert, owner of Lifebridge Inc., & popular YouTuber Ryotaro Sakurai and fellow New Orleanian William Woods, the Krewe explores Miyagi Prefecture and everything it has to offer! From popular spots to secret gems, Ryotaro & Will share their insight into place that are must see, foods that are must eat, and things that are must do! D…

Ever wanted to learn Japanese and just not know where to start? The Krewe sits down with Walden Perry, a Louisiana native who prior to 2020 had zero Japanese language experience. What started as a personal challenge during the pandemic became a multi-year self-study language learning adventure. And as with all adventures, there are ups and downs. T…

On March 1st, the world lost a pop culture legend, Akira Toriyama. In today's episode, friend-of-the-podcast Matt Alt re-joins the Krewe to look a back at the legacy that Toriyama left behind and his impact on pop culture in Japan and around the world. You won't want to miss this one! ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a we…

13 years have passed since the catastrophic events of March 11th's Great East Japan earthquake & tsunami, along with the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Plant. Fukushima, as a prefectural community, has demonstrated incredible resiliency in its recovery efforts, but unfortunately there still is a residual stigma attached to the prefecture…

Kicking off Season 5 with a deep dive into the King of Monsters. Godzilla expert & author of "Godzilla On My Mind" Dr. William (Bill) Tsutsui joins the Krewe to discuss the Godzilla franchise, its roots, its impact in Japan, & how it became the global phenomenon it is today. Get in touch with your inner kaiju and learn more about your favorite gian…

SEASON 5 is (almost) HERE!! This is your one week warning... as the KREWE is BACK on Friday, March 8th, 12 noon CST. Here's a sneak peek & preview of gusts & episodes to come: - The History & Evolution of Godzilla ft. Dr. William Tsutsui - Witness Fukushima's Recovery through Educational Tourism ft. William McMichael - Japanese Self-Study Strategie…

MOAR BONUS CONTENT! Think of this as Season 5 MINUS ONE. Godzilla expert & author of Godzilla On My Mind Dr. William (Bill) Tsutsui joins Doug to discuss Toho's latest Godzilla film, Godzilla Minus One. What did one of the top experts on Godzilla think of this movie? Find out right here! DISCLAIMER -- This conversation is NOT spoiler-free. If you d…

What? Bonus content, already?! That's right! The Krewe is here with a surprise bonus episode to talk about the 2024 JET Program Application Cycle. Returning guest Tye Ebel, JET Coordinator for the Consulate-General of Japan in Nashville, is back, this time with his colleague Jonathan Contrades, Culture Coordinator at the same consulate. Together, t…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... the end is here! Well, Season 4 anyway. Jenn, Doug, & Maddy sit down to talk about the best of Season 4, new & exciting milestones, upcoming plans for Season 5, & some listener feedback. Whether you've been along from the ride since the beginning of the season or just recently hopped on, you'll definitely enjo…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... in light of Japan Society of New Orleans’s upcoming 2024 Sister City Exchange Program, the Krewe sits down with Nicholas McCullough, Coordinator of International Relations for the International Tourism Division in Matsue. Nicholas takes us through some of the must-see, must-do, must-eat options that Matsue has…

The Krewe sits down with returning guest and author of Pure Invention, Matt Alt! Matt takes the Krewe on a deep dive extravaganza into the history of the beloved Nintendo. From its humble beginnings as a playing card company to its various pivots along the way (hello taxis & love hotels) before its transformation into a behemoth in the video game i…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... the Krewe sits down to discuss omiyage, when to get it, who to get it for, what to get, and how to navigate the culture of gift-giving in Japan! From sneaky good ideas to absolutely DON'T DO IT mistakes, the Krewe has it all! ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a weekly episodic podcast…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... HAJIME! The Krewe sits down with Alexander Bennett, 7th Dan in Kendo, to take a deep dive into the way of the sword. From the historical context of how kendo came to be to the ins and outs of being a kendo practitioner, this episode will open your eyes to this intense martial art! And don't forget... KI... KEN…

In this week's episodes, the Krewe is exploring the sub-culture of themed cafes! Joined by fellow Krewe member Maddy & special returning guest/friend of the podcast/Japanese theme park expert Chris Nilghe of TDR Explorer, the Krewe explores what makes a cafe a "themed cafe", what some popular cafes are, what to expect, why themed cafes are such a h…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... the Krewe explores the Japanese language in a different way... by studying the Kansai Dialect with Japanese tutor Tyson of Nihongo Hongo! Learn new phrases & words while discovering the differences between standard Japanese & the Kansai Dialect. ------ About the Krewe ------ The Krewe of Japan Podcast is a wee…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... discover the life and legacy of Jokichi Takamine and his lasting impact on the city of New Orleans with regards to New Orleans-Japan relations. Is he the first ever Japanese to visit New Orleans? What makes this man such a treasure? Find out these answers AND MORE right here with special guest Stephen Lyman of…

This week on Krewe of Japan... The Krewe talks with former JET Program participant Rachel of Travel Bug Art to discuss how she taps into her surroundings in Kyoto, Japan for limitless inspiration for her art. Rachel specializes in sketching and watercolor of Japan’s historical and natural landscapes. As an artist and instructor, she shares tips tha…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... the Krewe sits back down with returning guest & friend of the podcast, Shinichi Mine of TabiEats YouTube fame! Together, we explore one of Japanese most hyped and popular dish... RAMEN! From the different types and regional delicacies to etiquette and manners and recent trends, we cover it all! Bust out those …

Ever wonder what goes into the daily routine of a professional sumo wrestler? What kind of toll do tournaments take on the body? Well you're in luck! The Krewe sits down with 3-time Grand Champion & 1st foreign-born sumotori to reach the rank of Ozeki... Konishiki Yasokichi. In a candid conversation, Konishiki shares his origin story and discusses …

It's nearly the halfway point in the season, and Editor Doug is currently in Japan for a couple weeks... so it's definitely a great time to announce our Mid-Season Break! But this episode is more than just that announcement; it's a full-blown preview with longer clips from the final 11 upcoming episodes of the season! Here's the line-up of what's t…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... the Krewe sits down with Kasia Lynch of Ikigai Connections to talk about finding your ideal Japan-related job in your home country. How do you find these Japan jobs? What are some tips and tricks to polish up your resume to make you stand out above the rest of the candidate pool? Is Japanese proficiency REALLY…

This week on Krewe of Japan... Jenn & Doug sit down with Chris Carlier of Mondo Mascots to explore the wide & wacky world of Japanese Mascots. Kumamon, Domo-Kun, Chiitan and so many others... Chris shares his expertise & passion for these lovable characters through stories about how they have evolved from marketing & branding tools to international…

This week on Krewe of Japan... Jenn & Doug sit down with Rin of Mainichi Kimono to better understand the intricate world of kimono. Rin shares so much knowledge about the rich history and culture surrounding one of Japan's most distinguished fashions, including the types of kimono, etiquette & accessories, & the training is involved in becoming a k…

Super Hero Time! The Krewe talks tokusatsu from a couple different perspectives! First Doug chats with long time friend, avid listener of the podcast, and tokusatsu aficionado Chris Gooden to discuss his take on tokusatsu and its US counterparts. Then, Doug sits down one-on-one with a former Super Sentai to talk about what it was like acting in tok…

One of the biggest obstacles for Japanese language learners is trying to learn and master the written alphabets, specifically kanji. So many common questions come with learning kanji… What’s the right reading? Am I using the correct character? What does this kanji even mean? Well, in today’s episode, the Krewe sits down with Dr. James Heisig, autho…

The Krewe grabs an eki-ben and hops on a Shinkansen to explore the prefecture of Hiroshima with their special guest Joy Jarman-Walsh (who listeners may also know as JJ Walsh). Long-time Hiroshima resident, Joy co-founded GetHiroshima, founded Inbound Ambassador, and is the host of the Seek Sustainable Japan Podcast. She shares with the Krewe her de…

Pokémon: Krewetwo Strikes Back! In Part 2 of this 2-part episode, Jenn & Doug conclude their conversation with Daniel Dockery, the author of Monster Kids: How Pokémon Taught a Generation to Catch Them All. They revisit the world of Pokémon spin-off games, how Pokémon Go revitalized the brand, & talk about the most recent generation of Pokémon games…

Prepare for trouble, and make it double! Okay, okay the Krewe went and made it double... a DOUBLE DOSE of Pokémon content over the next 2 weeks! In Part 1 of this 2-part episode, Jenn & Doug sit down with Daniel Dockery, the author of Monster Kids: How Pokémon Taught a Generation to Catch Them All, to discuss the early days of Pokémania and how the…

The Krewe is back! Season 4 is going to be bigger and better, debuting with a musical journey with the shamisen. Jenn & Doug took about a year getting this special guest onto the podcast, and they're thrilled to finally welcome Norm Nakamura of the YouTube channel Tokyo Lens to share his passion and love of shamisen with the world. Norm’s fascinati…

We're baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! The Krewe returns back from its off-season to make a special announcement! Season 4 will officially be launching March 31, 2023! Here are a few of our guests & topics for this new season: - The Sounds of Shamisen ft. Norm Nakamura of Tokyo Lens - The Evolution of Pokemania ft. Monster Kids author Daniel Dockery - Expl…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... 約束の通り、日本アカデミー最優秀作品賞受賞監督の内田英治さんと日本語版のインタービューです。このボーナスエピソードは日本語と英語で放送します。内田英治監督の生活とキャリアについて話を楽しんでください！将来にもっと日本語版のゲストインタービューが出てきますので、ソーシャルメディアで是非フォローしてください。 As promised in Episode 18, here is the Japanese version of our interview with the Japanese Academy Award-Winning Director Eiji Uchida from January 2022. This…

In this season finale episode, the Krewe look back on some of their favorite moments from the season, share the behind the scenes of the podcast, and look to the season ahead! It has truly been a pleasure! Thank you for joining us throughout season 3 on our weekly(-ish lol) audio journeys! For more on the Japan Society of New Orleans: https://japan…

This week on the Season 3 penultimate episode of Krewe of Japan... Everyone knows the term culture shock, but this week Jenn & Doug back it up and put it in reverse... and take a look at REVERSE culture shock. They talk about the difference between culture shock & reverse culture shock, share some experiences with it, and how to cope when going thr…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast...the Krewe sits down for an exclusive interview with Eiji Uchida, the director of Netflix's The Naked Director & 2020 Japanese Academy Award Winner for Best Film... Midnight Swan. In this in chat, Uchida-san discusses his career in the Japanese independent film industry, how diversity is important in movies, how…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... the Krewe is back full steam ahead on a travel train (plane?) and this time we are taking a more prefecture-specific approach like past seasons! Joined by returning guests Kay Allen of Japan National Tourism Organization & Megan DeVille of JETAA USA , we explore the prefecture of Aomori and everything it has t…

This week on Krewe of Japan... Japanese language study is BACK on the menu!! Jenn & Doug sit down with Loretta of KemushiChan YouTube Channel fame to talk all things Japanese Language Proficiency Test (better known as... JLPT). Loretta drops some knowledge on the best study tips and things to think about when applying & preparing for the JLPT! YOU'…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... with the borders re-opened, the Krewe is on a travel kick lately (and is ALWAYS on a food kick)... so this week the Krewe put the two together! Joined by Shinichi of TabiEats YouTube Channel fame, we explore Japan with a food-focused filter. From crazy vending machines to a cuisine breakdown by region, this ep…

A wild Rapid Fire Question Challenge appears! Season 3's 1st RFQC actually is a throwback to a couple Season 1 guests whose rapid fires never got released. The first challenger is Jennifer O'Donnell, translator & localizer who joined us for Season 1 Episode 15 called "Careers in Japanese: Translation & Localization". In that episode, we explored ho…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... What is city pop? With guest host Andre deLaneuville, the Krewe explores the musical genre that has had a renaissance over the last decade (even more so within the last 4-5 years). After talking through individual experiences with this feel good style of music, Andre & Doug dive into a conversation with former…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... Meet the man who became Marvel's Man in Japan and changed the tokusatsu & pop culture game forever: Gene Pelc! With special guest host Matt Alt, the Krewe sits down with Gene Pelc and his son Ted to discuss how Japanese tokusatsu Spider-Man came to be (and its lasting impact on tokusatsu), behind the scenes ta…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... don your henro gear, grab your walking stick, & journey to Shikoku for an 800 mile, thousand year old 88 temple pilgrimage with Todd Wassel, author of the travel memoir Walking in Circles! The Krewe & Todd explore the history behind the pilgrimage, personal experiences traversing the island, some can't-miss ti…

This week on Krewe of Japan Podcast... news of the Japanese borders re-opening to foreign independent-travelling tourists has everyone hyped! While this announcement of visa waivers & removal of daily caps isn't officially official just yet, all things are pointing to this being cemented soon. However, up until this point, 2022 hasn't been the easi…