Best Kyota Ko Podcasts (2024)

1
Ghibli’s Spirited Away: Cultural walkthrough Part III 8:28

2+ y ago8:28

8:28

In this third part of this Spirited Away cultural walkthrough series, show host Kyota clarifies the mystery of Chihiro's sudden maturing and the trick Miyazaki plays in the scene where Chihiro signs an employment contract. Support the showBy Kyota Ko

1
Ghibli’s Spirited Away: Cultural walkthrough Part II 6:10

3y ago6:10

6:10

In this second part of the Spirited Away cultural walkthrough series, show host Kyota clarifies who all the absurd-looking monsters are and the peculiar nature of the world Chihiro wanders into. Support the showBy Kyota Ko

1
Ghibli’s Spirited Away: Cultural walkthrough Part I 9:42

3y ago9:42

9:42

Ghibli's Spirited Away is undoubtedly one of the best films of all time, but fully "getting" what goes on in the movie may be difficult without some knowledge of Japanese culture. In this podcast series, Japanese culture researcher/enthusiast/The Metro-classic Japanese show host Kyota Ko will share with you insights that will help you to enjoy the …

1
Heroes or hypocrites? Buddhist soldier monks of middle-age Japan 12:09

3y ago12:09

12:09

Buddhist monks are not supposed to harm anyone, but "soldier monks" were a long-lasting profession in middle age Japan - why did these people arm themselves and why were they even allowed to exist? Podcast host Kyota Ko explains the historical controversy in this insightful and hilarious podcast episode. Support the show…

1
Samurai were the fathers of Japanese goldfish 10:18

3y ago10:18

10:18

Samurai were not only busy swinging around swords and spears taking people's lives. They also gave life. To goldfish. Goldfish were mass-produced and became a popular pet among Japanese people in the 18th-19th century, thanks to a creative samurai. Show host Kyota Ko narrates how the beautiful Japanese breeds of goldfish came to be, tracing back th…

1
The thing with Japanese names 5:57

3y ago5:57

5:57

Many Japanese people didn't even have last names until around 150 years ago. In this short episode, show host Kyota Ko explains the background and potentially embarrassing secrets behind Japanese names. Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture. Support the show…

1
Japanese proverb: Turning to God in times of trouble 8:36

3y ago8:36

8:36

Japanese people are terrible at being religious. Shintoism allows Japanese people to be religious whenever and only when they need supernatural help. In this episode, show host Kyota Ko explains the meaning and cultural background behind the proverb 困った時の神頼み "Turning to God in times of trouble". Great listen for students looking for an interesting …

1
Japanese proverb: "Waterfall climbs of feeble Koi" 4:14

3+ y ago4:14

4:14

The Japanese language, like any other language, has a rich inventory of witty and useful proverbs. In this short episode, show host Kyota Ko explains the meaning and cultural background behind the proverb 及ばぬ鯉の滝登り "Waterfall climbs of feeble Koi". Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture. Supp…

1
Japanese proverb: "No entry into a tiger's den brings about no capture of its cub" 7:48

3+ y ago7:48

7:48

The Japanese language, like any other language, has a rich inventory of witty and useful proverbs. In this short episode, show host Kyota Ko explains the meaning and cultural background behind the proverb 虎穴に入らずんば孤児を得ず "No entry into a tiger's den brings about no capture of its cub." Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more …

1
Japanese proverb: ”The minds of women and the autumn sky” 6:12

3+ y ago6:12

6:12

The Japanese language, like any other language, has a rich inventory of witty and useful proverbs. In this short episode, show host Kyota Ko explains the meaning and cultural background behind the Japanese proverb 女心と秋の空 "The minds of women and the autumn sky." Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese…

1
The Japanese train experience of today and yesteryear 12:36

3+ y ago12:36

12:36

Trains are not just a transportation means or infrastructure in Japan, but a cultural experience. If your next trip is to a Japanese city such as Tokyo or Osaka, prep for it with this podcast to enrich your Japanese train experience. Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture. Support the show…

1
Great Tokyo weekend hangouts: Nihonbashi 16:03

3+ y ago16:03

16:03

Nihonbashi is a must-go location for second-timers to Tokyo looking to experience a modern yet cultural Japan. As a Tokyo local, show host Kyota Ko introduces his reasons for having made Nihonbashi one of his favorite weekend hangout place. Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture. Support the…

1
Is Japan a stressful place to live? Yes, until you figure it out. 19:50

3+ y ago19:50

19:50

You hear it on the Internet. Japan is a paradise on Earth when you visit there as a tourist, but not so much when you try to live there. Many Japanese people will agree to that, as Japanese society can suffocate you with loads of rules and social guidelines. But that's not the whole story. Japan is in fact a paradise on Earth for those, Japanese or…

1
Hilarious! Early modern Japanese porno-artistic paintings “Shunga” 15:19

3+ y ago15:19

15:19

"Japanese culture, once upon a time, encouraged and celebrated sex openly. Now we do so secretly." Shungas are windows to the sexually liberal lives of 17th to 19th century Japanese people, and a vital hint to solving the mysterious gap between the clean, polite and disciplined image of Japan and the fact that the keywords "Japanese" and "Hentai" b…

1
When & how did samurais disappear from Japan? 18:16

3+ y ago18:16

18:16

Samurais used to rule Japan for over 9 centuries, but they are nowhere to be found anymore. Where did they go? Show host Kyota Ko explains how samurais disappeared from the face of Japan. Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture. Support the show…

1
Japanese horror stories that will break your positive Halloween spirit 13:59

3+ y ago13:59

13:59

Japan has a treasury of horror stories that will traumatize you and ruin your day, whether it be old folklore or modern urban myths. Show host Kyota Ko brings you one of each, to contribute some scare to your Halloween experience. Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture. Support the show…

1
Spilling the tea of Japanese tea ceremony 22:53

3+ y ago22:53

22:53

What's the point of Japanese tea ceremony? Show host Kyota Ko explains in layman terms its enlightening goal, its link with Zen, its intriguing gimmicks, and why you should make it your next new hobby. Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture. Support the show…

1
Tsunayoshi: 17th century Japanese ruler with the ethics of the future 16:43

4y ago16:43

16:43

TOKUGAWA Tsunayoshi was an iconic ruler of Japan during the age of the samurais. Nicknamed Dog King, he is remembered as a maker of laws that beheaded people for killing or straying puppies, and was criticized for devaluing human lives. But recent studies have reevaluated Tsunayoshi's policies as perhaps a major contributor to developing Japanese p…

1
How the world's most populated city, Tokyo, got itself to the top 19:14

4y ago19:14

19:14

Metro-Tokyo houses the world's biggest population at 37 million people, having gone through rapid growth at an unprecedented pace since the 17th century. As strange as it sounds, the driver of its population growth was in "disastrous losses." Show host Kyota Ko explains the secrets behind Tokyo's immense success as a megacity. Check out The Metro-c…

1
The unromantic AND romantic reasons Japanese men suck at saying “I love you” 12:12

4y ago12:12

12:12

Japanese men are incapable of saying "I love you." There are a couple of cultural reasons behind it and they are both absurdly unromantic and romantic. The key lies in the Japanese language and Japanese history. Show host Kyota Ko gives an explanation to the indirectness of Japanese love. Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for …

1
Japan used to be ruled by an incredible woman, HINO Tomiko 22:10

4y ago22:10

22:10

Japan is still a male-dominant society - on the surface. Throughout its history, Japan has seen women pulling strings behind the scene and HINO Tomiko is an extreme but great example representing how women often outsmart men in Japan. Show host Kyota Ko narrates the incredible and incredulous life of HINO Tomiko, the woman who practically ruled Jap…

1
Average stay: 12 years. Hidden secrets of employee retention & job security of Japanese businesses 14:54

4y ago14:54

14:54

Job retention in Japan is second highest in the world - employees stay at an organization for an average of 12 years. Employees just almost never get fired or laid off. Show host Kyota Ko explains the 400-year old reason behind the peculiar business culture. More discussion on this topic in his blog The Metro-classic Japanese. https://www.metro-cla…

1
You're lucky you weren't born a samurai. But samurais are lovable. 14:48

4y ago14:48

14:48

Life was hard, and short, as a samurai. In battle, at home, at their work desk, death was always right around the corner, even after Japan had entered a long period of peace. But their stoicism is to be loved. Show host Kyota Ko describes the tight-rope walks samurais lived during the Edo Period. For more discussion on this topic, visit The Metro-c…

1
Marketing lessons to learn from 16th century Japan 12:13

4y ago12:13

12:13

Influencer marketing and SEO. Some important marketing lessons that are applicable to business in our time can be learnt from equivalents in business activities of 16th century merchants of Edo City (the former name of Tokyo when samurais were ruling Japan). Show host Kyota Ko explains how "tangerines" and "candy" went viral 200 years ago. For more…

1
The cultural damage Japan is taking from COVID-19 pandemic 9:47

4y ago9:47

9:47

While Japan has kept COVID-19 casualties minimal, its culture has been taking damage slowly. How will Japanese culture be expressed now that it cannot be in traditional manners? Show host Kyota Ko explains the effects of the virus on the country's culture and business culture. For more discussion on this topic, visit The Metro-classic Japanese blog…

1
A Samurai story that will make you think about life - ISHIKAWA Jōzan 14:16

4y ago14:16

14:16

ISHIKAWA Jōzan was a samurai warrior at the end of the age of samurais, the late 16th century. As we face a new era of humanity, Jōzan's career and life decisions shed light to how we may still be able to pursue happiness in times of drastic changes. Show host Kyota Ko of the blog The Metro-classic Japanese tells the most peculiar samurai success s…

1
Water is the greatest natural resource of Japan 10:58

4y ago10:58

10:58

Water has been the basis of Japanese life and food culture since at least 2,000 years ago. There is a certain trait of water in Japan that makes Japanese food cuisine taste good. Along with explaining how this is so, we take a look at Harie in Shiga Prefecture, a beautiful town that lives an ancient Japanese lifestyle revolving around river water. …

1
Top 3 Only-in-Japan Coronavirus Moments 16:58

4+ y ago16:58

16:58

Here is a report on Japanese people's unique responses to the pandemic and insights into why the outbreak is kept relatively under control as of March 28, 2020. For more discussion on this topic, visit The Metro-classic Japanese blog. Also find The Metro-classic Japanese on Instagram. Support the show…

1
Pheasants are the national bird of Japan. Because they taste good. 10:36

4+ y ago10:36

10:36

Japanese pheasants are the national bird of Japan, because they are brave, lovable and tasty. They are the only bird species in the world that is both a national bird and a game bird. Eating them is in fact the Japanese way of preserving the species. Find out about one of the most likable and Kawaii animals of nature, the Japanese pheasant. Show ho…

1
The cultural reason Power Rangers introduce themselves before battle 9:26

4+ y ago9:26

9:26

Why do Power Rangers, originally a Japanese kids TV content franchise, give a self-introduction every time they go into battle, and why do villains just patiently wait for them to finish? The Power Ranger series in Japan are the same deal. There is in fact an interesting historical/cultural background to their absurd behaviors - in the lives of Jap…

1
Why is there so much solo dining in Tokyo? 15:15

4+ y ago15:15

15:15

Solo dining is a fun cultural activity in itself here in Tokyo - it's your chance to enjoy quality alone-time and quality food. The history of solo dining dates back 350 years and it started for a cultural and political reason you wouldn't expect. Show host Kyota Ko explains the on-going revival of the practice of solo dining and its initial forms …

1
So are Japanese people atheists or what? They're actually not 11:45

4+ y ago11:45

11:45

Japanese people are thought to be atheists and they would admit they are. However the Shinto religion influences Japanese people well into their subconsciousness and their world view clearly indicates that they are Shinto. Here's an explanation of Shintoism and how almost all Japanese people are Shinto, in 11 minutes. Show host Kyota Ko walks you t…

1
Is it worth visiting Tokyo Station? Yes, and here's why 34:59

4+ y ago34:59

34:59

The Tokyo Station neighborhood is a must-go destination because of the rich history and culture the architectures there represent, and also because you can experience everything without paying for anything. This podcast will be your museum audio guide for the outdoor museum of the dramatic modern Japanese history - Tokyo Station. Show host Kyota Ko…

1
3 keywords to remember to fully enjoy Japanese art exhibits 22:55

4+ y ago22:55

22:55

Japanese art can look pretty alien from a Western aesthetic standpoint, and appreciating their value can sometimes be tricky. But all you need is to know 3 simple keywords that will give you the right perspective to comprehend the artist's intent and the Japanese sense of beauty the artwork demonstrates. Enrich your next museum experience! Show hos…

1
Why do Japanese companies stay in business for 500 years? 20:00

4+ y ago20:00

20:00

More than half of companies that are 2 centuries old or above in the world are in Japan. There are around 40 Japanese companies that are 5 centuries old. The secret to longevity lies in its unique history, the business culture and the national culture of Japan. Show host Kyota Ko explains the reasons behind the overwhelming sustainability of Japane…

1
How do you make friends with Japanese locals? 15:48

4+ y ago15:48

15:48

Making real friends with Japanese people can be a challenge if you don't know their culture. The common mistake that foreign nationals make when they try to form friendships with Japanese locals is thinking that friendship can happen at any given time. This is not the case - there are certain situations that allow new friendships to form. This podc…

1
Why are heroes foreigners in Japanese myths and manga? | The Metro-classic Japanese Podcast 12:25

4+ y ago12:25

12:25

In many Japanese myths and manga and anime, heroes are foreigners who come from outside the community. This has to do with Japan's history of seeing innovation almost always being brought from overseas. We don't know the author's real intent, but Dragon Ball is a representative example of the Japanese cultural idea about heroes. Show host Kyota Ko …

1
Borders are blurry in Japanese culture | The Metro-classic Japanese Podcast 13:09

4+ y ago13:09

13:09

Japanese people have traditionally tended to avoid drawing hard lines between anything, because it goes against their concept of beauty. Show host Kyota Ko explains how borders are blurry between nature and the human world, life and afterlife, and even male and female, to the eyes of Japanese culture. For more discussion on this topic, visit The Me…

1
Why does Japan have so many weird subcultures? | The Metro-classic Japanese Podcast 10:00

4+ y ago10:00

10:00

Japanese people are stereotypically considered serious and formal, but at the same time, Japan is also known for having a good share of weird subcultures and extravagant fashion. Why are there these two poles? Show host Kyota Ko explains how Japanese society has naturally served as a hotbed for subcultures like gothic fashion and Kabuki. Further di…

1
Japanese food culture, seasons and travel | The Metro-classic Japanese Podcast 16:38

4+ y ago16:38

16:38

Japanese people consider eating as an activity to please the tongue, eyes and also body, as they make sure their meals are nutritious by applying a simple yet effective habit. This secret habit relates to the unique Japanese value of regarding the coming and going of seasons as an important part of their culture. Show host Kyota Ko explains how Jap…

1
Geography and Japanese Culture | The Metro-classic Japanese Podcast 11:04

4+ y ago11:04

11:04

A fun way to understand how Japan being a chain of islands has helped to form its distinct culture. Everything in Japan from Ramen to Kabuki, anime to religion are all tied to the influence Japan has gotten from overseas and cultivated as something of their own through time. Show host Kyota Ko explains the foundation of Japanese culture found in it…

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Kyota Ko Podcasts

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