Vegetarian Life in Tokyo (life can be cruel) episode artwork

EPISODE · Apr 23, 2026 · 19 MIN

Vegetarian Life in Tokyo (life can be cruel)

from POST-WHATEVER with Ken Nishikawa · host Ken Nishikawa

Being vegetarian in Japan is a bit like being a pacifist at a sword convention. Technically possible. Occasionally uncomfortable. And people keep offering you things you didn't ask for.In this episode of Post-Whatever, Ken Nishikawa — broadcaster, DJ, and almost lifelong vegetarian — navigates the surprising, baffling, and occasionally magnificent world of plant-based eating in Tokyo. From the bonito broth lurking in your "vegetarian" soba, to the ancient imperial decree that somehow forgot to ban wild boar, to the Buddhist monks who invented the phrase "mountain whale" to justify their dinner — this is the story of a nation that was technically vegetarian for 1,200 years and has since decided to make up for lost time.Also covered: why Japanese chefs are fleeing to Paris, why your aglio e olio has bacon in it, and what to do when a kind chef assures you that sausages are absolutely fine.#PostWhatever #KenNishikawa #JapanUK #TokyoLife #ExpatJapan #Podcast #JapanPodcast #TokyoPodcast #JapanExpat #LivinginJapan #TokyoExpat #JapanTips #JapanLife #JapanPodcast #TokyoLife #JapanVlog #HiddenJapan #TokyoVlog #JapanCulture #JapanBritain #JapanvsUK #CulturalDifferences #JapanObsessed #LearnAboutJapan #DryHumour #BritishHumour #Comedy #CulturalCommentary #Observational #Japan #Tokyo #Podcast #TalkShow #WeeklyPodcast #CulturePodcast #JapaneseCulture #TravelJapan #Vegetarian #Vegan #JapaneseFood #VeganJapan #VegetarianJapan #JapaneseHistory #VeganTravel #ShojinRyori #BuddhistFood #PlantBased #FoodHistory

Being vegetarian in Japan is a bit like being a pacifist at a sword convention. Technically possible. Occasionally uncomfortable. And people keep offering you things you didn't ask for.In this episode of Post-Whatever, Ken Nishikawa — broadcaster, DJ, and almost lifelong vegetarian — navigates the surprising, baffling, and occasionally magnificent world of plant-based eating in Tokyo. From the bonito broth lurking in your "vegetarian" soba, to the ancient imperial decree that somehow forgot to ban wild boar, to the Buddhist monks who invented the phrase "mountain whale" to justify their dinner — this is the story of a nation that was technically vegetarian for 1,200 years and has since decided to make up for lost time.Also covered: why Japanese chefs are fleeing to Paris, why your aglio e olio has bacon in it, and what to do when a kind chef assures you that sausages are absolutely fine.#PostWhatever #KenNishikawa #JapanUK #TokyoLife #ExpatJapan #Podcast #JapanPodcast #TokyoPodcast #JapanExpat #LivinginJapan #TokyoExpat #JapanTips #JapanLife #JapanPodcast #TokyoLife #JapanVlog #HiddenJapan #TokyoVlog #JapanCulture #JapanBritain #JapanvsUK #CulturalDifferences #JapanObsessed #LearnAboutJapan #DryHumour #BritishHumour #Comedy #CulturalCommentary #Observational #Japan #Tokyo #Podcast #TalkShow #WeeklyPodcast #CulturePodcast #JapaneseCulture #TravelJapan #Vegetarian #Vegan #JapaneseFood #VeganJapan #VegetarianJapan #JapaneseHistory #VeganTravel #ShojinRyori #BuddhistFood #PlantBased #FoodHistory

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Vegetarian Life in Tokyo (life can be cruel)

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This episode was published on April 23, 2026.

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Being vegetarian in Japan is a bit like being a pacifist at a sword convention. Technically possible. Occasionally uncomfortable. And people keep offering you things you didn't ask for.In this episode of Post-Whatever, Ken Nishikawa — broadcaster,...

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