POST-WHATEVER with Ken Nishikawa

In this episode, Ken Nishikawa introduce to the world Café Bonnet — a tiny, resolutely unreconstructed junkissa tucked down a side alley in the seaside resort town of Atami — and tells the story of its remarkable owner, Hiroshi Masuda, who introduced American hamburger to Japan and served to Japanese literary giants two decades before McDonald's knew Japan existed. Along the way: Yukio Mishima's secret swimming problem, Toshiro Mifune in light disguise and a mother who was a geisha. Also: why a French hat became the name of postwar Japan's most improbable cultural institution. Post-Whatever is a dry, unhurried talk show about Japan, culture, and the things that fall between the cracks of official history. Hosted by Ken Nishikawa — composer, broadcaster, filmmaker, and occasional resident of places with too many hot springs. Nivatak / Atami My Miami https://music.apple.com/jp/album/atami-my-miami/1790943853?i=1790943857 SOURCES & FURTHER READING: Café Bonnet https://japantravel.navitime.com/en/area/jp/spot/02301-pn0002954/ Yukio Mishima https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yukio_Mishima Afraid to die (film) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afraid_to_Die Junichiro Tanizoki https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jun'ichirō_Tanizaki #PostWhatever #KenNishikawa #JapanUK #TokyoLife #ExpatJapan #JapanPodcast #TokyoPodcast #Atami #CafeBonnet #YukioMishima #JapanTravel #JapaneseHistory #JapaneseCulture #Hamburger #Junkissa #PureKissa #JunichiroTanizaki #ToshiroMifune #Shizuoka #Sendai #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 --- stand.fmでは、この放送にいいね・コメント・レター送信ができます。 https://stand.fm/channels/69cce05a062b1e814b1e36c4

Why is it almost always western man, Japanese woman — and the other way round is comparatively few? And why has it been that way since at least 1600? In this episode, Ken Nishikawa voluntarily marches into the minefield of race to examine the John & Yoko Phenomenon — the curious and persistent pattern of western men and Japanese women finding and gravitating towards each other across centuries, oceans, and apparently 47,000 years of genetic memory. Along the way: the first Englishman in Japan who navigated his way directly into prison; Hollywood's very convenient double standard on interracial romance; a brief detour into lion-tiger cross-breeding (for scientific reasons); and the shocking finding of Neanderthal — which rather undermines my potentially revolutionary hypothesis. No conclusions are reached. Several hypotheses collapse under their own weight. A good time is had. Post-Whatever with Ken Nishikawa — because someone has to ask the awkward questions. Sources & further reading: NEANDERTHAL / SCIENCE SOURCES The sex-biased interbreeding study (the core science of the episode):https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aea6774 The 47,000-year dating / Princeton study overview:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/07/250713032519.htm WILLIAM ADAMS / MIURA ANJIN :https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Adams_(sailor) SESSUE HAYAKAWA https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sessue_Hayakawa THE HAYS CODE / PRODUCTION CODE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hays_Code FILMS MENTIONED Sayonara (1957): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0050994/ The Barbarian and the Geisha (1958): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051378/ You Only Live Twice (1967): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0062512/ #PostWhatever #KenNishikawa #JapanUK #TokyoLife #ExpatJapan #JapanPodcast #TokyoPodcast #JohnAndYoko #JapanAndTheWest #InterracialCouples #MixedCouples #ExpatJapan #WesternManJapaneseWoman #CulturalDifferences #JapanCulture #TokyoLife #SoftPower #Neanderthal #HumanEvolution #DNA #PopularScience #Japan #Tokyo #Shimokitazawa #JapanExpat #JapaneseHistory #WilliamAdams #Shogun #JohnLennon #YokoOno #NicolasCage #JapanExpat #LivinginJapan #TokyoExpat #JapanTips #JapanLife #JapanVlog #TokyoVlog #JapanCulture #JapanBritain #JapanvsUK #CulturalDifferences #JapanObsessed #LearnAboutJapan #DryHumour #BritishHumour #Comedy #CulturalCommentary #Observational #Japan #Tokyo #Podcast #TalkShow #WeeklyPodcast #CulturePodcast --- stand.fmでは、この放送にいいね・コメント・レター送信ができます。 https://stand.fm/channels/69cce05a062b1e814b1e36c4

If you think your soul is worth no more than ¥11,000 (69USD) like I do, then press play. Free money. Well — almost. It’s complicated. It’s Japan. In this inaugural episode of Post-Whatever, Ken Nishikawa guides you through the surprisingly rewarding ordeal of claiming ¥11,000 from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government — via a My Number Card, two apps, and what remains of your soul and dignity. Along the way: a brief history of Japan’s heroically unsuccessful war on paper, a character study of Governor Koike Yuriko, a serious conversation about points that become other points, and a heartfelt tribute to the OK Store. Post-Whatever with Ken Nishikawa is a weekly talk show about Japan, the West (Britain, in particular), and the vast, baffling space in between — covering music, culture, food, history, politics, philosophy, and whatever else demands attention that particular week. Hosted by Ken Nishikawa — composer, broadcaster, DJ, film director, and occasional grumpy old man — who has worked for the BBC, MTV, TBS, J-WAVE, and several organisations that probably regret it. New episodes every Thursday. Like and subscribe if you know what’s good for you. LINKS: Tokyo App campaign details: https://www.tokyoapp.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/news/260116348.html #PostWhatever #KenNishikawa #JapanUK #TokyoLife #ExpatJapan #MyNumberCard #TokyoApp #FreeMoneyJapan #KoikeYuriko #TokyoPoints #JapanDigital #JapanExpat #LivinginJapan #TokyoExpat #JapanTips #JapanLife #JapanVlog #TokyoVlog #JapanCulture #JapanBritain #JapanvsUK #CulturalDifferences #JapanObsessed #LearnAboutJapan #Japan #Tokyo #Podcast #TalkShow #WeeklyPodcast #CulturePodcast --- stand.fmでは、この放送にいいね・コメント・レター送信ができます。 https://stand.fm/channels/69cce05a062b1e814b1e36c4