The Tokyo Room Podcast- Decoding Japan Beneath the Surface
by the Tokyo Room
The Tokyo Room is a podcast about exploring Japan beyond the surface. From changing social norms and consumer trends to literature, history, and popular culture, each episode explores the stories, ideas, and experiences that help explain Japan today. Along the way, I share my own observations and perspectives from life in Japan.
Episodes
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How Japanese Fandom Moves an Entire Country
In Japan, fandom can become powerful enough to move an entire country. Starting with the recent attention around ice dance, this episode explores "oshi-katsu", the Japanese practice of passionately supporting a favorite person, and what happens when millions of people begin following a sport not...
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Godzilla: How 70 Years of Change Led Back to Its Origins
Godzilla has been a nuclear metaphor, a monster-movie hero, and a global icon. But Godzilla Minus One released in 2023 did something unexpected: it returned to the emotional roots of the 1954 original. Ahead of Godzilla -0.0 which will hit the theaters in Japan on November 3, we look at…
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Kyoto’s Gion Festival: The History, the Community, and the Meaning Behind the Floats
The Gion Festival 2026 has ended, but its meaning lingers long after the floats are back in the warehouse. In this episode, I walk through the thousand-year history of Kyoto's most iconic celebration - its spiritual origins, its transformation during the Muromachi Period, and the neighborhoods…
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What a 1,000-Year-Old Novel Reveals About Japan | The Tale of Genji
The Tale of Genji was written more than a thousand years ago, yet it is loved by so many people, even today. In this episode of The Tokyo Room, we take you inside a special exhibition on The Tale of Genji at the Kyoto National Museum and explore why this Heian-period masterpiece has endured for...
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Japan's Hidden World of Spirits
What do Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and My Neighbor Totoro have in common? In this episode of The Tokyo Room, we explore how ancient Japanese ideas about spirits and emotions continue to shape the stories Japan tells today. From the Heian-period legend of Sugawara no Michizane to the curses,...
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Why Japan Loves the Seasons: A 1000-year old Tradition and Aesthetics
In this episode, we trace Japan’s fascination with seasonal moments back more than a thousand years, to the waka poetry of the Heian court. We explore how the emotional language of the seasons was later distilled through haiku and its use of kigo, or seasonal words, before finding new forms in...
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More Than Chocolate: The Rise of Experience Culture in Japan
In this episode, I visit "nib", a chocolate workshop in Tokyo. Using a small chocolate studio as an example, we explore the cultural currents behind Japan's rising experience economy and what it reveals about how people are redefining value in contemporary life. Nib: https://nib-cacao-lab.com/
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The Hidden Miyazawa Kenji Story Behind Yonezu Kenshi’s “YODAKA” and the movie “KINGDOM”
Yonezu Kenshi spoke in an interview that “Yodaka no Hoshi (The Nighthawk Star)", a century old story by Miyazawa Kenji, was at his emotional core in creating the theme song "Yodaka" for the 5th sequel of the movie "KINGDOM". In this episode, we explore how a fragile, rejected night bird from...
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How Shohei Ohtani’s Generation Changed Japanese Baseball Ecosystem
Every August, Japan gathers around Koshien, the national high school baseball tournament that has captivated the country for more than a century. But behind the tradition, Koshien has undergone a remarkable transformation. In this episode, we explore how the tournament has evolved and what that...
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Japan's Convenience Store Fashion: The Shift from Status to Value and Individuality
In this episode of The Tokyo Room Podcast, we explore how Japan's convenience stores evolved from emergency retail into lifestyle destinations. As Japanese consumers place greater value on experiences, convenience, and carefully chosen purchases, the traditional divide between "high" and "low"...
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Why Do Japanese See a Rabbit on the Moon? - The Story of Jugoya
Every autumn, people across Japan celebrate Jūgoya, the traditional moon-viewing festival. In this episode of The Tokyo Room, we explore the story of the moon rabbit, the origins of Jūgoya, and how a tradition rooted in folklore, poetry, and seasonal appreciation continues to shape modern Japan....
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Why Is Japan Celebrating Meiji-Era Novelist Uno Chiyo Now?
Born in the Meiji era, Uno Chiyo lived a life that challenged many of the social expectations of her time. A celebrated novelist, magazine editor, entrepreneur, and cultural icon, she became known not only for her literary achievements but also for her fiercely independent spirit. In this episode...
About this show
The Tokyo Room is a podcast about exploring Japan beyond the surface. From changing social norms and consumer trends to literature, history, and popular culture, each episode explores the stories, ideas, and experiences that help explain Japan today. Along the way, I share my own observations and perspectives from life in Japan.
Hosted by
the Tokyo Room