PODCAST · society
Tokyo Wave
by Aaron Randall & Parker Allen
Weekly updates from Japan with Aaron & Parker, two Americans with a passion for telling you what's going on right now on the ground in Tokyo, straight from our studio in Harajuku. Join us in segments featuring this week's top news, political happenings, business, and absolutely random garbage. Also, there's a rad synth intro.
Episodes
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#142 - Dating App
Why is Tokyo Metropolitan Government releasing a dating app? Aaron and Parker discuss PM Kishida vowing stronger steps for recovery of central Japan quake, Kyoto Animation arsonist sentenced to death, and retired Japan bullet train snack carts up for sale.
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#141 - Lauren Kocher
Japanese music industry expert and entrepreneur Lauren Rose Kocher shares her insights on Japan's music industry, PR in the entertainment space, and how Japanese artists and music labels have the potential to reach a global audience. Aaron and Parker discuss the recovery effort in the wake of a...
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#139 - Synthetic Weed
What is HHCH and why did Japan move to ban this substance after it became known as a synthetic variant of marijuana? How did this become an issue taken up by Japan's Ministry of Health? Aaron and Parker discuss the Japan PM resigning as ruling party faction head amid funds scandal, host clubs in...
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#138 - Revisiting Hell-o-ween
What ended up happening in the aftermath of Shibuya's war on Halloween? Aaron and Parker discuss Shibuya Halloween's tight security, the end of snack carts on the Tokaido Shinkansen, and a Japan minister admitting to paying rent to their mom using political funds.
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#137 - We're back!
Will people heed Shibuya's calls to stay away as it braces for the Halloween crowd? How many in Japan are calling newly-renamed Twitter 'X'? What happened to a wild boar swimming at a port in central Chiba after 3 were bitten? Aaron and Parker talk about coming back to Tokyo Wave after a 3+ month...
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#132 - AI Policy
What is the future of AI in Japan? Is Japan falling behind the rest of the world on this new technology? Will the Japanese government open its arms to the upcoming AI era? Aaron and Parker address Japan's first official stance on AI and discuss the first-ever instance of a woman attending a...
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#131 - Hitomi Abiko
Accomplished entrepreneur, designer, and artist Hitomi Abiko shares her insights on being a character designer, creating the meetup group Creative Tokyo, and running a startup in Japan. Aaron and Parker discuss Japan rolling the dice on Japan's 1st casino resort in Osaka, Uniqlo's ambitious plans...
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#130 - ChatGPT Galapagos
Why are SoftBank and other Japanese firms moving to limit ChatGPT use? Will Japan Inc. suffer again from the Galapagos effect as other global companies embrace the latest trend in AI tech? Aaron and Parker discuss China-wary Japan establishing a new military base on Ishigaki Island, hotels in...
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#129 - Japan Web3
The Government of Japan has released a detailed roadmap of their Web3 plans. Will the economy ministry's embracement of Web3 bring massive changes to Japan? Aaron and Parker discuss Seven & i exiting the apparel business, zoo lions dying after being infected with COVID, and the Governor of Aichi...
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#128 - Honda Jetting
Will Honda's soon to be released jet-sharing service bring private jet flight to a larger market? Is it going to bring down the price of private jet flight considerably, given Honda makes and owns their own jets? Is more private jet flight a boon for travel in rural Japan or just another…
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#127 - Anthony Griffin
Digital marketing consultant, entrepreneur, and cross-cultural communication expert Anthony Griffin tells us about his journey to Japan, his tricks of the trade for maximizing engagement on LinkedIn, and that one time he asked for directions and was asked to pay for it! Aaron and Parker discuss…
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#126 - Kishida's Budget
How will PM Kishida finance his ambitious plans to increase both defense and child care spending? Will raising the consumption tax and other taxes be inevitable? Aaron and Parker discuss January's foreign entries to Japan hitting 1.5 million, the trade deficit at a record 3.5 trillion yen on…
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#125 - Revolving Sushi
What has happened in the aftermath of a viral video featuring a revolving sushi restaurant patron displaying gross behavior? Is conveyor belt sushi fun and kitschy or cheap and not that tasty? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan potentially enacting an LGBT law before this year's G7 Summit in…
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#124 - Luffy Busted
What did the phone scam crime group led by a mysterious man who called himself "Luffy" and "Kim Jong Un" avoid the long arm of the Japanese lawman by hiding in a Philippines prison? Aaron and Parker discuss the ex-deputy manager of Tokyo 2020 test event body getting busted in a bid-rigging case,...
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#123 - Ugly Inaka
Rural real estate expert, Akiya Hunter, and black metal baron Matt Ketchum gives his take on a recent Tokyo Weekender article that suggests that the Japanese countryside is ugly and undesirable. Aaron and Parker discuss PM Kishida's order to downgrade the classification of COVID-19, Echizen…
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#122 - Culture Shock
After a month back home in America, Aaron shares his take on the reverse culture shock after being in Japan throughout the pandemic. Aaron and Parker discuss new US-Japan plans to strengthen their defense alliance, TSMC considering to build a 2nd chip plant in Japan, and a whale's tragic end…
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Rewind: Riki Ohkanda
Director, storyteller, and consultant for Japanese film and TV productions Riki Ohkanda shares her experience working inside Tokyo's entertainment industry, the secret to enjoying tea ceremony, and some hilarious anecdotes.
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Rewind: Benjamin Boas
Writer, translator, Cool Japan Ambassador, global communications specialist, and mahjong expert Benjamin Boas shares his insights on Japan's efforts to use anime and manga to improve its image and the ins and outs of Japanese mahjong culture.
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Rewind: Christiane Brew
On this late Christmas present Rewind, actress, comedienne, and entrepreneur Christiane Brew shares her experience working with Hideo Kojima as a motion capture actress in hit video game Death Stranding, leading the Perfect Liars Club Tokyo improv group, and starting her newest venture StoryKraft.
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Rewind: Matt Ketchum
On this rewind, we revisit our first episode with Akiya Hunter and black metal warlock Matt Ketchum, who tells us about his experience escaping from a 38 meter tall tsunami on March 11, 2011, and his passion for cataloging Japan's infamous millions of abandoned houses.
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#121 - Special Eggs
What does the future hold for the administration of PM Kishida, who is facing low support ratings, a string of scandals and resignations, and rising discontent? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's largest labor union calling for the highest pay hike in 28 years, the Japanese government ruling...
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Rewind: Jim Andretta
On Tokyo Wave Rewind, we revisit insightful, awesome, and sometimes outrageous past interviews. This Rewind features improv comedian, DJ, wine expert, and Scatman aficionado Jim Andretta, who shares stories about his time as part of the Charred Goosebeak / Broken Lizard improv group of Super...
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#120 - Tweet Storm
What is going to happen to Twitter now that Elon Musk is in charge? Will it lead to an exodus of Japan's gaijin Twitter scene? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's consumer prices rising the quickest in 4 decades, Shohei Ohtani, Naomi Osaka and other FTX brand ambassadors getting embroiled in a...
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#119 - Screwed Enix
Why is Square Enix doing a fire sale of its Western studios? The founder of Eidos Montreal called it, "A train wreck in slow motion." Aaron and Parker discuss North Korea's ongoing missile marathon, another automaker calling on owners to replace their airbags after 3 new Takata airbag deaths, and...
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#118 - Shibuya Hell-o-ween
Why is Shibuya waging war on Halloween, yet again, and why do all of Tokyo's costumed revelers always go to the same place? Will Akie Abe, the widow of slain ex-PM Abe, succeed her late husband in Japan's lower house? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's latest economic package designed to combat...
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#117 - Japanese Film
What are our favorite Japanese films? What's going to happen to an ex-Tokyo 2020 exec who has been slapped with a new arrest warrant on additional bribery charges? Aaron and Parker discuss the Yen hitting the 150 mark vs the USD and a man arrested after going on a rampage attacking junior high...
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#116 - Your Japan
Writer, Translator, Cool Japan Producer, and Global Communications Specialist Benjamin Boas talks about his upcoming new book, From Cool Japan to Your Japan, which explains why the Japanese government and local organizations need to change their tourism promotion strategy. Aaron and Parker…
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#115 - More Missiles
Why is North Korea upping its pace of conducting missile launches, including one that went straight over northern Japan? Are they on the verge of conducting a nuclear bomb test, and do they pose a tangible threat to Japan's national security? Aaron and Parker discuss rising Japanese household...
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#114 - Oku Nikko
How can you avoid the impending throngs of tourists and enjoy Japan's autumn foliage in Oku-Nikko? How is the Japanese government trying to fight inflation, address the weak yen, and rev up the economy? Aaron and Parker discuss what to expect from the Japanese parliament's extraordinary session…
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#113 - Andrew Klim
Video game translator, localization expert, and video game music DJ Andrew Klim tells us about his journey from being an English teacher in a rough and tumble junior high school in Yamanashi to working on localizations for massive titles including Final Fantasy, Shenmue, One Piece, Attack on…
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#112 - Tanner Blackman
California-based real estate development consultant, government relations professional, and cannabis dispensary co-owner Tanner Blackman shares his journey from teaching English in rural Japan to guiding major urban development projects through the approval process in LA. Aaron and Parker discuss...
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#111 - Japan Opening
What do Japan's complicated new border rules mean for individual tourists looking to visit Japan? Aaron and Parker discuss the plummeting Yen, record pretax profits at Japanese firms, and a city looking for 1,400 owners of 31-yr-old time capsules.
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#110 - Kyoto Overtourism
Is Kyoto ready for the inevitable deluge of foreign tourists who will come back in massive numbers once Japan's borders reopen? Will the resurge in inbound tourism be good or bad? Aaron and Parker discuss the budget for PM Abe's state funeral, Japan's economic outlook for August amid rising…
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#109 - Laser Monkeys
Akiya Hunter and black metal warlock Matt Ketchum discusses the ongoing war on deviant monkeys, super-powerful laser beams, bungee jumping and downhill mountain biking in Gunma, the return to live underground Japanese metal shows, joining the Kanagawa DEI Rotary Club, and the slow restart of...
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#108 - Mean Music
Join us for a sneak preview of some of the original music that will be featured in our upcoming audio drama, The Mean Streets of Tokyo Wave. Aaron and Parker discuss KDDI's massive cell network outage and the ongoing monkey rampage in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
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#107 - Abe Assassination
What security lapses led to the tragic assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe? Aaron and Parker discuss PM Kishida's impending Cabinet reshuffle and the campaign around the lead-up to the 2025 Osaka Expo.
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#106 - Christopher Gunson
Japan-Middle East legal beagle, udon shop owner, and hardcore bicyclist Christopher Gunson tells us how he became the go-to lawyer for Japanese firms doing business in EMEA, and his cycling adventures that average 4,000 km per year. Also udon. Aaron and Parker discuss the sudden shooting of…
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#105 - Koenji Uprising
Why are Koenji residents protesting a redevelopment around the Tokyo-area station's north side? Will Japanese property prices finally start to rise after decades of stagnation? Aaron and Parker discuss Japanese teachers struggling to get kids to take off their masks even during an unprecedented...
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#104 - 2022 Elections
What is going on with the 2022 elections and what does it mean for Japan? How did a Japan city subcontractor lose a memory drive containing the personal info of all its 460,000 residents? Aaron and Parker discuss a Kyodo poll predicting the Japan ruling coalition will secure a majority in the…
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#103 - Covid Fraud
Why are 80% of Japan's COVID subsidy applications going unverified? What will the ever-weakening yen mean for Japanese consumers? Aaron and Parker discuss the Bank of Japan maintaining its ultra-low rate policy and a Japanese man arrested over nailing a Putin straw doll to a tree at a shrine.
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#102 - Cheap Yen
Why has the Yen gotten so cheap and what does that mean for Japanese consumers and the economy as a whole? Will we finally see Japan restart foreign tourism as virus worries wane? Aaron and Parker discuss the massive 9.1% jump in wholesale prices driven by the weak yen and the vandalism of…
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#101 - Mean Streets
Are you ready for a sneak preview of our upcoming audio drama? What inspired an 83-year-old Japanese man to sail solo, nonstop across the Pacific? Aaron and Parker discuss a new lawsuit against Japan's dual nationality ban and Toshiba's privatization trials and tribulations.
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#100 - Donna Burke
The voice of the Tokaido Shinkansen, voice actress, entrepreneur, and improv comedian Donna Burke shares her story of how she became one of Japan's top voices. Aaron and Parker discuss Japan slowly accepting foreign tourists, the Okinawan governor's gaffe, and there's a big surprise at the end!
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#99 - Fukushima Wastewater
What is going on with Japan's plan to discharge treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station? Are we going to see a PR and health fallout from the planned release in April 2023? Aaron and Parker discuss Tokyo's plan to accept small-scale tours from 4 countries, and a leak that…
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#98 - Ippei Soma
Vintage audio repair expert and startup founder Ippei Soma shares his story, going from working at a dorm company to starting his own business fixing and selling vintage gear, and then co-founding a startup, Acoustic Innovations. Aaron and Parker discuss SoftBank Group logging a net loss of $13...
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#97 - Japanese Casinos
Will bids to open casinos in Osaka and Nagasaki Prefectures succeed? Why did the Wakayama bid fail? Aaron and Parker discuss the yen's continuing rapid fall, a survey that found that 48% of foreigners in Japan region are earning less than before pandemic, and how the world's largest gold bar in...
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#96 - City Pop
What is driving a boom in vinyl record sales in the US and Japan? Why is city pop, a genre of Japanese pop music that emerged in the late 1970s and peaked during Japan's golden age of the 1980s bubble economy, seeing a sudden resurgence in popularity? Aaron and Parker discuss the Yen's 20-year…
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#95 - Surfing Japan
Akiya Hunter and black metal warlock Matt Ketchum shares his experiences learning how to surf and rock climb, and how he scored his first surfboard from an eccentric mountain hermit who has a place in Japan's surf history. Aaron and Parker discuss Japan beginning to relax its foreigner entry ban,...
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#94 - Rocky Swift
Reuters correspondent Rocky Swift talks about coming to Japan to teach in rural Nagano, becoming a business and market focused journalist, and also his stint as a diplomat serving as a US foreign service officer. Aaron and Parker discuss rising consumer prices, an SMBC Nikko VP busted for stock...
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#93 - Electric Shock
Why did Tokyo almost suffer electric power blackouts and are we at danger in the future? Why is the Tohoku Shinkansen still not fully back online following the big earthquake on March 16? Aaron and Parker discuss shareholders rejecting a plan to split Toshiba into 2 companies and driver's license...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Weekly updates from Japan with Aaron & Parker, two Americans with a passion for telling you what's going on right now on the ground in Tokyo, straight from our studio in Harajuku. Join us in segments featuring this week's top news, political happenings, business, and absolutely random garbage. Also, there's a rad synth intro.
HOSTED BY
Aaron Randall & Parker Allen
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Tokyo Wave have?
Tokyo Wave currently has 100 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Tokyo Wave about?
Weekly updates from Japan with Aaron & Parker, two Americans with a passion for telling you what's going on right now on the ground in Tokyo, straight from our studio in Harajuku. Join us in segments featuring this week's top news, political happenings, business, and absolutely random garbage....
How often does Tokyo Wave release new episodes?
Tokyo Wave has 100 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Tokyo Wave?
You can listen to Tokyo Wave on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Tokyo Wave?
Tokyo Wave is created and hosted by Aaron Randall & Parker Allen.
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