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 former Prime Minister Abe as the situation develops in real time.

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 former Prime Minister Abe as the situation develops in real time.

#106 - Christopher Gunson

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 heatwave, and a slew of street grate thefts near Tokyo as scrap metal prices reach new highs.

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 heatwave, and a slew of street grate thefts near Tokyo as scrap metal prices reach new highs.

#105 - Koenji Uprising

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 July 10 upper house race and two people left ill after a suspicious liquid was sprayed inside a greater Tokyo area train car.

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 July 10 upper house race and two people left ill after a suspicious liquid was sprayed inside a greater Tokyo area train car.

#104 - 2022 Elections

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.

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.

#103 - Covid Fraud

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 artworks in central Japan by junior high students during a school trip.

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 artworks in central Japan by junior high students during a school trip.

#102 - Cheap Yen

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.

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.

#101 - Mean Streets

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!

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!

#100 - Donna Burke

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 is threatening industrial water supplies to central Japan businesses including Toyota Motor.

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 is threatening industrial water supplies to central Japan businesses including Toyota Motor.

#99 - Fukushima Wastewater

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 billion in FY2021 and Japan police urging officers to avoid the impression of discrimination.

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 billion in FY2021 and Japan police urging officers to avoid the impression of discrimination.

#98 - Ippei Soma

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 Japan has surged in value amid the Ukraine crisis.

#97 - Japanese Casinos

Weekly updates from Japan with Aaron &amp; 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.

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 low and a Japanese bird researcher's world-first discovery that birds use words and grammar.

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 low and a Japanese bird researcher's world-first discovery that birds use words and grammar.

#96 - City Pop

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, and a Japanese soap firm who made their April Fool's joke reality by creating a cat-seducing fabric softener.

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, and a Japanese soap firm who made their April Fool's joke reality by creating a cat-seducing fabric softener.

#95 - Surfing Japan

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 market manipulation, and 24 Chiba cops referred to prosecutors for card gambling at a police dorm.

#94 - Rocky Swift

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 center in north Japan caught collecting an unnecessary fee for 15 years.

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 center in north Japan caught collecting an unnecessary fee for 15 years.

#93 - Electric Shock

Is Japan on the brink of joining the global Great Resignation movement? Aaron and Parker discuss Uniqlo closing its stores in Russia, price hikes due to sudden inflation, and a Yamagata city with a plan to circle dog poop with chalk to shame owners.

#92 - Great Resgination

Black metal warlock, akiya hunter, and frequent contributor Matt Ketchum tells us about going to crypto school, skiing in Nozawa Onsen, buying a Japanese mini 4x4, and welcoming a new baby goat into the world. Aaron and Parker discuss Japanese citizens applying to become volunteer soldiers in Ukraine, ex-Nissan exec Greg Kelly receiving a 6-month suspended sentence in a surprise upset for prosecutors, and a nonprofit creating endangered animal LINE stamps to raise awareness.

#91 - Jimny Jammin

What are the new procedures for entering Japan for a business trip? When will Japan reopen to tourists? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's 'Go To Travel' fiscal budget problem and Honda’s crisis amid a US regulatory probe surrounding unexpected automatic braking.

What are the new procedures for entering Japan for a business trip? When will Japan reopen to tourists? Aaron and Parker discuss Japan's 'Go To Travel' fiscal budget problem and Honda’s crisis amid a US regulatory probe surrounding unexpected automatic braking.

#90 - Business Travel

Death business system integrator, end of life consultant, former funeral director, and IT specialist Yuusuke Wada gives the inside scoop on Japan's funeral industry and how he used his experience as a system engineer to introduce technology into a business steeped in tradition. Aaron and Parker discuss Japan easing entry restrictions for foreign students, business travelers, and other non-tourists, and a man accused of altering his driver's license age to go to matchmaking events.

Death business system integrator, end of life consultant, former funeral director, and IT specialist Yuusuke Wada gives the inside scoop on Japan's funeral industry and how he used his experience as a system engineer to introduce technology into a business steeped in tradition. Aaron and Parker discuss Japan easing entry restrictions for foreign students, business travelers, and other non-tourists, and a man accused of altering his driver's license age to go to matchmaking events.

#89 - The Reaper

Jonathan Hafetz

Internationally recognized constitutional and human rights lawyer Dr. Jonathan Hafetz shares his experience defending prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, and demystifies some of the darker elements of the US Government’s War on Terror in the post 9/11 era. Aaron and Parker discuss a government report finding over 20% of Japan's import items highly dependent on China and a Tokyo resident referred to prosecutors for capturing 22 wild birds.

Internationally recognized constitutional and human rights lawyer Dr. Jonathan Hafetz shares his experience defending prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, and demystifies some of the darker elements of the US Government’s War on Terror in the post 9/11 era. Aaron and Parker discuss a government report finding over 20% of Japan's import items highly dependent on China and a Tokyo resident referred to prosecutors for capturing 22 wild birds.

#88 - Jonathan Hafetz

What's an afternoon like at Japan’s wildest guitar shop? How did an 11-hour standoff near Tokyo end in the death of a healthcare worker? Aaron and Parker discuss a survey that suggests Japan's entry ban is hurting foreign students' mental health and Toyota's plan to attack the moon with a cruiser, robotic arms, and dreams.

What's an afternoon like at Japan’s wildest guitar shop? How did an 11-hour standoff near Tokyo end in the death of a healthcare worker? Aaron and Parker discuss a survey that suggests Japan's entry ban is hurting foreign students' mental health and Toyota's plan to attack the moon with a cruiser, robotic arms, and dreams.

#87 - More Guitars!

This was an absolute blast to listen to. Thanks so much guys, you totally brightened my day. Looking forward to more installments!

What a ride!

Tokyo Wave

The best podcast episodes on Startups. For anyone working in a startup, or anyone interested in the incredible stories behind how people built companies like Instagram, and Facebook. Offering both practical advice and insights, as well as the stories for how many of the biggest startups got to where they are today. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

OwlTail

Best Startups Podcasts

The best podcasts about ourselves as well as the world through the lense of Science. Specific topics include things about our brain, emotions to biology, physics and more!