On Japan Time

May 22 2024

On Japan Time Podcast artwork

On Japan Time was created by California natives Michael Larsen and Jordan Johnson at Aichi Toho University in Nagoya city. In our weekly podcast, we discuss life in Japan in a way that provides cultural insights from the perspective of long-time foreign residents. We also feature some English tips for non-native English speakers.
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37. Fashion and Clothing in Japan

May 22 2024 42 mins

In the first half of this episode Michael and Jordan discuss the history and traditions of clothing and fashion in Japan, with both shocked to learn about their different perspectives on the "long socks" of the late 80s to early 2000s. Then in the second half, they talk about the current fashion trends amongst their students at Aichi Toho University and provide a list of fashion/cl

36. Animals of Japan

May 15 2024 35 mins

In the first half of this episode Michael and Jordan discuss their tanuki (racoon dog) and kitsune (fox) characters that they play in each week's English Tips segment, as well as the various other wild animals that one can encounter in Japan. Then in the second half, they talk about the various birds of Japan, and Jordan goes on a slight rant about his annual battle with a family o

35. Sumo: Uniquely Japanese

May 08 2024 33 mins

In the first half of this episode Michael and Jordan discuss the origins, traditions, and rules of Sumo (Japan's national sport), including the dangers of sitting ringside, the oddity of seeing very smaller wrestlers going up against much larger wrestlers, and the banzuke ranking system. Then in the second half, they discuss the different kinds of seating in the sumo arenas, how au

34. Toilets in Japan

May 05 2024 32 mins

In the first half of this episode Michael and Jordan discuss all things toilets, including the dreaded Japanese squat toilet, the numerous ways to refer to the restroom in Japanese, and even Number 1s and Number 2s (thankfully they don't discuss Number 3s!). Then in the second half, Michael quizzes Jordan about all the different words--formal and slang--that can be used to describe

33. Housing in Japan

Apr 24 2024 48 mins

In the first half of this episode Michael and Jordan discuss the things you should consider when renting or buying a home, including the kind of building, whether or not it has insulation, and the safety checks you should do. Then in the second half, Michael describes the process of and fees associated with renting a home in Nagoya city, and Jordan quizzes Michael about the abandon

32. Hospitals & Health Checks in Japan

Apr 17 2024 30 mins

In the first half of this episode Michael and Jordan discuss the difference between a clinic and a hospital in Japan, and Michael shocks Jordan with just how many "hospitals" there really are in Japan. Then in the second half, Michael shares a funny story about his experience with the Barium Swallow Test during his yearly check-up, and Jordan shares his stressful experience with th

31. Graduation Ceremonies in Japan

Apr 10 2024 41 mins

Welcome to Season 2 of the OnJapanTime podcast!In the first half of this episode Michael and Jordan talk about graduations in Japan, including how they are much more formal and rigid than in the West. Then in the second half, Jordan quizzes Michael about the the various traditions and customs related to graduation ceremonies in Europe and the US. Finally, in this week's English Tip

30. Drug Stores in Japan

Apr 03 2024 37 mins

In the first half of this episode Michael and Jordan talk about drug stores and pharmacies in Japan, including how common, convenient, and cheap they are. Then in the second half they talk about the different things that we can buy at drug stores in Japan and how some people use them almost like a grocery store. Finally, in this week's English Tips segment, Michael (the Fox) and Jo

29. Weird Jobs in Japan (and our working history)

Mar 27 2024 35 mins

In the first half of this episode Michael and Jordan talk about the different jobs they had in the US before becoming lecturers at Aichi Toho University in Japan. Then in the second half they talk about weird jobs that generally only in exist in Japan, and they both contemplate the value of jobs that don't initially appear to be necessary. Finally, in this week's English Tips segme

28. Yen and the Cost of Living in Japan

Mar 20 2024 45 mins

Michael and Jordan talk about everyone's favorite topic... Money! In the first half of this episode they talk about the different coins and banknotes for the Japanese Yen. Then in the second half Jordan does his best to explain the current weakness of the Yen (and what it means for both tourists and people living in Japan), and then he quizzes Michael on the cost of living in Japan