Category: Thoughts

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Episode 58 – Let’s Tokyu Hands

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Ever wonder what its like to sit in someone’s pocket as they walk around Tokyo?? Now is your chance to find out! In this episode, I take a commute to Tokyu Hands leaving the recorder on for the full monty. I also talk about two fairly interesting topics. If you’re into sound tours, you’ll enjoy this episode.

Show Notes:

  • Pre-show – explanation of show format
  • Current Laundry Setup
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    • Screwing around with my laundry machine
  • Walk to Kuramae
    • Hanging out with Scott from Tokyo Calling
    • Needed the de-stressing from my visa issues
    • Talking about co-habitation with the fiancee
    • Quick stop at Lawsons (19:00)
    • Cement truck turning sound
    • Brief explanation of numbers on train maps
  • Kuramae to Iidabashi (9 minutes edited out)
    • Construction warnings
    • Really annoying alien sound
    • Running into the same guy who sold me food the day before
  • Iidabashi to Ikebukuro (42:00 – 51:45)
    • Trying to find the right exit
    • Talking about usage of strange English
    • The Bic Camera audio Assault! (45:00)
    • Almost going to McDonalds for coffee
    • Sonna no kankei nai advertisement (51:00)
  • Tokyu Hands
    • Valentine’s Day explosion!

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Episode 57 – Japan Makes You Busy

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Let’s get deep again. I tried to mix it up with some pleasant thoughts, some interesting sights, and of course, always deep deep riveting commentary from yours truly (sarcasm goes to 11, you know).

Show Notes:

  • Some thoughts about Saizeriya
  • Topic: Japan Makes You Busy
    • A bit about my lifestyle
    • Spending my time on the computer
    • “The Four Hour Separation”
      • 1 hr of screwing around
      • 1 hr of reading
      • 1 hr of art
      • 1 hr of life
    • [Musical Break]
    • Why is it necessary?
      • Opportunity overload
      • 6 hours spent doing nothing this weekend
      • Putting more “real” in realtime
  • Train announcer gets on my nerves
  • Escalator Apologizers
  • Some Closing Thoughts
  • Music – “Atlantic Midnight” by Jaspertine from CCMixter.org
  • Music – “Drugstar” by Pthalo

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Episode 55 – Snow Day Alcohol Talk

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It’s snowing in Tokyo, so what better way to spend it than bring you all with me on a trip to McDonalds for breakfast. In this episode, I tough it out through the muck and power-line slush bombs to chat about Japanese people and alcohol consumption. This episode is not very organized but there’s plenty to listen to and some music mixed in as well. Enjoy.

Show Notes

  • Part One
    • It’s snowing
    • The guy who drank too much last night
    • Yakiniku 食べ放題、飲み放題
    • Japanese paramedics
  • Intermission
  • Part Two
    • Throwup girl in the train station
    • San Nakji’s interview series, I’m next
    • Phone call
    • Bought some Dekavita
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Episode 53 – Finding Guitar Hero

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Probably the fast episode I have ever put together, but a good one at that. I’ve got two main chunks of goodness in this episode. First, I talk a little about the CEO at my company and how I see Japanese companies changing. Second, we go on a sound tour of arcades in Ikebukuro looking for Guitar Hero. Will we find it? Listen in.

Show Notes:

  • Working full time
  • CEO Story
  • Ikebukuro Arcade “Sound Tour”

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Episode 52 – The Overcoat

A little different approach today. I take a stab at story telling and answer a letter from my future self. It finally came today!

Show Notes:

  • School’s out! Well almost
  • Answering a letter to my future self
  • The Overcoat
  • Brief comment about the awards thing

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Finding Japan 2007 Wrap-up

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I was just looking at some Google stats and log stats from my hosting company yesterday and wanted to share with you all how great this year has been for Finding Japan. This has been the most successful online project I’ve ever worked on. Even if I haven’t formally defined success criteria, it sure feels like it.
Finding Japan 2007 Statistics

  • 13,163 visits (6,107 unique) from 1,556 cities in 97 countries on 6 continents
  • 16% of visitors were from Japan
  • 20% of visitors use do not use English as their primary language for their browser
  • Over 400 GB of data was transferred to you all
  • The pre-episode from Feb 22nd was the most downloaded podcast episode
  • Tokyo Calling had the most referrals of any other personal site

Thanks again for a wonderful year and I look forward to even more fun this year. Best to you all.

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2008 JapanPodcasters.com Award

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I came back to Japan to learn that Finding Japan has won the 2008 Japan Podcasters’ Exploration Award. I am both pleased and surprised. Even just to be associated with some of the other winners and podcasts listed in this directory is an honor.

When I started this podcast, I really didn’t think much in terms of trying to win awards or to gain any press. In fact, I can’t remember any promotion that I have done outside of this site itself and registering it in the iTunes directory.

Truly, I’m satisfied if only one person learns something new about Japan and even more so if people can add to my own impressions and thoughts. It is the friends I have met and the people I have had the opportunity to interact with that has made this much more than a singular experience.

So thanks to all of you and I share this award with all of the listeners who have contributed comments and feedback. I hope to make 2008 just as fun and hopefully share even more about finding Japan. Thanks.

Also, if you are not familiar with JapanPodcasters.com you should check it out, especially if you are interested in other Japanese podcasts. There is also a review of Finding Japan available. ^_^

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Merry Christmas Update

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Hey everyone. Just wanted to say a quick “Hello and Happy Holidays” here from the states. I have been spending a great amount of time with my fiancee as well as our respective families. It’s been far too long without seeing everyone. All of the presents have been unwrapped, the gifts given, and plenty of wine and food has been shared. I hope you all are having a very happy holiday as well.

So now, 2008 is shaping up to be quite fun and exciting. I’ve got a few new gadgets to talk about when I get back as well as well as some tools for podcasting (including Logic Studio 8 and Leopard) (^_^)/m/ that I’m excited to use when I get back to Japan. Until then, stay safe and warm.

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Episode 48 – Coffee Episode III

Can you believe it, another coffee episode already!!! This time recorded completely live over Skype, warts and all. Joined by the illustrious Fred, we talk about his new coffee machine as well as do a short sound tour of some places to drink coffee in Japan. Come along for the ride with us and grab your cup of coffee!

Show Notes:

  • Explosive laughing intro
  • Fred’s rant about podcasts
    • People who talk about how they make podcasts on their podcasts
    • Joking about the FindingJapan DVD
    • Reminiscing about “Netiquette”
  • Why we’re talking about coffee
  • Doutor Single Service Packs
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  • Fred’s New Coffee Machine
    • A magical tour of Fred brewing coffee
    • Discussion of froth vs. no froth with automatic coffee makers
    • Baronette flavored coffee taste test
  • Japan Coffee Place Audio Sound Tour Review
    • Clip 1 – Starbucks in Asakusa
    • Clip 2 – Campus Coffee Shop at Waseda University
    • Clip 3 – Excelsior in Ikebukuro
    • Clip 4 – Doutor in Ueno Station
  • Hot and Cold
  • Perhaps a non-coffee related show with Fred about Japan in the future??

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