Make sure you check out parts one, two and three which are all arranged in reverse order on the front page of JapanPodshow.com

It is HIGHLY RECCOMENDED that you download the original files and not watch them on YouTube as the quality is much better. They’re about 120mb each. Direct download links for Quicktime / iTunes friendly movie files:

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

In part three we’re giving away a Premium Japanese language course from www.japanesepod101.com worth $180!

In part 4 of the final show in series 1 of JapanPodshow, George and Joseph are joined in bed by some special guests from Victorian era London – otherwise known as members of the Tokyo Players. Hear all about their upcoming Christmas show Mrs. Bob Cratchit’s Wild Christmas Binge

Following that, it’s time for George and Joseph to say goodbye for this series, which they do in musical style.

The music over the closing credits is by our talented friend Nobuki Ueda.

Thanks to everyone for all of their support throughout the series – we couldn’t have done it without you.

How to watch this episode:

• Subscribe in iTunes to get it on your iPod / iPhone / media player
• Watch the embedded video below
• Download the file here (iTunes required. High quality m4V file, 122mb)

Please note: YouTube seems to have had some problems converting this video so it ‘stops and starts a bit. Please download the original high quality version for optimal viewing pleasure.

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Japan Podshow Episode 12 part 4

In part three of this video special from the Ritz-Carlton Tokyo, things really hot up as George and Joseph go to bed.

After a troubled night’s sleep they get back into gear by doing the first ever live performance of the song they made up on the spot – ‘Weekend at the Ritz’.

Following that they have some listeners’ feedback from someone who things they could do better than the boys…

Hear Japan WINNERS! George provides the drum roll as the winners of our HearJapan.com competition are announced!

COMPETITION! Win a $180 Japanese language course!

Finally, George and Joseph announce the HUGE competition to win an annual subscription to the www.japanesepod101.com Premium Japanese language course, worth $180!

To enter, just email hello[a]japanpodshow.com with the answer to this question:

How many million downloads has Japanese Pod 101 had since it launched?

You might find the answer on their front page. An approximate answer will allow you to enter the prize draw, so check out www.japanesepod101.com now.

25% Discount for all JapanPodshow listeners!

Watch the podcast to get the secret code which will give you 25% off any purchase made over at www.japanesepod101.com

Make sure you check out Episode 4 when George and Joseph find a few other people in their bed …and say goodbye.

How to watch this episode:

• Subscribe in iTunes to get it on your iPod / iPhone / media player
• Watch the embedded video below
• Download the file here (iTunes required. High quality m4V file, 122mb)

Please note: YouTube seems to have had some problems converting this video so it ‘stops and starts a bit. Please download the original high quality version for optimal viewing pleasure.

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Japan Podshow Episode 12 part 3

Stay tuned in part three as George and Joseph enter the grand bedroom…

How to watch this episode:

• Subscribe in iTunes to get it on your iPod / iPhone / media player
• Watch the embedded video below
• Download the file here (iTunes required. High quality m4V file, 121mb)

Please note: YouTube seems to have had some problems converting this video so it ‘stops and starts a bit. Please download the original high quality version for optimal viewing pleasure.

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Japan Podshow Episode 12 part 2

Split into 4 parts, this musical adventure 49 floors above the city sees numerous visitors to George and Joseph’s luxury suite.

Join them in bed and enter their competition to win a Japanese language course worth US$180! See the debut of their classic song, ‘Weekend at the Ritz’ – and find out what Bob Crachit’s wife is doing beneath the covers.

Here in Part 1, George and Joseph arrive at the hotel, check out the spa and gym, and are then suprised by a knock at the door…

Make sure you check out parts two, three and four too for the glorious climax!

How to watch this episode:

• Subscribe in iTunes to get it on your iPod / iPhone / media player
• Watch the embedded video below
• Download the file here (iTunes required. High quality m4V file, 120mb)

Please note: YouTube seems to have had some problems converting this video so it ‘stops and starts a bit. Please download the original high quality version for optimal viewing pleasure.

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Japan Podshow Episode 12 part 1

Join Japan Podshow as we bring you live commentary on some stunning bouts, which see wrestlers flying, pushing, hugging and falling on photographers.

We’re talking about the tournament in Episode 11.5 of Japan Podshow, out shortly here.

Your viewing options:

• Download the video here [mv4 format for iTunes 45mb]
• Watch the video embedded below
• Subscribe to our iTunes feed
• Subscribe to our RSS feed
• Watch it on our Facebook Fan Page (which we invite you to join!).

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Video: Sumo Special

Listen to the show here using the player below the elephant43mb, 47 mins, MP3

Download it direct here, Subscribe and listen in iTunes or Listen via our RSS feed.

Intro: The musical begins

We’re not sure what came over George and Joseph, but they decided that they were going to come up with songs on the spot to provide links between sections in this episode. The fun starts with a musical intro.

The streets of Harajuku

Join George and Joseph as they head down to Harajuku to meet the characters who gather there on a Sunday. There’s the man in black who loves to dance, a group of cosplayers, a Brazillian man who has flown 30 hours only to be disappointed (but makes up for it by wearing a psycho rabbit mask), and the man who dresses as a schoolgirl and impersonates a butterfly, the legendary Koichi Yamada. What do the tourists who are there think about all this?

Watch the video: The characters of Harajuku! See the video in High Definition on the Japan Podshow YouTube channel.

Entrepreneur interview: John Daub, Weblish Media Ltd.

This is an extract of the full interview which you can hear over at Making it in Japan.

Weblish Media Ltd, established in 2007, is an educational entertainment network, with videos distributed via iTunes to over 100,000 regular subscribers. John’s video series Vocabulary Generator was ranked the No. 1 video in Japan for 10 weeks, and the network has up to a million downloads per month.

In this interview, John tells us of his motivation for starting the company, and how it has grown. What effect has John’s experience of travelling to over 70 countries had upon his videos, and how can horses and llamas help students to learn Japanese?

John also talks about the help he got from Jetro, and what the future holds for Weblish. Listen to the full interview here.

Learning Japanese – Another prong

Joseph and George have a shared prong (learning Japanese tip) this week. They reccomend The Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar series from the Japan Times.

Competition Time

Listen up to see if you are the lucky winner of Kat McDowell’s new album, Echoes over the ocean

Win a song about you, performed live (and filmed) in Shibuya!

Yes, Joseph and George will perform it live,  for you, in front of the Hachiko statue in Shibuya, and video it for you.

Get your entries in now by email!

Listener’s feedback

Thank you again for your feedback! This week we have another tip-off about George impersonating an Australian DJ, and a very nice comment from our No.1 (and only?!) fan in California!

Details of how to submit your feedback below.

Music: Nobuki Ueda – Live in the Kitchen

In this episode we are very fortunate to have a professional musician perform live in our kitchen studio. Nobuki Ueda (www.nobukiueda.com), whose album Seven Songs from Lab is available in the Japan iTunes Store and from Amazon, is also a friend of the Pokya family. He performs the song ‘Seimei’ (‘Life’).

Nobuki is performing live at Shinjuku Jam on the 3rd October 2009 – More info.

Watch the video in almost-High Definition on our Facebook page

…and remember, the show isn’t over until the cockeral crows!

We look forward to receiving your feedback!

Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Write a review in iTunes
Email us [hello at japanpodshow.com]
Phone us – numbers on our contact page
Skype us
Comment on our site
Comment on our YouTube channel

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Episode 11: Harajuku and the Weblish Wonder

(Subscribe so you don’t miss it!)

Ever since they were children, Japan Podshow presenters George and Joseph had wanted to join a circus. Following months of clowning around in the Japan Podshow studio, in the summer of 2009 they were fortunate to be invited behind the curtain at the world-famous Cirque Du Soleil Theatre Tokyo (“Circus of the Sun” シルク・ドゥ・ソレイユ シアター東京.

Click here to subscribe to Japan Podshow and watch it on iTunes / your iPod / iPhone / media player. Or, download the short version direct from here [.mp4 56mb]

Cirque du Soleil

Founded in 1984, this incredible company [official site] now has 16 shows running around the world – in Las Vegas alone over 9,000 people witness the spectacle on a daily basis.

Zed

In the Autumn of 2008 Cirque Du Soleil’s first permanent show in Japan, Zed, opened to the public in a special purpose-built theatre next to Tokyo Disneyland [official site].

Hearing rave reviews from friends, George and Joseph realised that this was their chance to learn about what goes on behind the curtain at Cirque du Soleil Tokyo, and perhaps to even try out their routine in a bid to get into the show.

There are two versions of this video docucast: a 10 minute short, and the 20 minute director’s edition.

The 9min preview video

Designed for people who are impossibly busy, this video will give you an overview of George and Joseph’s adventure. This is the version that has been added to the podcast feed.

The Full story

Japan Podshow: Behind the curtain at the Cirque du Soleil Zed Theatre Tokyo from japanpodshow on Vimeo.

The full version of the documentary is for those who would like a real insight into the Cirque du Soleil Tokyo Theatre and includes

An interview with Gemma Segarra, Publicity Manager

who tells us about

• The history of the theatre
• The families of performers
• How she feels when she sees her friends walk the highwire
• If George jumped, would Joseph catch him?

Interview with a clown – Anatoli Akerman

Was Anatoli always destined to be a clown, or is he the black sheep of the family?
Is Joseph’s fear of him only to be expected?

Interview with audience members after the show

How would you feel if you’d just seen the show?

Backstage in the wardrobe department

George and Joseph are presented with two very special costumes in which they will try out their new routine. Do they have what it takes to get in? Do we find out, or will we have to wait for the sequal?

George and Joseph would like to extend special thanks to Gemma Segarra, Anatoli Akerman, the wardobe department, the audience members gave their feedback, and all at Cirque du Soleil Theatre Tokyo for making this possible.

We welcome your feedback

What did you think of the docucast? Is there something you’d like us to cover on an upcoming show? Get in touch!

You can

• Comment on this blog
• Join our Facebook group
• Follow us on Twitter
• Skype or phone us
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel
• Subscribe to our Vimeo Channel (for long videos)
• Subscribe to our uStream channel (for when we live stream during recording sessions)

Subscribe to Japan Podshow for more updates from the creative team at www.Pokya.jp

iTunes
RSS feed

See you soon!

Joseph and George

Want to see the show yourself? Check out the Cirque du Soleil Tokyo Theatre here.

Post from: Japan Podshow

Exclusive: Behind the curtain at the Cirque du Soleil Theatre Tokyo

The long-awaited episode 8 is now out …and jam-packed with Japan Podshow goodness.

Listen to the show here 49mb, 52 mins, MP3

Download it direct here, Subscribe and listen in iTunes or Listen via our RSS feed. If you have a slow internet connection we have a lower-quality version (also MP3) which you can download here.

Back from their solar eclipse travels, George and Joseph have a lot of treat in store – kicking off with an interview with Hiko Saemon (aka Simon) of YouTube fame.

Learning Japanese Part 1: Interview with Hiko Saemon

Hiko Saemon is the creator of original, inspiring bilingual videos on YouTube, designed for learners of Japanese who would like to see a bit more of the ‘normal’ Japan (and less of the singing on trains), and Japanese YouTubers who like to watch quality content from non-Japanese producers. In this interview he tells us how he got into YouTubing, why he has a healthy right-wing fan base, and how it was that he came to be so good at Japanese.

Simon is also working hard to promote the use of Creative Commons in Japan – check out the Creative Commons YouTube channel here.

Here’s one of his videos by way of introduction.

You can find Simon online in the following places

Hiko Saemon You Tube channel (Japanese with English subtitles)
Hiko Talk YouTube channel (English with some Japanese subtitles)
Hiko Saemon on Blog TV

In the interview Simon also mentioned Ken Tanaka’s You Tube Channel, and Kevin Cooney’s BlogTV channel.

Here’s Simon’s guide to Learning Japanese fast!

George and the JET Programme

Next up, George reveals all as he tells us about the JET programme – a Japanese Government ‘scheme’ that places English-speaking university graduates in schools as teachers all across the country every year. It’s the doorway to Japan that many non-Japanese enter through. But what’s it like? Listen to George tell us how he found it to be a little tough at times.

Learning Japanese Part 2: A multi-pronged approach

Learning Japanese is back!! After a three year break (it first featured on A Year in Japan) this section is back to help you get on with mastering the language.

Each week we’ll be giving you a couple of tips, or ‘Prongs’ as we prefer to refer to them. This week we start with some BIG ideas to consider. Keep listening for more detailed advice in future episodes.

The book Joseph talked about was Remembering the Kanji: Complete Course on How Not to Forget the Meaning and Writing of Japanese Characters v. 1 .

Photography Top Ten!

and The View From Japan

Shane Sakata of the Nihon Sun then joins us to bring us news of a new collaborative photo site called A View From Japan. Every day one of their talented contributors posts a new image from Japan, to give you a pictorial insight into the country they call home.

Shane also provides us with the Photographer’s Top Ten for when coming to Japan – what you can’t afford to miss with your lens! Check out her accompanying article here.

Joseph also mentions Alfie Goodrich’s site, and his only photo-documentary of Tsukiji Fish Market.

Listener’s Feedback

Wow! We had some great feedback this time. Thank you!!

You can provide feedback via email hello (at mark) japanpodshow .com, facebook, skype, twitter …and you could even write a review for us on iTunes!

Live-cast! – iPhone 3G Giveaway!

Yes, it’s finally the time for us to give away the Japan Podshow-branded iPhone 3G. For this we are using the latest technology for choosing competition winners – The Food Processor of Doom combines with the Thermos of Terror. Not only that, this was live-cast over the internet to ensure no cheating was involved.

The audio version of the podcast contains an extract from the audio of the following video

Win Japanese chocolates and and an amazing water pistol!

Listen to the show or watch the video above to find out how you can enter. The email address you need is hello (at mark) japanpodshow .com.

Music

Music used in the background of this episode was:

After All by Alexander Blu (used in the first half)

Tryad – Waltz into Moonlight (used in the second half)

Thank you for listening! We look forward to receiving your feedback!

Post from: Japan Podshow

Episode 8: Learning Japanese (and the Food Processor of Doom)

The full adventure story will be included in the next episode of Japan Podshow [iTunes] [RSS] – in which you’ll also hear about George’s trip to China to see the eclipse.

As most of our energy went into live streaming the event, we didn’t have much time to take photos. To be honest, it was the communal atmosphere up there that was the most memorable thing – we were united by the sun and moon (how cute). But still, here’s a couple. We were fortunate it was cloudy as we’d taken the wrong filter with us, and thus had to shoot the sun ‘raw’!

It was an amazing adventure. It had all the making of a great movie
- extreme hardship on the night climb
- despair and dissapointment as we are advised to get off the mountain before the storm worsens
- an amazing final triumph as having climbed down the most difficult section of the mountain we look back and see blue sky: despite total exhaustion we once again scale the heights to finally see the solar eclipse!

There are about 8 videos shot live on Mount Fuji available here
Here’s the main video taken during the eclipse. It’s 40 mins long. Sorry about the wind noise! It cuts off at the end when I try to go down to Mt/ Fuji’s crater

Post from: Japan Podshow

Photos of the Solar Eclipse taken on Mount Fuji

Need a hand?

In the second of their Welcome to Akiba video-shorts, Steve Nagata and Joseph Tame take a look at some of the weird and wonderful things you can find on the streets of Akihabara.

From body parts to fake mobile phones, you name it, Akiba has it.

Your viewing options:

• Download the video here [mv4 format for iTunes 38.7mb]
• Watch the video embedded below
• Subscribe to our iTunes feed
• Subscribe to our RSS feed
• Watch a larger version on our Facebook Group page (which we invite you to join!).

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Video Special: Welcome to Akiba – Body parts and something called ‘film’

Arudou Debito by Alfie Goodrich. For more of Alfie’s stunning photography from Japan visit www.alfiegoodrich.com

Post from: Japan Podshow

Japan Podshow Special: Arudou Debito interview

In the first in a short series of videos focusing on Akihabara, Steve Nagata (an Akiba Pro) shows Joseph a small shop specialising in cool little USB devices.

It’s in here that they come across the ultimate tools for spying on baddies – watches and ties with embedded video cameras!

Next time you go into a meeting with the enemy, make sure you’re prepared. With 4GBs of memory and absolute invisibility, you will never be left without evidence!

The video is also available via our Japan Podshow iTunes feed, or via our audio/video RSS feed, or as a direct download (m4v format).

It is also being cross-posted on our sister show Japan Techshow.

We look forward to getting your feedback, and will have more Akiba videos out soon!

The music in this video comes from Liquicity on YouTube. The ‘Akihabara’ voice is from a Yamanote Line train.

[Image: 56:365 by Practicalowl on Flickr]

Post from: Japan Podshow

Video: Welcome to Akiba – Spy cameras!

View the video by subscribing in iTunes, or view it on our Facebook group page here, or check it out on our YouTube channel, or download it direct from our server here (.mp4 format, 50mb) (n.b. Facebook and YouTUbe versions may still be being processed by their servers)

Emily (www.youtube.com/applemilk1988), well known for her videos online, proves that she’s more than just a film producer; having teamed up with guitarist Serey late last year she has been working on a number of hauntingly beautiful songs – one of which we bring to you in this episode of Japan Podshow – shot live at a bus stop near CC Lemon Hall in Shibuya.

60% discount for Japan Podshow Listeners!

The band is having its first live event on Saturday 23rd of May from 6.30pm in Shinjuku, and Japan Podshow listeners can get in for less than half price!

Just turn up at the door – and mention Japan Podshow!

It’s not just Emily’s band that’s playing, there’s also going to be a talk session and a meet and greet -

Oh, and did we mention that it’s also Emily’s birthday party?

• Website: http://ameblo.jp/c-cedille/
• Price: 1,500 yen (Japan Podshow listeners only – usually 3,800 yen!)
• Date: May 23rd, 2009
• Time: 6:30 DOORS OPEN, 7:00PM START ?:?? END
• Place: 東京・東京宣伝美術社 新宿駅東口より徒歩15分 Tokyo Senden Bijutsusha – 5 minute walk from Shinjuku station East exit
• Google Map

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Japan Podshow Music Video Special – C Cedille

Listen to the podcast now here or download it here.

We would love it if you subscribed in iTunes; Non-iTunes user? Here’s our standard RSS feed.

Join Joseph and George as they make their way up the street behind the Omikoshi (shrines), meeting people along the way who insist that we enjoy traditional Japanese Culture (and we did).

The podcast also features a very enthusiastic policeman with a whistle.

Tokyotopia – how to get into Tokyo from Narita International Airport

Honor Dargen is back! Having told us (in episode one) what happens when you arrive at the airport, Honor Dargen of Tokyotopia now tells us how to get into Tokyo.

For more information on the options honor mentions visit www.tokyotopia.com.

Hiragana Times Competition Winner!

In this episode we also announce the winner of the Hiragana Times competition! The winner receives a 12-month subscription to the electronic version of the Hiragana Times, a fantastic bilingual magazine that brings you up to date news and views from Japan – with all articles having direct translations and furigana, it’s suitable for any level. You can also listen to some of the sections online – and there’s even native support for users of the learning platform Smart.fm.

This week’s competition – 5 lucky listeners can win vouchers to use for free 1-on-1 lessons on Edufire, the only learning tool with live video

Brett Fyfield, an Australian teaching Japanese on the Edufire platform, introduces this week’s competition, in which you can win free tickets for lessons in ALMOST ANYTHING! Want to learn Japanese? Spanish? PHP? Photoshop? Or perhaps you’re a teacher yourself – give Edufire a go. It’s incredibly easy to use and gives you access to a huge pool of students and teachers worldwide.

Listen to the podcast to hear how you can enter the competition.

Brett Fyfield (also known as Rainbowhill) can be found in the following places: on Edufire on Blogger and on Twitter

Brett also mentions Smart.FM and Anki.

There’s listener feedback too! Thanks to News from the Other side; Kobe Kevin; supreme_nothing (Brian); Nick Ramsay; Tokyo Dan; Doug of Planet Japan; AnoBaka; Ongakuhenjin… and thanks to all our listeners for listening!

As always your feedback is welcomed.

Join our Facebook group; follow us on Twitter, write a review on iTunes, email or Skype us (24 hour answerphone enabled!)

You can alsosubscribe to us in iTunes here – this really helps us spread the word! For non-itunes users we have a standard RSS feed.

Thanks for listening!

Video: Kanda Matsuri

Post from: Japan Podshow

Episode 4 – Kanda Festival

In Episode 3 of the longest running podshow ever produced by www.pokya.jp, George and Joseph go mobile and broadcast the show from a row boat on a pond in Meguro, Tokyo. [subscribe for free in iTunes]

Listen now.

Hannah the Hostess

From their watery studio they bring you an interview with Hannah the Hostess, who reveals what it’s like to work in Tokyo’s entertainment world. What does she have to do at her club …and what exactly do her clients expect of her?

Hiragana Times

We then have an interview with Mr. Hasegawa, founder of the Hiragana Times, one of Tokyo’s longest-running magazines catering for the foreign population in Japan, and those outside of the country interested in its customs and culture, and wanting to learn Japanese. Mr. Hasegawa tells us of how the Hiragana Times started out in the 1980s and how it has since evolved. Recently, they have teamed up with Smart.FM to bring you two free articles to study every month – click here to visit the Smart FM Hiragana Times page.

Competition TIme – win an annual subscription to the digital Hiragana Times!

To win an annual subscription to the digital edition of the Hiragana Times just listen to the show to hear what the question is. You’ll find the answer on page 17 of the latest edition of the Hiragana Times (May 2009), which is available from all good book stores. If you are not in Japan you can find the answer in the digital excerpt – click here to download it for free now! You can also listen to the audio here.

We announce the winner of last week’s Tokyo Comedy Store tickets: congratulations to @macduckston for his winning entry: “At first I thought maybe your show would be a CROCK, but then I gave it A DIAL. It’s all I WANI in a podcast!”

Mac wins two tickets to the Tokyo Comedy Store Crocodile Show, which is held every last Friday of the month in Shibuya (Fourth Friday Funny!)

More about the TCS

This is TCS’s 14th year of making Tokyo laugh. It was started by comedy-starved expats, and the motto of the show is “Funnier Than You Think We’ll Be!”

The location is The Crocodile in Shibuya, on Meiji Dori. Doors open at 7:15, and the show starts at 8:00pm

Show line-up: stand-up comedy in the first half, improv comedy in the 2nd half, and special guest performers on occasion

Reservations: Write to: reservations@tokyocomedy.com
Website: tokyocomedy.com

Listener’s Feedback

We have some very Zen feedback from one of our listeners this week via skype, listen in to join the trance. Thanks also to everyone for the feedback via Twitter.

Special thanks to Doug DeLong and Jen of Planet Japan Podcast for the kind words on their latest edition – very much appreciated – they helped inspire us to go into production!

Music provided by Natural Groove Inn

Finally, we play Switch On – スイッチオン by Natural Groove Inn. It’s taken from their EP ‘Rest or Stay’, available from iTunes here.

Super funky, acoustic groove. These few words encapsulate the spirit of NGI. Comprising five members, two guitars, violin, cajon and melodion, and hailing from Japan and England they make use of all their influences to compose and perform mostly original music. Having spent the last eleven or so years in the USA working professionally, they bring a polished yet natural style to the Tokyo music scene. Capturing what music is all about, that is, communication, emotion and fun, don’t miss this chance to check them out and experience a stay at the Natural Groove Inn.

Natural Groove Inn will be playing live in Kichijoji in May 2009. Click here for more info

Please send us your feedback

We’d love to get your feedback. You can contact us

- by phone using the numbers on the right of this page (Japan / UK/ USA local rates)
- via skype
- facebook group
- Twitter

Video extracts of this episode in production

My Podcast Alley feed! {pca-04bd84492060ac10b7b43e7e4c395373}

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Japan Podshow Episode 3: The Hiragana Hostess