Just Japan Podcast

Tales From Kevin - a new storytelling podcast  Hosted by Kevin O’Shea. A mix of stories, thoughts, and experiences from a life lived in many places. Whimsical tales from a man from Canada with fingers and toes in many countries. -   Tale 1: I Got a Monkey Golden Shower A life currently lived in Malaysia can mean lots of different wildlife encounters. Kevin introduces the podcast and discusses having an endangered monkey release its bladder from above. Things get grim, but somewhat funny all at the same time. Welcome to the new storytelling podcast.   FOLLOW my new show! Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tales-from-kevin/id1767355563   Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/07HXqsUXmFCFLWUJ8RpaKZ   Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ac207b88-dbb6-4ca6-8e9e-34a1ecbf5289/tales-from-kevin  

In this episode we get to hang out with Okayama-based Dave Olson. This inspiring Canadian shares many amazing stories, insights, and worldly experiences. From his adventures as a youth to mushroom farming in Tottori, to internet startups in Vancouver, he's done so much. Now Dave lives in Okayama with his beautiful family and shares his experiences and thoughts on personal archeology and much more with all of us. You'll all want to follow Dave and see what he's up to next! https://daveostory.com/       Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justjapanstuff X: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlandkev https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusanKevin   Nature Talks Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nature-talks-podcast/id1579829311

Douglas Brooks is an American researcher, writer, teacher, and boatbuilder. He is passionate about preserving the disappearing tradition of Japanese boatbuilding. He has written 6 books on the topic and his book, “Japanese Wooden Boatbuilding” is the only comprehensive guide on the topic. He has apprenticed under 9 Japanese masters and shares his knowledge with others around the world. Douglas recently was hired as a consultant on the Hulu/Disney/FX miniseries “Shogun” to help construct boats and supply boats for the series. Douglas chats with Kevin about his story, preserving these disappearing Japanese traditions, and what listeners can do also to preserve disappearing traditions in Japan.     Photo credit (podcast art): Brett Simison See everything Douglas is doing: http://douglasbrooksboatbuilding.com/ Follow Douglas on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/douglasbrooksboatbuilding Boat building blog: http://blog.douglasbrooksboatbuilding.com/         Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin: Facebook: htt

In this episode, Kevin chats with a returning guest and friend of the show, Kansai Pee Jay. Pee Jay talks about his life-long interest in Japanese castles and how he travels throughout Japan visiting them. He has some wonderful stories to share about his experiences at Himeji castle back in the early 1990s and becoming one of the first foreign tour guides in Japan! You’ll enjoy Pee Jay’s stories and learning more about some of the iconic castles in Japan.   Follow Pee Jay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kansai_pee_jay     Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justjapanstuff Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/MadForMaple Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlandkev https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusanKevin

In this episode, Kevin welcomes Riki Ohkanda (PaprikaGirl) back on the podcast. Riki talks about how to cope with the summer heat in Tokyo and some life updates. They chat about breaking out of the expat bubble in Japan to find more happiness in life, health, and fitness as well as the recent news all about overtourism in Japan.   Follow Riki on Twitter (X): https://x.com/PaprikaGirl_JP     Check out my other podcast on YouTube (Nature Talks Podcast): https://www.youtube.com/@naturetalkspod     Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justjapanstuff X: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlandkev https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BusanKevin   My new Instagram about my health journey…from bad to good! https://www.instagram.com/turnaround_strength

Just Japan Podcast - 222: Saving Trees and Environmental Activism in Tokyo In this episode, Kevin chats with Tokyo-based marketing specialist and consultant, Rochelle Kopp. Rochelle has spent more than 30 years living in Japan and working in the business world. She is also a passionate environmental activist focusing on saving trees and parks in the Tokyo area. In a time when we are feeling the burn or climate change more than ever, we need trees, but many in Japan don’t think that way! Listen to Rochelle’s story and how you can help protect trees across Japan.   Follow Rochelle Kopp on Twitter (X): https://x.com/JapanIntercult LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rochellekopp/   Change.org Petitions to save trees in Japan:   Jingu Stadium Zenpukuji Hibiya Park Osaka City Kobe's Oji Park   More links on the podcast's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/justjapanstuff     Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justjapanstuff X: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple Emai

In this episode, host Kevin O’Shea chats with returning guest Brian Waters. When Brian moved to Japan permanently from the United States his children were 5 and 3 years old. Now his oldest is in university and his youngest near completing high school. Brian reflects on his experiences as an American parent watching his children navigate the Japanese public school system.   Follow Brian on Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/MyTwoYen   Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin:   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justjapanstuff X: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple Email: justjapanpodcast@gmail.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlandkev https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes  

In this episode of the podcast, Kevin Chats with Joseph Fowler, host of the Ishikawa: Summit to Seas Podcast. They talk about Joe’s Japan origin story.  He talks about his podcast as well as about the J-Pops Podcast. Joe also talks about becoming a new father in Japan and buying a house there. Learn about life in a part of Japan you don’t hear about so often.   Ishikawa: Summit to Seas Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ishikawa-summit-to-sea/id1528933719     J-Pops Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-j-pops-attempting-parenting-in-japan/id1595489571     Follow Joe on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KumaYama100   Instagram (Joe’s Father): https://www.instagram.com/john_fowler_art             Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin:   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justjapanstuff   X: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple   Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlandkev https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes

In this episode, Kevin chats with Evan and Dani Benton who have renovated two Akiya (empty homes) on the island of Omishima in Ehime Prefecture in Japan. They have a wonderful website and YouTube channel called “Benton Homestead” that documents their journey. They have renovated these two buildings, turning one into a guesthouse and the other, their home. They are also diving into the world of natural agriculture and bee keeping. They discuss the process of buying and renovating these old homes as well as how they were able to get visas to stay in Japan to complete this project. Benton Homestead: https://bentonhomestead.com/ Follow their YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@bentonhomestead       Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justjapanstuff X: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlandkev https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@busankevin   My new Instagram about my health journey…from bad to

In this episode, Kevin chats with Emily Bell about returning to Japan. Emily was born in Santa Barbara, but at the age of 2 moved to Shizuoka, Japan. She grew up in rural Japan and at the age of 14 returned to the United States. She faced challenges such as lacking English fluency and starting high school in a very different culture, but she persevered! She just graduated from university and is about to move to Tokyo. She decided to accept a job offer and will soon start a new adventure, this time as an adult and instead of the Japanese countryside, in the biggest of big cities! Listen to her fascinating story!   BTW….Emily’s father is Kurt Bell, aka “Softypapa.” He was our best on episode 217!   You can learn a lot about Emily’s adventures by following her father, Kurt Bell: X: https://twitter.com/softypapa Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/softypapa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LylesBrother     Follow the Just Japan Podcast and Kevin: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justjapanstuff X: https://twi

In this episode, Kevin chats with one of the original Japan YouTubers (jvloggers), Kurt Bell, aka, Softypapa. In the early days of YouTube, Kurt made fascinating videos about his life in rural Shizuoka and brought us along on countless hiking adventures in the deep forests and mountains. We explored abandoned villages and learned about long forgotten shines with Kurt. After 10 years in Japan, he returned to America. After 10 years in California, Kurt is on the verge of retirement and will return to Japan to continue his rural adventures. Learn more about his amazing story in this episode!   Kurt on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@softypapa   Kurt on “X’: https://twitter.com/softypapa       Socials: Follow the Podcast on social media: Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff   Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple   Instagram (travel and life):  https://instagram.com/jlandkev https://instagram.com/japannightscenes   YouTube: http://youtube.com/@busankevin

In this Episode, Kevin chats with Tokyo-based entrepreneur, Gregorio. Gregorio is an American who came to Japan in 2008 as a university student and worked for years working in various industries. During the pandemic, he started Monsta Sweets, a cookie company! He made cookies and sold them at pop-ups in Tokyo. He has now opened a full-time brick-and-mortar “Monsta Sweets” shop in Tokyo. Listen to his fascinating story about starting a business from scratch in Tokyo. Follow Monsta Sweets: X: https://twitter.com/Monsta_Sweets Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monsta_sweets     Check out our website! https://justjapanstuff.com/   Sign up for the FREE Just Japan Podcast newsletter if you'd like to receive it! https://mailchi.mp/12afe98c5d57/just-japan-podcast   Support the Podcasts on Patreon: patreon.com/JustJapanPodcast97     Socials: Follow the Podcast on social media: Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff X: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/japannigh

In this episode, Kevin chats with Japanese pop culture expert, Matt Alt. Matt is a Tokyo-based writer who writes extensively about how Japanese pop culture has impacted the world. He has written books about Japanese folklore with his wife, Hiroko Yoda, and worked extensively as a translator and localization expert for the Japanese gaming industry. They talk about Japanese toys, pop culture, folklore, and a lot more. Matt also talks about his latest book, “Pure Invention” all about many of the Japanese inventions that had huge impacts on the rest of the world. Sign up for the FREE Just Japan Podcast newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/12afe98c5d57/just-japan-podcast   Support my podcasts and other creative endeavors on Patreon: patreon.com/JustJapanPodcast97   Follow all the things Matt Alt does: https://www.mattalt.com/   Check out Matt Alt’s books on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Books-Matt-Alt/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AMatt+Alt     Follow the Podcast on social media: Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff

In this episode Kevin shares an amazing conversation with James Reynolds, a British extreme weather and natural events filmmaker based in Tokyo, Japan. James has been traveling the world for almost 20 years filming volcanoes, typhoons, and the aftermaths of earthquakes and tsunamis. James has arguably the most exciting job in Japan! His job stalled during the cover years, but he is now back in the full swing of things. Kevin later shares some listener requests tales of odd transportation events in Japan. This interview originally aired on the Just Asia Podcast in 2023.   James on X: https://twitter.com/EarthUncutTV EarthuncutTV on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/earthuncuttv     Support the Podcasts on Patreon: patreon.com/JustJapanPodcast97   Follow the Podcast on social media: Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/jlandkev Japan Night Scenes: https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes YouTube: http://youtube.

In this episode of the podcast, Kevin O'Shea chats with his friend Kevin Tarpey about exploring rural Japan on foot. Kevin Tarpey lives in rural Shimane Prefecture and is an epic hiker and walker. He has taken many walking adventures such as Shikoku’s 88 Temples Pilgrimage and he writes a regular column for a local newspaper about his walking adventures in Japan. Kevin sees Japan in a way many expats and travelers do.   Follow Kevin Tarpey's rural Japan adventurers: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegreenhoof     Support the Podcasts on Patreon: patreon.com/JustJapanPodcast97     Follow the Podcast on social media:   Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff   Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple   Instagram (Japanese night shots and toys): https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/jlandkev   YouTube: http://youtube.com/@busankevin

Kevin chats with Hiroshima-based Sustainable Travel Consultant, JJ Walsh, in this episode. Joy has lived in Japan since the 1990s and is an entrepreneur, content creator, consultant, and very inspirational person. She helps businesses as well as individuals lead more sustainable lives in Japan. They talk about her “Japan origin story” and the Seek Sustainable Podcast. They also chat about being a travel guide in Japan and buying and renovating old homes.   Seek Sustainable Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/seek-sustainable-japan/id1520832272 Joy on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbjRdeieOLGes008y_I9y5Q     Support the Podcasts on Patreon: patreon.com/JustJapanPodcast97     Follow the Podcast on social media: Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/jlandkev YouTube: http://youtube.com/@busankevin

In this episode we chat with Jason, the man behind napajapan.com. NapaJapan is one of the best places online to buy Japanese snacks, candy, drinks, and other delicious treats. Jason first appeared on the podcast in 2015. We catch up and learn all about how Jason started his snack business in Japan, how he weathered the cover storm as an online retailer, and a lot more. There's also a big treat, if you use the code “justjapan20” at checkout, you can get a 20% discount on an order from napajapan.com! ALSO….support our NEW Patreon campaign!   Do some amazing Japanese snack shopping today: https://www.napajapan.com/ (Discount code: justjapan20)   NapaJapan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/napajapan/ NapaJapan on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/napaJapan/     SUPPORT the new pattern campaign: patreon.com/JustJapanPodcast97       Follow the Podcast on social media: Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/jland

In this episode, we are back with Jim Mullins, an expat resident of Japan for 33 years. We catch up on his life lately and chat about inflation in Japan. Is it as noticeable as in other countries? Mully also tells us about what he’s been up to lately. The conversation even turns to shaving and shaving supplies in Japan!     Follow the Podcast on social media: Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/jlandkev YouTube: http://youtube.com/@busankevin TikTok: @busankevin2

We are back and we chatted with Pee Jay about teaching at universities in Japan. Pee Jay talked about this topic in episode 27 in August of 2014. A lot has changed since then and we learn a little about this long-term expat in Japan and how to get a job teaching at universities in Japan. What is it like to find work? What are the conditions like once you start working in a university? If you are considering working in Japan, this might be the episode for you!     Follow Pee Jay on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kansai_pee_jay/⁠   Follow the Podcast on social media: Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/jlandkev YouTube: http://youtube.com/@busankevin TikTok: @busankevin2

In the Fall of 2023, Tony Dot Vega walked the entire Tokaido Road. He walked 500 km from Kyoto to Tokyo. This would be an amazing and challenging adventure for anyone, but Tony’s journey was even more incredible because he did it sol and he’s legally blind. Listen to Tony’s amazing Japan story. Kevin chats with Tony about how he learned to speak Japanese, how he originally came to Japan, and how he took on the Tokaido Road Challenge and shared it with the world on social media.   Tony online: JapanKyo.com https://japankyo.com   The Tokaido Challenge YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7ALB_S1KyWunL6kIbGu_Vtmswe1qxlHq   Tony on X: https://twitter.com/thevegatony   Check out the episode of Japan Station where Tony interviewed me: https://www.japankyo.com/2021/02/japan-china-covid19-experience/       Follow the Podcast on social media:   Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff   Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple   Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/jlandkev   Yo