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A weekly roundup of the week's biggest — and smallest — national news, crime, politics and entertainment stories from Japan Today with a dash of opinionated commentary and a sprinkling of readers' comments. Ready for you every Friday evening (JST).
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Need a weekly round-up of the top news stories coming out of Japan? Look no further. Tokyo-based, British content-creator Julian and Japanese entrepreneur Yasu, are here to dive into the hot topics of the week. Recorded in Tokyo, 'This Week in Japan' is the perfect blend of current news, cultural insight, and in-depth discussions all woven through a friendly conversation between the two hosts. Stay up-to-date with the flow of stories streaming out of Japan, no matter where you are. You can a ...
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Nov. 8, 2024: Customer harassment crackdown, Mount Fuji light rail, bike law penalties, new train safety measures and missing student update
20:42
Welcome to another episode of Japan This Week, your weekly roundup of trending news stories from Japan Today for Nov. 8, 2024.In this week's episode:NATIONAL: Customer harassment crackdown (1:01 - 5:40)Japan's service industry workers are facing increasing abuse from customers. Major companies like Ito-Yokado are implementing manuals and training t…
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Nov 1, 2024: Political turmoil, Tokyo’s green space battle, tragic crime and Meta's fake ad scandal
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Welcome to another episode of Japan This Week, your weekly roundup of trending news stories from Japan Today for Nov. 1, 2024.This week, we dive into the aftermath of Japan's recent general election, which has left the ruling coalition in disarray and no party with a majority. We also explore the heated controversy around Tokyo's Jingu Gaien Park r…
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In this episode, we cover the rise of organized crime and robberies in the Kanto region driven by social media apps, Japan's nuclear energy resurgence to tackle carbon emissions and a spike in used smartphone sales as consumers push back on constant new releases.Plus, we discuss efforts to find Claudio Worm, a missing German tourist, and give liste…
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Japan election, China-Taiwan tensions, Nobel Peace Prize, crossdressing crime and Japanese car names
19:04
In this episode, Jeff covers election season in Japan, growing tensions between Taiwan and China, an atomic bomb survivors' group receiving the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize, a cross-dressing man causing a stir at a Nagoya bathhouse and readers' thoughts on odd Japanese car names. Tune in for a mix of serious news and lighter, quirky topics with commentar…
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Megumi Yokota, Japan best for Condé Nast, R-rated Quantas flight, villain queen & Japan rail origins
21:18
In this episode, Jeff and Kong dive into stories of heartbreak, excitement and controversy — including a mother's ongoing search for her abducted daughter, Japan's #1 ranking as the best country to visit, an in-flight movie mishap and Netflix's new pro wrestling series. They also profile the British engineer who helped launch Japan railways over 15…
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Oct. 4, 2024: Japan new PM, price hikes, Tokyo drinks ban, death row lawsuit and bullet train 60th
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Welcome to another episode of Japan This Week, your weekly roundup of trending news stories from the Japan Today website.This week, Jeff Richards runs solo to bring you the latest stories and reader reactions, including Japan's new prime minister Shigeru Ishiba, prices rising yet again across the country, Tokyo's Shibuya and Shinjuku districts’ exp…
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Sept. 27, 2024: Noto floods, Japan vs China and Russia, lame ducks, death penalties and e-scooters
28:51
Sept. 27, 2024 — In this episode, Jeff and Kong discuss the natural disasters plaguing the Noto Peninsula, airspace breaches of Japan by China and Russia, the latest political meeting between Prime Minister Kishida and President Joe Biden, the treatment of death-row inmates in Japan and the question of capital punishment plus an update on electric …
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Sept. 20, 2024: Marijuana criminalization, whale meat, elders over 100, Shogun and Japanese sushi
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In this episode, Jeff and Kong dive into topics ranging from Japan's upcoming cannabis laws to the resurgence of whale meat in Japan and record-breaking Emmy wins for a Japanese period drama. Plus, they tackle Japan's aging population and sushi chefs earning more overseas.Timestamps for the Main Stories:[0:00 - 0:11] – IntroJeff introduces this wee…
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Sept. 13, 2024: Chinese influx, cash or cashless, child abuse, Fukushima peaches and deathly divorce
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This week, Jeff and Kong dive into the influx of rich Chinese immigrants flocking to Japan, the country's slow adoption of cashless payments, a disturbing court case involving a child placed in a washing machine, Fukushima peaches selling for a premium in London and the rise of posthumous divorces in Japan.NATIONAL: Rich Chinese immigrants (2:43 - …
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Welcome to another episode of Japan This Week, your weekly roundup of trending news stories from the Japan Today website.This week, Jeff and Kong dive into the political debates surrounding the sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel, the push for a four-day workweek in Japan, a heartbreaking teenage suicide in Yokohama, new penalties for cycling offens…
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August 30, 2024: Rice shortage, China's flyby, dolphins attack, indecent exposure and 'hump dolls'
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Welcome to another episode of Japan This Week, your weekly roundup of trending news stories from the Japan Today website.In this episode, Jeff Richards and Kamasami Kong discuss the rice shortage causing panic buying in Japan, the invasion of Japanese airspace by Chinese aircraft, dolphin attacks in Fukui Prefecture, a couple caught in an indecent …
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August 23, 2024: Shop & pray, Yasukuni graffiti, frequent flyer, 7-11 and Japanese vending machines
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Welcome to another episode of Japan This Week, your weekly roundup of trending news stories from the Japan Today website.In this episode, hosts Jeff Richards and Kamasami Kong discuss a range of topics including the accommodation of Muslim visitors in Japanese retail spaces, repeated vandalism at Yasukuni Shrine, Prime Minister Kishida's upcoming i…
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Welcome to another episode of Japan This Week, your weekly roundup of trending news stories from the Japan Today website. In this episode, hosts Jeff Richards and Kamasami Kong discuss Prime Minister Kishida's shocking resignation amid corruption scandals, a megaquake advisory causing panic during Obon Week, and a bizarre egg-throwing incident in G…
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Welcome to another episode of Japan This Week, your weekly roundup of the most pressing news stories from Japan.In this episode, Jeff Richards and Kamasami Kong delve into the significant drop in the Nikkei index due to global economic concerns, the tragic loss of over 100 lives in Tokyo from a severe heat wave and the arrest of a university studen…
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Aug. 2, 2024: Agony of defeat, out of OJ, Veron disappearance, suitcase drivers and 'Have Your Say'
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Welcome to another episode of Japan This Week, your weekly roundup of the most pressing news stories from Japan.In this episode hosts Jeff Richards and Kamasami Kong discuss the emotional defeat of Japanese judo star Uta Abe at the Paris Olympics, the orange juice shortage in Japan due to various economic and environmental factors, the ongoing myst…
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July 26, 2024: Tourist trap, Harris or Trump, not-so-smooth operator, pizza party and fizzled flame
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Welcome to Japan This Week. Join hosts Jeff Richards and Kamasami Kong as they discuss the introduction of dual-pricing systems for tourists and locals in Japan, Prime Minister Kishida’s comments on the U.S. presidential race, a bizarre crime involving glue and bird poop in Nagoya, a lawsuit over a late pizza delivery in Osaka and the controversy s…
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Welcome to Japan This Week! Join hosts Jeff Richards and Kamasami Kong as they recap the most significant news stories from Japan Today for the week of July 19, 2024. In this episode, they discuss Japan's stance on autonomous lethal weapons, the prevalence of microaggressions against people of mixed heritage in Japan, the theft of a peace symbol in…
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June 28, 2024: Poster Pranks, Death on Fuji, Military Miscreant, Hotel Israel and Royal Flush
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Welcome to Japan This Week! Join hosts Jeff Richards and Kamasami Kong as they recap the most significant news stories from Japan Today for the week of June 28, 2024. This episode covers a range of topics from political pranks in Tokyo's gubernatorial election to tragic incidents on Mount Fuji and controversial crimes involving U.S. servicemen. Plu…
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June 21, 2024: Castle Fees, Mt. Fuji Limit, Koike Scandal, Russia's Reach and Tickling the Ivories
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In this episode of Japan This Week, the mayor of the city of Himeji wants to raise entrance fees for overseas visitors to the iconic Himeji Castle, a gate has been installed on a Mount Fuji trail to control the crowds, Tokyo Gov Koike faces a criminal complaint over her allegedly fake university diploma, A Russian food shop in Ginza is GOING to clo…
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June 14, 2024: Bacterium Infection, Maiden Names, the Mount Fuji View Controversy and Overtourism
31:59
Welcome to another episode of Japan This Week, your weekly roundup of the most pressing news stories from Japan. In this episode, hosts Jeff Richards and Kamasami Kong bring you the latest updates on various topics:Health Alert Streptococcal Toxic Shock Syndrome (STSS) cases are on the rise in Japan, reaching record highs.Women's Rights The ongoing…
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June 7, 2024: Price Up; Cedar Fever; Punk in Drublic; High Tech Toilets and Right Place, Wrong Crime
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In this week's news from Japan Today: Prices for over 600 food items rise in June; Japan plans to replace cedar with low-pollen trees to fight hay fever; no more street drinking in Shibuya; Japan’s high-tech toilets all the rage internationally and a criminal who picked the wrong store to rob.Rate and review us on Apple Podcasts:http://itunes.apple…
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May 31, 2024: Sportsmen, Cheats & Liars; Lost & Found; Run Renho Run; Human Writes and Melon, Oh My!
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In this week's news from Japan Today: Toyota plans to end its massive Olympics sponsorship deal; a record 30 million reported lost items found by Japanese police in 2023; high-profile opposition figure Renho to run for Tokyo governor; a U.N. rights group says Japan needs to do more to counter human rights abuses and a pair of premium Yubari melons …
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May 24, 2024: Break Down the Barricades, Japan Tops Travel Lists, Dirty Launderer and F-Bomb Cafe.
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In this week's news from Japan Today: A town in Yamanashi Prefecture is so fed up with tourists taking photos of Mount Fuji that it's erected a barrier to block the viral view of the mountain; Japan just ranked third in a list of top world travel destinations released by the World Economic Forum; police in Ibaraki Prefecture have arrested a man aft…
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This week we discuss the remarkable lengths one student went to cheat on an exam, the most unbelieve accident to ever happen when a man falling from a roof caused another woman to fall out of a window, Japan's favorite snack is finally raising it's price by ¥2 after 40 years and a videogame developer has requested that fans do not send chocolate an…
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This week we discuss the huge success of the latest anime movie hit 'Jujutsu Kaisen 0', how a firefighter is in trouble for moonlighting as a Youtuber & the unlikely new toy that's taking Japan by storm! Word of the Week: イクメン (iku-men) This episode was recorded on January 14th 2022 in Hiroo, Tokyo. Join the discussion over on www.facebook.com/this…
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This week we discuss the sudden snowfall in Tokyo, the police department that is currently in hot water over a couple of misplaced floppy disks, the world's oldest person Kane Tanaka turning 119, a team from Meiji University inventing a lickable screen you can taste and Convenience store chain Lawson's vision for a greener future. Words of the Week…
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This week we discuss Yusaku Maezawa's successful return to earth after 12 days on the International Space Station, a mother's incredible bravery in saving her child from a burning building, an all-boys school in Tokyo that has started a Gentlemen's Education curriculum and we reminisce on the biggest story of 2021 in Japan. Words of the Week: クリパ (…
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This week we discuss billionaire Yusaku Maezawa who just became the first Japanese civilian to travel to space, how prolonged exposure to face masks is causing unexpected anxiety and outrage as a school in Tokyo asks students to relinquish their social media passwords. Word of the Week: 学歴フィルター (gakureki-firutā) This episode was recorded on Decembe…
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This week we discuss Japan's tightened border restrictions worlding the discovery of the new Omicron Covid variant, how Japan's favourite Christmas food (fried chicken) is facing severe shortages, and how Japanese workers are dreading the return of the high pressure, end of year party known as bounenkai. Word of the Week: バップ (bappu) This episode w…
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This week we discuss the nominations for Japan's 'Word of the Year' 2021 competition (流行語大賞), JAXA's search for new astronauts for the first time in 13 years, the seemingly positive return to normalcy with low COVID-19 numbers, and how Uber Eats drivers are unhappy with the current state of flexible wages. Word of the Year Nominations: うっせえわ！ (usse…
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This week we discuss 19-year old shogi master Sōta Fujii becoming the 'Dragon King', JR East performing the 1st ever test run of its new autonomous bullet train system, a 16-year old girl who engineered an AI system to prevent aggressive drivers, a Tokyo team of researchers that made a 'super clone' of the world's oldest but destroyed oil painting …
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This week we discuss an Osaka landmark becoming the centre of an anti-vax photoshop controversy, a disgruntled JR West Train driver who is suing his employer for $0.50 and how an 84-year old Granpa who has become the countries oldest Pokémon GO Master! Word of the Week: 割り勘 (wari-kan) This episode was recorded on November 12th 2021 in Hiroo, Tokyo.…
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This week we discuss the conclusion of Princess Mako's long overdue marriage to Kei Komuro and how Tokyo's busiest train line was closed over the weekend for renovations on an impressive scale! Word of the Week: 撮り鉄 (tori-tetsu) This episode was recorded on October 29th 2021 in Hiroo, Tokyo. Join the discussion over on www.facebook.com/thisweekinja…
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This week we discuss the huge volcanic eruption on Mt Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's foray into the world of Youtube, the end of a Japanese gamer's epic quest to collect every single Playstation game & how frozen food vending machines are pleasing customers and saving businesses all across Japan. Word of the week: バイ…
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This week we discuss the upcoming virtual Shibuya Halloween experience, Japan's 1st ever typhoon research institute, the 2021 results of the most appealing prefecture survey, and how ramen shops are starting to ban YouTubers and critics. Word of the week: フロリダ (furorida) This episode was recorded on October 15th 2021 in Hiroo, Tokyo. Join the discu…
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This week we discuss Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a brief update of Princess Mako's wedding, and the Japanese (who is now an American citizen) climate scientist Shukuro Manabe, who just won a Nobel Prize. Word of the Week: ロン毛 (ron-ge) This episode was recorded on October 8th 2021 in Hiroo, Tokyo. Join the discussion over on www.facebo…
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This week we discuss Japan's new rules on age limits for children in opposite-sex onsen & a new app is being developed to help protect the human rights of foreign works in Japan. Word of the Week: バッシュ (basshu) This episode was recorded on September 25th 2021 in Akasaka, Tokyo. Join the discussion over on www.facebook.com/thisweekinjapan Also, chec…
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This week we discuss the growing worldwide popularity of Matcha powder and how the industry in Japan is adapting to meet demand. Word of the Week: 親ガチャ (oyagacha) This episode was recorded on September 17th 2021 in Akasaka, Tokyo. Join the discussion over on www.facebook.com/thisweekinjapan Also, check out our "Japan Go!" YouTube Channel at youtube…
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This week we discuss Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's decision to step down after only one year on the job and a high school in Kumamoto Prefecture will be opening the first-ever manga course for students. Word of the Week: フラグ (furagu) This episode was recorded on September 10th 2021 in Akasaka, Tokyo. Check out our "Japan Go!" YouTube Channel at y…
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This week we discuss the underdog Sumo Wrestler, Shounan-zakura, who finally called it a day after a record breaking losing streak of 104 matches and Bandai's popular Gunpla (Gundam Plastic) aims to cut waste and create products from more recycled plastic. Word of the Week: 逆ギレ (gyaku-gire) This episode was recorded on September 3rd 2021 in Akasaka…
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This week we discuss the crazy seasonal weather in Japan and how Golf is becoming the new sporting trend for young Japanese adults. Word of the Week: 銀ブラ (Gin-bura) This episode was recorded on August 20th 2021 in Akasaka, Tokyo Check out our "Japan Go!" YouTube Channel at youtube.com/japango
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This week dive into the many stories surround the Tokyo 2020 games, including Japan's impressive medal haul and a Mayor in Nagoya who is under fire for chomping on a gold medal! Word of the Week: 陰キャ (in-kya) 陽キャ (you-kya) This episode was recorded on August 6th 2021 in Akasaka, Tokyo Check out our "Japan Go!" YouTube Channel at youtube.com/japango…
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In this episode, we discuss multiple scandals involving Olympic contributors, TeamLabs Digital Art Museum becoming the most visited in the world & a Ugandan weightlifter who went on the run, hoping to remain in Japan. Due to a glitch in the recording, unfortunately, there will be no 'Word of the Week' for this episode. This episode was recorded on …
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In this episode, we discuss "Giant floating head appears in the sky of Tokyo" and "IOC Chairman refers to Japanese as 'Chinese'". Word of the Week: マンツーマン (Man-tsuu-man) This episode was recorded on July 16th, 2021 in Akasaka, Tokyo Check out our "Japan Go!" YouTube Channel! (youtube.com/japango)
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In this episode, we discuss a suspected molester who jumped from a bridge at Shibuya Station, Tokyo Olympics is to be held without spectators, and Sushi Ninja busted for industrial espionage. Word of the Week: メリケン (Meri-ken) This episode was recorded on July 9th, 2021 in Akasaka, Tokyo Check out our "Japan Go!" YouTube Channel! (youtube.com/japang…
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In this episode, we discuss the delayed rainy season in Japan, the Mt. Fuji reopening for the first time in two years, and the Japanese government officials turned into anime characters. Word of the Week: イメチェン (Ime-chen) This episode was recorded on July 2nd, 2021 in Akasaka, Tokyo Check out our "Japan Go!" YouTube Channel! (youtube.com/japango)…
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In this episode, we discuss Emperor Naruhito's unconventional, personal statement regarding the Olympics and the Japanese Government's new guidelines to make 4-day working weeks the new normal. Word of the Week: ペアルック (Pair Look) This episode was recorded on June 25th, 2021 in Akasaka, Tokyo Check out our "Japan Go!" YouTube Channel! (youtube.com/j…
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In this episode, we discuss the controversies in Japan over a new app that allows you to check the authenticity of a foreigner's residence card with a smartphone. Word of the Week: ブラインドタッチ (blind touch) This episode was recorded on June 18th, 2021 in Akasaka, Tokyo Check out our "Japan Go!" YouTube Channel! (youtube.com/japango)…
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Yasu & Julian are back after a short hiatus! We've made a few small changes to the show, but we're still providing the same informative and funny conversations that you've come to love! On this week's show, we discuss the current state of affairs regarding the Tokyo Olympics and share some stories of how the locals in Japan really feel about the ev…
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Welcome back to This Week In Japan! News Story of the Week: Japanese Entrepreneur Plans Journey To The Moon Word of the Week: 天下り (Coming down from the Heaven) Important Announcement regarding our Podcast [Japanese Explanation] This Week In Japanでは毎週、日本で話題のニュースについて、イギリス人アーティストのJulianと日本人起業家のYasuが英語で意見を交わしています。他にも日本文化や、面白い日本語のフレーズを紹介しています。 (Recorded…
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