Japan Media Tour
Stephen TM
Business Snapshot
Partnership Signals
20 episodes for longitudinal research
Content Profile
Content Positioning
Recent Content Cues
Recent Episodes
Woman in the Dunes - Existentialism and the Modern Escape Fantasy
In episode 20 I get deep into the details of Hiroshi Teshigahara's New Wave film, The Woman in the Dunes. It's an existential masterpiece that explores the Sisyphean struggle of the modern worker,…
Kokoro - Soseki's Literary Conclusion to the Meiji Era
Episode 19 is all about Natsume Soseki's timeless novel, Kokoro. A study of isolation, guilt, love, and the struggle between traditional and modern Japanese values at the end of the Meiji Era, Kokoro…
Nobuyoshi Araki - The Most Controversial Photographer in Tokyo
In Episode 18 of Japan Media Tour we dip our toes into the world of the polarizing photographer Nobuyoshi Araki. Safe to say that without him street photography would not be what it is today. He…
Bloodthirsty Butchers - Your Favourite Band's Favourite Band
Episode 17 is all about the incredibly consistent post-hardcore band Bloodthirsty Butchers. This cult classic rock band was part of the early migration from Hokkaido to Tokyo in the late 80s and…
Pokemon (Gen. 1) - The Games That Defined the Heisei Era
Our 16th instalment brings us back to the 90s with the games that defined the Millennial generation, Pokemon. It's the highest selling franchise of all time, and it's still going strong. We also talk…
Tampopo (1985) - The Greatest Food Story Ever Told
Episode 15 looks at Juzo Itami's 1985 masterpiece, Tampopo. Billed as a "Ramen Western", it's a parody of the Spaghetti Westerns of the 1960s. Tampopo also happens to be one of the best food movies…
City Pop - Revisiting the Iconic Sounds of 80s Japan
In episode 14 we dig deep into City Pop, the sophisticated music of Japan's bubble era in the late 1980s. City Pop made a comeback in the late 2010s, with artists like Mariya Takeuchi and Miki…
Akira Toriyama - Farewell to a Shonen Manga Legend
Episode 13 is a tribute to Akira Toriyama, the man who introduced the world to shonen manga and anime. People always say that they miss 80s and 90s manga and that it just looked so much better. Well,…
Yayoi Kusama - Why Her Art is More Relevant Now Than Ever Before
In episode 12 we discuss the life of the prominent Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. She has been a trendsetter for almost a century, and is one of the most important and impactful artists of the modern…
Yōkai - An Exploration of Japanese Folklore
Episode 11 takes a look at the history of yōkai, and why these mythical creatures should matter to you. We don't go into detail about any one work of art or literature, but rather give an overview of…
Comme des Garçons - The World's Most Innovative Fashion Brand
Episode 10 is all about one of Japan's most creative and important fashion brands: Comme des Garcons. The genius behind the brand is Rei Kawakubo, and her creations force us to think about deep…
Cure - 90s Japan's Most Influential Horror Movie
In episode 9 we analyze one of the most creative and influential horror movies of the last 30 years. Kuniyoshi Kurosawa's 1997 film Cure forces us to question the nature of our reality and to debate…
Matsuo Basho - Japan's Greatest Haiku Poet
This week we take a pilgrimage to the Edo Era to talk about the most famous haiku poet of all time, Matsuo Basho. Through his teachings we can learn to appreciate nature, and to leave the superficial…
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - Ahead of its Time
In episode 7 we revisit my childhood to talk about The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. This game, like the Zelda series in general was absolutely groundbreaking in terms of the scale and scope…
Hanshin Tigers - Breaking the Curse of the Colonel
In episode 6 we dig into the history of Kansai's beloved Hanshin Tigers baseball club. Learning about this team can teach us a lot about Japanese history and culture. We also go deep on the infamous…
Tokyo Story - Yasujiro Ozu's Minimalist Masterpiece
In episode 5 we analyze Yasujiro Ozu's legendary 1953 film Tokyo Story. We discuss intergenerational conflict, postwar Japan, minimalism, and family dynamics. This movie has definitely earned a spot…
Supercar - Northern Japan's Shoegaze Heroes
In episode 4 we head to Northern Japan. The year is 1995 and a band called Supercar is just getting started. Supercar is known for their brand of super melodic rock, and their experimentation with…
Hokusai - The Story of Japan's Most Famous Artist
In episode 3 we travel back to the Edo Period to find out why The Great Wave Off Kanagawa is worth the hype. We look at how Hokusai changed both Japanese and Western art and culture forever. Other…
Earthbound - Everyone Should Play This Game
In episode 2 we help Ness defend the world from an alien invasion in the cult classic video game Earthbound, also known as Mother 2. The game is an emotional rollercoaster with a pretty shocking…
Lady Snowblood - Cult Classic Film Breakdown
SPOILER WARNING. The inaugural episode takes a look at the visually striking 1973 film Lady Snowblood, in which a young woman seeks vengeance for her mother. We also talk bears, Tarantino, Bakeries,…
Publishing Analytics
Ecosystem Signals
Research Links
Similar Podcasts
Two Girls One Ghost
Sony Music Entertainment
819 episodes
National Park After Dark
National Park After Dark
386 episodes
WDW Radio: Your Guide to the Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise and More Disney Magic!
Lou Mongello - Disney Expert
1,043 episodes
Travel with Rick Steves
Rick Steves
1,066 episodes
Very Amusing with Carlye Wisel - A Theme Park Podcast
Carlye Wisel
224 episodes
Unlocking The Magic: Talking all things Disney Parks, Universal and Cruising
Konstantina Irving
534 episodes