Japan Reach
John Sensei
Publishing Details
About This Podcast
The Japan Reach Podcast covers the experiences of the Japan Reach team, as well as the fun facts and the amazing people that we discover as we learn all about Japan.
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Recent Episodes
S1E30 Ep. 30 - Awaji Island: Japan's First Island
Awaji Island, located between the islands of Honshu and Shikoku, is the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea and holds cultural, historical, and geographical significance. Connected to the mainland…
S1E29 Ep. 29 - Karaoke: Japan's Microphone Madness
Karaoke is Japan’s gift to the world of joyous off-key singing and shameless mic-hogging. Born in the 1970s thanks to musician Daisuke Inoue (who, fun fact, never patented his invention), karaoke…
S1E28 Ep. 28 - The Sohei: Japan's Warrior Monks
The sohei, or warrior monks, were armed Buddhist monks in medieval Japan who played significant military and political roles from the late Heian period (794–1185). Originating from powerful…
S1E27 Ep. 27 - Samurai: The Way of the Warrior
The samurai were a warrior class in feudal Japan, emerging around the 10th century and rising to prominence under the rule of the shogunate. Originally provincial warriors serving powerful…
S1E26 Ep. 26 - Ninja Warriors: Japan's Secret Society of Assassins
Ninja warriors, or shinobi, were covert agents in feudal Japan known for their skills in espionage, sabotage, infiltration, and guerrilla warfare. Unlike the noble samurai, ninjas often operated in…
S1E25 Ep. 25 - Blue Zone Central: Japan's Long Lived People
Japan’s "Blue Zone" refers to Okinawa, a region identified as one of the five places in the world where people live significantly longer, healthier lives than average. Researchers studying Blue Zones…
S1E24 Ep. 24 - Shotengai: Japan's Endless Shopping Streets
Japan's shōtengai (shopping streets) have a rich history as merchants began clustering along pilgrimage routes and temple grounds to sell goods to travelers and locals. Over time, these informal…
S1E23 Ep. 23 - Religion in Japan (Part 4): Christianity, Resilience in the land of the Rising Sun
Christianity was introduced to Japan in the 1500s by European missionaries, from Portugal and Spain. At first, it spread quickly, with many Japanese converting to the new faith. However, the…
S1E22 Ep. 22 - Religion in Japan (Part 3): Buddhism, Japan's first Foreign Religion
Japanese Buddhism is a religion that came to Japan from China and Korea over 1,000 years ago. It teaches people how to live a peaceful life, and reach a state of wisdom called enlightenment. There…
S1E21 Ep. 21 - Religion in Japan (Part 2): Shinto, The Way of the Kami
Shinto, Japan’s indigenous religion, is deeply rooted in nature, tradition, and ancestral reverence. Centered around the worship of kami—sacred spirits or gods associated with natural elements,…
S1E20 Ep. 20 - Religious Traditions in Japan: Part 1, An Overview
Religious traditions in Japan are a unique blend of Shinto, Buddhism, and, to a lesser extent, Christianity. Shinto, the indigenous religion, centers on the worship of kami—spiritual beings connected…
S1E19 Ep. 19 - Yakuza: Loyalty and the Lawless Life
The Yakuza is a Japanese organized crime syndicate with roots tracing back to the Edo period, known for its strict codes of conduct, hierarchical structure, and deep entrenchment in Japanese society.…
S1E18 Ep. 18 - Yuki Onna: Spirit of the Silent Snow (Folktale)
The Japanese folktale of Yuki Onna, or the "Snow Woman," tells the haunting story of a beautiful, mysterious spirit who appears during snowstorms. With pale skin and long black hair, she glides over…
S1E17 Ep. 17 - Japan's Vending Machine Mania
Japan's vending machine culture is a unique and deeply ingrained aspect of daily life, with machines found everywhere from bustling city streets to remote mountain trails. Known for their…
S1E16 Ep. 16 - Radio Taiso (Japan's Joyful Daily Jumpstart)
Radio Taiso is like Japan’s secret weapon for keeping everyone limber and cheerful before tackling their day. Picture this: a mix of calisthenics, feel-good piano music, and instructions cheerfully…
S1E15 Ep. 15 - Bon Chan Toyko's Terrific Turtle
Bon-chan is a beloved, real-life turtle from Japan who became an internet sensation and a local celebrity in Tokyo. He is known for his daily walks around the city of Tokyo. He became famous for his…
S1E14 Ep. 14 - Pokémon Origins (with Pokémon Trainer Molly)
Pokémon got its start in 1996 when Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori at Game Freak published it for the Game Boy, Pokémon quickly became a worldwide phenomenon, expanding into an animated TV series,…
S1E13 Ep. 13 - The Great Hanshin Earthquake
The Great Hanshin Earthquake, also known as the Kobe Earthquake, struck on January 17, 1995, in Japan. It measured 6.9 on the moment magnitude scale and caused widespread devastation, particularly in…
S1E12 Ep. 12 - Mount Fuji's Timeless Mythology
Mount Fuji is deeply rooted in Japanese mythology, often viewed as a sacred mountain and the home of various gods. It is associated with the goddess Konohanasakuya, the goddess of volcanoes and…
S1E11 Ep. 11 - Yamato (Japan's Most Powerful Battleship)
The Battleship Yamato was a World War II-era Japanese battleship, commissioned in 1941, and was the largest and most powerful battleship ever built. It was part of Japan's Imperial Navy and was…
Frequently Asked Questions
Japan Reach has published 30 episodes since February 2025, covering topics in Education, Places & Travel.
Japan Reach is currently dormant with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 7m.
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