Japundit Podcast

* Christmas Season is upon us* Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story opens in Japan* Year end in Japan * Tokyo Governor Ishihara in hot water (again!) * Japan government cracks down on bullying* Classes where teachers befriend students more prone to bullying* Cities act against parents refusing to pay for school meals * English good for Asian mental health? * Native language determines rhythm * Motormouth Mino Monta makes Guiness* One in three Japanese bloggers quit * China. . . Where the fake becomes the original * Hi-tech umbrella* Edible squid postcards* Beaujolais bath in Hakone* Discovering your outer beauty * 25% of borrowers who die in Japan commit suicide * Elderly pressed into buying lucky seals* Elderly couple find 3 million yen in own kitchen * Bart is back! Talking about his cousin Vinney Japundit Contributors:Danny Bloom in Taiwan, David Weber in Tokyo, Marie Mockett in New York, Kaishin in Casablanca, Alex Pappas in Ottawa and Tokyo, Mike Plugh in Akita, Bill Fish in Fukuoka, Mr. Wake in Kamakura, Sylvain Bouchard in Sendai, Tokyoid in London, Iron Chef in Australia, Harvey in Yokohama, Peter Payne in Gunma, JP in Tokyo MusicPodsafe Music Network* Man It's Christmas, by Jimmie Bratcher* Christmas In Hawaii, by The Hot Rods * Kyou wa Nandaka (Somehow), by Plastic Soul Band Links of Interest* Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story* The Raw Feed* Edible dried squid post cards* What Japan Thinks* Let's Narrate * Podsafe Music Network* J-LIST* Japundit Plastic Soul Band Music available here:* iTunes* CD Baby* Podsafe Music Network Japanese Terms Used* nen: year* kai: meeting, party* shin: new (That's why they it the shinkansen.)* bo-nen-kai: year end party (forget the year party) * shin-nen-kai: new year party Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Thanksgiving in Japan* Pizza Toppings* Sushi Police* McDonalds patents its sandwiches * Michelle Wie * Japanese economy: Name that boom* Reverse graft? * 3 million yen found among garbage* Chinese student makes millions selling virtual weapons* Expert warns against income disparities* Japanese youth the most miserable in the world * Testicular assault (U.S.) * Caterpillar to move HQ to Beijing* Lawsuit, American style* Washlet syndrome Japundit Contributors:Danny Bloom in Taiwan, David Weber in Tokyo, Marie Mockett in New York, Kaishin in Casablanca, Alex Pappas in Ottawa and Tokyo, Mike Plugh in Akita, Bill Fish in Fukuoka, Mr. Wake in Kamakura, Sylvain Bouchard in Sendai, Tokyoid in London, Iron Chef in Australia, Harvey in Yokohama, Peter Payne in Gunma, JP in Tokyo MusicPodsafe Music Network* Peace, by In-sist* Kuseni, by EEE (Triple E) * Do They Have E-mail In Heaven, by Jim Terr Links of Interest* What Japan Thinks* Tarako* Michelle Wie* Let's Narrate* Podsafe Music Network* J-LIST* Japundit Plastic Soul Band Music available here:* iTunes* CD Baby* Podsafe Music Network Japanese Terms Used * pasa-pasa: dry * tarako: code roe* washlet: water spout in high-tech toilet* kuseni: and yet Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Baseball with the gals* Japan Forum* Retired husband syndrome * New divorce law in Japan * Thailand: Panda porn plan* Learn from Lei Feng (China)* Toyoda under fire (South Korea)* Norkstock? (North Korea)* Government considering term limits* The Ishihara cedar chop* Spend Christmas in Tokyo with the King of Ped * 27 students send letters to government threatening suicide* Parents hiring gumshoes to detect school bullying* Students build record-busting paper airplane* Train leaves station without conductor* Magicians arrested for defacing currency* Persistent sexual arousal syndrome in Japan Japundit Contributors:Danny Bloom in Taiwan, David Weber in Tokyo, Marie Mockett in New York, Kaishin in Casablanca, Alex Pappas in Ottawa and Tokyo, Mike Plugh in Akita, Bill Fish in Fukuoka, Mr. Wake in Kamakura, Sylvain Bouchard in Sendai, Tokyoid in London, Iron Chef in Australia, Harvey in Yokohama, Peter Payne in Gunma, JP in Tokyo MusicPodsafe Music Network* Love Dog, by Chris Juergensen * Jelly Beans, by EEE (Triple E) MF247* Ashita, by Chiemi Jones Links of Interest* Taiwanese cheergirl video* North Korea Rock Festival* Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome (PSAS) * Japan Forum* MF247* Podsafe Music Network* J-LIST* Japundit Japanese Terms Used* iku: to cum (lit. to go)* byou: short for byouki, meaning sickness or disease* ashita: tomorrow Contact: podcast@japundit.com

No show notes yet.   No time!   Will post Monday or Tuesday.

* Back from Kyushu* Big thanks to the Japundit crew* MyBobby Burger moment* Pixelgirl* Japan talk on Ed's Mixed Bag * Review: Sex Secrets of an American Geisha * Canned coffee* Japanese economy* Sayonara Shinjo* Mr. Roboto* Whale meat* Female pachinko market* Don't eat the toads* Your tax dollars at work. . . Not! * School to test chopstick etiquette* The beef is back* Beef bowl yokozuna* Sunshine or Stockholm? * Japans mobile phone companies at war* Fertility notification by phone* Cops stick it to body piercer* Rabbits on the moon* Maid hunting* Priests for hire* Video makes teachers, students sick* Railway worker arrested for on-train molestation Japundit Contributors:Danny Bloom in Taiwan, David Weber in Tokyo, Marie Mockett in New York, Kaishin in Casablanca, Alex Pappas in Ottawa and Tokyo, Mike Plugh in Akita, Bill Fish in Fukuoka, Mr. Wake in Kamakura, Sylvain Bouchard in Sendai, Tokyoid in London, Iron Chef in Australia, Harvey in Yokohama, Peter Payne in Gunma, JP in Tokyo MusicPodsafe Music Network* Shiroi Kumo To Aoisora, by Plastic Soul Band * Hallelujah, by EEE Links of Interest* Pixelgirl* Ed's Mixed Bag* J-LIST* Beef bowl yokozuna T-shirt* Podsafe Music Network* Japundit* Podsafe Music Network* Japundit Japanese Terms Used* shiroi kumo: white clouds* aoi sora: blue sky* gyuu-don: beef bowl* yokozuna: sumo grand champion* usagi: rabbit* otaku: geek Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Back after a missing week* Going to Kyushu next week* Danny Bloom's Hiragana Song * North Korea in the news* South Korea condom sales on the rise* Misconceptions about Japanese diet* Infect MP3 players given away by McDonald's Japan* Goodwill pizzas irk tax authorities* Kidneys? What kidneys? * Grandma gives birth to grandchild* Garbage bag hag* Genghis Khan's DNA dynasty* Karaoke Culture Day* Billions slated to go up in smoke* Paris syndrome* One-grain sushi* Coffee, tea, or Kitty? * Comic book about soap* Iceland to sell whale meat to Japan? * Golfer hits student and runs* City official works 8 days in 5 years* Shoe thief* Teacher arrested for breaking into student's home* American prof arrested for stalking Japundit Contributors:Danny Bloom in Taiwan, David Weber in Tokyo, Marie Mockett in New York, Kaishin in Casablanca, Alex Pappas in Ottawa and Tokyo, Mike Plugh in Akita, Bill Fish in Fukuoka, Mr. Wake in Kamakura, Sylvain Bouchard in Sendai, Tokyoid in London, Iron Chef in Australia, Harvey in Yokohama, Peter Payne in Gunma, JP in Tokyo MusicMF247* Seishun Maggie, by The Alan Smithy Band* Letter, by EssencePodsafe Music Network* Space Rocks Keep Falling On My Head , by Away With The Fairys Listener Feedback* Emmett J. Cat* Len Cullum Links of Interest* Hiragana Song* McDonald's Announcement (Japanese) * Len Cullum, Japanese wordworker* Podsafe Music Network* MF247* Japundit Japanese Terms Used* shabondama: soap bubble Contact: podcast@japundit.com

Due to a sudden influx of real-world work, this week's edition of Japan Talk is all music. MusicPodsafe Music Network* Love Attraction, by EEE (Triple E)* Bura Bura, by Rika Shinohara Garageband* She's Gonna Scream, by The BlastNote: The Blast is misidentified in the podcast as being from the Podsafe Music Network. Apologies to Garageband! Other Great Podcasts* What's Happening In Tokyo* Ed's Mixed Bag Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Apologies for last week's levels * Megumi Yokota's Birthday (42) * "Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story"* Forced Abortions routine in North Korea* Bring in the clones* Lucie Blackman's father paid blood money? * Do you have to be crazy to work in a Japanese Company? * When you drink, don't drive* Passenger faces charges for drunk driver's crash* Salaryman pit stop* NOVA commercial insulting to Japanese? * Terry Collins to manage the Buffaloes? * Napster hits Japan* Raunchy SNS in Japan on the rise* Divorce Japanese style* Reciting pi a piece of cake* Meet Pandapple* Beware of the exploding Kitty! * Tastier beef? Or a load of bull? * Shark takoyaki?!? * Scarlet cars make vandals see red* Giving them the finger* Family found dead with nails in their heads* The sweet smell of stress relief Japundit Contributors:Danny Bloom in Taiwan, David Weber in Tokyo, Marie Mockett in New York, Kaishin in Casablanca, Alexander Pappas in Ottowa and Tokyo, Mike Plugh in Akita, Bill Fish in Fukuoka, Mr. Wake in Kamakura, Sylvain Bouchard in Sendai, Tokyoid in London, Iron Chef in Australia, Harvey in Yokohama, Peter Payne in Gunma, Rich Hayhoe in Mie, Bill (Ampontan) Sakovich in Saga, JP in Tokyo MusicPodsafe Music Network* Jungle Beat, by EEE (Triple E)* Headphone, by Rika Shinohara* Hiccups, by Riyu Konaka Listener Feedback* Freeman, Atlanta GA Links of Interest* Megumi Yokota story* Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story (at YouTube)* Lucie Blackman Trust* Nova English School* Nova Commercial - Short Version* Napster Japan* Sexii SNS* Shark takoyaki photo* Podsafe Music Network* Japundit Japanese Terms Used* oshiri: butt, backside* furi-furi: shake back and forth* oshiri furi-furi: shake your butt; shake your booty* shakkuri: hiccups* tomaranai: won't stop* shakkuri tomaranai: my hiccups won't stop Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Japundit nominated in the Asia Blog Awards* Japundit contributors wanted * Tokyo Rose dead at 90* U.S. postwar impressions of Japanese* Crackdown on bicycle riders in Japan* Man shot, thinks he was stabbed* Ninja Attack* Blood type talk* Chinese penile transplant* Chinese miffed by Japanese computer game * Japan going litigious* Tokyo to appeal anthem/flag ruling * Roomba becomes expensive in Japan* Loo light* Pooper power plays* Otaku hunting* 90% of women want to marry, 45% without boyfriends* Train Cafe Japundit Contributors:Danny Bloom in Taiwan, David Weber in Tokyo, Marie Mockett in New York, Mike Plugh in Akita, Bill Fish in Fukuoka, Mr. Wake in Kamakura, Tokyoid in London, Iron Chef in Australia, Peter Payne in Gunma, Rich Hayhoe in Mie, Bill (Ampontan) Sakovich in Saga, JP in Tokyo MusicPodsafe Music Network* Hey You, by In-sist* Tooi Senaka, by EEE (Triple E)* Maruki Bune, by Nozomi Miyatake Listener Feedback* Dave* Freeman, Atlanta GA Links of Interest* Len Cullum, woodworker * Tokyo Rose Story * Asia Pundit* Asia Blog Awards* Boys Stuff * Ninja Attack * Train Cafà * Write for Japundit* Podsafe Music Network* Japundit Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Beautiful autumn weather in Japan * New Japundit Ad: Pixelgirl Shop* The Harsh Cry of the Heron* Back to dead trees for Japan Talk* New noise makers for Japan Talk * New Prime Minister for Japan* Most Japanese think Koizumi did a good job* Koizumi the second most popular PM in history* Shinjo to run for Japan's Upper House? * Japan Post to cut mail collection frequency* Court rules teachers don't need to stand up for anthem* Sega robot pony* Robots need emotion to mix with humans* Parking violators trying to blame stomach pains* Noodle burger* Japan getting older* Salmonella* Man flees in care with cop on the roof* Con men pretending to be the sons of victims* Woman tries to frame husband with pot Japundit Contributors:Danny Bloom in Taiwan, David Weber in Tokyo, Marie Mockett in New York, Sylvain Bouchard in Sendai, Mike Plugh in Akita, ghoti in Fukuoka, Mr. Wake in Kamakura, Tokyoid in London, Iron Chef in Australia, Peter Payne in Gunma, Bill (Ampontan) Sakovich in Saga, JP in Tokyo Music* Theme of EEE, by EEE (Triple E)* Fly, Fly, Fly, by Adrina Thorpe* Hold On, by Tom Waits Links of Interest:* Pixelgirl Shop* The Harsh Cry of the Heron* What's Happening In Tokyo* Podsafe Music Network* Japundit Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Meet Valeze* Courtesy of FreeIndie.com* Japundit News - Welcome Peter Payne* Ways foreigners can save Japan* Opinions of Japanese who date foreigners* Ways foreigners can save Japan* Nihonjinron* Superstitions in Japan * Big news in Japan: Drunk Driving* Man arrested for not stopping drinking partner from driving* Bicycle crackdown* China's answer - driverless car* Asahara* Of dwarfs and dregs* Fuji Film* Green Tea* Brown Seaweed as fat fighter* Dogs in the news / Nisshin flour * 1,000 Filipino nurses and caregivers* Dognapper throws dog from window* Scientist loses deadly poisons* City official fondles woman's breast because of "stress"* Econoperv nabbed again Japundit Contributors:Danny Bloom in Taiwan, David Weber in Tokyo, Marie Mockett in New York, Sylvain Bouchard in Sendai, Mike Plugh in Akita, ghoti in Fukuoka, Mr. Wake in Kamakura, Tokyoid in London, Iron Chef in Australia, Peter Payne in Gunma, Bill (Ampontan) Sakovich in Saga, JP in Tokyo MusicFreeIndie.com* Liar, Valeze Garageband* Shine, Salme Dahlstrom MF247* Drive, Brown Sugar Listener Feedback: * Mirai in Kagoshima* Shawn Gray in Chiba* Darren in Ibaraki Links of Interest:* FreeIndie.com* Valeze* Free Valeze EP download* What Japan Thinks* MF247* J-LIST* Japan Diary of Culture * Japundit* Kutaki No Mura Forums* Kutaki No Ha Podcast Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Big jobs finished, Japundit returning to normal* Monitor died* IO Data LCD-AD194VS has defective power supply* It's a boy* Comparisons between European and Japanese royalty* The high cost of maintaining a monarchy* Shards of history? * Strange CNN ad* The decline of the family farm in Japan* Food is cheaper in Tokyo* Translation software for the cell phone? * Dead husband cannot be father* Kaori Manabe: Queen of the blog faders* Lucky cell phone numbers* Cell phone number swindle* Google to hire more engineers in Japan* Japan to launch another spy satellite* Japanese photos sent to 9/11 monument Japundit Contributors:Danny Bloom in Taiwan, David Weber in Tokyo, Marie Mockett in New York, Sylvain Bouchard in Sendai, Mike Plugh in Akita, ghoti in Fukuoka, Mr. Wake in Kamakura, Tokyoid in London, Iron Chef in Australia, Bill (Ampontan) Sakovich in Saga, JP in Tokyo MusicMF247* Love Love Revolution 2006, Smile Ranger Podsafe Music Network* You Know What I'm Like, The Loving Its * Hard Stuff, George Thorogood and the Destroyers Listener Feedback: * GGdeluxe* Tokyo Dan What's Happening In Tokyo* Is downloadable MySpace music automatically podsafe? * Is downloadable music from other sites automatically podsafe? * T. / A former listener* Too much "perverted material"?* Nobody wants to hear it? * Bart dull? Links of Interest:* What's Happening In Tokyo* Japanda* Podsafe Music Network* What Japan Thinks Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Trying something new* Turn your head* Naked and the dead* Abe to harden Japan stance against North Korea* Tokyo selected Japan's official 2016 Olympic candidate* Too much Tokyo! * Offensive Defense * 63 percent of Japanese bloggers trust Big Business* Robopod * Boy kills self over failure to do summer assignment* Yomiuri Giants TV rating plummet* Murder scenes too realistic for NHK* Hiroshima aqueduct collapses - thousands without water* What Japan thinks about sex and dog food* Man falls asleep while molesting woman* Drunk monk falls asleep naked on woman's doorstep (Cambodia) * Man DQ'd from inflatable doll race for "apparatus abuse" (Russia) Japundit Contributors:Danny Bloom in Taiwan, David Weber in Tokyo, Marie Mockett in New York, Sylvain Bouchard in Sendai, Mike Plugh in Akita, ghoti in Fukuoka, Mr. Wake in Kamakura, Tokyoid in London, Bill (Ampontan) Sakovich in Saga, JP in Tokyo MusicPodsafe Music Network* With You, John Mayall* Ageha, Daiki And Little Wings Listener Feedback: * Emmett J. Cat: Volume levels insanely out of whack Links of Interest:* Turn Your Head * MIURO* Podsafe Music Network* What Japan Thinks Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Getting busy* Life of a translator* Space Cowboys * Britney Spears Harper's nude makes trouble in Tokyo subway* Megumi Yokota* Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story * Vanity postage stamps * MPEG toilet* Mobile noodle restaurant* Narita meat patrol* Drug drop linked to pressure on North Korea? * Japan turns away North Korean peace meet envoys* Geisha go digital* Most women do not use women-only train cars* Japanese women think men stink * Truck falls on building* Magic number of con artists: 980,000 yen* Parents accuse teacher of mental torture in son's death* Officials suspended slush fund receive support from another slush fund* Man has sex change operation to please lesbian girlfriend* Baby dies as parents play pachinko* Novelist admits to throwing kittens off of cliff * Japan revamps its CPI basket of goods* Wal-Mart bleeding red in Japan* Man makes 1,100 prank calls to police number* Man molests woman who turns out to be off duty cop Japundit Contributors:Danny Bloom in Taiwan, David Weber in Tokyo, Marie Mockett in New York, Sylvain Bouchard in Sendai, Mike Plugh in Akita, ghoti in Fukuoka, Mr. Wake in Kamakura, Tokyoid in London, Bill (Ampontan) Sakovich in Saga, JP in Tokyo Music* Settle Down, Cabin Dogs MF247* Resident Of A City, Maiko Sekito Garageband* Hello California, Salme Dahlstrom Podsafe Music Network* Rocket Science, Brain Buckit Listener Feedback: * Hiro from Hiroshima* Amanda B from Knoxville, Tennessee* Salme Dahlstrom* Everybody loves Bart!?! Links of Interest:* Next Big Hit* Podsafe Music Network* Space Cowboys* Megumi Yokota* Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story* What Japan Thinks* Garageband* MF247 Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Summer vacation winding down* NewspaperDirect: New sponsor* Yasukuni Shrine explained* Yasukuni Shrine: This year's visit* Yasukuni Shrine: What the Japanese think* Rightist burns down lawmaker's house* Blackout in Tokyo* New addition to Japan's royal family* Princess Masako should be pitied* Crown Prince and family "vacationing" in Holland* Seattle Mariners looking to sign Daisuke Matsuzaka? * Jobless man arrested for comic book thefts* Kazumi Kitagawa revisited* North Korea's lucrative tobacco product counterfeiting* Diary of a Student Girl big in North Korea* Man makes 37,760 calls to directory assistance to hear nice voices* Junior high teacher arrested for shooting up-skirts (up-kimono) * Too many women in Japan farding in public Japundit Contributors:Danny Bloom in Taiwan, David Weber in Tokyo, Marie Mockett in New York, Sylvain Bouchard in Sendai, Mike Plugh in Akita, Harvey, in Osaka, ghoti in Fukuoka, Mr. Wake in Kamakura, Tokyoid in London, Bill (Ampontan) Sakovich in Saga, JP in Tokyo MusicPodsafe Music Network* Any Town U.S.A., George Thorogood and the Destroyers* Takaramono With Jun, K. C. Saito* My Woman From Tokyo, Deep Purple Listener Feedback: * GGDeluxe Links of Interest:* NewspaperDirect* Yasukuni Shrine* Daisuke Matsuzaka* Kazumi Kitagawa Brought to you by J-LIST Contact: podcast@japundit.com