Japan Today

  • Author: Vários
  • Narrator: Vários
  • Publisher: Podcast
  • Duration: 27:36:03
  • More information

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Synopsis

The Kong Show, hosted by Kamasami Kong, brings listeners news and comments from the Japan Today website as well as interviews with special guests, up-to-date concert and event information for the city and now even more from the digital pages of the Tokyo Insight magazine app. Japan Today is the No.1 English source for Japan-related news online, and an integral part of the lives of foreigners living in Japan, travelers and those people worldwide doing business with the country.

Episodes

  • July 11, 2025 | Is Trump blowing up Japan-US relations?

    11/07/2025 Duration: 08min

    In this episode, we look at rising tensions between President Trump and Japan. From the on again-off again-on again 25% auto tariffs and pressure to buy more U.S. rice, oil and weapons, to a national election just weeks away, Japan’s leadership is under pressure on all fronts. Prime Minister Ishiba is struggling to hold on — but is anyone really steering this alliance? Just another rough patch, or the start of something deeper?

  • July 4, 2025 | Japan's newspaper crisis: Losing readers, relevance and the next generation

    04/07/2025 Duration: 08min

    Japan’s newspaper crisis: Losing readers, relevance and the next generation. Circulation is down, trust is fading and younger readers have moved on to digital platforms like LINE and YouTube. What does that mean for journalism in Japan? Read the full article at: https://japantoday.com/category/features/opinions/the-slow-fade-of-japans-once-powerful-daily-newspapers-1 Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/aBMptXXrm_0

  • June 27, 2025 | Japan's big heat: June's deadly start to summer

    27/06/2025 Duration: 08min

    Japan’s Big Heat: June’s Deadly Start to Summer It’s only June, but heatstroke deaths are already being reported across Japan. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we look at why the extreme heat is hitting so early, who’s most at risk, and what’s being done — or not done — to help people cope.

  • June 20 | Why Japan’s 2,000-year imperial family may not survive this century

    20/06/2025 Duration: 22min

    Japan’s imperial family: Too old to modernize? Japan’s imperial family is the world’s oldest monarchy — but is it still relevant in 2025? With just three heirs, no reigning empress allowed and billions of yen in taxpayer support, the future of the institution is far from secure. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we look at the gender rules, political silence and shrinking lineup facing Japan’s royals. We also examine the powerful role of the Imperial Household Agency and the public’s growing questions about what purpose the monarchy serves today.

  • June 13 | Why Japan’s J-pop idol industry bans sex, dating and romance

    13/06/2025 Duration: 10min

    What really goes on inside Japan’s idol industry? In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we explore the strict no-dating and no-sex rules placed on J-pop idols — especially young women and girls. From public punishments and emotional control to the rise of AI-generated performers, we look deeper at the power dynamics, mental health impact and troubling double standards behind the glossy image of idol culture.

  • June 6, 2025 | Japan’s rice crisis: Why prices are soaring and what’s behind it

    06/06/2025 Duration: 12min

    Japan’s rice crisis isn’t just about food — it’s about identity, politics and a decades-old system that’s now under pressure. In this extended episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we look at what’s really driving rice prices through the roof. From delayed stockpiles and 700% tariffs to political fallout and consumer frustration, this deep dive explains how Japan’s most sacred crop became a national flashpoint.

  • May 29, 2025 | Why is Nissan failing and what speed bumps lie ahead?

    29/05/2025 Duration: 07min

    Nissan is planning to cut 20,000 jobs and may shut down factories in Japan. What’s behind the crisis at Japan’s No. 3 automaker — and can a new CEO turn things around? This episode explores the failed merger with Honda, ongoing financial trouble and how U.S. auto tariffs are adding to the pressure. Originally released as a video on the Japan Today Spotlight YouTube channel.

  • May 23, 2025 | Japan’s sex industry boom: How tourism and the yen are changing everything

    23/05/2025 Duration: 08min

    Japan’s tourism boom is fueling more than just hotels and souvenir shops. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we explore the rise in sex work targeting foreign visitors — a shift driven by demand, a weak yen, and disappearing restrictions. Originally released as a video on the Japan Today Spotlight YouTube channel.

  • May 16, 2025 | End of the yakuza? Inside Japan’s vanishing underworld

    16/05/2025 Duration: 09min

    End of the Yakuza? Inside Japan’s Vanishing Underworld The yakuza once ruled Japan’s streets — now their numbers are at a record low. But what’s replacing them might be harder to see… and harder to stop. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we look at the fall of Japan’s traditional crime syndicates, the rise of encrypted “tokuryu” groups and the lasting social impact of tattoo stigma, front companies and prosthetic fingers for ex-gangsters.

  • May 9, 2025 | Is Japanese media stuck in the past?

    14/05/2025 Duration: 05min
  • May 2, 2025 | Why is chikan behavior still so common on Japan's trains?

    02/05/2025 Duration: 08min

    Why does "chikan" behavior — public groping on Japan’s trains — continue, even after decades of awareness campaigns? In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we explore how offenders operate, what train companies and police are doing, and what victims — and the falsely accused — need to know. We also take a closer look at how Japan’s objectification of women plays into the larger issue.

  • April 25, 2025 |Japan Today Spotlight 14 Osaka Expo 2025 Visionary Showcase or Expensive Misfire Audio Only

    25/04/2025 Duration: 10min

    Japan’s Expo 2025 has opened in Osaka — but not without controversy. Ballooning costs, delayed pavilions, confusing ticketing, and a sweltering summer ahead have raised questions about whether the ¥235 billion (approx. $2.1 billion CAD) price tag is really worth it. And when it’s all over? Yumeshima Island becomes the site of Japan’s first casino resort — projected to cost ¥1.27 trillion (approx. $12.3 billion CAD). *This segment originally aired as part of Japan Today Spotlight on YouTube.

  • April 16 , 2025: The bizarre Japanese trend of paying someone to quit your job

    23/04/2025 Duration: 11min

    *This episode originally appeared as part of our Japan Today Spotlight series on YouTube. In this episode of Japan Today Spotlight, we dive into the bizarre and uniquely Japanese phenomenon of taishokudaiko—resignation agencies that handle the quitting process for employees. What does this say about Japan’s evolving work culture? Is it a sign of progress, or a deeper reflection of the country’s reluctance to confront uncomfortable situations?

  • Jan. 31, 2025 Month in Review: BOJ rate hike, Kyoto tax, record heat, Osaka smoking ban & ¥207M tuna

    31/01/2025 Duration: 13min
  • Jan. 24, 2025: Fuji TV scandal, Trump-Ishiba relations, 7-Eleven security, Osaka Expo struggles & Shinto rituals

    24/01/2025 Duration: 16min

    In this episode of Japan This Week, we dive into some of the hottest stories making headlines in Japan. From scandals shaking up the entertainment industry to icy New Year rituals at Shinto shrines across the country, we've got it all covered. Timestamps: (0:00 - 1:00) INTRO (1:04 - 3:53) ENTERTAINMENT: Dozens more firms pull ads from Fuji TV over Masahiro Nakai sex scandal https://japantoday.com/category/entertainment/dozens-of-firms-pull-ads-from-japanese-network-over-sex-scandal-linked-to-its-staff-and-celebrity One of Japan's most famous TV networks, Fuji TV, is facing major backlash after allegations emerged of a cover-up involving a 90-million-yen ($575,000) sexual assault settlement with entertainer Masahiro Nakai. Sponsors are pulling out, and the entertainment industry is under fire once again. (3:33 - 6:24) POLITICS: 'Japan First' mindset key for Ishiba in dealing with to Trump https://japantoday.com/category/politics/japan-first-mindset-key-for-ishiba-in-dealing-with-trump-ex-aide Prime Minist

  • Jan. 17, 2025: Ramen closures, Coming-of-Age Day, suicide leapers, Ghosn accomplice & 110 misuse

    17/01/2025 Duration: 18min

    Welcome to a brand-new season of Japan This Week! Join host Jeff Richards for your weekly Friday roundup of the biggest and quirkiest stories from Japan Today for the week of Jan. 17, 2025. This episode focuses on the rise in closings of beloved ramen shops to Coming-of-Age Day celebrations across the country. Plus, an increasing number of suicides that injure or kill innocent bystanders, a former Green Beret speaks out about Japan's penal system and opens up about helping Carlos Ghosn escape and the growing misuse of Japan's emergency number "110" — this episode covers the biggest headlines you need to know. Timestamps: (1:17 - 4:57) BUSINESS: Record number of Japan ramen eateries went bankrupt in 2024 --> A record number of ramen shops have shut down in 2024 due to soaring costs for ingredients and utilities. What’s next for Japan's favorite comfort food? (5:00 - 9:03) NATIONAL: Coming-of-Age Day ceremonies held across Japan --> Young adults across Japan don colorful kimono and celebrate a milestone wi

  • 2024 Year in Review: Earthquakes, Inflation, Tourist Boom, Ohtani, Yamibaito & Kanji of the Year

    20/12/2024 Duration: 27min

    Join Jeff Richards and Kamasami Kong for a special year-end episode of Japan This Week as they recap the biggest news stories that shaped Japan in 2024. From the devastating Noto Peninsula Earthquake to Shohei Ohtani's record-breaking year, the impact of rising prices, a surge in tourism and even the Kanji of the Year selection, we’re wrapping up the year in a jam-packed episode.

  • Dec. 13, 2024: Nobel Prize, forced suicide, Miho Nakayama's death, izakaya woes & JAL pilot scandal

    13/12/2024 Duration: 17min

    Welcome to Japan This Week for Dec. 13, 2024! This week we cover:

  • Dec. 6, 2024: China's view of Japan, record heat, My Number debate, Akita bear drama & Aussie smuggler sentenced

    06/12/2024 Duration: 17min

    First, a survey reveals nearly 90% of Chinese respondents have unfavorable views of Japan due to issues like the Senkaku Islands dispute and the Fukushima water release. We also discuss Japan’s record-breaking warm autumn, which has delayed the country's iconic fall foliage. In other news, Japan transitions to integrating health insurance cards into the MyNumber system, sparking debate about privacy and security. Plus, a bear creates chaos in an Akita supermarket before a tragic end and an Australian woman faces six years in prison after being tricked into smuggling drugs. (0:53 - 3:39) NATIONAL: Negative views of Japan in China https://japantoday.com/category/national/nearly-90-of-chinese-view-japan-negatively-2nd-highest-level-poll A survey finds 87.7% of Chinese respondents view Japan negatively, citing territorial disputes, wartime history and environmental issues. Social media's role in amplifying these views is explored. (3:40 - 6:12) NATIONAL: Japan’s warmest autumn on record https://japantoday.co

  • Nov. 29, 2024: Japan-U.S. missiles, crash saga, suicide leap, Tokyo lost-found and shoe thief weasel

    29/11/2024 Duration: 21min

    From defense updates to weasel crime, here’s your weekly roundup of the biggest and quirkiest stories from Japan Today for Nov. 29, 2024. In this episode, we explore: (0:59 - 4:55) POLITICS: Japan-U.S missile deployment https://japantoday.com/category/politics/u.s.-to-deploy-missile-units-to-japan-islands-in-taiwan-contingency Japan and the U.S. gear up for Taiwan contingencies, with missile units on Japan's islands and the Philippines. Russia warns of retaliation. (4:58 - 7:42) CRIME: High-profile crash saga ends https://japantoday.com/category/crime/93-year-old-driver-in-fatal-tokyo-crash-dies-in-prison The convicted bureaucrat behind the high-profile 2019 accident that killed two people dies in prison. (7:45 - 12:37) CRIME: Tragic suicide case update https://japantoday.com/category/crime/girl-who-jumped-off-building-roof-killing-herself-and-pedestrian-below-to-be-prosecuted Police recommend charges in a heartbreaking case where a teenage girl’s suicide also claimed the life of an innocent bystander. (

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