DEEP IN JAPAN

In this episode, we are happy to welcome back Roger Pulvers to delve deeper into his writings: specifically, The Unmaking of an American, Star Sand, The Dream of Lafcadio Hearn, and LIV.
Roger Pulvers is an American-born Australian playwright, novelist, film director, theater director, and translator who has lived the better part of 50 years in Japan. Throughout his long and prolific career, he has published more than 50 books in Japanese and English, and was assistant to the director of the film "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence.”
He has translated works from Russian, Polish, and Japanese, among them Gogol's "The Government Inspector," plays by Stanislaw Witkiewicz, the poetry of Miyazawa Kenji and Ishikawa Takuboku, and novels by Inoue Hisashi. His latest novels are “Liv” and "The Dream of Lafcadio Hearn," both published by Balestier Press. He wrote the screenplay for and directed the film "Star Sand" based on his novel of the same name. The film was released widely around Japan in 2017.
The Deep in Japan Podcast is completely independent and crowd-funded. And by that, I mean we are broke, impecunious, poor. Please consider supporting the show by becoming a patron on our Patreon page.
The outro was The intro was つれづれなるままに Tsurezure Naru Mama ni off the 1974 folk album Out Of Mind [アウト・オブ・マインド] by Ryo Kagawa. The intro was my original mashup of Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star) anime sound bites with “Dubstep" from BenSound.

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As always, thanks for listening!

In this episode, we speak with Deep in Japan podcast fan-turned podcast creator, Michael Schuelke, who produces the Lost Without Japan podcast, a podcast about Japan in general, but also about Michael’s specific dream of returning to Japan. 

The Deep in Japan Podcast is completely independent and crowd-funded, and by that I mean we eke out an existence on the kindness of your donations. Please give a thought to supporting the show at https://www.patreon.com/deepinjapan

The outro was Buddha Brand’s Kushokan. The intro was my own original mashup of Hokuto no Ken (Fist of the North Star), a few anime sound bites, some kabuki, a cheap recording of my son’s Buzz Lightyear toy and “Dubstep" from BenSound. 

Got something to say? You can find me at the following:

• www.facebook.com/groups/deepinjapan/ 
• [email protected]

As always, thanks for listening!

In this epic journey, author Munehito Moro and I discuss a recent confrontation between two Australian tourists and an irate Japanese man, Patlabor 2, The Emperor's Naked Army Marches on much more. Check out his book, Empire of Blood, available on US or Japanese Amazon.

• Japanese Man Explodes on Australian Tourist (Twitter)
• Ken Shimura - English Lessons (with English Subtitles)
• What is a Bogan? (Wesda / Youtube)
• Save the Whales! (Country Joe McDonald)
• Bill Hader on The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On
• 怒祭戰友魂 The Emperor's Naked Army Marches On (outro clip)

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Got something to say? You can reach me at the following: [email protected]
Thanks for listening

In this episode, we invite Professor John Rucynski back to discuss his book, Bridging the Humor Barrier: Humor Competency Training in English Language Teaching, and more generally the topic of joking in Japan. John is an associate professor at the Center for Language Education at Okayama University. His main research interest is exploring the role of humor in foreign language acquisition and intercultural communicative competence. In addition to editing two volumes about this passion, he has written numerous articles and given conference presentations around the world. His mission going forward is to at least slightly disprove the maxim that “Nothing is as unfunny as trying to explain why something is funny.” To learn more about John and his work, check out the following books and articles:

• Bridging the Humor Barrier: Humor Competency Training in English Language Teaching (Rowman & Littlefield; with Caleb Prichard)
• New Ways in Teaching with Humor (TESOL Press)
• Is This Thing On? Teacher Views of Incorporating Humor Into Online Language Classes (The Language Teacher, with Peter Neff)
• L2 Learners' Ability to Recognize Ironic Online Comments and the Effect of Instruction (System; with Caleb Prichard)
• Implementing Humor Instruction into English Language Teaching (English Teaching Forum; with Caleb Prichard)
• The English Classroom as “Warai no ba”: Instructor Views on Humor and Language Learning in Japan (International Journal of Educational Research; with Peter Neff)
• Second Language Learners’ Ability to Detect Satirical News and the Effect of Humor Competency Training (TESOL Journal; with Caleb Prichard)
• Japanese Perceptions of Humor in the English Language Classroom (HUMOR; with Peter Neff)
• Using The Simpsons in EFL Classes (English Teaching Forum)

The Deep in Japan Podcast is completely independent and crowd-funded, so if you like what you hear, please give thought to supporting us.
The outro was American Joke Man by JAM. Don't know who Spalding Gray is? You're not alone. I thought John was referring to a crayon color. For context, check out his 1987 masterpiece, Swimming to Cambodia.

Got something to say? You can reach me at the following:

• www.facebook.com/groups/deepinjapan/
• [email protected]

As always, thank