
Just Japan Podcast - 215: Japanese Pop Culture with Matt Alt
03/22/24 • 50 min
In this episode, Kevin chats with Japanese pop culture expert, Matt Alt. Matt is a Tokyo-based writer who writes extensively about how Japanese pop culture has impacted the world. He has written books about Japanese folklore with his wife, Hiroko Yoda, and worked extensively as a translator and localization expert for the Japanese gaming industry. They talk about Japanese toys, pop culture, folklore, and a lot more. Matt also talks about his latest book, “Pure Invention” all about many of the Japanese inventions that had huge impacts on the rest of the world.
Sign up for the FREE Just Japan Podcast newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/12afe98c5d57/just-japan-podcast
Support my podcasts and other creative endeavors on Patreon:
patreon.com/JustJapanPodcast97
Follow all the things Matt Alt does:
Check out Matt Alt’s books on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Books-Matt-Alt/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AMatt+Alt
Follow the Podcast on social media:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple
Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/jlandkev
Japan Night Scenes: https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes
Email: [email protected]
In this episode, Kevin chats with Japanese pop culture expert, Matt Alt. Matt is a Tokyo-based writer who writes extensively about how Japanese pop culture has impacted the world. He has written books about Japanese folklore with his wife, Hiroko Yoda, and worked extensively as a translator and localization expert for the Japanese gaming industry. They talk about Japanese toys, pop culture, folklore, and a lot more. Matt also talks about his latest book, “Pure Invention” all about many of the Japanese inventions that had huge impacts on the rest of the world.
Sign up for the FREE Just Japan Podcast newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/12afe98c5d57/just-japan-podcast
Support my podcasts and other creative endeavors on Patreon:
patreon.com/JustJapanPodcast97
Follow all the things Matt Alt does:
Check out Matt Alt’s books on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Books-Matt-Alt/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AMatt+Alt
Follow the Podcast on social media:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple
Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/jlandkev
Japan Night Scenes: https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes
Email: [email protected]
Previous Episode

Just Japan Podcast - 214: The Most Exciting Job in Japan
In this episode Kevin shares an amazing conversation with James Reynolds, a British extreme weather and natural events filmmaker based in Tokyo, Japan. James has been traveling the world for almost 20 years filming volcanoes, typhoons, and the aftermaths of earthquakes and tsunamis. James has arguably the most exciting job in Japan! His job stalled during the cover years, but he is now back in the full swing of things. Kevin later shares some listener requests tales of odd transportation events in Japan. This interview originally aired on the Just Asia Podcast in 2023.
Sign up for the FREE Just Japan Podcast newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/12afe98c5d57/just-japan-podcast
James on X: https://twitter.com/EarthUncutTV
EarthuncutTV on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/earthuncuttv
Support the Podcasts on Patreon:
patreon.com/JustJapanPodcast97
Follow the Podcast on social media:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple
Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/jlandkev
Japan Night Scenes: https://www.instagram.com/japannightscenes
YouTube: http://youtube.com/@busankevin
Next Episode

Just Japan Podcast - 216: Starting a Business in Tokyo (Monsta Sweets)
In this Episode, Kevin chats with Tokyo-based entrepreneur, Gregorio. Gregorio is an American who came to Japan in 2008 as a university student and worked for years working in various industries. During the pandemic, he started Monsta Sweets, a cookie company! He made cookies and sold them at pop-ups in Tokyo. He has now opened a full-time brick-and-mortar “Monsta Sweets” shop in Tokyo. Listen to his fascinating story about starting a business from scratch in Tokyo.
Follow Monsta Sweets:
X: https://twitter.com/Monsta_Sweets
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monsta_sweets
Check out our website!
Sign up for the FREE Just Japan Podcast newsletter if you'd like to receive it!
https://mailchi.mp/12afe98c5d57/just-japan-podcast
Support the Podcasts on Patreon:
patreon.com/JustJapanPodcast97
Socials:
Follow the Podcast on social media:
Facebook: http://facebook.com/justjapanstuff
X: https://twitter.com/MadForMaple
Instagram (travel and life): https://instagram.com/japannightscenes
YouTube: http://youtube.com/@busankevin
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