Let's Talk Japan Podcast

In today’s episode, Nick speaks with Bruce Stronach, the dean of Temple University Japan, the oldest and largest foreign university in Japan. Together they discuss the unique undergraduate and graduate opportunities available at Temple’s Tokyo campus as well as recent trends and the likely future of higher education in Japan.

TUJ Social Media: Facebook; Twitter (official & admissions); YouTube

In this episode, Nick speaks with JET Program alumni Chelsea Reidy and Elayna Snyder about their upcoming 900-mile bicycle tour of Shikoku’s famous 88 temple pilgrimage.

Listen to hear them describe their creative “Temple by Temple Project,” which they are funding through Kickstarter, and how they plan to share their adventure with others.

To learn more, check out their website, www.bigricefield.com, and the Temple by Temple Project on Kickstarter.

In this episode, Nick speaks with Leslie Helm, author of Yokohama Yankee: My Family’s Five Generations As Outsiders In Japan.

The Helm family’s connection with Japan begins with Mr. Helm’s German great grandfather, Julius, who traveled to Japan as a young man in 1869, looking to make his way in the world. Julius would go on to found Helm Brothers, a company with diverse interests related to what would become Yokohama’s booming port economy. From there, the book’s narrative winds its way through four further generations of the Helm family. Mr. Helm recounts not only the family’s participation in major historical events, but also offers a frank assessment of the personal and intra-family struggles each generation faced while living in Japan. Together, these two aspects make for a compelling read.

Mr. Helm was born and raised in Yokohama and left Japan in the early 1970s to attend university before returning as a journalist to cover Japan for Business Week and the Los Angeles Times. He currently lives in Seattle, where he is the editor of Seattle Business magazine.

To learn more about Leslie Helm, including a list of upcoming talks and book signings, please visit www.lesliehelm.com. Also, check out this great article about Josh Powell, the book’s designer.

If you are interested in purchasing Yokohama Yankee, and supporting the podcast, click HERE. I also recommend these other great books from Chin Music Press:

Shiro: Wit, Wisdom, and Recipes from a Sushi Pioneer, by Shiro Kashiba and Ann Norton

Otaku Spaces, by Patrick W. Galbraith

This episode of the Let’s Talk Japan podcast was recorded at the North Carolina Arboretum in Asheville, North Carolina. Well-known in the region’s gardening circles, Masashi Oshita, or “Mike” as he is known locally, is a master of traditional Japanese garden design. Together, Nick and Oshita-san discuss what makes Japanese gardens uniqu e, the challenges of creating a Japanese garden outside of Japan, and how traditional Japanese garden design elements can in incorporated into everyday life.

Anyone interested in seeking Oshita-san’s design and installation services can email him at [email protected]

Below are some photos of Oshita-san and Nick together at the arboretum, as well as photos of local gardens designed by Oshita-san.

In this episode, Nick speaks with Johnnie Stroud, the owner of Sake ́ Nomi, a premium sake ́ shop and tasting bar in Seattle, Washington. Together they discuss how Johnnie discovered sake ́, what motivated him to open a business specializing in sake ́ , and why you should be drinking more sake ́, preferably bought from Sake ́ Nomi!

Johnnie and Sake ́Nomi were featured in a Japanese manga comic titled “Kurodo” by Akira Oze. In my opinion, they definitely nailed Johnnie’s likeness!

The Price for a tasting flight of all three – a “kikizake sampler” – was $20 (2 oz. pour of each)

Here are the official tasting notes and prices of the sake ́ I sampled during my visit. (Pictured above, right to left)

#1 Yaegaki Mu “Nothingness” – Junmai Daiginjo from Hyogo Prefecture

Light amber tint, with crisp apple aroma. Wonderfully settled and calm, melting and smooth. Layered, complex, well-rounded, and balanced, Brewed with the “king” of sake ́rice, Yamada Nishiki.

$12 for 4 oz. in house pour; $40/720 ml bottle; $22/300 ml bottle.

#2 Narutotai “Ginjo Shiboritate” Nama Genshu from Tokushima Prefecture

Yeasty, sweet grain aromas. Soft, full, gentle mouthful, with ripened fruit sweetness and slight minerality. Lingering finish shows a touch of mint. The “oil can” would be ideal at a barbecue or with fatty sashimi. The brewery was established in 1804.

$15 for 4 oz. in house pour; $ 50/720 ml can

#3 Tedorikawa Kinka “Gold Blossom” Daiginjo from Ishikawa Prefecture

Floral nose, with notes reminiscent of dates and raisins, Mild spice, minerality, and cinnamon notes on the palate. Subtly layered, soft and settled. Deep, rich, mature, and mellow, especially for a namezake (unpasteurized sake ́).

$15 for 4 oz. in house pour; $ 48/720 ml bottle

Be sure to check out Sake ́ Nomi’s great website, “like” their Facebook page, and follow them on Twitter.