Ever been walking down the street in Japan and wondered what that building is with the bright lights, loud slot machines, and cigarette smoke seeping through the doors? How is pachinko gambling if gambling is technically illegal here? Let’s learn more about the game that you can find in pretty much any neighborhood in Japan, the ancient types of gambling that preceded pachinko, the hidden problems of gambling addiction, and how these ’entertainment facilities’ operate through a legal loophole. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platformsReferences/sources:Nicholas Cage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYkw-5htPw0A pachinko addict’s guide: https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/an-addict%25e2%2580%2599s-guide-to-pachinkoNumber of Pachinko Parlors and Parlor Operators in Japanhttps://www.yanoresearch.com/en/press-release/show/press_id/3528Japan's pachinko industry braces for anti-addiction regulation/ 2018https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/japans-pachinko-industry-braces-for-antiaddiction-regulation-1548046Gambling Addiction in the Land of Pachinko/ 2018https://www.nippon.com/en/currents/d00367/Japan casino bribery investigation widens, arcade operator raided/ 2019https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2019/12/26/japan-casino-bribery-investigation-widens-arcade-operator-raidedAssociation of gambling activities and modalities with problem gambling in Japan: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey-based study https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853225000136?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=a1d883dadf171b3aA Journey into Japan’s Pachinko Parlors/ 2024https://peacockplume.fr/lifestyle/journey-japans-pachinko-parlorsThe Zone and the Shame: Narratives of Gambling Problems in Japanhttps://criticalgamblingstudies.com/index.php/cgs/article/view/112/74Eigamura: https://en.eigamura.com/show/chohan/https://en.eigamura.com/show/kyohana/Children left in cars: https://goemon-jp.com/news/mother-arrested-for-abandoning-her-1-year-old-child-in-the-car-at-a-pachinko-parlor-parking-lot-tPEZTNj9JQd4ZF6muNBM8p?language=enhttps://japantoday.com/category/crime/woman-arrested-after-5-month-old-son-dies-in-car-while-she-plays-pachinkoCops suspected of gambling: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/23/japan/crime-legal/police-online-casino-gambling/The anime/pachinko connection: https://blog.jlist.com/your-friend-in-japan/the-anime-pachinko-connection/Gambling addiction stats: https://kurihama.hosp.go.jp/english/https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10899-025-10423-whttps://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-024-19197-zAddiction: https://www.nippon.com/en/features/h00252/Consultation service: https://rsn-sakura.jp/english.htmlEffects of pachinko: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-024-19373-1Number of pachinko parlors: https://www.yanoresearch.com/en/press-release/show/press_id/3528The pachinko player/ 2008: https://www.tokyoreporter.com/japan-news/special-reports/the-pachinko-player/Pachinko the book: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2017/03/04/books/book-reviews/pachinko-min-jin-lee-writes-struggle-ethnic-korean-family-japan/Osaka’s new casino resort: https://japan-forward.com/osaka-casino-resort-on-track-for-2030-launch-after-operator-waives-right-to-withdraw/Time stamps00:00 intro to pachinko03:58 ancient gambling 08:33 how does pachinko work11:33 pachinko addiction23:30 legal & illegal types of gambling/betting29:25 who profits from pachinko?32:11 Pachinko (novel) + ethnic stereotypes34:55 police, corruption, gang ties40:14 exploitation, child neglect 43:46 pro pachinko players46:40 industry decline + new Osaka casino plans

If you’ve ever lived or traveled in Japan, you’ve probably heard the sound of revving engines and loud bike mufflers in the middle of the night at least once, or maybe you’ve just seen Tokyo Revengers and Akira. Let’s take a deep dive into the history of these biker gangs, dubbed Bosozoku (violent running tribes) by the media, and how their eccentric bike modifications, fashion, and rebellion have become immortalized in Japanese youth counter-culture.Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platformsReferences/sources:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZvjfsBRY50&t=334sHammer man: https://youtu.be/ea4F9wwH0iw?si=tDVNe7nyfpvHyrqjhttps://news.ntv.co.jp/category/society/e24b8824b3aa469fa582b8416cf1d9abhttps://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/24b2f01802bac89a84fc1781eb8c6455fcd83babhttps://shueisha.online/articles/-/257919?disp=paging&page=1Uniforms & history: https://features.japantimes.co.jp/tokkofuku/Without paywall: https://removepaywalls.com/https://features.japantimes.co.jp/tokkofuku/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS9-UFaKlpwReckless driving: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2003/07/22/national/new-traffic-law-a-red-light-for-bosozoku/Origins & history: https://haenfler.sites.grinnell.edu/subcultures-and-scenes/bosozoku/Vice doc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMpZLrODd3k&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fhaenfler.sites.grinnell.edu%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTEBosozoku girls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-z15n4utsYBlack Emperor:https://sabukaru.online/articles/bosozoku-double-feature-black-emperor-on-filmhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcK39R7wXcUNoise: https://leavetheroad.in/2025/11/25/from-bosozoku-beats-to-pointless-noise-stop-revving-like-a-clown/Counter-culture: https://underground-england.com/bosozoku-japans-violent-speed-tribes/Badly in Love: https://youtu.be/8xNbqmQJDTs?si=8jWYZeP46wjcZeRlRise & fall: https://www.tofugu.com/japan/bosozoku/Time stamps00:00 news story related to biker gangs09:07 bosozoku history & reputation22:47 bike modifications & fashion32:26 annoying or dangerous?36:04 teenage rebellion & famous groups40:57 bosozoku to yakuza pipeline42:56 the group’s decline45:59 female bosozoku47:26 media depictions

Today we’ll chat with Katie, an American in Tokyo, about how she started as a teacher and transitioned into food tourism. We also discuss what it’s like navigating Japan’s work culture with a chronic illness. For food recommendations around Tokyo and beyond, and guided tours, she’s your gal. Katie’s blog & tours - https://www.thetastytraveler.com/Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetastytraveler.kt/?hl=enGot questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platformsWords mentioned/useful words:食べ放題 tabehoudai - all you can eatTime stamps00:00 background 05:19 working in Tokyo: teaching to tourism15:07 chronic illness 20:28 transitioning to freelance31:51 food recs37:28 long-term plans39:21 fave thing about living here

Today we’ll chat with Eboni, an Atlanta gal living in Yokohama, about her journey to becoming fluent in Japanese, entering the Japanese corporate world, social media, becoming a JAL ambassador and more!Eboni’s socials - let’s get her to 10k on insta! Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ebonihongo/TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ebonihongo.jpYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ebonihongoGot questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platformsWords mentioned/useful words:人間関係 ningen kankei - human relations正社員 seishain - permanent employee 年末年始 nenmatsu nenshi - end of year holidays丼 donburi - rice bowlどんぐり donguri - acorn 店内 tennai - dine-in店員 ten’in - shop staffお持ち帰り omochikaeri - to go (food but sometimes used in a derogatory way to take a person home)マジで majide - really? Seriously?頑張って ganbatte - do your best! Good luckTime stamps00:00 background + study abroad03:33 entering the work force18:01 what doors language has opened23:28 JLPT30:26 language mistakes33:45 achieving fluency37:08 social media40:36 living in Yokohama44:41 long-term plans & advice

When people complain about the heat and humidity during Japan’s long summers, it really is that big of a deal. Every year new record high temperatures are reached, and fatal heat strokes (for people of all ages) are only increasing. On top of that, bear sightings and attacks are on the rise, and giant hornet populations are increasing too. While there are so many fun activities during the summer, there are also plenty of health risks and taking precaution is never a bad thing. Get that UV protection and stay hydrated, y’all. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platformsWords mentioned/useful words:酷暑日 kokushobi - cruelly hot day (over 40 C) 104 F夏日 natsubi - summer day (25 C +) 77 F真夏日 manatsubi - midsummer day (30 C +) 86 F猛暑日 moushobi - extremely hot day (35 C +) 95 FReferences/sources:Fatal heat stroke at Hirakata Park: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190730/p2a/00m/0na/008000c39 students in Kanagawa rushed to hospital for heat stroke: https://www.city.ebina.kanagawa.jp/koho/1007115/press/1016291/1016740/1016811.html2nd grader in Hokkaido passes away from heatstroke: https://www.asahi.com/sp/articles/ASR8R2QPVR8QIIPE016.htmlWhat happens to the body in extreme temperatures:https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/07/23/1189506023/heres-what-happens-to-the-body-in-extreme-temperatures-and-how-heat-becomes-deadHeat stroke: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heat-stroke/symptoms-causes/syc-20353581Japan weather agency adopts 'cruelly hot day' as new term for temps upwards of 40 C:https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260417/p2a/00m/0na/008000cJapan’s schools battle to keep kids cool, with or without AC: https://features.japantimes.co.jp/extreme-heat-education-cooling/Find a swimming pool in Japan: https://blog.gaijinpot.com/urban-oasis-how-to-enjoy-a-swimming-pool-in-japan/Inmate at Nagoya Prison dies of heatstroke in cell with no air-conditioning:https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180726/p2a/00m/0na/016000cHighest temps: https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h02498/https://featured.japan-forward.com/japan2earth/2024/01/5494/10-year trend: Many heatstroke deaths occur in early summer: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15794779Japan begins annual heatstroke alerts: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/3965/Japan saw record number treated for heatstroke in hottest-ever summer: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/10/02/japan/science-health/japan-record-heat-stroke-2025/Why Central AC Isn't Common in Japan's Hot Summers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TMPxyCFFOINine of Japan’s 10 regional power utilities to raise bills in February: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/01/30/electricity-bills-rise-february/Average electricity bills: https://x-house.co.jp/en/column/sharehouse/xross-2085/Why bears are getting worryingly comfortable in Japan's urban areas: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/4892/ 4 injured in bear attacks in northeast Japan, all conscious: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260602/p2g/00m/0bu/021000cSharp increase in hornet attacks in Japan linked to climate change: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15037178Time stamps00:00 take summer seriously/word of the day05:14 hottest cities in Japan10:44 heatstroke stats13:14 heat exhaustion vs stroke16:32 AC situation in schools27:32 why Japan’s humidity is so bad33:33 ventilation vs insulation37:01 electricity bills39:50 bears, hornets and snakes oh my55:27 survival tips for summer

This week we chat with special guest Sachiko Ishikawa about IVF, motherhood, social issues and politics in Japan! How is the government supporting families and what is still lacking? How hard is it getting your child into daycare in Tokyo?! Let’s chat all this and more. Find Sachiko here:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ishikawa_sachi?_r=1&_t=ZS-97CS2QO2tMqInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ishikawa_sachi?igsh=MTlrNXFvaXFjNjI1Yg==Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platformsWords mentioned/useful words:子育て kosodate - child rearing 研修 kenshuu - training (could be for something work-related)区役所 kuyakusho - ward office 担当 tantou - person in charge/responsible認可 ninka - license, permission 認可外 ninkagai - unlicensed daycare認可外保育所 ninkagaihoikusho一時預かり ichijiazukari - temporary custody (daycare in this case)児童館 jidoukan - children’s house, child welfare facility細かい komakai - minor, trivial, nitpicky Time stamps00:00 background, mixed cultures 11:56 interest in social issues and politics21:37 IVF process31:16 maternity experience 47:21 family support56:12 daycare1:06:06 bicycle hatred1:13:44 a positive news story to end on

To celebrate 100 episodes, let’s talk overrated and underrated anime. Because my own repertoire is still growing, I decided to bring a couple experts on. Thanks Aundre and Rosa for joining! Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platformsThe RDC skit about JJK that Aundre mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFjwzn71NKsTime stamps00:00 hi 03:29 overrated29:02 underrated49:28 toxic fandoms1:00:19 best fandom

A poem that causes tragic accidents if read aloud, a severed head flying across the country, and a decades long baseball losing streak?! Let’s get into some silly and spooky curses that could befall upon you in Japan if you’re not careful. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platformsWords mentioned/useful words:心霊スポット shinrei supotto神隠し kamikakushi - mysterious disappearance, spirited away 首塚 kubizuka - burial mound for severed headsReferences/sources:https://www.mlb.com/news/the-japanese-team-cursed-by-colonel-sandersThey won the series again in 2023https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20231106/p2a/00m/0na/014000cAfter life of curses, miracles, Colonel Sanders statue laid to resthttps://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15204594https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/etimes/trending/japans-inunaki-village-the-place-from-where-no-one-has-ever-returned/articleshow/118607780.cmshttps://www.atlasobscura.com/places/taira-no-masakados-gravehttps://www.tokyoweekender.com/art_and_culture/history/tokyo-was-built-atop-the-head-of-a-decapitated-god/https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/Tomino%27s_Hellhttps://www.reddit.com/r/HorrorReviewed/comments/7za58n/tominos_hell_by_yomota_inuhiko_1919_poem/Time stamps00:00 hi01:23 Colonel Sanders07:49 Inunaki Tunnel13:04 cursed poem17:54 Taira no Masakado's Grave 23:06 cursed Kleenex commercial24:15 cursed island in Fukui 28:39 Mount Fuji curse

Chris Payne is a US citizen who has been in Japan since 2013. He was falsely convicted of attacking a woman in Chiba in July 2018 and has been held in solitary confinement for 4.5 years. The whole crux of the investigation falls on a manipulated DNA analysis, but meanwhile, Chris has never matched the description of the attacker, and his alibi was never properly investigated. The Tokyo High Court overturned his conviction in December 2025, but Chris still remains in solitary confinement in the detention center where he is being held until a retrial is scheduled in Chiba, and his requests for bail have been denied at least 11 times. His case is a stark example of Japan’s system of “hostage justice” where the suspect is guilty until proven innocent, and all-powerful prosecutors hold all the cards. Please note: we do not place the blame on the victim, and neither does Chris. He is unfortunately being made a scapegoat while the real attacker is still out there, possibly hurting more people in the meantime. HOW TO SUPPORT CHRIS - sign the petition: https://www.change.org/p/demand-due-process-for-christopher-payne-in-japanAND SPREAD THE WORD! Contact your representatives in the US and Japan to put pressure on the courts. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platformsWords mentioned/useful words:人質司法 hito jichi shiho - hostage justice事件 - jiken - incident矛盾 mujun - contradiction, inconsistency 刑務所 keimusho - prison拘置所 kouchisho - detention center References/sources:Innocence Project Japan: https://innocenceprojectjapan.org/en/chris-caseGavin Blair article: https://www.fccj.or.jp/number-1-shimbun-article/miscarriage-justiceFCCJ conference from March 2026: https://www.youtube.com/live/9eB2cMUmh7g?si=-hvv1x3gPmin_j0XCBS Chicago story: https://youtu.be/Frd9N4DzvOcThe petition - PLEASE SIGN: https://www.change.org/p/demand-due-process-for-christopher-payne-in-japanKeiko Aoki:https://forejustice.org/db/Aoki--Keiko-.htmlhttps://www.nichibenren.or.jp/en/document/statements/160810.htmlhttps://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14573661Shoji Maekawa: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15914748https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/29/japan/crime-legal/acquitted-man-seeks-state-compensation/#:~:text=Get%20full%20access%20for%2090%25Time stamps00:00 hi/disclaimer/who is Chris?03:25 the attack, the arrest, inconclusive DNA11:25 the conviction12:27 DNA problems, overturned conviction14:41 health issues15:43 call with advocacy team members1:03:49 media coverage1:05:29 hostage justice & powerful prosecutors1:12:35 three recent exonerations1:20:26 conclusion

Let’s chat with Sandy, who’s been living in Japan for 15 years, about getting started on JET, studying Japanese, becoming a permanent resident, getting diagnosed with AuDHD as an adult, and more! You can find Sandy here:https://www.tiktok.com/@sandyinjapannnhttps://www.instagram.com/sandyinjapannn/Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at [email protected]: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platformsWords mentioned/useful words:専門学校 senmon gakko - trade school養成所 youseijo - training school 無性 musei - asexual 自閉症 jiheisho - autism内科 naika - internal medicineTime stamps00:00 background, JET program03:25 voice acting04:40 Japanese language study08:13 why move from Kobe to Tokyo?14:01 PR (permanent residency)19:29 getting diagnosed as AuDHD in Japan/mental health33:29 lasik, SMILE, ICL39:39 butsukari otoko, drones & other rants50:47 advice if you want to move to Japan