This year, we celebrated the Emperor’s Birthday with a Happy Hour. From the Imperial Household to underground heroes, from banned words to ghost-town virality, this episode has a little something for everyone. We get into the “Naru-chan Kenpo” and how Emperor Naruhito was raised, Japan’s ever-evolving list of broadcast “NG” words, and the country’s real-life superheroes patrolling the streets with trash tongs instead of weapons. Along the way, we explore eerie signs of the Dead Internet, Japan’s obsession with craftsmanship—from luxury stationery to washi-paper headphones—and what it all says about living in an increasingly algorithmic world. So before you throw this one on, buckle up—because things get a little wild.

That Sweet Sauce: 

• The Naru-chan Kenpo
• Banned Japanese Words for TV and Radio
• Map of Active Real Life Superheroes and their Teams
• Final debuts DX4000 CL headphones with washi paper drivers
• SHO - イジメーはやめろ【STOP BULLYING】OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
• 真岡北陵高校トイレで暴行】 学校に突撃してイジメーはやめろ
• 19日に判決「なぜ息子をいじめたのか」我が子の死から4年…母親の思い 福岡【高2自殺】
• R65 THE SILVER GENERATION テクノミュージシャン 河西文治(77) 前編
• 日本今ばなし桃太郎 - SNSの”そのうわさ”、信じて大丈夫？
• MAN POURS CHUHAI ON COP
• harachan - Paradise
• The Cancer Doctor: "This Common Food Is Making Cancer Worse!"
• KINSHI-GO RHAPSODY (outro)

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