
You are the reason JAPAN Forward launched The Week - a podcast for busy people who want to keep abreast of Japan’s culture, politics, business, economy and research worlds, and sports, too. Hosted by Arielle Busetto.
In our twenty-second episode, we spotlight tensions with China’s naval and maritime activities in Japanese waters and what this means for Japan's defense policy.
Then we delve into a retrospective on Shinzo Abe’s initiatives to reform government administrative and intelligence infrastructure as Japan moves towards a normal country status.
Further forward, and important to many readers, we look at the new travel restrictions, which make it easier for people to return to Japan.
And in sports, we showcase 'The Great Sasuke', who participated in a fight this weekend to raise funds for people in Ukraine. The full list of related articles is below.
Join us wherever you get your podcasts — on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Podcasts, or directly through our website at JAPAN Forward. Reach out and stay in touch on Twitter @ariellebusetto.
New podcasts will come out every weekend and remain available for listeners on your own schedule.
We have a library of podcasts available on our landing page, including Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan ー in both English and Japanese ー and Sports Talk.
RELATED:
* The Abe Legacy: A Japan Empowered by Far-reaching Reforms* China Aggressively Seeking ‘effective control’ in Waters Around the Senkaku Islands* Serious About the Defense of Japan: More Details, Please* EDITORIAL | Largest Anime Database Launched, Expected to Bolster Japan’s Lucrative Industry* OBITUARY | Queen Elizabeth II: World Figure, A Friend of Japan’s Royal Family* What to Know for Travel to Japan: Relaxed COVID-19 Rules, No Tour Guide* Japanese Pro Wrestler ‘The Great Sasuke’ Returns to the Ring for a Great Cause* Production of Edible Crickets Expands with New Rules in Place
Author: Arielle Busetto
Sep 11, 2022
7 min

You are the reason JAPAN Forward launched The Week - a podcast for busy people who want to keep abreast of Japan’s culture, politics, business, economy and research worlds, and sports, too. Hosted by Arielle Busetto.
In our twenty-first episode, we spotlight tensions in the Taiwan Strait, and what this means for Japan and its relations with neighboring countries.
Then we delve into the recent resignation of the chief of the National Police Agency following Shinzo Abe’s assassination.
Further forward, we look at the first-ever red carpet event on a bullet train between Kyoto and Tokyo, ahead of the release of a new Hollywood film. In the gaming world, we highlight the return of the public to expos, starting with BitSummit in Kyoto. And in sports, we shoot for the stars with Shohei Ohtani, who reached his 30th home run of the season. Find the related articles list below.
Join us wherever you get your podcasts — on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Podcasts, or directly through our website at JAPAN Forward. Reach out and stay in touch on Twitter @ariellebusetto.
New podcasts will come out every weekend and remain available for listeners on your own schedule.
We have a library of podcasts available on our landing page, including Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan ー in both English and Japanese ー and Sports Talk.
RELATED:
* Japanese Lawmakers’ Visit to Taiwan: What Does it Mean?* ‘Heightening Tensions’ in the Taiwan Strait: China Can’t Get Japan Out of Its Mind* EDITORIAL | After Abe’s Assassination, Revamp Needed in Securing VIPs* The Luxurious Life of Dogs in Japan: Dog Grooming* First-Ever Moving Red Carpet Event On A Bullet Train* [Gamer’s World] BitSummit’s Indie Games Are Back, First Japanese Expo With Public Since COVID* BASEBALL | Shohei Ohtani Reaches Another Milestone with 30th Homer of 2022* [Hidden Wonders of Japan] Song, Dance, and Somen Noodles at Omiwa Shrine in Nara
Author: Arielle Busetto
Sep 3, 2022
7 min

You are the reason JAPAN Forward launched The Week - a podcast for busy people who want to keep abreast of Japan’s culture, politics, business, economy and research worlds, and sports, too. Hosted by Arielle Busetto.
In our twentieth episode, we spotlight Shinzo Abe’s state funeral, and the updates on the ceremony scheduled for September 27.
Then we delve into an announcement made by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida which could foretell a major shift in Japan’s nuclear energy policy.
Further forward, we look at the interactive teamLab Borderless exhibition, which is set to close its Odaiba museum and open in a new location in 2023. In the business world, we take the long view in a look at the troubles of Masayoshi Son of Softbank. And in sports, Yuruzu Hanyu speaks with The Sankei Shimbun and JAPAN Forward in a one-on-one interview, telling us of his exciting plans since becoming a professional figure skater. Find the related articles list below.
Join us wherever you get your podcasts — on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Podcasts, or directly through our website at JAPAN Forward. Reach out and stay in touch on Twitter @ariellebusetto.
New podcasts will come out every weekend and remain available for listeners on your own schedule.
We have a library of podcasts available on our landing page, including Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan ー in both English and Japanese ー and Sports Talk.
RELATED:
* 6,400 Attendees Expected at Shinzo Abe’s State Funeral * The Abe Episodes: Binding Contrasting Interests with the Value of ‘Harmony’ * Japan Eyes Developing Next Generation Nuclear Plants: Things to Know * OBITUARY: Fashion Designer Hanae Mori Pioneered ‘East Meets West’* Cheer Up, Masayoshi Son! You’ve Got 300 Years to Turn Around SoftBank’s Troubles* teamLab Borderless Says Goodbye to Odaiba, to Reopen with New Cutting Edge Art* INTERVIEW | Yuzuru Hanyu One-on-One: The New Pro’s Aim is to ‘Get Stronger!’ * Soba’s Secrets: Lessons from Making Buckwheat Noodles from Scratch
Author: Arielle Busetto
Aug 31, 2022
7 min

You are the reason JAPAN Forward launched The Week - a podcast for busy people who want to keep abreast of Japan’s culture, politics, business, economy and research worlds, and sports, too. Hosted by Arielle Busetto.
In our nineteenth episode, we spotlight the 77th anniversary of the end of the Second World War and our reporting from the ground.
Then we delve into an exciting new website ー Japan 2 Earth ー dedicated to the issues and debate around the environment and SDGs, released under the JAPAN Forward umbrella.
Further forward, we look at the ancient and popular culture of Awamori liquor in Okinawa. And in sports, we shoot for the stars with a profile on basketball player Rui Machida. Find the related articles list below.
Join us wherever you get your podcasts — on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Podcasts, or directly through our website at JAPAN Forward. Reach out and stay in touch on Twitter @ariellebusetto.
New podcasts will come out every weekend and remain available for listeners on your own schedule.
We have a library of podcasts available on our landing page, including Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan ー in both English and Japanese ー and Sports Talk.
RELATED:
* Marking the End of World War II Amid COVID-19 and the War in Ukraine* Prayers for Ukraine at Yasukuni Shrine on the 77th Anniversary of the End of World War II* Creating a United Front Against the Destructive Path of Neocolonialism* ‘Japan 2 Earth’: New Website Launches to Help Communities Achieve Development Goals* [Road Once Traveled] Japanese City Extends a Helping Hand through Water* [Vietnam! Moving Ahead Together] Can Japanese Technology Combat Vietnam’s Pollution Problem?* South Korea Offers Hospitals and Food to the North ー Provided It Dismantles Its Nuclear Weapons* Okinawa’s Awamori: The Spirit That Survived* BASKETBALL | Rui Machida Makes Solid Impact in Her First Season with Washington Mystics* A Visit to the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum
Author: Arielle Busetto
Aug 22, 2022
8 min

You are the reason JAPAN Forward launched The Week - a podcast for busy people who want to keep abreast of Japan’s culture, politics, business, economy and research worlds, and sports, too. Hosted by Arielle Busetto.
In our eighteenth episode, we spotlight Prime Minister Kishida’s reshuffle of the Cabinet and learn who’s who as he brings new blood into the 19-minister cohort.
We also delve into the consequences of China’s missile tantrums over the past week, and what implications they have for countries in peace and security in East Asia.
Further forward, we look at some of the most fascinating aspects of the late Issey Miyake’s life, delving into what inspired the world-renowned designer who spread happiness with his clothes. Find the related articles list below.
Join us wherever you get your podcasts — on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Podcasts, or directly through our website at JAPAN Forward. Reach out and stay in touch on Twitter @ariellebusetto.
New podcasts will come out every weekend and remain available for listeners on your own schedule.
We have a library of podcasts available on our landing page, including Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan ー in both English and Japanese ー and Sports Talk.
RELATED:
* Fireworks Around Taiwan Reveal the Secrets of China’s Army In Attack Mode* Carrying on Shinzo Abe’s Strategy for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific* EDITORIAL | China’s Missile Tantrum Threatens Many Nations, Not Just Taiwan* Fumio Kishida’s Cabinet Reshuffle: Key Points to Know* PHOTOS: Heavy Rains Hit Northern Japan* With Mentor Abe Gone, Kishida Has to Keep Ruling Party’s Conservative Base* OBITUARY | Issey Miyake Designed Surprise and Joy Into Fashion* [ICE TIME] Illustrator Mika Matsuda Brings Personalities of Skaters to Life with Her Work* Experience Old-fashioned Tokyo on a Walking Tour Of Yanaka
Author: Arielle Busetto
Aug 14, 2022
6 min

You are the reason JAPAN Forward launched The Week - a podcast for busy people who want to keep abreast of Japan’s culture, politics, business, economy and research worlds, and sports, too. Hosted by Arielle Busetto.
In our seventeenth episode, we spotlight Prime Minister Kishida’s August 1 speech advocating “a world without nuclear weapons” on the opening day of the non-proliferation conference at the United Nations in New York.
We also showcase the interesting demographics revealed in a public opinion poll on holding a state funeral for slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
Further forward, we tackle the SDGs with a look into making beer out of food scraps, and spotlight an interview with Taiwanese math rock trio Elephant Gym. Find the related articles list below.
Join us wherever you get your podcasts — on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Podcasts, or directly through our website at JAPAN Forward. Reach out and stay in touch on Twitter @ariellebusetto.
New podcasts will come out every weekend, and remain available for listeners on your own schedule.
We have a library of podcasts available on our landing page, including Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan ー in both English and Japanese, and Sports Talk.
RELATED:
* TRANSCRIPT | Kishida Speech at NPT Conference: Giving Up on Disarmament Not an Option * Poll: Younger Generations and Majority of LDP Supporters Say ‘Yes’ to Abe’s State Funeral* From Food Waste to Beer: Bread Crusts and Coffee Beans Transformed into Delicious Brews* [ODDS and EVENS] Yokohama F. Marinos Riding High in Kevin Muscat’s First Full Season as Manager* INTERVIEW | Taiwan’s Math Rock Heroes Elephant Gym: ‘We Can All Resonate Together in Music’ * INTERVIEW | Hideo Furukawa: Beyond The Dystopia of ‘Soundtrack’ * Through a Bicultural Lens: Summer Camps in America and Japan
Author: Arielle Busetto
Aug 7, 2022
7 min

You are the reason JAPAN Forward launched The Week - a podcast for busy people who want to keep abreast of Japan’s culture, politics, business, economy and research worlds, and sports, too. Hosted by Arielle Busetto.
In our sixteenth episode, we spotlight the famed skater Yuzuru Hanyu and his recent retirement from competition.
We also showcase a six-part series on Justice Radhabinod Pal, a particularly renowned jurist in the Tokyo Trials who looked at Asia’s experience in the Second World War from a different perspective.
Further forward, we look into the lavender fields of Hokkaido, which just reached their peak season. Find the related articles list below.
Join us wherever you get your podcasts — on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Podcasts, or directly through our website at JAPAN Forward. Reach out and stay in touch on Twitter @ariellebusetto.
New podcasts will come out every weekend, and remain available for listeners on your own schedule.
We have a library of podcasts available on our landing page, including Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan ー in both English and Japanese, and Sports Talk.
RELATED:
* FIGURE SKATING | Yuzuru Hanyu Announces Retirement From Competition, Will Continue Career as a Pro Skater* [SOCIAL WIRE] Yuzuru Hanyu Retires From Figure Skating Competition* EDITORIAL | Nuclear Accident: Astronomical Damages Awarded in Another Confused Court Ruling* Justice Radhabinod Pal: The Life and Times of the Tokyo Trials Jurist* War Crimes Trials: Why the ‘Most Politically Independent’ Judge Found the Japanese Not Guilty* Ken Noguchi: Get Those Geothermal Energy Plants Up and Running* EDITORIAL | Make Testing Easy to Find, Easy to Take to Curb the 7th Wave of COVID-19* [Hidden Wonders of Japan] Relaxing in Shades of Purple in the Lavender Fields of Hokkaido
Author: Arielle Busetto
Jul 24, 2022
7 min

You are the reason JAPAN Forward launched The Week - a podcast for busy people who want to keep abreast of Japan’s culture, politics, business, economy and research worlds, and sports, too. Hosted by Arielle Busetto.
In our fifteenth episode, we spotlight the funeral of Shinzo Abe, and the ongoing investigation of his death.
It was an eventful week in politics, with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida mapping out his policies going forward after a successful election for his party.
Further forward, we look into some summer events coming back to Japan as the country learns to live with the ongoing pandemic, like Gion Matsuri, and the ongoing Nagoya Basho sumo tournament. Find the related articles list below.
Join us wherever you get your podcasts — on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Podcasts, or directly through our website at JAPAN Forward. Reach out and stay in touch on Twitter @ariellebusetto.
New podcasts will come out every weekend, and remain available for listeners on your own schedule.
We have a library of podcasts available on our landing page, including Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan ー in both English and Japanese, and Sports Talk.
RELATED:
* Showing Up for a Hurting Friend: Dignitaries Send Condolences, Mourn Shinzo Abe with Japan* Thousands Flood Zojoji Temple and the Streets of Tokyo to Say Farewell to Shinzo Abe * Unification Church Leader Confirms Tetsuya Yamagami’s Mother is Church Member* Prime Minister Kishida Maps Out Agenda Following Election Victory, Death of Shinzo Abe * Sri Lanka is Declared ‘Bankrupt’ as Humanitarian Crisis Looms* Reviving the Pharmaceutical Industry: Vaccine Mistrust and Negativity* The Gion Matsuri: 1,100 Years of Tradition and Change* SUMO | Terunofuji Moves Into Share of the Lead with Controversial Win at Nagoya Basho
Author: Arielle Busetto
Jul 18, 2022
8 min

You are the reason JAPAN Forward launched The Week - a podcast for busy people who want to keep abreast of Japan’s culture, politics, business, economy and research worlds, and sports, too.. Hosted by Arielle Busetto.
In our fourteenth episode, we do something a little different. We delve into the special coverage of the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
We report the rolling events and the reactions of politicians in Japan and abroad in a conversation with Grant Newsham, a retired United States Marine Colonel and former US diplomat with decades of background in Japan. Currently, Newsham is a Research Fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies and a regular contributor to JAPAN Forward.
Newsham shares with us some insights into the challenges and legacy of the longest-serving prime minister in Japan’s history.
Join us wherever you get your podcasts — on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Podcasts, or directly through our website at JAPAN Forward. Reach out and stay in touch on Twitter @ariellebusetto.
New podcasts will come out every weekend, and remain available for listeners on your own schedule.
We have a library of podcasts available on our landing page, including Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan ー in both English and Japanese, and Sports Talk.
RELATED:
* [Asia’s Next Page] Indo-Pacific at a Loss: The Abe Memoire* What We Know About Shinzo Abe’s Suspected Assassin So Far* Statesman and Defender: Shinzo Abe Will Be Missed* EDITORIAL | Shinzo Abe’s Assassination is Terrorism, a Tragedy That Japan Should Not See Again* A Nation In Shock: The Day After Shinzo Abe’s Assassination, Questions Remain* Japan’s Political World Will Never Be the Same Without Shinzo Abe* PM Kishida, Japanese Officials Mourn Shinzo Abe: ‘Incredible Loss of a Great Politician’* TIMELINE: Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Assassinated* ‘Tragic, Devastating’: World Leaders React to Shinzo Abe’s Death
Author: Arielle Busetto
Jul 10, 2022
9 min

You are the reason JAPAN Forward launched The Week - a podcast for busy people who want to keep abreast of Japan’s culture, politics, business, economy and research worlds, and sports, too.. Hosted by Arielle Busetto.
In our thirteenth episode, we spotlight the 25th anniversary since Hong Kong was handed over from the United Kingdom to China, with stories of Hong Kongers exploring their identity in film and reflections on the political changes under Xi Jinping’s hands.
Further forward, it’s a hot summer, punctuated by a major energy crunch. The arts and entertainment scenes are brimming with announcements and the return of in-person festivals, including the return of Fuji Rock 2022. At the same time, we take a look at what’s behind a recent boom in pet culture in Japan. Find the related articles list below.
Join us wherever you get your podcasts — on Spotify, Apple Music, Google Podcasts, or directly through our website at JAPAN Forward. Reach out and stay in touch on Twitter @ariellebusetto.
New podcasts will come out every weekend, and remain available for listeners on your own schedule.
We have a library of podcasts available on our landing page, including Real Issues, Real Voices, Real Japan ー in both English and Japanese, and Sports Talk.
RELATED:
* Sweltering Heat in Tokyo Area Puts Pressure on Energy Grid* EDITORIAL | Choose Candidates Who Will Address Japan’s Energy Crisis * EDITORIAL | Tokyo Governor Should Rethink Solar Panels Plan * Hong Kong Activists Express Disgust at Xi’s Visit to the City* ‘Blue Island’: Film Reveals Hong Kongers Seeking Their Identity* Not so Kawaii – Purchasing a Puppy in Japan* [Gamer’s World] New Products, Real People, In-person in LA* ‘The Monster of the Boxing Ring’ Looks Toward Future Challenges* FUJI ROCK FESTIVAL 2022: Eight Artists to Look Out For
Author: Arielle Busetto
Jul 3, 2022
10 min
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