Japan Talk #121 (Backstage Chat) is now available on the Japan Talk website and at FeedBurner.

• Where was Japan Talk all this time?
• What’s in store for the future?
• Feel free to contribute

• Play a role in deciding the news that appears on Japan Talk. Visit JAPUNDIT to contribute stories or to vote on stories contributed by others.

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

Got a note recently that says one regular contributor (zichi) is experiencing problems when posting articles to JAPUNDIT.

He says:

The posts used to load very quickly but now they stall after 5 minutes or more I hit the submit button again, wait another 5 minutes and hit it again. Usually on the 3rd try it uploads.

Is anyone else having any problems?

Japan Talk #120 is now available on the Japan Talk website and at FeedBurner.

* Top Japan news stories for 2009

* Top Japan sports stories for 2009

Music – Courtesy of JapanFiles.com
* 24 colors by BESPA KUMAMERO

* Crazy Bathroom by BESPA KUMAMERO

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.co

Benjamin Fulford writes about being contacted by Fuji TV to speak on on a news program about Obama’s economic policies and was canceled when it became apparent to the broadcaster that his presentation would not be what they expected…. That is, “to convince the Japanese they should imitate the US.”

If you are looking for a great Japan-themed present for that special someone or if you need something to curl up with during the cold months ahead, you may want to pick up a copy of Picking Bongs From Ash, the debut novel of JAPUNDIT’s very own Marie Mockett.

PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY calls it the gorgeous debut novel from Marie Mutsuki Mockett who “succeeds where others fail; making the reader care.”

THE STAR TRIBUNE says, “Mockett combines the best elements of a mystery story, ghost story, magical realism and the complex difficulties in deciding what is ‘best’ for our elders and offspring.”

Click here for more information.