Japan Talk #131 is now available on the Japan Talk website and at FeedBurner.

* Thoughts on Japanese skaters and sports

* JapaneseTeens rescue 4-year-old from burning apartment

* Japan exports soar at fastest pace in 30 years

* China economic bubble to burst in 10 years?

* Japan Sumo Association tightens up foreign wrestler restrictions

* Man kills biker over noise

* Middle-aged man joins bikers in creating mayhem

* All Nippon Airways introduces ladies-only lavatories

* Japan may be willing to sign treaty on child abduction

* Record number of Japanese goes to pot (cannabis)

* Shimane Prefecture make Takeshima/Dokdo push

* Japan to reject any U.N. ban on Bluefin tuna

* Secret deal will allow resumption of Japanese commercial whaling

* Hardcore comics sidestep Japan porn laws

* New strict rules to control Japan swimmer fashion

Music (Japan Files)
* Owari No Nai Uta, by Daijyo
* Hotarubi, by Aoi Kidokoro

* Middle segment: Weaving Song by Akino

Links Of Interest

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

I don’t know that much about figure skating or how it is judged, but I do know what I see, and what I saw today was a Kim Yuna who made it look as if a beautiful young girl flying, twisting, and turning gracefully through the air is the most natural thing in the world. Her expression as she pulled off one amazing athletic move after another was one of pleasure, as if she was totally enjoying herself and doing exactly what she always wanted to do. And yes, she made it all look very sexy as well.

Japanese skaters, on the other hand, go through their routines looking as if they are in pain, assuming a demeanor that makes it appear that there are a million other places they would rather be. Especially difficult moves and jumps in particular are preceded by a facial expression that can best be described as frowning, lip-biting determination.

As with so many other things over here, Japanese people need to learn that doryoku (exertion, effort) and ganbaru (persistance)　are great for practice and training. When the lights go down and the music starts, however, it’s time to just loosen up and let it flow.

Japan Talk #130 is now available on the Japan Talk website and at FeedBurner.

* Replaying some oldies

* Trespassing whaling protestor may be brought to Japan
* Whale meat trial begins
* Man burglarizes 1,000 homes over 10 years
* Japanese scientists develop year-round cherry tree
* Temples offering virtual grave visits
* Free Japanese weekly downloads on Japan iTunes
* Bones may tell the story of wartime human experiments

* 33 Must See Japanese Scenes
* Japan, Korea, China mulling free trade agreement
* Japanese Olympic snowboard criticized for sloppy dress
* iTunes questioned over bogus credit card charges
* Morgan Stanley may lose Japan hotel chain
* Half-Japanese prof wins suit for being subject to discrimination by Japanese in the U.S.
* Arrested man shoots cop with cop’s gun
* Australia threatens Japan with legal action over whaling
* Tattoos in the sento
* Saitama toughens up sign posts against dog urine
* Families of 1972 airport attack sue North Korea
* Bikini Liquor Shop

Music (Podsafe Music Network)
* Big In Japan, by Supergene
* Japan The National Pool

* Middle segment: Weaving Song by Akino

Links Of Interest
* Bikini Liquor Shop

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

Japan Talk #129 is now available on the Japan Talk website and at FeedBurner.

* Still cold…
* Releasing Episode #128 a bit late
* Replaying some oldies
* Correction from Episode #128
* How Japan Talk and JAPUNDIT work

* Abdominal size no sign of metabolic syndrome
* Taxi fare save pedometer
* Man goes on rampage protesting foreigner voting rights
* Comparison of pizza shops in Japan
* Pandas coming back to Ueno Zoo
* Origins of Toyota recall explained
* One in three Japanese marriage sexless
* Japa Dog Japanese style hot dogs

* 85% of Japanese favor death penalty
* Gaijin Beat Japan info directory
* Ramen Box online ramen store
* NHK World TV iPhone app
* Mongolian press mocks Sumo Association
* Doctors arrested over fatally botched surgery
* Japan negotiating to reduce Antarctic whaling
* Toyota undone by Japan’s work ethic?
* The “couple buster” who went too far
* “Dead” man wakes up on autopsy table

Music (Podsafe Music Network)
* Headphone, by Rika Shinohara
* Hiccups Riyu Konaka
* Hey You Insist

Links Of Interest
* Lonelee Planet
* Nihonshock
* GaijinBeat
* Ramen Box
* Toyota Videos

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

Japan Talk #128 is now available on the Japan Talk website and at FeedBurner.

* Cold, cold, cold!

* JAPUNDIT included in Japanzine’s Top-10 Japan Related Blogs

* Yokozuna Asashoryu forced to retire
* Hip-hop monk delivers thugged-out sutras
* Saitama’s John Lennon Museum to close
* White on Rice, a film by Dave Boyle
* Learn Japanese with Anime-Manga
* Eikaiwa Review rates and ranks English schools

* North Korea to ease up on free markets (again)
* Christopher Hitchens on North Korea
* Crying Girl DVD
* X Japan to play main stage at Lollapalooza
* U.S. practicing gangster government against Toyota?
* Kamei warns foreigner suffrage could cause problems
* Chinese Narita terminal dweller headed home
* The story of Japanese Peruvians
* U.S. Congresswoman gets it wrong about Japanese health care
* Rumor: Tokyo metro subway mulling 24-hour schedule
* Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” sets sales record in Japan
* Man fakes robbery to hide unemployment from wife

Music (Japan Files)
* Sweets & Pretty, by C-ZONE
* Snow Breeze C-ZONE

* Middle segment: Weaving Song by Akino

Links Of Interest
* White On Rice
* Big Dreams Little Tokyo
* Anime-Manga
* Eikaiwa Review

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com