Hello From Nihon

Just watched Unsolved Mysteries episode 4 (Tsunami Spirits), Ako and I had to talk about this and our experiences with the 3/11 earthquake and Tsunami. We cover Japanese ghost stories, spirituality, west Vs. east ideals and much more. Watch out for heavy spoilers in this one.

Ako came across a weird little Tokyo University report that claims uneducated Japanese people did not adhere to COVID19 precautions, while Japanese citizens with a 4 year university degree (or above) took the "proper" precautions. Ako and I picked it apart and gave our thoughts and opinions on the subject.

I can't get Hana Kimura out of my head and I've been asking Ako all kinds of questions about it since she reads Kanji fluently and has access to the Japanese media; and their thoughts and opinions about the matter. In this episode we go over a lot of things surrounding Hana's passing and the circumstances that led to it.

Today is a very sad day, Kimura Hana from Terrace House passed away, she was 22 years old. Rest In Peace. 

Long time no hear, Ako and I have been turned into farmers and the only escape is in our NIntendo switch games. I just got Streets Of Rage 4 for the switch and Ako has been playing Animal Crossing since we got here. Besides that, we go over the low carb diet and why we have gotten on it. 

Terrace House Tokyo: 2019 - 2020 is now over for the foreseeable future. If you saw Terrace House episode 40 then you saw the last one. Make sure you watch it before you listen to this Hello From Nihon podcast episode. Ako and I also talk about the cultural significance of Setsubun, or the driving away of evil demonic Oni.

First off, spoilers ahead, if you haven't watched Netflix's Terrace House 'Tokyo 2019 - 2020' episodes 37, 38 and 39, then we recommend you watch those and come back for this podcast episode.

All I can say is, I don't remember seeing someone make SO MANY wrong choices before. Oh yea, this is our official 100th episode for 'hello from nihon'. If you've been listening, we thank you and stay safe.

Ako and I are now living deep in the Japanese Country side because of COVID19. There is a mountain next to our country side home and wheat fields on the other side, it's beautiful but we miss our home. Anyways, this led Ako to Animal Crossing / どうぶつの森 where she has been ever since. 

Warning, spoilers ahead. In the episode of Terrace House Back In Tokyo Niino (the boss) is pulling all the stops in order to get with Yume. You be the judge, is it assertive or is it overly aggressive. Ako and I debate his creepiness on today's hello from nihon episode.

In this week's episode of Netflix's Terrace House Back In Tokyo we had some crazy shenanigans going down. Niino is crazy over Yume and he is doing some pretty "Kimoi" things to get her attention. Make sure you watch the episode before you listen to this podcast, spoilers ahead.  

The Coronavirus is causing a lot of problems up and down Japan. One of the issues happening in Japan is the spread of デマ (Dema). One of the side effects of the spread of Dema in Japan is the lack of toilet paper. 

Today Ako and I talk about Netflix's Terrace House episode 34 "The Incident Of The Bottled Beer". In this episode of Terrace House everybody cringed when the CEO made moves on the new member of Terrace House Hayashi Yume (Yume Is Japanese For Dream). Make sure you watch the full episode before listening to this episode of Hello From Nihon.

Today Ako and I talk about the meaning of "Wafu" in Japanese cooking, and Ako's ryokan ghost story experience. We also go over the very first case of Coronavirus in our city of Fukuoka Japan. If you are a foreigner living in Japan and you think you are coming down with the Coronavirus then call this number 0570-050-235, and the available languages are  English, Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Vietnamese and Thai

In the episode of Terrace house back in Tokyo 2020 we see a new relationship form and we get to meet the new playboy of Terrace House. We also find out his 'interesting' way to make living. On top of that, Ako and I discuss how to confess your love in Japanese.

Ako and I will be introducing more Japanese concepts and terms into our conversations to help you better understand Japanese and Japanese culture. Today we go over Asa-Katsu (朝活)  and how more and more Japanese office ladies are adopting this practice.

Did you know on Valentine's day in Japan, women are socially obligated to give chocolate to coworkers and other men they have no interest in? Is this just another classic case of Kawaii culture in Japan? Enjoy our special 'Hello From Nihon' Valentine's Day episode.

Ako and I breakdown our preconceived notions about each other's countries, we also talk about Japanese and American norms towards sex. On top of that, we went over our plans for our 'Hello from Nihon' YouTube channel.

Make sure you watch this episode of Terrace House (Epi 32 - I Hate You) before you listen to this podcast episode of Hello From Nihon because spoilers will be dropped. Terrace House starts off strong with a surprise announcement. On top of that, we get tears rolling down Emika's face  in the beginning of the episode and at the end for completely different reasons.

Ako and I go over the latest Coronavirus news and how the illness is being handled here by the Japanese government. We also discuss some of the discriminatory behavior some folks are receiving just because they are Asian.  On top of that, we share some personal discriminatory experiences that we dealt with when the SARS virus was an issue. 

In today's episode we talk about entertaining my Japanese In-Laws and Ako's unique family dynamic. We also talk about Japanese Parfaits and banana "Spirits". On top of that we discuss the pros and cons of "Gaman" (我慢).

Remember to watch episode 31 "Publicity Stunt" before you listen to this episode of Hello From Nihon because there are spoilers ahead. This week's episode of Terrace House was explosive towards the end, it seems like all the ladies of Terrace House have been duped. Ryo gets a black-eye. 

Japan recently has been in good relations with China but unfortunately the new Coronavirus is threatening that relationship, in this episode Ako and I discuss how this new flu is affecting Japan health-wise and politically. We also go over Japan's obsession with Western symbols they don't understand.  

Ako and I sit down and talk about the newest survey that came out on the ten best prefectures in Japan. These prefectures were ranked based on livability and general happiness of it's inhabitants. Ako and I go over the rankings we agreed with and the ones we didn't agree with.

Fair warning, spoilers ahead. This was a very 'interesting' Terrace House episode filled with romance and cringe worthy moments. We enjoyed them and our hearts went out for some of the Terrace House members. 

In the episode of Hello From Nihon, we go over our experiences at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo Disney Sea. Ako also talks about her job at Epcot's Japan pavilion as a server. I also break down why Tokyo Disney Sea is considered by many to be the best Disney theme park in the world. I also go over Oriental Land's plans to open the new exclusive Beauty and The Beast trackless attraction in Tokyo Disneyland.

Imagine you leave your country, become fluent in Japan and publish your own Manga comic book in Japan, that's what Pepe did. If you don't know Pepe, he was on the reality TV show Terrace House 'Back In Tokyo'. He has since left the show to pursue his manga writer/artist career in Tokyo. Ako got her hands on his first story; and in this Hello From Nihon podcast episode we review it for you. 

Ako and I break down Netflix's Terrace House Back In Tokyo 2019-2020 Episode 29 'About Love'. Remember as always that this podcast episode is filled with spoilers. We talk about everything from Ryo's stone cold heart to Japanese 'Oppai Pubs'.

Ako and I go over the last two episode of Terrace House back in Tokyo 2019-2020. It involves a lot of tears, broken hearts and new relationships. We also talk about our experiences with Korean culture and our cultural differences.

Ako and I cover some of the foreign ninjutsu that takes place here in Japan from corrupt CEOs of large Japanese automobile industries to apartment hopping university students. On top of that we start this episode with talk about Iran and Japan's recent dealings, and how the assassination of Qasim Soleimani will effect future discussions.

Long time no see, this is our first podcast for 2020, Happy New year. In this episode we go over why we've been absent for three weeks. We also talk about Japan's wide variety of creepy sea creatures on display and Nintendo's Ring Fit.

Learn how Ako and I celebrate Christmas in Japan, also learn how Ako used to celebrate Christmas with Ninja Santa. We also go over how Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) brought Christmas to Japan complete with strawberry shortcake. 

Ako and I break down Episode 26 of Netflix's Terrace House Back In Tokyo. In this episode is filled with everything, including new boys and girls. Things are getting exciting again, also we said good bye to Pepe. 

This episode of Terrace house was a real tearjerker for many reasons. Ako and I break down this episode of Terrace House and all the reasons why we loved it so much, also quite a few members left us in this episode. Make sure you watch Episode 25 of Terrace house before you listen to this podcast if you care about spoilers.

Ako and I go over gambling in Japan and the future of Japan's great Casino venture, where will they build it and will it hurt or promote the local community.

Today Ako and I talked about Japan's obsession with wearing masks in public and we also talked about why Japanese people go to work even if they are deathly ill. On top of that we go over our own experiences working for corporate Japan and our run-ins with Japanese culture.

Today Ako was a bit mad and we went over what angered her and then we ended up talking about the three different zodiac systems that Japanese people really care about.

I know, the things we like is subjective, but there are Japanese foods I KNOW westerners would like and there are Japanese dishes I KNOW westerners would hate. In this episode we talk about our Japanese cuisine likes and dislikes. 

Ako and I where surprised with Emika and the path she took to get revenge on Hana. This week's episode of Netflix's Terrace House was on fire! Remember as always, spoilers ahead. This week's Terrace House Episode is called 'Pink Rose'.

Last night I stayed in the famous one-dollar-a-night Japanese hotel, if you haven't heard about this unique ryokan located in southern Japan. The Asahi Ryokan hotel is famous not because of the extremely cheap nightly cost for a downtown location but rather, because of why this hotel incurs such a cheap nightly cost.

After twitter revealed how oppressive Japanese companies can be to it's female Japanese employees, Ako and I sit down to go over several ways women are discriminated against in Japanese culture both inside and outside of the office. Did you know in many Japanese companies women are expected to come to the office 40 minutes earlier in the morning so that they can prepare tea for their male counterparts? There are many forms of power harassment in Japan, we will go over a few of them for you.

If you thought the US was strict when it comes to drug enforcement then you need to check out what Japan does to it's celebrities who take illegal substances. Poor Erika Sawajiri was arrested on Saturday 11/9/19 for possession of MDMA. She was a very popular and young Japanese actress who starred in many Japanese movies and TV shows. She 'had' a role in the upcoming NHK historical drama, she was to play the wife of famed Shogun Nobunaga. 

Ako and I just got done watching Netflix's Terrace house 'Back in Tokyo' Episode 23. I have mixed feeling on how Hana treated Emika towards the end of the episode, I also wonder how much alcohol had a hand in her cruelty.  I think Ryo finally made his choice in who he will pursue, and poor Ruka is once again left out in the cold. Just another day in Tokyo, Japan.    

Ako and I recently saw all four episodes of Netflix's Queer Eye In Japan and we loved it. However, Queer Eye In Japan messed up on certain cultural things but they played it off as if nothing happened. In today's episode we break down all of the Japanese cultural situations they encountered and the Japanese people they helped a long the way. 

Recently a Japanese company's mandate of not allowing women to wear glasses in the work place is making the rounds on Japan twitter. We discuss how Ako experienced this first hand. On top of that we talk about our experiences with Kabuki, Rakugo (Comedy) and Japanese puppet theater. 

This is by far my favorite episode of Terrace House Back In Tokyo to date, simply because things are moving so fast for so many of the characters all at once. You got heart break, betrayal, dreams fulfilled and new chapters starting, everything you want in a new episode of Terrace House. Emika is creating problems and Haruka is leaving love on the wayside.  

Ako and her parents love musicals, they absolutely love them. Unfortunately, a Japanese production company has set out to remake the musical 'Hairspray' with a full on Japanese ensemble cast which doesn't make any sense. Hairspray is about racial integration and the civil rights movement of the late 50s. How in the world will this make sense if the whole cast is Japanese.

This week Ako and I get into it with Terrace House's episode 21 'Too Shy Girl'. In this episode all of the ladies of the house name who they are romantically interested in. On top of that, we get to see Hana work her pro-wrestling game. Make sure you watch it before you listen to this episode.

We briefly touched upon Japanese Kyabakura lounge bars in the last 'Hello from Nihon' episode, and this one, we go a little bit more in depth to find out why Japanese men and women are willing to pay so much for the company of the opposite sex without the need for physical intimacy.   

In this episode we go over what the Japanese media does when a celebrity or a talent is publicly disgraced or accused of misbehaving. In a recent case, famed comedian and celebrity Tokui Yoshimi (Terrace House Commentator) was caught cheating on his taxes and now he is being systematically removed from Japanese TV.  

There is a whole industry in Japan devoted to people paying for booze and conversation. You got salary men paying for the attention of young sexy women. You also have older women paying for the attention of younger men. On top of all of that we discussed the entire Japan Bachelor debacle. 

Hello From Nihon Japanese Halloween horror edition is not about Japan at all, actually it's about a political horror game and how it's hurting China's reputation, we also go over the popularity of Chinese vampires and how Halloween is celebrated in Japan.   

This might be our longest podcast episode of all, we go over the wacky stuff we have in Japan. Ako and I also talk about the good the bad and everything else in between. We first go over the 'Love Plus' game craze and then the sad history of Japanese 'KondoPorno'. We also talk about how an Uber Eats driver messed up their reputation in Japan in a matter of a 'tweet'.

Wow, I really enjoyed this episode of Terrace House Back In Tokyo. Fair warning. spoilers ahead. We got a new member and she is super cool, she's a pro-wrestler and extremely cute on all levels, her name is Hana Kimura and she is a breath of fresh air within Terrace house. That being said, we will miss Koari.  

Ako and I love gaming, Ako loves gaming more than I do and today we go over some of our favorites plus some new ones that Ako is currently playing. In this episode we talk about some Nintendo Switch re-releases such as Moon RPG Remix, Zelda and Chulip.

In this Terrace House episode many things go down, remember that this podcast episode is full of spoilers so don't listen to it until you watch the stray sheep terrace house episode. 

Ako and I talk about typhoon habidis and how homeless people were turned away from evacuation centers in Tokyo. We also talked about the great Japan earthquake of 2011, and how Ako and I met.

Ako and I sit down to talk about 5 things native English speaks hate about Japanese conversational habits. Too be honest, I thought the news article missed the mark on most of their points except for one. Sometimes people in Japan can be patronizing when dealing with foreigners and in this podcast episode you'll learn what that is.  

These episodes of Terrace House Back In Tokyo (Episode 17 and 18) are filled with surprises and heart break for some of it's members. You might be surprised to see who vanishes from Terrace House without a trace. Remember, spoilers ahead.  

Ako just gave birth to our son and this is why we have been off the air for over 2 weeks but now we are back. In the episode of Hello From Nihon we discuss the difference between giving birth in Japan Vs. Giving birth in the states. 

'One cut of the dead' is Japan's answer to 'Shaun Of The Dead'. In this Japanese zombie-comedy movie we get a unique take on the zombie genre that will surprise you and warm your heart.

Pepe the Italian stallion is heating things up at the Terrace House and Yusuke gets the saddest call from Haruka. On top of all of this, we learn what the other members of Terrace House think of Kaori. 

A famous 'Japan' youtuber recently made an off-hand comment talking ill of conveyor belt sushi (Kaiten Sushi). Yes, there is better sushi to be had here in Japan, but conveyor belt sushi is not only tasty but it's a fun experience unto itself. I highly recommend to try conveyor belt sushi if you are visiting Japan you'll be pleasantly surprised.

What is Ai Nori? Well imagine if you had a Japanese version of 'the bachelor' reality show but in a mini-van driving around in a foreign land. On top of that, imagine that each member has to get someone else in the mini-van to fall in love with them. 

'Ai Nori' literally translates to 'Love Ride' in Japanese and this is one of our favorite shows on Netflix . 

Like always, spoilers ahead, Terrace House's new episode is sadly titled "A Man's Worth Is Determined By His Job". Ako and I disagreed a bit on the title of this episode but we both enjoyed to see the new Terrace house members Pepe and Emika. 

Both Lauren Tsai and Avian Ku appeared on Terrace house at the same time (August 29, 2017) and they are the first non-Japanese to appear on Terrace House, not Pepe

Here is the thing, it's not easy for Japanese people to live abroad because very few countries out there share Japan's language and culture. In today's Hello from Nihon episode Ako and I got into the meat of the matter of what exactly motivates some Japanese folks to take the plunge and live abroad.  

This is an interesting episode of Hello From Nihon, we started talking about the culture shock I experienced living in Japan but the conversation quickly descended to general Japanese toilet shock and the different types of toilets in China and Germany. 

This was a hilarious and sad episode of Terrace House for many different reasons, before you listen, please understand that there are several spoilers ahead. This Terrace House episode focuses on Ruka, Kenny and Risako, the things that happen might make some of you cringe with embarrassment, and some of you will laugh out loud. 

This is what happens when you make a 'Hello From Nihon' episode at night, nothing but Terrace House chaos. In the 13th episode of Terrace House titled All Or Nothing, we got Ruka getting shutdown by Kaori and we also have Risako rejecting Kenny's advances. All in all, a very exciting Terrace House episode. 

Japan is awesome and there are things here that you'll never experience anywhere else. The food here is awesome, and not just the Japanese food, there are so many tasty dishes here from all around the world. In this episode we talk more about it.

Ako and I discuss the things I dislike about living in Japan as a foreigner. I go over how my ex-girlfriend's grandmother couldn't except me as her boyfriend. I love Japan but there are things that could be better, that being said, I don't believe in the perfect place.

In this episode of Hello from Nihon, Ako asks me about life as a foreigner in Japan. We talk about the good and the bad parts of Japanese culture and how westerns deal with it. 

The Rilakkuma and Kaoru Anime on Netflix is one of our favorite shows on the streaming platform. It's definitely not what you'd consider to be a typical anime but it really is an entertaining look at a single woman living with her magical friends in Japan. In this episode we share what we really enjoyed from the Rilakkuma and Kaoru Anime On Netflix. 

Netflix's Enter The Anime Documentary isn't really a documentary, it's more like an extended showcase of Netflix's Anime IPs. Ako and I were thoroughly entertained and we learned a lot behind the scenes stuff. However, I prefer if Netflix didn't disguise this hour long anime trailer into a documentary. 

Hello from Nihon goes over Netflix's Terrace House Episode 12 Always Chillin. In this episode all kinds of ridiculousness ensues, from Kenny finally making a move to Ruka becoming a master chef over night. Also, find out how Instagram was used to declare war between two of the female members of Terrace House Back in Tokyo. 

This newest episode of Netflix's Terrace House is aptly named "Broccoli Pasta Carbonara Style" because of Ruka's antics. We got a real good look at Ruka and how his mind operates, a part of me is sad for him and another part of me is upset that he doesn't respect his father and the sacrifices he made for his family. 

You also see more and more of Kenny and what he is truly about. On top of that, you get to see Kaori express her feeling about the mounting pressures she is experiencing as a freelance designer.  

The Japanese season for ghost stories and ghostly encounters is not in the Autumn like it is in the west, it's actually in the summer. In Japanese culture the realm between the spirit world and physical world is intertwined within the summer months.

In this episode of Hello From Nihon, Ako and Ike explore our experiences with the supernatural and we discuss the differences between Japanese and western ghost traditions.

 The Shishimai dance is an old Japanese tradition that dates back several hundred years.   Shishimai serve many purposes, they ward off evil spirits, they provide health and luck to the people of the community and much much more. 

Plus the Shishimai showdown dance represents the dueling nature of the male and female forces found in nature.  This particular Shishimai dance and festival is in the southern area of Japan known as Izuka.   

The Shishimai perform a symbolic biting of the children to promote health and good luck. 

This Terrace house episode revealed, or at least gave us a clue, to Kenny's true intentions. We also found out what not to do when you're on a date with an older woman. To be honest, Ako and I are hoping for new members to join the Terrace house Tokyo group, things need to be shaken up a bit. Maybe you'd agree but things have become a bit stagnant in Tokyo's Terrace House.

None of the guys seem to want to date any of the Terrace House women, the only one that does want to be romantically involved isn't being taken seriously by the women of the house.  

Recently a mentally deranged man set The Kyoto Animation Studio on fire murdering 34 people inside. It's a terrible tragedy and people all around the world are helping the Kyoto Animation studio get back on it's feet. In this episode we go over Kyoto Animation studio's movies and it's future. You can contribute to the KyoAni crowdfund here: gofundme.com/help-kyoani-heal

In this episode Ako goes over the recent Manga graphic novels she rented and the plots behind each one. Manga is just another platform for artist to express themselves in Japan, we discuss what each manga novel is about and how she feels about them. In this episode we went over the following Manga titles; Smile at the Runway, Atelier of Witch Hat and Owakare Hospital. 

Last week Netflix's Terrace House did not air but luckily it did this week with Episode 9 (Girl Fight). In this Terrace House episode Haruka squared off against Risako in a battle of "Correct Japanese Etiquette". It was great to hear both of them make their points but Ako and I both agreed that Risako came out on top, listen to the episode and find out why.

Disney is in the news for all the wrong reasons, Galaxy's edge is a ghost town, people are brawling in Toon Town and Walt Disney's grand daughter is exposing Disneyland's work conditions. In this episode of 'Hello From Nihon' we go over Ako's experience as a former Disney cast member and what she thinks about Disney's current situation.

Can you believe in Okinawa there is a Japanese Ramen chef who refuses to serve Japanese tourists because of their rude behavior. Actually, the story is more complicated and it has to do with the Ramen chef trying to keep his business open, but it seems his 'solution' caused more problems for his ramen shop. In this episode we go over our experiences not getting service and issues Japanese people are facing.

Across Japan Suicide rates have fallen a bit but unfortunately suicide rates among young people in Japan have risen. In this episode of Hello From Nihon we talk about the main reasons this is happening and how we can help prevent this occurrence. 

As parents, depression is a terrifying issue that we are worried about facing someday, some of it's causes are simple to cure but some are deep rooted and mysterious. 

Teaching English in Japan is an easy way to live and work in cities like Tokyo or Osaka. In this episode of Hello From Nihon we go over what a four year degree actually means in Japan and how it relates to your Japanese Visa. Here are some of the resources mentioned in the podcast are:

Japanese government program to host native English speaking  university degree graduates as ESL teachers in Japan:  jetprogramme.org

One of the many online English schools for Japanese people, here you can apply (No Affiliated): eigox.jp/recruitment/tutor

An American university in Tokyo Japan (Temple University Japan): tuj.ac.jp

We are not affiliated with an of these sites and the services they provide. 

In this episode we go over what it means to be a "Herbivore-Man" and a "Carnivore-Man" in Japanese culture. This episode of Terrace House ended on a huge cliff-hanger, if you don't want us to spoil it make sure to watch it first on Netflix Then listen to this episode of 'Hello From Nihon'.

It's getting interesting at the Terrace House as Risako brilliantly plans to capture Kenny's heart while at the same time demoralizing Haruka from ever trying to go after him. 

This is by far our favorite episode of Terrace House Back In Tokyo 2019-2020 because we got to see Risako in all her dating glory. Also, Ruka pops in during the last couple of seasons to reveal something truly interesting to Shohei. 

Shoplifters was the winner of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. It was written, edited and directed by Hirokazu Kore-eda. Ako and I really enjoyed 'Shoplifters' but we did have some criticisms. We certainly recommend this movie but I don't think I'll be watching it again because it ended so tragically in my opinion. Shoplifters deals with the concept of what a family truly is, it gives us a glimpse of a dysfunctional family trying to survive in the modern world. It's both heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time, with plenty of twists and turns throughout the film.

Wow, we just got done reviewing the anime movie Okko's Inn ,or as it's known in Japanese 'Waka okami wa shogakusei'. This was an amazing anime film that deals with a little girl and the death of her parents as she takes responsibility of a haunted Japanese Inn in the country side. 

The Okko's Inn is filmed with surprises and heart breaking twists, I challenge you not to cry at least once during this anime flick. 

In this episode we talked about the latest Terrace house episode, we also went over Japan's child birth crisis and Japan's strict laws on Immigration. We also went over Karaoke and how it's a major part of Japan's night life. If you plan on going out at night with friends in Japan, be prepared to sing a song or two. 

In this episode we talk about a growing trend of Japanese people going to the Philippines to learn English. We also talk about teaching English in Japan, I have many years teaching English in Tokyo. I've worked for several companies and schools. I explain why these current English teaching positions are not as good as they used to be. If you're thinking about working and living in Japan then this is an important episode to listen to.

In this episode we talk about Yuriyan Retriever's fame in Japan and in America after appearing on America's Got Talent. We also go over Dazaifu Tenmangu Temple and the interesting history of Sugawara Michizane (the Japanese god of intellect). 

On episode 5 of Terrace house 2019-2020 there was a ton of Hidden 'Cultural' Messages throughout the episode that the subtitles didn't pick up on.  Remember spoilers ahead, so if you haven't seen the latest episode of Terrace House (Episode 5 - Reiwa) then I highly recommend you watch it first.

Here is Teppanyaki done correctly, well at least this is how Teppanyaki is cooked in Japan. 

In Nihon, Teppanyaki is more of a luxurious meal instead of the family type of event we have at Benihana. 

I like both styles but both experiences completely different from each other, It's interesting to see how Teppanyaki evolved in the states.

Terrace house is not on this week so went over Dating in Japan and how Japanese guys don't give compliments to Japanese women. We also talked about Con Artist who trick lonely Japanese women into giving up their cash. On top of that, we went over how Christmas became popular in Japan. 

We started this episode with a Terrace House cooking clip watching Shohei make Chinese food.

This is a quick story about a fight I saw between a Japanese hooligan and a drunk salary man, this happened one dark night when I was heading to Shibuya Station (Tokyo, Japan) after partying at Club Asia. 

It's important that you understand Japanese culture when watching Terrace House. In this latest Terrace House episode 'I Want To Be a Hero' we learn about some of the cultural references made within the Terrace house 2019 - 2020 show. 

I personally feel that Ruka is a player and he is subtlety manipulating both Risako and Haruka. We also saw Kenny is the back seat as Haruka's love interest. 

Both Risako and Haruka have their eyes set on Ruka, which Japanese girl will Ruka choose. Every Terrace House Episode is getting more and more exciting, Can't wait to watch the next episode. 

We crack the Tamago Kake Gohan's Egg with this Terrace House 2019-2020 episode as we take a closer look at what Ruka is really up to. We also talk about Kendama and the big deal behind Tamago Kake Gohan. Ako and I also talk about Tokyo, specifically Kamata and the Kanagawa area's of Kawasaki and Tsurumi. Kawasaki is where Ruka is from and I doubt he is as innocent as he says he is.  We also go over Izakaya culture and why some foreigners love it and hate it.

This time we discussed Terrace House 2019-2020 the Tempura Incident episode 2 on Netflix and a bunch of other topics, like Natto and Ghibili cover music. We also went over Haruka and her need for attention from the male members. 

Plus. we talked about the little fight Haruka had with Shohei about being focused in life, also known as the Tempura Incident. 

Ako also taught us some new Japanese words like "Buriko", "Jiken" and "Kawaii". 

On top of all that, we also talked about Harajuku, Tokyo and some of the cool places and people you can see there.