Podcasts by Japan By River Cruise

Japan By River Cruise

Stand-up comedians Bobby Judo and Ollie Horn purport to report on the Japanese river cruise industry each week.

Further podcasts by Bobby Judo and Ollie Horn

Podcast on the topic Gesellschaft und Kultur

All episodes

Japan By River Cruise
Ollie is in Tokyo and Fukuoka (and Hong Kong and KL and Brighton and London and Edinburgh...) from 2023-05-01T04:33:36

Little message from Ollie to say that he's heading to Japan as part of his stand-up comedy tour. Tickets are available with a big JBRC discount if you use the promo code JBRC. 

https://tic...

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Japan By River Cruise
Fancy a Cheeky Valentine's Show? (live show announcement) from 2023-02-02T17:56:43

Links to tickets! Get your tickets ASAP for guaranteed entry!
https://peatix.com/group/12083451/events

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Japan By River Cruise
The official round-up of 2022 (every single news story) [Part 2: July~December] from 2023-01-23T09:31:38

We did it! The second half of all of the news that came out of Japan in 2022. All of it. And we don't get side tracked or distracted by other chats. 

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Japan By River Cruise
The official round-up of 2022 (every single news story) [Part 1: January~June] from 2022-12-22T13:11:04

Part one of a (potential?) two-part run down of every single news story that came out of Japan in 2022.

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Japan By River Cruise
Why was Shinzo Abe killed? (w/Jake Adelstein) from 2022-11-02T09:26:11

Shinzo Abe was assassinated. But did he deserve it? Jake Adelstein gets remarkably close to making the case that he did.

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Japan By River Cruise
Tokyo, City of Dreams/Permissive Zoning Policy (w/Joe McReynolds) from 2022-07-10T08:00

Joe McReynolds is co-author of a new book about how flexible micro-spaces create the spontaneity and vitality of Tokyo, and how so much the city is built on the often very niche dreams and passi...

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Japan By River Cruise
Biden Time! (w/Michelle Ye Hee Lee) from 2022-05-31T23:55

Joe Biden's Straight Talk Express comes to Asia! WaPo Bureau Chief Michelle Ye Hee Lee joins us to talk about what Biden took away from his time in Japan. If he's anything like most Americans, w...

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Japan By River Cruise
Marching into April/Japanese Castles (w/Oleg Benesch) from 2022-04-08T08:00

Japan Scholar Oleg Benesch joins us to to talk about the past, present, and future of Japanese castles,
and break down the debates around them, proving that when it comes to historical Japane...

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Japan By River Cruise
Quick update - we're coming back! from 2022-03-10T10:22:23

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Japan By River Cruise
Imagining a Militarized Japan and then Laughing (w/Tom Phuong Le) from 2022-01-28T08:00

Author of Japan's Aging Peace, Tom Le, stops in to talk about Japan's security concerns and help us think about an important hypothetical question. Ok, Japan, you CAN have a military. N...

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Japan By River Cruise
Locked Out of our $500 Abandoned House (w/Alex Kerr) from 2022-01-21T08:34:30

Author Alex Kerr may be single-handedly responsible for the current global spotlight on restoring old Japanese country homes, so we talk to him about how these homes may be at the forefront of a...

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Japan By River Cruise
JBRC HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2021, YAY! from 2021-12-24T08:10:30

If you'd like to be entered for a chance to win Baye McNeil's book "Hi, My Name is Loco and I'm a Racist," Ann Kilzer's 禁 calligraphy, or one of three JBRC merch packs, please tweet and share yo...

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Japan By River Cruise
Married to Our Research (w/Joy Hendry) from 2021-12-17T20:25:07

Author of the new book, "An Affair with a Village" and leading UK expert on Japan, Joy Hendry joins us to discuss a whole variety of things, like MEXT Scholarships, marriage, and other things th...

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Japan By River Cruise
Fumio, Fumio, Whatfore art thou, Fumio? (w/Tobias Harris) from 2021-12-10T08:00

Abe-ographer (The Iconoclast) Tobias Harris stops by to break down the power dynamics in the LDP, speculate on whether or not Kishida's go...

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Japan By River Cruise
Kat(akana) Got Your Tongue? (w/Dr. Wes Robertson) from 2021-12-03T08:00:49

Why do foreigners in Japan speak in Katakana? Well, Bobby does it because the TV director told him it's funnier that way. But Dr. Wes Robertson has actual NON-anecdotal research into writing sys...

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Japan By River Cruise
All in the Same Boat, But We're in Steerage (w/Thalia Harris) from 2021-11-26T11:27:04

Thalia Harris stops by to talk about second-class citizenship in Japan during the pandemic, and also has such an interesting story about the Titanic that we had NO CHOICE but to actually talk ab...

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Japan By River Cruise
Need a Leader? Try Kishida! (w/Motoko Rich) from 2021-11-19T10:00

NYT Tokyo Bureau Chief Motoko Rich gets onboard to talk about Kishida's first month in office. What has he done so far? What does his administration mean for Japan? And the most important test o...

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Japan By River Cruise
The Runaway Bride (w/Aya Shimada) from 2021-11-05T09:30

Aya Shimada tells us what the fuss over Princess Mako's nuptials tells us about Japan's treatment of women, how the media affords privacy rights to the famous, and

Ollie remembered that h...

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Japan By River Cruise
Burakku Purin: The UK-Japan Trade Deal (w/Pernille Rudlin) from 2021-10-29T21:33:35

Business consultant Pernille Rudlin helps us look back on the largely disappointing post-Brexit trade deal between Japan and the UK, which may have only been signed because Japan is sympathetic ...

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Japan By River Cruise
Bonus Extras from E83 (w/Chelsea Schieder)! (No episode this week) from 2021-10-21T09:00

We're really sorry to say we were unable to get an episode to you this week, so enjoy these extras that were previously released only to our monthly members. Thank you sincerely to everybody who st...

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Japan By River Cruise
The Hair Police (w/Anne Crescini) from 2021-10-15T11:00

Anne Crescini talks about how Japanese schools don't have the resources to properly combat bullying, because those resources get used on student hair color and fingernail length.

Ollie FIN...

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Japan By River Cruise
How Many Nobel Prizes Does it Take to Make You Japanese? (w/Mary Kobayashi) from 2021-10-08T09:56:45

Syukuro Manabe and some other people win the Nobel Prize, illustrating a lot about how and why Japan claims  people as Japanese.
We talk to Mary Kobayashi about how she defines her Japanese ...

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Japan By River Cruise
The Secret Ingredient is Entitlement (w/Marc Matsumoto) from 2021-10-01T10:00

Japan's likely new Prime Minister, Marc Matsumoto talks about how to wield Japanese recipes responsibly, and more.

Ollie's doing another podcast's work for them.

Bobby looks at the n...

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Japan By River Cruise
Japan's Ready-For-Prime-Time Players (w/Derek Wessman) from 2021-09-24T08:00

Who will be Japan's next Prime Minister?
Japanese Margaret Thatcher?
The often shaken AND stirred Kono, TARO Kono?
Mr. Speak-softly-and carry-no-nukes?
Or Woman ...

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Japan By River Cruise
A Delhi-cate Predicament (w/Dr. Megha Wadhwa) from 2021-09-17T13:00

Dr. Megha Wadhwa shares her research on the Indian diaspora in Japan, as we look at the way Japan's handling of the Covid crisis has affected its Indian community. Don't expect any Indian food puns...

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Japan By River Cruise
A Delhi-cate Predicament (w/Dr. Megha Wadhwa) from 2021-09-17T13:00

Ollie's going to eat both of those pizzas by himself, but HEY, it's his birthday.

Bobby looks at the river cruise unions ALLS-WELL-THAT-ENDS-WELL philosophy.

Topics discussed...

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Japan By River Cruise
World Suicide Prevention Day (w/TELL outreach director Selena Hoy) from 2021-09-10T08:00

Selena Hoy, outreach director from Suicide Prevention Lifeline, TELL, stops by to talk about the different cultural approaches to managing mental health, and why English-speakers in Japan can be...

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Japan By River Cruise
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (w/Hiromu Nagahara) from 2021-09-03T10:01:05

Hiromu Nagahara talks about Princess Mako's engagement and upcoming move to New York and the split in Japanese public opinion, between nationalists, who are angry, and normal people, who don't c...

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Japan By River Cruise
The Big 97: Sometimes We Like Japan (w/Brian) from 2021-08-27T10:24:19

An hour-long celebration of JBRC's 97th episode!
We take a moment to catch up and make sure Ollie is actually surviving, roast some headlines, and have an extremely rare dis...

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Japan By River Cruise
Land of the Rising Floodwaters (w/ Dr. Wesley Cheek) from 2021-08-20T11:00

After the unprecedented rain and landslides in western Japan, disaster sociologist Dr. Wes Cheek talks about the country's future, and how facing the...

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Japan By River Cruise
Paralimited Access (w/Mark Bookman) from 2021-08-16T11:49:07

Disability activist and historian Mark Bookman talks about how accessibility progress is bolstered by the international spotlight of the Paralympics but hampered by the lack of accessibility at ...

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Japan By River Cruise
Vax Passports: Valid in Participating Locations ONLY (w/Magdalena Osumi) from 2021-08-06T08:00

Japan Times Journalist Magdalena Osumi updates us on Japan's border entry sitch, and outlines Japan's new "vaccine passport" system, which could help lift some restrictions when entering certain...

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Japan By River Cruise
Stairy Stories (w/Lindsay Nelson) from 2021-07-30T09:41:09

What's that awful groaning sound?? Nope, it's not us talking about the Olympics, it's Japanese horror!
Lindsay Nelson tells us all about the world of scary Japanese movies, and seven days lat...

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Japan By River Cruise
Bursting the Press Bubble (w/Oscar Boyd) from 2021-07-23T09:54:56

The Olympics have begun, but more importantly, the MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE OLYMPICS HAS BEGUN! Officially accredited press person Oscar Boyd tells us about all of the rules the press are ignoring,...

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Japan By River Cruise
The Spectatorless, Segregated, Chinese Olympics (w/Meshida) from 2021-07-16T08:00

Japanese comedian Meshida talks what it's like to be a Japanese resident of Tokyo during the ramp up to the Olympics, and how yeah, we're "witnessing history," but so were Black Death survivors....

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Japan By River Cruise
The Spectatorless, Segregated, Chinese Olympics (w/Meshida) from 2021-07-16T08:00

Japanese comedian Meshida talks what it's like to be a Japanese resident of Tokyo during the ramp up to the Olympics, and how yeah, we're "witnessing history," but so were Black Plague survivors.

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Japan By River Cruise
"Sustainable Japan Comedy," or "Recycling Content" (w/Dogen) from 2021-07-02T09:00

Dogen drops by to talk about keeping professional and personal separate, how to mine the same old Japan for new jokes, and to settle the issue of whether or not sarcasm exists in Japan, which is...

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Japan By River Cruise
Summer Sonic Lineup Lines Up for a Visa (w/Unseen Japan's Noah Oskow) from 2021-06-25T15:47

Unseen Japan's new manager Noah Oskow stops by to talk social media social justice, how Summer Sonic's hopes to skip the visa application line up for THEIR lineup, and how Olympic Fever is on th...

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Japan By River Cruise
Japan in the Golden Age of Consent (w/Dr. Alexandra Hambleton) from 2021-06-18T08:00

A 50-yr-old Japanese lawmaker says it would be "absurd" if he got arrested for sleeping with a 14-yr-old. The fascinating, funny Dr. Alexandra Hambleton talks about the issues surrounding this s...

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Japan By River Cruise
A Japan Less Traveled (w/Alisha Ivelich) from 2021-06-11T09:01

Japan's closed borders mean that foreign production crews can't get in to produce Japan travel features, so creator Alisha Ivelich is taking the opportunity to fill the demand with a Japan trave...

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Japan By River Cruise
Localized Pain (w/translator Sarah Moon) from 2021-06-04T10:30

Sarah Moon, anime and game translator, talks about her journey from "weeb suspicious of translation," to "translator that weebs are suspicious of," in the great anime circle of waifu.

Olli...

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Japan By River Cruise
Bonus: No More Olympic Cutbacks! (w/Rochelle Kopp) from 2021-05-29T09:58:01

Go sign the Listen

Japan By River Cruise
Japan's Gay Ideal: Macho Matcha Man? (w/Dr. Thomas Baudinette) from 2021-05-28T08:34

Author of "Regimes of Desire: Young Gay Men, Media, and Masculinity in Tokyo," Dr. Thomas Baudinette talks about Japan's young gay men and the emotional damage done by the pressure to act out th...

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Japan By River Cruise
Five Rings That Rule Us All (w/Matt Alt) from 2021-05-21T08:00

Author of "PURE INVENTION," (sorry) Matt Alt takes us through his latest for the New Yorker on "Japan's Olympic Sized Problem."
If you want to find out just WHAT exactly that Olympic-sized pr...

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Japan By River Cruise
Comfort Women: Why Deny? (w/Chelsea Szendi Schieder) from 2021-05-14T08:00

Japanese history scholar Chelsea Szendi Schieder talks about the inconsistent ways Japan chooses to deal with the dark chapters of its past and how denial is NOT just a river with some amazing c...

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Japan By River Cruise
What is Visual Kei? (w/Sarahphina) from 2021-05-07T13:00

Music industry and Visual Kei Insider Sarahphina teaches Bobby and Ollie about stuff they're totally unfamiliar with, like X Japan, Japanese rock fandom and humility.

Ollie looks into a ri...

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Japan By River Cruise
Games Japan ACTUALLY Wants (w/Stephen Case) from 2021-04-30T22:00

Co-founder of Tanuki Games, Stephen Case talks about the relationship between community building and quality of life abroad and how the rhythms of Japan expat experience have changed during the ...

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Japan By River Cruise
Hiroshima's First Annual PCR-Palooza (w/JJ Walsh) from 2021-04-16T20:38:19

Sustainable travel consultant JJ Walsh (and everyone else in Hiroshima) gets a free PCR test! Here's hoping this saliva-filled undertaking amounts to more than just spitting into the wind.

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Japan By River Cruise
The Children are the Mirai (w/Jason Mitchell from Nihongodomo) from 2021-04-09T16:25:21

Jason Mitchell, from Nihongodomo, a resource for parents "raising kids in Japanese," stops by to talk about how his parenting process is basically the opposite of Bobby's, by which we assume he ...

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Japan By River Cruise
Japan Stories: More Wack, Less Fact? (w/David A McNeill) from 2021-04-02T23:30

David McNeill explains why sometimes the ancient art of jya-narizamu intersects with the even more ancient art of bullshitto, and how exoticizing foreign countries meant the British newspaper in...

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Japan By River Cruise
Olympick Your Battles (with Rochelle Kopp) from 2021-03-26T11:23:17

Rochelle Kopp tackles the question of whether or not Japan has finally crossed the Rubicon when it comes to going forward with the Olympics? If they have, we hope they checked out the really nic...

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Japan By River Cruise
Late Night Snacks (the Japanese kind) (w/Alice) from 2021-03-19T09:20:15

Former-idol, former-hostess, and current maid Alice talks about how the pandemic has devastated nightlife businesses, and how the fact that that they might never bounce back could be a blessing ...

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Japan By River Cruise
Go Virtually Everywhere in Japan (w/Nick Szasz) from 2021-03-12T09:00

Long time editor of "Fukuoka Now" Nick Szasz brings his inbound expertise to bear on the proliferation of virtual tourism in Japan, a trend in which regional tourist destinations all over Japan ...

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Japan By River Cruise
Yen-der Inequality (w/Marika Katanuma) from 2021-03-05T09:13

Bloomberg Journalist Marika Katanuma joins us to discuss the ways in which Japan's gender inequality has created a bleak financial outlook for Japan's women, and the government's quick and decis...

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Japan By River Cruise
Cosplay for Pay (w/Kat "Mystik" Gunn, Reika) from 2021-02-26T08:00

Pro-cosplayers Kat Gunn and Reika talk to us about Japan's recent attention to the rules around copyrighted character cosplay. We'll look at why cosplay is okay if you're only fans, but not okay...

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Japan By River Cruise
You Can't Fire Me! (w/lawyer Atsuro Tsujino) from 2021-02-19T08:00

Attn: Non-Japanese employees in Japan who are likely to be fired! Atsuro Tsujino, member of the Japan Lawyers Network for Foreigners tells us how two wrongs might not make a right, but YOUR righ...

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Japan By River Cruise
Coal, Mori, and Other Fossils (w/Stephen Stapczynski) from 2021-02-12T09:00

Bloomberg journalist Stephen Stapczynksi talks about Japan's renewable energy goals, its nuclear power plants, and its dependence on fossil fuels. Oh and speaking of wastes of energy, Tokyo Olym...

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Japan By River Cruise
Woke Dad Japan (w/Daniel Yoder) from 2021-02-05T08:00

Co-host of "The Konnichiwa Podcast" Dan Yoder trades tips with Bobby on how to raise the perfect multicultural, well-rounded, native-level bilingual children in an episode that might AGE HORRIBL...

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Japan By River Cruise
Japan's Vaccination Vacillation (w/Lisa Du, Brian) from 2021-01-29T08:00

Lisa Du from Bloomberg tells us what she's learned on the Corona vaccine beat in Japan, which yeah, if you go by rollout DATE, Japan is behind the West, but if you go by mortality figures, you c...

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Japan By River Cruise
♪ I Think I'm Learning Japanese ♪ (w/Loretta Scott AKA KemushiChan) from 2021-01-22T08:00

YouTuber KemushiChan, AKA Loretta Scott, shares lessons from her 20-year Japanese Odyssey, including her cheat codes and advice about the "genki plateau," specifically how to avoid falling from ...

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Japan By River Cruise
A State of Emergency for Suga's Approval Numbers (w/Jake Adelstein) from 2021-01-15T09:17:03

Outspoken LDP (& JBRC) critic Jake Adelstein updates his 100-day Suga progress report to include the State of Emergency soft reboot, and Suga's inability to commit to anything... except host...

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Japan By River Cruise
Get Your 2021 Japan Visas Here! (w/Ann Kilzer) from 2021-01-08T11:51:20

Getting a work visa in Japan can seem like a daunting task, especially because it's currently IMPOSSIBLE. But just in case that changes, we talk to Ann Kilzer about the ways to go about it and h...

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Japan By River Cruise
Oh Come All Ye Faithful Brians (w/livestream Brians) from 2020-12-24T19:30:29

We're recording an episode on Zoom and you're invited! We have no idea how it'll go, and there is a good chance we won't even release the episode if it doesn't go well, so find a reason to sneak...

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Japan By River Cruise
Famous(?) Foreign(?) Faces (w/Black Samurai) from 2020-12-18T11:00

Japanese Comedian Go Takeuchi, AKA Black Samurai, joins us to talk about the changing media landscape in Japan and how it could affect the level of diversity in entertainment. Also, what do you ...

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Japan By River Cruise
Nike Wins the Race... Debate (w/Baye McNeil) from 2020-12-11T09:00

Some Japanese folks are telling foreigners not to bring their racial problems into Japan. Baye McNeil joins us in wondering if by "racial problems" they mean that new Nike commercial, or our chi...

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Japan By River Cruise
Tariff-ic News for Japan (w/Katsuhiko Hara) from 2020-12-04T09:30

What does a Biden Administration mean for Japan's economy? Will the US keep the pressure on China? Will the US get back on board the SS TPP? Nikkei Asia's Katsuhiko Hara talks all this plus, mor...

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Japan By River Cruise
Desperation is the Mother of Unnecessary Invention (w/Rochelle Kopp) from 2020-11-27T09:00

As Japan gets back into full-on Corona mode, the flailing Japanese business sector gets weird with it.

Intercultural business consultant Rochelle Kopp looks at outside-the-box ideas to hel...

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Japan By River Cruise
VERY CROSS Cultural Communication (w/Tutti Quintella) from 2020-11-20T09:00

Misinformation about foreign communities going viral goes viral in foreign communities due to misinformation. Mercari's Diversity and Inclusion manager, director of Women Who Code: Tokyo and Spe...

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Japan By River Cruise
Why Japan Voted Trump (w/Saku Yanagawa) from 2020-11-13T09:00

Chicago based stand-up comedian Saku Yanagawa talks performing comedy in a country on the verge of civil war, and why some Japanese people think Trump is good for them.

Ollie recommends a...

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Japan By River Cruise
Demon-strably Profitable (w/Matt Schley) from 2020-11-06T10:01

Everyone and their mother are getting into the animated series "Kimetsu no Yaiba," in which demons brutally slaughter... everyone and their mother. Film critic Matt Schley tells us why the serie...

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Japan By River Cruise
Wasei-Eigo Wide Show (w/Anne Crescini) from 2020-10-30T09:09:23

Anne Crescini, the authority on Wasei-Eigo (Japanese words coined from English ones), helps us guess what pandemic related English-y terms will be popping up on this year's Trendy Word List. Wil...

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Japan By River Cruise
Bullshido (w/Oleg Benesch) from 2020-10-23T09:15:04

We ask author and scholar Oleg Benesch if the "samurai spirit" is the reason for Japan's voluntary compliance with corona guidelines, and should he fail in his duty to answer, we expect him to c...

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Japan By River Cruise
A List of Women (w/Yan Fan) from 2020-10-16T09:00

Yan Fan talks about the need for SpeakHer, the database of female experts in Japan, and what it says about society that something as simple as a list of women is not only necessary, but newswort...

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Japan By River Cruise
Best bits of Season 2 from 2020-10-16T08:00

The best bits from Episodes 1 - 54 of the award-deserving Japan By River Cruise Podcast.

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Japan By River Cruise
The Worst Ways to Visit Japan (w/ JJ Walsh) from 2020-10-09T22:18:07

As Japan gets ready to reopen to tourism, sustainable travel consultant JJ Walsh thinks we should rethink harmful modes of travel like *koff koff* cruises even though, historically speaking, big...

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Japan By River Cruise
Let's War! (w/Jesse Johnson) from 2020-10-02T11:14:12

Is armed conflict in Asia inevitable? Would China ever really invade Japan? What does North Korea want? Japan Times senior editor Jesse Johnson tries to navigate the tortured landscape of Bobby ...

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Japan By River Cruise
That's What Yasashii Said (w/Ako Suzuki) from 2020-09-25T09:00

Ako Suzuki, our favorite online Japanese teacher, stops by to talk about Yasashii Nihongo: the effort to make Japanese "kinder" to foreigners. Time permitting, we'll also talk to a landlord, a c...

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Japan By River Cruise
Super Suga Special! (w/Jake Adelstein and Derek Wessman) from 2020-09-18T09:00

Former pumpkin farmer Jake Adelstein and amateur firefighter Derek Wessman fill us in on everything you ever wanted to know about Japan's new Prime Minister, but he didn't allow you to ask.

...

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Japan By River Cruise
Don't be a Bad Influencer (w/CurrentlyHannah) from 2020-09-04T09:00

YouTube Creator and Instagrammer CurrentlyHannah drops in to give her perspective on the challenges, responsibilities, and realities of travel influencers, for a conversation that will inspire a...

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Japan By River Cruise
Stay Home, Japan, You're Drunk! (w/ Matthew Boynton) from 2020-08-28T09:00

Craft Beer Pioneer Matthew Boynton of Sakamichi Brewing talks about starting an alcohol business in the new, smoke-free, covid-filled landscape of Japan, a country so steeped in drinking "cultur...

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Japan By River Cruise
Feeling hot, hot, hot! (w/Oscar Boyd) from 2020-08-21T10:00

Japan Times Journalist and host of the Japan Times podcast that was ranked #1 in a Japan Times article entitled "Listen

Japan By River Cruise
Sour Korean Grapes and Idol Chatter (w/Amina Dujean) from 2020-08-14T09:00

Former Japanese idol Amina Dujean joins the buoys to talk Johnny's Jimusho and why its boy bands can't compete globally like Korea can? What do you think? Is it the lack of English ability or th...

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Japan By River Cruise
Has-Been Hamster Turns to Politics (w/Matt Alt) from 2020-08-07T09:00

Author Matt Alt walks us through his new book "Pure Invention," especially as it relates to a democracy loving hamster, and all the times when MAGA actually stands for Man with Anime Girl Avatar...

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Japan By River Cruise
Government-Subsidized Infection (w/Phoebe Amoroso) from 2020-07-31T09:00

NHK-World business reporter and first-class gourmet Phoebe Amoroso breaks down the will-they won't-they drama around Japan's Go To campaigns, including questions like "Won't they reconsider?" an...

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Japan By River Cruise
You (Legally) Can't Go Home Again(w/Rochelle Kopp) from 2020-07-24T13:47:15

Author Rochelle Kopp shares what she learned interviewing people affected by Japan's re-entry ban for the Japan Times, and probably credits the buoys for getting Abe to lift that ban.

Oll...

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Japan By River Cruise
The Happiest Place to Die (w/Yumi Nagashima) from 2020-07-17T09:00

Vancouver-based Japanese comic Yumi Nagashima joins the boys to talk about a Japanese company in the US that has "no brand," and also "no money," plus explain how sometimes, the purest form of l...

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Japan By River Cruise
When It Rains, It Pours (w/Angela Ortiz) from 2020-07-10T09:00

In the wake of devastating flooding, author, speaker, and expert in both Disaster Relief/Recovery and Corporate Social Responsibility, Angela Ortiz joins the boys to talk about the real sustaina...

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Japan By River Cruise
Not Clear For Re-entry (w/Magdalena Osumi) from 2020-07-03T09:00

Japan Times journalist Magdalena Osumi joins the buoys to talk about Japan's priorities in reopening international travel, which can be summed up as "Let the money in, keep the foreigners out.,"...

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Japan By River Cruise
Bad News For People Who Want to Mainline Alcohol (w/Brian Ashcraft) from 2020-06-26T08:00

Kotaku journalist and author of "The Japanese Sake Bible," among other Japan-focused books, BRIAN (!!!) Ashcraft, joins Ollie to break the disappointing news that Strong Zero is going off the ma...

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Japan By River Cruise
In a way, NHK SUCCEEDS in Explaining Racism (w/Baye McNeil) from 2020-06-19T08:00

Author, columnist, speaker, and activist Baye McNeil joins the boys to discuss how we're all so offended by the NHK's racist cartoon that we are continuing to not pay our NHK bills in protest. <...

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Japan By River Cruise
The Wizarding World of Disaster Prevention (w/Greg Lane) from 2020-06-12T10:00

Tokyo Cheapo Co-founder Greg Lane joins the boys to talk about a new Harry Potter theme park plus unmanned convenience stores. BTW, did you hear? JK Rowling says that just because they're "unman...

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Japan By River Cruise
Social Activism and Decoy Panties (w/Phil Wang) from 2020-06-05T08:00

In this week's episode Phil Wang joins us for conversation about the 54-year old Okayama man who was caught with 2700 pairs of women's undergarments etc, and the police brutality protests in Shi...

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Japan By River Cruise
Small Foreign Paper takes on the Olympics; Loses (w/Jake Adelstein) from 2020-05-29T08:00

Investigative journalist, author, and all around terrible human being Jake Adelstein actually shows up to settle his very contentious beef with the boys, and also breakdown the David and Goliath...

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Japan By River Cruise
JAPLANDEMIC: Japan Covid Theories (w/Rochelle Kopp) from 2020-05-22T08:00

Rochelle Kopp is back to tell the boys why the political opinions of Japanese celebrities are culturally important, and to take a much-needed analytical look at the crackpot theories about Japan...

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Japan By River Cruise
Sexy Cartoon Fish Talk (w/ Lisa Wallen) from 2020-05-15T09:00

Topics discussed on this episode range from:

  • Gaijin Entitlement
  • What Level of DuoLingo you'll need to pass the Japanese Bar Exam
  • Where to look to f...

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Japan By River Cruise
The Golden Week That Never Was (w/Andy Curtain) from 2020-05-08T09:00

Topics discussed on this episode range from:

  • A great option for those looking to brand their content in an eye-catching, yet quietly racist way
  • Ollie's inve...

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Japan By River Cruise
Best of Pandemic Profiteering from 2020-05-01T09:00

On this week's JBRC, the boys discuss how comedian Okamura Takashi put his foot in his mouth, and how they hope that the experience of putting something that he would rather not have in his mout...

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Japan By River Cruise
Give Me Pachinko AND Give Me Death! (w/Ayana Wyse) from 2020-04-24T09:00

On this week's episode, "Black Creatives Japan" founder and Osaka-based river photographer Ayana Wyse joins the boys to discuss the ritualized Japanese social etiquette that has developed under ...

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Japan By River Cruise
Hostess Clubs Are Now Online, But So is Abe (w/Micaela Braithwaite) from 2020-04-17T09:00

Topics discussed on this episode range from:

  • Social media backlash against people posting post-apocalyptic pics/going outside
  • How the lockdown has changed t...

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Japan By River Cruise
Lockdown, Telework, and Other Things Japan Can't Do (w/Rochelle Kopp) from 2020-04-10T09:00

Topics discussed on this episode range from:

  • Abe's Declaration of a State of Emergency for Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka, and four other places besides Nagoya
  • The r...

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Japan By River Cruise
Japan Loses a Comedy Icon to Covid-19 (not Ollie), Plus Embarrassing Places to get Infected (w/Derek Wessman) from 2020-04-03T09:00

On this episode, the boys are joined by translator, consultant, and suspected riverboat restaurant arsonist, Derek Wessman (@dwvcd), to discuss all of the latest Covid-19 developments, including: ...

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Japan By River Cruise
Bobby Gets Tested for Covid-19 (like, actually); Olympics Gets Postponed from 2020-03-27T10:00

On this episode, the boys discuss Japan's decision to postpone the Olympics, which was clearly a decision that they totally arrived at on their own because it was the responsible thing to do, and n...

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Japan By River Cruise
Holding Petty Grudges, Buying All the Tickets, and Other Big Ego Problems from 2020-03-20T10:00

The guys take a look at a baseball fan who was practicing some EERILY prescient social distancing, and also how the coronavirus is causing shortages for men with the opposite of shortages. Plus, O...

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Japan By River Cruise
Support Your Local Chinese Restaurant, and Stop All that Ass Blasting from 2020-03-13T10:00

The boys discuss the way Japan has come together during the corona virus to show support for the Chinese... restaurant industry domestically, as well as an unrelated workplace incident that begs th...

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Japan By River Cruise
This Episode Has Been Canceled from 2020-03-06T10:00

On this episode, the boys take a look at Japan's Covid-19 response measures. Keep in mind, the podcast is recorded one day before it's published, so if Japan's actions sound like they're a month to...

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Japan By River Cruise
Inkan't believe Japan still uses stamps to transfer money to river cruise operators from 2020-02-28T10:00

Bobby and Ollie discuss how one Japanese bank is trying to move away from the use of hanko rubber stamps, concluding setting up a bank in Japan is only advised if you have a short Japanese name and...

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Japan By River Cruise
If You Board the River Cruise, You Will be Expected to Finish the River Cruise from 2020-02-21T21:00

On this week's JRBC, a curry restaurant bans a customer for not finishing his rice, and the customer questions the legality of said ban. How far will the customer go in his fight to restore his rig...

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Japan By River Cruise
Still Mad at the Listener who Asked about KOREAN OCEAN CRUISES (w/Sophie Hardison) from 2020-02-14T10:00

The boys are joined by Sophie Hardison, Inspector General at the Sanzunokawa River Crossing Certification Authority to decide once and for all which Asian countries are good and which ones are bad....

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Japan By River Cruise
Ainu This Was Gonna Be a Terrible Pun. from 2020-02-07T10:00

On today's show, Ollie and Bobby demonstrate how woefully ill-equipped they are to discuss the issues surrounding the Ainu people and the opening of their new culture complex in Hokkaido, plus disc...

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Japan By River Cruise
Season 2 Hits the Water from 2020-01-31T21:00

JBRC is BACK after a winter hiatus which was dedicated almost entirely to Japanese River Cruise research. In this episode, we catch up with Ollie and Bobby, touch on the coronavirus (hopefully not ...

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Japan By River Cruise
Sadly, Sawajiri Erika's Guest Appearance has been Canceled. We're Not Sure Why. from 2019-11-22T00:00

On today's episode, Bobby and Ollie discuss Sawajiri Erika's drug arrest, and ask the question, is drug use really a crime if you're just talking about recreational pot, ecstasy, acid, and cocaine?...

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Japan By River Cruise
River Cruise Employees Will No Longer Be Required to Wear Wet T-shirts at Work (w/JJ Wakrat) from 2019-11-15T00:00

Ollie and Bobby are joined by Tokyo Roast Battle founder and RC Weed sommelier JJ Wakrat to discuss the changes to corporate culture in Japan, like reduced hour work weeks, and the constants in cor...

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Japan By River Cruise
Rivers are Ever Changing, Radiation Levels are Not from 2019-11-08T00:00

Ollie and Bobby try their best not to cry over spilt radioactive waste. Also, Bobby's week consisted of turning 36, getting a letter from Japan's Minister of Finance, and somehow ending up a strai...

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Japan By River Cruise
The Promotional Material for the River Cruise Orgy MAY HAVE BEEN Slightly Inappropriate from 2019-10-25T10:00

On this week's episode we discuss the Japanese Red Cross's efforts to collect bodily fluids by showing dudes some boobs, and the related twitter/Shonen Jump controversy/reactions. Exactly how much ...

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Japan By River Cruise
Friends with Benefits, where "benefits" means discounted River Cruise Tickets (w/Matt Davies) from 2019-10-25T10:00

Bobby and Ollie are joined by internationally traveling comedian and Assistant Director of the Bayankhongor River Yacht Club Matt Davies to discuss some bad beef and answer the question "Is a Bath ...

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Japan By River Cruise
The Only Hazing on This River Cruise is Due to Inclement Weather (no refunds) from 2019-10-18T00:00

"The boys" discuss a hazing incident involving out of control school teachers, and Bobby meets some progressive dinosaurs. Also, Ollie uses a story about harrasment to remind us that he went to Oxf...

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Japan By River Cruise
Sadly, The Potentially Deadly Typhoon May Delay your Japanese River Cruise from 2019-10-11T00:00

Today, Ollie continues his Southeast Asian comedy of errors and becomes a record-holding comedy pioneer in Jakarta, the guys continue their miraculous two-message per show streak, and we talk typho...

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Japan By River Cruise
Fix that River Cruise Sunburn with JBRC Brand Bleach! from 2019-10-04T10:00

Apologies to Jackie, Brian, and Darrell, and thanks to Baye Mcneil who writes awesome stuff like this:
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Japan By River Cruise
Tax Exemptions for Brians (w/a Brian) from 2019-09-27T10:00

In this Episode, a Brian stops by the studio to listen to us talk about Japan's insanely convoluted consumption tax hike, and guess what? Because he listened in the studio instead of at home, he ac...

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Japan By River Cruise
All Non-Tokyo River Cruises are Garbage. Here's the order in which they are garbage. from 2019-09-21T10:00

In this episode we talk a look at the recent ranking of which Japanese cities you can settle for, if you're not good enough for Tokyo, and Ollie and Bobby talk about the difficulties of performing ...

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Japan By River Cruise
You know, River Cruises are pretty much Guaranteed to be Road-Rage-Free from 2019-09-13T10:00

In this episode we discuss what the aori unten, or road rage epidemic is teaching Japan about itself, and how a simple pointer about why you shouldn't call toddlers sexy turned into a horrifying ex...

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Japan By River Cruise
Abe to Trump: "Don't Dishonor our River Cruises." from 2019-09-07T00:00

In this episode, we discuss all the latest in Japan-US relations, including travel advisories, and EVEN MORE EXCITING, agricultural trade deals! What WILL Japan do with all those US grown soybeans?...

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Japan By River Cruise
Beat the Heat (before you die) on a Japanese River Cruise! from 2019-08-09T14:10

Plush "Yuru-kyara" mascots are super hot in Japan right now, mostly because the temperatures are well up into heat stroke range. What does the lethal heat wave look like on the ground and how is Ja...

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Japan By River Cruise
Aziz Ansari's Apology Tour Didn't Include Even One Single River Cruise from 2019-08-02T14:00

In this episode, we talk about Aziz Ansari's latest special and how the Netflix version differs from when he did it Tokyo (ie the lighting, the camera work, and the EXPLICIT RACIAL DISCRIMINATION)....

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Japan By River Cruise
It's like the Olympics of River Cruises, Except without the River Cruises... So Just the Olympics from 2019-07-26T16:00

Your #1 source for River Cruise-related Japan travel info. In this episode, we discuss the Japan 2020 Olympic Ticket Lottery, and why we both couldn't care less about the Olympics, unless it would ...

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Japan By River Cruise
Brought to you by Kim Kardashian's "River Cruise" (Trademark Pending) from 2019-07-20T02:00

Your #1 source for River Cruise-related Japan Travel Info and News. In this Episode, Ollie gets to put his extensive background in Japan-related copyright law into practice for the first (and likel...

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Japan By River Cruise
So, 11 Japanese comedians, a mob boss, and a navy rapist walk onto a River Cruise... from 2019-07-12T16:00

Japan By River Cruise is the premier source of news about Japan's burgeoning river cruise industry, with top tips about how to make the most of your cruising. In this episode we talk about the Ja...

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Japan By River Cruise
Is there a Doctor on the River Cruise?(No, Not You, Ma'am) from 2019-07-05T16:00

Bobby's Japanese Mistakes:
"Nama" (raw) is an acceptable way to order ramen noodles.
"Sekkai" is better defined as "lime," while "sekkaika" is "calcification."

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Japan By River Cruise
The First Ever Japan By River Cruise! from 2019-06-28T16:00

Japan By River Cruise is your number one source for River Cruise-related Japan Travel Info and News. In this Episode, you'll meet your hosts Bobby and Ollie (non-Japanese stand-ups with extensive e...

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