Japanese people are terrible at being religious. Shintoism allows Japanese people to be religious whenever and only when they need supernatural help. In this  episode, show host Kyota Ko explains the meaning and cultural background behind the proverb 困った時の神頼み "Turning to God in times of trouble". Great listen for students looking for an interesting essay topic. Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture. Support the show ..read more

The Japanese language, like any other language, has a rich inventory of witty and useful proverbs. In this short episode, show host Kyota Ko explains the meaning and cultural background behind the proverb 及ばぬ鯉の滝登り "Waterfall climbs of feeble Koi". Check out The Metro-classic Japanese Blog and Instagram for more fun content on Japanese culture. Support the show ..read more

Job retention in Japan is second highest in the world - employees stay at an organization for an average of 12 years. Employees just almost never get fired or laid off. Show host Kyota Ko explains the 400-year old reason behind the peculiar business culture. More discussion on this topic in his blog The Metro-classic Japanese. https://www.metro-classic-japanese.net Support the show ..read more

Influencer marketing and SEO. Some important marketing lessons that are applicable to business in our time can be learnt from equivalents in business activities of 16th century merchants of Edo City (the former name of Tokyo when samurais were ruling Japan). Show host Kyota Ko explains how "tangerines" and "candy" went viral 200 years ago. For more discussion on this topic, visit The Metro-classic Japanese blog. Also find The Metro-classic Japanese on Instagram.  Support the show ..read more

While Japan has kept COVID-19 casualties minimal, its culture has been taking damage slowly. How will Japanese culture be expressed now that it cannot be in traditional manners? Show host Kyota Ko explains the effects of the virus on the country's culture and business culture. For more discussion on this topic, visit The Metro-classic Japanese blog. Also find The Metro-classic Japanese on Instagram.  Support the show ..read more

ISHIKAWA Jōzan was a samurai warrior at the end of the age of samurais, the late 16th century. As we face a new era of humanity, Jōzan's career and life decisions shed light to how we may still be able to pursue happiness in times of drastic changes. Show host Kyota Ko of the blog The Metro-classic Japanese tells the most peculiar samurai success story. As mentioned in the podcast, the temple Jōzan spent his late life Shisendou is highly recommended. For more discussion on this topic, visit The Metro-classic Japanese blog. Also find The Metro-classic Japanese on Instagram.  Support th ..read more

Water has been the basis of Japanese life and food culture since at least 2,000 years ago. There is a certain trait of water in Japan that makes Japanese food cuisine taste good. Along with explaining how this is so, we take a look at Harie in Shiga Prefecture, a beautiful town that lives an ancient Japanese lifestyle revolving around river water. For more discussion on this topic, visit The Metro-classic Japanese blog. Also find The Metro-classic Japanese on Instagram.  Support the show ..read more

Here is a report on Japanese people's unique responses to the pandemic and insights into why the outbreak is kept relatively under control as of March 28, 2020.  For more discussion on this topic, visit The Metro-classic Japanese blog. Also find The Metro-classic Japanese on Instagram.  Support the show ..read more

Japanese pheasants are the national bird of Japan, because they are brave, lovable and tasty. They are the only bird species in the world that is both a national bird and a game bird. Eating them is in fact the Japanese way of preserving the species. Find out about one of the most likable and Kawaii animals of nature, the Japanese pheasant. Show host Kyota Ko explains the relationship between Japanese people and the Japanese pheasant in this amusing podcast episode. For more discussion on this topic, visit The Metro-classic Japanese blog. Also find The Metro-classic Japanese on Instagram.&n ..read more

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