http://www.transpacificradio.com Independent Podcasting from Tokyo. Featuring Seijigiri, a discussion of Japanese news and politics, as well as TPR News, our twice a week look at Japan's top stories. Thu, 08 May 2008 12:16:39 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en The video below has been making the email rounds recently, and it certainly doesn't look like a fun commute. At any rate, I think the train line itself is pretty easy to identify. I think I know which station it is based on some cues in the video, but I'm ... http://www.transpacificradio.com/2008/05/08/name-that-station/ In this edition of Seijigiri, co-hosts Garrett DeOrio and Ken Worsley begin by noting that Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has just returned from a visit to Russia, where he announced over the weekend that he has no intention to reshuffle his Cabinet before the G-8 summit in July. With this show ... http://www.transpacificradio.com/2008/04/30/seijigiri-44-the-gas-tax-vote-the-ldps-trouble-with-elderly-voters/ Hydrogen sulfide is the new method these days for many Japanese wishing to end their own lives. A rash of deaths attributed to the gas has been reported over the past few weeks across Japan, and it seems like the problems have only just begun. For a more in-depth analysis ... http://www.transpacificradio.com/2008/04/29/hydrogen-sulfide-gas-suicides-surge-in-april/ In this edition of TPR News: Fukuda talks tough, but his approval ratings keep falling; Korea's Lee visits Tokyo; tax hike; Americans buy udon because Fukudome is batting .317; more on Steel Partners; a temple is defaced in Nagano after declining to host the Olympic torch; and more. Politics "Please tell ... http://www.transpacificradio.com/2008/04/22/udon-popular-fukuda-not-and-a-nagano-temple-is-vandalized-tpr-news-for-tuesday-april-22-2008/ Hiroshi Nozaki had to have known that he would be the prime suspect. He needed to get out of the apartment fast. But even though it was already dark outside, his roommates wouldn't get back from work for several hours, so he had time to tidy up a bit. "Body parts ... http://www.transpacificradio.com/2008/04/19/serial-mutilator-hiroshi-nozaki-also-a-serial-killer/ In this edition of Seijigiri, co-hosts Garrett DeOrio and Ken Worsley begin by (very) briefly noting that Japan's sanctions against North Korea have been extended for six more months, before moving to discuss upcoming diplomatic events. With Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda heading to Russia in early May, Foreign Minister Masahiko Komura ... http://www.transpacificradio.com/2008/04/13/seijigiri-43-diplomatic-affairs-fukudas-falling-approval-ratings-and-gridlock-in-the-diet/ The number of inmates on death row in Japan decreased by four yesterday as the Tokyo and Osaka detention centers hanged two inmates each. The four men were Kunio Hatoyama's 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th executions since he assumed the post of Justice Minister last year. Hatoyama entered the post with ... http://www.transpacificradio.com/2008/04/11/justice-minister-kunio-hatoyama-oks-hanging-of-four-death-row-inmates/ In this edition of TPR News: Fukuda's approval ratings are down; the gas tax expires; BOJ to get a head; administrative reform weak; trouble with Australia; the best companies in Japan - in general and for women; Nintendo on top again; US Sailor charged with murder; Yasukuni hits theaters, or ... http://www.transpacificradio.com/2008/04/06/diet-wrangling-wii-fit-and-navy-murder-tpr-news-for-sunday-april-6-2008/ In this edition of the Debito.org Podcast, Arudou Debito has recorded his entire speech (a little more than an hour and a half), along with Q&A, given at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan on March 18, 2008. This is the standard speech he gave during his recent three-week-long ... http://www.transpacificradio.com/2008/04/05/debitoorg-podcast-for-april-5-2008/ We're a little disappointed that both hanami and baseball season have arrived at the same time this spring, but we've been doing our best to take in as much of both as humanly possible. To help you catch up on the latter while you may be busier doing the former, ... http://www.transpacificradio.com/2008/04/04/japanese-baseball-2008-season-preview/