Japanese Politics - Fascinatingly boring, fiendishly complex

True Crime in Japan Part 2 - The Mystery SOS

In this episode Mat and Devin keep riding the true crime band wagon, although this one is more of a mystery, you can decide if a crime was committed or not! For part two we explore the mystifying case of the giant SOS sign from the 80's which has a whole host of unanswered questions for you to ponder. Listen on to find out about one of Japan's most famous mysteries, involving missing persons, superhuman building skills, and some very strange goings on in the mountains of Northern Japan! As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com

True Crime in Japan Part 1 - The 300 Million Yen Incident

In this episode Mat and Devin jump on the true crime band wagon, if it ain't broke don't fix it as they say! Part 1 we delve into a mysterious unsolved robbery from the 60's which leaves people scratching their heads to this day. This story has it all, fake cops, cyanide, getaway cars and bucket loads of cash! listen on to find out about one of Japan's most famous heists. As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com

Japanese Meibutsu - Regional Specialities Taken to the Extreme Part 2

In this episode Mat and Devin continue on their whistle-stop tour of the regional specialities to be found in Japan. This time we veer off the comforting main island of Honshu and plunge into the icy waters of Hokkaido for King crab, take a peek at the prefecture with a frankly ludicrous love of Udon noodles, and head south, where you'll learn about the incongruous love of tiny shortbread cookies in Okinawa. As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com

Japanese Meibutsu - Regional Specialities Taken to the Extreme

In this episode Mat and Devin, dip a toe into the world of Meibutsu, the regional specialities which define the identity of all the different regions and towns of Japan, creating a must eat, or must buy, product in basically every town or city in Japan! Listen on to hear about the prefecture that's gone all in on peanuts, or the practically violent rivalry for Japan's best Okonomiyaki - Japan's answer to the pizza, pancake, and lasagne rolled in to one. As always, if you want to get in touch or find ways to support the show, please check out our patreon or instagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com

Japanese Politics - Fascinatingly boring, fiendishly complex

In this episode Mat and Devin dive right in to the swirling mire of Japanese post war politics. Intended as an overview, we chart the early experimentation with democracy following the war,through decades of LDP dominance and how it came about, and check in on the state of play with Japan's very own Iron Lady. While Japanese politics can feel deliberately opaque, we hope the light of unfolding Japan is able to pierce the shroud and leave you with at least a glimmer of an insight! As always, if you want to get intouch or find ways to support the show, please check out our Patreon orinstagram pages and feel free to email us as well. Instagram: instagram.com/unfoldingjapan_podcast/ Patreon: patreon.com/UnfoldingJapan Email: unfoldingjapan2025@gmail.com