Episode 6: Japan - Toilets, Trains, and Tokyo Drift

     

Photo by Jezael Melgoza on Unsplash

Listen to the Episode Here!

This week on TLT, Zaeem valiantly defends his choice for Tokyo’s best film, Zaki convinces us to visit Hell Valley, and Ali gets side-tracked by a talking toilet. A velociraptor makes a guest appearance as we talk all things Japan! Join us as we unveil the greatest hotspots we want to see, how one could succumb to gluttony when it comes to KitKats, and why you shouldn’t throw away items, even if they are old Dodge vans.

Random Rubbish

Let's be clear. Dunking anything into tea—whether it's a biscuit or a Twix—should be considered a crime. It is not a science. It is unacceptable.

EDIT: Zaeem is an idiot. We don't know why we let him write this blog. Ignore him. Dunking is excellent. — Ali and Zaki

 

Also, Digimon has nothing on Pokémon. And by the way, who'd want a clown-footed belt-wearing wolf when you've got a fire-breathing nuclear weapon-wielding dragon? That's right. Nobody.

EDIT: We actually agree with him on this one. Lord help us. — Ali and Zaki

Fun Facts (we use the terms very loosely)

Sumo Baby Crying Contest

https://en.japantravel.com/tokyo/nakizumo-crying-baby-festival/57856

5 Million Vending Machines

https://livejapan.com/en/in-tokyo/in-pref-tokyo/in-shibuya/article-a0000372/

Highway Through a Building

https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffreymorrison/2016/10/31/in-osaka-japan-theres-a-highway-that-goes-through-a-building

Chindōgu (Un-Useless Inventions)

https://www.tofugu.com/japan/chindogu-japanese-inventions/

Fast-Aging Population

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/pet-dog-adoption-for-seniors-solve-two-problems-in-japan-at-once-shinobu-takahashi-2019-11-29/

Actual Locations

Scramble Crossing (Shibuya Square)

https://en.japantravel.com/tokyo/shibuya-crossing/3016

Tokyo Akihabara

https://japan.stripes.com/travel/akihabara-tokyo-home-arcades-cafés-and-electronics-1583115364

Shinjuku (Place with Neon Lights)

https://www.gotokyo.org/en/destinations/western-tokyo/shinjuku/index.html

Alice in a Labyrinth

http://curious-places.blogspot.com/2014/07/alice-in-labyrinth-restaurant-tokyo.html

Mario VR

https://www.engadget.com/2017-07-18-vr-zone-shinjuku-project-i-can-tour.html

Labyrinth of Fear

https://jpninfo.com/90178

Henn-na Hotel (Robot Velociraptor Hotel)

https://www.hennnahotelmaihamatokyobay.com/en-gb

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2015/jul/16/japans-robot-hotel-a-dinosaur-at-reception-a-machine-for-room-service

Jigokudani Monkey Park (Monkeys in a Hot Spring)

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6028.html

Cat Island

https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2015/03/a-visit-to-aoshima-a-cat-island-in-japan/386647/

Fox Island

https://www.boredpanda.com/zao-fox-village-japan/

Rabbit Island

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2017/12/rabbit-island-japan-overrun-tourism-spd/

Hashima Island

https://allthatsinteresting.com/hashima-island

Musical Roads

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_xvfZUqAtg

https://japantoday.com/category/features/travel/3-random-joys-of-japanese-highway-travel

Cherry Blossoms

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6920.html

Myths and Mysteries

Tsukumogami (Objects with Souls)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsukumogami

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2003/09/17/arts/hand-made-objects-have-a-soul-of-their-own/

Kappa (a Golduck Is a Wannabe Kappa)

https://mythology.net/japanese/japanese-creatures/kappa/

Hell Valley and Jigoku Festival

https://takimotokan.co.jp/en/news/meet-the-demons-oni-of-hell-valley-in-noboribetsu-onsen-part-1/

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6751.html

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/jigokudani-hell-valley

Ueno Zoo (i.e. Tokyo Zoo Escape)

http://www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2015/03/03/ueno_zoo_escaped_animal_drill_in_tokyo.html

Movies & Culture

Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift

https://fastandfuriousfacts.com/how-tokyo-drift-was-filmed-in-los-angeles/

http://movie-locations.com/movies/f/Fast-And-The-Furious-Tokyo-Drift.php

Top Secret Cars / Kazuhiko "Smokey" Nagata

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Top_Secret_(company)

Other Random Horror

https://tokyocheapo.com/entertainment/tokyo-haunted-house-attractions/

https://www.timeout.com/tokyo/news/japans-first-drive-in-haunted-house-will-open-in-central-tokyo-this-month-070120

Dajiban (Dodge Van Modding)

https://www.drivingline.com/articles/dodge-van-life-visiting-tokyos-most-unusual-tuning-shop/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7U2BC5sOltU

Toilets (I can't believe we have so many links for this)

https://www.cnn.com/style/article/toto-on-japan/index.html

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/flushing-sound-japanese-t_b_8950112

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2010/02/11/national/masking-toilet-noise-may-date-back-to-edo/
https://edition.cnn.com/style/article/toto-on-japan/index.html

No Janitors

https://www.lifehack.org/453196/in-japan-school-janitors-simply-dont-exist-heres-why

Hashima Island (Skyfall)

youtube.com/watch?v=PSgQemXBBMw

Kit Kats

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kit_Kats_in_Japan

Japan Rail Pass

https://www.japan-rail-pass.com/?ap=j0095g