* Happy anniversary to David and Kathy Silva!

* No real theme to Japanese news this week

* More old folks news

* Relentless heat continues

* Politics as usual

* New Japan Talk website coming soon

* Toshiba to challenge iPad in Europe, Africa

* Homeopathy slammed by J-docs

* Lawson aiming at 10,000 stores in China

* China going organic due sewage oil and other scandals

* Cop busted for stealing bicycle

* Man upset by cat’s death drives wrong way on expressway

* Pink Lady returns!

* Japan chicken sexers feeling the pinch

* Nude man walking

* Students busted for pot on beach... Officials ban tattoos

* Monkey madness

* 91-year-old man’s corpse found in cabinet of daughter’s home

* City carrying 200-year-old man on roles  

Music: Music Alley

* September Bride, by David Silva

* Smells Like Karen Carpenter, by Moneyshot Cosmonauts

* Do What The Man With The Gun Says, by Martin England

Links of Interest

* Homeopathy

* Lawson Japan

* Pink Lady

* VIDEO: Pink Lady in their heyday * VIDEO: Pink Lady - Kiss In The Dark

* Moneyshot Cosmonauts

* David Silva

* VIDEO: September Bride (David Silva)

* Moorpark Oasis

* Martin England

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Back after a week off - What happened?

* Correction: Kokushokusumire

* Japan Talk website (japantalk.org) down

* New Japan Talk website coming sometime soon

* Japan's disappearing elderly

* Yamaguchi records shows 186-year-old man living * Osaka records show 228 120-year-olds

* Man keeps mother's remains in knapsack

* Breakthrough in breeding bluefin tuna

* Japan announces world’s first solar-powered public bus

* Panel: Japan should relax restrictions on arms exports

* California law will demand WWII info from railway bidders

* Leaked info: Mobile site self-regulation of child prostitution controls not working

* Prius to be equipped with humming device to warn pedestrians

* Woman ordered to pay damages over futon beating noise

* Prada strikes back

* Courts hitting bicyclists with high damages for accidents

* Toilet trouble grounds plane

* Japan baseball to use same balls for all teams

* Kyoto uses dummies to “heighten tension” at gov’t office  

Music

* Beautiful Day, by Rika Shinohara (Podshower)

* Fred Astaire, by Emma Wallace (Music Alley)

* After You Get Rid Of Me, by Katie Webster (Music Alley)

Links of Interest

* Crapman

* Crapman busted!

* Miyoko Kawahara: Neighbor from hell

* VIDEO: Miyokyo Kawahara in action

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Still more gas man facts

* A busy and noisy week in Japan

* O-bon season

* Events marking the end of the war

* A time to vent frustrations

* Local government defraud Tokyo out of research subsidies

* Sharp developing 3D Smartphone

* Japanese researchers develop follow-me wheelchair

* Dryer Box saves water-damaged mobile phones

* U.S. Says N.Korean Artillery Fire 'Killed a Lot of Fish'

* Payments to unaccounted for elderly to be suspended

* Hokkaido hope to turn crawdads into tourist lure

* Rent collection agency ordered to pay compensation

* Yen to rise even further?

* What Japanese men hate to see at the beach or pool  

Music

* Eikyu Ni Uruwashiku, Sumire no Hana Yo (Beautiful Violets Forever), by Kokushokusumire (Black Violets)

* How It Happens, by Jim's Big Ego (Music Alley)

* You're So Pony, by Beth Thornley (Music Alley)

Links of Interest

* Bon Festival (O-bon)

* Kokushoku Sumire Official Site

* Kokushoku Sumire Goods

* Kokusholku Sumire Shop

* Savage Japan Podcast

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* More gas man facts

* This week's show one day late (due to golf)

* Golfjin

* Staying healthy in the heat

* Japanese child abuse cases soar

* Young mother leaves children in apartment to die

* Japan law still too weak on child abuse?

* Tokyo Sky Tree changing the Tokyo skyline

* Japan considering making computer viruses illegal

* Chinese man rescued after two days in toilet pit

* 3D TV comes with a health warning

* Akihabara hotel offers “Train Room”

* New York may ban flesh-eating fish pedicures

Music (Music Alley)

* Tokyo Skyline, by Impossible Songs

* Country Song Titles, by Todd Chappelle

* Coke and Sprite, by Radio Rio

Links of Interest

* Golfjin * Impossible Songs

* Todd Chappelle

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Plastic Soul Band taking a break

* Are there any other Japan podcasts left?

* Higurashi

* The gas man cometh

* Are gas checks done in your country? Let us know: japantalker@gmail.com

* Tokyo’s oldest man died 30 years ago!

* Hikikomori bedroom hermits: Japan national crisis?

* Hakuho scores historic three-peat

* JAL to slash 440 billion yen in operating costs

* Capital punishment debate

* Akihabara killer claims he had no choice

* Many U.S. students think Lexus is American brand

* J-cops shut down paper, stone, scissors net site  

Music (Music Alley)

* Shirokumo Aosora (White Clouds, Blue Sky), by Plastic Soul Band

* EULA Dancing, by Tom Smith

* C.Q. Boogie, by Katie Webster

Links of Interest

* Plastic Soul Band website

* Hikikomori

* Higurashi

* Akihabara Massacre

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Steaming in Japan

* Weather makes sales of some items heat up

* Featured artist of the week: Fatblueman

* Thanks to Gimmeabreakman

* Correction to hot dog contest story

* Squat toilet update - It's a crock!

* Japan greets terrorist with open arms

* Musashimaru on the state of sumo

* J-deflation a structural problem

* Toyota to cut domestic production 20 percent as hybrid subsidies end

* Foreign criminals expanding into Japan

* PM wife’s book criticizes hubby

* Hangman game insensitive?

* Japan – Average well-being  

Music : Fatblueman

* Incomplete

* Just Don’t Forget About That

* My Song 6  

Links of Interest

* Korean Airlines Flight 858

* Kim Hyon-hui

* Musashimaru

* Fatblueman Website

* Download Fatblueman music

* The Hannah Minx Song (Video)

* The Maggiebon Song (Video)

* Maggie Sensei

* Gimmeabreakman

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Rainy season officially over in Kanto

* Heavy rains in Japan over the past few days

* Japan coverage of the British Open

* Shuzo Matsuoka

* Moorpark Oasis CD giveaway winners

* Thanks to those who suggested JAPUNDIT hosts

* IMF warns Japan of sputtering economy

* IMF wants Japan to raise consumption tax to 15%

* Manchester shopping center installs 'squat loos' for Asians

* Tokyo world’s most expensive city, China catching up

* Man trying to rob police station arrested

* Japanese iPhone app lets you remove girl’s make-up

* Michael Jackson memorabilia stolen from Kyoto department store

* Soy sauce 'could reduce symptoms of the menopause'

* Motorcycle gangs smaller, but more numerous

* Asian homestay students more likely to misbehave  

Music

* Hello California, Salme Dahlstrom

* Never Marry a Peterson, Todd Chappelle (Music Alley)

* Hard Lovin Mama, Katie Webster (Music Alley)

Links of Interest

* Salme Dahlstrom's Website

* Random number generator

* Suppin video

* Another suppin video

* Bosozoku in action

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Podcast feed finally back to normal

* Thank you Libsyn

* JAPUNDIT looking for a new host. Any suggestions?

* Featured artist of the week: David Silva (Moorpark Oasis)

* Moorpark Oasis CD giveaway

* Check out Japanese Flash, a great app for learning Japanese

* Young Japan losing its motivation

* Woman arrested for assaulting boy on bus with umbrella

* Burger King introduces “musical shower” at new Tokyo shop

* Chinese investment pouring into Japan

* Japan railway staff being trained in martial arts

* J-Gov’t to excavate WWII human experiment site

* Japan's speed-eating king arrested at New York contest

* Number of registered foreigners in Japan marks 1st fall since 1961

* Slave labor interns die after 16 hour days

* Ichihashi pleads not guilty to murdering Lindsay Ann Hawker

* Man arrested for damaging church property

Featured Artist of the Week: David Silva

* Guitars and Shady Ladies

* September Bride

* Life Is Good

All songs come from the CD Moorpark Oasis  

Links of Interest

* David Silva's Website

* Japanese Flash

* Unit 731

* Murder of Lindsay Ann Hawker

* Kobayashi speed eatin arrest video

* Planet Japan

* Ed's Mixed Bag

* September Bride video

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* No time to do a proper podcast

* Find out why

Listen to the music of David Silva's new CD Moorpark Oasis

* Hal's Train Song

* Seafood At The Holiday Inn

* Coffee Shop

* Traveling  

Links of Interest

* David Silva website

* Moorpark Oasis

* Moorpark Oasis on CD Baby

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Big sports week in Japan - Part 2

* Ryo Ishikawa comes up short in U.S. Open at Pebble Beach

* LPGA golfer Ai Miazato wins fourth time this year, becomes world #1

* Japan nationals make it to final 16 at World Cup

* Japan goes crazy!

* National team coach and players vindicated

* Can they reach the final four???

* GOOGLE Japan’s most popular prospective employer

* Sea Shepherd Conservation Society founder added to Interpol wanted list

* Michael Jackson sleepover in Tokyo

* Japanese told to go to bed an hour early to cut carbon emissions

* Battle of smartphones heating up in Japan

* Wendy’s hamburgers set to come back to Japan

* Wig maker to expand high-priced outlets for women as J-population ages

* Divorce ceremonies on the rise in Japan

* Top department store to start trading in secondhand brand goods

* U.S. researchers link white rice to diabetes risk  

Music (Podsafe Music Network)

* Geisha Wa Odoru, from RoboGeisha

* Surechigau Omoi, from RoboGeisha

* Garlic, by David Silva

RoboGeisha cuts courtesy of Japan Files.

Garlic courtesy of Music Alley.  

Links of Interest

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Big sports week in Japan

* Japan national soccer team picking it up at the World Cup

* Ryo Ishikawa tied for second in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach

* Narita to test “invasive” body scanners

* Woman suspected of being a serial baby leg breaker

* Rail company opens 'beer hall streetcar'

* Toshiba and Fujitsu to merge cell businesses

* Man tosses 3-year-old out of condo window

* Police nab I-am-a-turtle turtle

* Top J-court says baseball teams own players' images

* Antiseptic kills 7,000 fish at city aquarium

* Designer tatami

* Lawson to offer freshly cooked food  

Music (Podsafe Music Network)

* I Like It That Way

* The Women Gather

* Give Love

All by Sweet Honey In The Rock  

Links of Interest

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Speed episode this week

* Golf + World Cup = No time

* 64% of Japanese support Kan Cabinet

* Big time tax increases coming Japan’s way

* I am a turtle

* 118 million yen stolen from pickup truck

* JT to double smokeless tobacco production

* Police raid drug lab in attic of home

* Yakuza arrested for killing the wrong guy  

Music (Podsafe Music Network)

* Baja Taxi, by Brain Bucket

* Middle segment: Weaving Song by Akino  

Links of Interest

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Still busy with work, need some rest!

* Japan prime minster changes again

* Slow news week

* Peter Bethune: Case against me is all lies.

* 1000km on a single charge

* Prius tops May new car sales in Japan

* ‘The Cove’ screenings canceled after protests

* Mitsubishi to produce Japan’s first domestic passenger jet

* Couple arrested for locking boy in toilet for 11 days

* Man arrested for dumping photo albums, videos into river

* Japanese wins pizza contest -- in Italy

Music Courtesy of Music Alley

* Not On The Radio, by Geoff Smith

* Google, by Todd Chappelle

* Betty, by Lascivious Biddies  

Links of Interest

* The Cove

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Thanks for taking the time to write!

* Vitamin E may prevent skin disease eczema

* KHI seals Washington subway deal

* Inax develops 'golden' toilets for Shanghai Expo

* JVC to end Japan production of camcorders

* Court hits sex bias in burns suit

* Great Japan Beer Festival 2010

* Australia to take Japan to court over whaling

* Peter Bethune pleads guilty in Tokyo trial

* Sumo association punishes coaches over distribution of tournament seats to yakuza

* Narita airport to ban smoking in all restaurants

Music Courtesy of Garageband

* Japan, by In Blue River

* Japanese Airline Stewardess, by Los Paranoias

* In Between Your Suicides, by The Blast

Links of Interest

* Great Japan Beer Festival 2010

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Arizona, my defacto home state

* Immigration laws

* A novel concept

* Japan to require disposable lighters to have safety devices

* Reference guide of useful Japanese phrases

* French become first Japanese archery world champs

* H-2A rocket blasts off with Venus climate orbiter aboard

* Photographer indicted for nude photo shoot in cemetery

* Transvestite SDF warrant officer nabbed for indecent exposure

* Japanese man arrested for throwing millions of yen onto highway

* Tape on prints beating fingerprint checks at Japan airports

* New smokeless cigarettes stump lawmakers

Music Courtesy of Music Alley

* Mesa Arizona, by Jeffrey Foucault

* Driving My Toyota, by Todd Chappelle

* Only the Tequila Talking, by Lisa Bouchelle (featuring John Popper)

Links of Interest

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Apologies for missing last week

* On the mend

* “Ghost” set for a Japanese remake

* Japanese government blocks child porn ban

* Tokyo bookstore group to launch magazine titles for iPad in June

* Softbank suspends acceptance of iPad orders

* Japanese ordering iPads from U.S. ending up with empty boxes

* Man ordered to compensate neighbors for feeding stray cats

* $3,400 Gundam figure

* Man arrested for forging documents to marry ex-wife's daughter

Music

* Japanese Girlfriend, by Earwig

* Famous Song, by Ruby James

* Relish, by Little Thom  

Links of Interest

* Bandai Premium website

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Tim Hawkins

* Corrections

* New Japan video blogger list on JAPUNDIT

* New Japan learning resource list on JAPUNIDT

* Tokyo population goes over 13 million

* Tokyo Tsukiji fish market to limit visitor access

* U.K. national part to implement voluntary Japanese tourist tax

* Japan consortium plans robot moon walk within five years

* Full-page anti-Futenma base ad placed in the Washington Post

* Japan abolishes statute of limitations on murder

* Akasaka Prince to fall to wrecker’s ball

* Kewpie Mayonnaise making it big in the U.S.A.

* Just think about it, and it is done

* Ex-yakuza bigwig sentenced for Peko-chan doll thefts   

Music

* The Government Song, by Tim Hawkins

* Day of Reckoning, by Amy Martin

* Mad Cult, by The Volume Brothers

Links of Interest

* Tim Hawkins website

* Tim Hawkins on YouTube

* The Volume Brothers on MySpace

* Amy Martin website

* Gimmeabreakman

* Hikosaemon

* Peko-chan

* Kewpie Mayonnaise

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* The Blast

* Apple Captures 72% of Japan Smartphone Market in 2009

* Whaling commission proposes limited commercial hunts

* Japan to open first overseas military base

* Shintaro Ishihara’s mouth gets him into trouble.... Again.

* Man wins strange lawsuit over cell phone burn injury

* Black-Asian violence not about race!?!

* Taxation, immigration changes coming to lure foreign firms to Japan

* Fewer smoking, but lung cancer still on rise

* Ugly Veggie

* Court says firing of ex-sumo wrestlers over marijuana was warranted   

Music

* She's Gonna Find Out, by The Blast

* Sing The Melody, by Melody Chubak

* Give My Love, by The Blast

All courtesy of Garageband.  

Links of Interest

* The Blast website

* Melody Chubak website

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Heavy snow on the Kanto Plain

* Japundit takeover update - no real news

* Private detective agency helps clients track down old flames

* J-population shrank by record 183,000 in '09

* Woman sues Prada Japan for firing her after she reported inappropriate remarks

* Woman becomes trapped in washing machine

* Gundam Café opens in Akihabara

* Kenzero: New Japanese malware automates blackmail

* Yokota Air Base bands “The Cove”

* College students arrested for staging rescue to woo girl   

Music

* Tracheotomy, Little Thom

* Happy Birthday, Craymo

* Birmingham, by Beth Thornley

All courtesy of Music Alley.

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* Baritone sax?

* Golf with Mr. Pink gives me a pain

* Tiger/Nike parody videos

* Japundit takeover news

* Japan Talk news

* Nikkei restricts links to website

* Man takes flight attendant hostage at Narita airport during deportation

* Record sales at McDonald’s Japan

* Man arrested over woman's 7 million yen bill for host club visit

* 'Stand Up, Japan' - Japan's newest political party

* Top court rules Net providers must release info on users who post defamatory comments

* Another campaign announced against subway molesters

* Right-wingers vow to block 'The Cove' in Japan

* Tokyo to trial electric 'filling stations' to boost green transport * Tsukiji to shut out sightseers for one month 

Music by Beth Thornley

* Wash U Clean

* Still Can't Hide

* Mr. Lovely

All courtesy of Music Alley.

Links of Interest

* South Park, Dolphins and Whales

* Nike/Tiger Woods Parodies

* Beth Thornley website

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: japantalker@gmail.com

* First show since March 13

* Japundit blog announcement

* I am not sick or dying!

* Japan Talk will continue

* If you want to make a bid, contact japundit@gmail.com

* Japan charges Sea Shepherd trespasser, lawyer calls is a “show trial”

* Uniqlo opens Moscow store

* Japanese cellphone ring tone 'cures hayfever'

* Japan treading lightly over Chinese plans to execute J-drug smugglers

* A W-SHOCK watch?

* J-cops set up force to patrol the net

* 34 security cameras installed in Akihabara

* Crystal meth - invented in Japan 

Music

* Intro segment: Baja Taxi by Brain Bucket (Podsafe Music Network)

* EndingHellbound Glory by Hellbound Glory (Podsafe Music Network)

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store Contact: podcast@japundit.com

This week's podcast is very short.

I did not have time to do a proper episode because of visiting family members who will be here from March 13 through March 24

The next regular full episode of Japan Talk will be on March 27, though I may be able to put up something before then.

* Lazy days of spring

* White On Rice

* Kim Yu-na’s Olympic gold to net her $1 million

* Korean cyber attack on 2ch

* Bad luck goes down the toilet at Japan temple rite

* Japanese women go gaga over Buddha boys

* Japan gains two of three major Scotch whisky awards

* U.S. to support ban on bluefin tuna

* Hermes ex-staff on trial for fake handbags for Japan

* The inside on Japanese superstitions, by Maggie Sensei

* Month-long anti-suicide campaign

* Bullet in bag gets Chinichi pitcher arrested in Japan

* U.S. Marine base to stay in Okinawa

* Fukuoka man arrested for grave robbing

* Gene Simmons (KISS) son accused of manga plagiarism

* J-researchers develop iron that never gets hot

* Exploding police box toilet injures Chiba cop

* Body image, diet pushing Japanese women to lose weight

* Chinese government wants children to get fit to fight Japanese

* Online drinking parties appeal to young Japanese

* Princess Aiko skips school over bullying fears 

Music (Podsafe Music Network)

* Baja Taxi, by Brain Bucket

* Middle segment: Weaving Song by Akino

Links Of Interest

* Maggie Sensei

* Osaka Asia Film Festival

* Shibuya screening of White On Rice (March 20)

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Thoughts on Japanese skaters and sports

* JapaneseTeens rescue 4-year-old from burning apartment

* Japan exports soar at fastest pace in 30 years

* China economic bubble to burst in 10 years?

* Japan Sumo Association tightens up foreign wrestler restrictions

* Man kills biker over noise

* Middle-aged man joins bikers in creating mayhem

* All Nippon Airways introduces ladies-only lavatories

* Japan may be willing to sign treaty on child abduction

* Record number of Japanese goes to pot (cannabis)

* Shimane Prefecture make Takeshima/Dokdo push

* Japan to reject any U.N. ban on Bluefin tuna

* Secret deal will allow resumption of Japanese commercial whaling

* Hardcore comics sidestep Japan porn laws

* New strict rules to control Japan swimmer fashion 

Music (Japan Files)

* Owari No Nai Uta, by Daijyo

* Hotarubi, by Aoi Kidokoro

* Middle segment: Weaving Song by Akino  

Links Of Interest

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Replaying some oldies

* Trespassing whaling protestor may be brought to Japan

* Whale meat trial begins

* Man burglarizes 1,000 homes over 10 years

* Japanese scientists develop year-round cherry tree

* Temples offering virtual grave visits

* Free Japanese weekly downloads on Japan iTunes

* Bones may tell the story of wartime human experiments

* 33 Must See Japanese Scenes

* Japan, Korea, China mulling free trade agreement

* Japanese Olympic snowboard criticized for sloppy dress

* iTunes questioned over bogus credit card charges

* Morgan Stanley may lose Japan hotel chain

* Half-Japanese prof wins suit for being subject to discrimination by Japanese in the U.S.

* Arrested man shoots cop with cop’s gun

* Australia threatens Japan with legal action over whaling

* Tattoos in the sento

* Saitama toughens up sign posts against dog urine

* Families of 1972 airport attack sue North Korea

* Bikini Liquor Shop 

Music (Podsafe Music Network)

* Big In Japan, by Supergene

* Japan The National Pool

* Middle segment: Weaving Song by Akino  

Links Of Interest

* Bikini Liquor Shop

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Still cold...

* Releasing Episode #129 a bit late

* Replaying some oldies

* Correction from Episode #128

* How Japan Talk and JAPUNDIT work

* Abdominal size no sign of metabolic syndrome

* Taxi fare save pedometer

* Man goes on rampage protesting foreigner voting rights

* Comparison of pizza shops in Japan

* Pandas coming back to Ueno Zoo

* Origins of Toyota recall explained

* One in three Japanese marriage sexless

* Japa Dog Japanese style hot dogs

* 85% of Japanese favor death penalty

* Gaijin Beat Japan info directory

* Ramen Box online ramen store

* NHK World TV iPhone app

* Mongolian press mocks Sumo Association

* Doctors arrested over fatally botched surgery

* Japan negotiating to reduce Antarctic whaling

* Toyota undone by Japan’s work ethic?

* The “couple buster” who went too far

* “Dead” man wakes up on autopsy table

Music (Podsafe Music Network)

* Headphone, by Rika Shinohara

* Hiccups Riyu Konaka

* Hey You Insist

Links Of Interest

* Lonelee Planet

* Nihonshock

* GaijinBeat

* Ramen Box

* Toyota Videos

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Cold, cold, cold!

* JAPUNDIT included in Japanzine's Top-10 Japan Related Blogs

* Yokozuna Asashoryu forced to retire
* Hip-hop monk delivers thugged-out sutras
* Saitama’s John Lennon Museum to close
* White on Rice, a film by Dave Boyle
* Learn Japanese with Anime-Manga
* Eikaiwa Review rates and ranks English schools

* North Korea to ease up on free markets (again)
* Christopher Hitchens on North Korea
* Crying Girl DVD
* X Japan to play main stage at Lollapalooza
* U.S. practicing gangster government against Toyota?
* Kamei warns foreigner suffrage could cause problems
* Chinese Narita terminal dweller headed home
* The story of Japanese Peruvians
* U.S. Congresswoman gets it wrong about Japanese health care
* Rumor: Tokyo metro subway mulling 24-hour schedule
* Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” sets sales record in Japan
* Man fakes robbery to hide unemployment from wife

Music (Japan Files)
* Sweets & Pretty, by C-ZONE
Snow Breeze C-ZONE

* Middle segment: Weaving Song by Akino

Links Of Interest
* White On Rice
* Big Dreams Little Tokyo
* Anime-Manga
* Eikaiwa Review

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Busy week
* Some news from the JAPUNDIT aggregator

* Number of foreign visitors to Japan plunges
* Bullet train may be headed to U.S.
* “Fill My Cups” at Singapore nightclub
* Chocolate fondue boom in Japan
* Court awards damages to overworked foreign workers
* 4-year-old survives 8-story fall with minor injuries

* Men’s cosmetics on the rise
* Wasabi smell fire alarm
* Police hotline to accept child abuse reports
* Bullets sent to politicians by mail
* Baseball fans have no right to make noise
* Murder in Japan at post-war record low
* Butcher of Akihabara apologizes

Music (Podsafe Music Network)
* Another Stupid Idea from Japan, by Dogs Must Be Carried
* Japanese People The Argyle Pimps

* Middle segment: Weaving Song by Akino

Links Of Interest
* Child Abuse Hotline
* Child Abuse Hotline: 0120-924-839

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* 38 years ago tomorrow, Shoichi Yokoi emerges from Guam jungle
* X Japan’s Toshi files for bankruptcy, divorce
* Fake funerals for sale in Korea
* China’s economy now No. 2
* Chinese marathon cheats busted
* J-housewife stashes are shrinking

* Japanese Finance Minister calls for shorter working hours
* Aussie legal action could sink free trade agreement
* Teacher stabbing ruled as on-the-job death
* Denkibukuro (electric bath)
* Japan Immigration to break up another family?
* Love me, I’m a yakuza

Music
* Sea Of Stars
* You Don't Know
* Lonely City
All music this week by Lisa.

Links Of Interest
* Lisa on YouTube
* Lisa's Official Blog
* Lisa on MySpace Music
* Lisa on Facebook

* Sento Guide

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* James Cameron to direct Hiroshima movie?
* Japan slipping into “poverty”?
* J-publishers units against Kindle
* 900 weekly protests by Korean comfort women
* Kim Jong Il admits failure (so far)
* Tokyo cops fall for gaijin prank
* Strange J-beauty products set for world market
* J-doctor charged with trafficking in bear parts
* Uniqlo prez still Japan's wealthiest

* Ringer Hut to open Bangkok outlet
* Sony timer urban legend
* J-government set for gaijin local suffrage
* Sex-changed man’s son un-registerable in Hyogo
* 61st Sapporo Snow Festival
* Man hired as school principal found to have record
* Transsexual marriage ring busted
* Dice-K confesses to hiding WBC injury
* Woman drives home with body of 80-year-old on windshield
* Happy Valentine Pizza from Domino Japan
* Welfare group busted for tax evasion
* Boys arrested for throwing object onto expressway

Music
* Intro segment: Baja Taxi by Brain Bucket (Podsafe Music Network)
* Middle segment: Weaving Song by Akino (MF247)
* Ending: Sweet Melissa (Live in Tokyo) by Chris Juergensen (Podsafe Music Network)

Links Of Interest
* Chris Juergensen's website

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Suzan Boyle scores big for NHK, receives marriage proposals
* Less than half of J-singles looking for a mate
* Seiji Ozawa cancels schedule due to cancer treatment
* Gundam coming to Shizuoka
* Medical history discrimination in hiring
* College students put off by smokers
* Single tuna auctioned for 16.28 million yen

* Electric shock treatment for mushrooms
* Caution required when visiting Osaka maid cafes
* Tiffany robbed by man “trying on” rings
* Hole-in-the-wall gang strikes again
* 14-year-old girls busted for pot
* Woman sets hubby alight
* Nippon TV looking for disenchanted Obama supporters

Music

* Intro segment: Baja Taxi by Brain Bucket (Podsafe Music Network)
* Middle segment: Weaving Song by Akino (MF247)
* EndingWahoo! by Hiryu (Japan Files)

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Play a role in deciding the news that appears on Japan Talk. Visit JAPUNDIT to contribute stories or to vote on stories contributed by others.

Contact: podcast@japundit.com

* Chocolate sparkling soda from Suntory
* Transparent goldfish
* Japan Meteorological Agency to stop cherry blossom report
* Japanese man shoots for paper plane record
* Japanese wine gaining respect
* Japan gang hands out cash to kids for New Year

* Margaret Thatcher turned down karate ladies in 1979
* Macdonald's Japan to roll out four new burgers
* Dancing to the bath house rock
* Japan suicides over 30,000 again
* Prime Minister pays hefty back tax levy
* Crazy emergency police calls
* Anti-groping gloves
* Man in Japan prefers his collection of dolls

Music - Courtesy of JapanFiles.com
* Melty Vision by BESPA KUMAMERO
* Furusato Jizou by Kouji Fukushima
* Umeboshi Plums (Big Seeds) TsuShiMaMiRe

* Japan Talk in the iTunes Store

Links of Interest
* Furusato
* Jizou
* Enka

Contact: podcast@japundit.com