Podcast and YouTube Resources

“A woman looking over the shoulder of a young man who is smoking a pipe and reading a book” by Utamaro (via Picryl)

Read Japanese Literature has compiled a list of other podcasters and YouTubers we rely on for information. These are places you can turn to learn more about Japan’s literature, culture, and history.

I’ve adapted these descriptions from the podcasts’ public listings. I’m happy to make corrections or add resources you think we’ve missed.

Literature

Asian Review of Books (podcast): The Asian Review of Books Podcast interviews authors of some of the same titles as the widely-referenced review journal. The podcast is also is part of the New Books Network

Books and Bao (YouTube): The Books and Bao YouTube channel is a spin-off from Willow’s literature and culture blog. She posts about fiction in translation, as well as books by women and queer writers.

Books and Boba (podcast): Books & Boba is a book club and podcast dedicated to spotlighting books written by authors of Asian descent. Every month, hosts Marvin Yueh and Reera Yoo pick a book by an Asian or Asian American author to read and discuss on the podcast. In addition to book discussions, they also interview authors and cover publishing news, including book deals and new releases.

Books on Asia (podcast): Books on Asia is your guide to finding quality books on Japan and Asia. By offering thought-provoking content in the form of book excerpts, reviews, literary criticism, author interviews and a podcast, we hope to create an intelligent space for people to explore issues on Asia in-depth.

Japan Archives (podcast): Two friends coming together every week to tell the history, myths, folklore and poetry from Japan’s long history.

The Japan Foundation of New York’s Literary Series (YouTube)

Japanese History and Folktales (YouTube): These comic YouTube videos take a humorous look at Japan’s historical and mythological past.

Meiji at 150 (podcast): In the Meiji at 150 Podcast, host Tristan Grunow (UBC) interviews specialists of Japanese history, literature, art, and culture. Topics covered will range from the position of the Meiji Restoration and Meiji Period in each scholar’s research, to how they view the significance of the Restoration in Japanese and global history, and finally to how they teach the Meiji Period in their classrooms.

New Books—East Asian Studies (podcast): New Books in East Asian Studies is an author-interview podcast channel in the New Books Network.

New Books in Japanese Studies (podcast): New Books in Japanese Studies is an author-interview podcast channel in the New Books Network.

Read Japanese Literature (podcast): RJL is a podcast about Japanese fiction and some of its best works.

Uncanny Japan: Uncanny Japan is the brainchild of author Thersa Matsuura. Thersa has lived over half her life in Small Town, Japan, first arriving back in 1990 to study at the University of Shizuoka for two years. Her fluency in the language as well as her immersion in the culture allow her to do quite a bit of research for her books and stories. She is especially passionate about strange legends, unfamiliar folktales, curious superstitions, and all those obscure aspects of the culture that aren’t generally known. As a way to more widely share these fun and fascinating facts, Thersa started the Uncanny Japan Podcast back in 2017.

Culture

Against Japanism (podcast): This podcast seeks to challenge the commonly held assumptions about Japan as harmonious, homogeneous, and traditional by recasting its history as a history of conflict and change, as the history of class struggles, from anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist, anti-colonial, and intersectional perspectives.

Deep in Japan (podcast): The Deep in Japan Podcast provides rich and insightful interviews with people who have lived in Japan. The show seeks to get under the surface and explore Japan through the rich and variegated experiences of the people who know it best.

Japan Station Podcast (podcast): Discover Japan through conversations with fascinating people. Every episode, host Tony Vega is joined by a guest to talk about all aspects of Japan, including the Japanese language, history, Japanese pop culture, food, anime, manga, movies, music, comedy, the impact of Japanese culture around the world, underground social movements, social issues in Japan, and much more.

Uncanny Japan (podcast): Uncanny Japan is the brainchild of author Thersa Matsuura. Thersa has lived over half her life in Small Town, Japan, first arriving back in 1990 to study at the University of Shizuoka for two years. Her fluency in the language as well as her immersion in the culture allow her to do quite a bit of research for her books and stories. She is especially passionate about strange legends, unfamiliar folktales, curious superstitions, and all those obscure aspects of the culture that aren’t generally known. As a way to more widely share these fun and fascinating facts, Thersa started the Uncanny Japan Podcast back in 2017.

History and Current Events

A History of Japan (Justin Hebert) (podcast): This podcast is a history of Japan, from the prehistoric Jomon Period to the modern era. Host Justin Hebert is conducting the podcast in chronological order; as of March 2023, his most recent season covers the Warring States period before 1600.

The History of Japan (Isaac Meyer) (podcast): The History of Japan Podcast takes listeners from prehistory to the present day. Host Isaac Meyer has several hundred episodes that zero in on specific topics from Japan’s history. The podcast has been up and running for more than a decade.

Japan on the Record (podcast): Japan on the Record is a podcast where scholars of Japanese studies bring their expertise to bear on issues in the news.—Currently inactive