Japan Jukebox

From May 9th, the Lawson convenience stores in Japan started their promotion for the upcoming, anticipated sequel to 2017's Breath of the Wild, "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom". The campaign included various Zelda themed food items, as well as snacks. Arguably though, the most attractive feature of the campaign is(was?) the lottery. I tried nearly all of it, so I'll write about it here. First up, the food items.  The biggest charm about the Lawson Zelda collaboration food is that they are named as if they had been crafted in the game. I was most excited to try the "spicy pepper" version of the popular "Karaagekun" series. It has a nice level of spiciness; more so than any other versions of Karaagekun that I have tried. "Beast meat curry bread". Tasted basically like standard Japanese curry pan, but a very good one! I popped it in the toaster for a couple minutes and it was delicious. "Goron Spice dry-curry onigiri". Y...

 March 4th was the 10th anniversary of Japan Jukebox. Ten years ago, we debuted our first episode on KRVS. Time flies, huh? I guess a lot has changed since then. Back then, I was creating playlists in my bedroom in Lafayette on my iPod Classic (the battery died somewhat recently and I intend to do surgery and replace it. I love that thing). Living in Japan and experiencing the music I love firsthand seemed like an unattainable, but... here I am. I've even become friends with some of my favorite bands. If I stop to think about it, it all seems a little surreal. Keeping Japan Jukebox going for as long as possible has always been our hope. Japanese music has never been "just a hobby" for us. And while I've taken more of a backseat the past several years leaving most the show's work to Cody and Zack, my passion is still there, if not stronger than ever. So if you have listened to and enjoyed Japan Jukebox over the past ten years, thank you. I hope that we have introdu...

October 8th was the beginning of the pillows' latest tour; the next in their series revisiting past albums, performing them in their entirety, "Return to third movement! Vol 4". Vol.4 features the albums Penalty Life and Good Dreams, which are both nearing 20 years old. About 20 years ago, I pre-ordered both of these albums and going to the tours was only a dream. I'm thrilled to have been able to attend the reproduction tour.  duo MUSIC EXCHANGE is among a cluster of live venues in Shibuya. Before the show started, the music playing in the venue was from the album "America Give Up" by Howler. The original Penalty Life tour had special BGM of covers made by each member of the pillows. I wished they had played these again for the reproduction tour, but I knew it was unlikely. Those were, by the way: Mister Popcorn by Glay (covered by Sawao Yamanaka) Road Movie by Mr.Children (covered by Sawao Yamanaka) Oyasuminasai by Aiko (covered by Sawao Yamanaka) Not Sati...

I came across an interesting vending machine while in Haneda Airport. This machine dispensed instant ramen from various regions of Japan. What caught my eye was the one on the upper left... Zombear Livingdead Hokkaido exclusive "Zomramen". Of course, I had to get it. (This better not stain my pillows donburi.) Inside the package includes... ...zombie brain-looking blue ramen noodles, a pack of "zombear ramen soup" and a little comic. Cooking instructions were simple and suggested adding additional ingredients. Mine ending up looking like this:   I added the chashu, menma, nori, and egg. I couldn't be bothered to marinate or paint the egg to resemble an eye, like as seen on the package. The taste wasn't very unique from other instant ramen, but that's not why we're here. We're here for the experience. 🧟‍♂️

Gachapon (or "gashapon") is one of my not-so-guilty pleasures here in Japan. They are coin-operated machines that randomly dispense from a selection of... anything, really. The endless variety is what keeps me addicted and checking them every time I find one. I came across one that caught my eye the other day. This series is called "Inutori", which means "Dogbird". The breeds in this series include (from right to left): The cover-boy, "Shibird". "Terrierbird". The masterfully named Bichon frise/pidgeon hybrid, "bigeon". "Huskeybird". "Retriebird". "Pendog". Each one comes with a nest and two small eggs. The machine will cost you 300 yen for each try. Well, I just had to have a "pendog", so I tried several times. This was my haul in the end: Not pictured are the two other shibirds and an extra Spuds MacKenzie, but in the end, down to my last couple 100 yen coins... I got the pendog. 4 out...

 Although I have seen the pillows live in concert many times, I have never been to a concert of Sawao Yamanaka's solo band.  He started touring solo without the pillows again in 2020 after a seven year hiatus, though his planned "Elpis tour" was canceled due to covid-19. Through the end of 2020 into early 2021, he would successfully hold his "Nonocular violet tour", although under strict COVID restrictions. I couldn't make it. However... In March of 2022, Sawao Yamanaka would release his latest album "Muddy comedy", and would start touring in May. My chance would finally arrive. The tour would start on May 6th at "duo Music Exchange" in Shibuya, about a ten minute walk from the famous Hachiko statue outside Shibuya Station. I would get to the venue about one hour before the doors opened and meet up with my friend. I was a bit taken aback at first, because there were only a few other people in front of the venue. A small merchandise area w...