episode #13 AKIHABARA
Well folks, here it is, the show you’ve all been asking for…… AKIHABARA! All it is is a bunch of broken pieces of recording from my iriver and the same set of crappy mics from episode #12.
For those of you just joining us, I took a weekend, and went up to Tokyo to take a soundseeing tour for the show. Day #1 ended up with me visiting the Apple Store in Ginza, then a quick trip home just to be followed by a night’s stay at the Green Plaza Capsule Hotel in Shinjuku.
Day #2 entails me going from the hotel to the district of Akihabara, the electronics capital of Japan. I took my iriver and the crapiest mics I could find, and pretty much recorded anything I thought was interesting. I hope you enjoy it! Now everyone can quit asking for a show on Akihabara! 
The “Japanese Phrases of the Week” are:
ã‚ã¤ã•ã•ã‚€ã•ã‚‚ã²ãŒã‚“ã¾ã§ = atsusa samusa mo higan made = neither the heat of summer, or the cold of winter last beyond higan (listen to the show to understand what higan is) ….. thanks to Ken for this one!
ã•ã‚“むㄠ= sanmui = a cold environment
ã¤ã‚ãŸã„ = tsumetai = a cold or frozen item
The computer I was referring to from the email James sent me is right here.
Thanks for bearing with me as I figure out how to make the show sound the best. For you tech types, I encoded this one at 40kbps with a sampling rate of 24k in mono. I found that the reason the files were so big was because my tag editor was adding something onto the files in excess of 80mb. I now have to tear it apart and find out what it was. I really do not like the sound quality at 40 so maybe when I get some time I will switch it over to VBR or a straight 64kbps…. who knows when that will be though!
ok, so until next time……
mata-ne!
September 26th, 2005 at 12:35 am
Great show! The Travel Channel could use a show like yours.
I had a friend from Holland discuss at a party the various words they had for animal sounds. It was hilarious. He said that the sound a duck made was dap, dap and a cow boo. I told him that boo was the sound that we assigned to ghosts. Could you tell us the Japanese versions for cat’s meow, dog’s bow wow, duck’s quack quack, pig’s oink oink, cow’s moo etc.
It’s a small world. My dad was stationed in Japan in the 50’s at Camp Schimm near Sendai. He was impressed with the people and their culture.
Thanks again for a really good show.
September 26th, 2005 at 3:23 am
Josh,
Speaking of shopping… I am wondering if your upcoming Shopping show /blog can include some comments on:
- Major Store Names [Grocery, Department, Clothing, Furniture
- Typical Japanese shopping behavior
- Any American stores and how they differ from US
- Gas Station [and you get fuel - I heard it's full service]
- Car Dealers
- Malls?
- Home Improvement [like Home Depot/Lowes..]
- etc….
Thanks!
September 26th, 2005 at 8:39 am
Wow- a really good show man. Probably my fav yet. I sure could use a 50 dollar laptop!
Thanks much for playing our promo, that one always makes me laugh, nonetheless thank you much!
Matane’
(sp?)
jack
September 26th, 2005 at 1:29 pm
Another GREAT podcast! Thanks Josh… I love listening to the show because I am going to be an exchange student in Japan next year!
September 27th, 2005 at 2:46 am
cool, that was my e-mail i sent in that you read! i think that computer is rediculously cute, but still quite strange! While i was driving home last week i saw an american “fairy” van. some guy totally messed up his Ford Focus and it just looks crazy-stupid. i’ll send you the pictures, or anybody whom wants to see!
September 27th, 2005 at 10:11 pm
the wife is working on the sounds. i have heard many before but can’t remember all. will get on it though for the next show! thanks for the idea!
josh
September 28th, 2005 at 2:03 am
Thanks for reading me email. As far as “everybody knowing” about it not being the peace sign. . . .they don’t. Keep in mind that it may be common knowledge for you because of your time in the military. Most people in America think that they’re just throwing the peace sign around and I just wanted to make it lear that the habit didn’t have such retarded roots.
September 29th, 2005 at 1:45 am
Cat noise = nyan nyan
Also, that computer casing you linked to comes from the Gundam SEED anime series. These mechanical critters are pets
Although they are a _lot_ smaller than the computer case! Just thought you’d like to know…
September 30th, 2005 at 1:42 am
Oh… I got some more details… The critter is called Haro and the green version is from the original Gundam series. The pink Haro is from Gundam SEED.
Also, Hobby Link Japan (www.hlj.com) has toy figures of Haro that move and “speak” and are awfully cute
they’re also dirt cheap!
October 11th, 2005 at 7:19 pm
I notice a lot of photos being taken in this podcast. I’ve looked all over the site, but I can’t seem to find any link to them.
Am I blind or haven’t you uploaded them ?
Great podcast btw……
October 11th, 2005 at 9:01 pm
“sights of japan” on the header….
thanks,
josh