Would you wear earbuds fashioned after a rodent's backside? And would you buy a Hamster Butt Headphones loot box?
DM us your Japanese travel stories: @sakethispodcast on Instagram.
Sake This #19 - Ninja Certification Exam | Religion of NO | Japan's Backup Capital City | Tokyo's Michelin Star Restaurants Reviews | Inappropriate Guinea Pig
DM us your Japanese travel stories: @sakethispodcast on Instagram.
Saké This #19:
01:33 Japanese religion says NO.
04:44 Japan's ninja certification exam.
07:31 Anime characters come to the eyeball.
09:49 Japan plans a backup capital city.
14:25 Gaming Disorder on the rise.
18:20 Reviewing Tokyo's Michelin star restaurants.
21:06 L’Effervescence has a car park.
23:20 A fishy review and a guinea pig.
25:54 Great Food, but they hung up on me.
28:50 Not much fizz.
Michelin star restaurant in Japan review:
"Food was great, service was very thoughtful and quick, the chef even came to say hi. But there were many ugly cars in the parking lot. 1 star.”
"Very disponting !!! I think all the stuffs are actors , even the chef , everythings are simply pretentious. Food taste like cantine's food ,but the waiters are all very snob ,and ignorant. 50 awards is indeed a terrible business, charlatans! 1 Star."
....
Backup Capital in Japan from The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/22/world/asia/japan-capital-osaka.html
Saké This #18 - Portable Fridges for Humans | Invasive Raccoons in Japan | Sketching Faces on Lettuce | A Town Named "Excuse Me?"
Sake This Episode 18:
Human fridges keep people cool in Japan's scorching summer [01:19]
Japan grapples with an invasive raccoon population [05:10]
Japan sketches faces onto plastic lettuce bags [07:59]
Guesstimation Japan: Japanese place names, real or not real? [10:15]
Sources:
SAKÉ THIS #17 - Deer in a Bank | Fraudulent Frequent Flyer | Bizarre Japanese School Rules | Train vs Anime Names | East Rokko Observatory, Japan
Josh and Justin stopped on the way home to put on some sunscreen, cash in some points, and share some of the wildest Japanese news stories they've had on the podcast so far. Strap in (maybe use a keychain).
• Deer Opens a Bank Account. [01:00]
• A Fraudulent Frequent Flyer. [03:09]
• Bizarre Japanese School Rules. [08:14]
• Guesstimation Japan: Train Station or Anime? [15:15]
• Roasting Reviews: East Rokko Observatory. [21:53]
Sources:
Saké This #16 - Lady Breaks Into Home to Slap | Criminals Using Crabs | Wife Burns Collectables | Anime Character Names | Tokyo Disneyland
Grab ya longest selfie-stick folks, and check you're wearing enough skin - Josh and Justin are here to share the coldest Japanese news stories ever told.
Woman Breaks into Home to Slap Stranger.
Criminals Using Crabs and Beetles for Find Burglary Victims.
Man Sues Wife for Burning Hentai Collection.
Guesstimation Japan: Anime Character Names (Real or Not Real?)
— vibe.
@joshlistoncomedy on Instagram.
....
Story Links:
Sake This #15 - Banning Testicle Cups | Man Steals a Toilet | Love Doll Demand Surges | Japanese Customs | Japanese Punk Bands
This week Josh and Justin share the absolute most important Japanese news stories EVER.
Banning Testicle Cups.
Man Steals a Toilet.
Love Doll Demand Surges.
Japanese Rules & Customs.
Japanese Punk Bands.
Guesstimation Japan: True or False? (Japanese Customs and Rules Edition).
— vibe.
@joshlistoncomedy on Instagram.
....
Story Links:
Sake This #14 - A Fuji Rescue (twice) | No Lunch for Tourists | Tamagotchi Factory | Harry Potter Shop | Harajuku Reviews
This week Josh and Justin share more of the most important Japanese news stories, including a student needing to be rescued from Mount Fuji (twice), a Soba noodle chain asking tourists to avoid the lunch rush, and an official Tamagotchi Shops opening in Harajuku.
Guesstimation Japan: Ryokan or Japanese Drink?
Rating Reviews: Harajuku's Harry Potter Shop, and the One Piece Mugiwara Shop.
— vibe (or perhaps, lame).
Saké This #13 - Japanese Woman Marries AI Character | Stamina-destroying “Paralysis Noodles” | How to Escape a Fart | KFC Christmas in Japan
This week Josh and Justin share the most important Japanese news stories, including a woman named Kano marrying an AI Character she created, customers buying old train station ticket gates for their own homes, and the mighty Stamina-destroying "Paralysis Noodles."
Guesstimation Japan: Japanese Game Show - Yes or No?
Rating Reviews: (KFC) Kentucky Fried Chicken Shinjuku West Exit.
— vibe.
@joshlistoncomedy on Instagram.
....
Story Links:
Brain Wall (Human Tetris): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DYJXSSgW08
Sake This #12 - Overtourism | Tokyo Coffin Meditation | Funerals for Toys | Sumo Crying Baby Festival | Shohei Ohtani & Es Con Field Hokkaido
This week Josh and Justin share the most important Japanese news stories, including the possibility of Japan raising their departure taxes to combat overtourism, Tokyo's coffin meditation sessions, and burial ceremonies for toys and dolls.
Guesstimation Japan: Japanese Cultural Festivals - Real or Not Real?
Rating Reviews: Es Con Field Hokkaido.
— vibe.
....
Saké This #11 - Pyjamas for Plushies | 2 Hour Smartphone Limits | Daily Laugh Ordinance | Butt Detective | McDonald's Japan
This week Josh and Justin chat about Pyjamas for Otaku Traveler's Plushies, a Two-Hour Cap on Smartphone Use, and the Laugh Once Per Day Ordinance.
Otaku (in Japan) a young person who is obsessed with computers or particular aspects of popular culture to the detriment of their social skills.
Guesstimation Japan: What are these Japanese Toys?
Rating Reviews: McDonald's Japan.
— vibe.
....
Sake This #10 - Speech-Jamming | Stealing 700 Pairs of Undies | Handsome Weeping Boys | Japanese Horror Movies | Himeji Castle.
This week Josh and Justin discuss the invention of a Speech-Jamming device, a thief stealing 700 pairs of women's underwear, and the expansion of Handsome Weeping Boys into manual work.
Guesstimation Japan: Japanese Horror Comedies (Real or Not Real?)
Rating Reviews: Himeji Castle.
— vibe.
....
Sake This #9 - Drinking Burial Offerings | Breaking Into Your School (40 Years Late) | Finding Man Under Hotel Bed | Japanese 7-11 Reviews
This week Josh and Justin discuss an Aussie idiot drinking burial offerings at Mt. Fuji, getting arrested for breaking into your old school to retrieve confiscated items (40 years late), and finding a man under your hotel bed. Plus the guys review the reviews for a (a not-large) 7-11 in Japan.
Guesstimation Japan: Japanese Lolly or Beauty Product?
Rating Reviews: (a not-large) Japanese 7-11.
— vibe.
....
Sake This #8 - Drunk Train Staff | Bear Attack Apps | Sumo Nicknames (The Meatball of Destiny) | Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba
This week Josh and Justin discuss Drunk Train Staff, Hiring Monsters to Scare Kids, Bear Attack Prevention Apps and The Meatball of Destiny.
Guesstimation Japan: Sumo Nicknames (Real or Fake?).
Rating Reviews: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle.
— vibe.
....
Guesstimation Japan - Sumo Nicknames:
The Battle Hampster.
The Gap Slapper.
Department Store of Techniques
Quadboob.
Cement Truck Murder Bot.
Belly Button Salt Pusher.
Terror-nosaurus Rex.
The Weeping Canyons.
The New Rice Shortage.
Underachieving Handsome Man.
....
Sake This #7 - 70 Red Back Spiders in Osaka | Panties for Your Head | Japanese Foods (Real or Rude?) | Ken Honda’s Happy Money
This week Josh and Justin discuss Osaka's Red Back Spider problem, fashion-forward panties for your head, and a new bathroom policy for Japanese Police. Plus we rate the reviews for Ken Honda's best selling book, Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Piece with Your Money.
Guesstimation Japan: Japanese Foods (Real or Rude?).
Guesstimation Japan: The Translation Game (incl. "gold coins for cats" and "3 years on a stone").
Rating Reviews: Happy Money: The Japanese Art of Making Piece with Your Money.
— vibe.
Saké This #6 - Blood-Sauce Burgers | Surrounding Intoxicated People with Energy Drinks | Drunk Pilots | Japanese Car Names | Kenroku-en Garden
This week Josh and Justin discuss Vampire Cafés, Blood-Sauce Burgers, Surrounding Intoxicated People with Energy Drinks, and Drunk Japanese Pilots.
Guesstimation Japan: Japanese Cars (Real or Nah?)
Rating Reviews: Kenroku-en Garden in Kanazawa (Ishikawa Prefecture).
— vibe.
Links.
....
Sake This #5 - Human Washing Machines | $1 Ryokan Live-Streams Your Stay | Madogiwa-zoku | Babymetal's Metal Forth | J-Pop Star: Real or Nah?
This week Josh and Justin discuss a Japanese company inventing a Human Washing Machine, a Hotel offering $1 stays if Guests agree to be live streamed, and the phenomena of Madogiwa-zokus' in 49% of Japanese workplaces.
Guesstimation Japan: J-pop Star (Real or Nah?)
Rating Reviews: Baby Metal's new album "Metal Forth".
— vibe.
....
Sake This #4 - Pokémon Scrubs, Happy Belly Protein Jelly, Suzuki Curry, Bump of Chicken, and the Tokyo Skytree. GJ: Japanese Band or Condom Brand?
This week Comedians Josh Liston and Justin Little discuss Pokemon scrubs, Happy Belly Protein Jelly, Suzuki's new range of Packet Curry. — Vibe
Guesstimation Japan: Japanese Band or Condom Brand?
Lightly Roasting Reviews: Tokyo Skytree.
....
Sake This #3 - Baby Fragrance Research | Grandma Cafes | Light Novel or Visual Kei? | Alarms at an Embassy | Roasting 'Abroad in Japan'
This week Josh and Justin discuss Japan's Baby Fragrance Research, Grandma Cafes, and Personalised Voicemail Services. — Vibe
Listener Letters: BR's Toilet Chewbacca, and AH goes to Heaven & Hell Fest.
Guesstimation Japan: Light Novel or Visual Kei?
Lightly Roasting Reviews: Abroad in Japan (the book and audiobook).
....
Sake This #2 - Teacher with a Job, Censorship in Anime, Shade on a Train, Roasting Reviews of Tokyo Station
This week Josh and Justin discuss fun-free Japanese Bars, "Too Hot To Watch" Anime, and a Teacher having a Job. — Vibe
Listener Letters: KM's Tatami-legs, Check-in Issues, and Shade on a Train.
Guesstimation Japan: Japanese Brand Names.
Titty & Co.
Creap.
Lamb Raisin Soft.
Magical Cheese.
Pr*ck Room.
Pungency.
Moist Dane.
Foot the Coacher.
Petit Bit.
Calpis.
Lightly Roasting Ratings: Tokyo Train Station and The Shinkansen.
Links.
....
Sake This #1 - Shops with Showers | Samurai Security | TT's Hiroshima Bus Ride | Japanese Band or Book? | Rating Mount Fuji's Ratings.
This week Josh and Justin discuss Japanese shops with showers, Samurai security guards, and what "sensitive mode" might mean in a new Squirrel Cheek Boob adjacent video game.
Listener Letters: TT's Hiroshima Island bus ride.
Guesstimation Japan: Japanese Band or Book?
Ratings Japanese Ratings: Mount Fuji.
Episode Travel Tip: Avoid all places where zero vibe is pure.
Links.
Squirrel Cheek: https://soranews24.com/2025/05/12/new-squirrel-cheek-boob-adjacent-video-game-is-all-about-the-nuts-includes-sensitive-mode/
Shops with Showers: https://soranews24.com/2025/05/05/japanese-convenience-store-with-customer-showers-proves-they-really-do-have-everything%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/
....