Episodes
10 hours ago
10 hours ago
11 min
Stories from Japan, told from Japan.
This week: Japan just passed a law to save its imperial family — and in doing so, may have signed its death warrant.
Support: BuyMeACoffee/TokyoBill, or visit theTokyoBill.jp. :)
Jul 11, 2026
Jul 11, 2026
10 min
Stories from Japan, told from Japan.
Japan is drinking less — and the country that invented the after-work drinking party is quietly trying to figure out what comes next.
Support: BuyMeACoffee/TokyoBill, or visit theTokyoBill.jp. :)
Jul 4, 2026
Jul 4, 2026
10 min
Stories from Japan, told from Japan.
This week: why people are lining up at midnight for a new novel in a country that is running out of bookstores.
Support: BuyMeACoffee/TokyoBill, or visit theTokyoBill.com. :)
Jun 27, 2026
Jun 27, 2026
10 min
Each week, a single topic explored in a little more depth than my companion podcast, theTokyoBill news brief.
This week: how Japan went from having no professional football league to facing Brazil in the World Cup knockout stage — and the manga that started it all.
Music credit: MOTIVATE by Wavecont, via Pixabay.com
Jun 20, 2026
Jun 20, 2026
8 min
Stories from Japan, told from Japan.
This week: a country where two-thirds of the public support same- marriage, hundreds of thousands turn out for Pride, and the law still says no.
Support: BuyMeACoffee/TokyoBill, or visit theTokyoBill.com. And, now on Patreon! :)
Jun 13, 2026
Jun 13, 2026
11 min
Stories from Japan, told from Japan.
This week: why Japan is fining people for littering in a city that removed all the bins — and who is actually to blame.
Support: BuyMeACoffee/TokyoBill, or visit theTokyoBill.com. :)
Jun 6, 2026
Jun 6, 2026
10 min
Stories from Japan, told from Japan.
This week: the crime wave that has no leaders, no members, and no address — and why that makes it so hard to stop.
Support: BuyMeACoffee/TokyoBill, or visit theTokyoBill.com. :)
May 30, 2026
May 30, 2026
11 min
Stories from Japan, told from Japan.
This week: Japan wants your students, your researchers, and your workers — just not, if it can possibly help it, your permanent presence.
Support: BuyMeACoffee/TokyoBill, or visit theTokyoBill.com. :)
May 23, 2026
May 23, 2026
9 min
Stories from Japan, told from Japan.
This week: the people stealing the roofs off Japan's shrines, and why the rest of the world is partly to blame.
Support: BuyMeACoffee/TokyoBill, or visit theTokyoBill.com. :)
May 16, 2026
May 16, 2026
9 min
Stories from Japan, told from Japan.
This week: why bears are coming down from the mountains, and what it tells us about where Japan is heading.
Support: BuyMeACoffee/TokyoBill, or visit theTokyoBill.com. :)
About Me
Originally from Canada, I moved to Japan when the internet was new and cell phones could cost one yen. After finding my feet getting work and learning how to live in Tokyo, I got busy with my martial arts studies, where I picked up a number of nicknames including 'Tokyo Bill.' As I work pretty much only in English, I continue to struggle speaking in coherent Japanese. :)
I began writing a blog to keep busy during the pandemic and added podcasting to develop my speaking voice. Not satisfied with the news presentations on my music player about what's going on in Japan, I decided to create my own news site on stories I feel ought to be read (or heard!) by more people.
Anyway, thanks so much for stopping by!