Ep 17: The Yakuza-Katrina Conspiracy
Posted by Douglas DeLong at 9/28/2005 12:38 AM and is filed under uncategorized 
Played: 1819 | Download | Duration: 00:37:36
Shownotes
Episode 17 is meeting with critical praise from around the globe!
We open with a baby seal joke, sent to us by Dirk in Wisconsin. It's cute and horrifying, all at the same time. Dirk also was kind enough to write a very nice review of Planet Japan over at Podcast Pickle (ddub).
Dirk's Review
Our friend Joe Barlow, movie reviewer and independent filmmaker, now has his own movie review podcast called "Cinemaslave." Check it out for some very insightful reviews. A must for any movie buff!
Cinemaslave
Apparently certain T-shirts will get you kicked out of the World Expo in Aichi prefecture. If you're a member of Falun Gong, the Chinese religious group, you aren't allowed to enter the Chinese pavillion. I think that if they're gonna ban anyone, they should ban people wearing Britney Spears T-shirts.
Falun Gong Refused Entry at Expo
And speaking of China, they're making a serious attempt to upgrade their public toilets in time for the 2008 Olympics. One of the more unusual regulations put into place has to do with flies. "Waiter, what's that fly doing in my toilet?" "The backstroke, sir!"
Flies in the Toilets
Scott Stevens, president of "The Nutjob Meteorology Association," believes that the Japanese Yakuza (mafia) used a Russian-made electromagnetic generator to cause Hurricane Katrina. Hmmm, "Katrina" does sound like a Russian name. Hmmm...
The Yakuza-Katrina Conspiracy!
Did you enjoy the "Cool Biz" campaign in Japan? Get ready for "Warm Biz!"
Warming Up to Warm Biz!
According to a recent survey, men in Hong Kong prefer work to sex. Huh? What? Get out! If that's true, how is that Hong Kong is so overcrowded?
Hong Kong: What's wrong with you guys?
This got us to wondering about how much sex is being had in other countries. We found this very interesting global sex survey from the fine folks at Durex, and were dismayed to find that Japan is dead last in the number of sexual encounters per year. (Confession: I'm afraid I was responsible for bringing down the average in the last couple of years. Sorry. My bad.)
Global Sex Survey
Let's hear it for this young and ambitious Japanese woman, whose sole purpose in life is to change the name of Handa City to Panda City. And why not? Pandas are pretty damn cute, after all!
You say Handa. I say Panda!
And then there was the case of the overly excited politician. He's in hot water now for talking too much about state secrets (like the amazing perks that diet [parliament] members get).
The Excited Politico
This week's Cow Tale has to do with the much-debated subject of cow farts (and burps) and their relationship to the environment. We settle the argument once and for all.
Farting Cows
The practice of shooting porn flicks in public places appears to be spreading, with the arrest of some Germans for filming a porn flick on The Big Wheel at the Munich Beer Festival.
German Porn
Speaking of German porn, Amy is getting ready for the big Octoberfest party at the Moooo! Bar on Shiraishi Island. It's going to be on October 9. You can reserve a spot by sending an email to Amy at: amychavez2000@yahoo.com.
Wow! We take a look at the story of a woman who is 110 years old. That makes her the 19th-oldest person in Japan. The only problem is that nobody has seen her since 1962!
Missing for 43 years!
This week's Audio Mneumonics is the kanji for "artisan or construction." It's pronounced "kou" or "ku" and looks like this: 工
Don't forget that Planet Japan is now listener-supported. If the spirit moves you to donate, you'll receive our eternal gratitude and a free copy of Amy's new ebook, "Guidebook to Japan: What the Other Guidebooks Won't Tell You!" Just go to the top of this page and click on the "Donate" button.
And of course, if you haven't had a chance to vote for Planet Japan this month, here is the link. It's the end of the month, so we could use a big surge in the votes:
Vote for Planet Japan!
That's it for this week! Hope you enjoy the show! See you next week!
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