Ep 21: Hello Kitty: Saint or Slut?
Posted by Douglas DeLong at 10/26/2005 10:03 PM and is filed under uncategorized 
Played: 886 | Download | Duration: 00:29:51
Shownotes
Episode 21 is a show to write home about!
At the risk of alienating our Republican listeners, we open the show with another George W. Bush joke.
More nominations are rolling in for Useless People. This time it's the ladies who give you "stern lectures and crabby looks" when you ride your bike in the shopping arcade (thanx to Dusty), and of course our old friend the NHK man (thanx to Jesse).
The Royal Family was slumming in Okayama last weekend, and Amy tells us what it was like to wave a flag at the Prince and Princess. We also explore the chances of Japan being ruled by an empress someday, and discover that if it happens, it won't be the first time.
Empress Suiko
We reluctanly talk about Hello Kitty and her sordid past, including her involvement in kitty porn and kitty prostitution. Now they've put her on an airplane!! What message does this send to our kids?
Hello Kitty Flies
David Copperfield, the magician, says that for his next trick, he's gonna get a girl pregnant (but not in the traditional way).
A Neat Trick
Al Shamshoon (The Simpsons) have arrived in the Arab world, with a few changes made so as not to offend the cultural sensitivites of the region. But can Omar (Homer) really give up his beer?
Al Shamshoon
In this week's Cow Tales, Amy introduces us to the very strange sport of bull tackling in Portugal.
West Japan Railway has decided that the deceased driver of the train that crashed last year should not be included on the list of souls to be commemorated.
Commemorated Souls
Our Geek Jargon this week is the slang for "bosozoku," the fun-loving motorcycle hoodlums that roam the streets in the middle of the night and wake up all the normal people. It's "chinsodan" (stupid driving group). We have our own name for them.
Chinsodan
This week's rather violent Audio Mnemonics is the kanji for "sword." It's pronounced "katana" and looks like this: 刀
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:
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That's it for this week! Thanks for listening to Planet Japan! See you next week!
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