by Nick Harling
on May 15, 2013
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In this episode, Nick speaks with Meredith Smith, Media and Public Relations Director for Smile Kids Japan. Since 2008, Meredith has worked as an ALT on the JET Program and has volunteered with Smile Kids Japan since 2009. Smile Kids Japan is a volunteer organization that encourages visits to Japanese orphanages. Through its website and volunteer leadership, Smile Kids Japan helps facilitate such visits by serving as a resource for best practices and activity ideas. This is an amazing organization, and I’m glad to help share their story. [continue reading…]
by Nick Harling
on May 1, 2013
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In this episode, Nick provides an overview of other great Japan-related podcasts available to listeners on the Internet. This list is by no means meant to be exhaustive. If one of your favorite podcasts did not make the list, feel free to email letstalkjapan@gmail.com and Nick will add it to the “listener recommended” category below. [continue reading…]
by Nick Harling
on April 15, 2013
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In this episode, Nick speaks with Aaron Packard, assistant curator of the National Bonsai and Penjing Museum, which is located within the National Arboretum in Washington, D.C. Together they discuss:
- The history of bonsai
- How Aaron became interested in this art form and was able to make it a full-time career
- The contents of the National Arboretum’s bonsai and penjing collection
- The rewards and pressure that can come from working with bonsai
- Advice for anyone interested in starting a bonsai collection
Below are photographs of the four trees from the museum’s collection that Nick and Arron discuss: [continue reading…]
by Nick Harling
on April 1, 2013
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It’s officially hanami season and the cherry blossoms are in full bloom here in Washington, D.C. Each spring, over a million and a half people come to see the most famous cherry blossoms outside of Japan. In this episode, Nick speaks with Ambassador John Malott, president of the Japan-America Society of Washington, D.C., about this living symbol of U.S.-Japan friendship and its 101-year history. [continue reading…]
by Nick Harling
on March 15, 2013
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In this episode, Nick speaks with baseball historian and author Robert K. Fitts about his most recent book, Banzai Babe Ruth: Baseball, Espionage, & Assassination During the 1934 Tour of Japan.
While its been referred to as “One of the greatest road trips in sports history,” the 1934 tour was about much more than the game of baseball. [continue reading…]
In this episode, Nick speaks with Meredith Smith, Media and Public Relations Director for Smile Kids Japan. Since 2008, Meredith has worked as an ALT on the JET Program and has volunteered with Smile Kids Japan since 2009. Smile Kids Japan is a volunteer organization that encourages visits to Japanese orphanages. Through its website and volunteer leadership, Smile Kids Japan helps facilitate such visits by serving as a resource for best practices and activity ideas. This is an amazing organization, and I’m glad to help share their story. [continue reading…]
