Eat Your Kimchi

Latest Episodes:

What really happens in Japanese high schools; they're not the same as in anime Apr 09, 2017

Show notes

High schools in anime verse high schools in real life; Simon and Martina talk about what really happens in Japanese high schools compared to what happens in anime. Japanese students were surveyed about the differences between anime and real life schools. The results showed four things that happen in anime high schools that don't represent reality. Students don't live by themselves, roof tops are inaccessible, student councils are less important, and finding heaps of attractive students? Ha, forget it. What was your high school like?

A Twitter storm erupted over Japan's work culture Apr 02, 2017

Show notes

Simon and Martina talk about a Twitter storm that erupted after a tweet was posted about the workplace culture in Japan. An image from a book was posted on 'Japanese Twitter,' attempting to create an understanding about people who have Asperger's. The book teaches people why others may be a little different. They used an example of someone leaving work on time. It caused a big online debate about why people can't leave work on time without being made to feel bad. The duo thought it sparked an interesting discussion. What are your thoughts?

K-Pop bands are going to Japan to make money Mar 26, 2017

Show notes

Simon and Martina talk about all the K-Pop groups going to Japan because they're not making money in Korea, and they're making a lot of money in Japan. There's bands they haven't heard about in Korea for ages but are everywhere on billboards in Japan. Also a very popular clothing brand in Japan (GU) has created really cheap Sailor Moon clothes and Martina wants all of it (pants, dresses, bags...) Would you buy it?

A K-Pop group promoting plastic surgery isn't good for Korean culture Mar 19, 2017

Show notes

Simon and Martina talk about the new plastic surgery themed K-Pop music videos, by girl group Six Bomb, called 'before' and 'after.' The first video shows the girls 'before' plastic surgery and the second shows them 'after' going under the knife. The EYK duo are pretty outraged by cosmetic surgery being promoted through the music industry. Some people think it's ok because it's 'part of Korean culture.' Simon and Martina say it shouldn't be; people should be happy with the way they look. Also, Japan have toilets that spray your butt clean and they're making them even better before hosting the Olympics.

Karaoke just got sexier there's a new 'adults only' scoring system in town Mar 12, 2017

Show notes

Simon & Martina talk about the new karaoke game in town that gives you rewards or punishments based on your performance with their ‘adult scoring system’. If you perform well with perfect pitch and rhythm, there will be all scenes of sexy women or men that show up on the screen (including ‘boobies’). If you suck, you get pics of old men dressed up as women and more. They also discuss the most popular names for cats according to a national survey and the state of AirBnB in Japan; will the government keep it running?

Food poisoning in rush hour, second-degree fun and overcoming language barriers Feb 26, 2017

Show notes

- Japan has nine islands

- Fukuoka has amazing ramen and street food stalls

- It's close to Korea

- Simon and Martina met a lot of people from different backgrounds

- Overcoming language barriers and making friends was great

- Martina got food poisoning from tempura and the duo had 'second-degree' fun

- Simon and Martina were stuck in peak hour traffic while Marina really needed the bathroom - badly!

- Got home and had no gas or hot water

- Forgot to pay the gas bill before they went away for the weekend

- Second-degree fun because now they can look back and laugh at it

Cultural appropriation in Vogue and fake news about the Fukishima nuclear plant Feb 19, 2017

Show notes

Cultural appropriation:

- Vogue magazine cover featuring models of many nationalities (now dubbed the ‘Diversity' issue)

- Karlie Kloss' outfit was inspired by the geisha culture

- Causing controversy online

- Online outrage is calling it ‘yellow face’ and cultural appropriation

- Simon and Martina don't agree

- Karlie kloss has apologised

- Simon and Martina say it's not her fault and it's not a bad thing

Fake News/Click Bail (and nuclear reactors)

- Fukishima nuclear plant radiation level apparently highest it's ever been, but that's fake news

- It’s had the highest reading ever, but it's not at the highest level of radiation ever (they’ve finally managed to get a probe into the centre of the reactor, which has never been read before)

- Most things in the news today are written as 'click bait'; not researched or properly written. No accountability.

- YouTuber PewDiePie (who has over 50 million subscribers) was a victim of bad journalism. Headlines were published saying he was anti-Semitic, but he’s not

- Simon and Martina had similar problems when they reviewed face masks

- Long story short: always research and find sources to backup what you’re reading.

Japan's drinking culture, changing generations and expensive wristwatches Feb 12, 2017

Show notes

- People go out drinking every single day in Japan

- Millennial males don't drink as much as older generations (39% of millennial males don’t drink)

- They also buy less cars and less wrist watches

- Simon’s friend has lots of watches, some of them are worth $20,000

- Watches used to be a sign of status

- Phones are the new status symbol and many males don't have a watches

- Less divide because majority of us have one of three phone types

- Expensive bags are the equivalent status symbol for women

- Martina thinks we should spend money more wisely

- Everyone should invest in a good kitchen knife - more practical

- Less male millennial drinking signifies a change in work culture

- In the past part of your job was to drink with the boss. This generation are saying no to business drinks and ar spending more time with their families.

- Women in Japan are drinking more wine

- Wine consumption still quite low (4 bottles per person per year)

- Western cuisines like Spanish Tapas becoming more popular, and this believed to be responsible for the increase in wine consumption

Tattoos in Japan, Oranges in Ehime, the Iron Chef of France and the oldest Onsen Feb 05, 2017

Show notes

An amazing trip to Ehime province in Japan

Planned to film at a high-end restaurant, but the Chef said they had to see where his produce is grown, to have a better understanding of the food

Travelled with the chef, Yōsuke Suga; the Iron Chef France

Visited a citrus farm in Ehime - the oranges were amazing

The area was inspiration for the film “Spirited Away”

Martina had a Valencia Orange Latte in a town nearby

They met a photographer (and coolest guy ever) named Yohe

He lives in his van, which is also a photography lab

Visited Dogo Onsen, the oldest Onsen in Japan with a history stretching back over 1,000 years

Onsen enthusiasts measure the Ph levels of the water they plan to bathe in

People with tattoos are not allowed to enter most Onsens

Nintendo's lawsuit against Mari Car and Japan's exclusive restaurant culture Mar 05, 2016

Show notes

- New music in Japan

- How music is different in Korea and Canada compared to Japan

- Nintendo's lawsuit against Mari Car

- Wanting to launch Mario Kart go-kart track

- When is it ok to copy, and to what extent?

- Exclusive restaurant dining in Japan

- Impossible to get a table

- A website has been set-up to help foreigners get in the restaurants

- Is it just a money-making scheme? Seems a bit suspicious

- If chefs are aware then not as suspicious but still not good

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