What's going on with Ohtani? | STJ 238

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan Articles from this week's episode https://soranews24.com/2024/04/26/japanese-city-loses-residents-personal-data-which-was-on-paper-being-transported-on-a-windy-day/ https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/4955c6d472ab-update1-yen-sinks-to-157-range-vs-dollar-new-34-yr-low.html https://www.cnn.com/travel/japan-mount-fuji-view-barrier-tourists-intl-hnk/index.html https://www.uhb.jp/news/single.html?id=42179 https://www.tvlife.jp/drama/689354 https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/23bbd6318802-number-of-young-women-to-halve-in-40-of-japan-localities-by-2050.html https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/e900d0fe5210-ex-japan-pm-aso-visits-trump-tower-apparently-to-meet-ex-us-pres.html https://www.theregister.com/2024/03/28/japan_nk_arrests/ https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/6b7e5d6282c6-japan-eyes-cashless-tax-refunds-to-stem-illicit-resale-by-tourists.html https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/cbd6d15dc491-japanese-sugar-baby-gets-9-yrs-for-scamming-men-out-of-155-mil-yen.html

Wanna become a supporter? https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan Articles from this week's episodeWeak yen may actually deter Bank of Japan from hiking rates soonhttps://www.reuters.com/markets/rates-bonds/weak-yen-may-actually-deter-bank-japan-hiking-rates-soon-2024-04-11/Japan and NASA plan a historic lunar RV roadtrip togetherhttps://www.popsci.com/science/japan-lunar-rv/Japan's population falls for 13th straight year, pinned below 125 millionhttps://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/a857f5993191-japan-population-falls-below-125-mil-down-for-13th-straight-year.htmlJapan Lower House Panel OKs Joint Custody Billhttps://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2024041200116/Mega Japanese Pop Group Arashi Sets Up New Companyhttps://goemon-jp.com/vi/news/mega-japanese-pop-group-arashi-sets-up-new-company-jWu2cr1VXyfj96ru95PxdT?language=en性的暴行…2歳以下の女児、乳児施設で悲劇　元職員の男逮捕、自分の行為を撮影…SNSで写真を公開し発覚　20人以上に乱暴していた可能性、黙秘中の26歳　逮捕は4度目https://www.saitama-np.co.jp/articles/75597/postDetailWidower sues Japan gov't, claiming stricter pension requirements for men unconstitutionalhttps://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240410/p2a/00m/0na/017000c「トー横」周辺で31人を一斉補導、最年少は小学6年生　警視庁「安易な気持ちで来てはいけない」https://www.tokyo-np.co.jp/article/319848Cake shop worker remains dream job for many children starting schoolhttps://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/04/08/japan/society/japan-children-dream-jobs/Imitation crab meat shrine built in Kobehttps://soranews24.com/2024/04/09/imitation-crab-meat-shrine-built-in-kobe/

Wanna show your support? https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan DIRT Japan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrv9dmWpNKA Samurai of Culture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QojixAAtv6M&t=858s Articles from this week's episode Jimmy Kimmel says his trip to Japan last week made him realize that the US is a 'filthy and disgusting country' https://www.businessinsider.com/jimmy-kimmel-visiting-japan-made-him-realize-us-disgusting-2024-4 Japan bullet train halted after cup of instant noodles thrown at it https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240403/p2a/00m/0bu/005000c Osaka working to help students maintain their cultural roots https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15195744 Man in Kumamoto loses 110 million yen over “romance scam” https://goemon-jp.com/vi/news/man-in-kumamoto-loses-110-million-yen-over-romance-scam-fRT1g7bhUt8ExKp6eDi3gs?language=en Everyone in Japan will be Mr. or Mrs. Sato by 2531, according to study https://soranews24.com/2024/04/03/everyone-in-japan-will-be-mr-or-mrs-sato-by-2531-according-to-study/ Pal World developers make timely announcement of adults-only romance simulator with naked pals https://soranews24.com/2024/04/02/pal-world-developers-make-timely-announcement-of-adults-only-romance-simulator-with-naked-pals/

Want to show your support? https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan Articles from this week's episode Japan adds four new industries to skilled foreign worker visa https://japantoday.com/category/national/japan-adds-driver-railway-roles-to-skilled-foreign-worker-visa Explainer: Japan hiked interest rates. Why is the yen falling? https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/japan-hiked-interest-rates-why-is-yen-falling-2024-03-25/ Japan imperial family to make Instagram debut in April https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/03/8ef160fa2f54-japan-imperial-family-to-make-instagram-debut-in-april.html “弁護士が取り調べ立ち会い” 日弁連が4月から支援制度始める https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20240323/k10014400421000.html US, Japan plan biggest upgrade to security pact in over 60 years, FT reports https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/us-japan-plan-biggest-upgrade-to-security-pact-in-over-60-years-ft-reports/ar-BB1ks6zM Thousands call for end to aroma capsules, citing ‘scent pollution’ https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15175024 Timeline of events in Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal https://sports.yahoo.com/timeline-events-shohei-ohtani-gambling-172658250.html?guccounter=1 Nara considering increasing number of deer that can be killed each year, expanding culling zone https://soranews24.com/2024/03/29/nara-considering-expanding-number-of-deer-that-can-be-killed-each-year-expanding-culling-zone/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan Articles from this week's episode Forced head shave for transgender inmate a human rights violation: Osaka lawyers https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240312/p2a/00m/0na/007000c Japan high court rules same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/03/44aa6f4888ea-japan-court-says-same-sex-marriage-ban-in-unconstitutional-state.html Space One rocket explodes immediately after liftoff in Japan【Videos】 https://soranews24.com/2024/03/14/space-one-rocket-explodes-immediately-after-liftoff-in-japan%E3%80%90videos%E3%80%91/ Opinion: Japan must reform its refugee and immigration system to avoid further tragedies https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240306/p2a/00m/0op/002000c School rules presuming black, straight hair perplex children with foreign roots in Japan https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240311/p2a/00m/0na/018000c Hokkaido's Niseko to introduce lodging tax of up to 2,000 yen a night https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/03/6007ac6157d0-hokkaidos-niseko-to-introduce-lodging-tax-of-up-to-2000-yen-a-night.html

Support us on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan Articles from this week's episode LDP Members Quit as Division Heads after ‘Inappropriate’ Gathering; Dancer Reportedly Performed in Scanty Outfit https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/politics-government/20240309-173549/ ソフト・オン・デマンドの“新作ビデオ”が「あきらかにDJ SODA」と批判噴出→「諸般の事情」で発売中止に https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/2cdcb2a69b4e57f88b68c86434a17c9c5f84e3d2 As Japan enters recession, some young workers are leaving Tokyo to earn more in Australia https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-29/japan-cost-of-living-young-people-leaving-for-australia/103520934 Japanese women's working conditions ranked 3rd-worst among 29 OECD nations https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20240307_15/ Akira Toriyama, creator of 'Dragon Ball,' dies at 68 https://asia.nikkei.com/Life-Arts/Obituaries/Akira-Toriyama-creator-of-Dragon-Ball-dies-at-68 Kyoto to ban tourists from Geisha district over ‘out of control’ behaviour https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/geisha-district-kyoto-tourist-ban-b2509208.html Nagoya elementary students caught defrauding classmate for nearly 1 million yen https://soranews24.com/2024/03/07/nagoya-elementary-students-caught-defrauding-classmate-for-nearly-1-million-yen/ Dino monument among projects funded by COVID-19 grants https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15188288 Osaka Pref. eyes collecting fixed fee for inbound tourists from 2025 https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/03/334b9fe5e5e7-osaka-pref-eyes-collecting-fixed-fee-for-inbound-tourists-from-2025.html Japan to revise official romanization rules for 1st time in 70 yrs https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/03/250d39967042-japan-to-revise-official-romanization-rules-for-1st-time-in-70-yrs.html

We talk about Otani, Ghibli, teachers fighting students, and a whole lot more!

Like the show? Support us on Pateron https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan Japan plans to make it possible to revoke the permanent residency status of foreigners who repeatedly fail to pay tax https://goemon-jp.com/vi/news/japan-plans-to-make-it-possible-to-revoke-the-permanent-residency-status-of-foreigners-who-repeatedly-fail-to-pay-tax-1jrLDTGQ7SbeH5praTPWSF?language=en Japan drops to 26th globally in annual pay for IT workers https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/02/821ba7cc6076-japan-drops-to-26th-globally-in-annual-pay-for-it-workers.html Japan government to submit bill to introduce joint custody after divorce https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240215/p2g/00m/0na/044000c Couple Arrested on Suspicion of Causing 5-Year-Old Daughter’s Death by Exposing Her to Cold Shower for Prolonged Period; Girl Later Died from Acute Circulatory Failure Due to Hypothermia https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/crime-courts/20240215-169047/ Japanese yakuza charged in N.Y. over nuclear material trafficking https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/02/f820bb5b4ff1-japanese-yakuza-charged-in-ny-over-nuclear-material-trafficking.html Producer of hit anime film 'Your Name.' arrested on child porn suspicions https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240222/p2a/00m/0na/023000c Japan’s life-size moving Gundam is closing soon, and the last tickets are about to go on sale https://soranews24.com/2024/02/23/japans-life-size-moving-gundam-is-closing-soon-and-the-last-tickets-are-about-to-go-on-sale/

Support us on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan Articles from this week's episode Japanese women lift skirts, flash ocean to attract lots of fish at annual ceremony【Video】 https://soranews24.com/2024/02/15/japanese-women-lift-skirts-flash-ocean-to-attract-lots-of-fish-at-annual-ceremony%e3%80%90video%e3%80%91/ FOCUS: Japan maglev train project being derailed by Shizuoka stalemate https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/02/66b45b00ff97-focus-japan-maglev-train-project-being-derailed-by-shizuoka-stalemate.html Japan taxi, bus driver's license tests to go multilingual https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/02/a09d976976a1-japan-taxi-bus-drivers-license-tests-to-go-multilingual.html Japan SDF to soften hairstyle rules as recruit shortage worsens https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/02/113e3c9e04bc-japan-sdf-to-soften-hairstyle-rules-as-recruit-shortage-worsens.html Japan successfully launches new H3 rocket a year after failure https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/02/6a866b0767ac-update1-japans-new-h3-rocket-lifts-off-after-failed-launch-in-2023.html Japan’s National Debt Hits ¥1.3 Quadrillion Due to Soaring Pandemic Prices https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h01677/

Support us on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan Articles from this week's episode Japanese court approves nonsterilized trans man's gender change https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/02/ccc37861b206-update1-japan-court-approves-nonsterilized-trans-mans-gender-change.html Japan's marriage agencies going bankrupt at record rate as matching apps surge https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240207/p2a/00m/0li/022000c 4 Vietnamese arrested for thefts targeting Uniqlo shops in Japan https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/02/80324a08c1ef-4-vietnamese-arrested-for-thefts-targeting-uniqlo-shops-in-japan.html Around 10 killer whales trapped in drift ice off Hokkaido https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/02/7cdcae944e36-around-10-killer-whales-trapped-in-drift-ice-off-hokkaido.html Junior high principal in Hyogo fired for stealing seven half cups of coffee https://soranews24.com/2024/02/02/junior-high-principal-in-hyogo-fired-for-stealing-seven-half-cups-of-coffee/ Sex doll purchase for indigo dyeing event in west Japan hit by prefectural audit https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240129/p2a/00m/0na/010000c