Medical Student Life in JAPAN

In today`s episode, Teacher Michael and 4th-year nursing student Yuka talk about her final research project as a nursing student, upcoming graduation, and the start of her professional career as a nurse. This is the last episode of the 2023-2024 school year and our last time to have Yuka on the podcast as a student. What a great conversation! Enjoy!

Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/serenity

License code: N0XO4RSTXSGFSTEY

In this episode, now 4th-Year Medical Students Takeshi and Kento and 5th-Year Medical Student talk about the fun things they have been doing during winter break including: singing lessons, temp. work at a Japanese hotel, and a first-aid study trip in New Zealand. Apologies for the sound. It appears the microphone was not turned on. Enjoy!

Outro Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/ra/serenity

License code: N0XO4RSTXSGFSTEY

In today's episode, Michael (the teacher) and Takeshi (3rd-year student) have a great chat about Takeshi`s recent trip to Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Thailand during his school break. On his longest overseas trip to date, he talks about the great food he ate, hotel changes with a special upgrade, and some of the highlights in each country. As always, Takeshi brings along some funny stories. Enjoy!

In today 's episode Michael (the teacher) and 5th-year medical students Momoko and Satoshi sit down for an unplanned free chat. We dive into the world of cold therapy and whether the cold (ice baths, cold showers, etc.) are good for your health depending on your age. It was a fun conversation and we think you will like it too. Enjoy!

In today's episode, 5th-year medical students Momoko and Satoshi recap the autumn school festival at our university. The 5th-year medical students and 2nd-year nursing students are in charge of organizing the two-day school festival, so both Momoko and Satoshi were busy. They talk about the different festival activities in detail including what they were in charge of. This is a great insiders look into the very unique cultural phenomenon known as the Japanese school festival. We think you are really going to love this one. Enjoy!

In today's episode, 4th-year nursing student Yuka and 3rd-year medical students Kento and Takeshi talk about the different kinds of colleges in Japan including nursing, medical, dental, and economics. This is a really fun and enlightening discussion as two of these students had studied previously at different universities prior to choosing medical college. Enjoy!

In today's episode the teacher (Michael) and 4th-Year Nursing student Yuka and 3rd-Year Medical Student Takeshi get together for a chat about the students' summer vacation. Yuka was busy studying while Takeshi traveled all over Japan by train. Some fun and interesting stories by both students. Enjoy!

Kasuga Shrine in Nara

https://www.kasugataisha.or.jp/en/about_en/

Izumo-taisha in Shimane

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Izumo-taisha

We are back! After a two-month break, the podcast is back and better than ever. In today's episode, the teacher (Michael) and three 5th-year medical students Satoshi, Haruka, and Momoko talk about their travels during summer break. Satoshi and Haruka both visited Europe and Momoko went to California. It was a lot of fun to catch up. Enjoy!

Miyagi Prefecture

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miyagi_Prefecture

Tashiro Island (Cat Island)

https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e5031.html

We have reached the end of the spring semester! In today's episode, the teacher (Michael), 5th-year students Momoko and Satoshi, and 3rd-year student Takeshi have a friendly chat outside the university reflecting on the spring semester and discussing our upcoming summer break plans. Enjoy the episode and we will be with you again in late September!

In this special long episode, 3rd-year Medical Student Takeshi hosts our Japanese Karaage & Fried Chicken end-of-semester party. We tried seven different kinds of convenience stores and fast food fried chicken. All the while, Takeshi shares interesting facts and quizzes us on our Japanese Fried Chicken knowledge. We had a blast! We hope you enjoy this special extended episode!

Japanese karaage

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaage

In today's episode, 4th-year nursing student returns from her recent one-month nursing clerkship. She talks about the experience and the important lessons she has learned both on the clerkship and in her four years of nursing college. Enjoy!

In today's episode, our three 5th-year medical students (Satoshi, Haruka, & Momoko) talk about their experiences working at the hospital over the past year. This leads to a discussion about lifestyle diseases, their causes, and some possible solutions as they consider their future as medical doctors in Japan. Enjoy!

Lifestyle diseases

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifestyle_disease

In this fun episode, Takeshi and Kento talk about their favorite way to travel throughout Japan - the Shinkansen (bullet train). They even dragged Michael (the teacher) into the conversation to talk about other fun ways to travel in Japan. Enjoy!

Shinkansen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkansen

In today's episode, the entire podcast team tries our hand at making "Chikugashi" which are Do-It-Yourself Candy Sets. We made all kinds of sets including: hamburgers & fries, sushi, bento (lunchbox), matsuri (festival), and spherical gummies. These incredibly intelligent medical students had their minds and skills put to the test in this episode. We had an especially good time making this podcast episode! We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making it.

Please leave a great review wherever you listen to podcasts

and/or contact us with comments/feedback/topic suggestions at: mwblodgett@naramed-u.ac.jp

Examples of "Chikugashi" (Japanese DIY Candy Sets)

https://www.japancandystore.com/collections/diy-candy?gclid=CjwKCAjw-b-kBhB-EiwA4fvKrJX-nhG-QVIIc6hiKfbYjRpuuJInVISRQ9A0XLFriJfugweFbWYFsxoC9H8QAvD_BwE

In this episode, 5th-Year Student Satoshi talks about his recent trip to Thailand to participate in a clinical clerkship at Chiang Mai University. He shares stories about working in the emergency department, similarities and differences between Thailand and Japan, and finally how he was inspired to improve his life and create an international student group back at his own university. Enjoy!

Chiang Mai

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai

Chiang Mai University

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai_University

In this episode, we introduce the final two members of our podcast team. 3rd-Year Students Kento and Takeshi bring a lot of fun and humor to the class. In this conversation, they share some interesting facts about themselves. For example, they are both transfer students, both like walking, and both like travel. And of course, they love karaage (Japanese-style fried chicken). Enjoy!

Some info. for today's episode

Ehime Prefecture

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ehime_Prefecture

Matsuyama City

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matsuyama

Dogo Hot Springs

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dōgo_Onsen

Shinkansen

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shinkansen

Karaage

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karaage

In this episode, our regular listeners may recognize the voice of 5th-Year Student Satoshi who has joined the podcast a couple of times in the past. He is now an official member of the podcast team! Also, we introduce the wonderful 5th-Year Student Momoko. In this conversation, the two students interview each other and we get to know them a little bit better. Satoshi talks about travel and Momoko talks about the unique Japanese Giant Salamander. Enjoy!

Chiang Mai

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Mai

Nagano and the Japanese Alps

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_Alps

Japanese Giant Salamander

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_giant_salamander

This is the start of our 4th season! We have some new faces or should I say voices to the team this year. It is a great mixture of upperclassmen with both medical and nursing students. In this episode, 4th-Year Nursing Student Yuka and 5th-Year Medical Student introduce each other. Enjoy!

Shodo (Japanese Calligraphy)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_calligraphy

Radiology

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radiology

Brain as Food

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_as_food

The tables are turned in today`s episode! Rather than students interviewing each other or the teacher (Michael) interviewing the students, in this episode a 4th-year student decided to interview Michael. Enjoy!

In this episode, 1st-year student Kai who happens to work at a pizza delivery shop in Japan talks about all things pizza including Japanese pizza, Pizza Day, and a unique pizza campaign involving tattoos. Enjoy! 

What a treat! Itsuki first joined the podcast for an interview back in December 2020. One of our most listened-to podcast episodes of all time! And now he is back to tell us about all the interesting things that have happened in his 4th and 5th years of medical school. He is such an intelligent person and a wonderful conversationalist too. Enjoy!

This is a 2-part episode. In the first conversation, 1st-year student Daichi talks about role models with 1st-year student Mahoko. In the 2nd conversation, 1st-year student Kenta explains to Michael (teacher) about birthday celebrations around the world including Japan.  Enjoy!

2nd-Year Student Yuzu returns to the show for her 3rd time! In this episode, the teacher (Michael) and Yuzu talk about movies and shows. Yuzu recommends some English-language movies and shows and some recent Japanese movies and shows. Michael also shares a few of his Japanese favorites. Minor spoiler alerts if you have not seen these shows yet. But we don`t give a way too many details. It was a really fun chat.  Enjoy!

Yuzu`s recommendations:

The Transporter

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Transporter

Home Alone 3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Home_Alone_3

Hannah Montana

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannah_Montana

K.C. Undercover

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K.C._Undercover

I Want to Eat Your Pancreas

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Want_to_Eat_Your_Pancreas_(film)

Gokusen

https://asianwiki.com/Gokusen

Michael`s Recommendations

Shall we dance?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shall_We_Dance%3F_(1996_film)

Kikujiro

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kikujiro

Die Hard

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Hard

In today`s episode, first-year student Junta shares some tips for those who want to travel to places in Japan that Japanese people like to visit.  Most foreign tourists tend to stay on the "Golden Route" which starts in Tokyo and ends in Osaka/Kyoto However, there are several other places Junta thinks you should check out. Enjoy!

Okinawa

https://visitokinawajapan.com

Shisa

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shisa

Hokkaido

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokkaido

Kanazawa

https://visitkanazawa.jp/en/

In this episode teacher (Michael) welcomes 4th-year medical student Tomotaka.  We cover everything under the sun, including his study, club activities (English and Tea Ceremony), research in the cardiology lab, 4th-year hospital visits, and his recent experience as a patient. This was an enjoyable conversation. Enjoy!

Nara Medical University ESS club

https://naramed-ess-2015.jimdofree.com

Tea Ceremony

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_tea_ceremony

Vestibular Neuritis

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15227-vestibular-neuritis

We continue the series with 1st-year students. We have two great conversations packed into this one episode. First, Mahoko introduces Christmas in Japan with the help of Daichi. In the second conversation, Hagumi talks about Oshogatsu (New Year Holiday) with Misaki. As usual, there is a lot of talk about yummy Japanese food!  Enjoy!

Fried chicken on Christmas in Japan

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/kfc-christmas-tradition-japan/index.html

New Year`s things

kadomatsu

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kadomatsu

kagami mochi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kagami_mochi

hatsumode

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatsumōde

osechi

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osechi

nanakusagayu

https://www.tokyoweekender.com/2023/01/nanakusa-gayu-new-years-porridge-explained/

In today's episode, we welcome 4th-Year Student Satoshi to the podcast. Satoshi is a very active medical student. Not only is he a great student, but he also is president of the school's ESS (English club) and participates in stem cell research in one of the university laboratories. In this conversation, we cover topics like school life, English club, stem cell research for COPD, and travel in Japan and the U.S. Enjoy!

Stem cell

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell

COPD

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronic_obstructive_pulmonary_disease

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

December has arrived! We are nearing the end of the year and the holiday season in Japan. Starting with this episode and continuing in the coming weeks, each first-year student has chosen a theme/topic to research and introduce to our podcast audience. We start this round of episodes with Misaki (and Hagumi) introducing the world of Japanese public baths and saunas. Enjoy!

We hope to hear from you! Please send us an email at mwblodgett@naramed-u.ac.jp  Or leaves us a voice message here: https://anchor.fm/michael-blodgett5

Japanese public baths

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentō

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

In this episode, we welcome 2nd-Year student Yuzu back to the podcast. She talks in detail about her research at the university lab, her upcoming research clerkship in Tokyo, basketball club adventures, and more. Enjoy!

Immunology

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immunology

Ise Shrine sightseeing and food

https://www.isejingu.or.jp/en/

https://okageyokocho.com/main/en_okage/

https://www.akafuku.co.jp/en/

https://foodinjapan.org/kansai/mie/ise-udon/

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

Boo! A couple of weeks ago the Podcast Team had a small Halloween Party after researching Halloween in America and Japan. In this episode, Daichi and Mahoko talk about how Halloween became popular in Japan and some recent customs associated with Halloween.  Enjoy!

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

This is part 2 of our School Festival Recap. We have two fun and lively conversations. The first conversation is with 1st-year students Kenta and Kai. The second conversation is with Junta and Hana. The students really show their friendly and fun personalities in these two fun conversations. Enjoy!

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

In today`s episode, we have two fun conversations about the recent school festival (culture festival) at Nara Medical University.  School festivals are a unique part of Japanese school culture, and the one at this university has some great aspects. The students talk about all the food booths, games, activities, and entertainment. You will surely enjoy this episode. Part 2 coming next week. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_festival_(Japan)

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

Wow! We have now created 50 episodes. It has been great to see all the students contributing to our podcast. We hope to continue for at least 50 more.  In today`s episode, we have two conversations about the recent summer holiday break.  First, we have Mahoko and Hagumi, and then Koshiro and Daichi. Enjoy! 

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

Welcome back to Medical Student Life in Japan. We have returned from summer break and the students are back to studying hard this fall semester. In this episode, we introduce our five newest podcast team members: Hana, Misaki, Junta, Kenta, and Kai. Enjoy!

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

In this episode Michael (the teacher) chats with 2nd Year medical student Yuzu. Yuzu talks about a lot of fun topics and best of all shares how she became such an excellent English speaker. Enjoy!

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

In this episode, 1st-year student Daichi takes us on a walking tour of Imai Town located down the road from our university. The episode includes Daichi's introduction to the historical ImaiTown followed by a tour of some sightseeing spots there with Teacher Michael and students Koshiro, Daichi, Mahoko, and Hagumi. Enjoy!

Imai Town

https://www.city.kashihara.nara.jp/kanko/en/imaicho.html

Shounenji Temple

https://www.imaicyou-syounenji.com/en.html

Imanishi Ke

https://www.japanese-wiki-corpus.org/building/Imanishi-ke%20Jutaku%20(Imanishi%20familys%20House).html

Unomachi Cafe

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057594993993

Inondo Cafe

https://www.instagram.com/inondcafe/?hl=ja

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

In this episode, the teacher (Michael) has a good chat with 2nd-Year Student Koshiro shortly before the summer break. They talk about Koshiro`s studies, upcoming exams, summer break plans, and the current situation with the pandemic in Japan. Enjoy!

Tokyo Disneyland

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tokyo_Disneyland

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

In today`s episode, 1st-year students Hagumi and Mahoko introduce some food specialties from Nara where our university is located. After that, the podcast team enjoys trying some of the foods. A lot of laughs in this one. Enjoy!

Foods introduced:

kakinohazushi

https://food.nara-oman.org/en/kakinohasushi/

yomogimochi (see video of the famous shop!)

https://travel.gaijinpot.com/nakatanidou-mochi-shop/

Miwa (Sakurai) somen

https://foodinjapan.org/kansai/miwa-somen/

Matcha Runando (Japanese cookie - matcha flavored)

https://suposaka.net/from-bourbons-popular-confectionary-lumonde-comes-the-new-luxurious-rumando-uji-matcha-cacao-for-a-limited-time-only/

In this episode, the four first year students talk about club activities at Nara Medical University. It is a really common thing to join some sort of club at medical college in Japan. Listen and find out about clubs at our school. Enjoy!

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

In this fun episode, 1st year students (Yuki and Daichi) introduce Japanese Manga and talk about their favorites. We also hear from 1st Year Students (Hagumi and Mihoko) and 2nd Year Student (Koshiro) on what their favorite manga are. Enjoy!

Manga introduced in podcast:

Captain Tsubasa

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Tsubasa

KochiKami

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KochiKame:_Tokyo_Beat_Cops

ONE PIECE

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Piece

Haikyu!!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haikyu!!

Hatarku Saibo

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cells_at_Work!

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

In this episode,  we have two conversations about Golden Week. First, we have 1st-year students Daichi and Yuki who talk about Showa Day (Greenery Day) and their recent fun on Golden Week. In our 2nd conversation, 1st-year students Hagumi and Mahoko focus on Children`s Day. Enjoy!

Golden Week:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Week_(Japan)

Showa Day:      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shōwa_Day

Children`s Day:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children%27s_Day_(Japan)

Koi-no-bori:       https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koinobori

Kashiwa Mochi:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kashiwa_mochi

Shobu Yu:    https://www.japanese-wiki-corpus.org/culture/Shobuyu%20(bathwater%20with%20iris%20petals).html

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

In today`s episode, the teacher (Michael) welcomes back Koshiro (2nd-year student) to have a chat about what he has been up to since the end of 1st year. They talk about his final exams, the long break before 2nd year started, exercise, Japanese healthy food, part-time jobs, and the popular topic for 2nd-year students, Human Anatomy class and cadavers. Enjoy!

We are back this week with some more new 1st Year students that have joined the podcast team. In this episode, we meet Yuki and Hagumi. Enjoy!

kakinohazushi (persimmon leaf sushi)

https://livejapan.com/en/in-kansai/in-pref-nara/in-nara_ikoma_tenri/article-a2000162/

Kagawa udon

https://www.my-kagawa.jp/en/travel-ideas/gourmet

shiba-ken (Japanese breed of dog)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiba_Inu

tamago-kake-gohan (raw egg mixed with soy sauce on rice)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamago_kake_gohan

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

We are back! The new school year has started here at Nara Medical University in Japan. We have some new 1st Year students that have joined the podcast team. In this episode, we meet Daichi and Mahoko. Enjoy!

Sento (Japanese Public Bath)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sentō

Washoku (Japanese cuisine)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_cuisine

Yokai Share House (TV Drama)

https://wiki.d-addicts.com/Youkai_Share_House

We made it to the end of the school year and the end of Season 2!  In this episode, we welcome special gueset 6th-year stuent Shuhei. At first I (teacher Michael) catch up with Shuhei. Next, Yuriko (3rd-year) interviews Shuhei about USMLE, a licesneing exam to become a doctor in the U.S. Finally, a couple of questions from Koshiro and Suguru (1st-year).  It was a real plesure to have Shuhei come in and share all his tremenous knowldege with the podcast team. Enjoy!

In this episode, Gento (2nd Year Medical Student) interviews Stella ( 6th Year Medical Student in Taiwan).  This is the 3rd interview in a 3-part series of interviews with students in Taiwan. Gento and Stella had a great conversation covering all kinds of topics including study, hospital training in 6th Year, similarities and differences between Japan and Taiwan medical schools, and also travel & food. Enjoy!

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org

In our final episode of 2021, I (teacher Michael) and two first-year medical students (Koshiro & Suguru) reflect on the year. They talk about entering medical college, their success and challenges this year, and some of their good memories. We finish up the episode talking about their winter break and holiday plans. Enjoy!

We would love to hear from you!  Please contact us at:

mwblodgett@naramed-u.ac.jp

Intro music: Cantina Rag by Jackson F. Smith

https://freemusicarchive.org