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+81

+81

By Alicia and Mizuki

Alicia and Mizuki investigate Japanese social issues, diving beneath oversimplified explanations to grasp the fuller picture of critical conversations on topics such as immigration, rights and obligations, and more. Join them in their journey to better understand the country they call home, as they try to make sense of their positions within Japanese culture.
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#14 General Election Oct. 31st 2021

+81Oct 27, 2021

00:00
27:06
#14 General Election Oct. 31st 2021
Oct 27, 202127:06
Bonus: Meshi - Spirited Away
Jun 10, 202143:40
#13 Fridays For Future Movement in Japan with Isao Sakai
Mar 15, 202148:47
#12 How a Bill Becomes Law: Japanese Politics Part 3

#12 How a Bill Becomes Law: Japanese Politics Part 3

Mizuki and Alicia discuss the steps it takes for a bill to pass through the Diet and become law. 


Episode guide: https://twitter.com/plus81_pod/status/1356073470363222016


Watch the 2015 強行採決 video from the episode here: https://youtu.be/EsVyWNqCQJ4


Follow and Support +81: https://plus81.carrd.co/

Email: plus81.pod@gmail.com

Music by Stone Stewart

Jan 31, 202132:00
#11 Oshogatsu Special 2020

#11 Oshogatsu Special 2020

In the final episode of 2020, Alicia and Mizuki revisit this year’s episodes and talk about how much (or how little) has changed. 

Nyukan Resources: 

Donate to Pato chan (Bank): https://note.com/kokubai_nyukan/n/n6673215f4c2b 

Donate to Pato chan (PayPal): https://www.paypal.me/forpatchan 

Twitter: @PatoJustice https://twitter.com/PatoJustice 

Twitter: @nodetention87 https://twitter.com/nodetention87 


Follow and Support +81: https://plus81.carrd.co/ 

Email: plus81.pod@gmail.com   

Music by Stone Stewart

Dec 30, 202040:25
#10 3.11 in Film: Your Name & Shin Godzilla
Nov 29, 202001:51:38
#9 Abolish Nyukan with Justice for Pato-chan

#9 Abolish Nyukan with Justice for Pato-chan

[CW: Transphobia] Alicia and Mizuki interview representatives from Justice for Pato-chan to better understand their efforts and demonstration marches in support of Pato-chan, a transgender woman from the Philippines who had been detained at the Immigration Services Agency of Japan (Nyukan) for over a year. They discuss Pato-chan’s case, the intersectionality between transgender rights, migrant rights, and the Black Lives Matter movement, and a concerning new immigration reform bill that the Japanese government is considering.

Justice for Pato-chan Resources
Donate (Bank): https://note.com/kokubai_nyukan/n/n6673215f4c2b
Donate (PayPal): https://www.paypal.me/forpatchan
Twitter: @PatoJustice https://twitter.com/PatoJustice

#FREEUSHIKU
Twitter: @freeushiku https://twitter.com/freeushiku
Instagram: @freeushiku
Website: https://freeushikuweb.jimdofree.com/

Read more about Pato-chan:
Asia Art Tours https://bit.ly/2Hqg3qN Japan Times https://bit.ly/2TmrJNu
BuzzFeed (JPN) https://bzfd.it/3ktNCWZ Instagram: www.instagram.com/plus81.pod/

Find and Support +81: https://plus81.carrd.co/
Email: plus81.pod@gmail.com  


Music by Stone Stewart.

Oct 26, 202057:07
Sound Bite: Cicadas

Sound Bite: Cicadas

Mizuki says goodbye to summer and the cicadas.

Please enjoy this minisode while we work on our next regular episode. We will occasionally post minisodes that cover more light hearted topics that Miz and Alicia are interested in, but don’t warrant full episodes.

Find and Support +81: https://plus81.carrd.co/
Email: plus81.pod@gmail.com

Music by Stone Stewart.

Oct 02, 202007:23
#8 The Branches of Government: Japanese Politics Part 2

#8 The Branches of Government: Japanese Politics Part 2

Alicia and Mizuki discuss the branches of the Japanese government as Japan prepares for a new Prime Minister. Mizuki guides us in learning how the different branches interact, what our power as citizens are, and the latest baffling turn of events as the LDP elects their new leader.

Find and Support +81: https://plus81.carrd.co/

Email: plus81.pod@gmail.com

Special thanks to Stone Stewart for the intro music and Taro Hyodo for the break music.

Sep 14, 202054:43
#7 BLM & The Limits of Protesting in Japan

#7 BLM & The Limits of Protesting in Japan

Alicia and Mizuki discuss the BLM marches in Tokyo and protests culture in Japan. What were the Tokyo marches like? Are marches/protests effective in Japan? What is protest culture in Japan like? How do they compare to other countries?

BLM Tokyo: https://twitter.com/blmtokyojp
BLM Kansai: https://twitter.com/blmkansai
BLM Kyoto: https://twitter.com/blmkyoto
*There are many more BLM accounts from various cities around Japan! These just a few from major cities

Kurly in Kansai Twitter: https://twitter.com/kurlyinkansai?lang=en

Kurly in Kansai Co-hosts: https://twitter.com/Yana_Yz and https://twitter.com/nanairomiso

Podcasts:

Black twitter accounts/social media to follow:


Find and Support +81: https://plus81.carrd.co/

Email: plus81.pod@gmail.com

Special thanks to Stone Stewart for the intro music and Taro Hyodo for the break music.


Sep 03, 202034:36
#6 Tokyo Governor Election: Utsunomiya vs. Yamamoto

#6 Tokyo Governor Election: Utsunomiya vs. Yamamoto

Alicia and Mizuki discuss the candidates for the Tokyo governor election! The two parse out each candidates’ stance toward key issues and histories to better grasp how the election fits into the greater Japanese political narrative. Listen to learn more about the differences between the opposition (ya-to) candidates, Utsunomiya Kenji  (Utsuken) and Yamamoto Taro, and how to use your vote!





Election Resources How to vote (Eng):https://www.instagram.com/p/CB-nLZDDtaf/?igshid=b1vwdtmax6pc
Candidates’ stances from Ko_Archives (Eng):  https://www.instagram.com/p/CB4sXlPjb6H/?igshid=m5wyj732sp7k
Candidates’ stances on YouTube zoom debate (Jpn):https://twitter.com/chooselifepj/status/1276824725881147392?s=21
*If you have any other questions regarding how to vote, don’t hesitate to contact us!

Find and Support +81: https://plus81.carrd.co/

Email: plus81.pod@gmail.com

Special thanks to Stone Stewart for the intro music and Taro Hyodo for the break music.


Jun 29, 202050:36
#5 The Parties: Japanese Politics Part 1

#5 The Parties: Japanese Politics Part 1

Alicia and Mizuki tackle Japanese political parties in their latest episode. They discuss the ruling coalition (yo-to) and the opposition (ya-to), and their respective histories of separation, conversion, and bids for power. Check out the Episode Guide on our instagram to reference the the political parties' names, figures, and histories while you listen!


Find and Support +81: https://plus81.carrd.co/

Email: plus81.pod@gmail.com

Special thanks to Stone Stewart for the intro music and Taro Hyodo for the break music.

May 13, 202059:18
#4 Japan and the Coronavirus Part 2

#4 Japan and the Coronavirus Part 2

Live from their bedrooms (still): Alicia and Mizuki discuss the enforceability and legal aspects of the state of emergency in the context of the constitution, clashes between regional and federal governments, and the coronavirus financial aid packages. Update: the state of emergency now includes all 47 prefectures, and there are discussions in the government about providing a one-time payment of 100,000yen to all citizens. These changes were made because of widespread unpopularity and citizens’ vehement protest.

Abe’s infamous video: https://twitter.com/AbeShinzo/status/1249127951154712576

Find and Support +81: https://plus81.carrd.co/

Email: plus81.pod@gmail.com

Special thanks to Stone Stewart for the intro music and Taro Hyodo for the break music and research help.

Apr 16, 202001:02:10
#3 Japan and the Coronavirus

#3 Japan and the Coronavirus

Live from their bedrooms: Alicia and Mizuki discuss the effects of the Japanese government's inadequate response and lack of understanding of their citizens' needs during the coronavirus crisis.


Find and Support +81: https://plus81.carrd.co/

Email: plus81.pod@gmail.com

Intro music by Stone Stewart and break music by Taro Hyodo

Mar 30, 202048:09
#2 Technical Interns: Foreign Workers in Japan Part 2

#2 Technical Interns: Foreign Workers in Japan Part 2

In Part 2, Alicia and Mizuki continue to discuss foreign workers - specifically the nefarious Technical Intern Training Program (TITP). The two examine Japan’s declining labor force, the underlying issues of Japanese immigration policy, and how foreign workers and their working conditions affect Japanese people and their livelihoods.


Find and Support +81: https://plus81.carrd.co/

Email: plus81.pod@gmail.com

Intro music by Stone Stewart and break music by Taro Hyodo

Special thanks to Makoto Iwahashi for fact checking

Mar 24, 202058:11
#1 Visibility, Vulnerability & Accountability: Foreign Workers in Japan Part 1
Feb 25, 202030:12
Pilot: Racial & Cultural Identity, Navigating Asian America

Pilot: Racial & Cultural Identity, Navigating Asian America

Live from Tokyo: Alicia and Mizuki quiz each other on Japanese mascots, then spiral into a conversation about their upbringing, identity, and how that affected the way they navigate Asian America.

Find and Support +81: https://plus81.carrd.co/

Email: plus81.pod@gmail.com

Music by Stone Stewart.

Feb 25, 202030:17