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A bi-weekly podcast for anyone who thinks escaping modern life to live or travel in Japan's legendary snow country is a good idea. Expect stories about life in the snow, mountains and villages, skiing and snowboarding, national parks, buying old houses, fixing old houses, little white trucks, festivals, temples and shrines, artisans, breweries and distilleries, hot springs, food, travel, traditions and myths, old ways and new. Stories told by the people who live here.
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Join your hosts Joyce and Jason for the hair-pulling, skin-picking exploration station that you have the unfortunate pleasure of relating to. https://www.fidgetpodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Ep 40. The joy of being perceived
1:13:15
1:13:15
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What does being photogenic have to do with BFRBs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Shiga Kogen Highlands: A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with Photographer & Nature Guide Yokota Shinji
47:27
Episode 35 of the podcast takes us to Shiga Kogen Highlands in Nagano Prefecture. Declared a UNESCO Biopshere Reserve in 1980, Shiga Kogen is an alpine landscape which includes major peaks such as Mount Shiga and Mount Kusatsu-Shirane – one of Japan’s most active volcanoes – renowned for its biodiversity, wetlands and distinct seasonal beauty. In t…
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Ep 39. Fun squishy little guy
1:13:00
1:13:00
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1:13:00
What does money, disappointment, and cavities have to do with BFRBs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Ep 38. Only beautiful people can be happy
1:12:31
1:12:31
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What does social anxiety and taking your lunch break have to do with BFRBs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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From Dream to Reality: Owning Your Own Ski Lodge in Japan Pt.2 with Dan Solo / Snowball Japan
44:40
This is the second half of Episode 34 of the podcast, my chat with Dan Solo of Snowball Japan. Originally from Australia, Dan and his wife Andy first travelled to Japan more than 20 years ago and fell in love with life in the snow country. They set themselves to one day run their own ski lodge, a dream that came to fruition when they opened Snowbal…
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From Dream to Reality: Owning Your Own Ski Lodge in Japan Pt.1 with Dan Solo / Snowball Japan
49:47
In Episode 34 of the podcast we head to Madarao Mountain Resort in Nagano to speak with Dan Solo of Snowball Japan. Originally from Australia, Dan and his wife Andy first travelled to Japan more than 20 years ago and fell in love with life in the snow country. They set themselves to one day run their own ski lodge, a dream that came to fruition whe…
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Ep 37. Handruff Paranoia
1:21:50
1:21:50
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What does menstruation and paranoia have to do with BFRBs? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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What does being late have to do with BFRBs? @fidgetpodcast @pullyoselftogether Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episode of 33 of the podcast takes us into Japan’s highest mountain range and into the beautiful alpine valley of Kamikochi. Part of the wider Chubu Sangaku National Park, Kamikochi is a 16 kilometre / 10 mile valley which follows the beautiful Azusa River and bookended by two famous mountains – Mount Hotaka and Yakedake. With an average elevation …
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Ep 35. Fidget Season 3 Relaunch
1:04:37
1:04:37
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1:04:37
We're back! What does community have to do with having a BFRB? @pullyoselftogether @fidgetpodcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Namahage: They're Coming for the Children, with Dr Michael Dylan Foster / University of California Davis
49:12
Episode 32 of the podcast takes us to the north of Japan, into the snow country of Akita Prefecture and onto Oga Peninsula. Jutting out from the Japanese main island and into the Sea of Japan, Oga Peninsula is wild and beautiful, a place of rustic villages and lurking wonders; and it is here, in Oga that we encounter the fearsome ‘Namahage’ – mythi…
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The Artist is in Residence: Design, Gastronomy & New Tradition of an Artisanal Ski Chalet with Liam Mugavin / A.I.R. Myoko
45:44
In Episode 31 of the podcast we head to Akakura Onsen in Myoko Kogen to speak with design maker Liam Mugavin. Originally for Australia, Liam is the cofounder of A.I.R. Myoko – a ski in, ski out chalet which combines design, gastronomy and other artisanal influences to offer a different type of experience when it comes to ski accommodation in Japan.…
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In Episode 30 of the podcast I speak with outdoor guide Iida Taka about Oze National Park. Straddling four prefectures of the snow country – Gunma, Niigata, Fukushima and Tochigi – Oze National Park is relatively small at 373 squared kilometres however its smaller size is in fact one of its attractions. Known for its lakes, wetlands, moors and mars…
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In Episode 29 of the podcast we return to Niigata Prefecture and onto Niigata City to speak with Jenya Yuss. Jenya works for Edge of Niigata, a travel company based in Niigata City and operating tours and experiences in the city and wider prefecture. As such she’s an ideal person to introduce to the story and the reasons to visit Niigata. When Japa…
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In Episode 28 of the podcast I speak with Mark Davis, a Tokyo-based landscape photographer whose work focuses on the natural environments of Japan. Mark’s photography takes him into many areas of regional Japan with a particular interest in the snow country and its varied seasons. As such, his photography tells a more complete story of the snow cou…
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Tsuruoka, Yamagata: Japan's Best Food Destination, You've (Probably) Never Heard Of with Alexis Crump
43:30
Episode 27 of the podcast takes us back to Yamagata Prefecture and onto Tsuruoka, a city known for its diverse and rich traditional food culture. In 2014 Tsuruoka was designated a UNESCO ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’ in recognition of that food culture including continued agricultural practices and use heirloom crops and wild plants foraged in the …
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Episode 26 of the podcast transports us along one of the snow country’s most popular destinations – the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route. Located in Chubu Sangaku National Park, the Alpine Route is a popular sightseeing route that transports visitors across Japan’s highest mountain range – the Kita Alps or North Alps. It takes a series of mountain tran…
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Today's episode - Episode 25 of the podcast - kicks off Season 3 as we make our way north to Hokkaido and onto Japan’s largest national park, Daisetsuzan. Established in 1934, Daisetsuzan National Park is known for its alpine landscapes, abundant flora and fauna, and seasonal beauty including its deep snow of winter. For many, Daisetsuzan is the cr…
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Season 3 of Snow Country Stories Japan begins on Tuesday 2nd April 2024. In the coming season we’ll be exploring the snow country in spring and summer before heading into the beauty of autumn, starting with Japan’s largest national park, Daisetsuzan. Considered by many as the most impressive of Japan's 34 national parks, Daisetsuzan occupies a vast…
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Snow Country Stories Japan is currently on a break between seasons. I’ll announce the return date as soon as possible. In the meantime, this bonus episode features a clip of my recently published interview on the Lost Without Japan podcast. Lost Without Japan is a bi-weekly podcast focused on listeners planning their first trip to Japan or for thos…
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In Episode 24 of the podcast I speak with Shoko Baba, a member of the international sales team, of one of the snow country’s most celebrated sake breweries, Hakkaisan. Located in the heavy snow area of Minami-Uonuma, Hakkaisan Brewery produces high quality sake that reflects the pristine surrounding environment and traditions of this beautiful area…
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In Episode 23 of the podcast I speak with David Laichtman - a doctoral candidate at Sophia University in Tokyo - about the historical and contemporary practice of bear worship in Japan by cultures including the Matagi in Tohoku and Ainu in Hokkaido. In doing so, this episode draws attention to the often-overlooked fact that Japan is home culturally…
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Ep 34. Season Finale - Hot Water in the Morning
1:17:43
1:17:43
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The Finale episode of Fidget Season 2. Listen for life and show updates. IG: @hotwaterinthemorning IG: @fidgetpodcast https://fidgetpodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Finding, Fixing & Furnishing a Home in the Snow Country with Craftsman Gianpaolo Camplese / Nereto Woodwork
49:40
In Episode 22 of the podcast we head north to the small rural village of Nukui in Nagano Prefecture. It is here that we find craftsman and musician Gianpaolo Camplese. Originally from Italy, Gianpaolo moved to the snow country in search for a home for his family, eventually discovering a rundown ‘kominka’ (traditional farmhouse) in the picturesque …
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Episode 21 of the Snow County Stories Japan podcast brings us to Nagano City, the capital of the large, landlocked and mountainous Nagano Prefecture. Host of the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, Nagano is blessed with heavy snow and home to fantastic ski resorts, many of Japan’s highest mountains and multiple national parks. As the largest city in the re…
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Episode 20 of the Snow Country Stories Japan takes us back to Aizu in Fukushima Prefecture and Japan’s newest ski resort, Hoshino Resorts Nekoma Mountain. In this episode I speak with Ishiuchi Kei, an accomplished snowboarder with a lot of experience working in the ski industry and genuine enthusiasm for Nekoma and the Aizu region. A true snow guru…
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Episode 19 of the podcast takes us into the deep snow country of Tokamachi in Niigata, where we venture into the beautiful, heavily forested hills and minor mountains of that area, and onto the secluded Mithila Museum to speak with its director Hasegawa Tokio. An avant-garde musician and artist, Hasegawa-san founded Mithila Museum in 1982, and toda…
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Matsunoyama, Niigata: Challenges & Opportunities of Life in the Deep Snow with Kamimura Shotaro
44:52
Episode 18 of the podcast takes us once again to Niigata Prefecture and the snow country area of Matsunoyama. Famous for its very heavy snowfall, Matsunoyama is a place in many ways defined by that snow. In this episode I speak with Kamimura Shotaro, a regional revitalisation coordinator based in Matsunoyama. Shotaro’s work tasks him with revitalis…
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Episode 17 of the podcast takes us to Niigata Prefecture and the deep snow of Myoko Kogen. Located on the flanks of Mount Myoko, Myoko Kogen is a collective named used to refer to five ski resorts, renowned for their very heavy snowfall and some of Japan’s best powder riding. In this episode I speak with Billy Halloran, a talented snowboarder and o…
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Episode 16 of the podcast brings us back to Nagano Prefecture and one of the snow country’s most popular destinations, Jigokudani Yaen Koen – more commonly referred to as the Jigokudani Snow Monkey Park. Located in the enclave of Yamanouchi – 50 to 60 minutes from Nagano City – the park is home to a curious troop of Japanese macaques known for the …
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Episode 15 of the podcast takes us to the north of Honshu and the prefecture of Akita. Known for its natural beauty and wild landscapes, Akita is a place that my guest Eli Sooker spends much of his time. Eli is a conservationist, writer, wildlife photographer and eco tour guide based in Japan whose current research focuses on bear conservation and …
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Episode 14 of the podcast takes us once again to Nagano Prefecture and Son of the Smith Hard Cider brewery. Opened in 2020, Son of the Smith Hard Cider are in many ways forging a new era for cider in Japan – a country that doesn’t have a strong cider tradition. In this episode, I speak with head brewer Ikeuchi Takuro about the brewery’s founding vi…
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Shiga Kogen: Japan's Largest Ski Resort with Robel Zemichael / Shiga International Ski School
48:23
Episode 13 of the podcast – and the first of Season 2 – brings us back to Nagano and Japan’s largest ski resort, Shiga Kogen. A host venue in the 1998 Winter Olympic Games, Shiga Kogen Mountain Resort is Japan’s largest and highest ski resort and enjoys the longest season of any resort in Nagano or Central Japan. Despite this the resort remains rel…
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I am happy to announce that Season 2 of ‘Snow Country Stories Japan’ begins on Tuesday 19th September 2023. And I’m just as happy to say, there’s a lot to look forward to in the coming season! As we head toward and into another winter, Season 2 of the podcast will take us deeper into Japan’s snow country including episodes covering some of Japan’s …
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Snow Country Stories Japan remains on a break between Season 1 and Season 2. This is the second upload of two previous episodes - an edit of what was Episode 04 / Nakano of 100 Empty Houses: In Search of Solutions to Japan's Akiya Problem. The original episode was around 1 hour in length whereas this edit is just over 20 minutes. Another of my most…
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Encore Edit / Remove, Replace, Repeat: The Unending Restoration of a 200 Year Old Farmhouse in Togari, Nagano
20:54
Snow Country Stories Japan is currently on a break between Season 1 and Season 2. As promised, during this period I’ll be uploading a couple of previous episodes, beginning with this edit of what was Episode 2 of the podcast. The original episode was the longest to date at over 1 hour whereas this edit is just over 20 minutes. I consider this chat …
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Episode 12 of the podcast is the first of my intended travel guides for recommended destinations in the snow country. Located just outside of Nagano City, Togakushi is home to some of Japan’s most important Shinto shrines and one of the snow country’s most important cultural landscapes. Mount Togakushi has been a focal point of devotion for more th…
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In Episode 11 of Snow Country Stories Japan, I speak with Yuki Iwanami, a renowned photographer based in the snow country area of Aizu in Fukushima. Yuki’s photography explores the humanity of man-made and natural disasters such as war, trafficking and earthquakes. As such, his portfolio features his work in countries including Nepal, Pakistan, Chi…
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In Episode 10 of Snow Country Stories Japan, I speak with Sam Yoneda, lead distiller at the newly opened but already well-awarded Nozawa Onsen Distillery. Founded with a vision to produce gin and whisky that reflect the character of Nozawa Onsen, the distillery opened its doors to the public in December 2022 and since that time has won multiple awa…
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In Episode 09 of Snow Country Stories Japan, I speak with Tim Bunting. Based in Yamagata but originally from New Zealand, Tim is a practicing ‘yamabushi’ and better known by his moniker the ‘Kiwi Yamabushi’. Translating as ‘one who prostrates himself on a mountain’, the word ‘yamabushi’ refers to mountain ascetics – those who practices various form…
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In Episode 08 of Snow Country Stories Japan I delve a little deeper into what and where the snow country is, why I value it, why I think you should visit and my own story and the services I provide as a writer and guide based in Nagano. I also provide some basic information about how to get to the snow country, which obviously depends to your exact…
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In Episode 07 of Snow Country Stories Japan, I speak with Kevin Kato, a guide and writer based in Matsumoto, Nagano. Kevin guides extended cycling and walking tours in Japan and in the first half of the interview we discuss the pleasure we both find in guiding, the need to convey of sense of place to guests and the growing popularity of cycling, in…
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In Episode 06 of Snow Country Stories Japan, I had the privilege of visiting Shiga Kogen Brewery – one of the snow country’s most recognisable, popular and awarded breweries. Established in 2004 by the founder and master brewer, Sato Eigo, Shiga Kogen Brewery grew out of his family’s much older Tamamura Honten – a sake brewery dating back more than…
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In Episode 05 of Snow Country Stories Japan, I speak with Hayashi Motohiro - better known as ‘Moto the Mountain Guide’. Moto is a true man of the mountains, an experienced guide who makes his working and guiding in Japan’s tallest mountains. As such, Moto is most certainly leading the high life here in the snow country of Japan. Japan is in every s…
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Hello again from the snow country! This is a short announcement to let you know that as of this week, the name of the podcast will be changing from ‘Snow Country For Old Men’ to ‘Snow Country Stories Japan’ and with that, the website address will also be updated. The reasons for the change are simple and won’t result in any alteration to the podcas…
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Ep 33. Do you want to make a snowball
1:03:49
1:03:49
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Am I bored of my BFRB? What is intentional peer support? How can we move from helping to learning together? How to advocate for BFRBs? Fly fly nothing’s perfect! Guest: Jen - @origamistoryclub IG: @fidgetpodcast https://fidgetpodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.Από τον Jason Yu
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In Episode 04 of Snow Country Stories Japan*, I speak with Murai Shota. Shota is a young man originally from Nagoya and now living in small town of Nakano in Nagano; and tasked with finding solutions to, or it could be said new beginnings for, Nakano’s estimated 1000 empty houses. Known as ‘空き家 / akiya’ in Japanese - a word that translates as ‘empt…
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In Episode 03 of Snow Country Stories Japan*, I speak with Komatsu Haruna, a multi-talented musician and performer based in Iizuna, Nagano. Haruna is a member of Iizuna Gongen Daiko, a local ‘taiko’ (drum) group that has been performing for over 30 years. Haruna joined Iizuna Gongen Daiko in 2017 and now both performs and composes music for the gro…
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Remove, Replace, Repeat: The Unending Restoration of a 200 Year Old Farmhouse in Togari, Nagano
1:05:23
1:05:23
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Episode 02 of Snow Country Stories Japan* transports us to Togari, Nagano to chat with Rich Morgan. Rich and his wife Maiko are engaged in the ongoing restoration of their home, a 200 year old traditional farmhouse. Known as ‘kominka’ in Japanese, these beautiful houses acted much like lifeboats within the heavy snow, allowing families to sustain t…
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Hello and welcome to the first episode of Snow Country Stories Japan* – a podcast about life in Japan’s legendary ‘yukiguni’. In Episode 01 of the podcast I sat down for a chat with Mark of Madarao Mountain Lodge. Originally from Sydney, Australia, Mark has been living in Japan for years and operating his ski lodge in Madarao since 2017. He’s a big…
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