Meet Japan Podcast Host: Joseph Tame

Creating a Japan Podcast with a difference, the Japan Podshow Pokya, Joseph Tame took some time out from his busy schedule to answer some of our questions about what what got him started and how he would like to see the show develop. TokyoTopia was also privileged to be able to join Joseph and his co-host George on their first edition.

If you want to hear the voice behind TokyoTopia make sure to listen to their first episode.

Japan Podcast Interview

1. What brought you to Japan and how long have you been here?

I first came to Japan in the autumn of 2000. I'd been working in the Swiss Alps as a waiter for a couple of years and had met a lot of Japanese tourists. Intrigued by the language and the culture I decided to come here for a 6-week holiday, during which I hitchhiked from Hokkaido to Kansai and back. It was a fantastic trip, and I decided to return the following year with a working holiday visa.

When that Japan visa expired, I explored every possible avenue that might lead to a way for me to stay in Japan permanently, but without a university degree and being totally unqualified it was tough. So eventually I decided to return to the UK to study Japanese at the University of Sheffield. Five years later, in the summer of 2008, I graduated, married my wife (an exchange student from Japan studying at Sheffield), and returned to Japan "for good".

2. You recently ran in the Tokyo Marathon 2009 - can you tell us about it?

Myself and my good friend Tom Kobayashi had been meeting every Sunday at 7.30am to jog around the Imperial Palace (a good way to ensure we saw each other regularly and stayed fit!) when we decided to enter the Tokyo Quarter Marathon - having that goal made us more determined to keep the routine going.

35,000 people applied to run that race, but only 5,000 got in, so I decided to share the experience live online. This involved developing a special hat (complete with the Sponge of Speed lol) that would hold my iPhone, the device that I used to broadcast a live video stream of the entire event via Qik.com.

On the day we had over 1000 people watching from my forehead - and when they commented, the phone vibrated, letting me know that I was being supported in my effort to reach the finish line!

3. You've also recently launched Japan Podcast. What got you started and what do you hope to achieve?

I made my first Japan podcast series in 2006-2007 when studying in Japan as an exchange student at Rikkyo University, Tokyo. 'A Year in Japan' was a guide for people interested in studying in Japan - I sought to provide a taste of what life as a student here was like, providing information and entertainment.

Despite a complete lack of publicity it became quite popular so, when I returned to Japan this year, I decided to restart my podcasting career.

Japan Podshow is the first of what I plan to be a series of podcasts aimed at English speakers in Japan, and people outside of Japan with an interest in the country. My aim is to highlight the stories of people doing inspiring stuff over here, whether they're starting an organic food business or hopping from Hokkaido to Kyushu on one foot.

In addition to interviews with people like that, the Japan podcast show will have stories from everyday life in Japan, travel advice and quite a bit of banter.

4. Is anyone else involved in Japan Podcast?

George Foster is my co-presenter. George is one of the most decent, likeable and funny guys I've met. We worked together teaching English over the phone in the winter of 2008/2009, and it's there that we came up with the idea for the Japan Podshow.

We also have other contributors, such as your good self providing things like tourist information or soundbites on elements of life in Japan. Shane Sakata of the Nihon Sun is another regular contributor, and we are looking forward to soon welcoming several more people into the team.

5. What are your future plans for Japan Podcast?

The brand behind Japan Podcast is Pokya - a shortened version of "podcast" in Japanese. The plan is for Pokya to create a number of podcasts running in parallel, each focusing upon a different element of life in Japan.

The first offshoot from Japan Podcast will be JapanTechShow - featuring interviews with people making great use of the gadgets, infrastructure and services we have here in Japan. Keep an eye on our site at Pokya for news on that.

6. You seem to love technology from what I know of you. What gadgets would you give the most kudos?

Without a doubt it has to be the iPhone. The iPhone is an incredible device. Not only is it sleek and sexy, but thanks to the App store it is the gateway to an infinite catalogue of original applications each catering for a niche market.

My favourite apps are the simple ones: GPS enabled Google Apps (I always used to get lost in Tokyo); Ekitan (a train timetable app that means I never have to worry about where to change trains again); Mail; and Mobile Safari, Apple's web browser. It's helped me out in so many situations! Recently when I was asked to present a video on Odawara castle about which I knew nothing, out came the iPhone, quick check of Wikipedia, and I was an instant historian!

Apart from my iPhone, the only other thing I can't live without is my MacBook Pro. I'm also very much into web2.0. Twitter has had a huge impact upon my new life here in Japan, enabling me to link up with a huge pool of talented folks.

7. You have a nickname Tame Goes Wild. Is there a story behind this? Care to share?

The name stems back to 2000 when I set up my first website. I was struggling to come up with a name and asked a few friends. One of them suggested TameGoesWild. It's a play on my surname of Tame which more accurately reflects the kind of person I am!

8. What's your top recommendation for first time visitors to Tokyo? Place, activity, or something else?

Definitely check out Akihabara - the home of electronics in Japan, along with otaku culture. If it's a clear day then the roof of one of Tokyo's tallest buildings, the Mori Tower, offers spectacular views of the city and Mount Fuji. I once spent several hours up there, shooting over 300 pictures.

I'm also a fan of Shinjuku Gyouen which you introduce on Tokyotopia. It's a great place to relax and unwind if you ever feel overwhelmed by the city.

I'd also recommend people pick up a Japanese phrase book before they come and learn the basics of the language. It's not hard.

9. Is there anything people shouldn't do when they visit Tokyo?

Don't talk loudly on trains!

10. Do you think of yourself as being a Tokyoite? Why or why not?

Not really. I've spent much of my life moving around, rarely living in the same place for more than a year, thus I don't associate myself with cities in that way. Ask me again when I'm still here in 10 years time and I might answer differently!

Taming Tokyo: The Guidebook

Wouldn't you love to find a guidebook that is just for first-time visitors to Tokyo. Find those all important things that only a local would know like: what to expect at the airport, what Japanese is most useful for a traveler to know, what packing tips are specific for Tokyo, what should you do in an emergency, the basics of using the trains, and much more. Head over to Taming Tokyo today and judge for yourself.