Ever wondered what living in Japan is like for foreigners? We're Annie & Zeb Ramsbotham, hosts of "Rambling Ramsbothams". While our journey in Japan might be rambling, we hope this podcast isn't! Join us as we move from the United States to Ishikawa Prefecture, work in the JET Programme, explore Japan by bike, and navigate our new home. This podcast is for anyone curious about moving abroad, or what life in Japan is like for a couple of Americans. Subscribe to Rambling Ramsbothams anywhere you get your podcasts!

This week Annie gets to visit an Elementary School and practice proper business card etiquette for introductions. Zeb is preparing for his biggest cycling race of the year this weekend, the Ontake Hill Climb, and Annie went on her first bikepacking trip in Toyama Prefecture. We also navigate the international shipping process for packages, and share the things we learned to do next time.
How’s the camping and biking on the Amaharashi Coast? Is mid-May the best time to visit Japan? And what do you call a litter box in Japanese?

This week we try to get rid of one yen coins, go on a school field trip to the Kanazawa castle park, visit the eye doctor, and talk about how drivers say thank you in Japan. Another week talking about new experiences, mundane errands, and all the things we learn in between while navigating life abroad.

This week we share Zeb’s Ibukiyama cycling race result, share a listener email, talk about making kites, flying carp for children’s day, eating kashiwa mochi, and trying wisteria flavored ice cream. It’s Golden Week in Japan!

More about the...
Ibukiyama Hill Climb Cycling Race: https://jbcfroad.jp/race/14267
Golden Week: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2282.html
Ashikaga Flower Park: https://www.ashikaga.co.jp/english/
Kashiwa Mochi: https://www.justonecookbook.com/kashiwa-mochi/

This week we’re talking about one of Japan’s most famous cycling routes (the Shimanami Kaido), soy sauce that spends three years in an open fermentation, and what the end of the school year is like here. It’s Spring Break in Japan, and the cherry blossoms are just starting to bloom!

More about the...
Shimanami Kaido: https://shimanami-cycle.or.jp/cycling/en-02.html
Tobishima Kaido: https://setouchicycling-tobishima.jp/
Yumeshima Kaido: https://cycling-ehime.com/en/routes/the_yumeshima_kaido/
Okamoto Soy Sauce: https://okamoto-shoyu.com/

The Hokuriku Shinkansen Line was extended for the first time since 2015, and we got seats on the very first train from Kanazawa to Tsuruga, the new end of the line!

Why did we wake up at 4am? How was the train journey? What did we do in Tsuruga? We’ll talk about all that this week!

Links to articles about Tsuruga that we mention:
Why Tsuruga? https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15200878
Impact of the Line: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15201001
Anime statues in Tsuruga: https://ourstarblazers.com/vault/371/

We have a big life update this week - we’re moving to a new country in the Fall! We’ll talk about where we’re moving and some of the factors that led to our decision.

We picked today to talk about this since March 20th is Vernal Equinox Day and the spring equinox is traditionally seen as a time of new life & renewal. We thought it would be a poetic time to share a big change in our life!

But don’t worry - the podcast will still be focused on life in Japan content through August!

We got to ride the Berumonta, a scenic train in Toyama Prefecture! This train has a sushi chef on board, you can get sake delivered to your seat, and local fans that wait along the line to wave as you go by.

Here’s more info about the train: http://berumonta.jp/You can reserve seats for this train by asking at any green JR ticket station window!

We also talk about the origins of Mister Donuts, the beloved chain in Japan, thanks to a correction from a listener email! Finally, we’ll talk about eating eel bones, the mountain town of Johana, and what makes a ramen shop “welcoming to women”.

This week we read a listener email about a farm in Wakayama, talk about our friends visiting from Australia, and why there are so many “Little Kyotos” in Japan. We also talk about language in travel writing and tourism vocabulary, and mountain biking in Gunma Prefecture.

Links to things we discussed:
Wakayama farm from a listener’s email: https://www.ryunohara.com/
Is Kanazawa really a “Little Kyoto”?: https://kanazawa--tourism-net.translate.goog/about-kanazawa/shoukyoto/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja
Washington Post article on the term “ethnic food”: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/why-everyone-should-stop-calling-immigrant-food-ethnic/2015/07/20/07927100-266f-11e5-b77f-eb13a215f593_story.html
Article about responsible travel story-telling: https://rootedstorytelling.com/storytelling/responsible-travel-storytelling-content-practices/
Train Rail MTB Experience in Gifu Prefecture: https://rail-mtb.com/

This week we talk about cycling along the Tedori River Canyon Road in Ishikawa, aizuchi, talking to yourself, food on kids menus around the world, nearly naked men, and the first person Japan sent to space.

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More about…
The Tedori River area in Ishikawa: https://hakusan-geo.jp/en/area/234/
The first Japanese astronaut: https://neojaponisme.com/2011/06/07/japans-forgotten-first-astronaut/
Aizuchi: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/aizuchi-japanese-listening/
The last “near-naked men” temple event: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15170934

We have a new monthly newsletter! Sign up at www.ramblingramsbothams.com/newsletter

This week we’re talking about train deals to save money on a trip to Kanazawa, the emperor’s birthday, sake brewing, giant peach babies, samurai swords, and tiny bars.

Here are some links to things we discuss:

Hokuriku Ouen Ticket Announcement: https://soranews24.com/2024/02/16/new-jr-shinkansen-inclusive-rail-pass-is-a-huge-bargain-great-way-to-help-out-a-region-in-need/
JR Rail’s Announcement (in Japanese): https://www.jreast.co.jp/press/2023/20240214_ho02.pdf
Hokuriku Arch Pass (another option): https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/hokuriku-arch-pass/
Ishikawa Prefecture’s Tourism website: https://www.ishikawatravel.jp
Noguchi Sake: https://noguchi-naohiko.co.jp/
Fermented food/samurai experience in Kanazawa: https://www.kabura.jp/
Kanazawa’s “golden gai” bar area: http://www.kanazawa-shintenchi.com/

Thanks to National Foundation Day in Japan, Zeb had a day off from school this week! We got to spend the day in Kanazawa city, having lunch and checking out a new cafe. Annie also saw ten thousand dandelion puffballs in a small & interesting art gallery named Himito on the Saigawa River.

Speaking of cafes and lunch spots, we also talk about the concept of “third places,” and unique examples of these in Japan. Finally, we talk about describing cardinal directions in Japanese. Did you know that the language you use can change the way you think about direction or time?

More links:
Himito Gallery: https://www.instagram.com/himito_kanazawa/?hl=en
Here’s a 2016 study about Third Places in Tokyo: https://www.gensler.com/gri/tokyos-third-places
More about Cardinal Directions in Japanese: https://www.japanesewithanime.com/2017/03/north-south-east-west-in-japanese.html

Hello from snowy Ishikawa once again! We’re starting off this week by answering some listener questions - has the “coming of age day” cut off divided friend groups? We also talk about clickbait when it comes to travel and promoting Japan.

Finally, February 3rd was Setsubun (節分), or the “seasonal division” marking the day that winter ends and spring begins! We celebrated by throwing beans at the devil and silently eating our ehōmaki (恵方巻).

Japan Tourism Statistics: https://statistics.jnto.go.jp/en/graph/#graph--inbound--prefecture--ranking

This week we visit Kenrokuen (兼六園) in the snow, very early one morning! Zeb included some soundbites from our walk - did you know that every morning there’s a time you can enter the garden for free? We also talk about a coworker’s tip for making supermarket sushi taste better, a kotatsu river boat, and some superstitions from Japan.

This week we talk about a new dating app in Japan created by the Tokyo government, the history of kotatsu (& a kotatsu train), and a special stamp collecting event in Wakayama Prefecture for cyclists. We also talk about strawberry day, the phrase ichigo ichie (一期一会), and other Japanese idioms (or yojijukugo).

Should you visit Kanazawa right now? What do you do with New Years decorations after the celebrations end? When do you eat kagami mochi? We’re talking about these questions this week, plus the annual Japanese university entrance exams, soy sauce ice cream, why turning 60 is so special, and the unluckiest ages to turn.

This week we’re happy to be recording from back in our apartment! We’ll start with an update on how things are going after the Noto Earthquake, and some news about the area. We shared a "24 hours after" episode last week that we recorded from a hotel, but didn't have any video to go with it - so if you're interested you can find that episode anywhere you get your podcasts.

Donations for the Ishikawa Earthquake can be given to the prefecture directly through this link: https://www.pref.ishikawa.lg.jp/suitou/gienkinr0601.html
English information on donating to Noto Earthquake relief fund can be found here (a non-exhaustive list): https://www.tokyoweekender.com/japan-life/news-and-opinion/where-to-donate-to-help-victims-of-japans-2024-noto-peninsula-earthquake/

We’ll also talk about Year of the Dragon facts, omikuji fortunes, coming-of-age day, and the kanji that was chosen to represent 2023.

This week we talk about shared spaces that we wish existed, how you make a snowman in Japan, this year's JET Programme video contest, and the restriction on wheeled vehicles during the Edo Period rule of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

JET Program Video Contest details: https://jetprogramme.org/en/videocontest/

More about the wheeled vehicle restrictions:
https://d-arch.ide.go.jp/je_archive/english/society/wp_je_unu9.html
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/way-shogun-180975196/

It's the first snow of winter here and we're taking you with us on a walk around Kanazawa City!

The b-roll footage is from the same day, but it doesn't always match the audio - feel free to just close your eyes and imagine you're joining us on a snowy city day! We'll take you for a cozy train and bus ride, some cafe visits, walk through snowy shrines, play gacha pon machines, and enjoy a soba lunch.

We hope you like this "field trip" format - let us know if you want more of these style episodes!

This past week was Zeb's birthday! We celebrated with pizza - but how is pizza in Japan different from pizza in the US?

We also get into the history of the bike in Japan, when it first arrived, and how Japan popularized a niche version of cycling in the 70s called "Pass Hunting" (峠の狩り).

Also this week, are city bikes called Mama-chyari or Chyarinko? How do you measure essay length in Japanese writing? And do you use a "Poke-ball" to catch Pokemon in Japan?

This week we visit the dentist for the first time in Japan - we found out what a tooth cleaning was like, how much it cost, whether anesthesia is an option for pain, and even had a filling replaced. We also saw the new "Godzilla Minus One" in theaters, and got to ride bikes with some of Zeb's high school students during a Saturday team cycling practice.

December is here! Is it ok to talk about Cremation and Christmas in the same episode? This time we're talking about funerals in Japan vs. the US, taking the JLPT language test (and what Annie would do differently next time), and festive illumination events. It's time to settle in and get cozy for the arrival of winter in Japan!
The JLPT mock test Annie used to study: https://www.unagibun.com/jlpt-online/

Today we’re talking about our first time camping in Japan! We went to Wakayama Prefecture for a camping and cycling trip - we'll talk about some scenic gravel biking, seeing parts of the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage trail, how a construction worker saved our ride, three-legged crows, important Shinto shrines, and yogurt lids inspired by leaves.

Annie had a "modeling" opportunity to promote tourism in the Kaga Onsen area of Ishikawa Prefecture! This week we talk about the places where she was photographed, including Yamashiro Onsen, Yamanaka Onsen, Kakusenkei Kawadoko river cafe, Korogi Bridge, and The Museum of Snow and Ice.

We also talk about the Japanese art of kintsugi, or repairing broken pottery and glass with lacquer and gold. Annie was able to see master artist Yagi Shigeki in Kaga repair bowls with kintsugi.

Finally, we reply to a listener email about Lolita fashion & "Gosurori", part of the street style fashion in Japan.

This week we're sharing a slightly shorter episode, featuring some recent news & fun (but maybe not so useful) facts about recent life in Japan!

We'll talk about musical roads, silk making, Godzilla, Japan's first school, island names, nighttime heritage views, and more.

The last two episodes (74 & 75) are not available as videos because of some audio recording issues, sorry! You can still listen to them as podcasts on any platform though.

This week we talk about visiting the TeamLab experience at the Kanazawa Castle, part of their Digitized City art projects. We also talk about a common plant in Japan that cats may like even more than catnip, and about recent tourism statistics in Japan (https://statistics.jnto.go.jp/en/graph/).

It's persimmon season and we're discussing different kinds of the fruit (both Shibu-gaki and Ama-gaki), as well as where the first sweet persimmon tree came from in Japan. We're also talking about husbands getting monthly pocket money (kozukai, 小遣い), and what "horumonyaki" is on the Yakiniku restaurant menu.

This week we're talking about collecting Goshuin (御朱印) seal stamps at shrines and temples, unique ways to eat konjac (konyakku or こんにゃく), and the different onsen (hot spring) water in Gunma Prefecture. We specifically discuss the mineral-rich water in Shima, the sulfuric water in Kusatsu, and the iron-rich water in Ikaho. Finally we'll mention a couple recent articles about mystery tsunamis and the plea for Japanese residents to eat more scallops.
Thanks also to Sandy, Steven, and Elijah for sending in some listener emails this week.

Today we're talking about what we did on our "date day" in Kanazawa! After a nice Fall bike ride from Uchinada, we took the train into the city for some conveyor belt sushi lunch. We also enjoyed coffee at one of the many nice coffee shops downtown, checked out some gacha pon machines, earned a chibi Gundam gunpla model, and enjoyed some seasonal fall flavors. Finally, we'll talk about the Bike Messenger World Championship events that took place in Yokohama last week.
2023 Bike Messenger World Championships: https://cmwc2023.jpbma.org/en/

After 4 audio-only episodes on the road while visiting family, we’re finally back with a video version!

This week we'll read an email from a listener about his interactions with a neighbor, talk about what weddings are like in Japan (both traditional Shinto style and "white" weddings) , and describe the unexpected things that Annie brought back to Japan from the US. (Hint, one thing could be described as the southern US version of edamame!)

This one is all about our summer break bike touring trip! We cycled around 4 prefectures in Japan (Ishikawa, Toyama, Gifu, and Nagano) for 7 days, covering 430 Miles and 34,824 feet (or 690 Kilometers, 10,601 Meters ).

Our cycling route took us from Uchinada (outside Kanazawa) to Hida to Kanayama to Tsumago-juku to Matsumoto to Shirakawa-go and back to Uchinada.

We talk about riding on the historic Nakasendo road, staying with a host who is the 14th generation to live in his house, seeing two castles (Matsumoto's is one of 12 original castles left in Japan!), villages with gassho style houses, seeing the 75th annual fireworks show on Lake Suwa, swimming in rivers, and eating all kinds of snacks.

Happy Mountain Day! We’re recording this in advance because we'll be heading out towards the Japanese Alps on our biggest bike touring trip yet. How do you plan a cycling trip? Zeb shares his tips on setting your goals, mapping your route, and finding lodging. Let us know what trips you've been on, or where you plan to ride!

Also, did you know that Japan has 72 seasons? You can see them all and here: http://www.usjapanctn.net/72seasons.html

Earlier this year we hit our 1-year "podcast anniversary", but this week was our "Japan-iversary" which was more special! Join us as we celebrate one year of living in Japan, share some of our favorite sounds from life here, hit the highlights of each month, and touch on the hardest parts about life abroad. Thanks for listening to our ramblings so far, here's to the next year!

This week we talk about our first appointment to convert our International Drivers Licenses to a Japanese Driving License, Annie's first bike race in over a year at the Shimano Biker's Festival, and cycling into the alps and across the Utsukushigahara Highlands in Nagano Prefecture.

The 31st annual Shimano Biker's Festival was at Fujimi Panorama Resort, and it was a ton of fun with a huge variety of events. The area around the Venus Line road was a beautiful place to ride bikes in Japan, and we hope to return soon!

This week we talk about some summer break activities at Zeb’s workplace, including his upcoming annual employee health check. What’s included in the standard yearly health exam, called Ippan Kenko Shindan or Ippan Kenshin（一般健康診断・一般健診)?

Annie talks about some art opportunities in Japan this past week, including a kutaniyaki (九谷焼) painting experience, and participating in a local flea market. How do you paint or make kutaniyaki? Where can you search online to find craft fairs and flea markets in Japan?

This week we talk about seeing Miyazaki's new movie, "How Do You Live?" (君たちはどう生きるか), or the english title, "The Boy and the Heron." Don't worry, no spoilers! What are Japanese movie theaters like? Did the marketing plan work well for Miyazaki's last film?
We also talk about Zeb's weekend "mission" in town with other English teachers, how his debate contest practice went, and Marine Day. To celebrate Marine Day (or Ocean Day), we got to enjoy a beach barbecue party!

This week we're responding to a listener email about extraterrestrial life, talking about the Noto Abare Matsuri, or the "fire and violence rampage festival," and discussing the pay that language teachers receive while on the JET Program. We're also talking about Tanabata, the festival that celebrates long-distance relationships, and what Annie was surprised to see in a nearby Japanese pet store.

This week we talk about hydrangea flowers (one perk of rainy season!), discuss work culture with Japanese and American friends, and mention cool things we saw on our bike rides this weekend (including Wakutama-kun, the onsen egg mascot of Wakura, and Sekidousan, a nearby holy mountain).

This week we're talking about cool new animals we saw on bike rides, anime recommendations from listeners, Japan's tourism statistics, debate contest judging, our new Japanese class, and saying goodbye to our futon! How long into the Ishikawa summer do you think we can make it before turning on our AC for the first time?

This week is our anniversary! Well, the anniversary of starting this podcast! We'll talk about why we started it, how our podcasting setup changed, revisit questions about Japan that we had in our first episodes, and share some plans we have for the future. We'll also read an email from a listener, and talk a little about Kinosaki Onsen in Hyogo Prefecture!

What would you like to hear from this podcast in the future? Let us know, and thank you for listening!

This week we went back to Gunma Prefecture for another one of Zeb's JBCF road cycling races! We talk about how the racing went, and also the hotel we stayed in at Shima Onsen. We visited Sekizenkan, a Taisho Era bath house that is one of Japan's oldest, with a red bridge that is rumored to have inspired the bath house bridge in Miyazaki's Spirited Away.

Back in the Kanazawa area, we've been sampling some of the many ice creams available in the so called "Japanese Ice Cream Capital", and trying to stay cool during the rapidly approaching summer months.

Luckily we were able to "stay cool" during a language class placement test, and will be talking about our upcoming Japanese language lessons too!

We're starting this week's episode with a crazy update on the drone we found in the river! But, the main event from this past week was the Hyakumangoku Festival, an annual parade and weekend celebration in Kanazawa. We'll talk about the history behind the festival, the meaning of the name, and highlights from the parade.

Also this week, we talk about Zeb's guest appearance on the podcast, "Japan Station." Thanks to host Tony Vega for the great conversation! You can find his show at this link, or anywhere you get your podcasts.

This week, we answer some listener questions! We'll talk about different types of kimono, whether there's a specific day of the week to visit shrines, and new grocery store staples for us. It's also about the time of year when other JET Programme participants are hearing back about their placements! If you're a 2023 JET, we'd love to hear where you got placed!

This week's episode is about Zeb's most recent bike race weekend in beautiful Nagano Prefecture! He raced a hill climb event starting in Otaki and riding up Mt. Ontake (a sacred and active volcano) with 4000' of elevation gain. We also got to stay in an onsen ryokan (a hot spring inn) that's part of Japan's "Secret Hot Spring Society," and admired the beautiful turquoise water in Kiso River. The Nezamenotoko Gorge in Agematsu and the Atera Valley were both highlights. The Kiso Valley is the halfway point on the Nakasendo, the famous Edo period route connecting Tokyo to Kyoto. It's a stunning area with an incredible amount of natural beauty - we hope to return soon to explore it more!

This week we're reading a couple emails from listeners! One with tips on renting city bikes in Kanazawa, and another with a question about making friends in a foreign country. We're also talking about the Uchinada World Kite Festival this past weekend, what kids in Japan do with their baby teeth, and special birthdays in Japan.

It's our 49th podcast episode, and for the first time, it's also available as a video! Welcome to our brand new channel - video quality will continue to improve as this was the first try! (next time we'll make sure to lock the exposure settings so the lighting isn't such an issue) :)

As for the content, this week we're talking about a couple big earthquakes that happened here on the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture (up to a 6.5 of 7 on the Shindo Scale out in Suzu!) We're also talking about bikepacking in Japan, getting your bike out of the airport, and reserving campsites - plus a bus trip where Annie got to partake in all-you-can-eat strawberry picking.