Interviews

    Over the years, we've had the privilege of spending time with some truly fascinating people. Naturally, this means we've heard fascinating stories. From Buddhist monks to manga artists to hamburger-themed idol groups, you can read about the personal experiences of people in Japan from all walks of life. If we asked the right questions, there should be some unexpected twists in these stories too.
    1. Yasashii Shufu: Cosplaying-Along with a Rental Ossan Dressing up as anime characters with a kind ossan

      | Koichi
    2. Omocha-kun: Our Anthem Singing, Puppet-Wielding Ossan Rental Puppets, wigs, and national anthems

      | Koichi
    3. We Rented a NEET: Someone Who is "Not in Education, Employment, or Training." If she gets paid for being a NEET, is she still a NEET, though?

      | Mami Suzuki
    4. Kotani Makoto: The Homeless Man in Japan You Can Rent for ¥50 Per Day He's happier, more successful, and fatter than you

      | Koichi
    5. Nintendo Collection Master, Isao Yamazaki The First Nintendo historian is also the first Nintendo museum curator

      | Michael Richey and Kanae Nakamine
    6. Japan's 10-Year-Old Philosopher, Published Author, and Grade School Dropout Big thoughts from a small boy who ponders bullying, education, and happiness

      | Michael Richey and Kanae Nakamine
    7. 18 Questions for Professional Japanese Poetry Translator, Sally Ito How the rare co-translation collaboration works

      | Michael Richey
    8. The JET Program Senpai Triple Interview Throwdown 23 Things You Want To Know About Life on JET Answered by Alumni

      | Michael Richey
    9. Meet The World's Only Hamburger Idol Group: Hamburgirl Z If you love song and dance that reminds you of hamburgers, look no further

      | Mami Suzuki
    10. The Day I Met a Japanese Superhero An interview with Rapi:tldier, the cyborg hero who protects Osaka with the power of an express train

      | Mami Suzuki
    11. I'm an Idol Otaku (and Proud of It) Absolutely everything you'd ever want to know about the idol otaku lifestyle

      | Mami Suzuki and Koichi
    12. The Daily Life of the Japanese Housewife 1/3 of women in Japan want to be housewives. We interviewed some to find out why

      | Mami Suzuki
    13. Interview with Chiptune Musician TORIENA Using the Game Boy to make wonderfully manic music

      | Michael Richey and Mami Suzuki
    14. Inside the Japanese TV Industry: An Interview with a TV Salarywoman A former TV news reporter and current TV advertising saleswoman gives us her perspective on the Japanese TV industry

      | Mami Suzuki
    15. The Other Side: What Do Japanese College Students Think of English? Thoughts from dedicated English language learning university students from Japan

      | Rudy Barrett
    16. A Day in the Life of a Japanese Monk Find out what it's like to be a buddhist monk from dawn till dawn again

      | Mami Suzuki
    17. Interview with Sarah Feinerman from Design Festa The Overseas PR Coordinator of Japan's most amazing creative event chats about her work, the Festa, and how to break into the Japanese art world

      | Michael Richey
    18. A Tour of Shueisha, Japan's Largest Manga Publisher Tofugu digs into the wellspring that gave us some of Japan's greatest comics

      | Mami Suzuki
    19. Interview with Araki Joh, the Best Selling Writer of Japan's Most Intoxicating Manga The man behind some of Japan's highest grossing manga and hardest working bartenders

      | Mami Suzuki
    20. Story in my Hands – GAKUTEN Artist Spotlight An interview with an artisan who makes food and furniture fit for mice

      | Michael Richey
    21. Interview with Japanese Let's Play Gamers Anijya and Otojya Doumo Minnasan Ohakonbannichiwa. Omataseshimashita.

      | Koichi
    22. Interview with Ken Taya, aka Enfu, the Master of Japanamericana Enfu talks with us about video game creation, the psyche behind Japanese art, and his thoughts on Big Hero 6

      | Michael Richey
    23. Brian Ashcraft: A Scholar of Japanese Schoolgirls Studies And mom said you couldn't make a living studying schoolgirls

      | Koichi
    24. The Life Of A Junior High Night School Teacher Teaching students by moonlight

      | Mami Suzuki
    25. How to be a Japanese Translator with Susanna Fessler Japanese literature Professor and Translator Tells All

      | Kristen Dexter
    26. An Interview with Medama-Sensei The Racism-Battling Monk of YouTube

      | Rochelle
    27. How to be a Japanese Translator with Jonathan Lloyd-Davies Winner of the 2012 Shirley Jackson award in translation

      | Kristen Dexter
    28. Interview with Japanese Ghost Expert Zack Davisson Everything you wanna know about obake and yokai

      | Linda Lombardi
    29. How to be a Japanese Translator with Jocelyne Allen Hear from a BL Manga Pro

      | Kristen Dexter
    30. Ryan Vandendyck: What It's Like To Localize Games To And From Japan An interview with the founder and CEO of the company that brought you "Citizens of Earth!"

      | Laguna Levine
    31. Takahiro Hotta - The Samurai Actor That Has Killed 10,000 People Mammas, Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Samurai

      | Mami Suzuki
    32. Traveling The Hidden Spots Of Japan With MATCHA An Interview with Shinnosuke Saito

      | Mami Suzuki
    33. An Exclusive Interview with Matt Alt Translation, Localization, and other Nice Japanese Things

      | Linda Lombardi
    34. Interview About Lang-8's New Service: HiNative YangYang Xi and their new mascot, Momonga give us the scoop!

      | Mami Suzuki
    35. Mr. Heavy Metal: An Interview with Marty Friedman Why Megadeth's legendary guitarist moved to Japan

      | Michael Richey
    36. Making Traditional Tenugui With Cloth Artisan Takimoto Somesho An interview with a Tenugui expert

      | Rich
    37. The Empire Built On Egg Shells An Interview With TanKuma Owner Gensho Nishigaki

      | Mami Suzuki
    38. How To Speak Beautiful Japanese An Interview With Yomiuri TV Announcer Naomi Uemura

      | Mami Suzuki
    39. Mining For Japanese Gold The Professor Who Teaches Japanese Through Minecraft

      | Koichi
    40. The Picturesque Bento Art Of Hige-Man Ume-Chan Bentos that look too good to eat (but are too delicious not to)

      | Mami Suzuki
    41. A Man With A Mustache In A Country Without Facial Hair An interview with Japanese Mustache enthusiast Keisuke Umeda

      | Mami Suzuki
    42. Rent-A-Gaijin For All Your Temporary Gaijin Needs Shiny and New! (Or Dirty and Used!)

      | Koichi