Audio
Welcome to Episode 37!
First, we dive into McDonald’s Japan’s "Come on Baby! New York Burgers," a limited-edition lineup featuring square-shaped buns and bold flavors inspired by New York classics. Options include Buffalo Chicken, Thick Beef and Potato, and Deli Shrimp Tartar, offering a creative take on American culture.
Next, we discuss the abolition of smoking rooms on Shinkansen bullet trains across Japan. As of March 2024, all smoking rooms on the Tokaido, Sanyo, and Kyushu Shinkansen lines will be repurposed for emergency supplies, reflecting growing health-conscious trends and declining smoking rates.
For travel enthusiasts, we highlight the recovery of foreign entries to Japan, which reached 96% of pre-COVID levels in September 2023. With over two million international visitors, this marks a near-full recovery, driven by strong demand and favorable exchange rates.
We also cover the Zengin bank outage, which affected millions of transactions due to a system glitch. Participating banks have pledged to compensate customers for losses, including fees and late charges, while investigations into the cause continue.
Finally, we touch on Shibuya’s Halloween celebrations, emphasizing the challenges faced by residents during this popular event. From overcrowding to noise and littering, the festivities highlight the need for balance between public enjoyment and local respect.
As always, we wrap up with our "Word of the Day" segment, introducing another practical term to enrich your Japanese vocabulary.