Best Joshua Furr Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 25: Taco Bell and a Party for Uesugi Kenshin 12:55

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1M ago12:55

12:55

The twilight of summer is upon us, Backers! Ruuuun! Or... Head straight to your local Taco Bell, where it's HOT HOT HOT all year long, and you can cool off with the refreshingly turquoise (and healthy) Baja Blast. If that's not entirely in the cards, then Option 2 awaits... This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Lord Kenshin Festival in Joets…

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Episode 24: City Pop Girls and the Bullet Train to Niigata 10:44

3M ago10:44

10:44

Hey you summer-lovin' Backers! 'Tis a somber somber episode for our host, as he looks mortality in the face and presses the record button at a certain age. Music helps, especially City Pop queen Miki Matsubara and her debut LP Pocket Park (in mint-condition). Give it a spin and feel the Bubble Economy vibes! Speaking of Japan's roaring 80s, we're s…

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Episode 23: Croquettes and the Father of Japanese Wine 9:48

4M ago9:48

9:48

Hey you full-bodied Backers! Pardon my French, but we're heavy under its influence these days, especially our appétits. Croquettes, little fried things stuffed with other things, aren't easy to ruin, but will Josh find a way? Or will it be a révolution de la cuisine? Speaking of French influence, we're tipping our flutes to Kawakami Zenbei, not onl…

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Episode 22: Chilli Con Carne and Japan's Finest Blades 10:14

5M ago10:14

10:14

Hey all you stainless-steeled Backers! We're on the cusp of May, which means warm weather and even warmer cuisine, particularly the kind that causes gastrointestinal issues. Chilli con Carne is the name of the game these days, but will it lead to inflamed ulcers and increased bathroom time? A deliciously spicy way to go! Cutting to the quick, this …

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Episode 21: Aliens and Some Awesome Ales 15:36

6M ago15:36

15:36

Guess who’s of legal age, Backers?? But before we imbibe, Josh takes his family on an unfortunate visit into the mind of Swiss surrealist H.R. Giger at his eponymous museum; a retrospectively bad idea. Will his son be scarred for life? Can one separate the alien from the artist? Time will tell! Yes indeed, The Back of Japan turns 21, and in honor o…

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Episode 20: Some Iconic Eaves Pt. 2 17:34

7M ago17:34

17:34

Hey youz backers, No time for love (or preamble), Dr. Jones! It's Part 2 of our chat with Charlie Stratton and Willem Kortekaas about Niigata's longest Gangi-dōri (雁木通り), or covered eaves that are a crucial part of the Snow Country's heritage. Thanks for listening and stay warm! Josh

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Episode 20: David Lynch and Some Iconic Eaves 16:06

8M ago16:06

16:06

Have a ♥️, my beloved Backers! This month there’s plenty of passion—and surreal disorientation—going around with a trip down David Lynch lane, including a Twin Peaks binge, and an immediate Mulholland Drive followup. Heartily recommended…but just space them out and make sure you’re in a safe space. Speaking of safe spaces, this week we’re taking a …

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Episode 19: Beef Bourguignon and Some Blind Singing Goze 12:51

9M ago12:51

12:51

It’s Christmas time, you holly-jolly Backers! Thanks to you, it’s been a great year and what better way to bring things to a close then with a food coma, brought on by an onslaught of hearty food. Will Josh’s decision to cook Beef Bourguignon cause immense delight, or instant diarrhea? It’s anybody’s guess! In honor of Hokuriku (and the holiday), w…

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Episode 18: Stuffing and Some Sado Gold 10:59

10M ago10:59

10:59

Happy Thanksgiving, you Backers! First off, I’m THANKFUL for you and your ears on this holiday, but not so sentimental towards stuffing. It’s a calorie-filled overhyped breaded garnish, not a necessity! Rant over. Today, we’re digging deep (pun intended) into the history of Niigata’s own Sado Gold Mine, from its roots as a medieval silver haven to …

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Halloween Episode: A Slew of Spooky Monsters 14:25

11M ago14:25

14:25

Backer, beware... A cauldron of fear awaits you! 'Tis the midnight hour when we delve into Niigata's strange creatures: the yokai. Seven spooky monsters stand ready to chill your bones, freeze your blood, and, just perhaps, melt your heart. The gang's all here: Nekomata, Yuki-onna, Yukitaro, Yama-otoko, Azuki Arai, Danzaburou Tanuki, and Yasaburoba…

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Episode 16: Diphthongs and Some Tasty Grains 14:26

1y ago14:26

14:26

Back to School, all you Backers! Well, at least me anyway. Class in session (for adults) and it's time to harvest what brain cells are left. Speaking of harvest, it's that magical season in Japan again when that most humble - and crucial - of grains is collected and consumed: rice. And wearing the crown is the Niigata-native "koshihikari", but how …

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Episode 15: Beef Bowls and Fuji Rock 12:08

1y ago12:08

12:08

Hey you sunburnt Backers! The weather may be hot, but there's nothing hotter than a steamy bowl of gyūdon (beef bowl) in the summer. Well, almost... FUJI ROCK, BABY! Every year, a gaggle of artists make their way to Niigata to perform their hearts out, and we have none other than iconoclastic founder, Masahiro Hidaka, to thank. So, this week we tra…

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Episode 14: Father's Day and One Proud Papa 11:59

1+ y ago11:59

11:59

Raising a glass today for Dear Ol' Dad, and the family that have to put up with him. To all ye who've sown seed (consciously or not), hope you had a great one! Speaking of fathers, today we take a look at the extraordinary life of Maejima Hisoka. Born in Joetsu, Niigata, he's known as the father of the Japanese postal system, but digging deeper, we…

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Episode 13: Mother's Day and One Hot Mama 11:13

1+ y ago11:13

11:13

'Tis a very special Back of Japan celebrating all the Moms out there for raising babies into men and women, even when we're still just big babies! In the spirit of mamasitas, we're heading straight into Niigata's Furamachi district to shine a bright "red-light" on one of Japan's most beautiful - and maybe influential - geishas of all time: Shin Sho…

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Episode 12: The Bear and Some Cherry Blossoms 11:06

1+ y ago11:06

11:06

Hey all you Backers! Spring is the time for growth and trying out new things, like watching FX's 2022 show, The Bear, and almost tasting the Michelin-worthy food in its kitchens. Moreover, April showers may bring May flowers, but there are still plenty of petals to be seen, especially at Joetsu's annual "sakura hanami", or cherry-blossom festival. …

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Episode 11: Irish Rock and Some Green Stones 8:10

1+ y ago8:10

8:10

Top o' the mornin' to ya's, Back Lovers! Not only has Spring sprung, but St. Patrick's Day is around the corner, which means lots of green socks, green beer and the pastoral sounds of Irish folk-rock band, The Pogues. Keeping on the theme of green, we dig deep into the history of jade in Japan and Niigata's key role in its production, especially in…

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Episode 10: Detectives and Powdery Slopes 10:29

1+ y ago10:29

10:29

Hey all you Snow Bunnies, It's full-blown winter all over, especially with Season 4 of HBO's awesome series "True Detective". Moonshine, murder and mountains of snow in Alaska's outback! However, if that's not your thing, there are plenty of other ways to spend the colder months, and that's zipping down the beautiful Japanese mountains. We dive hea…

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Christmas Episode: Niigata's 5 Great Ramen 12:42

2y ago12:42

12:42

Happy Holidays, Back Lovers! Since you've all presumably been good this year, Santa's giving all of us a real treat: full bowls of steaming delicious ramen from Niigata! But not just any ol' bowl, no; these are Niigata's 5 Great Ramen (新潟５大ラーメン) from all over the prefecture. We'll be stopping by the original shops, waxing over the stories and saliv…

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Episode 8: Eggs and Flamin' Pots 10:37

2y ago10:37

10:37

Put on your aprons and light up your kilns, Back Lovers! Due to the weather taking a chilly turn, one of the best ways to stay warm is to fill your belly with those most useful protein ovals: eggs! Lots o' ways to cook 'em, but we touch on the simple yet elegant omelette. The kitchen's no place to be scared of! You know what they say, "You can't ma…

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Episode 7: Murakami and Some Red Leaves 10:39

2y ago10:39

10:39

Hello there, you Jeans/Flannel Lovers! It's spooky time and, steering far from the clutches of pumpkin spice, we touch on required Halloween reading from a master of Japanese horror: Ryu Murakami, author of disturbing classics like Piercing, In The Miso Soup and Audition. Read at your own risk! Shifting gears, we turn to the changing of the seasons…

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Episode 6: Interview with Author Eka Wong Pt.2 14:20

2y ago14:20

14:20

Part 2 of my conversation with the super cool and excellent author, Eka Wong. We cover Koshihikari rice, importing from Japan, over-the-top food shows and simple beauty of plain onigiri. The "Hungry In Japan" series are excellent bookshelf companions due to the deliciously arranged dishes, the comprehensive research done and practical use as a type…

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Episode 6: Interview with Author Eka Wong Pt.1 16:25

2y ago16:25

16:25

Man-oh-man, gang, I had the privilege of speaking with Mr. Eka Wong: doctor, father and author of the very popular "Hungry In Japan" series and it was awesome. To boot, he even agreed to speak with me and waste his precious free time while his young son slept! What a guy, eh? We took a little trip down Eka's past, touching on the origin story of hi…

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Episode 5: Birthdays and Sado Island 8:47

2y ago8:47

8:47

Woohoo! It's A Very Back of Japan Birthday! On this episode, Josh... -fortells his mouth-watering birthday lunch -goes an overview trip to the beautiful island of Sado Island and explores its early roots in Japanese history -brushes over the Sado's diverse topography, like a Bob Ross canvas -drops a golden bombshell about the real reason behind Sad…

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Episode 4: Zelda and the Door To Echigo 8:41

2+ y ago8:41

8:41

Happy Late Mother's Day, you guys! In this episiode, -Josh gets his filthy hands on the new Zelda game, but fears its addictive power -We answer a few burning questions about Echigo, specifically HOW DID ECHIGO COME FROM KOSHI, HOW BIG WAS ECHIGO, and HOW DID ECHIGO GET ITS NAME -Now with Koshi out of the way, we've cleared the road to Echigo. Onwa…

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Episode 3: Hanami and Some Burning Water 7:05

2+ y ago7:05

7:05

Happy Hanami, you guys! In this episode, -Josh gushes about the ups and downs of spring, including his allergies -We discuss the beauty and history of the sakura-hanami in Niigata, especially in Joetsu's Takada Park -Then we switch gears and discuss the VERY LAST reference to Koshi Land, which involves an emperor, some burning water and some burnin…

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Episode 2: Apologies and a Fence 7:08

2+ y ago7:08

7:08

In this episode: -Josh apologizes for getting ahead of himself and slooooooooows his Koshi roll -More super old references to Koshi Country (future Kokuriku areas) in Japan -First recorded castle walls in existence were built on the borders of Koshikuni by the Yamata government in response to Ezo threat in the north Nuttari Fence (沼垂柵) https://www.…

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Episode 1: All The Way Back to Koshi 7:12

2+ y ago7:12

7:12

In our first episode, we dig up the origins of the Back: the land of Koshi, which includes modern-day Niigata, Fukui and Toyama prefectures. We find references in the the Kojiki (712 AD) the Nihon Shoki (720 AD) and the Izumo no Kuni Fudoki (733 AD). Also, big unpronounceable names abound: Izanakino-no-mikoto - primordial male deity associated with…

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Welcome To The Back! 1:45

2+ y ago1:45

1:45

A quick introduction and breakdown to the show