Be a podcast guest
Come and have a chat with us
The RisuJapan Podcast is built around Japanese people talking about their own experiences, so guests are the heart of it.
If a relaxed hour-long conversation about something familiar sounds like fun, we would love to hear from you. No experience needed, and nothing to install.
Guests
We would love to hear from Japanese guests
The whole podcast rests on hearing Japanese people talk about their own experiences, so that is who we are looking for. You do not need to be an expert on anything, and you certainly do not need to have been on a podcast before.
If you can chat comfortably about something familiar from your own life in Japan, you already have everything the conversation needs.
A few directions a conversation could take:
Where you live, or lived
A city, a town or a neighbourhood, and what an ordinary day there is like.
The seasons and what fills them
Summer events are an easy example, but any part of the year works just as well.
Getting around
Trains and everyday travel, and the habits that grow up around them.
Homes and daily life
How a home is arranged, what a routine looks like, and the details visitors tend to miss.
Work, study or hobbies
Anything familiar enough that you could happily talk about it over a cup of tea.
A topic of your own
We will offer you a choice of topics, and you are very welcome to suggest something different.
What's involved
How taking part works
Nothing here is complicated, and there is no preparation to do beyond turning up and chatting.
Send your application
Fill in the guest application form with a little about yourself and what you would enjoy talking about.
We send you the details
If it sounds like a good fit, we will follow up with more information and talk through the topics you suggested.
We agree a date and a topic
We aim to record on Sundays at 10:00am UK Time, which is 6pm or 7pm in Japan depending on the time of year. We will ask which of the next five Sundays suit you. Whilst this is our ideal recording time we can try and be flexible if this is not a viable time for you.
We record online
Recording takes place on Riverside, a website for professional podcast recording. There is nothing to install — a web browser is all you need. We allow about an hour and a half for an episode of roughly an hour, so there is no rush if anything needs sorting out.
The episode goes out
Episodes are published on YouTube, Spotify and other platforms. Audio is the primary format; a video version may be released later, though that is not guaranteed.
A good fit
What makes a great guest
Above all, we want the recording to be enjoyable and informal. Everything else is far less important than it might sound.
This is probably for you if
- You are happy to chat informally for about an hour
- You have everyday experience of Japan you enjoy talking about
- You are comfortable being asked to explain the odd thing in more detail
- You would rather keep to light subjects than debate difficult ones
- You can join an online recording from a quiet spot with a web browser
Please don't worry about
- Whether you have ever recorded anything before
- Whether you use your real name or an online one
- Whether you appear on camera
- Whether you say something twice, or lose your thread — we all do
Questions
Things guests usually ask
I am worried about my English skill
We want to hear from real Japanese people about their authentic experiences of Japan. We also know that doing a podcast in a second language can feel daunting — and takes real courage. We’re here to help. If you need to explain something in Japanese, or need help finding the right word or phrase, the hosts will be there to support you and make sure everything runs smoothly.
Do I need to install any software?
No. We record online using Riverside, a website built for professional podcast recording, so all you need is a web browser.
Do I have to appear on camera?
Not at all — that is completely up to you. Audio is the primary format. We do ask guests to consent to both audio and video recording, because a video version may be released later, but its release is not guaranteed.
Can I use my online name instead of my real name?
Yes, you are very welcome to use your online name rather than your real one.
How long does a recording take?
Episodes run to about an hour, and we set aside roughly an hour and a half so there is plenty of room if anything needs sorting out with the audio or video.
When do you record?
Because of the time difference we usually record on Sundays, at 6:00pm Japan time, which is 10:00am in the UK. We will ask which of the next five Sundays suit you, and we are happy to be flexible if another date or time works better.
Will the episode be edited?
Ideally we publish the episode as recorded, because it feels more natural that way, but we can edit it if needed.
How is the topic chosen?
We will give you a choice of topics and send you a short form where you can suggest your own and mark the ones you are most interested in. Pick whichever sounds the most fun.
Do I need to prepare anything?
No preparation is expected. Risu's husband hosts alongside her and will prompt for a little more context where it helps, so you can simply talk about what you know.
Get in touch
Ready to join an episode?
Fill in the guest application form with a little about yourself and the sort of topic you would enjoy. We will reply with more information and find a date that suits you.