Books on Asia is your guide to finding quality books on Japan and Asia, including travel, literature, current events, and culture. Explore Asia in-depth. Hosted by Amy Chavez.
Books on Asia
Claim This Podcastby Amy Chavez, John Ross
4.7(14 reviews)
92 episodes
Updated Bi-weekly
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇯🇵
52
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality54
Social0
YouTube93
Engagement32
Podcast Overview
Books on Asia is your guide to finding quality books on Japan and Asia, including travel, literature, current events, and culture. Explore Asia in-depth. Hosted by Amy Chavez.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
1/19/2021
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52
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality54
Social0
YouTube93
Engagement32
8
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2
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9
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excellent
Episode Length
33 minutes
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3.0/5
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Every 38 days
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Recent Episodes
August 17, 2026
The Devil’s Chow: A Chinese Food History–Stephen Jack
<p>Stephen’s childhood in Bendigo, Australia, gave him early exposure to Chinese culture and food. Nineteenth-century gold rushes brought numerous Cantonese workers to the town, and their cuisine has long since become part of local life. Decades later, Stephen – a longtime Taiwan resident – would pursue his interest in Chinese food by making extensive journeys across China.</p> <p>John and Stephen talk about the rich heritage of Chinese agriculture before eventually getting to some notable dishes, from the famed Peking duck to the infamous <i>wangji dan</i> (fertilized egg). Stephen tells the surprising story of chop suey – long dismissed as an American invention – and describes his joy at tracking down its roots in Guangdong. They finish with a healthy Chinese-style dessert: fruit, in this case the Chinese gooseberry (and its better-known descendant, the kiwifruit).</p> <p><i>The Devil’s Chow: A Chinese Food Histor</i>y by Stephen Jack (2026, Cold Press Books) is a lively combination of food history and travel writing, tracing the development of Chinese cuisine from the earliest times to the present. To learn more about Stephen and his writing you can visit:</p> <p>Stephen Jack’s website:<br><a href="https://www.eatingchina.com/devils-chow-chinese-food-history.htm" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.eatingchina.com/devils-chow-chinese-food-history.htm</a></p> <p>Amazon:<br><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Chow-Chinese-Food-History/dp/6269969425" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Chow-Chinese-Food-History/dp/6269969425</a></p> <p><p>The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with <a href="https://www.plumrainpress.com/" target="_blank">Plum Rain Press</a>. </p><p>Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3Q73KQy" target="_blank"><i>The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island</i></a>. and <a href="https://amzn.to/3Q86M6Y" target="_blank"><i>Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.</i></a></p><p>The <a href="http://booksonasia.net" target="_blank">Books on Asia website</a> posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the <a href="https://linktr.ee/booksonasia" target="_blank">BOA podcast</a> from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the <a href="https://mailchi.mp/551d4de3d669/books-on-asia?mc_cid=b7bcbc365e&mc_eid=4b86655ad1" target="_blank">Books on Asia newsletter</a> to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.</p></p>
August 10, 2026
Taiwan 22: Travels in Paradox—Tyrel Cameron Eskelson
<p>For Tyrel Eskelson, a Canadian academic living in Hokkaido, curiosity about Taiwan-related news stories turned into something of an obsession; there were months of travel, hundreds of conversations, and a book (published by John at Plum Rain Press). In this BOA chat, Tyrel talks about his search to better understand the island nation and its people. Among the topics covered are Taiwan’s Japanese colonial legacy, the 228 Incident of 1947, the Battle of Kinmen, and why the book is called <i>Taiwan 22</i>.</p> <p><i>Taiwan 22</i> is available as an ebook on the <strong>Plum Rain Press </strong>website (but not yet on Amazon).<br><a href="https://www.plumrainpress.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.plumrainpress.com/</a></p> <p><strong>Tyrel Cameron Eskelson</strong> has a YouTube channel called The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1myyPDmPgIYV3aH1Ssa5opj5aWrPKbx8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Interlocutor Podcast</strong></a>, where he talks with writers, historians, and travelers, with an increasing focus on Taiwan, Japan, and China.</p> <p>He has also begun sharing audio versions of these conversations on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.</p> <p><p>The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with <a href="https://www.plumrainpress.com/" target="_blank">Plum Rain Press</a>. </p><p>Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3Q73KQy" target="_blank"><i>The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island</i></a>. and <a href="https://amzn.to/3Q86M6Y" target="_blank"><i>Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.</i></a></p><p>The <a href="http://booksonasia.net" target="_blank">Books on Asia website</a> posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the <a href="https://linktr.ee/booksonasia" target="_blank">BOA podcast</a> from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the <a href="https://mailchi.mp/551d4de3d669/books-on-asia?mc_cid=b7bcbc365e&mc_eid=4b86655ad1" target="_blank">Books on Asia newsletter</a> to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.</p></p>
August 3, 2026
What's it like to host a US Military Base? Jon Mitchell on Okinawa
<p>Today 31 US bases sit on a landmass smaller than Rhode Island, and Okinawans remain Japan's poorest people. Why is this? And what is the US military presence actually doing there?</p> <p>In his new book <i>Why Are We in Okinawa?: A History of Violence</i> (Bloomsbury Academic, 2026), award-winning journalist Jon Mitchell answers these questions and many more, tracing how the islands were annexed by Japan in the 19th century, occupied by the US through WWII, handed back to Japan in 1972, and now menaced by China — with tensions between the military and Okinawan citizens still simmering today. He gives Okinawans a voice, and we should listen. Because you're going to be shocked by some of what you hear on today's podcast episode.</p> <p>Jon Mitchell is a Welsh journalist based in Japan and a special correspondent for the <i>Okinawa Times</i>. He is the recipient of the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan's Freedom of the Press Lifetime Achievement Award, and an expert in the US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). He's the author of several Japanese-language books about Okinawa, along with two English-language books: <i>Why Are We in Okinawa?</i> (2026) and <i>Poisoning the Pacific: The US Military's Secret Dumping of Plutonium, Chemical Weapons, and Agent Orange</i> (2020), which won a Society of Environmental Journalists' award. In 2023, he received Japan's most prestigious journalism prize, the Ishibashi Tanzan Memorial Journalism Award for public service.</p> <p>Follow him on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-mitchell-jpn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">LinkedIn</a> and visit his <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">website</a> www.jonmitchellinjapan.com</p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p><p>The Books on Asia Podcast is co-produced with <a href="https://www.plumrainpress.com/" target="_blank">Plum Rain Press</a>. </p><p>Podcast host Amy Chavez is author of <a href="https://amzn.to/3Q73KQy" target="_blank"><i>The Widow, the Priest, and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island</i></a>. and <a href="https://amzn.to/3Q86M6Y" target="_blank"><i>Amy's Guide to Best Behavior in Japan.</i></a></p><p>The <a href="http://booksonasia.net" target="_blank">Books on Asia website</a> posts book reviews, podcast episodes and episode Show Notes. Subscribe to the <a href="https://linktr.ee/booksonasia" target="_blank">BOA podcast</a> from your favorite podcast service. Subscribe to the <a href="https://mailchi.mp/551d4de3d669/books-on-asia?mc_cid=b7bcbc365e&mc_eid=4b86655ad1" target="_blank">Books on Asia newsletter</a> to receive news of the latest new book releases, reviews and podcast episodes.</p></p>
92 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Books on Asia?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates bi-weekly.
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This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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