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Having produced over 100 episodes of the Abroad in Japan Podcast together with Chris since 2018, and travelled Japan more extensively than most (across 10+ trips), Pete is a Japanophile and top London Radio DJ rolled into one.

Pete's Story

@petedonaldson

Having risen to power first as a radio DJ on hugely popular radio stations XFM and Absolute Radio, Pete Donaldson’s real passion lies in Podcasting, where he can sink his teeth into topics as diverse as football, wrestling and Japan. As the co-host of one of the world’s biggest soccer podcasts “The Football Ramble”, when he’s not immersed in the world of football, he’s sneaking off to Japan to quench his thirst for Coolish ice cream. With an obsession with retro video games and electronics from the 80’s, it’s no surprise he’s been drawn to Japan over and over in the last decade, each time becoming incrementally more fluent in the Japanese language. Chris and Pete first met in London in 2017, while Chris and Natsuki were filming “Natsuki: The Movie”. As an Abroad in Japan viewer, Pete had heard they were in town, and whipped them into Absolute Radio for a spontaneous interview that went on to feature in the film. Several months later on a trip to Japan, Pete met up with Chris in Tohoku and together they went on a road trip. Three days and one speeding fine later, the two had outlined their plans for the Abroad in Japan Podcast which launched in February 2018. Since then Chris and Pete have travelled across Japan together by bicycle through Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe, frozen to death at the Sapporo Snow Festival and even been seaweed fishing at 5am on Japan’s Pacific coastline. 
 With a monthly audience of over 300,000 listeners, today the Abroad in Japan Podcast is the largest podcast on all things Japan and since 2018 the two have yet to miss a single week, such is their dedication to the cause. Be sure to drop by every Thursday to hear a news roundup of what’s going on in Japan, and to hear Chris and Pete talk about their obsessions with Family Mart Fried Chicken and Coolish respectively.
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Pete's Soundboard

Metaphors

   

I Live Here Now

   

Why!!

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I Don't Pay Attention

   

Not Enough Coolish

   

Ohayo Gozaimasu

   

Fiddlesticksy Awful

   

I'm in Akihabara

   

I Miss You

   

Betto Betto San

   

Upset Your Brain

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Arigatou COWZAIMASU

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Touch the Cockleaver

   

Argh! (Scary growl)

   

Slip it in My Mouth

   

I Beg Your Pardon

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She Licked the Wall

   

Never Kick People

   

Terrifying Laugh

   

My Fault!

   

Bastard!

   

Nani Kore!

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Have a Coolish

   

Marmaduke

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Can I eat it?

   

American National Anthem

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I Want to go to Bed Now

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Son Who Was an Envelope

   

You're the Real Monster

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Shibuya

   

Shinagawa

   

Akihabara

   

Featured Content

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Youtube

48 Hours at Japan's Biggest Snow Festival

Sapporo snow festival is one of Japan's most popular annual events, but does it live up to the hype? We spent 48 hours in the city, eating, drinking and getting serenaded by random people....

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Youtube

I Tasted Kobe Beef for the First Time | A5 Japanese Wagyu

We taste A5 Kobe Beef (A5), the highest grade of beef in Japan and have our taste buds ignited. What better way to spend our time in Kobe of Day 18 of Journey Across Japan (and send off Pete)....

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Youtube

24 Hours in Osaka | 6 Things to do in Japan's Nightlife Capital

Osaka is Japan's nightlife capital; a vibrant city home to amazing food and people. On Day 17 of Journey Across Japan we spend a night out taking in the city! Leave us a LIKE if you enjoyed joining our night out!...

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Youtube

24 Hours in Kyoto | Japan's Best Monkey Park

Kyoto Monkey Park is loved by all. We make our way through it and uncover the mysterious monster street on Day 16 of Journey Across Japan with Pete Donaldson....

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Youtube

I Got Lost in Kyoto with only a Paper Map

Kyoto is difficult to navigate with Google Maps, let alone using a paper map. On Day 15 of Journey Across Japan we get lost in Kyoto....

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Youtube

Natsuki: The Movie (Life in Japan Documentary)

Burnt out and suffering from a mid life crisis, the eccentric Natsuki decides to take an emergency one-in-a-lifetime trip to Europe. Surprisingly, not everything goes according to plan....

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Podcast

Japan's Most Dishonest Product Fined $40,000 for Weight Loss Lies

Ship with soup! Pete and Chris will return on your friend and mine, SUNDAY. ...

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Podcast

The Japanese Restaurant that Buys KFC and Re-sells it on the Menu

A delicious, loss leading service from our plucky bar owner! ...

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Podcast

The Dangers of Walking through Kobe City at Night!

Thanks for listening, and don't go near dem bears please! ...

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Podcast

The Hokkaido Worker Who Found ¥10 Million Cash in a Bag

And the laaaaads will return same time, 10pm UK time on Wednesday for more podcast fun! TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW. ...

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Podcast

Japan Cracks Down on Upskirting & Capturing Non-Consensual Photos

Welcome to another big ol' Abroad In Japan shindig. Don't worry about your shoes, keep 'em on! ...

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Podcast

The Foreign Tourist Saved at a Japanese Shopping Mall

And the boys (with marginally better audio quality) will return same bat channel, 10pm on Wednesday UK time! ...

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Podcast

Chris Has Moved to Tokyo At Last!

Apologies for the slight funkiness on Chris's voice on the shows this week - we'll return to normal service next time out. Pete's blaming the house movers for touching his nobs... ...

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Podcast

Tokyo's Worst Dish Explained

Tell us who's a real dish over at [email protected] - the hardest working gmail account in podcasting. ...

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Podcast

Why Travelling Japan by Train Just Got Hugely Expensive (77% More!)

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Podcast

A Crazy Romantic Encounter at a Japanese Train Station

Beautiful Aussie men... in your area! ...

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Podcast

Yet Another Assassination Attempt on Japan's Prime Minister

A proper spring of discontent. Pete and Chris will return same time Sunday night, UK time...10pm! ...

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Podcast

How NOT to Rob a Japanese Convenience Store

And Chris will return with Petey pie same time, 10pm UK time Wednesday! ...

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Podcast

Why Staff are Disappearing from Japanese Stores

Sponsored by Sony Vegas. BECAUSE PETE WILL NOT CHANGE....

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Podcast

Japan's Brand New Bear Meat Vending Machine

Well I hope they sell a soda or two, too! Would you honk down a bit of bear meat of an evening?...

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Podcast

Outrage at Tokyo's Annual Penis Festival

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Podcast

Does booze aid Japanese language confidence?

Annnd Chris will be back with ya boi Petey on Sunday! TAKE IT EASY!...

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Podcast

Is Chris about to abandon his studio?

And we will return same time on Wednesday night with more harebrained schemes from Natsuki!...

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Podcast

Travelling round Japan in a camper van - is is possible?

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Podcast

How do avoid dodgy sushi in Japan!

And Chris and Pete will return Wednesday for more fish-dodging fun......

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Podcast

How to Receive Compliments from the Yakuza on an Osaka Train

Beeeeeeeeg guys Pete and Chris will return same time 10pm on Sunday (UK time) for more of THIS STUFF! ...

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Podcast

Why Chris Fears for the Future of Humanity

And the chaps will be back same time on wednesday baby! ...

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Podcast

Japan's Angriest Convenience Store Revealed

Kore kudasai, baby! ...

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Podcast

Why NOT to Buy a Kyoto Townhouse | Feat. Sharla in Japan

Like buses, you wait around for an abroad in Japan podcast, then two come at once! ...