August was a month of goodbyes and hellos.  Episode 33 of The Japanofiles Podcast begins with a farewell event at Studio Sonic.  Next is a conversation with a recent visitor to Matsumoto, Matthew O'Neill.  Matthew is a musician who spent a month in Matsumoto participating in the Saito Kinen Festival. The final segment is a chat with Peter, another recent visitor to Japan.

After discussing the Obon Festival, Dave visits the Bon Odori dancing in his neighborhood.  He then introduces Matsumoto Bon Bon and talks with some of the participants.  The second half of the podcast features a discussion with Jesse Holyoak, who came to Matsumoto to be an exchange student at Shinshu University.