Today's guest, Heather Fukase, lives on the outskirts of Matsumoto in a part of town known as "Azusagawa" (literally, "Catalpa River"). Formerly a separate village out in the Minami Azumi District, Azusagawa-mura was incorporated into Matsumoto city during the most recent amalgamation campaign.  Despite the new Matsumoto city address, Azusagawa still retains many features of an older, more traditional way of Japanese village life.  After introducing herself and explaining why she chose to live in Azusagawa, Heather talks about daily life in rural Shinshu (Nagano Prefecture).

For Episode 42, Dave talks with Susanne Prein of Germany.  Susanne hails from Würzburg, home of Phillip Franz von Siebold, who in 1823 was the first European to teach Western medicine in Japan.  Susanne explains how she was introduced to Japanese culture and language as a student at the Siebold High School in Würzburg, and she then describes her subsequent study and work experiences in Japan.