Dave introduces Andy to an arcane Japanese summer tradition in which you prick a latex covered ball of Japanese bean-paste candy (aka a "yuukan ball") and end up with a sticky ball on a toothpick.

After munching on sticky balls for a while they remember that they are actually podcasting and get on with the subject in hand, namely, Botchan, or "a little boy" - the title of Natsume Souseki's novel set in Matsuyama...

Dave delves into the intricacies of translating Japanese novels and exemplifies the difficulties therein encountered by reading four versions of the opening couple of paragraphs of Botchan, which go from the stuffy Meiji era attempt of an old Japanese buffer to a recent "devil-may-care" version in American English, featuring such gems as "Buck b'cawk," and "buttmunch"...

Somehow or other the lads get sidetracked by recurring themes of Scottish roots and the roots of tight-waddery. Andy supplies some genuine backpiped musical relief.

Andy takes us back to civilization with the 5th episode of his Kansai Diary in which he takes us on a tour of sleazy side streets and treats us to a rapping guide to the multifarious bars and dental clinics of nocturnal Osaka...

This week's musical offering, "When too Much is Never Enough," features lyrics by the infamous Mr. B...

Dave polishes off with a bit of Japanese trumpet blowing, "rappa o fuku..."