Today's guest is Winifred Bird, a journalist who lives in Matsumoto.  With interests in nature, science, and all things Japanese, Winnie has written about such diverse topics as rice farming, micro wind turbines, the Fukushima nuclear catastrophe, affordable housing for disaster victims, the Ainu language -- even about Japanese cheese. For Episode 50, Dave talks with Winnie about her reasons for coming to Japan and about her work.

Shiga-mura, formerly a small village to the north of Matsumoto city, became a part of Matsumoto during the 2005 amalgamation campaign. Today's guest, Oliver Carter, explains why he came to Japan and settled in Nagano Prefecture, and he also talks about life in the Shiga District of Matsumoto.