Join the community!

Get your daily dose of Japanese language learning with Sayuri!

Learn more

The Power of Smiles: Cultural Perspectives and Personal Experiences #234

Breaking Barriers: From Formality to Friendship with Miku #230

Embracing the Countryside: My Favorite Way to Travel in Japan #211

Honne & Tatemae Quiz: Japanese Phrases That Mean the Opposite #334

tiers – 21 min read

本音と建前クイズ！Ever heard "行けたら行く" (I'll go if I can) and wondered whether your friend is actually showing up? In this episode I quiz Tatsuya, an online Japanese teacher, on honne (true feelings) and tatemae (the polite front) — everyday phrases where the words and the real meaning don't quite match!

Oct 12, 2026

What Is "Oyakoko"? Small Ways to Show Your Parents You Care #333

tiers – 17 min read

親孝行について考えてみました！What does it mean to be a good son or daughter in Japan? In this episode, I talk about Oyakoko (親孝行 — caring for and giving back to your parents), a street in Fukuoka with a surprising name, and three small ways to show our parents we care♡

Oct 5, 2026

Generational Gaps at the Japanese Workplace with もしもしゆうすけ #332

tiers – 15 min read

職場での世代間ギャップと働き方の変化について。Yusuke once saw a young employee walk in late, Starbucks cup in hand, smiling and we ended up talking about what's really shifting in Japan's workplaces. Generational gaps, punctuality, paid leave, power harassment — where is Japan's work culture headed?

Sep 28, 2026

My First Solo Hike in a Year | A Quiet Forest Walk in Fukuoka

paid –

I'm back on a mountain trail for the first time in about a year! Join me on a quiet solo hike through a forest in Fukuoka, with cicadas, autumn insects, and a few surprise spider webs along the way. Relaxed, unscripted Japanese, perfect to listen to while you cook or wash the dishes!

Sep 27, 2026

Japanese YouTube Channels I Actually Watch #331

tiers – 18 min read

私が見ているYoutubeについて話しました🤩If you're learning Japanese, you've probably watched a lot of channels made for learners. But what do Japanese people actually watch? This time I'm just talking about four I watch myself: a book show, a literary critic, a cook, and one small channel about Tokyo.

Sep 21, 2026

How Do Japanese Couples Actually Manage Their Money? #330

tiers – 14 min read

夫婦のお財布事情を聞いてみました🙈 It's not something people here talk about — so I asked. Tatsuya joins me to compare how married couples in Japan handle their finances: the old kozukai-sei (a monthly allowance for the husband), what anbun means, and why some couples end up with three wallets?

Sep 14, 2026

2026年8月の日記

tiers – 4 min read

結構プライベートなどうでもいい日記 ( for gold penguin-san) 。

Sep 9, 2026

Ningen Dock: Japan's Full-Body Health Checkup #329

tiers – 18 min read

人間ドックを受けてきました！So what do you think it actually means? Maybe some of you are thinking "human and dog." I went for one recently, and in this episode I talk through the whole morning — the changing room, the tests, and the one I'd rather not do again!😭

Sep 7, 2026

The Negi Pile-Up: When "Free" Becomes a Gray Area With もしもしゆうすけ #328

tiers – 11 min read

無料トッピングってどこまでいいの?😳 It started with a mountain of negi (green onions) Piled onto a bowl of udon! Yusuke and I get into free toppings, unwritten rules, and whether common sense is quietly fading from everyday life in Japan.

Aug 31, 2026

Is Saving Money a Hobby or a Lifestyle?

paid – 6 min read

節約は趣味・生き方？😳 We get real: the fear of spending, purchases we still regret, and the time I haggled a shop owner into submission in an Indian market. My guest? He's never quite picked up that skill😜

Aug 27, 2026

The Little Happy Moments We Never Talk About #327

tiers – 13 min read

ほっこり日和の紹介🍵 We all have those little happy moments — too small to mention, but they quietly make your day. So I built a quiet website to collect them: short true stories, from my life and people I've met. No likes, no sharing — just the moments, and a gentle read for learners too!

Aug 24, 2026

Bureiko, Shirafu, and Nominication: How Japan Bonds Over Drinks #326

tiers – 18 min read

お酒とコーヒー、飲めなくなるならどっち！？If you had to give up alcohol or coffee forever, which would you choose? My answer took about ten seconds — so I went deeper: bureiko, shirafu, nominication, and two real stories about what happens to your friendships when you stop drinking.

Aug 17, 2026

Explore topics

Podcast

Join SayuriSaying for weekly insights into Japanese culture and language, perfect for intermediate learners and cultural enthusiasts. Enjoy solo episodes and guest features covering everything from social norms to deep cultural concepts. Silver Penguin members and above get access to video podcasts with subtitles and easy-to-copy transcripts (with or without furigana)

Everyday Life

Culture

Conversation

Travel

People

Food

Nature

Authors

Sayuri Saying