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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

Is AI Becoming Our New God? (Modern Faith, Part 2) with YUYU #324

tiers – 16 min read

In part 2 of this series, YUYU asks me a question that stuck with me: is AI becoming our new god? We talk about relying on ChatGPT for advice, why that can be a little dangerous, and how much of our own thinking we're quietly outsourcing to AI these days.

Aug 3, 2026

2026年7月の日記

tiers – 2 min read

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

Jul 30, 2026

Is 'Oshikatsu' Japan's New Religion? (Modern Faith, Part 1) with YUYU #323

tiers – 12 min read

Do Japanese people actually believe in anything? In part 1 of this series, YUYU and I talk about shrine visits, why morals and religion don't always go together in Japan, and how modern "oshikatsu" (idol worship) might be filling a spiritual gap most of us don't talk about.

Jul 27, 2026

Snorkeling, Kayaking & Sea Turtles! A Perfect Day in Miyako-jima 🏝️with Miku

paid – 7 min read

A day trip to Miyako-jima with Miku! We started with snorkeling in crystal-clear water (and spotted two sea turtles 🐢), then paddled a kayak even a clear one for the best photos all the way to a hidden beach and mangrove forest. So much fun, so much sun!

Jul 20, 2026

Umi no Hi: A Taste of Japanese Summer #322

tiers – 20 min read

海の日🌊It's Umi no Hi (Marine Day) here in Japan, and I'm celebrating with everything that makes a Japanese summer feel like summer: umi biraki (the official beach-opening ceremony), nostalgic snacks at umi no ie (beach huts), and a quiet rule about the sea that most Japanese people just know 🌊

Jul 20, 2026

Do Japanese People Talk About Politics? (An Honest Conversation) withもしもしゆうすけ#321

tiers – 12 min read

When I was in India, European travelers kept asking me "So what do you think of the new Takaichi administration?" And honestly? I had no idea what to say. Not a language problem. I just never thought about it. Do Japanese people actually talk about politics?

Jul 13, 2026

How Rainy Season Taught Me to Slow Down #320

tiers – 17 min read

梅雨と雨の日の過ごし方☔️ Why does 梅雨（つゆ）, Japan's rainy season, literally mean "plum rain"? I dig into the kanji, then share how I'm actually spending it — making two kinds of homemade plum syrup, a quiet walk past hydrangeas, and a trip to the sento to properly do nothing☺️

Jul 6, 2026

Sapporo Summer, According to Tatsuya (a Local) #319

tiers – 21 min read

札幌地元民のたつやさんに夏のおすすめを聞いてみました！I'm talking with Tatsuya, a Sapporo local, about what summer in the city is really like. We cover biergarten (ビアガーデン — outdoor beer festivals beloved by locals), Hokkaido food, and where to go if you want to escape the crowds!

Jun 29, 2026

Life in Fukuoka: Honest Review #318

tiers – 13 min read

福岡に住んでみた感想です！I moved to Fukuoka not too long ago, and this is my honest take on what it's actually like to live here. The things I love, and the things I wish were a little different.

Jun 22, 2026

8 Reasons Fukuoka Won Me Over #317

tiers – 12 min read

福岡に引っ越した理由！I moved from Osaka but why Fukuoka? In this episode, I walk you through the 8 reasons I chose my new home. I'll share exactly what I was looking for in a place to live. Whether you're thinking about moving or not, this one might make you picture your own ideal life🥰

Jun 15, 2026

Sweat or Sake: The Two Ways to Make Friends After 30 with YUYU #316

tiers – 20 min read

大人になってからの友達って？についてYUYUさんと話しました☺️I came back from a yoga retreat in India with new friends and a theory. YUYU and I talk about why adults make friends through sweat or sake, and what the Japanese idea of goen (ご縁 — fated connection) has to do with letting go.

Jun 8, 2026

I Zigzagged. It Zigzagged Back.

paid – 4 min read

My guest Moshimoshi Yusuke went camping in the mountains⛰️ He got warned about wild boars, then actually ran into one. He tried the escape advice he'd been given. It did not go as planned. Short, funny, and full of natural Japanese you can actually use!

Jun 4, 2026

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