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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

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

Udon or Ramen? What Fukuoka Locals Actually Eat #325

tiers – 17 min read

I grew up in Kagawa,Japan's famous "Udon Prefecture" but now I live in Fukuoka, a city known worldwide for ramen. So I started asking locals: udon or ramen? In this episode, I talk about Fukuoka's deep udon culture, the mysterious noodles and my secret way of ordering at a beloved local chain!

Aug 10, 2026

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

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