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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

Do You Unpack Right Away? My Post-Trip Routine #335

tiers – 19 min read

旅行後のルーティンについて！I just got back from a three-day trip to a mountain town in Japan, so in this episode I'm sharing my post-trip routine. Do you unpack right away, or leave it for tomorrow?

Oct 19, 2026

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

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