The XQ Sumimasen Podcast

One of the easiest ways to see how cultures influence one another is through language. Words travel across borders through trade, food, technology, entertainment, and everyday life, often becoming so familiar that we forget they originally came from somewhere else. In this episode, guest co-host Devin and I explored some of the Japanese words that have become part of everyday English and discussed the stories behind how they made that journey. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Japanese Words We Use Without Thinking Many Japanese loanwords have become so common in English that most people never stop to consider where they came from. Words such as sushi , karaoke , emoji , tsunami , and futon are now used around the world. While their meanings have sometimes shifted over time, ...

Borrowed English words continue to evolve in Japanese, often taking on meanings that surprise native English speakers. By the time you've lived in Japan for a while, you start realizing that understanding the English word itself isn't always enough—you also have to understand how that word is used within Japanese culture. In this episode, guest co-host Scoey and I continued our discussion about Japanese-English vocabulary by looking at more everyday expressions that regularly confuse foreigners living in Japan and the stories behind them. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Familiar Words With New Meanings One of the recurring themes throughout our conversation was how familiar English words can develop completely different meanings after becoming part of Japanese. We talk...