The XQ Sumimasen Podcast

Adjusting to life in Japan doesn't happen all at once. It usually happens through a series of small moments—misunderstandings, unexpected challenges, new routines, and experiences that slowly change the way you see the country. In this episode, guest co-host Devin and I looked back on our own experiences adapting to life in Japan, from learning the language and navigating cultural differences to building friendships and eventually feeling at home. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Learning to Live in Another Language One of the biggest challenges for many foreigners is learning to function in Japanese before feeling truly comfortable with the language. We shared stories about early misunderstandings, everyday interactions, and the moments that reminded us how much there still wa...

One of the biggest surprises for many Japanese learners is discovering that not every katakana word comes from English. While English has had a huge influence on modern Japanese, many everyday words actually came from Portuguese, Dutch, German, French, Russian, and other languages before becoming part of everyday life in Japan. In this episode, guest co-host Scoey and I explored some of the Japanese words that originated outside both Japanese and English, along with the history behind how they found their way into the language. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Japanese Has Borrowed Words From Around the World It's easy to assume that every katakana word has English roots, but Japan has been borrowing vocabulary from other countries for centuries. We talked about familiar words ...