The XQ Sumimasen Podcast

One of the things I love about living in Japan is that I’m still learning new things years after moving here. Sometimes it’s a food I’ve never tried, a custom I’ve never noticed, or a phrase I somehow managed to go over a decade without hearing. Other times, it’s something much smaller—like realizing a hand gesture I’ve used my entire life means something completely different here. In this episode, I talk about some of the Japanese gestures that caught me off guard over the years and the stories behind how I learned them. A few were harmless misunderstandings, while others made me rethink habits I never would have questioned back home. They’re all good reminders that understanding another culture isn’t just about learning the language—it’s also about learning the unspoken ways people communicate. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple ...

Living in Japan has always felt fairly predictable when it came to everyday prices. For years, I rarely thought twice about grabbing a drink from a vending machine or picking up groceries because prices stayed remarkably stable. Lately, though, that's changed. Like many people living in Japan, I've found myself stopping to look at price tags and wondering, "Wasn't this cheaper not that long ago?" In this episode, I share my personal observations about Japan's recent price increases and compare them with what economists, government agencies, and researchers have been reporting. I'm not trying to explain global economics—I'm simply connecting what I've experienced as a parent living in Tokyo with the data that's helping explain why everyday life feels different. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple ...

Living in Japan is full of little moments that teach you something new. Some lessons come through language, while others come from accidentally breaking a cultural custom you didn't even know existed. Most of the time, nobody calls you out in the moment. Instead, you find out later through a friend or family member, giving you the chance to learn without feeling embarrassed. In this episode, I share some of the mistakes I made while living in Tokyo and what they taught me about Japanese culture. None of them were major, but together they helped me better understand the importance of social harmony and why so many customs exist. Looking back, the mistakes themselves weren't nearly as important as the lessons behind them. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Learning That the Little Things Matter ...

Living somewhere for a few weeks and living somewhere for more than a decade are two completely different experiences. The excitement eventually fades, routines take over, and you begin noticing the little things that make a place both rewarding and frustrating. After more than 14 years in Tokyo, I've had enough time to experience the honeymoon phase, the culture shock, the everyday routines, and the quieter realities that only reveal themselves over time. In this episode, I reflect on what I genuinely love about living in Tokyo—and the parts that still challenge me. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Everyday Life Keeps You Moving One of my favorite things about Tokyo is how naturally active daily life becomes. If somewhere is only a station or two away, I'll usually bi...

Moving to Japan changes more than your address. It changes how you communicate, how you solve problems, and sometimes even how you see yourself. After living here for more than 14 years, there are plenty of practical things I've learned, but the biggest lessons weren't about paperwork or what to pack. They were about mindset. In this episode, I talk about some of the things I genuinely wish I'd understood before making Japan my home. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Learning Japanese Starts Over When You Arrive Before moving to Japan, I thought my Japanese was in pretty good shape. I'd studied it for years and used it regularly. Then I arrived. Suddenly, even simple trips to the convenience store felt intimidating. Conversations moved faster than I expected, peo...

When people picture Tokyo, they usually imagine places like Shibuya, Shinjuku, or some other part of the city filled with crowds, lights, and tourists. But when you actually live here long term, choosing where to build your life comes down to very different things. I've lived in Kasai for more than 14 years. It isn't one of Tokyo's famous neighborhoods, but its location, transportation, green spaces, and local community have made it a practical and comfortable place to raise a family and build a life. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Why Kasai Works for Everyday Life Kasai is still part of Tokyo, but it doesn't feel like the center of the city. The Tozai Line makes it easy to reach central Tokyo, while the neighborhood itself feels calmer and more residential. Y...

After living in Japan for many years, one thing that surprised me is how my entertainment habits have changed. Before moving here, I actively looked for Japanese music, TV, and anything that helped me learn more about the country. Once Japan became everyday life, though, I found myself doing almost the opposite. In this episode, guest co-host Devin and I talked about the shows, music, games, and online content we actually enjoy after more than a decade in Japan—and how living here has changed the way we unwind. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube When Everyday Life Changes Your Interests Many people assume that foreigners living in Japan spend all their free time watching anime, listening to J-pop, or following Japanese television. For us, that hasn't really been the case. Liv...

The pandemic changed every country in different ways, and living in Japan before, during, and after COVID has made those changes especially noticeable. Some shifts happened almost overnight, while others have continued gradually over the past few years. In this episode, guest co-host Devin and I looked at several ways everyday life in Japan has evolved since the pandemic and discussed which changes seem likely to remain. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Everyday Life Looks Different One of the most visible changes has been how people approach health and public spaces. Masks, staying home when sick, and paying closer attention to illness have become much more common parts of daily life than they were before. While some habits are slowly returning to normal, others have become ...

Culture shock doesn't always come from major traditions or dramatic differences. More often, it shows up in ordinary situations: taking out the trash, getting around the city, dealing with paperwork, or realizing that different parts of Japan can feel surprisingly far apart. In this episode, guest co-host Devin and I looked back on some of the first experiences that challenged our expectations after moving to Japan and how our understanding of the country changed over time. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Learning the Rules of Everyday Life One of the first adjustments many foreigners face is Japan's garbage collection system. Sorting bottles, cans, plastics, paper, and household waste can feel overwhelming when you're still learning the local rules. The exact re...

Living in Japan often means coming across everyday customs that seem unusual at first. Whether it's holiday traditions, public transportation, or even vending machines, many things that surprise visitors have practical or historical reasons behind them. In this episode, guest co-host Devin and I looked at some of the questions foreigners frequently ask about Japan and discussed how these traditions developed over time. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Everyday Traditions Have Their Own History Many of Japan's best-known customs didn't simply appear overnight. We talked about traditions such as eating KFC at Christmas, the unique way Valentine's Day and White Day are celebrated, and how Halloween developed into a costume-focused event rather than one centered around t...

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...

Many cultures have superstitions that continue to influence everyday life long after people stop thinking about where they came from. Japan is no different. Some are tied to language, others to religion or tradition, and many still appear in ordinary conversations and daily routines. In this episode, guest co-host Scoey and I explored some of the Japanese superstitions we encountered after moving here and discussed what they reveal about Japanese culture and the way many people think about everyday life. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Everyday Superstitions You Notice in Japan Some Japanese superstitions are easy to overlook until someone points them out. One of the best-known examples is the number four, which is sometimes avoided because one pronunciation sounds the same as t...

Living in Japan isn't only about the famous landmarks or seasonal attractions. Over time, it's the everyday conveniences, routines, and small cultural habits that often have the biggest impact on daily life. In this episode, guest co-host Scoey and I talked about some of the things we've come to appreciate after living in Japan for many years, from convenience stores and transportation to neighborhood culture and everyday life. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube The Small Conveniences That Add Up One of the easiest things to take for granted after living in Japan is just how convenient everyday life can be. Convenience stores offer much more than snacks, making it easy to grab a meal, pay bills, send packages, or pick up everyday essentials at almost any hour. We al...