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 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...