The XQ Sumimasen Podcast

Japan's aging population is often discussed through statistics, but after living here for years, it's something you begin noticing in everyday life. It's reflected in the neighborhoods you walk through, the businesses you visit, and the conversations people have about the future. In this episode, guest co-host Devin and I talked about how Japan's demographic changes have shaped our own experiences living here, along with some of the ways the country is responding to those challenges. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Seeing Japan's Aging Population in Everyday Life You don't need to read government reports to notice Japan's changing demographics. We shared examples from our own neighborhoods, from seeing large numbers of older residents out during the d...

Japanese abbreviations can make familiar English words feel completely unfamiliar. Even after you recognize where a word came from, the shortened version may sound so different that it takes a while to understand what people are actually saying. In this episode, guest co-host Scoey and I looked at some of the Japanese abbreviations that confused us after moving here, along with the cultural references and personal stories connected to them. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Why Japanese Shortens So Many Words English loanwords often become much longer when adapted to Japanese pronunciation. Shortening them makes them easier and faster to use in everyday conversation. That is how names such as Staba for Starbucks and Makku or Makudo for McDonald's became part of everyday...

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 ...

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, ...