The XQ Sumimasen Podcast

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...

After living in Japan for a while, you start realizing that understanding Japanese isn't always enough. Everyday conversations are filled with abbreviations that often make perfect sense to locals but leave foreigners wondering what was actually said. In this episode, guest co-host Scoey and I continued our look at Japanese abbreviations, exploring some of the expressions that confused us when we first heard them and the cultural habits they reveal. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Everyday Abbreviations You Won't Find in a Textbook Japanese has a habit of shortening words and phrases until they become entirely new expressions. We talked about examples such as poteto , which usually refers to French fries rather than potatoes in general, gēsen for game center, and KY...

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...