The XQ Sumimasen Podcast

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...

Learning Japanese from textbooks is one thing. Understanding how people actually speak with their friends is something else entirely. Everyday conversation is full of slang, shortened expressions, and words whose meanings change depending on the situation. In this episode, guest co-host Scoey and I talked about some of the Japanese slang that confused us when we first arrived, how we gradually learned to use it, and what these expressions reveal about everyday communication in Japan. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Slang Changes the Way People Communicate One of the first things many Japanese learners notice is that everyday conversations often sound very different from what they studied in class. We discussed expressions such as yabai , maji , uzai , and bimyō , all of which ca...

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...