The XQ Sumimasen Podcast

Tattoos have long carried a different meaning in Japan than they do in many Western countries. While attitudes have gradually begun to change, tattoos can still influence where you're allowed to go, how strangers react to you, and sometimes even the opportunities available to you. In this episode, guest co-host Scoey and I talked about our experiences with tattoos in Japan, how public attitudes have changed over the years, and why the conversation is more nuanced than many people realize. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube A Different Cultural Perspective One of the biggest surprises for many foreigners is that tattoos in Japan have traditionally been associated with organized crime rather than personal expression. Because of that history, older generations are often more likel...

Japanese proverbs are more than old sayings. They're small pieces of cultural wisdom that continue to influence the way many people think about work, relationships, perseverance, and everyday life. In this episode, guest co-host Devin and I explored several well-known Japanese proverbs and talked about what they reveal about the values behind them. Some encourage patience and resilience, others emphasize harmony or practicality, and a few even seem to contradict one another—which is part of what makes them so interesting. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Proverbs That Reflect Japanese Values Many Japanese proverbs focus on qualities that are highly respected throughout society. Ideas such as perseverance, patience, humility, and considering the people around you appear agai...

One of the things I enjoy most about learning Japanese is realizing that familiar English words don't always carry familiar meanings. Even after you've learned hundreds of loanwords, you'll still occasionally hear one that completely changes the conversation because it means something entirely different in Japanese. In this episode, guest co-host Scoey and I continued our series on Japanese-English words by looking at more examples of wasei eigo and how these expressions have developed their own meanings over time. Watch the Full Episode Listen on: Spotify Apple YouTube Familiar Words, Unexpected Meanings One reason Japanese-English words can be confusing is that they often begin with recognizable English but gradually evolve into something uniquely Japanese. We talked about examples suc...

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...