Everyday Japanese Podcast

My mom just got a passport, and I'm the reason why. In this episode, I talk about Oyakoko (親孝行 — caring for and giving back to your parents) and its opposite, Oyafuko (親不孝）. We look at the kanji together, visit a street in Fukuoka with an unexpected name, and pick up everyday expressions like 門限を破る (to break curfew). I also share three small ways I think we can show our parents we care, plus a proverb most people in Japan know. Take your time and listen along! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

Yusuke(もしもしゆうすけ）once saw a young employee walk in late — Starbucks cup in hand, smiling — and we ended up talking about what's really shifting in Japan's workplaces. Is the younger generation just more relaxed, or is something bigger changing? We get into generational gaps, punctuality, paid leave, and power harassment — and what it all means for the future of Japanese work culture. It's the kind of conversation you'd have over coffee, not in a classroom. Come listen in! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

If you're learning Japanese, you've probably watched a lot of channels made for learners. But you might also wonder what Japanese people actually watch — I get asked this a lot! So this time I'm just talking about four channels I watch myself. A bookshow, a literary critic, a cook, and one small channel about Tokyo that honestly I half wanted to keep to myself. It's a pretty relaxed episode. Everything I mention is linked here: https://www.sayurisaying.com/japanese-youtube-channels-i-actually-watch 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

It's not something people here talk about — so I asked. Tatsuya is back, this time to compare how married couples in Japan handle their finances: the old 小遣い制 kozukai-sei (the wife manages the salary and hands her husband monthly spending money), what 按分 anbun means (splitting shared costs proportionally, not 50/50), and why some couples end up with three wallets. We also get into travel, workation, and one small purchase worth far more than it cost. Unscripted Japanese for intermediate learners and up! Tatsuya also teaches Japanese online. If you're looking for a teacher, check out his trial lesson and Instagram in the links below! 🗓️ https://calendly.com/tatsuya-diginjapan/trial-30minute-lesson https://www.instagram.com/tatsuyajapanese/ --- 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for…

"Human dock." That's what 人間(にんげん）ドック literally says. So what do you think it actually means? Maybe some of you are thinking "human and dog." I went for one recently, and in this episode I talk through the whole morning, from the changing room to sitting down with the doctor at the end. I also get into how it's different from the kenko shindan (健康診断), the free yearly checkup that companies arrange, and the one test I'd rather not do again. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

It started with a mountain of negi — green onions — piled onto a bowl of udon at a self-serve topping station. In this episode, Yusuke(もしもしゆうすけ） and I talk about where the line is, why shops now have to post rules that used to go without saying, and what that shift says about Japanese society today. If you've ever felt like something quietly changed in how people treat shared spaces, this conversation is for you! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

We all have those little happy moments — too small to tell anyone about, but that quietly make your day. Lately I've been wanting to hold onto them, so I built a quiet website to collect them: Hokkori Biyori. (Hokkori is that warm feeling when your heart softens; biyori means a lovely day for something.) It's a collection of short true stories, about 100–150 characters each, drawn from my own life and the people I've met along the way, no likes, no sharing buttons, just a calm space to keep these small moments. In this episode, I talk about why I made it, and read a few of the stories aloud, including one written by a student of mine🤍 Visit the site: hokkoribiyori.org 手動のオルゴール https://hokkoribiyori.org/story/hand-crank-music-box 言葉のいらない仲 https://hokkoribiyori.org/story/wordless-bond 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast…

If you could never drink alcohol or coffee again, which would you give up? For me the answer was easy — I don't drink — but the question led somewhere I didn't expect. Both drinks bring people together, but in completely different ways. I talk about 無礼講 bureiko (setting aside rank and formality over drinks), シラフ shirafu (being sober), and 飲みニュケーションnominication (bonding through drinking), plus two stories: friends in their 40s who quit alcohol and lost their circle, and an awkward moment at my new hobby club. ☕ Mentioned in this episode: I talked about people who choose not to drink in Episode #164, Sober Curious Lifestyle. If you'd like to hear more on that, it's here: https://www.sayurisaying.com/sober-curious-lifestyle/ 🎙️ This episode is part of the Japanese Podcast Relay — other hosts are answering the same question in their own episodes. Listen to all of them here: ⁠https://ruby-s.net/jpr/⁠ 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find…

After spending two months in India, I landed in Japan craving one thing: a warm bowl of udon. I'm originally from Kagawa, known as Udon-ken (Udon Prefecture — where udon is practically a way of life), but these days I live in Fukuoka, the city famous around the world for tonkotsu ramen. Here's the surprising part: when I asked people here "udon or ramen?" — the answers weren't what you'd expect from the ramen capital of Japan. In this episode, I take you through Fukuoka's udon culture — the famously soft noodles that locals joke "never run out," the sweet and savory niku udon made with Kyushu's distinctive soy sauce, gobo-ten (burdock root tempura — the topping you'll find everywhere here), and my slightly embarrassing but genius way of ordering at a local udon chain. I also finally share something I was too nervous to talk about while living in Kagawa: what udon really means to people from the Udon Prefecture. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP…

In part 2 of this series, YUYU throws out a question that really got me thinking: is AI becoming our new god? We talk about how easy it is to lean on ChatGPT when we don't know what to do, why that habit can quietly turn into something risky, and where the line is between using AI as a tool and letting it think for us. We also get into journaling as an alternative way to work through uncertainty without outsourcing it. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

After a trip to India, I started wondering why Japanese people rarely talk about faith the way people in more religious countries do. In part 1 of this two-part series, YUYU and I dig into what shrine visits and New Year prayers actually mean to us, why Japan seems to have rules but not always morals, and how Nitobe Inazo's Bushido once tried to answer that. We also get into "oshikatsu" (obsessively supporting an idol or celebrity) and whether it's quietly become a modern religion in disguise. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

It's 海の日 -Umi no Hi (Marine Day) here in Japan, and I'm marking it with a taste of what a Japanese summer at the sea really feels like 🌊 I talk about 海開き- umi biraki (the official beach-opening ceremony), the nostalgic snacks and drinks you'll find at 海の家- umi no ie (beach huts), and why the swimming season here is surprisingly short. Along the way, I get into 自己責任 - jiko sekinin (self-responsibility) A quiet idea that says a lot about how things work in Japan, even when no one writes the rules down. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

I recently came back from India, and I kept getting the same question from European travelers — "So what do you think of the new Takaichi administration?" And honestly? I froze. It wasn't a language problem. I just never expected that question, and I realized I'd never really thought about it. So I brought it to Yusuke (もしもしゆうすけ）. Do Japanese people actually talk about politics? With friends, with coworkers, at all? We ended up having a surprisingly candid conversation — and his take on voting genuinely caught me off guard. This is just one Japanese person's perspective, but it opened up some bigger questions about political interest, everyday life, and what these conversations actually look like in Japan. Casual, honest, and the kind of topic that's hard to practice from a textbook. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast…

Have you ever wondered why 梅雨（つゆ）☔️Japan's rainy season — has the kanji for "plum" in it? I didn't either, until this year. In this episode: that mystery, plus how I'm spending these gray days — brewing two kinds of homemade 梅シロップ（plum syrup）, a slow walk past blooming hydrangea, deep-cleaning my 水回り（the water-use spots — sink, drain, etc.）, and an evening at the sento learning to だらだらする, do absolutely nothing. Cozy listening for intermediate-to-advanced learners. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

I'm joined by Tatsuya, a Sapporo local, to talk about what summer in the city is actually like. We get into biergarten (ビアガーデン — large-scale outdoor beer events that run through July and August), Hokkaido specialties like jingisukan (ジンギスカン — a Hokkaido-style grilled lamb dish) and zangi, regional beer brands, and the best day trips if you want to see Hokkaido beyond the city. If you've ever thought about visiting in winter, this episode might just change your mind. Tatsuya also teaches Japanese online. If you're looking for a teacher, check out his trial lesson and Instagram in the links below! 🗓️ https://calendly.com/tatsuya-diginjapan/trial-30minute-lesson https://www.instagram.com/tatsuyajapanese/ 🎧 Full transcript, video(with subs), and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this…

I moved to Fukuoka and this is my honest review of life here so far. There's a lot to love, but there are also a few things that don't quite work for me yet. In this episode I share both — not as a travel guide, but as someone actually living here day to day. If you've ever wondered what it feels like to settle into a new city in Japan, I hope this gives you a real sense of it. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support https://auphonic.com/donate_credits?user=sayurisaying

I moved from Osaka — but why Fukuoka? In this episode, I walk you through the 8 reasons I chose my new home. I didn't just pick a city. I thought carefully about the lifestyle I wanted, what makes me feel happy day to day, and what I wasn't willing to give up. Fresh local food, nature within walking distance, no bears on the hiking trails, and a city that's lively without being overwhelming . Fukuoka checked a lot of boxes. If you've ever thought about where you'd want to live, or what your ideal everyday life would look like, I think you'll enjoy this one. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support https://auphonic.com/donate_credits?user=sayurisaying

I came back from a yoga teacher training in India with a new friend and a simple theory: adults bond through sweat or sake. YUYU and I talk about why that is, what makes some people just click, and how the Japanese concept of goen (ご縁 — a fated connection) quietly takes the pressure off relationships. We also get into why Japanese people sometimes go cold out of nowhere and a way of thinking about it that actually helps. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

I'm recording this from a small town in Kerala, South India, somewhere I didn't expect to learn something so meaningful about language. Watching people communicate here without worrying about perfect grammar made me reflect on a story involving a friend of mine and a Japanese sake bar. It's a bit of a surprising one. If you've ever felt like you need to get your Japanese perfect before you speak, this episode is for you! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

Back with another culture shock from India. This time, stray dogs. I got chased twice during my trip and the two experiences could not have been more different! The first time was not my finest moment. The second time, I surprised even myself. This episode is a bit embarrassing, a bit scary, and maybe useful if you ever travel to India😉 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

ただいま〜！I'm back! I spent two months in India planning to take a complete break — no work, no podcast, nothing. But interesting things just kept happening, and I couldn't not share them. In this episode, I talk about two unexpected experiences: a spontaneous trip to a local dentist, and a little surprise moment with a food delivery app. Nothing huge, but the kind of thing that makes you go — oh, this is so India. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

I’ll be taking a short break from the podcast and website until mid-May. In this episode, I explain why I decided to go to India—to focus on yoga in Rishikesh and experience South Indian food and Ayurveda. I also reflect on my previous sabbatical and why intentionally stepping away from work can lead to unexpected growth and meaningful connections. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

Did you know Japan has had bicycle traffic rules for years but almost nobody enforced them? That's changing in April 2026. Police can now issue on-the-spot fines (called 青切符 ao-kippu) for violations like running red lights, riding the wrong way, or using your phone while cycling. In this episode, I break down the key vocabulary, the fines you need to know, and share my honest (and slightly frustrated 😅) opinion on the new system. If you ride a bike in Japan, this one's for you! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

Many people picture grilled fish, miso soup, and rice — but is that really what Japanese people eat every morning? In this cozy, casual episode, I share what breakfast actually looks like in Japan, and in my own kitchen! Think clay pot rice, TKG, natto, ochazuke, and simple miso soup. I also share a special Australian-style brunch at bills that made me think, "I could get used to this!" What's your favorite breakfast? 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

This episode explores the quiet thoughts we have when surrounded by Japan's natural beauty. YUYU shares how viewing landscapes became meditation during difficult times in 2020. I talk about gazing at 3,000-meter mountains in Toyama(富山) and my ocean sunset ritual. We discuss the "sacred" quality of Japanese nature—from Enoshima(江ノ島） to Kumano kodo(熊野古道). Sometimes the best thing to think is simply: "Wow, it's beautiful." Join us for a peaceful reflection on what we fee and don't feel in nature. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

In this episode, YUYU and I chat about our ideal homes. He describes his grandmother's beautiful Japanese house with large windows, tokonoma(床の間）, engawa（縁側）, and a garden designed to show all four seasons. I share my minimalist current life and my vision board dreams— a lakeside house with spacious bathroom, big kitchen sink, and a living room where I can relax with coffee (or tea!). We also talk about the joy of just imagining our dream homes. What does your perfect home look like? 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

I fell in love with Osaka! The friendly people, the food, the energy. But after two years, my body and mind are telling me it's time to leave. In this episode, I talk about my 20+ moves throughout my life, why I chose Osaka despite knowing it wasn't my ideal environment, and what finally pushed me to make this decision. I also share what kind of place makes me truly happy versus what's just exciting. If you're considering moving to Osaka, relocating within Japan, or curious about city vs. countryside life, this one's for you! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

Remember when I said I'd quit social media for 30 days in Episode 298? Well, I did it! Kind of. Honestly, the 15-minute limit didn't really work, I kept adding "just 15 more minutes." 😅And my AI-made music? Got boring fast. But the good stuff? I started really listening to myself, got tons of ideas on the train, cleaned way more, started doing yoga, and made two big life decisions! I quit making short videos, and I'm leaving Osaka. Curious? Give it a listen! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

Miku and I talk about little things we’ve been into lately. Like my love for cleaning and her coriander obsession. It’s one of those chats where nothing big happens, but it still feels good to share. A cozy episode for Japanese learners who enjoy natural, real conversations😂 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

Why is making Japanese friends so hard? In this episode, we sit down with Miku from Miku Real Japanese for a fun but thoughtful conversation, answering real questions from foreigners living in Japan. We talk about friendship, cultural differences in communication, and feelings of loneliness, while sharing warm, realistic advice. It’s a relaxed, friendly chat like talking with close friends who really listen😌 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

Have you ever imagined having a small, unusual superpower? In today’s episode, I dive into the world of the Japanese comedy drama Chotto Dake Esper. From reading minds by touch to asking pigeons for favors, each “esper” has a tiny but useful gift. I also share which powers I’d want myself. Tune in and think about which “little esper” power you’d like to have! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering! 🩷 Support this podcast https://sayurisaying.com/support

Join me as I take you on a trip to Kanazawa, a peaceful city often called “a smaller, quieter Kyoto.” In this episode, I share my personal travel tips, from visiting stunning gardens and historic tea districts to trying unforgettable desserts and cocktails. You’ll also hear key warnings about weather, transport, and reservations. Perfect for travelers wanting to explore Japan off the beaten path! 🗺️A custom Google Map for this location is available exclusively for Silver Penguin members! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

In this episode, I talk about a local tonkatsu restaurant loved by regular customers but rarely visited by tourists. I share 5 heartwarming features that make this place special, from how staff speak to customers to the warm atmosphere. Do you have a favorite spot like this? Let’s explore together! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

This special episode celebrates the 300th episode of the Everyday Japanese Podcast. I talk freely about how I started during COVID, how I kept uploading every week, which episodes are most popular, and which ones I personally love. I also share why conversation episodes matter and how important your support has been. Thank you for continuing your Japanese journey with me! Let’s keep going together☺️ 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

In this episode, I’m joined by YUYU as we share our “unpopular opinions” about things that many people in Japan love! like going to the movies or hanging out at noisy izakayas. It’s an honest, sometimes funny look at introversion, overstimulation, and feeling different. Can you relate to any of our confessions? 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

This episode marks the start of my 30-day social media detox journey. I share the real reasons why I decided to step away from SNS like Instagram and YouTube, how I’m preparing for it, and practical tips for reducing screen time! Are you with me? 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

In this episode, I share what happened the two times I rode in an ambulance once in Canada and once in Japan. You’ll hear the stories, learn how the two emergency systems compare, and get a real-life look at what it’s like to call 119 in Japan. If you’ve ever wondered what to expect in an emergency here, this one’s for you. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

What’s it like to commute and work in Japan? In this episode, I share real experiences from my time as an office worker and explore typical work culture. From crowded trains and door-to-door commute times to working hours, lunch breaks, and the difference between “black” and “white” companies. You’ll also learn key Japanese phrases and cultural tips along the way! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

Today, I tried the “50 Questions in 5 Seconds” challenge! 🇯🇵 These are common questions in everyday Japanese conversation. Try answering with me and practice thinking in Japanese ✨ Special thanks to YUYU for creating this challenge! You can watch the original video here: https://youtu.be/jDhXDMu4FMs?si=4Grzxmb2CHySrtpE We also talk about fillers like “えっと” and natural pauses to sound more natural. Let’s build speaking confidence together 🌿🐧 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

I recently walked the Kumano Kodo, one of Japan’s oldest pilgrimage routes and a UNESCO World Heritage site. In this episode, I share stories about its history, the three sacred Kumano shrines, and the mysterious three-legged crow, Yatagarasu. Walking through its quiet mountain paths made me reflect on how journeys like this can refresh both body and mind. It truly was more than a hike. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

The Ig Nobel Prize celebrates research that’s both hilarious and deeply insightful. For 19 consecutive years, Japanese scientists have captured the world’s attention with inventive studies like painting cows with zebra stripes to repel bugs, using wasabi as a fire alarm, and proving that kissing can ease allergy symptoms. Join us to explore how curiosity and humor keep science wonderfully human! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

Autumn in Japan is full of charm☺️ Fresh fruits, cozy evenings, colorful leaves, and perfect weather for hiking. In this episode, I talk about the moments that make me feel, “Ah, autumn has come.” You’ll hear natural Japanese expressions about seasonal foods, outdoor activities, and reading time. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

I invited YUYU to talk with me about how we celebrate birthdays. He explained Mexican traditions where the birthday person brings cake to share, and how parties are almost a must. I shared my own recent birthdays spent alone, from traveling to quiet reflection. We also talked about family memories, including YUYU’s wish to thank his parents on his birthday. Together we explore how birthdays can be about parties, gratitude, or simply enjoying life at your own pace. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

I invited YUYU to talk with me about competition and motivation. He told me stories from his childhood, playing baseball, and why he finally quit swimming. As a coach, he realized that sports can be fun without rivalry. Together we discussed how competition gives energy but can also create pressure, and how curiosity or personal goals can be just as powerful. This talk made me reflect on my own way of finding motivation. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

In this episode, we sit down with YUYU to explore cashless culture and money mindsets in Japan and Mexico. From credit vs. debit cards to QR code payments, we discuss how people pay in daily life and why attitudes toward debt, saving, and responsibility differ across cultures. We also share personal stories about growing up with certain money values and how they shape spending habits today. A fun, insightful episode for Japanese learners interested in culture beyond the classroom! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

In this episode, I talk about three unique coffee characters I met in Osaka. First, a “Coffee Doctor” who keeps detailed “bean records” for customers, just like a clinic. Second, a lively “Osaka Mom” clerk who gave me advice and free coffee at Yodobashi Camera. Finally, a kind “Coffee Sage,” an elderly roaster who offered generous service at unbelievably low prices. These encounters show how human connection makes Japan’s coffee culture so special. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

In this podcast episode, I talk about “Mental Health Care That Really Worked for Me. I wasn’t feeling great... Japan’s humid summer kept me inside, inactive, and moody. So I tried five simple routines: morning walks, deep cleaning, swimming, chatting with people, and keeping a sketch diary. These small changes really helped my mood, sleep, and energy. I also share a few cultural insights about life in Japan. Like elementary school swimming classes, sketch diaries, and school trips to Kyoto and Nara. Tune in for practical wellness tips and a peek into Japanese daily life! 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

Japan is famous for curry rice, but did you know there’s another kind of curry that goes beyond it? In this episode, explore “Soup Curry,” a Sapporo-born dish with hearty vegetables, customizable toppings, and unique soup bases. Learn how it differs from curry rice, how to order it, and pick up useful food-related vocabulary and cultural insights along the way. 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

Today, I’m joined by Miku for a casual conversation about the “Five Love Languages.” We talk about how each of us expresses and feels love differently—through words, quality time, gifts, acts of service, or physical touch. You’ll hear fun personal stories, cultural insights, and natural Japanese expressions from our dialogue. Which love language speaks to you?💖 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!

While preparing for a trip with my mom, I noticed our 金銭感覚(kin-sen kankaku - our sense of money) was completely different. I’m a minimalist saver, while she enjoys shopping and new experiences. In this episode, I share our story, introduce useful Japanese vocabulary, and invite you to reflect on your own spending style. Are you more careful with money, or do you enjoy spending freely? 🎧 Full transcript, video, and more: https://sayurisaying.com Search by episode number (e.g., “EP 120”) to find what you need!🐧 Join the Penguin Family for bonus content & support the show! Your support helps keep this podcast alive and means a lot to me. Thank you for considering!