Yin and Young Episode 62 - Living in Japan and Other Stories

Yin & Young Podcast

Hi Yin & Young listeners! In this episode (recorded earlier this year) James adjusts to living in Japan and Dan shares some of his stories. Near the end we discuss martial arts and communication issues based on recent experiences.

Dan also shares his experience trying the productivity drink Magic Mind to help him work better. Our listeners get a special discount! Go to magicmind.co/yny and enter code YNY20 within 10 days of this podcast release (7/31/2022) to get up to 40% off a subscription. Afterwards, you can still get you 20% off a one time purchase. Thank you so much to Magic Mind for being Yin & Young the Podcast’s first sponsor!

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Acclimating to the Japanese workplace and お土産 omiyage (snack) giving culture.

• James shares how he’s learning Japanese.

• Training BJJ in Japan vs the US.

• Japanese food and missing Mexican food.

• Shoes/slipper needed in Japan: outdoor, indoor, gym, school, bathroom

• It’s normal to find and return wallets/money.

• Old and new aspects of Japan.

• Limited number of trash cans; separating trash.

• Dan’s Japan stories: Yokohama, working there as a 19 year old, drifting in the mountains, ghost hunting, Obon festival.

• Taking local trains is fun: slow life.

• Seasonal items at Japanese McDonald’s, Starbucks, etc…

• Making friends: need a local person to show you around.

• Teaching martial arts: Dan gets tested by a parent in LA.

• Cultural/relationship communication: direct vs indirect, adjusting without resenting. The knee jerk response might not be the best.

LANGUAGE CORNER

Japanese

• 便所 - benjo - restroom

• 持ち帰る - mochi kaeru - take-out (food)

• 丼 - donburi - a rice bowl dish

• お好み焼き - okonomiyaki - savory pancake dish

• 長閑 - nodoka - calm, tranquil

• 肝試し - kimodameshi - test of courage

Follow us on FB & IG: @yinyoungpodcast. Like/comment to helps others find our work! Yin & Young is produced by James Y. Shih and Daniel Yin. Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/yinyoungpodcast

Title photos by James. Left: Rice fields of Tsu. Middle: Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo. Right: The National Art Centre, Tokyo.

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