Learn Japanese Pod

Welcome to another episode of Learn Japanese Pod! This time, we’re diving into a topic that’s more than just daily vocabulary—it’s a cultural deep dive into cleanliness, chores, and the Japanese mindset around keeping things tidy. In this episode, Alex and Ami Sensei explore how to talk about household chores in natural, conversational Japanese. You’ll pick up useful words and phrases for cleaning, washing, tidying up, and more—perfect for everyday situations in Japan. But that’s just the start. We also go beyond the grammar and vocab to look at why cleanliness is so important in Japanese culture. From kids cleaning their classrooms to monks scrubbing temple floors, you’ll learn how these everyday actions reflect deeper values like discipline, respect, and mindfulness—ideas that shape how people live, speak, and interact in Japan. We also compare the Japanese approach to cleanliness with Western attitudes and explore how understanding these cultural differences can help you become not just linguistically fluent, but culturally fluent too. So if you’ve ever wondered what chores can teach you about Japan—and want to sound more natural when talking about them—this is the episode for you! Enjoy!

The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 59 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Learn Japanese Pod Patreon

The show notes for this episode have moved to our new Patreon page. Learn Japanese Pod Patreon Page.

In this podcast, Alex and Andy talk about their experience setting up a company in Japan, why they did it and how! In this episode of Learn Japanese Pod, Andy and I dive into the world of starting a small business in Japan. We share our personal journeys of setting up our own company , the lessons we learned, and the surprises we encountered along the way. If you’re a foreigner living in Japan—or planning to move here—and you’ve ever thought about launching your own business, this episode is packed with useful insights and real talk. What We Talked About in This Episode Here are some of the main topics we covered: * Why we decided to set up a company in Japan Our motivations, goals, and what pushed us to take the leap from freelance to incorporating. * Types of companies you can register in Japan We break down common structures like the Godo Kaisha (GK) and Kabushiki Kaisha (KK), and why we chose what we did. * Legal and financial help – Do you need a lawyer or tax accountant? How we found help with paperwork, taxes, and navigating the legal landscape. * The process of registering a company in Japan From choosing a company name to getting all the documents stamped, we share what was smooth—and what wasn’t. * Hanko culture and paperwork What it was like getting our hankos (personal/company seals) made and how they’re used for official documents. * Registering your company name Tips and gotchas when reserving a name, and how we made sure ours passed. * Our overall experience – Was it easy or hard? We compare notes on how bureaucratic (or not) the process was, and how long it took. 🎧 Listen to the Episode 👉 Click here to listen now or find it on your favorite podcast platform. Key Takeaways * Preparation is key – Research and planning go a long way in making the process smoother. * Get help – Hiring a bilingual tax accountant or lawyer can save you time and stress. * Japan’s system is unique – Cultural and legal differences (like using hankos) can be surprising, but manageable with guidance. * It’s possible! – Setting up a company in Japan as a foreigner is very doable with the right support and mindset. For more podcasts on learning the Japanese language and discovering more about the culture of Japan, click here!

In this episode, you’ll learn how to understand Japanese vocabulary — using only Japanese. Specifically, we’ll focus on how to ask for the meaning of words in Japanese and try to understand the explanations you hear. Mastering this skill not only boosts your vocabulary but also deepens your understanding of how words are naturally used in context. And remember, this becomes an exponential process – the more words you learn, the more words you can learn. It’s an extremely effective way to improve fluency. Admittedly, this can be a challenging skill to develop, especially for beginners who may not yet have enough vocabulary to follow explanations in Japanese. However, it’s an incredibly valuable skill to work on at any level. Over time, it will greatly improve your ability to use and understand Japanese more like a native speaker.

In this Fun Friday edition of the Learn Japanese Pod podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Katheryn Gronauer, a Tokyo-based entrepreneur with a fascinating background. She shared incredible insights and stories, including her unique experience growing up in a family that managed sento—traditional Japanese public baths. We talked about what it was like helping her family run the business and how those early experiences shaped her approach to leadership and personal developmenttoday. Katheryn has since taken that knowledge and applied it to her coaching practice, The Sento Mindset, which focuses on rethinking life with honesty and courage to achieve your goals and achieve success. Beyond that, we discussed life in Tokyo, and plenty of other thought-provoking topics. It was a fantastic conversation, and I can’t wait for you to hear it!  

In this podcast, we’ll dive into the process of opening a bank account in Japan, providing you with essential vocabulary and practical phrases that will help you confidently handle your finances. Not only will you learn how to navigate the specific steps of opening an account, but we’ll also cover useful language for managing money in various situations—whether you’re making a deposit, withdrawing cash, transferring funds, or even discussing your account with bank staff. These are practical skills that go beyond the basics covered in many textbooks, ensuring you’re better equipped to manage your money in Japan. We’ll also explore the cultural context surrounding Japanese banks, shedding light on unique practices and expectations so you can better understand how the system works and avoid potential confusion. By the end of the episode, you’ll be prepared with both the language skills and cultural insights to handle a wide range of financial interactions with ease. To get access to extra premium content including podcasts, audio drills and pdf show notes, visit out Patreon page here.