Episode 9: The Color Plink

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“It's a very light plink... it's almost like a whitish color.” — Vivian

Through April and early May, Japan experiences cherry blossom season. This is an event that the entire country anticipates, with tons of cherry-blossom-themed items for sale and celebrations. We discuss what we think about the season and how it compares to the rest of Japan's weather.

In this episode, we cover:

  • What a cherry blossom season actually looks like

  • How it is different living here versus visiting during spring

  • Our ranking of the best seasons to come to Japan

  • The long awaited Huel mid-roll ad

To try out Huel yourself, use Dru’s friend referral code at bit.ly/sanfransokyo-huel. (DISCLAIMER: Huel does not actually sponsor us)

SHOW NOTES

This is the second part of a longer discussion of observing Japanese culture through our experienced eyes as well as the first-time mindset of a lot of our visitors.

MUSIC LIST

Venetian Blinds by Ping Pong Club
Leveled Up! by Bad Snacks
Gaiety in the Golden Age by Aaron Kenny
City Night Lights by Bad Snacks
Delightful Life by JekK

Episode 8: One Year Left to Live

“We were like people who realized we had one year left to live. There’s so much we have to do before we go back [to the US]. And so as a result, we can’t make the argument, ‘Oh, we’ll just do it later.’”
— Dru

In this episode, we talk about best practices while traveling and hosting visitors. We have had over a dozen people visit and stay with us in Japan over the last eight months. Here were some of our top takeaways:

  • How to maintain health and fitness while hosting visitors

  • Cultivating a sense of wonder for the place you live

  • Resetting habits/routines when moving to a new country

SHOW NOTES

This is the first part of a longer discussion of observing Japanese culture through our experienced eyes as well as the first-time mindset of a lot of our visitors.

MUSIC LIST

Venetian Blinds by Ping Pong Club
Space Racer by Bad Snacks
Delightful Life by JekK

Episode 7: Shower for Your Butt

In the last part of our technology series, we talk about how Japan is hyper-focused on convenience but it ends up being severely confusing for foreigners who are not used to doing things the local Japanese way. In this episode, we cover

  • missing a utility bill payment

  • traveling salesman-slash-milkman

  • possible credit card scam, and

  • the wonders of Japanese toilets and bathrooms.

Here we are swimming but we look pretty much the same when taking baths.

Here we are swimming but we look pretty much the same when taking baths.

MUSIC LIST

Venetian Blinds by Ping Pong Club
Kawaii by Bad Snacks
English Country Garden by Aaron Kenny
I Knew a Guy by Kevin MacLeod
Enigma by Kevin MacLeod
Delightful Life by JekK

SHOW NOTES

This episode is the second part of our discussion about “Galapagos” technology in Japan. Listen to part one here.

Episode 6: A Spork for the Ground

When convenience fails: The ubiquity of vending machines makes this hibernating vending machine (in the freezing cold of the north of Japan) especially devastating

When convenience fails: The ubiquity of vending machines makes this hibernating vending machine (in the freezing cold of the north of Japan) especially devastating

“A spork for the ground... jammed in your eye as you scream and run through a tornado of fire.”
— Dru

We cover a lot in the first part of our discussion about surprising technology in Japan. This episode focuses on convenience and the concept of “Galapagos” technology. We talk about:

  • The inability to pay for bills and health insurance online

  • SF startup named “Bodega” (recently re-named to Stockwell)

  • The ubiquity of vending machines

  • Hot corn soup and diner coffee

  • Recycling culture and trash cans (or lack thereof)

  • Communal cleaning / neighborhood responsibilities

MUSIC LIST

Venetian Blinds by Ping Pong Club
Mizuki by Bad Snacks
Shibuya by Bad Snacks
Delightful Life by JekK

SHOW NOTES

This episode is the first part of our discussion about surprising technology in Japan. Listen to part two here.

Episode 5: Raging Lunatics

We discuss what it’s like to bike in Tokyo and how bikes are viewed fundamentally differently in Japan. We’ve found that Tokyo has city infrastructure optimized for biking and that our commutes are some of the best times in our day.

“Yeah we’re going to die as soon as we get back and start biking in the US... [here] bikes are just raging lunatics going around.”
— Dru
Riding through Tokyo on our mamachari with our dog

Riding through Tokyo on our mamachari with our dog

MUSIC LIST

Venetian Blinds by Ping Pong Club
One Summer (Spirited Away) by Ghosting
Minyo San Kyoku by Doug Maxwell/Zac Zinger
April Showers by ProleteR
Mizuki by Bad Snacks
Delightful Life by JekK

SHOW NOTES

This episode contains real recordings of children running around the streets in our neighborhood and the sounds of our bike bell (although the bike pedaling sounds come from the Youtube Audio Library). The video referenced in the show is Why Beautiful Things Make Us Happy by Kurzgesagt.