In this episode, I explore why having a hobby you can truly immerse yourself in is essential for living a richer life. Drawing from conversations with international students and reflecting on Japanese society, I discuss how perceptions of “otaku” have changed, the growing influence of lookism, and how the internet has created safe spaces for diverse passions. While society often judges people by labels or appearances, what ultimately matters is finding something you love enough to pursue for its own sake. A genuine hobby, free from competition or outside approval, becomes one of life’s most valuable treasures.

Travel is not always about convenience—it is often about embracing discomfort. In this episode, I reflect on why foreign tourists may actually appreciate hotel staff who cannot speak perfect English. From my own experiences in Thailand and the Czech Republic, I found that the struggle to communicate, the small misunderstandings, and the effort to connect beyond language can create deeper memories than smooth, effortless service. With translation apps becoming more advanced, travel is easier than ever, but perhaps less exciting. True richness comes not from convenience alone, but from enjoying the beauty of inconvenience.

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●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログ

ビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信しています⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, I reflect on a personal struggle: moments when conversations or meetings sound like mere noise to me, leaving me unable to follow. While one-on-one talks are fine, group discussions often overwhelm me. In Japanese workplaces, silence is often judged as a lack of motivation or pride, yet I believe this is a narrow view. True leaders recognize diverse strengths, even in quiet individuals. Being reserved is not a weakness—it is simply another way of being. Let’s rethink communication, respect individuality, and value silence as a legitimate presence.

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●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログ

ビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信しています⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, I share reflections from my time living in Southeast Asia, where I discovered the unique freedom of being a “marginal man.” Abroad, I could never fully belong to the local society, yet that distance freed me from Japan’s relentless competitions—academic rankings, corporate status, and social pressures. I also touch on the idea of “mild Yankees,” people deeply rooted in their hometown culture, to contrast different lifestyles. For Japanese learners, this episode offers insight into how many Japanese feel trapped by expectations, and why living abroad can bring both instability and a refreshing sense of freedom.

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●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログ

ビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信しています⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, I reflect on my long, complicated relationship with newspapers. When I was young, I found them boring and disconnected from my life, preferring books on culture and the humanities. Yet, as a working adult, I realized newspapers can serve as a “litmus test” for intellectual breadth. Articles often require background knowledge, revealing gaps in what we know. Even if many stories feel irrelevant, newspapers connect us to society and provide a form of mental training. I discuss why reading selectively still matters in today’s age of information overload, and how it shapes personal growth.

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●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログ

ビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信しています⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, I explore the similarities and differences between sales and customer service. At first glance, they may appear alike since both involve providing products or services to customers. However, the process and challenges are entirely different. Customer service usually deals with people who already intend to buy, focusing on support, comfort, and hospitality. Sales, on the other hand, begins with prospects who may have no interest at all, requiring persuasion, trust-building, and resilience against rejection. Drawing on my personal experiences in both Japanese companies and cultural comparisons abroad, I share lessons learned and invite listeners to reflect.

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●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログ

ビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信しています⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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This episode announces the launch of my new Udemy course on the role of the “micro-manager” in Japanese companies. While many employees chase endless “skill-up” goals, AI is rapidly surpassing human abilities. What truly secures survival inside organizations is becoming the type of employee who gives executives peace of mind. Drawing from my own case studies in Bangkok and Japan, I explain why micro-managers are both feared and trusted, and what lessons we can learn from them. The course also includes practical strategies, tests, and limited-time coupons. Listen in to discover your survival strategy in the AI era.

👉 https://www.udemy.com/course/micromanager-survival/?couponCode=91942ABEF6EDE3F58DAC

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●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログ

ビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信しています⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, I explore the endless “approval game” that shapes so much of our daily lives. From the likes and comments on social media to the silent judgments of colleagues and bosses at work, we are constantly seeking recognition. This pursuit begins in childhood friendships and continues throughout our adult lives, often leaving us exhausted. Is it possible to live without caring about approval? Or are we bound to this cycle forever? Join me as I reflect on how the desire for recognition influences our choices, our happiness, and even our sense of identity.

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●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログ

ビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信しています⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In this episode, I explore the theme “Is it okay to be a half-knowledge person?”. Japanese society often emphasizes professionalism, expecting everyone—whether full-time employees, part-timers, or freelancers—to embody the spirit of a “pro.” But do we really need to pursue perfection in every job? Through examples from convenience stores in Japan and my experience in Thailand, I reflect on how cultural values shape our view of work. I argue that it is fine to be “han-katsū”—knowing just enough—if it allows us to live more freely and spend time on what truly matters.

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●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログ

ビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信しています⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Sales is often seen only as a way to earn money, but in this episode I share a different perspective. Through my own experiences, I explain how sales can be a powerful training ground for the human spirit. Facing rejection, approaching people you find difficult, and stepping outside your comfort zone are not just business skills, but lessons for life. Sales forces us to break our limits, to interact with people of different values, and to grow as human beings. It may be tough, but the personal growth it brings is an invaluable reward.

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●ビジネス日本語学習者のための無料メルマガ講座⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://my162p.com/p/r/odSmegng⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

●ビジネス日本語学習者向けブログ

ビジネスのために日本語を学んでいる人のための情報を発信しています⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://businessnihongo555.blogspot.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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