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We thought we should take aim at AI because recently it has been discussed by the people around us, particularly our last guest, Dan.

We don't pretend to know much about AI, just some basics.  But it has had some influence in our lives.  

Besides, it's good to steer off course sometimes, and dive into discussions outside of one's immediate field of knowledge.

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In this special episode of Dad Club Japan, recorded live at the Kyushu ELT Expo in Seinan University in Fukuoka, Duncan and Joel sat down with six dads and one foreign mother to talk about the realities of parenting in Japan. All of our guests were either teachers or business owners, and most had older children—teenagers and beyond—giving us unique insights into raising kids in a country known for its strong cultural traditions and demanding education system.

Each guest picked a surprise question out of a hat, covering topics like the biggest wins and challenges of parenting in Japan, balancing work and family life, and raising bilingual children. We caught them between seminars, so expect plenty of lively background chatter, adding to the energy of the conversation.

Whether you’re a parent, a teacher, or just curious about family life in Japan, this episode is packed with real experiences, candid stories, and honest advice.

Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us for more conversations about parenting and life in Japan!

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Dan is a relative newcomer to Fukuoka, and a first time guest on the show.

After living in Singapore for a handful of years, and teaching in many different countries, Dan and his family finally settled on Fukuoka as their next home.

An avid listener of the DCJ podcast, Dan dishes out plenty of gratitude and expresses inspiration for what Duncan and Joel have created with this show.

We learn about Dan's challenges integrating into Japan, making lunches for his 2 kids, and finding time to develop his business while maintaining balance.

As a teacher at many international schools around the world, Dan provides valuable insight into the thinking process behind deciding what kind of school to put his children into. 

Finally, as a self-proclaimed 'fanboy' of DCJ, Dan recalls many details and conversations of previous episodes, surprising Duncan and Joel with his dedication to this podcast.

Big thanks to Dan for joining us in the record room, and we are hugely grateful for his listening enthusiasm!

As always, thanks to you, faithful listener for joining in.

If you found value in this show, please consider leaving us a review.

Thanks so much!

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In this episode of Dad Club Japan, Duncan and Joel get real about some of the more challenging and frustrating aspects of life in Japan. From bureaucratic headaches to spoken and unspoken social rules, they share their personal experiences navigating the not-so-glamorous side of the country they call home.

Whether it’s the struggles of dealing with rigid systems, parenting quirks, or just those little daily frustrations that build up over time, this conversation peels back the layers of the Japan most tourists never see.

Join us for an honest, sometimes funny, and maybe even a little therapeutic discussion about the other side of life in Japan.

Stay tuned until the end to find out what DCJ has in store for an upcoming conference in Fukuoka.

As always, thanks for listening!

Next episode will feature a long time listener as our next guest.

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Duncan and Joel discuss whether there are enough reasons to continue this podcast.

Duncan talks sobriety for 60 days as his focus needs to be on point.

Joel discusses a possible sponsor for the show.

Thanks for listening, and don't be afraid to reach out!

Find us on instagram and now even youtube!

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A solo episode this time around with Duncan speaking to a very special and highly anticipated guest and our second 'non-Dad' voice on the podcast. 

The two of them discuss growing up in Japan as a child of mixed heritage or so called 'hafu,' the benefits and challenges of being a member of this still relatively exclusive club and thoughts on a big future challenge they both have coming up later this year. 

Hope you enjoy this special episode and as always thanks for listening. 

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Duncan and Joel reconnect after a 2 month absence to discuss new plans and goals for 2025.

Joel admits to having a goal of creating videos for Youtube for a whole year (gulp!).

Duncan is laser-focused on his move back to the UK in April with his kids.

Joel shares how he persuaded his mother-in-law to be in a video.

Duncan recounts the story of being an 'analog anchor' among a party of digital nomads at large music event on Nokonoshima.

Happy new year, faithful listeners!
Glad to have you join us again!
Peace

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This episode features our friend, Lance.  He joins us in the record room to discuss his past 2 years sailing the Pacific coast from Canada to Columbia and plenty of blue sea in between.

Lance left behind the socially tumultuous climate in Canada two years ago with his bicultural daughter (Japanese-Canadian) and his wife.  He had little experience sailing a boat, and learned everything about sailing from YouTube videos.

He recounts some of his experiences here in this episode and looks toward a future with more sailing and possibly a return to Japan.

You can check out some of his adventures here:

https://www.youtube.com/@sailingdiscoverypassage  

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Duncan and Joel sit down with Alex - finally! - to discuss some of the biggest changes in his life that have happened in Japan, and as a result of being in Japan.  

Coming from Queensland, Australia, Alex knew little about Japan.

Since coming to Japan though, he has become a husband, a father, a teacher, a homeowner, and a business owner.

Grab a rum and coke and sit down for some laughs on this episode.

Alex is a funny guy, and theres no shortage of laughs here!

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Our guest this episode is Evan.

He came well prepared to discuss the changes in his life and the adjustments he has made after moving from Japan to the UK and back to Japan again.

A Scottish father of two teenagers, Evan's first commitment was always to his family.  As a Dad who cherished his time with his family, he devoted his time and energy to the noble cause of raising his children.

But that commitment may have come at the expense of creating his own identity and exploring his Self.

While his identity as a father never wavered, his own personal identity changed along with some major changes in his marriage.

Happy to be back in Japan, Evan's time away allowed some realizations about his own life and fatherhood that he shares in this stimulating and enlightening episode.   

Plus, Evan also brought along an AI generated Dad Club Japan them song which we share here for you.  Stay tuned until the end to hear the uninterrupted version.  We are sure you'll like it as much as we did!

As always, we are happy to hear from you, valued listener!