In Episode 88 of Ohazassu, I share thoughts from a recent Japanese language learning poll I ran on X, where 72% of respondents said learning Japanese is hard. I explore why that might be—from kanji struggles to limited phonetic range—and reflect on how modern tools like AI can be both helpful and harmful to long-term retention.

I also get personal about dealing with isolation as an expat in Japan, the emotional ups and downs of maintaining friendships across distances, and how reconnecting with old friends recently gave me a powerful boost. This episode wraps with a meaningful Word of the Day: 絆 (kizuna)—the bond of friendship.