Kanpai Kronicles

We're going to take it slow this episode and talk about burnout, fleeting friendships, finding your support system, and the desperation we can get to when we're trying to find our way back 'home'. This is not a light-hearted episode, and though we talk about our experiences in Japan, we also talk about how to cope with ourselves before and after it. Hope you learn a lot from this one!

Timestamps:

• 5:20 How we handle burnout changes as we grow older
• 10:42 Burnout multiples if all the contexts gather in one place
• 15:32 "Growing up as a person, there's something wrong with me"
• 20:50 Creating personas as a coping mechanism for stress
• 26:56 Tokyo is too fast-paced for nature
• 33:45 The first step to making friends needs courage
• 41:37 People adapt at different speeds to get comfortable in speaking their mind 
• 49:40 When friendships deepen after exchange
• 1:00:33 "Everyone is busy"
• 1:05:17 The beauty of friendship is the time spent keeping it up
• 1:11:05 Social media is a form of burnout
• 1:17:52 Coping with fleeting connections
• 1:30:42 To meet with the people you know before exchange again
• 1:38:16 There was a desperation to get back to where you did exchange
• 1:48:10 Find your support system

Follow Holly here:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotaru.chi_/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hotaruchi_
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCozAFQfdEfhjmyafFjesaqg

Follow Norm here:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisaintnorm
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClRCbVifuTpvHn6WVcJaXdA/videos

In this episode, we talk about drinking culture! From nomikais to nomihoudais, why people drink so much and the expectations of drinking in working society. We take a look at how it affects our habits as well as what Japanese culture deems mandatory!

Timestamps:

• 3:25 Alcohol is very cheap + Norm's drinking strategies
• 11:46 Comparing experiences in learning about drinking
• 19:10 Living the double life in Japan
• 23:22 Learning about Nomikai and Nomihoudai
• 34:50 On themed bars and Hooters
• 40:10 Meeting Sid, and drinking in Karaoke
• 48:54 The scary moments when drinking
• 1:00:11 Foreigner expectaations, and the dark side of corporate Nomikai
• 1:11:14 Alcohol as a key to unlock individuality
• 1:21:00 How do we take care of ourselves in this environment?
• 1:31:11 Everything is better from Hokkaido

Mentions:

• Sharla's video on Whales of August Bar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9gybKSe2-4
• Norm's podcast episode on the Whales of August: https://thatsthenorm.com/whales-of-august/

Follow Holly here:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotaru.chi_/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hotaruchi_
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCozAFQfdEfhjmyafFjesaqg

Follow Norm here:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisaintnorm
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClRCbVifuTpvHn6WVcJaXdA/videos

In this episode, we talk about convenience stores! Not only do we cover our favorite brands, we share our experiences using them and how convenience functions as the backbone of Japanese society. Taking a fun topic and zooming it out to a macro perspective, how does a culture provide convenience for you and how does that reflect your place in society? Find out! #wildpantygachamachine

Timestamps

• 3:39 Why Family Mart is top-tier
• 8:45 Our breakfasts start at 7-11
• 13:29 Embarrassing moments
• 21:11 The convenience store is the backbone of society
• 30:41 Cash-based society means we're hunting for ATMs
• 35:44 Saving face through efficiency can lead to isolation
• 49:23 Vending machines and used panties
• 54:13 Sexual conveniences, pink salons and hugging
• 1:02:03 Convenience stores make being alone an option
• 1:12:08 The atmosphere changes our personality
• 1:25:01 Loneliness is a vice that we can escape to
• 1:34:04 Not paying for any medicine in Japan
• 1:39:44 Reverse engineering society by looking at convenience store experiences

Mentioned

• Convenience Store Women by Murata Sayaka: https://www.goodreads.com/is/book/show/36605525-convenience-store-woman

Follow Holly here:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotaru.chi_/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hotaruchi_
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCozAFQfdEfhjmyafFjesaqg

Follow Norm here:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisaintnorm
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClRCbVifuTpvHn6WVcJaXdA/videos

In this episode, we talk about our backgrounds, why we wanted to start this podcast, uncovering the reality of living abroad in Tokyo, and exploring topics we can talk about further down the line!

Timestamps

• 08:00 How Norm and Holly met the first time
• 12:13 Getting into a new exchange semester is difficult
• 16:16 Team SMESH and empty champagne bottles
• 23:31 Comparing nightlifes of different countries
• 39:09 Living the train life, and taking responsibility for schedules
• 48:20 Learning Japanese required a strict acumen
• 57:45 Humbling ourselves to our Japanese language ability
• 1:14:22 Belonging to society, and recognising cultural differences
• 1:25:54 Forgiving ourselves for speaking foreign languages

Mentions

• Sharla in Japan
• Rikkyo University

Follow Holly here:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hotaru.chi_/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/hotaruchi_
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCozAFQfdEfhjmyafFjesaqg

Follow Norm here:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/thisaintnorm
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClRCbVifuTpvHn6WVcJaXdA/videos

Coming up: a show between two co-hosts who like to talk about all things Japan, society, culture, and all the yabai stuff in between. To be released in September!