Today’s guest isn’t just living in Japan—he’s been redefining what it means to be a foreigner here for over two decades. From Brooklyn to Tokyo, Baye McNeil has carved out a career as a critically acclaimed author, columnist, and cultural commentator. You might know him from The Japan Times’ “Black Eye” column, or from his books that challenge, charm, and sometimes roast the status quo. His latest, Words by Baye, Art by Miki, is a beautiful, bold collaboration with his wife—a celebration of love, creativity, and carving a life together, one story (and stone) at a time. This one’s gonna stick with you.

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Our hour-long discussion flew by, and we actually went a little over (sorry). Baye explained that his name means "straightforward" in Senegalese. I couldn't help but laugh at how aptly named he was! Please listen to the whole episode, but I have tried to pull out a few nuggets of pure gold for you.

Key Takeaways

* The “Empty Seat Phenomenon” in Japan - Microaggressions and the Mental Toll of Subtle Racism: A firsthand look at the emotional and psychological experience of being visibly foreign in Japan — illustrated through the recurring experience of having the seat next to you remain empty on crowded trains. This phenomenon becomes a gateway into broader discussions on racial microaggressions, cultural isolation, and the personal evolution in interpreting and responding to these experiences over time.

* “Hi, My Name Is Loco and I’m a Racist” - Radical Introspection About Internalized and Reciprocal Racism: Choosing a provocative title for a blog series based upon Alcoholics Anonymous, Baye did a brutally honest deep dive into his personal history of inherited racial bias, how growing up in a pro-Black but anti-white Pan-African environment shaped his early worldview, and how Japan triggered a confrontation with his own prejudices. The transition from projecting racist generalizations onto Japanese people to introspective accountability is both nuanced and transformative.

* Rewriting the Narrative - Using Storytelling to Combat Media Stereotypes About Black People in Japan: Through his “Black Eye” column, Baye started writing for The Japan Times to counterbalance negative and reductive portrayals of Black people in Japanese media. By spotlighting positive, nuanced stories—like Black professors, Black-Japanese families, and cultural bridge-builders—he helped reshape how Japanese readers perceive the Black diaspora in Japan.

* New Book - How a Black Writer and a Japanese Artist Are Healing Through Shared Creation: Words by Baye, Art by Miki isn’t just a poetry and art book—it’s an artistic response to trauma, beauty, identity, and coexistence. This collaboration reveals how two very different voices can come together to express something deeper than either could alone.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section, like YouTube's "chapters." So, please just refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Baye’s Website (English link): You can buy his new book Words by Baye, Art by Miki here, as well. https://www.bayemcneil.com/

* Baye’s Website (Japanese link): Yo

* Book Review by Real Gaijin: Please check out “New book by Japan-Based Syndicated Columnist Baye McNeil Released Today: Words by Baye, Art by Miki chronicles the real-life saga of the African American writer's journey in Japan with his partner and wise counselor, Miki Hayashi McNeil.”

#BayeMcNeil #WordsByBayeArtByMiki #HunterflyRoadProductions #BlackEye #MikiHayashiMcNeil #InterracialMarriage #InterracialRelationships #BlackCulture #AfricanAmerican #CrossBorderFamily #バイエマクニール #異人種間結婚 #異人種間恋愛 #クロスボーダーファミリー #人種差別 #黒塗り #黒人 #黒人系アメリカ人 #人種意識 #ブラックカルチャー

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Join me for an hour-long deep dive into the colorful career of a fellow American expat who has long made Japan his home. Kevin McAuliffe is a personal friend whose story could be the inspiration behind the saying, "Life’s most implausible moments tend to come with receipts.” Parts of his story may seem more fiction than fact, but he definitely has the receipts - these are real-life episodes from someone who has literally "been there, done that.”

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Hear how Kevin's career has taken him from being a camp counselor on a month-long trip through Asia with a group of teenagers during the Vietnam War, to working as a forklift operator, to becoming a writer for a trade magazine focused on consumer electronics and meeting with the legendary Konosuke Matsushita, the founder of Panasonic, to managing ad sales and circulation for Time and Fortune magazines in Hong Kong, to negotiating contracts with Japanese newspapers and TV stations for Reuters, and to starting his own successful trading company in Tokyo that also provides sales force outsourcing. It is hard to keep track of Kevin's myriad experiences, but we did our best.

Key Takeaways

Along the way, Kevin dropped several life hacks and other nuggets of advice.

* Be open to any opportunity that comes your way — especially those that force you out of your comfort zone.

* Learn on someone else's dime: No matter how mundane the job may seem, there is always something you can learn from it. Hint: Jump to the great story about how to make the most of a summer job at McDonald's (around the 54-minute mark).

* Don't fall for stereotypes when it comes to working with Japanese people: Be flexible and understand the dynamics at play behind the scenes.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section, like YouTube's "chapters." So, please just refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contact

The best way to reach Kevin is by filling out the “Contact” page of the Newport Ltd. website: https://www.newportjapan.com/contact?lang=en

#KevinMcAuliffe #NewportLTD #MarketingConsulting #sustainability #ConsumerProducts #entrepreneur #retail #branding #ConsumerBehavior #ProductDesign #BrandLoyalty #foreigner #ケビンマコーリフ #ニューポート #持続可能性 #消費者 #小売 #起業家 #ブランディング #製品デザイン #ブランドロイヤリティ #外国人 #外人

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Join me for a lively hour-long interview with someone who usually does the interviewing. Our guest is Louise George Kittaka, who writes for the Japan Times, Japan's leading English-language newspaper, and contributes to a variety of other platforms, including BBC Storyworks, CNN, and The Michelin Guide. She works with Japanese government tourism organizations and corporate clients, including Toshiba and Mazda. As a freelance writer and editor for Japan's educational publishing sector, Louise has contributed to numerous textbooks, study courses and national English exams. Louise teaches in the Department of Comparative Studies at Shirayuri Women's University in Tokyo. She is also an independent cross-cultural training consultant, working with international families coming to Japan on corporate assignments and Japanese nationals moving abroad.

We took a deep dive into Louise's background. We learned what inspired this accomplished writer, who is fluent in Japanese, to develop such a successful career in Japan while raising three children in a cross-border family. Louise generously shared many practical tips about what it is like to live and develop a career in Japan.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

As Louise writes extensively about Japanese destinations and is an avid traveler, she ended the discussion by sharing some of her hidden gems that you probably won't find in most Japan guidebooks. So, please stay until the end.

Key Takeaways

* Insights into Developing a Writing Career: Follow along as Louise shares details of her own story and how she became a frequent contributor to the Japan Times. Hint: Write what you know.

* Life Hacks for Raising Children While Developing a Career in Japan: While Louise certainly benefited from the ongoing support of her husband, a native of Japan, she had to improvise for long stretches when he was away-both because of long hours at the office and because he was literally stationed far from home for years at a time. Somehow, Louise not only managed to raise three successful children, but also became an accomplished writer! Hint #1: Sleep is overrated! Hint #2: Tapping into your support network can go a long way.

* Practical Advice for Foreigners Who Want to Make Japan Their Home for an Extended Period: Learn Japanese, have a "mindset of abundance," and "find your tribe.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section, like YouTube's "chapters." So, please just refer to the times listed below to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* The Japan Times - Louise George Kittaka: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/author/256/louise-george-kittaka/

* Women Building Community With Women (AFWJ): https://afwj.org/

* Savvy Tokyo: https://savvytokyo.com/

* 5-day JR East Pass (Tohoku area): https://www.jreast.co.jp/multi/en/pass/eastpass_t.html

* Retire Japan:

#LouiseGeorgeKittaka #JapanTimes #BBCStoryworks #CNN #TheMichelinGuide #ShirayuriWomensUniversity #foreigner #橘高ルイーズジョージ #白百合女子大学 #ジャパンタイムズ #ミシュランガイド #外国人 #外人

PS: If you enjoyed what you’re reading, consider hitting the “Like” button. It’ll help more people find this article.

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Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

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* Title: Japan Deploys Walk-through Facial Recognition Ticket Turnstiles at Train Stations Across the Country

* Sub-Title: Soon, there will be no need to stand in line to buy a train ticket or even use an IC card to get on and off the platform. Just smile for the camera - even if you are wearing a mask!

In a scene straight out of the 1990 movie classic Total Recall, when Arnold Schwarzenegger tries to pass through a turnstile but is caught with a concealed gun, Osaka Metro has nearly completed testing and will soon go live with new walk-through, facial-recognition ticket turnstiles throughout its subway network.

Also, please let us know what you think, either by leaving a reply below or by adding a comment to the original post. Thanks!

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

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Follow along by reading the original article:

* Title: 68.2% of Married Couples in Japan Don't Have Sex!

* Sub-Title: Japan is experiencing a rise in alternative family structures, including single mothers who choose not to marry and couples opting for sexless marriages by choice.

Confirming similar survey results, a recent large-scale study of about 4,000 couples confirmed that just over 2/3 of Japanese marriages are sexless.

Also, please let us know what you think, either by leaving a reply below or by adding a comment to the original post. Thanks!

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

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Follow along by reading the original article:

* Title: Japanese Foodies Gobble up a $1.3 Million Tuna for New Year's

* Sub-Title: Connoisseurs of high-end sushi in Tokyo literally bought the "first catch" of 2025 hook, line, and sinker.

The first tuna auction of the year was held on January 5, 2025 at the world's largest fish market in Toyosu, Tokyo. The highest priced "Ichiban Maguro" was a 276-kilogram (approximately 610 pounds) Pacific bluefin tuna from Oma, Aomori Prefecture, which sold for 207 million yen (approximately $1.3 million), or 750,000 yen per kilogram, which equates to $2,160 per pound. This was the second highest price ever recorded since 1999.

Also, please let us know what you think, either by leaving a reply below or by adding a comment to the original post. Thanks!

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

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Have you ever met someone for the first time and just known that this person will be successful no matter what they do? In my experience, it is rare, but it does happen.

A few years ago, when I was interviewing college students to help me "work the booth" at a customer show in Osaka, I met just such a person. His name is Arjun Sharma. While now still in his early twenties, he is now the co-founder and COO of Tokyo-based startup Riv Inc. Arjun graciously agreed to be the first guest in the Real Gaijin AMA ("Ask Me Anything") podcast series, which profiles foreign residents of Japan, or other "real gaijin," who are making their mark in a country long known for its homogeneity but now home to more than 3 million foreigners.

Real Gaijin is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Arjun is a member of Japan's rapidly growing population of expatriates who have learned to navigate Japan's business culture and are truly challenging the status quo to build successful new start-ups. Many of these leaders are young millennials or members of Generation Z.

Key Takeaways

* Arjun's Baby, Riv Inc: Still in the development stage, this startup is transforming a vision for the future into a practical service to provide a complete, real-time traceability solution for components and other inputs for the food and beverage industry in Japan and around the world.

* Advice for foreigners considering living and working in Japan

* Learn Japanese: While you don't need to be fluent, a solid grasp of rudimentary Japanese is usually critical to a successful transition to life as a foreigner in Japan. It is also not a “once-and-done” type of thing. Studying the Japanese language and culture requires a commitment to becoming a lifelong learner. The rewards are, however, well worth it.

* Create your own community and take advantage of networking opportunities: There are plenty of opportunities to meet other people and get involved in a larger community in Japan and online. As a budding entrepreneur, Arjun seeks out relationships with other people who are passionate about their startup (e.g. Alchemist Accelerator in Japan, SusHI-Tech, etc.).

* Relocate to Japan: Find a job and commit to working in Japan for at least 5 years to fully immerse yourself in Japanese business culture. Especially if you speak English, Arjun says there is always something you can do in Japan, especially in Tokyo, and not just teaching English (although that is often a good start). First, though, you need to find a way to navigate the visa situation and get over here.

Timeline

Substack does not yet have the functionality to allow you to use a link to jump to a specific section, like YouTube's "chapters" So, please just refer to the times listed below (table in main Substack post) to navigate through our hour-long conversation. Thank you for your understanding.

Key Contacts

* Arjun Sharma via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/arjun-sharma-4aa9591b7/

* Riv, Inc: https://riv-inc.jp/en

* Alchemist Accelerator: https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/ and https://www.alchemistaccelerator.com/japan

* SusHI-tech: https://www.sushi-tech-tokyo.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/top/en/

* Recommended Chill Spot: https://www.umihotaru.com/en/

#RivInc #FoodSupplyChain #FAndB #FoodAndBeverage #startup #GenZEntrepreneur #YoungEntrepreneur #ArjunSharma #foreigner #AlchemistAccelerator #AlchemistJapan #シャルマアルジュン #アルジュンシャルマ #食品サプライチェーン #食産業 #スタートアップ #若手起業家 #Z世代の起業家 #外国人 #外人

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Go to your Dashboard.

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Add “Real Gaijin.”

Thanks for your consideration. - Mark

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

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* Title: Tokyo Swindlers, Netflix's New Miniseries, Becoming a Global Hit

* Sub-Title: Based on a true story told in the best-selling novel of the same name, Tokyo Swindlers is well worth binge-watching.

6 weeks after its debut in late July, the hit mini-series Tokyo Swindlers is still the top-ranked drama on Netflix in the "Top 10 TV Shows in Japan Today" category. Enjoy my personal narration of "Tokyo Swindlers, Netflix's New Miniseries, Becoming a Global Hit," which was published on August 29, 2024. You'll be binge-watching this show on your couch soon, if you haven't already.

Also, please let us know what you think, either by leaving a reply below or by adding a comment to the original post. Thanks!

Please note that you can subscribe to Real Gaijin for free. If you are so inclined, you can also purchase an annual subscription for a relatively small fee.

However, I understand that even the lowest level of annual subscription allowed by Substack may seem too high for many. If you just want to buy a coffee for Real Gaijin (or maybe a green tea), you can also make a small donation here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/realgaijin

All levels of support - including just liking a particular article and/or leaving a comment - are very welcome. Thanks again for reading.

While Real Gaijin lives in Substack, you can also find Real Gaijin on a few other platforms (listed in alphabetical order).

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Follow along by reading the original article:

* Title: Kyoto Ultimate 3-Day Travel Guide

* Sub-Title: Despite concerns about "over-tourism," there is a reason why Kyoto is Japan's top tourist destination and remains a "must see" for any foreign visitor to the country.

Japan's quintessential tourist destination, Kyoto, is considered the preeminent cultural capital of Japan and was the home of the Japanese imperial family for eleven centuries until 1869. Kyoto residents are known to be somewhat suspicious of outsiders - even from within Japan - but foreign visitors are actually very welcome.

Japan Struggles to Implement Dual-Pricing for Foreign Visitors

To offset the costs of perceived over-tourism, city governments and local merchants are experimenting with various upfront pricing models that raise suspicions of discrimination against foreigners.