Learning Japanese & Culture with Maile & Naoki

Naoki and Maile
  • 0.0 (0)
  • LANGUAGE LEARNING
  • MONTHLY

Explore Japan beyond the textbook! Maile (from the U.S.) and Naoki (from Japan) dive into real Japanese—and real cultural differences. From awkward moments ordering food, to why Japanese people avoid white shirts, to how slang actually sounds, this podcast is for anyone learning Japanese and curious about everyday life in Japan. アメリカ人マイリーと日本人なおきが、日本と米国の文化の違いを語ります。 Japanese lesson https://preply.in/NAOKI6JA1555001010?ts=17691453 We talk about: Useful Japanese phrases Japanese vs American manners What shocks Americans in Japan Travel tips, cultural etiquette, and real expat experiences

Episodes

  1. Why is speaking with a “good” English accent embarrassing in Japan? (Part 1) #5

    20/06/2025

    Why is speaking with a “good” English accent embarrassing in Japan? (Part 1) #5

    My Japanese lesson link https://preply.in/NAOKI7JA1555001010?ts=17691449 Why is speaking with a “good” accent embarrassing in Japan? And why do Americans often stop learning Spanish after high school? In this episode, Naoki (from Japan) and Maile (from the U.S.) compare how foreign languages are taught, perceived, and emotionally experienced in Japan and America. They talk about the silent shame Japanese students feel when pronouncing English too well, how Naoki managed to develop native-like pronunciation without leaving Japan, and why Spanish is often seen as a "requirement" in the U.S., not a passion. They also touch on the popularity of Korean and French, and how cultural attitudes toward language learning shape confidence, motivation, and even identity. #LanguageLearning #CulturalDifferences #EnglishInJapan #SpanishInAmerica #PronunciationShame #AccentPolitics #LanguageAndIdentity #PodcastOnCulture

    18 min
  2. What it means to get dressed in Japan 日本で服を着るということ #4

    02/06/2025

    What it means to get dressed in Japan 日本で服を着るということ #4

    My Japanese lesson link https://preply.in/NAOKI7JA1555001010?ts=17691449 Episode Summary: In this episode, Naoki (from Japan) and Maile (from the U.S.) dive into the subtle yet striking cultural differences around clothing and skin exposure. Why does a breezy American outfit turn heads in Japan? What’s with the stares on the train? And why do Japanese men avoid white or see-through shirts? It's an honest, sometimes awkward, and always eye-opening conversation about culture, fashion, and perception. Keywords:Cultural differences, fashion, skin exposure, gender, U.S. vs Japan, public space, social norms Japanese (日本語): エピソード概要： 今回のエピソードでは、Naoki（日本人）とMaile（アメリカ人）が、日本とアメリカの“肌の露出”や“服装文化”について率直に語り合います。アメリカでは当たり前の服装が、日本では視線の的になる？電車での視線問題、シャツの素材の違い、日本人男性がなぜ白シャツを避けがちなのかまで…。ちょっと気まずくて、でも超リアルな文化比較トークをお楽しみください。 キーワード：文化の違い、肌の露出、ファッション、日米比較、視線、ジェンダー、日常の違和感

    15 min
  3. In Japan, You Have to Be Invisible in Trains 日本での電車のマナー #3

    19/05/2025

    In Japan, You Have to Be Invisible in Trains 日本での電車のマナー #3

    My Japanese lesson link https://preply.in/NAOKI7JA1555001010?ts=17691449 In this episode, Maile (from the U.S.) and Naoki (from Japan) dive into the unspoken rules of riding trains in Japan.What are the dos and don'ts of Japanese train etiquette in 2025? Is eating okay? What about talking on the phone? We also explore how visible—or invisible—Westerners feel in public transportation settings like Tokyo and Saitama today. This episode is perfect for: Travelers visiting Japan Expats adjusting to Japanese culture Anyone curious about cultural differences between Japan and the West 🎧 Listen in to learn how not to stand out on a Japanese train! Keywords : Japanese train etiquette, Japan travel tips, Japanese manners, public transport Japan, culture shock Japan, expat Japan, Tokyo subway rules, things not to do in Japan エピソード #3 – 日本の電車では「見えない存在」でいなければいけない？ 今回のポッドキャストでは、アメリカ出身のMaileと日本人のNaokiが、日本で電車に乗る際のマナーについて深掘りします。 ・2025年の日本、電車内での飲食はOK？・通話してもいいの？・そもそも、日本の電車ってどれくらい静か？・そして、西洋人が東京や埼玉で「どれくらい目立つのか？」というリアルな視点も紹介します。 これから日本に来る旅行者、日本に住み始めた外国人、文化の違いに興味がある方にぴったりのエピソードです。 キーワード： 日本の電車マナー、公共交通機関のルール、日本旅行の注意点、日本の文化、在日外国人、日本で目立たない方法、東京地下鉄マナー、外国人と日本社会

    21 min
  4. What is "Emoi" in Japanese? Emo boy? エモいって何ですか？#2

    26/07/2024

    What is "Emoi" in Japanese? Emo boy? エモいって何ですか？#2

    My Japanese lesson link https://preply.in/NAOKI7JA1555001010?ts=17691449 Today, we talked about Maile's experience in Kyoto as exchange student (Ryuugakusei). And she explained how Kyoto dialect is, and weird date(?) with Japanese man, the word Emoi, traveling to Kanazawa. And she was just eating curry in Kyoto! Doushite~~~~? Please eat Sushi and Tempra, Tsukemono.

    33 min
  5. Word of the Year 2023 / Frog Phenomenon 2023年の日本の流行語大賞/蛙化現象 #1

    29/01/2024

    Word of the Year 2023 / Frog Phenomenon 2023年の日本の流行語大賞/蛙化現象 #1

    My Japanese lesson link https://preply.in/NAOKI7JA1555001010?ts=17691449 Hello everyone!This is the first episode of the Latest Japanese Slang Podcast.I'm Naoki from Japan, and my co-host is an American named Maile.We discuss Japanese slangs and culture on the podcast. In this episode, we introduced ourselves and talked about the word of the year for 2023, such as "Rizz" and the "Frog Phenomenon" from Japan. Thanks for listening! よろしくお願いします。

    25 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

Explore Japan beyond the textbook! Maile (from the U.S.) and Naoki (from Japan) dive into real Japanese—and real cultural differences. From awkward moments ordering food, to why Japanese people avoid white shirts, to how slang actually sounds, this podcast is for anyone learning Japanese and curious about everyday life in Japan. アメリカ人マイリーと日本人なおきが、日本と米国の文化の違いを語ります。 Japanese lesson https://preply.in/NAOKI6JA1555001010?ts=17691453 We talk about: Useful Japanese phrases Japanese vs American manners What shocks Americans in Japan Travel tips, cultural etiquette, and real expat experiences

Information

You Might Also Like