My Time in Japan

Paul-chan
  • 5.0 (3)
  • PERSONAL JOURNALS
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

I'm Paul-chan, an Army vet, web developer, gamer and Japanese enthusiast. My Time in Japan is a journey revisiting my experiences of adapting to new cultures and blundering through language barriers while serving as a Latter-day Saint missionary in 2009 and 2010. From the lush mountains of the Chūgoku Region to the very southern tip of Kyūshū, we dive into journal entries, local history, mission stories, and more. Connect with me on your favorite Social Media platforms at https://paul-chan.one

  1. JAN 12 · BONUS

    Minisode - Happy New Year / あけおめことよろ

    Minisodes for My Time in Japan will include brief updates, extra context, or other bonuses for the show. This minisode includes an overview of the new Podcast Cover Art and an announcement around episode markings for content that may include faith-related topics. Music Provided by NCMFYT Intro: Colorful Cat - Playground Link: https://youtu.be/mkPFWv1xWsw?si=Rndj6_JLTh2TtKx7 Background Music One: Domitori Taranofu - Sakura's LifeLink: https://youtu.be/tZXmTc4W_o0?si=BBouPSrpkBHV9pfO Background Music Two: Domitori Taranofu - Dreams of Japan (Extended Mix)Link: https://youtu.be/RsZRAh19oio?si=KeEch0V_5cB6HsEv

    7 min

  2. 07/22/2025

    Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place / 前門の虎後門の狼

    For this episode's Latest Word, we're digging into the linguistics behind the phrase... you guessed it, "caught between a rock and a hard place." Ty, one of the missionaries I served with in Japan, will be joining us soon but I introduce him in this episode along with some of the lessons I learned while serving with him. We also dive into some more of the cuisine I was introduced to while living in Izumo, and touch on other topics such as missionary fitness, mental health, and the art of the beverage run! Episode Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PJo2fPvxFRAHgQJLu4cn72xaj6quwtyzls0E-b6yH30 Q&A: Would you like to be featured in our next Q&A segment? Send your questions via DM (Insta / Threads, Bluesky, X, TikTok) or email them to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@paul-chan.one⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you are enjoying My Time in Japan, please consider becoming a Patron at https://patreon.com/paulchankazoku. The free tier will give you access to all my normal updates, but feel free to join one of the higher tiers if you want some extra goodies or just want to help support what we're doing! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠paul-chan.one⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for Paul-chan's social media handles and other content. Don't forget to catch ⁠Paul-chan live at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ paulchan.tv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ a few times a week around 9 or 10 PM Mountain Time! Intro and Outro Music provided by NCMFYT Tracks: ⁠Colorful Cat - Playground Watch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/mkPFWv1xWsw⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Colorful Cat - Kon⁠ Watch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/fdFLSIxhHhg⁠

    26 min

  3. 12/02/2024

    Hills and Mountains / 岡と山

    For this episode's Latest Word, we're exploring the Japanese titles for Mistborn and the Way of Kings! Then, we continue the narrative in Southwestern Japan with a visit to Okayama and a few areas in the country near Izumo! Join us as we head for the hills! Episode Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12p4zSwjMX7E9GQoYqjzkrzFCNe7ZWUUFWUvArQNDzdg Q&A: Would you like to be featured in our next Q&A segment? Send your questions via DM (Insta / Threads, Bluesky, X) or email them to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@paul-chan.one⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you are enjoying My Time in Japan, please consider becoming a supporter by contributing on Paul-chan’s Ko-fi page at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/paulchan14⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠paul-chan.one⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for Paul-chan's social media handles and other content. Don't forget to catch ⁠Paul-chan live at⁠⁠⁠⁠ paulchan.tv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ a few times a week around 10:00 PM Mountain Time! Intro and Outro Music provided by NCMFYT Tracks: ⁠Colorful Cat - Playground Watch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/mkPFWv1xWsw⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Colorful Cat - Kon⁠ Watch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/fdFLSIxhHhg⁠

    31 min

  4. 10/30/2024

    The Tales of Izumo / 出雲物語

    This may not be Ba Sing Se, but there are still secrets to be discovered! Join Paul-chan as he shares a few vignettes, including some spookie moments apropos for the Halloween season! Videos referenced in this episode: ⁠The seriously shocking backstory of the Bug Pokemon, Paras⁠ (Kyota Ko) But we’re speaking Japanese ⁠日本語しゃべってるんだけど⁠ (Ken Tanaka) Episode Transcript: ⁠https://docs.google.com/document/d/14EUqZdpmhvhYY_piTP1pl6jCifBa5Y-VCo5VeZdqOhY⁠ Would you like to be featured in our next Q&A segment? Send your questions via DM (Instagram / Threads) or email them to ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@paul-chan.one⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you are enjoying My Time in Japan, please consider becoming a supporter by contributing at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mytimeinjapan/support⁠⁠⁠⁠, or visit my Ko-fi page at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/paulchan14⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠paul-chan.one⁠⁠⁠⁠ for Paul-chan's social media handles and other content. Don't forget to catch ⁠Paul-chan live at⁠⁠⁠ paulchan.tv⁠⁠⁠⁠ a few times a week around 9:00PM Mountain Time! Intro and Outro Music provided by NCMFYT Tracks: ⁠Colorful Cat - Playground Watch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/mkPFWv1xWsw⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Colorful Cat - Kon⁠ Watch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/fdFLSIxhHhg⁠

    19 min

  5. 08/20/2024

    The Groceries of Sin / 罪の食料品

    We start off with a new segment: The Latest Word. You'll then learn useful tips about Banking and Grocery Shopping in Japan before revisiting one of the darkest days in Paul-chan's history... 😂 Articles mentioned in this episode: I'm an American mom living in Japan, and grocery shopping here is a far superior experience than it is in the US (Business Insider) Episode Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JNAMfbV0rAAe31BhU1CZq03Vv6kzAm_Cpd4liK4XG6k Would you like to be featured in the Q&A segment? Send your questions via DM (Instagram / Threads) or email them to ⁠⁠podcast@paul-chan.one⁠⁠ If you are enjoying My Time in Japan, please consider becoming a supporter by contributing at ⁠⁠⁠podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mytimeinjapan/support⁠⁠, or visit my Ko-fi page at ⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/paulchan14⁠⁠ Visit ⁠⁠paul-chan.one⁠⁠ for Paul-chan's social media handles and other content. Don't forget to catch ⁠Paul-chan live at⁠ paulchan.tv⁠⁠, once or twice a week around 9:00PM Mountain Time! Music provided by NCMFYT Tracks: ⁠Colorful Cat - Playground Watch: ⁠https://youtu.be/mkPFWv1xWsw⁠ Colorful Cat - Nakabeni Watch: https://youtu.be/tj8AezwaTJw Stream: https://soundcloud.com/ncmfyt/colorful-cat-nakabeni Domitori Taranofu - Birds and Kids on the Playground Watch: https://youtu.be/psIqFtfbjg0 Stream: https://soundcloud.com/ncmfyt/domitori-taranofu-birds-and-kids-on-the-playground ⁠Colorful Cat - Kon⁠ Watch: ⁠https://youtu.be/fdFLSIxhHhg

    10 min

  6. 07/30/2024

    Dreams and Déjà Vu / 夢と既視感

    Join us as we dive into Paul-chan's eccentric "dream theater" and have an introspective conversation about déjà vu. We also discuss over-tourism in Japan during this episode's Q&A segment. Articles mentioned in this episode: Japan, famously polite, struggles to cope with influx of tourists (Washington Post) Experiencing Déjà Vu? Neurologists Explain What It Means and Why It’s Happening (MSN) Episode Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sCYMURPlX5A5LBhWo-S16rZhbOwMzS4s_LYdkTCwGq0/edit?usp=sharing Would you like to be featured in the Q&A segment? Send your questions via DM (Instagram / Threads) or email them to ⁠podcast@paul-chan.one⁠ If you are enjoying My Time in Japan, please consider becoming a supporter by contributing at ⁠⁠podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mytimeinjapan/support⁠, or visit my Ko-fi page at ⁠https://ko-fi.com/paulchan14⁠ Visit ⁠paul-chan.one⁠ for Paul-chan's social media handles and other content. Don't forget to catch ⁠Paul-chan live at paulchan.tv⁠, once or twice a week around 9:00PM Mountain Time! Music provided by NCMFYT Tracks: ⁠Colorful Cat - Playground Watch: https://youtu.be/mkPFWv1xWsw c152 - liminal fields Stream: https://soundcloud.com/ncmfyt/c152-liminal-fields Domitori Taranofu - Sakura's Life Watch: youtu.be/tZXmTc4W_o0 Stream: ncmfyt.band.link/SakurasLife Domitori Taranofu - Dreams of Japan (Extended Mix) Watch: youtu.be/tZXmTc4W_o0 Stream: ncmfyt.band.link/SakurasLife ⁠Colorful Cat - Kon⁠ Watch: https://youtu.be/fdFLSIxhHhg

    15 min

  7. 07/16/2024

    Season One Interlude / シーズン1間奏

    The hiatus is over! Join us as we go over the roadmap for where this podcast is headed and reflect on a poignant Japanese song. Episode Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x8KLmeyv_O69ENLO5mPdSz3zclbwvmggGKK8oJHsLqg/edit?usp=drive_link Would you like to be featured in the Q&A segment? Send your questions via DM (Instagram / Threads) or email them to podcast@paul-chan.one If you are enjoying My Time in Japan, please consider becoming a supporter by contributing at ⁠podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mytimeinjapan/support, or visit my Ko-fi page at https://ko-fi.com/paulchan14 Visit paul-chan.one for Paul-chan's social media handles and other content. Don't forget to catch Paul-chan live at paulchan.tv, once or twice a week around 9:00PM Mountain Time! Music provided by NCMFYT Tracks: Colorful Cat - Playground, Colorful Cat - Sharegaki, Domitori Taranofu - Cold Cold Snowfall in My Soul Extended Mix, and Colorful Cat - Kon Stream: Listen on Spotify

    10 min

  8. 10/25/2023

    Here Comes the Train / 電車が参ります

    Come hop on a train bound for Matsue! Also, let's talk about Japanese vending machines! Episode Transcript Would you like to be featured in the Q&A segment? Send your questions via DM (Twitter, Instagram) or email me at podcast@paul-chan.one If you are enjoying My Time in Japan, please consider becoming a supporter by contributing at ⁠podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mytimeinjapan/support Visit paul-chan.one for Paul-chan's social media handles and other content. Don't forget to catch Paul-chan live at paulchan.tv, every other evening around 9:00PM Mountain Time! Music provided by NCMFYT Tracks: Colorful Cat - Playground, Colorful Cat - Iridescent, Domitori Taranofu - Forget, Colorful Cat - Kōbai-Iro, and Colorful Cat - Kon Stream: Listen on Spotify

    14 min
See All (13)

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

I'm Paul-chan, an Army vet, web developer, gamer and Japanese enthusiast. My Time in Japan is a journey revisiting my experiences of adapting to new cultures and blundering through language barriers while serving as a Latter-day Saint missionary in 2009 and 2010. From the lush mountains of the Chūgoku Region to the very southern tip of Kyūshū, we dive into journal entries, local history, mission stories, and more. Connect with me on your favorite Social Media platforms at https://paul-chan.one

Information

  • Creator
    Paul-chan
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Paul-chan
  • Show Website
    My Time in Japan