Conbini Cult

Conbini Cult Pod

Living in another country sure can be interesting. Is being foreigners in Japan our whole personality? I guess so. Stick around for silly stories (from us and you, the listeners) about work, dating, language learning, embarrassing moments, current events, and deep dives on Japan-related topics we’re curious to learn more about.

  1. 3d ago

    Unlikely Heroes in Japan: the Fukushima 500 & Other Disaster Efforts | Conbini Cult Episode 110

    Not all heroes wear capes! Some are elderly volunteers that put their own safety at risk rather than leaving a mess for future generations to deal with, and some heroes come from a marginalized community and still step up to help those in need during disaster. Let’s talk about some of Japan’s most major natural disasters over the past few decades, and those whose efforts to help victims did not go unnoticed.  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms References/sources: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20260801_07/ https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/08/08/japan/kumamoto-quake-toll-39/ https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/celebrity/articles/japanese-adult-film-star-donates-110249586.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGExd2I4IFjZ7GYMidlyz1ZdhQW1oB8jPUggcONkJv5BtFdr4dKll-ct0YDc1P156M5HPg97Rw6dscZQv_cMib_DVwWh5f5GSC7A5c26E4Z99_06TZ4q67duC10I0YD-GQZGmhqnCtz2MW4IY_9lCOypzuXIvxOvDOSuNu6_oI0t https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/08/04/japan/kumamoto-mall-explosion-workers-deaths-company-order/ https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/safety-and-security/safety-of-plants/fukushima-daiichi-accident https://www.npr.org/2011/09/12/140402430/japanese-seniors-send-us-to-damaged-nuclear-plant https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/japanese-boy-from-disaster-hit-fukushima-bullied-by-classmates-who-called-him-germ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-13598607 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5967459/ https://www.reconstruction.go.jp/english/ https://namie-ukedo.com https://www.fipo.or.jp/lore/en https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/earth-and-atmospheric-sciences/kobe-earthquake  (Use Remove Paywalls) https://www.nytimes.com/1995/01/22/world/quake-in-japan-gangsters-gang-in-kobe-organizes-aid-for-people-in-quake.html https://jpri.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Occasional-Paper-02.pdf https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/mobsters-on-a-mission-how-japan-s-mafia-launched-an-aid-effort-2264031.html https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/japans-latest-earthquake-damages-kumamoto-castle-the-400-year-old-fortress-still-battling-nature-after-centuries-of-survival/amp_articleshow/132738454.cms https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/04/14/japan/society/japan-kumamoto-castle-restoration/ https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/4508/ https://www.saitama-np.co.jp/articles/62218/postDetail https://english.anf-news.com/news/kurdish-red-crescent-provides-aid-to-earthquake-victims-in-japan-72031 https://www.jica.go.jp/english/overseas/turkey/information/topics/2023/230627.html https://sikhnet.com/news/recognizing-human-race-one-united-sikhs-serve-langar-glide-foundation https://www.c7f.navy.mil/Media/News/Display/Article/686730/operation-tomodachi-five-years-later/ https://www.wochikochi.jp/english/relayessay/2011/07/peaceboat-srilanka.php Japanalysis video mentioned: https://youtu.be/WCk2hYLOdnI?si=-_C5fNVXuy6TB41g  Time stamps 00:00 intro & recent earthquake in Kumamoto 06:24 Fukushima 500 - East Japan Disaster 2011 20:55 Yakuza efforts?? & Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake 1995 26:00 Kumamoto Earthquake 2016 32:31 Kurdish aid after Noto Peninsula Earthquake 2024 38:04 Other foreign communities that stepped up

  2. Aug 9

    Japan Horror Stories to Give You a CHILL | Conbini Cult Episode 109

    Did you know that August is the spooky time of year in Japan? Let’s find out what the Obon holiday/tradition is all about, and share some real ghost encounters that will surely give you a chill this summer. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms Words mentioned/useful words: 人柱 hitobashira - human pillar Time stamps 00:00 what is Obon? 04:12 superstitions: swimming & bon dance 07:19 ‘I saw its face without turning around’ 10:28 the child in the snow 12:33 ‘Kurosaki Point’ 21:56 the white car 25:02 ‘my only paranormal encounter as a skeptic’ 28:22 Arashiyama 36:47 Fukushima tales

  3. Aug 2

    Working in Japan as a Content Creator | Conbini Cult Episode 108

    Today we’ll find out what Frankie’s actual job is, how she got started as a content creator in Japan, making a full time income, navigating visas and starting a business, and how tourism projects (for social media) usually work. We also have Rosa’s perspective, who worked full time as Frankie’s assistant for eight months.  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms Time stamps 00:00 “tRy BeInG aN iNfLuEnCeR fOr a DaY” 08:55 the “work”, getting started, building audience 20:32 negotiating with sponsors, outreach 28:52 snack box/commission rant 34:24 where does the $$ come from? 37:28 visas 45:09 assistant perspective 53:14 how tourism projects work 1:07:14 pros & cons

  4. Jul 26

    Being a Freelance Videographer in Japan with Takashi Film! | Conbini Cult Episode 107

    Takashi Film joins us today to talk about being a freelancer in a creative field in Japan, starting a business, and also navigating the work force with ADHD! Takashi is a videographer who has worked with many clients like DJI, Lumix, Mazda and Lexus! Cool guy alert, with no sarcasm this time.  Takashi's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/takashi.film/?hl=en It’s not his first rodeo though! We did an episode a while ago with Cheyenne about culture shock/reverse culture shock when going back to visit family in the US. Check that out too! Episode 25. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms Words mentioned/useful words: 映像 eizo - video, film クリエイター kurieta - creator (in our case content creator or video creator) コンテンツクリエイター kontentsu kurieta - content creator 個人事業者 kojinjigyosha - sole proprietor, self-employed 合同会社 goudou gaisha - LLC 株式会社 kabushiki gaisha - corporation, stock company 公務員 koumuin - public/government employee, civil servant 資本金 shihonkin - capital stock アンケート anketo - survey, questionnaire 日経 nikkei - share index 日系 nikkei - of Japanese descent Time stamps 00:00 hello Takashi 01:03 background, getting started in the industry 08:34 getting through 2020, govt support, etc 11:46 getting into more creative work 13:05 Japan’s image of freelancers 14:30 having ADHD in Japan 21:03 clients 23:49 starting a company 26:43 clients: the good and bad

  5. Jul 19

    Pachinko: Japan’s gambling loophole | Conbini Cult Episode 106

    Ever been walking down the street in Japan and wondered what that building is with the bright lights, loud slot machines, and cigarette smoke seeping through the doors? How is pachinko gambling if gambling is technically illegal here? Let’s learn more about the game that you can find in pretty much any neighborhood in Japan, the ancient types of gambling that preceded pachinko, the hidden problems of gambling addiction, and how these ’entertainment facilities’ operate through a legal loophole.  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms References/sources: Nicholas Cage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYkw-5htPw0 A pachinko addict’s guide: https://japantoday.com/category/features/lifestyle/an-addict%25e2%2580%2599s-guide-to-pachinko Number of Pachinko Parlors and Parlor Operators in Japanhttps://www.yanoresearch.com/en/press-release/show/press_id/3528 Japan's pachinko industry braces for anti-addiction regulation/ 2018 https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/japans-pachinko-industry-braces-for-antiaddiction-regulation-1548046 Gambling Addiction in the Land of Pachinko/ 2018 https://www.nippon.com/en/currents/d00367/ Japan casino bribery investigation widens, arcade operator raided/ 2019 https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2019/12/26/japan-casino-bribery-investigation-widens-arcade-operator-raided Association of gambling activities and modalities with problem gambling in Japan: A nationwide cross-sectional online survey-based study https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853225000136?ref=pdf_download&fr=RR-2&rr=a1d883dadf171b3a A Journey into Japan’s Pachinko Parlors/ 2024 https://peacockplume.fr/lifestyle/journey-japans-pachinko-parlors The Zone and the Shame: Narratives of Gambling Problems in Japan https://criticalgamblingstudies.com/index.php/cgs/article/view/112/74 Eigamura: https://en.eigamura.com/show/chohan/ https://en.eigamura.com/show/kyohana/ Children left in cars: https://goemon-jp.com/news/mother-arrested-for-abandoning-her-1-year-old-child-in-the-car-at-a-pachinko-parlor-parking-lot-tPEZTNj9JQd4ZF6muNBM8p?language=en https://japantoday.com/category/crime/woman-arrested-after-5-month-old-son-dies-in-car-while-she-plays-pachinko Cops suspected of gambling: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12/23/japan/crime-legal/police-online-casino-gambling/ The anime/pachinko connection: https://blog.jlist.com/your-friend-in-japan/the-anime-pachinko-connection/ Gambling addiction stats: https://kurihama.hosp.go.jp/english/ https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10899-025-10423-w https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-024-19197-z Addiction: https://www.nippon.com/en/features/h00252/ Consultation service: https://rsn-sakura.jp/english.html Effects of pachinko: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12889-024-19373-1 Number of pachinko parlors: https://www.yanoresearch.com/en/press-release/show/press_id/3528 The pachinko player/ 2008: https://www.tokyoreporter.com/japan-news/special-reports/the-pachinko-player/ Pachinko the book: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2017/03/04/books/book-reviews/pachinko-min-jin-lee-writes-struggle-ethnic-korean-family-japan/ Osaka’s new casino resort: https://japan-forward.com/osaka-casino-resort-on-track-for-2030-launch-after-operator-waives-right-to-withdraw/ Time stamps 00:00 intro to pachinko 03:58 ancient gambling  08:33 how does pachinko work 11:33 pachinko addiction 23:30 legal & illegal types of gambling/betting 29:25 who profits from pachinko? 32:11 Pachinko (novel) + ethnic stereotypes 34:55 police, corruption, gang ties 40:14 exploitation, child neglect  43:46 pro pachinko players 46:40 industry decline + new Osaka casino plans

  6. Jul 12

    Japan’s Biker Gangs: Bosozoku - A Story of Counterculture | Conbini Cult Episode 105

    If you’ve ever lived or traveled in Japan, you’ve probably heard the sound of revving engines and loud bike mufflers in the middle of the night at least once, or maybe you’ve just seen Tokyo Revengers and Akira. Let’s take a deep dive into the history of these biker gangs, dubbed Bosozoku (violent running tribes) by the media, and how their eccentric bike modifications, fashion, and rebellion have become immortalized in Japanese youth counter-culture. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms References/sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZvjfsBRY50&t=334s Hammer man: https://youtu.be/ea4F9wwH0iw?si=tDVNe7nyfpvHyrqj https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/society/e24b8824b3aa469fa582b8416cf1d9ab https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/24b2f01802bac89a84fc1781eb8c6455fcd83bab https://shueisha.online/articles/-/257919?disp=paging&page=1 Uniforms & history: https://features.japantimes.co.jp/tokkofuku/ Without paywall: https://removepaywalls.com/https://features.japantimes.co.jp/tokkofuku/  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS9-UFaKlpw Reckless driving: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2003/07/22/national/new-traffic-law-a-red-light-for-bosozoku/ Origins & history: https://haenfler.sites.grinnell.edu/subcultures-and-scenes/bosozoku/ Vice doc: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMpZLrODd3k&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fhaenfler.sites.grinnell.edu%2F&source_ve_path=MjM4NTE Bosozoku girls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-z15n4utsY Black Emperor: https://sabukaru.online/articles/bosozoku-double-feature-black-emperor-on-film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcK39R7wXcU Noise: https://leavetheroad.in/2025/11/25/from-bosozoku-beats-to-pointless-noise-stop-revving-like-a-clown/ Counter-culture: https://underground-england.com/bosozoku-japans-violent-speed-tribes/ Badly in Love: https://youtu.be/8xNbqmQJDTs?si=8jWYZeP46wjcZeRl Rise & fall: https://www.tofugu.com/japan/bosozoku/ Time stamps 00:00 news story related to biker gangs 09:07 bosozoku history & reputation 22:47 bike modifications & fashion 32:26 annoying or dangerous? 36:04 teenage rebellion & famous groups 40:57 bosozoku to yakuza pipeline 42:56 the group’s decline 45:59 female bosozoku 47:26 media depictions

  7. Jul 5

    Teaching to Working in Tourism with The Tasty Traveler | Conbini Cult Episode 104

    Today we’ll chat with Katie, an American in Tokyo, about how she started as a teacher and transitioned into food tourism. We also discuss what it’s like navigating Japan’s work culture with a chronic illness. For food recommendations around Tokyo and beyond, and guided tours, she’s your gal.  Katie’s blog & tours - https://www.thetastytraveler.com/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thetastytraveler.kt/?hl=en Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms Words mentioned/useful words: 食べ放題 tabehoudai - all you can eat Time stamps 00:00 background  05:19 working in Tokyo: teaching to tourism 15:07 chronic illness  20:28 transitioning to freelance 31:51 food recs 37:28 long-term plans 39:21 fave thing about living here

  8. Jun 28

    Fluency in Japanese with Ebonihongo | Conbini Cult Episode 103

    Today we’ll chat with Eboni, an Atlanta gal living in Yokohama, about her journey to becoming fluent in Japanese, entering the Japanese corporate world, social media, becoming a JAL ambassador and more! Eboni’s socials - let’s get her to 10k on insta!  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/ebonihongo/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@ebonihongo.jp YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ebonihongo Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms Words mentioned/useful words: 人間関係 ningen kankei - human relations 正社員 seishain - permanent employee  年末年始 nenmatsu nenshi - end of year holidays 丼 donburi - rice bowl どんぐり donguri - acorn  店内 tennai - dine-in 店員 ten’in - shop staff お持ち帰り omochikaeri - to go (food but sometimes used in a derogatory way to take a person home) マジで majide - really? Seriously? 頑張って ganbatte - do your best! Good luck Time stamps 00:00 background + study abroad 03:33 entering the work force 18:01 what doors language has opened 23:28 JLPT 30:26 language mistakes 33:45 achieving fluency 37:08 social media 40:36 living in Yokohama 44:41 long-term plans & advice

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Living in another country sure can be interesting. Is being foreigners in Japan our whole personality? I guess so. Stick around for silly stories (from us and you, the listeners) about work, dating, language learning, embarrassing moments, current events, and deep dives on Japan-related topics we’re curious to learn more about.

Information

  • Creator
    Conbini Cult Pod
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    112
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Conbini Cult Pod
  • Show Website
    Conbini Cult

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