Queers with Accents

Masaki Seto
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  • Sexuality
  • Biweekly

This podcasts features Japanese queer writer and ESL educator Masaki Seto and his fellow queer ESL speakers, mostly from/based in Japan, discussing social justice and a variety of other topics.

  1. 3d ago

    [031] Instant Crushes and Ungendered Attraction | 一目惚れと中性的な魅力 #社会派英会話

    Kinoko has just come back from working as staff at an autumn music festival. She spent the previous day there with her crush, but doesn't feel they got much closer. She asked him to spend her birthday (October 27) with her, and when she told him she had feelings for him, he seemed to need a friendship to develop first. That leads into how to talk about falling for someone quickly in English. "Love" in love at first sight can sound a little heavy, so they compare it with instant crush and celebrity crush, the difference between a crush and stanning an oshi, and a friend who earns a living performing online — a kind of virtual busking. In the second half, Kinoko talks about being attracted to people whose gender presentation feels in-between. Words like androgynous, ungendered, and genderless can sound like labeling when said directly to someone. They explore a softer option — saying someone's gender expression is out of the box — and close with why listing the reasons you're attracted to someone can feel like a checklist of criteria they have to keep meeting. 秋の音楽フェスでスタッフとして働いてきた、きのコ。前日に片思いの相手と一緒に過ごしたものの、思ったほど距離は縮まらなかったといいます。誕生日（10月27日）に誘ってみた話、気持ちを伝えたときの彼の反応から、会話は「一目惚れ」を英語でどう言うかへ。 love at first sight の love は少し重い、という話から instant crush、celebrity crush、「推し」と stan の違い、オンラインで busking のように稼ぐ人の話へと広がります。 後半は、きのコが惹かれる「中性的」な魅力の話です。androgynous、ungendered、genderless といった言葉は、相手にそのまま言うと決めつけに聞こえることがあります。代わりに out of the box と言うと、どう受け取られるのか。最後は、惹かれる理由を並べることが相手にとって checklist になりうる、という話で終わります。 ━━━━━━━━━━ ▼ CHAPTERS | チャプター ━━━━━━━━━━ 00:00　Working the music festival — extra work on a holiday Saturday 音楽フェスのスタッフ仕事。祝日の土曜日は extra work 01:52　Spending the festival with her crush フェスで片思いの相手と過ごした時間 03:00　Asking him about her birthday 誕生日に誘ってみたけれど 05:19　What he said when she told him her feelings 気持ちを伝えたときの反応 06:53　Love at first sight vs. instant crush love at first sight と instant crush の違い 09:38　Oshi, stanning, and crushes on people around us 「推し」と stan、身近な人への crush 16:53　A friend performing online as an avatar — virtual busking アバターでライブ配信する友人とオンラインの busking 19:54　A celebrity crush: Brad Pitt in Se7en, at age ten Celebrity crush：10歳で観た『セブン』のブラッド・ピット 23:34　Masaki's celebrity crush, and how his attractions have changed Masaki の celebrity crush と惹かれるものの変化 26:08　Words for in-between, ungendered attraction 中性的な魅力を表す言葉 33:09　Is "you look so ungendered" rude? “You look so ungendered” は失礼？ 40:32　Reasons, criteria, and checklist pressure 惹かれる理由、criteria と checklist のプレッシャー ━━━━━━━━━━ ▼ KEY PHRASES | 今回の表現 ━━━━━━━━━━ ・have a crush on someone — 〜に片思いしている／ときめいている ・love at first sight — 一目惚れ（love は少し重め） ・instant crush — すぐに生まれる crush ・I told him I have feelings for him. — 彼に気持ちを伝えた ・celebrity crush — 子どもの頃に憧れた有名人 ・stan someone — 〜を熱狂的に推す ・busking — 路上パフォーマンスでお金を得ること ・enrich your life — 人生を豊かにする ・make life more bearable — 人生を少し耐えやすくする ・fill the hole in your heart — 心の穴を埋める ・tend to do — 〜しがちである ・less and less likely to do — ますます〜しそうになくなる ・femininity / masculinity — 女性らしさ／男性らしさ ・gender expression / gender presentation — ジェンダーの表現・見せ方 ・out of the box — 既存の枠にはまっていない ・flattering / I'm flattered. — 褒め言葉として嬉しい／光栄です ・criterion (singular) / criteria (plural) — 基準 ━━━━━━━━━━ ▼ EPISODE INFO | エピソード情報 ━━━━━━━━━━ Lesson Archive Video Podcast — Episode 31 Recorded: October 26, 2026 | 収録：2026年10月26日 With: Masaki Seto & Kinoko | 出演：瀬戸マサキ、きのコ ━━━━━━━━━━ ▼ LINKS | リンク ━━━━━━━━━━ ◆ Masaki Seto | 瀬戸マサキ ・X: https://x.com/masakismc ・Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/masakismc/ ・Newsletter | ニュースレター「包帯のような嘘」: https://masakichitose.theletter.jp/ ◆ Kinoko | きのコ ・X: https://x.com/kinoko1027 ・Blog | ブログ: https://ameblo.jp/kinoko1027ameba/ ・Book | 著書『わたし、恋人が2人います。〜ポリアモリーという生き方〜』: https://amzn.asia/d/0gusbsvA ・Interview | インタビュー（47NEWS）: https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ad17531bef6f9307a429f45f450a9fb2817f8196 #EnglishPodcast #英会話 #英語レッスン #ポッドキャスト

  2. Oct 24

    [030] Burning Japan Debrief, RV Temptations, and Trust as the Bare Minimum

    In this episode, Masaki catches up with Kinoko right after her return from a whirlwind ten days at Burning Japan, where she was deep in the mix building the Temple, performing nightly fire shows, and leading the naked camp. Kinoko explains the delicate boundary of managing a naked chill space versus an orgy space, detailing how she had to shut down covert play behind her back to keep the communal camp strictly non-sexual. The atmosphere shifts as Kinoko shares an emotionally charged reunion with her ex, who arrived in a brand-new RV with another woman, reigniting a rollercoaster of mutual attraction, heated arguments, and unresolved boundaries. The hosts delve into the psychology of toxic attraction and the fundamental ethics of intimacy. While Masaki playfully suggests that an intensely handsome yet toxic ex makes the textbook candidate for friends with benefits, Kinoko stands firm that physical desire cannot exist without mutual trust. Together, they dismantle the widespread myth that polyamory means living with zero rules, contrasting the intentional, custom-crafted boundaries of ethical non-monogamy with the normalized culture of covert cheating, doubt, and conflict-avoidance often accepted in conventional monogamous relationships. ・Burning Japan & The Naked Camp: Kinoko reflects on ten exhausting days of Temple construction and fire dancing while leading the naked camp, explaining the strict rule keeping the camp a non-sexual chill space despite festivalgoers asking for orgies. ・The RV Reunion & Toxic Chemistry: Kinoko recounts running into her ex at the festival, describing the emotional whiplash of feeling drawn to his physical appearance while refusing to become his convenient arrangement after he brought another partner in his new RV. ・Trust as the Bare Minimum: Despite her ex's physical appeal, Kinoko explains why she refuses casual sex without baseline honesty, revisiting the half-year lie about his marital status and defining trust as the non-negotiable core of any connection. ・Debunking Polyamory Myths: Masaki and Kinoko tackle the misconception that polyamorous relationships have no boundaries, emphasizing that ethical non-monogamy requires active communication, deep consent, and proper rules tailored to every partner. ・Monogamy, Cheating, and Energy-Saving: A thoughtful critique of how conventional relationships often treat infidelity as an inevitable phase to sweep under the rug, contrasting conflict avoidance with the proactive honesty required in open partnerships. ・Vocab Spotlight - Bare Minimum, Behind My Back, and Adopt: A breakdown of key English expressions used throughout the conversation, from defining fundamental baselines to explaining how people adopt societal standards. Announcements: ・Tokyo Sharehouse Opening! If you or someone you know is looking for an affordable, flexible, short-term housing option in Tokyo without the massive hotel bills or strict apartment lease rules, check out Kinoko’s sharehouse! Links: ・Kinoko-san’s X: x.com/kinoko1027 ・Kinoko-san’s blog: ameblo.jp/kinoko1027ameba/ ・Her book: amzn.asia/d/0gusbsvA ・Her interview: news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ad17531bef6f9307a429f45f450a9fb2817f8196 Masaki: ・x.com/masakismc ・https://masakichitose.theletter.jp/

  3. Oct 3

    [029] Beyond Intercourse, Sexual Scripts, and the Rise of the "Side"

    Masaki and Kinoko begin by comparing their sleep habits, contrasting Kinoko's early-bird routine with Masaki's late-night schedule, lack of jet lag, and tendency to fall asleep anywhere—including waking up one station too early on Japanese trains. The conversation quickly shifts as Kinoko shares her excitement about taking a lesson on non-penetrative sexual techniques, prompting a critique of traditional sexual scripts that treat intercourse, erection, and ejaculation as the sole metrics of successful intimacy. The hosts explore broader perspectives on pleasure, relationship roles, and communication across different dating spheres. From defining gay culture terms like "side" and "vanilla sex" to analyzing the performance pressure felt by tops, Masaki and Kinoko examine how open verbal communication creates safer, more fulfilling experiences. They also break down the absurdity of unsolicited dick pics, the artistic nuances of fetishes like messy play, and how narrow societal assumptions limit the full spectrum of human intimacy. ・Night Owls vs. Early Birds: Kinoko describes her strict 6 AM routine and week-long jet lag after returning from the US, while Masaki shares his night-owl schedule and habit of falling asleep anywhere, even waking up a station early on trains.・Challenging the Sexual Trinity: Kinoko criticizes the rigid assumption that sex requires erection, penetration, and ejaculation, advocating for non-penetrative techniques focused on touch, skin contact, and mutual comfort.・Vocab Corner - ED and Assumptions: Masaki breaks down terms like erectile dysfunction and distinguishes between a misunderstanding and an assumption, explaining how arbitrary expectations create performance anxiety.・Sexual Scripts and The "Side" Identity: Exploring the performance pressure tops feel to entertain, alongside a look at gay terminology like "side" (someone who prefers non-penetrative sex) and how "vanilla sex" is defined across communities.・The Problem with Unsolicited Dick Pics: A candid debate on straight vs. gay dating app dynamics, dissecting why random anatomical photos lack value without aesthetic effort, context, or human connection.・Fetishes, Messy Play, and Shady Reviews: Masaki and Kinoko discuss fetishes like messy play and critique sex worker review blogs, highlighting how men often mistakenly view non-penetrative orgasms as wasted opportunities. Annoucements:・Tokyo Sharehouse Opening! If you or someone you know is looking for an affordable, flexible, short-term housing option in Tokyo without the massive hotel bills or strict apartment lease rules, check out Kinoko’s sharehouse! Links:・Kinoko-san’s X: xcom/kinoko1027・Kinoko-san’s blog: ameblo.jp/kinoko1027ameba/・Her book: amzn.asia/d/0gusbsvA・Her interview: news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ad17531bef6f9307a429f45f450a9fb2817f8196

  4. Sep 22

    [028] Hair Clippers, Ingrained Fashion, and the Eroticism of Odor

    In this episode, Masaki and Kinoko catch up on Kinoko's haircut, leading to an entertaining exploration of hair grooming vocabulary and the French origins of the Japanese word barikan. The hosts contrast the detailed vocabulary for hair removal, trimming, and fashion in Japan with more casual Western naming conventions, highlighting how beauty standards and appearance expectations are deeply ingrained in Japanese daily life. The discussion then evolves into a candid reflection on physical attraction, self-esteem, and shifting dating preferences. Masaki shares his personal transition from demisexuality toward appreciating specific physical features and body textures. Together, they explore queer subcultures—from the evolution of twinks over time to the welcoming environment of Tokyo's chubby bars—and end with a humorous look at how subtle body odor can surprisingly enhance erotic chemistry. ・Grooming & Clipper Vocab: Masaki and Kinoko dissect hair grooming terminology, tracing the Japanese word barikan back to a French clipper brand while comparing phrases for cutting, shaving, and hair removal. ・Fashion Language & Beauty Expectations: A look at how Japanese culture uses specific names for clothing and beauty procedures, contrasting Japan's ingrained pressure to look presentable with more casual US college attire. ・Evolving Attraction & Demisexuality: Masaki shares his personal journey from demisexual, face-oriented attraction to developing a broader appreciation for physical forms, textures, and specific body parts like shoulders or knees. ・Aging, Twinks, and TM Revolution: A discussion on age and body types in queer culture, referencing Takanori Nishikawa's transformation to illustrate how physical aesthetics and fitness goals shift over time. ・Tokyo Gay Bars & Body Positivity: Masaki reflects on visiting specialized chubby bars near Tokyo, explaining how finding welcoming community spaces boosted his self-esteem and reframed his self-image. ・The Erotic Nuance of Body Odor: Exploring the subtle differences between scent, smell, and odor, noting how natural body chemistry can act as a surprising erotic turn-on for certain partners. Announcements: ・Tokyo Sharehouse Opening! If you or someone you know is looking for an affordable, flexible, short-term housing option in Tokyo without the massive hotel bills or strict apartment lease rules, check out Kinoko’s sharehouse! Links: ・Kinoko-san’s X: xcom/kinoko1027 ・Kinoko-san’s blog: ameblo.jp/kinoko1027ameba/ ・Her book: amzn.asia/d/0gusbsvA ・Her interview: news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ad17531bef6f9307a429f45f450a9fb2817f8196

  5. Sep 19

    [027] Burning Man's Sex Domes, Radical Consent, and the Temple of Loss

    In this episode, Kinoko checks in right after returning from Burning Man in Nevada to share her experiences inside the festival's famous sex domes. She details the strict safety rules and "Principle Zero" consent culture enforced before entry—including mandatory ID checks, sobriety requirements, and a minimum two-person entry policy. This leads into a lively discussion with Masaki about the eroticism of clear verbal consent, how upfront communication removes anxiety, and why expressing boundaries makes sexual encounters safer and more fulfilling. The conversation then explores the multifaceted nature of human expression at Burning Man, contrasting the wild energy of play spaces with the profound spirituality of the festival's Temple. Kinoko describes the Temple as a solemn space where participants leave photos and items of sentimental value to mourn passed loved ones and pets before the structure is burned at the end of the week. Together, Masaki and Kinoko celebrate how the festival allows people to embody all sides of themselves—from the playful and sexual to the spiritual and solemn—and express hope for bringing these consent-centered spaces to Burning Japan. ・Principle Zero & Sexual Consent: Kinoko breaks down the strict entry protocols for Burning Man's play domes, emphasizing "Principle Zero" (consent), mandatory sobriety, original passport ID checks, and a strict no-singles rule to ensure mutual safety. ・The BYOF Policy & Dome Rules: Masaki humorously compares bringing your own partner to a BYOB party, while Kinoko explains the dome's setup split between private play with existing partners and open spaces for consensual group communication. ・Verbalizing Desires & Reducing Anxiety: Masaki shares a personal story about navigating drunk flirting with a non-binary partner, leading to a breakdown of how explicit verbal consent builds comfort and reduces sexual performance anxiety. ・Erogenous Zones & Upfront Boundaries: Kinoko reflects on discussing erotic zones and relationship rules with her festival partner beforehand, showing how upfront conversations enhance safety and excitement. ・The Temple of Loss & Remembrance: A moving look at Burning Man's Temple, where participants leave photos and sentimental objects to grieve lost friends, family members, and pets in a quiet, solemn environment before the final burn. ・Radical Self-Expression & Multifaceted Humanity: Masaki and Kinoko discuss how Burning Man uniquely unites solemn grief and wild celebration in one space, honoring the full spectrum of human emotion. Announcements: ・Tokyo Sharehouse Opening! If you or someone you know is looking for an affordable, flexible, short-term housing option in Tokyo without the massive hotel bills or strict apartment lease rules, check out Kinoko’s sharehouse! Links: ・Kinoko-san’s X: x.com/kinoko1027 ・Kinoko-san’s blog: ameblo.jp/kinoko1027ameba/ ・Her book: amzn.asia/d/0gusbsvA ・Her interview: news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ad17531bef6f9307a429f45f450a9fb2817f8196

  6. Aug 24

    [026] Burning Man Haircuts, Social Withdrawal, and Pathologization of Everyday Behavior

    In this episode, Kinoko debuts a drastic new haircut in preparation for Burning Man, where desert conditions and scarce water make showers a luxury. This sparks a natural dive into English grammar, as Masaki breaks down the causative structures behind having something done, from getting a haircut to managing complex sentence patterns. The hosts also touch on the quirks of countable nouns in English, contrasting how native speakers count insects but not sheep.The conversation then shifts from drive-thru culture in regional Japan versus Tokyo's crowded metropolitan area to a deep discussion on language and society. Exploring the Japanese concept of hikikomori, Masaki and Kinoko examine the English term social withdrawal, the mechanics of transitive and intransitive verbs, and the modern tendency to pathologize everyday social behavior. They weigh the double-edged sword of clinical labels, discussing how pathologizing language can raise awareness while unintentionally reinforcing narrow ideas of health.・New Haircut for Burning Man: Kinoko debuts her short hairstyle for her upcoming trip to Burning Man, explaining how scarce water in the desert makes long hair impractical.・Grammar Spotlight - Having Things Done: Masaki breaks down causative structures like getting or having a haircut, explaining how adjectives, participles, and prepositions describe states of being.・Drive-Thru Culture & Tokyo Space: A comparison of drive-thru habits in suburban Tochigi versus metropolitan Tokyo, where scarce land makes drive-thru restaurants rare.・Translating Hikikomori & Social Withdrawal: Exploring how English handles social isolation, dissecting the verb withdraw across its transitive and intransitive forms.・The Craze of Pathologizing Language: Kinoko and Masaki critique society's habit of pathologizing social trends, discussing how psychological labels can both aid medical access and create harmful stigmas.Announcements:・Tokyo Sharehouse Opening! If you or someone you know is looking for an affordable, flexible, short-term housing option in Tokyo without the massive hotel bills or strict apartment lease rules, check out Kinoko’s sharehouse!Links:・Kinoko-san’s X: x.com/kinoko1027・Kinoko-san’s blog: ameblo.jp/kinoko1027ameba/・Her book: amzn.asia/d/0gusbsvA・Her interview: news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ad17531bef6f9307a429f45f450a9fb2817f8196

  7. Aug 21

    [025] Dietary Shifts, Body Positivity, and the History of Love Hotels

    In this episode, Masaki and Kinoko catch up over breakfast updates and changing personal habits. Kinoko shares a cozy morning story about a sharehouse guest preparing a traditional Japanese breakfast of sunny-side up eggs, cabbage salad, miso soup, and barley tea. This leads Masaki to reflect on his recent decision at age 41 to change his eating habits and treat his body with more care, sharing a humorous story about his 96-year-old grandmother's late-night fried chicken appetite and how eating less has already yielded health benefits. The conversation then shifts into a deep exploration of body positivity, fashion accessibility, and adult social spaces. Masaki discusses his journey toward developing physical self-esteem, embracing a sturdy and bulky frame over a skinny aesthetic, and how appreciating his own body expanded his romantic preferences. From dissecting the history of Japanese love hotels and public adult spaces to breaking down useful English terms like wobbly, byproduct, and repertoire, the hosts bring their signature blend of cultural insight and casual vocabulary learning. ・Clumsy Notifications & Breakfast Habits: Masaki and Kinoko discuss starting the recording session on short notice, defining clumsy, while Kinoko shares a cozy story about her sharehouse guest cooking a traditional Japanese breakfast with barley tea. ・Genetic Appetites & Dietary Changes: Masaki reflects on turning 41 and shifting his diet to be kinder to his stomach, recalling how his 96-year-old grandmother could eat midnight fried chicken before becoming bedridden. ・Body Positivity & Type Expansion: A candid look at building physical self-esteem, with Masaki explaining how learning to appreciate his own body improved his experience of sex and expanded his romantic preferences toward bigger body types. ・Vocab Corner - Bulky, Sturdy, and Wobbly: Masaki breaks down key descriptive adjectives, comparing bulky (size and mass) with sturdy (strength and durability) while defining wobbly for unsteady shapes or synth sounds. ・Fashion Communism & Custom Cosplay: Exploring clothing size struggles from XS to 8L in Japan, leading into a sweet story about an elderly relative using sewing skills to craft complex goth-lolita cosplay outfits for her granddaughter. ・History of Love Hotels & Happening Bars: Kinoko shares updates on going on a date at a Shinjuku happening bar, sparking a conversation on how extended family living arrangements birthed Japan's love hotel industry and public adult spaces. Announcements: ・Tokyo Sharehouse Opening! If you or someone you know is looking for an affordable, flexible, short-term housing option in Tokyo without the massive hotel bills or strict apartment lease rules, check out Kinoko’s sharehouse! Links: ・Kinoko-san’s X: x.com/kinoko1027 ・Kinoko-san’s blog: ameblo.jp/kinoko1027ameba/ ・Her book: amzn.asia/d/0gusbsvA ・Her interview: news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ad17531bef6f9307a429f45f450a9fb2817f8196

  8. Aug 3

    [024] The Half-Year Lie and Ethical Non-Monogamy

    In this episode, Kinoko updates Masaki on a shocking plot twist regarding her recent breakup: her ex revealed he was actually divorced prior to meeting her and lied about being married for their entire half-year relationship. He claimed he lied to protect himself from being played as a "toy boy," leaving Kinoko baffled by the absurdity of his logic. Masaki and Kinoko dissect this major breach of trust, highlighting how a six-month lie fundamentally violates the consent and transparency required in ethical polyamory.The conversation then broadens into a lively linguistic and philosophical debate about honesty, relationship categories, and boundaries. Masaki shares a funny story about struggling to tell polite lies when a party guest asked for feedback on an unflattering outfit, leading into a breakdown of terms like "demanding" and self-contradictory logic. The hosts also contrast casual "f**k buddies" with "friends with benefits" and recurring partnerships across different social spheres, concluding with Masaki advising Kinoko to approach her upcoming meeting with her ex like an objective interviewer.・The Shocking Divorce Confession: Kinoko reveals her ex dropped a bombshell by claiming he was divorced before they met, having lied about being married for six months out of fear of being treated as a "toy boy."・Ethical Non-Monogamy vs. Unethical Lying: Masaki and Kinoko analyze the self-contradictory nature of her ex's excuse, emphasizing that trust, consent, and honesty are the essential foundations of polyamory.・The Dilemma of White Lies: A humorous discussion on honesty where Masaki shares a party anecdote about refusing to offer fake compliments, leading to a breakdown of terms like "demanding" and "harmless lies."・Fuck Buddies vs. Friends with Benefits: The hosts dissect relationship nuances, contrasting pure physical arrangements with "friends with benefits" and sustainable, recurring connections that require deep mutual trust.・Underground Spaces vs. Out in the World: Kinoko explains that anonymous, low-information encounters work fine in happening bars or sex-positive events, but ongoing relationships out in the world demand openness.・Idiom Spotlight - The Interviewer Mindset: Masaki advises Kinoko to take on the role of an objective interviewer when meeting her ex to hear his story, gathering information without rushing into decisions.Announcements:・Tokyo Sharehouse Opening! If you or someone you know is looking for an affordable, flexible, short-term housing option in Tokyo without the massive hotel bills or strict apartment lease rules, check out Kinoko’s sharehouse!Links:・Kinoko-san’s X: x.com/kinoko1027・Kinoko-san’s blog: ameblo.jp/kinoko1027ameba/・Her book: amzn.asia/d/0gusbsvA・Her interview: news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/ad17531bef6f9307a429f45f450a9fb2817f8196

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About

This podcasts features Japanese queer writer and ESL educator Masaki Seto and his fellow queer ESL speakers, mostly from/based in Japan, discussing social justice and a variety of other topics.

Information

  • Creator
    Masaki Seto
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Masaki Seto
  • Show Website
    Queers with Accents

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