Spill The Matcha

After weeks of playing the cultural guide, Misato is finally taking total control of the microphone. This week on  Spill the Matcha , it’s time for  This or That: Japan Edition , and Cherine is firmly in the hot seat. Misato has curated a list of the most agonizing, hilarious, and deeply telling lifestyle dilemmas that anyone living in Japan eventually has to face. From traditional daily habits to...

Fix your hair and check your lighting, because  Spill the Matcha  is officially on video! This week,  Misato and Cherine  hit a major milestone with their first-ever visual episode. But instead of celebrating quietly,  Cherine drops a bomb that threatens the entire existence of the show: she absolutely, unconditionally detests matcha.  Watch Misato go through the five stages of grief on camera as...

Japan might be famous for its low street-crime rate, but behind closed screens, a different kind of predator is on the rise. This week on  Spill the Matcha ,  Misato  catches  Cherine  completely off guard by diving into the dark, sophisticated world of  Kokusai Romance Sagi  (International Romance Scams) currently plaguing Japan. Sponsors: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ninja Wifi (use Code MATCHA10 for 10% OFF)⁠

If you walk through any major entertainment district in Japan, your senses are instantly bombarded by giant flashing screens, deafening ad trucks, and a small army of people trying to hand you things. This week on  Spill the Matcha ,  Misato and Cherine  are pulling back the curtain on  Japanese street advertising and neighborhood scams. Sponsors: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ninja Wifi (use Code MATCHA10 for 10% OF...

Remember when staying out until 5:00 AM was a breeze and hangovers didn't last two business days? Yeah, Misato and Cherine barely remember those days either. This week on  Spill the Matcha , the girls are getting real about  clubbing in your 30s , focusing on the wild contrast between Osaka’s two biggest nightlife hubs:  Amerikamura (Amemura)  and  Umeda . Sponsors: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ninja Wifi (use Co...

From "alphas" and "simps" to "incels," Western internet culture loves a label. But how does Japan categorize its male population? This week on  Spill the Matcha ,  Misato and Cherine  take a deep, unfiltered dive into the fascinating, hilarious, and sometimes dark world of words used to describe men in Japan. The girls look at how Japan transitioned from mainstream so...

If a TV show wins ten Emmys but no one in Tokyo is talking about it, does it even exist? This week on  Spill the Matcha ,  Misato and Cherine  explore the fascinating divide between what’s popular in the West versus what actually makes it big in Japan. To test the waters,  Cherine hosts a hilarious pop quiz for Misato  to see if she recognizes some of the biggest Western TV shows, games, and inter...

There are Disney fans, and then there are  Japanese Disney Fans . This week on  Spill the Matcha ,  Misato and Cherine take a trip into the vibrant, obsessive, and surprisingly disciplined world of Tokyo Disney Resort mania. While "Disney Adults" sometimes face a bit of internet side-eye in the West, in Japan, loving Disney as a full-grown adult isn't just normal—it’s practically a n...

Saying "I quit" shouldn't require a mediator, right? This week on  Spill the Matcha ,  Misato and Cherine  break down the incredibly awkward, high-stress, and culturally complex world of  quitting a job in Japan.  While changing careers is normal in many parts of the world, Japan’s traditional corporate culture still treats leaving a company like a major breakup. The girls dive into...

Don’t let the title fool you—this might be our most high-stakes, adrenaline-pumping episode yet. This week on  Spill the Matcha ,  Misato and Cherine  are diving into the obsessive, wallet-stretching, and strangely addictive world of  Japanese Point Cards. In the UK and Belgium, a loyalty card is just something taking up space in your wallet. But in Japan? It’s a way of life. From the iconic &quot...

Put down the roses and pick up the planner! This week on  Spill the Matcha ,  Misato and Cherine  are debating which country truly wears the crown for romance. We all know the stereotypes—Italy and Spain are the lands of fiery passion and spontaneous grand gestures—but where does Japan fit in? The girls get real about why romance in Japan feels less like a movie and more like a carefully managed p...

No place is perfect, even if it looks like it on Instagram! This week on  Spill the Matcha ,  Misato and Cherine  are getting brutally honest about the things they would change about their home countries— Japan and Belgium. From social etiquette to public infrastructure, the girls dive into the daily frustrations that make them roll their eyes. Things take a hilarious (and slightly gross) turn whe...

Why does everyone in Japan suddenly have the exact same keychain? And why do we all look like aliens in our latest  Purikura  photos? This week on  Spill the Matcha ,  Misato and Cherine  are taking a deep dive into the fast-paced, glittery, and sometimes bizarre world of  Japanese fads and trends. From the "Seal Book" (sticker book) obsession of the 2000s to the high-tech photo booths o...

Imagine going from the neon-soaked, ear-splitting chaos of a Japanese Game Center to... a dark, dingy, and surprisingly depressing police station. This week on  Spill the Matcha ,  Cherine  tells the full story of the night she lost her wallet and her subsequent "adventure" with the law. Forget the high-tech Japan you see in movies; Cherine takes us inside the  Umeda Police Station , whi...

Japan is known for being one of the safest countries in the world, but there is one issue that many women face every single day:  Chikan (痴漢), or train groping.  This week on  Spill the Matcha ,  Misato and Cherine  have a serious and necessary conversation about the reality of navigating Japan's crowded public transport. From the "Women Only" carriages to the viral safety apps, th...

Is it actually "reality" if everyone is being too polite to argue? This week on  Spill the Matcha ,  Misato and Cherine  are diving into the addictive, confusing, and sometimes cringey world of  Japanese Reality TV. While the rest of the world obsessed over the "chill vibes" of  Terrace House , the girls are finally speaking their truth:  they aren't fans.  They break down...

It’s time for a heart-to-heart. This week on Spill the Matcha , Misato and Cherine are opening up the listener mailbag to tackle a vulnerable and tough question: "What do I do if I feel like I love my partner more than they love me?" Feeling like the "over-giver" in a relationship can be lonely, and the girls dive deep into why this happens and how culture plays a massive role in how we express (o...

Grab your heart-shaped boxes! This week on Spill the Matcha , Misato and Cherine are breaking down the fascinating "reverse" tradition of Valentine’s Day in Japan. Unlike in Europe or America, where it's all about cards and flowers (often from the guys), in Japan, the pressure is entirely on the women! The girls discuss the complex hierarchy of chocolate giving and why February 14th can feel more...

How close is too close? This week on Spill the Matcha , Misato and Cherine are getting into the awkward, sweet, and sometimes confusing world of Public Displays of Affection (PDA) in Japan. In a country where "reading the air" ( Kuuki wo yomu ) is a national pastime, showing affection in public can be a major taboo. The girls break down why you rarely see couples kissing on the street in Tokyo and...

Is your personality determined by your blood type? Should you avoid moving house this month because the stars say so? This week on Spill the Matcha , Misato and Cherine are peering into the crystal ball to discuss the massive culture of Uranai (Fortune-telling) in Japan. In Japan, fortune-telling isn't just for fun—it's a serious business that influences everything from career moves to dating comp...

Watch your step and mind your chopsticks! This week on Spill the Matcha , Misato and Cherine are diving into the eerie, the quirky, and the downright mysterious world of Japanese superstitions. Ever wondered why people don't clip their nails at night ? Misato shares the warnings she grew up with, while Cherine reacts to the culture shocks of navigating these unspoken rules as an expat. Sponsors: N...

The holiday break is over, and Misato is finally back in the studio after visiting her hometown in Kumamoto. This week, she and Cherine catch up on all things Oshogatsu (Japanese New Year) and what it’s really like to "return to the nest" during the busiest travel week of the year. Sponsors: Ninja Wifi (use Code MATCHA10 for 10% OFF)

Get ready to swap your roasted turkey for fried chicken! This week on Spill the Matcha , Misato and Cherine are celebrating the holidays by comparing Christmas in Japan with the festive traditions of Europe, specifically the UK! They’re spilling the matcha on the unique Japanese holiday customs, like why Christmas Eve is celebrated as the most romantic date night of the year and how the bizarre tr...

Dating in Japan is complicated enough, but have you heard the labels? In this spicy episode of Spill the Matcha , Misato and Cherine are decoding the controversial world of dating stereotypes. They’re diving into the concept of the "Sushi Hunter"—the foreign women specifically seeking out Japanese men (the flip side of the infamous "Gaijin Hunter"). Is it a preference or a fetish? Plus, they tackl...

The pressure is on! In this short and sweet episode of Spill the Matcha , Cherine puts Misato in the hot seat for a high-speed game of "This or That?" It's time to play dirty! This week on Spill the Matcha , the friendship between Misato and Cherine is on the line as they play the ultimate confession game: Never Have I Ever! They’re spilling the matcha on everything: embarrassing travel mishaps, o...