Just Another Human

When I came to Melbourne, I didn’t just want to travel—I wanted to live like a local. In this episode, I share my Workaway experience: how I exchanged my design and cooking skills for a place to stay, what it was like living in a beautiful Airbnb studio, and the lessons I learned from helping a real family in Melbourne. From dumpling-making and video editing to wine tasting and rabbit poop (yes, r...

What started as a failed interview turned into a spontaneous trip to the Southern Hemisphere—and somehow, a dream life in Melbourne. In this episode, I share my first impressions of Australia, the travel mistakes I made (yes, even at the airport 😅), and how I unexpectedly found myself falling in love with this country… in just three days. I had to take selfies  in a Narita Airport toilet  to veri...

I’ve been to Hiroshima more than 30 times, but this trip hit differently. From childhood memories of folding paper cranes and crying museum dolls… to adult reflections on war, shame, respect, and peace — this episode is a personal journey through one of Japan’s most important cities. I also visited Kure and Ōkunoshima (aka Rabbit Island!), and realised just how much I still carry from that sixth-g...

🎙 Just Another Human | EP.16 “When a Mahjong Game Got Me a Design Job” What do mahjong, a traditional Japanese house, and a hundred bucks of paint have in common? In this episode, I share the story of how a casual game night turned into my very first interior design job. From childhood memories with my miya-daiku dad to turning old furniture into something beautiful, this project brought together...

🎙 Just Another Human This week, I’m talking about my dream to live in a traditional Japanese countryside house—and why that might be harder than it sounds. From Japan’s “Empty House Problem” to moldy clothes, freezing winters, and shoji magic, I share my experience living in a super old house in snowy Ishikawa and what I’ve learned about why Japanese homes were never really built for the cold. I a...

Sometimes, a cute little penguin on ice can reveal big cultural differences. In this episode, I share a funny and surprising story from my trip to Latvia, where I ended up “hiring” a penguin to help me skate. 🐧✨ What started as a Google Translate fail turned into a discovery about how different countries approach design, childhood, and even cuteness. From penguins in Latvia to chairs in Germany,...

I used to think Shiga was just… a giant lake that gives Osaka drinking water. That’s it. Nothing more. But this spring, I went back for the first time in years—with zero expectations—and it totally surprised me. Trout fishing, castle towns, duck cafés, Shaun the Sheep (yes, really), even a fire festival. It was full of charm and calm—and way more fun than I ever expected. In this episode, I’ll tak...

If you’re into anime, manga, or just curious about Japanese internet culture, this episode is for you! I’m breaking down popular otaku slang—especially the kind you’ll find on Twitter (X) and in fan art communities. We’ll explore how anime titles get shortened (like “Kimetsu” and “Gokamu”), what “推し (oshi)” really means, and funny terms like “現パロ (modern-day parody)” and “生存if (what if they...

Kyoto is known for its beauty, tradition, and history—but do you ever feel like it’s just a bit too much? In this episode, I share my honest thoughts about Kyoto, the love-hate relationship I have with it, and why my family is still hooked on it. 🌸💔 From crowded streets to unexpected coffee culture, let’s dive into the contradictions of Japan’s iconic city!

At a recent party, I realized—everything I’ve done somehow connects to design. From teaching beginner designers to snowboarding, I’ve learned that teaching and design are all about understanding others’ unique ways of learning. In this episode, I talk about my experience going from an intuitive designer to a teacher who explains design logic, and how I’ve applied those skills to teaching snowboard...

I used to say “がんばる” (do my best) every time I failed. But deep down, I felt like failure was the end. I didn’t know how to recover, so I just kept pushing with enthusiasm—only to realize that “do my best” actually means... nothing. 😅 In this episode, I talk about how I discovered a better way to recover and grow—starting with one surprising word: PDCA (Plan, Do, Check, Act). And trust me, th...

I finally made it to Busan—after four years of waiting! Cherry blossoms, new friends, shared languages, and white kimchi made this short trip unforgettable. I talk about the joy of spontaneous travel, memories from my first international trip, and all the things I love about Korea. As a designer, I’m especially drawn to the shape of the Korean writing system. Each character fits perfectly into a s...

The maroon-colored Hankyu train. The velvet seats, the soft lights, the rhythm of the ride—it all takes me back to my high school and university days. This charming train connects Osaka, Hyogo, and Kyoto, and is a favorite among tourists heading to Kyoto’s famous spots. (Me? I’m not really a Kyoto fan—but that’s a story for another time.) For me, the Hankyu line was more than transportation. It wa...

I’ve never been good at finishing business or self-help books. I admire people who can, but I’ve always taken the long way around when searching for answers in life. I used to think I wasn’t a book person—until I discovered Haruki Murakami’s audiobooks. In this episode, I talk about my journey with books: from only being able to read Kaori Ekuni’s novels, to discovering new ways to enjoy stories t...

If you love Japanese anime, you need to watch this. In today’s episode, I talk about one of the most inspiring anime I’ve ever seen: “Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!” ( 映像研には手を出すな！ ) It’s about three high school girls who start an animation club. But it’s not just about making anime—it’s about creativity, imagination, passion, teamwork, and compromise. As a designer and creator , I saw so...

Have you ever asked yourself why we take photos or videos? Is it just to preserve memories—or is there something deeper? In today’s episode of Just Another Human , I explore the emotional side of capturing moments, from my love of film photography to my decision to quit social media after a heartbreaking story changed how I see memory-sharing online. I also share the story behind a new product I’m...

Have you ever been asked the dreaded question, "What kind of design do you do?" as a designer? Well, let me tell you, it’s not an easy question to answer when you're involved in so many different design fields. From graphic design, web design, and branding to user experience, motion graphics, and even interior design—it’s complicated! In this episode of Just Another Human , I share t...

Allergies have taken over my life this spring, and I’m here to share the shocking results of my allergy test. 🌷 From pollen and ticks to cats , dogs , and even kiwis , my body is reacting to more things than I ever expected! 😷 In this episode, I dive into my pollen allergy that's ruining my spring (hello, 6/6 rating 😭), my surprising cat and dog allergies , and how I can't even enjoy ki...

This year marks my 24th anniversary with snowboarding, and I wanted to take my skills to the next level. 🎿 In this episode, I talk about my experience taking the Level 3 Ski Association of Japan's exam at Mt. Norikura and the huge revelation that I’ve been riding with the wrong stance for 20 years ! 🤯 Mt. Norikura has always been my favorite ski resort, and this season, I worked hard to impr...

Hi, I’m Mifu. In today’s episode of Just Another Human , I’m talking about my journey into skiing this season. 🎿❄️ I had a few reasons to start skiing—one was seeing skiers carve through the snow, which looked so cool! Plus, a character from my favorite anime, Golden Kamuy , skis, and my mom switched from snowboarding to skiing and absolutely loves it. She even said, "Snowboarding is just an...

Hi, I’m Mifu. In the last episode of Just Another Human , I shared a bit about my sister. Today, I’m taking you back to January 2020, when I traveled from Japan to Ireland and England with my mom and sister to visit my brother, right before the pandemic hit. But trust me, it wasn’t all sightseeing and fun! 🚲💥 During our time in London, things took a turn when my sister and I had a big fight whil...

Hi there! I got a new script for episode #3 from my friend, a native speaker. When I send my original script to him, he said "Some of the English is a bit harsh." And he gave me the really cool and beautiful version. It has a fantasy-like feel to it. So today, I'm trying to read it aloud for the first time without practicing beforehand. And no cut! My sister is laughing. "To be fair… she keeps lif...

Hi, I’m Mifu. In this episode of Just Another Human , I share a funny story from my life in Japan—about my clever, competitive, and slightly chaotic younger sister. She lives in a snowy ski resort town in Japan and somehow always manages to do everything better than me… including skiing. But this time, things took a crispy turn. 13 kilograms of frozen French fries—affectionately named “Chippy”—fle...

Hi, I’m Mifu. In this episode of Just Another Human , I’m talking about something I’ve struggled with my whole life—losing important things. Keys, wallets, passports… you name it, I’ve probably left it somewhere. Instead of blaming myself or relying on willpower, I finally started using my skills as a designer to create systems that actually work for my forgetful brain. This episode is about how I...

Hi, I’m Mifu. Welcome to the very first episode of Just Another Human ! In this episode, I’m sharing the story behind why I started this podcast, why I chose to speak in English, and where the title came from. From lonely bike rides in Tokyo to chatting with a knitter in Latvia, to snow-covered conversations in Japan—this podcast was born from small moments, kind encouragement, and a phrase that c...