Conbini Cult

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/thetast...

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...

When people complain about the heat and humidity during Japan’s long summers, it really is that big of a deal. Every year new record high temperatures are reached, and fatal heat strokes (for people of all ages) are only increasing. On top of that, bear sightings and attacks are on the rise, and giant hornet populations are increasing too. While there are so many fun activities during the summer,...

This week we chat with special guest Sachiko Ishikawa about IVF, motherhood, social issues and politics in Japan! How is the government supporting families and what is still lacking? How hard is it getting your child into daycare in Tokyo?! Let’s chat all this and more.  Find Sachiko here: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ishikawa_sachi?_r=1&_t=ZS-97CS2QO2tMq Instagram: https://www.instagram.co...

To celebrate 100 episodes, let’s talk overrated and underrated anime. Because my own repertoire is still growing, I decided to bring a couple experts on. Thanks Aundre and Rosa for joining!  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms The RDC skit about JJK that Aundre mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/...

A poem that causes tragic accidents if read aloud, a severed head flying across the country, and a decades long baseball losing streak?! Let’s get into some silly and spooky curses that could befall upon you in Japan if you’re not careful.  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklinthewoman on all platforms Words mentioned/usef...

Chris Payne is a US citizen who has been in Japan since 2013. He was falsely convicted of attacking a woman in Chiba in July 2018 and has been held in solitary confinement for 4.5 years. The whole crux of the investigation falls on a manipulated DNA analysis, but meanwhile, Chris has never matched the description of the attacker, and his alibi was never properly investigated. The Tokyo High Court...

Let’s chat with Sandy, who’s been living in Japan for 15 years, about getting started on JET, studying Japanese, becoming a permanent resident, getting diagnosed with AuDHD as an adult, and more!  You can find Sandy here: https://www.tiktok.com/@sandyinjapannn https://www.instagram.com/sandyinjapannn/ Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Fra...

The world of manga, like any other entertainment industry, is full of the good, the bad, and the bizarre, and has its fair share of creeps. Let’s do a little dive into some recent cases where mangaka have been arrested, and sometimes convicted or fined. It’s not ALWAYS what you think. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Host: Frankie - @franklint...

English teachers in Japan have a bit of a reputation for just messing around and not taking their jobs seriously, but there are so many passionate teachers that come here to teach English, and some even find their calling as an educator while teaching abroad. Mr. Patrick is one of those teachers who found his calling along the way! Let’s chat about teaching in Japan vs China, and how Patrick decid...

Every February to April, pollen is released into the air, and nearly half the population beings to suffer with allergy symptoms. Let’s take a little deep dive into the main culprit for pollen this time of year, how to problem escalated, ways to survive the season, and what’s being done to combat it!  Thanks Rosa for joining us again! Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at c...

Tokyo and Osaka, despite being part of the same country, are very different places when it comes to dialect, food, atmosphere, etc. In today’s episode we’re getting into some friendly banter (perhaps a heated rivalry?) over what we like about each place, and why we do/don’t want to live there. Let us know in the comments whether you’re for Kanto or Kansai, or perhaps another area all together.  Th...

Let the guest episodes begin! This week we have Coco, an American content creator who moved to Japan 6 years ago to teach English, and is making her dreams come true in Tokyo as a full-time influencer. Let’s talk US vs Japan, the pros and cons of living and working in Tokyo, getting started as a creator and how Coco showcases small businesses all over the country. Got questions or want to share yo...

Anyone remember the Pokemon seizure incident of 1997 or the cursed tissue commercial that left people mysteriously ill? Let’s chat censorship in Japanese media, and media that has been banned or lost. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Frankie - @franklinthewoman References/sources: https://www.jstor.org/stable/2385308 https://www.japantimes.co....

Welp, Cheyenne’s been talking about her move to Shikoku for a while now, and sadly the time has finally come. Let’s reminisce about the last couple years doing this podcast together, and see where Frankie plans to take the podcast from here on out. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Frankie - @franklinthewoman Cheyenne - @lostwithlow Words menti...

Reality tv is a thing pretty much everywhere, but what makes Japan’s tv shows, particularly dating ones, unique?  The 5 shows we focus on in this episode: Rea(l) Love Badly in Love Love Village The Boyfriend Love Transit Any other recommendations? Let us know! Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Frankie - @franklinthewoman Cheyenne - @lostwithlow...

Okinawa is Japan’s 47th prefecture, known for its beautiful subtropical climate, unique culture, and its incredible longevity, though there is hardship and loss as well. Let’s chat about Ryukyu history, colonization by mainland Japan, the similarities it shares with Hawaii, US military presence, and on a happy note, Ryukyu crafts, food and culture we can still enjoy today!! We also chat with Chris...

Kodomo shokudo, or children’s cafeteria’s are popping up all over Japan as a safe space for kids to socialize and eat an affordable meal. Run by volunteers, it’s a great initiative, but should the responsibility of helping kids in need be on volunteer run programs, or the government? Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Frankie - @franklinthewoman...

Japan is well known for its intense working culture and long hours, but when does that go too far? You may have even heard of the term “karoshi” death from overwork. Black (exploitative) corporations are infamous for their grueling overtime hours, lack of work-life balance, harassment from supervisors and more. Let’s go over some of the red flags and discuss the opposite end too, companies that ha...

Japan sees around 83,000 adoptions each year, but did you know that 98% of those are adults, mostly adult men in their 20s and 30s? Let’s find out when the practice of adult adoption started, and how it fits into modern day society.  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Frankie - @franklinthewoman Cheyenne - @lostwithlow Words mentioned/useful wor...

With special guest Ami, we talk about pursuing higher education in Japan, chasing your dreams even when they don’t fit your family’s expectations, researching regenerative medicine in Japan, intense corporate life, and a lot of science stuff! Find Ami here: https://www.instagram.com/ami_and_coo?igsh=d2N4eGx0NWYwZGk0 https://www.tiktok.com/@amiandcoo?_r=1&_t=ZS-94KDlhUNeMP Got questions or want...

Now that Cheyenne’s daughter is 8 months old, we thought we’d revisit the topic of parenting. How are mom and baby treated in public? Is it easy to find nursing rooms and changing stations? Child care leave? Paternity? Baby friendly spaces? Let’s see how they’ve been navigating.  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Frankie - @franklinthewoman Che...

These days, over 99% of people in Japan are cremated. When did this become common practice? What happens when someone living here wants to be buried, or when religion doesn’t allow for cremation? Let’s deep dive into Japan’s funeral and burial customs, Japan’s Muslim population, and more.  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Frankie - @franklinth...

In 2003, an elementary school teacher in Fukuoka received a disciplinary suspension on suspicion that he was engaging in racially motivated bullying and physical punishment towards one of his students. The headlines that ran referred to him as the m*rderous teacher. 10 years later,  the Fukuoka City Personnel Board revoked the teacher's disciplinary action, stating that the facts of bullying “...

Love is in the air! For Valentine’s Day in Japan, there are so many different levels to the chocolates you give out, true feelings, friends, self chocolate, and even…. obligation chocolate.. lol. Let’s chat about the differences in Valentine’s Day here vs back home, then get into some wild dating stories.  Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com Fran...