The Chronicle

The topics hit hard and heavy on this episode. After uploading a comedic vlog I was called out for using a swear-word of the barely abrasive kind. This kind of condemnation usually comes at the behest of greater inclusion. What is, and will forever remain, ironically funny to me, is that calls for censorship, contradict the very thing that they are trying to protect. Nuance, freedom of expression,...

What's it like to start a business in Japan, possibly during one of the worst times in history to do so? Well my brave friend has found out. It's really amazing what he's done and his whole approach of relentless determination during a time that would make many others throw their cards in and claim no responsibility to the outcome, is nothing less than pure grit. It has left me wondering what can...

The studio is mostly setup minus my computer I forgot at work so I didn't have my mic, but, oh well. Thanks for joining the podcast. Hope to see you in the comments. We cover a lot of ground from Caesar to stand-up.

What is it like to have lived in Japan for 16 years, my guest today, a career licenced teacher shares his thoughts on the experience.

We all get them from time to time. This was my turn.

It's a strange time that we find ourselves living in - would be an accurate statement no matter when you lived. Perhaps stranger still is life's ability to repeat patterns yet in wholly different ways. The example I draw upon today is that of the experience of children, and the conditions in which they grow. How do we even define them, and what is shaping their experience?

With the way that things have gone around the world, a whole new way of working has taken root, and that way is mostly from home. People, for the most part, love it. And that is not the only thing that is changing. Attitudes towards dated technology and bureaucracy have taken a sharp hit as well. When the status quo was maintained it allowed these inefficient at best, maddeningly arbitrary at wors...

What is it that inspired you in your younger years? For me it was a variety of many things but Pink Floyd's the wall stands out as a major spark to my creative mind. I've found when considering that influence on me in a greater context I can't help but notice the creep of time and its effect. That All influences become to those not familiar with them, cartoonishly old and dated. Sad, considering t...

I binge watched a ton of 1950's videos recently and was struck by not only how melancholy they made me feel but also how similar in many ways Japan's social attitudes are still to these outmoded ways of thinking. Unspoken rules rule Japan and you'd do well to follow them if you want to fit in. Of course this is most strictly applied to those who are native but to observe them is fascinating. Witho...

Relationships are a large part of what fulfills us. That is common enough knowledge. However, we traditionally think of relationships in terms of our friends, family and lovers, all of which are material. Another interesting, less explored form of relationships are those that lack the human component. Everything we interact with  is a kind of relationship. But due to these relationships expressing...

Posting recently my reflections concerning reaching middle-age-ish and not having staked out for myself a traditional path, I got a lot of great responses. There seemed a thread which ran its way through most answers. That to live for you, your desires, your interests, selfish as it may be, causes the least suffering and best result. An interesting idea to say the least. But how to do this in such...

What does it feel like to thrown on a sword? Well that depends on whose done the throwing. Was it you, or did someone else land you there? Although ultimately each is painful, our willingness to see that pain in a positive light unquestionably favors that we do the throwing ourselves. This exhausting metaphor for working long hours is driving at the point that work is felt differently when we feel...

You know that old expression - anger leads to hate, hate leads to you making a fool of yourself. Well much as that is very true It is important that we acknowledge the feeling of anger is often justified, more the issue is how we apply it. Anger usually seeks justice and fairness, it just sucks at getting these things done in a way that doesn't totally alienate those it inflicts itself upon. If yo...

A lot of big changes will arrive shortly come the beginning of March. First on the list will be slowly moving to a new apartment. No small feat in Japan considering the many costs associated with doing such an act. Moreover a challenge as well due to all the turning off an on of various services, water, gas and so on. But it is something I am truly excited for. It has given me the opportunity to g...

Been listening to a lot of stoic thoughts recently and within my recent past have been quite impacted by the book 'Meditations' by Marcus Aurelius. Doing so provided allowed me to put many experiences I have had in Japan into a useful context. But that's not all. Arnold Swarschanager, I noticed, has had some great things to say about the idea of the self-made man. To the point, essentially that no...

I've not uploaded anything new since the 26th of December. That is unusual for me even given that that time was basically a holiday. Returning now as I am to creative endeavors I want to keep you, who listen and support me, informed of what has been going on in my life. The truth, as it is, to my subjective reality, I will speak to. And in all honesty as things have turned out, a quite positive tw...

What's life without kicking back once in a while and going out drinking. Incredibly sober healthy and productive but let's focus too much on that detail. Recently I wrapped up around five weeks of focused labor and wanted a chance to blow off some steam so I headed in to Tokyo for a date. The date got cancelled but I wasn't gonna let that stop me from having a social night out so once arrived and...

Japan's cultural pressures are like none other in the world given it's much different value system. This system has no doubt allowed the country to survive, but survival does not always equate to happiness. Joined by my guest and colleague Dean we discuss this topic and touch on a few very unique challenges that natives of the culture must face and to a lesser degree expats. Not ever to go too dar...

Our progress as a species moves forward in nearly every quantifiable way from poverty to education, but this does not mean that our success or failure overall has ever ceased its balancing act on a razor's edge. Where race is concerned certainly we've moved ahead as well but to think we've found some perfect understanding of each other would be naive. Japan as an ancient mono-culture offers a fasc...

The Japanese, although generally a more diminutive people, can drink like vikings. Schools are a little tamer no doubt than the drinking culture a salary man would see on a daily but they are still fun and different from what I am used to back in North America. We start here in the podcast as I recall some of the funnier and fuzzier moments through the time that I have spent here. Each school is I...

Arriving in Japan and all the madness that ensued, the highs, the lows, all of it here on this new episode. I recount the excitement of my process to get to Japan and the first training week of my arrival. As well for good measure we touch on some of the hilariously shady business practices of the shady dispatch company Interac.

This time we continue the adventure of growing up. Due to rugby being introduced to me at a very young age, a size advantage and excellent coaching caught the eye of both private schools in my local area and it would change my life forever.

Life as an expat in Japan is a trip. Learning the culture and language is a never-ending parade of hilarious failures and awkward mistakes. Here on The Interstice I discuss in intimate detail this altogether humbling, never boring, choice of lifestyle.