Conbini Cult

A recent case of stalking and femicide has reignited the conversation about Japan’s stalking laws. What was the case that led to the creation of the Anti-Stalking Act in the year 2000? How have things changed, if at all, in the past 25 years? What type of self defense is permitted in Japan?TW (whole ep) stalking, DV, homicideGot questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful wordsnampa - picking up people, catcalling交番 koban - police boxReferences/sources:Japanese s*x pest jailed for stalking pop idol Ena Matsuoka using reflections in her eyeshttps://www.scmp.com/week-asia/people/article/3052704/japanese-sex-pest-jailed-stalking-pop-idol-ena-matsuoka-usingStalker 'found Japanese singer through reflection in her eyes' https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50000234 Japan police admit mistakes in dealing with stalking that led to woman's deathhttps://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250904_14/Stats from tell Japanhttps://telljp.com/resources/stalking/Parents of murdered stalking victim remain resolute 25 years laterhttps://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/10/27/japan/crime-legal/stalking-murder-victim-father/Japan’s stalking crisis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehbNJoxhkG8Ladies & The Law: The Murder That Resulted in Japan’s Anti-Stalking Acthttps://savvytokyo.com/ladies-the-law-the-murder-that-resulted-in-japans-anti-stalking-act/#:~:text=Lifestyle-,Ladies%20&%20The%20Law:%20The%20Murder%20That%20Resulted,in%20Japan's%20Anti%2DStalking%20Act&text=At%20a%20little%20before%201,both%20her%20and%20her%20family.Japanese Police Consider Changing Anti-Stalking Law After Murderhttps://unseen-japan.com/japan-stalking-crackdown/#:~:text=Recent%20high%2Dprofile%20case%20spurs%20debate%20on%20stalking%20reforms,-Picture:%20Haru%20photography&text=She%20filed%20a%20complaint%20in,similar%20tragedies%20in%20the%20future.Stalker enters house, what self-defense options are legal?https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/c3b64o/legalcrime_castle_doctrine_in_japan_stalker/?share_id=WDRIOkhqe6EPCLw3IMZWP&utm_content=2&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1Time stamps00:00 hello/intro02:19 TW (whole ep) stalking, DV, homicide3:51 singer’s stalker found her through the reflection in her eye4:49 personal experiences and that of friends10:10 recent stalking/femic*de that’s reigniting the convo15:25 stalking statistics17:39 Japan’s anti-stalking act19:05 case that led to the anti-stalking act25:30 reporting to the police27:07 consequences for stalking offenses27:33 revisions to the anti stalking act?33:13 stalking documentary38:39 therapy for stalkers?40:00 is stalking worse in Japan?43:09 self defense

From decades long hauntings to sleep paralysis demons, these terrifying listener stories will have you clutching your blanket and unable to sleep!Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words助けてください tasukete kudasai - please help me満席 manseki - full (as in there are no spaces left, like in a restaurant or theatre)怖い話 kowai hanashi - scary story霊感 reikan - the ability to sense the supernatural 実家 jikka - family home中間テスト chukan testo - midterm exams金縛り kanashibari - sleep paralysis お祓い oharai - purification, exorcism 自販機 jihanki - vending machine神 kami - god(s)氈鹿 kamoshika - serow (antelope or goat-like mammal)祭り matsuri - festivalReferences/sources:Review eyed as anger continues for Japan-Africa ‘hometown’ planhttps://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16031070#:~:text=The%20JICA%20program%20is%20intended,the%20issuance%20of%20special%20visas.Time stamps00:00 it’s spooky season1:46 news - Africa hometown program backlash + update7:10 story 1 - it lurks in the stairwell11:28 story 2 - a haunting in Okinawa28:06 story 3 - an unexpected visitor31:45 story 4 - what’s hiding in the locked room?36:07 story 5 - haunted childhood home in Osaka - Tasha’s story56:23 stories 6-8 fallen torii gate, apt haunting and sleep paralysis - Aerial’s stories

So we’re canceling baths now? Let’s chat about some of these ~~ cancel kaiwai (team/community) in Japan, like bath and eating “cancel” and see if it’s just rebellion or maybe some deeper mental health issues going on. We also have an update about Saikyo chan, one of Japans’ hikikomori idols.Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful wordsガチ gachi - seriously, for real?まじ maji - ^ seriously? Really?本当 hontou - really, trulyエモい emoi - moody, emo, sad, in your feels, melancholic ~キャンセル界隈 kyanseru kaiwai - community (maybe online), team 風呂 furo - bathめんどくさい mendokusai - troublesome, pain in the butt食事 shokuji - meal, food タイパー taipa - time performance, how well you manage timeゴミ屋敷 gomi yashiki - hoarder/trash-filled home死ね shi ne - dieことわざ kotowaza - proverb漫才 manzai - 2 person comedy act, often skitsReferences/sources:Slang - https://www.japantimes.co.jp/life/2025/05/16/language/slang-emotional-japanese/What is furo cancel - https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/54754ecabb573fdeb8b7bcee0eb0d0a3da1d5446Who is participating - https://news.ntv.co.jp/category/society/d790121c796b45f0b0e7fcc55b728725Gen Z movements - https://www.bcnretail.com/market/detail/20240927_457226.htmlSaikyo chan lawsuit - https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/e5cc7e0579896eb0c9322a3e2e0f5f24288b19cdFuro Cancel Kaiwai song by チョコレートプラネット https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrkclH7G7S4&list=RDKrkclH7G7S4&start_radio=1Time stamps00:00 life updates, dental spa12:53 gen z slang14:23 cancel baths? Hair wash debate17:08 what is team “cancel baths”28:11 cancelling…food?32:01 Saikyo chan update - lawsuit39:21 mental health42:35 furo cancel song

From nose pickers, folks openly reading p*rn on the train, and barf on the bus, we thought we had seen it all until we heard these stories… Get ready for a wild ride. Thanks to those who submitted stories!Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words痴漢 chikan - groper, pervert 盗撮 tousatsu - sneaky photography, non-consensual photography仕方ない shikatanai (another way to say shoganai, can’t be helped) 駅員 eki-in - train staff Time stamps00:00 life updates, visa stuff7:48 disclaimer10:38 train chaos22:23 Rosa’s bizarre train adventures33:25 listener stories43:29 reddit chaos

TW - CA, child abandonment, infanticide, stillbirth, and other troubling topics. Viewer discretion is advised.After reading Ryu Murakami’s novel Coin Locker Babies, we wanted to learn more about this phenomenon and speak about recent cases of children left in lockers, other well-known cases of child abandonment, and find out a bit more about what options people have, like foster care and adoption. Please be respectful in the comments. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words間引き mabiki - thinning out, pruning, also Edo period word for infanticide of second or third sons遊郭 yuukaku - red light/entertainment districtReferences/sources:Child abuse and neglect in Japan: Coin-operated-locker babieshttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0145213494001087Editorial: Japan needs legal protections, support for confidential births, baby hatcheshttps://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20250416/p2a/00m/0op/004000c#:~:text=Jikei%20Hospital%20first%20introduced%20Japan's,maternal%20and%20child%20support%20approaches.Japan's only 'baby hatch' sees record high inquiries 'due to pandemic'https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20201128/p2a/00m/0na/005000cSouthwest Japan hospital shelters woman seeking to give birth without family knowledgehttps://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20211029/p2a/00m/0na/045000c#:~:text=Since%202007%2C%20Jikei%20Hospital%20has,was%20going%20to%20give%20birth.Mother arrested for leaving baby's body in locker - 26 September 2018https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/7579Baby’s body found in shopping center locker - June 6, 2021https://japantoday.com/category/crime/baby%E2%80%99s-body-found-in-shopping-center-locker?comment-order=popularJapan Children Support Association https://npojcsa.com/en/index.htmlInfanticide in Japan: Sign of the Times? - NYT 1973https://www.nytimes.com/1973/12/08/archives/infanticide-in-japan-sign-of-the-times-daughters-spared.html33-year-old woman arrested in Osaka for abandoning newborn baby's body in coin lockerhttps://www.asahi.com/articles/ASR3N3R59R3NPTIL004.htmlTime stamps00:00 TW - whole episode00:43 life updates, books 6:32 coin locker babies10:08 recent cases 17:32 similar cases through the ages20:21 orphanages, foster care, adoption overview23:55 does Japan have baby hatches?29:27 movies based on abandonment cases38:20 what options are there 

Feels like everyone’s getting canceled these days right? From idols breaking “no dating” rules, extramarital affairs, and tweets about people stinking in the summer, let’s chat about some sad and bizarre incidents that sparked backlash in Japan. Did it go too far???Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words女子力 jyoshi ryoku - woman's level of motivation in fashion, makeup, etc., femininity野球少年 yakyuu shonen - baseball boys/youth推し活 oshikatsu - idol culture in Japan 空き家 akiya - empty (abandoned but not always) home偉い erai - excellent, great remarkable 迷惑 meiwaku - troublesome, burden, nuisance References/sources:Osaka buildings charred in deadly fire had code violations: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15973475Yuri Kawaguchi - freelance tv anchor loses jobs over remarks about men’s body odor https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/rest-of-world/the-smell-of-japanese-tv-anchor-loses-job-after-criticising-men-body-odour/amp_articleshow/112756914.cmsVoice Actress Rie Takahashi encourages fans to shower with cute drawingshttps://www.businessinsider.com/anime-actress-hand-drawn-guide-fans-bathe-before-concert-2023-3AKB48 members shaves head and apologizes for breaking the no dating rule https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-21299324.ampBecky and Enon https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/08/downfall-japan-tv-becky-industry-sexismhttps://decider.com/2019/03/13/terrace-house-enon-kawatani-scandal/Yuzuru Hanyu https://japan-forward.com/yuzuru-hanyu-announces-divorce-citing-media-harassment-and-stalking/More recent idol story: https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/s/4nLOPVdXPgTime stamps00:00 hello2:53 sad news for Osaka6:08 fired for saying dudes need deodorant16:19 opposite - praised for caring about fans23:36 Yuzuru Hanyu marriage and divorce 29:51 idols and strict no dating rules39:49 extramarital affairs51:02 unfunny joke57:54 nuisance youtuber rebrand

There’s been a lot of news lately about increased traffic accidents involving foreign drivers in Japan, and that’s prompted some new rules and regulations regarding driving and getting your license. With the aging population, there is also an increase of accidents involving elderly drivers.Let’s break down some of these confusing new rules and chat about our own experiences driving here and getting our license. We’re also got some listener stories and recent news stories. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful wordsZainichi means “residing in Japan”, but the term has become synonymous with the ethnic Korean population in Japan.運転免許 unten menkyo - driver’s license田舎 inaka - countryside初心者マーク shoshinsha mark - beginner mark (in this case for new drivers)ウィンカー winkaa - turn signal Nikkei - Japanese person living abroad原付 gentsuki - one word for moped or motorbikeまぶしい mabushii - bright (like the sun or the lights)Kei car - small, lightweight vehicle that is cheaper and offers tax and insurance benefits, but in an accident I (Frankie) personally feel they are not the safest References/sources:Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from Octoberhttps://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/10/japan/crime-legal/npa-drivers-license-conversion/#:~:text=The%20National%20Police%20Agency%20on,car%20accidents%20by%20such%20driversGuide: learning how to drive in Japanhttps://mailmate.jp/blog/learning-how-to-drive-in-japanJapan to bar foreign tourists from converting driver's licenseshttps://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250710_07/#:~:text=An%20agency%20survey%20of%20license,%23Foreigners%20in%20JapanSeniors Make Up Over 50 Pct of 2023 Traffic Deaths in Japanhttps://sp.m.jiji.com/english/show/33754Elderly driver who killed 2, injured 9 in 2019 dies in prisonhttps://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15524048Two sisters, aged 5 and 7, killed in bus-car collision in Fukuokahttps://japantoday.com/category/national/two-sisters-aged-5-and-7-killed-in-bus-car-collision-in-fukuokaPhoto: https://www.reddit.com/r/japannews/comments/1ev561v/two_sisters_killed_fukuoka_car_accident/Japanese Drivers Practical Test (Hiroshima) is kicking my ass! Any suggestions appreciated!(r/Japan 12 years ago)https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/xqyks/japanese_drivers_practical_test_hiroshima_is/All cars in Japan to have systems preventing accidents from gas/brake pedal mistakes by 2028https://japantoday.com/category/national/all-cars-in-japan-to-have-systems-preventing-accidents-from-gas-brake-pedal-mistakes-by-2028Elderly driver’s panic: https://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/154wtes/japan_elderly_drivers_panic/2024 marks 3rd-lowest year on record for traffic deaths in Japanhttps://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15577054#:~:text=Special-,National%20Report,were%20either%20driving%20or%20walking.Despite Law, Many in Japan Fail to Belt Up in the Back Seathttps://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h01596/#:~:text=Under%20road%20traffic%20law%2C%20it,importance%20of%20wearing%20a%20seatbelt.Time stamps00:00 Cheyenne is back2:47 increased accidents involving foreign drivers7:10 new regulations/rules for changing your license11:10 converting your license in Japan/driving test39:09 driving school40:48 driving age42:46 listener stories about driving/getting license53:56 traffic accidents involving the elderly/ no seatbelt

How does maternity care and giving birth differ between the US and Japan? Spoiler alert: the bar is so low for Americans that everything here seems pretty awesome. Cheyenne shares her birth story in this episode and we chat about maternity clinics, postpartum care, epidurals, government subsidies, paternity care, and more in this special episode. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words和痛分娩  watsuubunben - delivery with pain-reducing medication無痛分娩 mutsuubunben - pain-less childbirth/delivery迷惑 meiwaku - bothersome, trouble, annoyance文化の違い bunka no chigai - cultural difference 産後ケアホテル sango kea hoteru - postpartum care hotel立会い tachiai - presence, observer, witness年休 nenkyuu - yearly paid vacation里帰り出産 satogaerishussan - going back to one’s hometown to give birthReferences/sources:Japan set to fully cover childbirth costs possibly from April 2026 https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/53841Leading Japanese hospital suspends childbirth pain reliefhttps://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/backstories/2622/Father not involved after birth. Is this tradition? (8 years ago)https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/76sapd/father_not_involved_after_birth_is_this_tradition/Time stamps00:00 Cheyenne is back9:02 birth chat/intro12:29 hospital/Cheyenne’s birth story28:45 general birth costs, hospital system39:43 after birth expectations and experience46:07 hospital visitation52:23 culture shocks56:54 paternity leave1:03:18 listener stories/other perspectives 1:09:38 leading hospital suspends epidurals

On the morning of March 20th, 1995, a chemical nerve agent was released on 3 of Tokyo’s major subway lines during rush hour. At this year, 2025, marks the 30th anniversary of the infamous subway attack, let’s learn about what happened that day, the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikyo responsible for it, and what else the cult had done that led up to this horrific incident.Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words地下鉄 chikatetsu - subway事件 jiken - incident, occurrence 自衛隊 jieitai - self-defense force (SDF)References:“Driver in Osaka arrested for ‘trying to kill’ school children” https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15740626 https://www.moj.go.jp/psia/25years_after_the_tokyo_subway_sarin_gas_attacks)NHK Documentary- “The Tokyo Subway Sarin Attack: A Battle in the Shadows” https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/5001453/ BCC Article on Aum https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-35975069(Vice news coverage) https://youtu.be/_ssq96g-cfE?si=5JDfl4KvYSvgB9mVAccidentally joined a cult: https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/1kancez/accidentally_joined_a_cult/ Time stamps00:00 hello/current events8:52 Aum Shinrikyo/subway attack overview12:00 Shoko Asahara’s upbringing14:36 Aum Shinrikyo beginnings26:56 things escalate37:29 justice served? 40:45 aftermath42:33 are they still active?48:48 modern day cults

You know those awkward moments that keep you up at night and haunt you in the shower? Yeah…we’ve got a lot of those. Let’s chat about our most embarrassing and awkward moments and language mistakes in Japan and hear some cringe-worthy listener stories as well. Buckle up!Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful wordsちっと chitto - a little bitチート chīto - cheat浮気 uwaki - cheating不倫 furin - affair/cheating歩きスマホ aruki sumaho - texting and walkingピンピン pinpin - lively, energetic 好きです suki desu - I like/love…. something, or you大好きです dai suki desu - I REALLY like/love something/you信号 shingo - traffic light風鈴 fūrin - wind chimes人間 ningen - human人参 ninjin - carrots甘い amai - sweet (tasting)一発 ippatsu - (in the context of the story we shared…a quickie)Time stamps00:00 hello/life updates3:29 personal embarrassing stories26:09 listener stories45:07 reddit stories

With the internet being such an integral part of our lives these days, scammers have evolved too. Let’s learn about some of the more common types of scams in Japan today, from tourist traps, work scams, and romance swindlers to those who prey on the kindness of the elderly. Let’s see what kind of 詐欺 (sagi) we need to look out for. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words詐欺 sagi - scam/fraud詐欺師 sagi-shi - scammer, con artistロマンス詐欺 romance sagi - romance scam オレオレ詐欺 ore ore sagi - “It's Me, It's Me” scam俺 ore - me (masculine form, but it’s kinda rough)二次会 nijikai - second party (usually drinking)インスタ映え insta bae - instagrammable わざわざ waza waza - for a special/specific purpose関係者 kankeisha - authorized personnel, people concerned References:Confidence Man JP trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgeDUPimNYk&t=1sNPA (national police agency) website warning about “SNS romance sagi”:https://www.npa.go.jp/bureau/safetylife/sos47/new-topics/sns-romance/romance/MOFA notice on romance sagi:https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/info/pcwideareaspecificinfo_2025C015.htmlOre ore sagi: https://medium.com/japan-in-mind/underlying-cultural-issues-behind-japans-biggest-scam-675887ec0f18Over 100 hotels in Japan fall victim to booking.com phishing scam:https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/04/424ff5e523cb-over-100-hotels-in-japan-fall-victim-to-bookingcom-phishing-scams.htmlScammer alert: nude photo scam https://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/s/gIE3YzVfJcTime stamps00:00 hello/life updates3:32 scammy texts9:15 yami baito11:15 romance sagi17:57 ore ore sagi21:53 bars with stealth pricing23:20 monks24:48 tourist traps - Mario kart, robot restaurant, etc34:32 booking,com phishing scam35:35 shower photo blackmail (reddit)

Working as a movie extra, cleaning hotels, dealing with xenophobic callers, rejected on dating sites for being an English teacher?? Buckle up because we’ve got some fun work stories for today.Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words不健全 (fukenzen) な 友達 (tomodachi) - unhealthy/toxic friend (doesn’t have to be romantic but could be)セフレ (sefure) - friend with benefits (seggs friend)ヤリ目 (yarimoku) - not looking for a serious relationship, just fooling around遊び (asobi) - play, playing aroundさすが (sasuga) - of course, as expectedヤンキー (yanki) - delinquent残念 (zan nen) -  that’s too bad, that’s unfortunate 宴会 (enkai) - party/banquet方言 (hougen) - dialectキャバクラ (kyabakura) - hostess clubReferences:Confidence Man JP Trailer: Frankie is at 0 : 33 in the denim jacket but not in focus!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgeDUPimNYkLupin’s Daughter trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzvuEDvfVdAWhisper of the Heart trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cX_QeMx4odsReddit stories:Advice on racist abuse from a customer via telephonehttps://www.reddit.com/r/japanresidents/s/uBZooQbgQQHas anyone here quit an office/WFH job in Japan to be an English teacher?https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/s/zEqeM23IY3 Japanese ojisan coworkers mumbling https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/s/v3y8YYb7Z3I used to work at a Japanese hostess club AMAhttps://www.reddit.com/r/AMA/s/ZxF0qUzD8QUnmatched immediately after I told her my jobhttps://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/s/c2iMYCooWSTime stamps00:00 hello/life updates2:59 random dating advice + new slang6:32 work stories - movie extra, modeling20:43 Cheyenne’s ALT stories27:09 hotel cleaning29:05 company bailed on visa30:17 sent to police for recycling wrong33:20 asked out by coworker36:40 xenophobic caller40:01 quit office job to teach43:31 mumbling old guys46:20 working as a hostess50:36 unmatched after saying their job55:05 office romance/update

Our very first episode was about culture shocks when visiting or living here, and since we were still getting used to podcasting, it was a little awkward and the audio quality wasn’t ideal. Soooo we’re revisiting the topic of culture shock with some fresh takes.Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words準備中 jyunbichuu - restaurant/business is preparing (aka its outside of opening hours)営業中 eigyochuu - restaurant/business is open 和式トイレ washiki toire - Japanese style toilet, squat toilet ryokan - traditional Japanese innマイバッグ (my bag) - eco bags, reusable shopping bags降ります orimasu - getting off (the train, bus, etc)知らん顔 shirankao - feigned ignorance, pretending not to see somethingお土産 omiyage - gift, souvenir References:Japanese Cheetos are wrong!https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/wb3rhx/japanese_cheetos_are_wrong/Holy mother of god it finally happenedhttps://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/1kbl46h/holy_mother_of_god_it_finally_happened/Time stamps00:00 hello3:06 what is culture shock3:36 different Cheetos7:15 restaurants, cafes, food related13:33 transportation (trains, cars, etc)16:21 toilets, baths, etiquette21:51 buckwheat pillow23:59 conbini, shopping27:06 etiquette, unspoken rules33:06 minding your own business - too much?34:00 moneyyyyy35:16 hair loss38:12 technology 39:28 supermarket basket dilemma44:44 gifting culture47:06 funny story (palette cleanser)

One of us has been keeping a secret. Perhaps you already guessed? Let’s chat about being pregnant and having a baby in Japan. If it’s a tricky topic for you, feel free to skip and we’ll see you next time with a different theme!Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful wordsなめる nameru - to lick or suckセーター sētā - sweater, jumper産休 sankyuu - maternity leave育休 ikukyuu - childcare leave正社員 seishain - regular/permanent employee社会保険 shakaihoken - social insurance雇用契約 koyoukeiyaku - employment contract業務委託契約 gyoumuitaku keiyaku - outsourcing agreement, subcontracting arrangement専業主婦 sengyoushufu/ 主婦 shufu - housewife年休 nenkyuu - yearly paid vacation危ない abunai - dangerous考え方 kangae kata - way of thinkingマグロ maguro - tuna出来ちゃった結婚 dekichatta kekkon - shotgun wedding, marriage due to unintended pregnancy デキ婚 dekikon ^ shorter version of the above不明 fumei - unknown, uncertain婚姻届 kon'in todoke - marriage registration戸籍謄本 kosekitouhon - family registry里帰り出産 satogaerishussan - going back to one’s hometown to give birth立会い tachiai - presence, observer, witness立会い分娩 tachiai bunben - childbirth with the father of the child presentReferences:'Maternity leave cookies' spark online storm in Japan over lack of consideration: https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20240429/p2a/00m/0li/020000cAbout maternity/paternity leave: https://japan-dev.com/blog/paternity-maternity-leave-japanhttps://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15008881#:~:text=By%20EISHI%20KADO/%20Staff%20Writer,decide%20to%20take%20maternity%20leave?Reddit:“Refusing maternity leave because of less than 12 month contract? Is this even legal?” https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/1f9z15y/refusing_maternity_leave_because_of_less_than_12/ “Bill dispute with the maternity clinic” https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/uaoa6f/bill_dispute_with_maternity_clinic/Update: https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/uc0clg/update_billing_dispute_with_materinity_clinic/ “The nightmare of giving birth in Japan”https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/15dhh0m/the_nightmare_of_giving_birth_in_japan/ Part 2 https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/15puh38/the_nightmare_of_giving_birth_in_japan_part_2/ “My boss told me that our company does not allow maternity leave…” https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/un556f/my_boss_told_me_that_our_company_does_not_allow/ (top comment is very helpful)“Maternity/Paternity leave rights and explanations” (posted 10 years ago)https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/31tomw/maternitypaternity_leave_and_family_care_leave/ “Cost breakdown of my wife’s delivery” https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/t96475/cost_breakdown_of_my_wifes_delivery_%E6%84%9B%E8%82%B2%E7%97%85%E9%99%A2_with/ Pregnancy and your rights in Japan: https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/comments/1bxvrqp/pregnancy_and_your_rights_in_japan/Time stamps00:00 the big reveal4:55 pocket translator went rogue8:51 intro/disclaimers10:43 maternity leave cookies16:43 maternity vs childcare leave (reddit)21:56 - bill dispute with clinic (reddit)29:23 - nightmare experience (reddit)39:18 - company doesn’t allow maternity leave (reddit)43:01 - paternity leave49:43 - cost breakdown (reddit)56:18 - weight gain limit59:51 - eating sushi?1:02:36 maternity badge, priority seats1:08:49 going to the gym1:10:17 visitors for 1 hour per day1:11:12 shotgun weddings1:14:06 government support1:15:01 hometown birth without father1:17:17 customs Japan doesn’t have

Checking the reviews for restaurants is especially helpful, but in Japan some of us live in fear of getting sued for defamation over a bad review. Has it ever actually happened though? Let’s chat about some of the most famous defamation cases in Japan in recent years. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words転入届  tennyu todoke - moving in form (submitted at city hall)煽り運転/あおり運転 aori unten - reckless driving, tailgating, road rageReferences:Woman finds man under hotel bed in Tokyo: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZShPFQDBu/Brazilian female tourist (may she rest in peace): https://essential-japan.com/news/sri-lankan-man-arrested-over-death-of-female-brazilian-tourist-in-japan/Defamation laws: https://kellywarnerlaw.com/japan-defamation-laws#:~:text=Article%2032%20of%20the%20Criminal,the%20Civil%20Code%20of%20Japan.Doctors vs google: https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/crime-courts/20240418-181200/https://apnews.com/article/google-japan-lawsuit-doctors-33816ddf481345ed5e270898a5a568f0Restaurant vs Tabelog: https://monolith.law/en/internet/lawsuit-against-tabelog#:~:text=The%20court%20states%20that%20whether,disclosure%20of%20the%20restaurant's%20informationhttps://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/11/26/national/tabelog-online-restaurant-reviews-prompt-food-fight/Oricon vs journalist: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2007/02/08/national/libel-suit-attacks-free-speech-defendant/https://rsf.org/en/abandonment-claim-against-japanese-journalistRoad rage: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13781526Tokyo woman wrongly tied to road rage case wins libel lawsuithttps://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/13646256Shiori Ito vs manga artisthttps://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14492778Hana Kimura (may she rest in peace) - TW - su*cide https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14643801#:~:text=THE%20ASSOCIATED%20PRESS,formally%20enacted%20later%20this%20year.https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14353897Posting Negative Reviews in Japan: What Are the Legal Risks?https://www.reddit.com/r/japanlife/s/u2wLJ7EqoRTime stamps00:00 hello/life updates8:20 man under hotel bed16:47 defamation17:14 Doctors sue over bad reviews21:55 restaurant vs Tabelog25:18 Oricon vs a freelance journalist 28:44 Tokyo lady versus politician32:46 manga artist sued over crude tweets - TW: SA34:29 online bullying - TW: self exit43:11 reddit testimonies

Love is in the air! In light of a recent wedding and engagement, let’s chat about differences in wedding culture in Japan vs western countries (mainly the US where we’re from). Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words国際結婚 kokusai kekkon - international marriage-らしい rashii - typical of, worthy of the name バージンロード bājinrōdo - wedding aisle (virgin road)袴 はかま hakama - men’s formal divided skirt (they are not exclusively for men though)ご祝儀袋 go shuugibukuro - special envelope for monetary gifts升 ます masu - traditional wooden sake cup  気持ち kimochi - feeling, mood黒留袖 kuro tomesode - black kimono the mothers of the bride and groom wear at weddings飲み会 nomikai - drinking party二次会 nijikai - second party  三次会 sanjikai - third party 鯛 tai - sea breamTime stamps00:00 hello/life updates01:54 ever been to a Japanese wedding?2:55 wedding planning10:21 wedding differences14:37 structure of the wedding17:40 speeches20:34 gifts 25:33 photos and video28:26 flowers, gifts, cake, sake34:49 good points of each style wedding 50:11 fake priests51:56 dress code54:42 tight schedule58:37 instagram polls

Most people visiting or living in another country want to do their best to learn about and respect the culture, and to get along with the locals, right? When does the quest towards being an ideal foreigner go too far....like hating on fellow foreigners? At the end of the day, we’ve all got a little pick me in us, don’t we? Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words外国人 gaikokujin - foreigner偉い erai - admirable, great, importantはじめまして hajimemashite - nice to meet you日本語 nihongo - Japanese language 日本 Nihon - Japan和式トイレ washiki toire - Japanese style toilet (squat toilet)田舎 Inaka - countryside逆 gyaku - reverse, opposite 担当 tanto - (person) in charge of somethingReferences:Time stamps00:00 hello/life updates4:06 what’s a pick me/last samurai 7:19 “why do foreigners in Japan treat others so badly?”13:23 no need to give up your entire identity 15:17 rationalizing xenophobia 23:43 IG poll responses 46:25 influencers ruining places?52:10 JLPT bragging53:31 reverse pick me55:03 last samurais 55:53 our own pick me confessions1:00:19 funny comments

TW: SAWhy so controversial? Black Box Diaries follows the journey of journalist Shiori Ito in seeking justice for her assault by another prominent journalist with powerful political ties, and shedding light on outdated assault and consent laws in Japan. *No victim blaming will be tolerated*Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words花粉症 kafunsho - hay fever転勤 tenkin - transfer (job)公務員 koumuin - public/civil servant, government worker 後輩 kouhai - junior (like at work or school)先輩 senpai - superior, senior, mentorReferences:“Shiori Ito’s film to be revised after unauthorized use of media” - Asahi Shimbun - Feb 21, 2025https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15636805“Artist, retweeters ordered to pay journalist over ‘fake r***’ posts”https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14492778Time stamps00:00 hello/花粉症 kafunsho3:03 whole episode TW - S**ual assault4:49 zero tolerance for victim blaming6:43 Black Box memoir, how to watch the doc10:25 why the doc isn’t out in Japan15:48 brief overview of the case16:29 the documentary - summary and commentary41:59 the doorman46:02 press conference48:38 Japan’s MeToo/WeToo49:20 manga artist sued for defamation51:03 laws finally change after 110 years53:30 closing thoughts

Living here (and visiting) is amazing! Some things can be frustrating, but it also makes sense in a way? Let’s chat about work culture, unspoken rules, and all that good stuff. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words春分 shunbun - spring equinox - March 20th ____様 sama - honorific suffixお世話になっております osewa ni natte orimasu - thanks for your support/thanks for taking care of me/this project? It’s a way to start off a business email or chat建前 tatemae - public position or opinion (as upped to true opinion or inner thoughts)本音 hon'ne - inner thoughts, true opinion 判子 hanko - signature stamp, personal seal電車 densha - train和風 wafuu - Japanese style定時 teiji - regular working hours働き方改革 hatarakikata kaikaku - work reform?頑張れ ganbare - do your best ブラック会社 burakku gaisha - black company, company known to exploit their employees マロン maron - chestnut飲み会 nomikai - drinking party暗黙ルール anmoku ruuru - unspoken rules空気を読む kuuki wo yomu - read the roomKY 空気が読めない kuuki ga yomenai - (someone who) can’t read the roomTime stamps00:00 hello1:36 intro to topic/disclaimer7:27 ticketing system9:34 eight years in Japan14:07 love/hate27:34 BS?35:46 things to know before moving45:15 personal space45:38 love/hate about work51:17 the magic is still there1:05:36 unspoken rules and taxes1:08:55 culture of +1

Most tourists and foreign residents here are doing their best to respect Japanese culture, but the ones causing trouble sure are pretty loud. What’s going on with the overtourism issue these days? We’ll chat about some recent incidents and initiatives are taking place to combat these problems. Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.comFrankie - @franklinthewomanCheyenne - @lostwithlowWords mentioned/useful words花粉症 kafunsho - hay fever/allergiesお土産 omiyage - souvenir外国人 gaikokujin - foreigner/foreign personお守り omamori - protection charm/amulet you can get from shrines and temples田舎 inaka - countrysideVideos mentioned:Ski resort confrontation: https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSrpu5JfS/Tokyo Sims sakura incident: https://x.com/mrjeffu/status/1908759017339695280Ghost of Tsushima Shrine - https://soranews24.com/2025/03/25/real-life-ghost-of-tsushima-shrine-announces-ban-of-all-tourists-but-theres-some-fine-print/American tourist arrested for accidentally packing a handgun into his luggage - https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/02/japan/crime-legal/us-tourist-gun-japan/Update - https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250404_23/#:~:text=Japan%20prosecutors%20will%20not%20indict%20US%20tourist%20arrested%20for%20possessing%20gun,-Friday%2C%20April%204&text=Japanese%20prosecutors%20have%20decided%20not,Kobe%20Port%20on%20March%2023.CurrentlyHannah video about overtourism: https://youtu.be/D6t1JSAgyCg?si=_ySKJl0oeCqScrJoTakashi from Japan Kyoto locals interview: https://youtu.be/jNkb25wGKq4?si=elR-gqBybehVmcxvTime stamps00:00 family/friends visiting, thyroid update18:54 intro to overtourism/disclaimer29:39 ski resort smoking confrontation34:16 cherry blossom disrespect 38:01 shrines banning tourists43:02 American tourist brings gun in luggage46:28 what’s up with Johnny Salami 49:43 other problems with overtourism53:39 what locals think1:01:19 how is the gov’t combatting this1:04:54 working in tourism