What happens when an Army vet trades his tactical gear for a bicycle and a mission call in rural Japan?You’re looking at it. I’m Paul-chan, and I’m inviting you to come along as I retrace my steps through the Land of the Rising Sun.In this video, I’m giving you a glimpse of what to expect, including the "lost in translation" moments that shaped my experiences in Japan. This isn't just a travel log, it’s a deep dive into the heart of a culture I grew to love and the friends I made along the way.Ready to explore? Hit that follow button and let’s begin.

Tanoshimi da ne!

https://paul-chan.one

Music Provided by NCMFYT

Domitori Taranofu - Just a Playground

Link: https://youtu.be/tU3ucZtTru8?si=wSHt7l88duHw30aN

Minisodes for My Time in Japan will include brief updates, extra context, or other bonuses for the show. This minisode includes an overview of the new Podcast Cover Art and an announcement around episode markings for content that may include faith-related topics.

Music Provided by NCMFYT

Intro: Colorful Cat - Playground Link: https://youtu.be/mkPFWv1xWsw?si=Rndj6_JLTh2TtKx7

Background Music One: Domitori Taranofu - Sakura's LifeLink: https://youtu.be/tZXmTc4W_o0?si=BBouPSrpkBHV9pfO

Background Music Two: Domitori Taranofu - Dreams of Japan (Extended Mix)Link: https://youtu.be/RsZRAh19oio?si=KeEch0V_5cB6HsEv

For this episode's Latest Word, we're digging into the linguistics behind the phrase... you guessed it, "caught between a rock and a hard place."

Ty, one of the missionaries I served with in Japan, will be joining us soon but I introduce him in this episode along with some of the lessons I learned while serving with him. We also dive into some more of the cuisine I was introduced to while living in Izumo, and touch on other topics such as missionary fitness, mental health, and the art of the beverage run!

Episode Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PJo2fPvxFRAHgQJLu4cn72xaj6quwtyzls0E-b6yH30

Q&A:

Would you like to be featured in our next Q&A segment? Send your questions via DM (Insta / Threads, Bluesky, X, TikTok) or email them to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@paul-chan.one⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you are enjoying My Time in Japan, please consider becoming a Patron at https://patreon.com/paulchankazoku. The free tier will give you access to all my normal updates, but feel free to join one of the higher tiers if you want some extra goodies or just want to help support what we're doing!

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠paul-chan.one⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for Paul-chan's social media handles and other content.

Don't forget to catch ⁠Paul-chan live at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ paulchan.tv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ a few times a week around 9 or 10 PM Mountain Time!

Intro and Outro Music provided by NCMFYT

Tracks:

⁠Colorful Cat - Playground

Watch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/mkPFWv1xWsw⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Colorful Cat - Kon⁠

Watch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/fdFLSIxhHhg⁠

For this episode's Latest Word, we're exploring the Japanese titles for Mistborn and the Way of Kings! Then, we continue the narrative in Southwestern Japan with a visit to Okayama and a few areas in the country near Izumo! Join us as we head for the hills!

Episode Transcript:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/12p4zSwjMX7E9GQoYqjzkrzFCNe7ZWUUFWUvArQNDzdg

Q&A:

Would you like to be featured in our next Q&A segment? Send your questions via DM (Insta / Threads, Bluesky, X) or email them to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@paul-chan.one⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you are enjoying My Time in Japan, please consider becoming a supporter by contributing on Paul-chan’s Ko-fi page at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/paulchan14⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠paul-chan.one⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for Paul-chan's social media handles and other content.

Don't forget to catch ⁠Paul-chan live at⁠⁠⁠⁠ paulchan.tv⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ a few times a week around 10:00 PM Mountain Time!

Intro and Outro Music provided by NCMFYT

Tracks:

⁠Colorful Cat - Playground

Watch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/mkPFWv1xWsw⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Colorful Cat - Kon⁠

Watch: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/fdFLSIxhHhg⁠

This may not be Ba Sing Se, but there are still secrets to be discovered! Join Paul-chan as he shares a few vignettes, including some spookie moments apropos for the Halloween season!

Videos referenced in this episode:

• ⁠The seriously shocking backstory of the Bug Pokemon, Paras⁠ (Kyota Ko)
• But we’re speaking Japanese ⁠日本語しゃべってるんだけど⁠ (Ken Tanaka)

Episode Transcript:

⁠https://docs.google.com/document/d/14EUqZdpmhvhYY_piTP1pl6jCifBa5Y-VCo5VeZdqOhY⁠

Would you like to be featured in our next Q&A segment? Send your questions via DM (Instagram / Threads) or email them to ⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@paul-chan.one⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you are enjoying My Time in Japan, please consider becoming a supporter by contributing at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mytimeinjapan/support⁠⁠⁠⁠, or visit my Ko-fi page at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/paulchan14⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠paul-chan.one⁠⁠⁠⁠ for Paul-chan's social media handles and other content.

Don't forget to catch ⁠Paul-chan live at⁠⁠⁠ paulchan.tv⁠⁠⁠⁠ a few times a week around 9:00PM Mountain Time!

Intro and Outro Music provided by NCMFYT

Tracks:

⁠Colorful Cat - Playground Watch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/mkPFWv1xWsw⁠⁠⁠

⁠Colorful Cat - Kon⁠

Watch: ⁠⁠⁠https://youtu.be/fdFLSIxhHhg⁠

We start off with a new segment: The Latest Word. You'll then learn useful tips about Banking and Grocery Shopping in Japan before revisiting one of the darkest days in Paul-chan's history... 😂

Articles mentioned in this episode:

• I'm an American mom living in Japan, and grocery shopping here is a far superior experience than it is in the US (Business Insider)

Episode Transcript:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1JNAMfbV0rAAe31BhU1CZq03Vv6kzAm_Cpd4liK4XG6k

Would you like to be featured in the Q&A segment? Send your questions via DM (Instagram / Threads) or email them to ⁠⁠podcast@paul-chan.one⁠⁠

If you are enjoying My Time in Japan, please consider becoming a supporter by contributing at ⁠⁠⁠podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mytimeinjapan/support⁠⁠, or visit my Ko-fi page at ⁠⁠https://ko-fi.com/paulchan14⁠⁠

Visit ⁠⁠paul-chan.one⁠⁠ for Paul-chan's social media handles and other content.

Don't forget to catch ⁠Paul-chan live at⁠ paulchan.tv⁠⁠, once or twice a week around 9:00PM Mountain Time!

Music provided by NCMFYT

Tracks:

⁠Colorful Cat - Playground Watch: ⁠https://youtu.be/mkPFWv1xWsw⁠

Colorful Cat - Nakabeni

Watch: https://youtu.be/tj8AezwaTJw

Stream: https://soundcloud.com/ncmfyt/colorful-cat-nakabeni

Domitori Taranofu - Birds and Kids on the Playground

Watch: https://youtu.be/psIqFtfbjg0

Stream: https://soundcloud.com/ncmfyt/domitori-taranofu-birds-and-kids-on-the-playground

⁠Colorful Cat - Kon⁠

Watch: ⁠https://youtu.be/fdFLSIxhHhg

Join us as we dive into Paul-chan's eccentric "dream theater" and have an introspective conversation about déjà vu. We also discuss over-tourism in Japan during this episode's Q&A segment.

Articles mentioned in this episode:

• Japan, famously polite, struggles to cope with influx of tourists (Washington Post)
• Experiencing Déjà Vu? Neurologists Explain What It Means and Why It’s Happening (MSN)

Episode Transcript:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1sCYMURPlX5A5LBhWo-S16rZhbOwMzS4s_LYdkTCwGq0/edit?usp=sharing

Would you like to be featured in the Q&A segment? Send your questions via DM (Instagram / Threads) or email them to ⁠podcast@paul-chan.one⁠

If you are enjoying My Time in Japan, please consider becoming a supporter by contributing at ⁠⁠podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mytimeinjapan/support⁠, or visit my Ko-fi page at ⁠https://ko-fi.com/paulchan14⁠

Visit ⁠paul-chan.one⁠ for Paul-chan's social media handles and other content.

Don't forget to catch ⁠Paul-chan live at paulchan.tv⁠, once or twice a week around 9:00PM Mountain Time!

Music provided by NCMFYT

Tracks:

⁠Colorful Cat - Playground Watch: https://youtu.be/mkPFWv1xWsw

c152 - liminal fields

Stream: https://soundcloud.com/ncmfyt/c152-liminal-fields

Domitori Taranofu - Sakura's Life

Watch: youtu.be/tZXmTc4W_o0

Stream: ncmfyt.band.link/SakurasLife

Domitori Taranofu - Dreams of Japan (Extended Mix)

Watch: youtu.be/tZXmTc4W_o0

Stream: ncmfyt.band.link/SakurasLife

⁠Colorful Cat - Kon⁠

Watch: https://youtu.be/fdFLSIxhHhg

The hiatus is over! Join us as we go over the roadmap for where this podcast is headed and reflect on a poignant Japanese song.

Episode Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1x8KLmeyv_O69ENLO5mPdSz3zclbwvmggGKK8oJHsLqg/edit?usp=drive_link

Would you like to be featured in the Q&A segment? Send your questions via DM (Instagram / Threads) or email them to podcast@paul-chan.one

If you are enjoying My Time in Japan, please consider becoming a supporter by contributing at ⁠podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/mytimeinjapan/support, or visit my Ko-fi page at https://ko-fi.com/paulchan14

Visit paul-chan.one for Paul-chan's social media handles and other content.

Don't forget to catch Paul-chan live at paulchan.tv, once or twice a week around 9:00PM Mountain Time!

Music provided by NCMFYT

Tracks: Colorful Cat - Playground, Colorful Cat - Sharegaki, Domitori Taranofu - Cold Cold Snowfall in My Soul Extended Mix, and Colorful Cat - Kon

Stream: Listen on Spotify