Learning Japanese & Culture with Maile & Naoki

Maile, an American, and Naoki, a Japanese native, host a conversation-style podcast about learning Japanese and understanding everyday life in Japan. Each episode mixes language lessons with cultural comparison, covering useful phrases, manners, slang, and the differences between Japanese and American behavior. They share personal stories such as awkward moments ordering food, culture shocks Americans experience in Japan, and smaller curiosities like why white shirts are avoided in summer. There are also practical tips on travel, etiquette, and life as a foreigner in Japan. The show is aimed at Japanese learners and anyone curious about real, day-to-day Japanese culture beyond the textbook.