Samurai Girls in America

"SAMURAI Girls in America" podcast, where 3 Japanese women share our experiences and challenges of moving from Japan to the United States. We will talk about our journey of adapting to American culture and share our insights and lessons learned along the way. We will discuss the challenges we faced, such as making friends, navigating the education system, and even ordering food at a restaurant. Our goal is to help others who may be going through a similar transition, and to foster greater understanding between cultures. Join us as we share our stories, laugh at our mistake and more.

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Episodes

Ep.8 Reverse Culture Shock!

Although we were born and raised in Japan, we have been living in the US for a long time. Because of this, we often experience“Reverse Culture Shock” when we are back in Japan. “Reverse Culture Shock” refers to the psychological and emotional challenges that a person may experience when returning to their home country or culture after an extended period of time living abroad. This often occurs when a person finds it difficult to re-adjust to a once familiar environment. In this episode, we talk ...

Dec 07, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 8

EP. 7 Thanksgiving is around the corner!

Thanksgiving is one of the biggest holidays in the US. It is typically observed on the fourth Thursday of November. Family and friends get together and express their thanks for the year by sharing food. Do you know what the typical Thanksgiving meal is, how we spend the day, and what we enjoy as leftover foods? Is Friendsgiving becoming the new Thanksgiving? In this episode we talk about this very special day in US. Hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Send us your comments by E-mail. Samurai...

Nov 20, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 7

Ep 6 Miso Soup in America isn't Miso Soup...

How is miso soup in America? We notice that there are some notable differences between how it is prepared and consumed in America compared to Japan. While there's nothing wrong with "American" miso soup, there are interesting variations in cultural preferences and ingredients. Should miso soup be served with the "appetizer", as part of the main course, or after the main course? What makes a good miso soup? We talk about our experiences with this traditional Japanese dish as well as confusion wit...

Oct 30, 2023•13 min•Season 1Ep. 6

Ep. 5 What are the best times and places to visit Japan?

Based on listener comments, this episode focuses on providing advice on the best times and places to visit Japan when traveling there for the first time. We also make sure to let everyone know about the importance of visiting "convenience stores" (you will be amazed!). For the best times, both spring and autumn are recommended. Spring is cherry blossom season when you can enjoy their beauty in full bloom. The cherry blossom season typically runs from late March to early April and is in a word st...

Sep 01, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 5

Ep.4 Is Japan an international and foreigner-friendly country?

When we visit Japan, we really start to sympathize with how difficult traveling there and communicating with the native Japanese people might be for foreigners. Indeed, there are many factors that can be challenging for non-Japanese speakers, such as a complex language with a unique writing system (Kanji/Hiragana/Katakana) that is not intuitive to read/understand and the relative absence of English translations as well as information overload, cultural symbols, directional complexity etc. Despit...

Aug 02, 2023•13 min•Season 1Ep. 4

Ep.3 "The Party starts at 6 o"clock!" - What time would you arrive?

This episode highlights the cultural differences between Japanese and American approaches to punctuality such as when to show up for parties or conferences videos. Should you arrive: 1) before the starting time, 2) on time, or 3) after the starting time? This cultural discrepancy reflects broader societal values, with Japanese people valuing punctuality as a sign of respect and consideration. Americans, in contrast, may adopt a more flexible approach to time management. Understanding and appreci...

Jul 20, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 3

Ep.2 Japanese vs English - How come?!?!

In Episode 2, we talked about the challenges of converting Japanese Katakana words into English. Katakana is one of the three scripts used in the Japanese writing system and is primarily used for words "borrowed" from other languages, including English. Some Katakana words may sound similar to English words, but their meanings can be quite different. Even more, some Katakana words do not make sense to native Japanese speakers learning English. We agree that some Katakana words can seem completel...

Jul 11, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 2

Ep.1 Let's Begin! - We are SAMURAI Girls in America!

Welcome to the "Culture Shocked: Three Japanese SAMURAI Girls in America" podcast, where we share our experiences and challenges of moving from Japan to the United States. As three Japanese girls, we faced many culture shocks when we first arrived in the US. From the language barrier to the different customs and social norms, every aspect of our daily lives felt like a new and unfamiliar experience. In this podcast, we will talk about our journey of adapting to American culture and share our ins...

Jun 29, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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