Prices are up everywhere right now, so I’m not gonna sit here and pretend Japan is the main character of global inflation—but I do live in Tokyo, and lately it’s been impossible not to notice how often you’re doing that little “wait… wasn’t this cheaper?” double-take at the supermarket, the konbini, and even on Amazon. In this episode, I give my layman’s take on Japan’s price hikes IRL—what changed, why it feels so different after years of “stable Japan prices,” and how stuff like COVID supply chain chaos, the Russia–Ukraine war, tariffs/trade friction, and the weak yen all stack together and show up on your receipt. If you live in Japan (or you visit a lot), I’d love to hear what your first “okay nah, this is getting crazy” moment was—DM me on Instagram or Threads @xqs_podcast, or hit the contact form on the website.Official Website: ⁠https://www.xqsumimasen.com ⁠(⁠https://www.xqspodcast.com⁠)Follow Us: Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/xqs_podcast ⁠Threads: ⁠https://www.threads.net/@xqs_podcast ⁠Listen on Apple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-xq-sumimasen-podcast/id6480508928⁠---🎧 Support the podcast (via Stripe secure checkout): ⁠https://buy.stripe.com/14AdR8dC08dbaPZdkQ1RC0c⁠Independent show. No sponsors. No affiliate links (…yet).Until next time—excuse-me-massen, and... See ya!

In this episode, I break down how I read Japanese “cuss words and insults”—from Level 1 venting (kuso, urusai), to Level 2 personal shots (baka, omae), to the Level 3 red-flag stuff (temee, kisama, kutabare, shine) that tells you it’s time to quietly walk away. I talk about why Japanese swearing works so differently from English, how "Kotodama" and politeness levels shape everything, why anime subtitles completely scramble your radar, and why some “rude” words between friends are actually affection. I also draw a clear line around the truly heavy discrimination-based slurs—things tied to history, disability, and minorities—that aren’t “swear words” so much as hate speech and not something anyone should learn as a joke. By the end, you’ll know how I tell the difference between someone venting, someone mad at others, someone ready to swing, and someone calling you 'baka' as a term of endearment. If you’ve got your own stories, hit me up in the comments, on Instagram or Threads @xqs_podcast, or through the contact form on xqspodcast.com.

Official Website: https://www.xqsumimasen.com (https://www.xqspodcast.com)

Follow Us:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xqs_podcast

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@xqs_podcast

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-xq-sumimasen-podcast/id6480508928

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🎧 Support the podcast (via Stripe secure checkout):

https://buy.stripe.com/14AdR8dC08dbaPZdkQ1RC0c

Independent show. No sponsors. No affiliate links (…yet).

Until next time—excuse-me-massen, and... See ya!

In this episode, I’m breaking down all the little mistakes I made living in Tokyo — the chopstick taboos, the wedding etiquette I didn’t know, the ramen “eat and bounce” rule, the last-piece awkwardness, and all the quiet cultural expectations you only learn after messing up in front of somebody’s grandma. These are the things I learned the hard way so you don’t have to, with some stories and a little guidance for anyone visiting or living in Japan.Official Website: https://www.xqsumimasen.com Follow Us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xqs_podcast Threads: https://www.threads.net/@xqs_podcast Listen on Other Platforms: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-xq-sumimasen-podcast/id6480508928---🎧 Support the podcast (via Stripe secure checkout): https://buy.stripe.com/14AdR8dC08dbaPZdkQ1RC0cIndependent show. No sponsors. No affiliate links (…yet).Until next time—excuse-me-massen, and... See ya!