That’s such a nice sentiment, thanks! I agree as well, I’m always so happy if I can look at someone else’s notes to build on my understanding of an episode and relisten.
Doing the minimal notes and realising it really does lower the bar, and hearing that it’s still useful - I’ll do that more often, and I can always add more later if I do a relisten
Basketball mentioned 
Malinkal appears
Love how you slipped that in there
drawn like a moth to a basketball-shaped flame
Listened to episode 32 for second time today (I tend to listen twice for comprehension but also because I’m often a little distracted when driving).
It’s while since I remember that sinking feeling of being in a class that’s way above my level language-wise, and you have no idea what’s going on. And from memory I’ve only, ever done that in a group of otherwise native English speakers where it’s all fine outside the class environment. Such a challenge and I can see how disheartening it can be.
I used up all my morning brain power for a hat trick…listened to the 2nd half of Ep. 26, Ep. 44 and Ep. 350. Episode 350 was much harder to understand, particularly one section dealing with her reflections on how the San Diego Tap Dance festival went, even with the transcript handy.
One week left in English class. There’s a big exam at the end. In December …. This year I haven’t time to do anything, so once this term is over, I’ll have time to …. Do things like reading an english book and also this Japanese book by Higashino Keigo an author I really love. This podcast I’ll talk about …?
Friend is leaving - My Chinese friend Natalie just came back from China. I’ve known her from ESL for the past 1.5 years. We talk about all kinds of things. Why are we such good friends? If I were to guess, we are both Asians, so we have similarities in that way. There are people who have a negative stereotype in their minds about Chinese. But Natalie does not fall at all in those stereotypes. …. Her background is similar to mine in that her husband got a job here and she came eventually too.
It’s not easy to find friends like her here in my area so my friendship with her is precious (貴重) Her husband is doing a masters…. She is studying too….
My husband, her husband and Natalie and I go out for meals. Even though they live a little far from us, we’ll still call each other and meet up.
In the US, if you are on a student visa, you get an extra year after graduating to stay here so you can do OPT (?). I don’t know Natalie’s specialty, something about business. But I figure since she’s fluent in Chinese she should be able to find a job in a company here. But there a lot of Chinese speaking bilingual people here. But Natalie is doing a masters so maybe that would help. Even though she plans to eventually go back home and continue her career (something about coordinating her and her husband’s careers in possibly two different countries). Well, they are young so they have a lot of future ahead.
Around Thanksgiving I called but couldn’t get a hold of her. Then I was busy for a month. Well in ESL some of my friends moved away and such. But Natalie I never expected (prepared) for her to move. She also mentions Martha who is her really good friend. With Natalie I spend a lot of time with her going for walks, etc. I would think if Natalie goes home it will be hard…(maybe she already went home??)
I’ve never been to China, so if I get the chance I would like to go there. She lives in the southern part near Hong Kong. But google and facebook aren’t available in China (mentions this because she won’t be able to stay in touch with Natalie?). Instagram is available (?). Natalie is one of the friends I really like.
English corner: (didn’t understand a lot of the lead up explanation in this section) “confuse” or 混乱 is a word often used in Japanese. I really remember this time with Jonathan and Matt (three couples) were drinking together. I was really stressed out the first time I met them because I didn’t understand anything. Now I am fine with them. I was telling them the first time I met them I was confused. Then, I was wondering what “garnish” is – it’s like a decoration on the plate. In ESL the word garnish came up. The teacher was telling us that the word comes up in cooking shows so watch out for it. Then I noticed that in the show Pioneer Woman I kept hearing “garnish” all the time so I was thankful that my great ESL teacher told us about that. And “just browsing” is another phrase. When I heard my Japanese friend use it I thought, oh that sounds really good (I usually would say “just looking”) so when I used it, my husband was like “whaaa? How you know this?” heh heh. “Decent” – the first time I saw this was an English friend online used this word in describing a place “this place is decent” In an ESL class I realized that I used “decent” in an essay and I was like, oh my English abilities are growing! Do you remember the first time you learned a new word or a way to use a word or phrase?
My favorite corner: People I like. NBA Watanabe Yuuta basketball player for the Grizzlies. Watanabe signed with both the Grizzlies and the Hustles in the G league (two way contract?). He had two games in NBA so far. Well a Japanese in the NBA is amazing. Unusual, right? Even for Americans. Watanabe is super tall. He’s 2 meters tall! Tsubasa ….(?) His face is small and he’s tall (ie. He’s good looking). In the NBA there is Eastern and Western leagues. So Watanabe plays in the western league so there could be a opportunity to see him play in California I would think. The players who are in the G league are aiming to play in the NBA. Since Watanabe playing in the NBA, I really want to support him.
Thanksgiving - On Thursdays I usually …? But the next Thursday is Thanksgiving. A lot of people celebrate it. For us, we go camping over thanksgiving. We don’t have family here so having a party at our house for thanksgiving would be sad, so we decided that we would camp. While people have turkey for Thanksgiving, we have oden. So we go camping and have oden.
Last year due to work, we couldn’t go, but this year we went with a couple. My husband and I went to the supermarket and ran into our friends. And mentioned eating oden for thanksgiving. The timing of running into these friends was nice so we invited them over to try oden. So it was an unusual social thanksgiving for us.
In Canada the Thanksgiving isn’t in November, it’s October. So Canadians, do they do anything? Thanksgiving is really just Canada and US. There isn’t any other country that celebrates this, is there? Can you share what you do for thanksgiving? Like do you eat ham instead of turkey type thing.
San Diego Tap Dance Festival (listened to this part a second time with the transcript because I I didn’t understand this section at all – I find it a lot harder to follow when U is reflecting on her worries or things more abstract – so re-listening and reading the transcript made a big difference in comprehension. Also learned a lot of new words/phrases)
A few days ago - In Ep 347, I spoke about the Tap dance festival in San Diego that went well. The listeners of this podcast don’t necessarily do tap dance I think, so I don’t think there would be interest in the festival in itself (フェスティバル自体に), but I wanted to share my thoughts about the various experiences and feelings about it. Well, “I want to share” is a nice way of saying it, but it’s more a feeling that I want someone to hear about it.
So I will roughly talk once again about what happened (ざっくりお話しするーshe uses kenjougo) The other day the San Diego tap and jazz festival took place (行われまた) It was two days and there were invitees from around the US that came, and local people. There were tap classes and performances and shows by local tap dancers without distinction of being amateurs or pros (プロアマ問わず). After that, there were also panel discussions that were held. Those were the kind of events that happened.
So because I was in the category （枠）of local instructor I was offered to teach a class. I talked about this in a previous episode, but anyway, I felt out of place (ちょっと場違いで、私が). I was wrong that it would be alright for me to mingle among people who were world-class (世界的に) tap dancers. I felt an amazing amount of pressure, and my heart was really beating (with excitement/nervousness).
In those two days, various feelings percolated up (湧き上がる), and they are still in my head and gurgling/bubbling (グオグオ) in my mind (心の中) . I honestly haven’t put together the best way to talk about it here, but frankly (端的に) the clearest feeling I have that I wanted to talk about was, just as expected (やはり), that I lack ability (力不足)。
I haven’t chosen my words on how to best talk about this, but a supposing someone tells you (声をかける) “won’t you teach a class at the festival?” if I was able to turn back time (時間を戻せるのであれば）to that moment, I think it would have been better if I refused. Honestly.
Because I can’t turn back time, no, it’s not regret （後悔）that I’m feeling. I thought participating this time was really meaningful (意義), and I studied various things also, and also had the opportunity to meet and talk to people so it was good. But that was not from an instructors （講師）position, right? I don’t have that kind of skill or experience, so why did I get carried away (into thinking I could do this!?). [She uses 調子に乗る to get cocky] Just participating as a general participant would have been good. Honestly, that is my honest feeling.
More than 10 years ago when I was in Tokyo, at that time when I wasn’t even the number one tap dancer, I wasn’t super good, but it was to the degree that I was capable. Compared to the average person it seemed like it. But since I came to the US, even though I now continue to teach various classes (細々と), I never practice on my own, and as expected not practicing means you gradually （どんどん）become worse. So even at a lower level than I was originally (when I was at my best), at that even more (更に)declined (衰えた) version of me, I feel like participating as a teacher is no good, right.
Participating as a teacher itself is not a problem, but I’m talking about being among the instructors as a group (講師陣), to be lined up at the same rank (同列) is not right.
Apart from my own classes, we could take other classes together if we wanted. There was a so-called “advanced/pro”class which is the most advanced class. Well that class was totally impossible. Talking about it is embarrassing. At any rate (一応) regardless that I had classes as an instructor, that I wasn’t able to do the highest level? Well, unfortunately that was the reality.
My body is out of shape (she uses the term 鈍りまくって – it sounds like namuri makutte but it could be niburi makutte), my feet can’t move at all, my physical strength is also no good, I was became embarrassed.
This time I felt really uncomfortable (居心地は悪い) in my position as though I was too high. So 4-5 months ago just after I moved, I started going to this tap dance studio and started teaching there about 2 months ago. Since I didn’t know many people, and didn’t know who I could do things with. And the people who were going to the classes all seemed to have been going there a long time and were good friends. Anyhow since I was a teacher there is a little distance between us. Without any hesitation, it would be great though if I would join this group.
But the guest teacher was pretty famous and I knew this person, I could greet them or do some small talk, but I didn’t feel like I could really talk to them. After that, I would always (常に)ask the festival organizers (運営チーム) is there something I can help with? So I did help with some of that doing some of the video-ing, but somehow (いまいち) I didn’t know how best to handle myself (立ち回っていいのかわからなくて). Truly, a bad part of me is over-thinking things. When I think what should I do/say. Here she uses the term 自分を追い込む (pushing oneself to the limit). Adding to that, the fact that I lacked in my tap dancing skills was just a little tough (辛かったですね).
Talking about the class that I myself taught, it went alright, but it was my fault, but the students’ demographic (層 – そう note: first time I’ve seen this used like this, I don’t knew the word to mean “layer”) was totally different than what I imagined so the class did not go according to my plans. Well, the class the participants were largely children. Although I knew there would be adults and children at the festival, the type of image I had was that the children would be like middle or high school students.
But on the day of when I saw (note: she uses the term, “when I opened the lid and looked” 蓋を開けてみたら), there were how many kids, like about 40 people. Moreover (しかも) they were elementary school students, but a lot were on the lower grade. So my lesson content and the music I chose for the lesson were not for a kids class. And I didn’t prepare for that.
So, with no plan at all, I used the same music, but different step and lesson plan (ad -libbing for 75 minutes). It made me reflect （反省ですね）. Before this, I would check to see what kind of and how many people signed up for a class. I would know if they were adults etc. It’s difficult to express this, but this experience showed to me that I would be alright that I could make a class without any notice (さらっとクラスできます). But festival classes are different from normal classes. And it would have been good if I would have properly confirmed the participant distribution (参加者分布).
[from here, my concentration dropped so I just re-listened to the section to see if I could get more than the first time…] Talks about classes targeting kids vs adults when teaching. Since she came to the US she has been teaching children. So she now knows thanks to the festival, what her gaps are (or areas she needs more effort) – being able to understand kids, classes for teenagers… concrete class plan for children…well it didn’t go well this time, but there were good points to the experience. There is a mountain of things to improve on, my tap dancing skills, communication skills. Claudia, the studio owner where I teach classes, she was one of the organizers of the festival. It’s been over for 2 weeks and I wondered if I was useful, but she told me thank you for your help so I was really grateful. Life is really funny. Since I came here I didn’t even bring my tap shoes, but suddenly my circumstances changed so now here I am teaching and surrounded by tap dancers…. [then I gave up on the rest…]
English Corner – I want to talk about abbreviated words that are used in both English and Japanese. フェス this is a super common word we use in Japan for all kinds of Festivals. In English people use “Fest” for festivals. But for Beer Festivals for example, we also use フェスト just like in English “best fest”. I never noticed that there’s a T in English until the San Diego Tap Dance Festival – something the tap dance studio owner Claudia said that made her realize this. Then, there’s “improv” At the San Diego tap dance festival there was a free-style improvisation type dance event. In Japan we say インプロ (inpuro) whereas in English it’s improv (インプロブ) so it’s slightly different. It’s a little different way of shortening the word. Another is “application” for software on computers or cellphones. In Japanese it’s アプリ in English is “App.” In English it’s shorter! (where the abbreviation ends is different 区切りに)
I appreciate this sentiment and I feel the same way!
Lo and behold a mystery has been solved! I remember seeing a presentation about Kamakura where they mentioned a train crossing popular with tourists because it appeared in an anime. I missed the name of the show…BUT now I know it was 花道 and he was standing at that crossing! なるほど. Wish i had known this when I visited …
The crossing itself at 鎌倉高校前 is very busy with tourists, and you can no longer take the same exact photo as from the Anime opening, because it was interfering with traffic. They have now set up a platform over to the side where tourists can take photos of the crossing from a different angle
It was worth it for me to go because I’m a huge huge Slam Dunk fan (obligatory shout out to the Slam Dunk casual book club), but the actual crossing itself is nothing special compared to the beautiful beach and coast right next to it
We have areas of the supermarket where the self checkout is designed for a trolley space. They seem really keen to phase out their cashiers as much as possible.
In terms of her complaint, I kind of get it. I’ve sometimes walked up to a till and placed the basket down and been asked to unpack the 3 items inside, which could as easily be picked up whether they’re inside or outside the basket. Usually where my hands are otherwise full. It does feel like double handling sometimes.
These are awesome photos. The color in the last one is stunning!
I just noticed a ことわざ that U used in the title for Ep. 350. 「前進あるのみ」（ぜんしんあるのみ）which I had never heard of.
According to various search results, it means “the only way is forward.” Or “keep moving forward” and is used when facing obstacles or when you ruminate too much on the past or over thinking things. Maybe something like “keep calm and carry on”? I like it!
Episode: 045
Time Count: 30:25
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Episode: 351
Time Count: 33:21
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I was quite amused listening to episode 37 about the shopping carts as I drove into a local supermarket car park and saw a staff member retrieving all the abandoned shopping trolleys (as we call them here and in the UK).
Also @WeepingWeeb while I’m harassing people - which week are we on now?
So sorry I forgot to post during the holidays! I’ll do it now, this week should be 48
Episode: 046
Time Count: 33:26
https://youtu.be/Q35t8_0Np_E?si=vH5MGZlNT36lTrfF
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Episode: 352
Time Count: 28:13
https://youtu.be/iHOGNifhXAM?si=0SLFGaN2HG5rWR-X
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Episode: 047
Time Count: 25:58
https://youtu.be/2mDs84HEH-Q?si=5FtNj2pGNaOqKmea
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Episode: 353
Time Count: 23:49
https://youtu.be/_vbRXoZfv6E?si=zdYoJFFBKgrn-b8a
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Episode: 048
Time Count: 28:00
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Episode: 354
Time Count: 17:19
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I think it’s ok to add a break week (or two) if you’ve been busy since I suspect we’ve all been busy over the holidays!
Listening to episodes 37 then 38 it amused me how “oatmeal” and “Goodwill” don’t sound all that different in Japanese!
Oh god I heard this as “Carbon Crime” and wondered why I’d never heard of this brand 
Ha! That would be a good fast-fashion brand name.
Episode: 049
Time Count: 29:21
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Episode: 355
Time Count: 36:21
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I am trying to get back to listening this week. Last month I listened to Ep, 351, but only now am I posting my notes for it:
I just noticed messages I got from 2022! I feel so bad. It’s December (she uses the term 師走 (しわす) for twelfth month. Asks, “Do you have Christmas plans?”
We planned to go to the Balboa park Christmas nights festival. We just moved to the San Diego area in the last year and it’s the biggest season event. But ultimately there were so many people we gave up (あまり人の多さに諦めた). First we went to the nearby college where they had a shuttle bus to the park but the lines were so long, like a major crowd. We thought it could take an hour to get in a shuttle, then we thought it could take an hour to line up for the shuttle back, so we left without getting on. I guess this is a thing (we do) as an older person. But the lights are supposed to be super nice and I go to the park a lot. In the end, we ended up going to a craft brewery spot.
Christmas markets- there a few of these in Japan in Roppongi, Yokohama. I’ve never been and really want to go.
The next part is pretty funny (I’m not sure how she segued to this topic though). U-co talks about an event where they hide potatoes in a park sponsored by calbee or something and 10,000 people were supposed to participate. At first she thought wow 10k people are participating - are they really hiding all these potatoes in the park?! But then she said the flyer is deceptive! And what actually happened was you walk around the park looking for hidden codes or passwords (暗号 - ango) and after you find them all, at the end you get a present.
Note: I think I found the event she’s talking about. It was sponsored by Jagabee and took place in Yokohama Park where 10,000 people were searching for potatoes. From the flyer, it looks like the present was a bag of potato chips. And it’s true, the flyer on this instagram page is deceptive! They show a potato sitting by a tree!
Then she talks about how she really likes stamp Rallies and walk Rallies that they hold in Japan. what are they? When I was a kid I used to do them, and they often held them at tourist spots. Nazo to ki is popular so I want to do it.
Note: I did some research and this seems to be something called 謎解きラリー （なぞときラリー）or solving the mystery rally. It seems to be where you walk around and collect clues to solve a mystery?
Stamp Rally is where you walk around and get physical stamps in your booklet.
English corner- Disappointing situations where you’ve been studying your language, and when the chance arises where you can use it and the person responds in your native language. Japanese learners are sad when this happens . But from the Japanese persons side they are thinking that they can practice English! It also happens here in San Diego where there are a lot of Spanish speaking people and middle eastern people. This one student in ESL class tried to order something in English, then the person replied back in Spanish - sad! In this case it’s probably a case where they realized your English is not that good so they think “oh I’ll reply in Spanish so it’s more comfortable for the customer.” I heard it from another person too. It’s where the store employee is thinking they are being nice and that’s why they do it.
(speaking of people where they are practising a second language) For example, if there are Americans of Japanese descent where they don’t speak Japanese well because they grew up in US, so they feel like there’s a gap and have a complex about it. Because people around them expect them to be fluent.
Here young kids under 30 are bilingual Spanish/English and it’s normal. But contrarily there are Latinos who don’t speak Spanish and they have a complex about it
I just want to add that thanks to this thread and @WeepingWeeb’s posts along with everyone participating here, I listened to 33 episodes in 2025! Woo !
