In this bonus episode, we explore Japanese customer service at a restaurant. First, Internationals explain their frustrating experience ordering meals. And later we hear from a Japanese individual who experienced customer service abroad.

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“Sometimes I ignore my questions, and I just take it for what it is.” says Eri, a Japanese woman. This has affected her academically, romantically, and in just daily life. What does she mean she ignores her questions? In this episode, we explore the Japanese conformity and collectivist culture. First, Japanese individuals explain why they follow the crowd and why they don't ask questions. Later we hear what it’s like to navigate Japan from the expats’ perspective.

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“I’m on a holiday. I’m there for the experience, right? But there are other people living their lives. My experience just intrudes in their lives, basically.” says Rutger, a Dutch man who visited Kyoto as a tourist. Rutger and (host) Kaho Koda visited Kyoto together back in 2018. And they still talk about that one evening in Kyoto where they had the same experience, yet very different interpretations of the event. In this episode we talk about Kyoto and tourism. First, we look at the foreign tourists’ experiences and then we take a look at the Japanese perspective.

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