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Welcome to 2026 — and our first 初笑い (hatsu warai), the first laugh of the New Year 🎍

Nihongo to English hits Episode 10 with Japanese New Year traditions, language mix-ups, and joyful confusion.

We talk oshōgatsu, bonenkai, and shinnenkai, New Year foods, long tamago jokes, karuta vs. hanafuda, and why the Japanese New Year lasts more than one day. Along the way, we confuse similar-sounding words, invent new ones, and laugh a lot.

Then it’s classic Genki-style chaos:
Japanese numbers, phone numbers, telling time, time zones, awkward role play, and the mystery of analog clocks — in two languages.

Also in this episode:
• Hatsu warai (first laugh of the year)
• Bibimbap pronunciation debates
• Japanese New Year resolutions
• Tokyo vs. New York time
• Snacks, food labels, and eating only after the podcast ends

A bilingual Japanese–English comedy podcast that’s lightly educational, very conversational, and proudly unpolished.

2026年最初の**初笑い（はつわらい）**エピソード！

第10回の「Nihongo to English」では、お正月（お正月・忘年会・新年会）の話から始まり、日本語と英語が入り混じった会話、言い間違い、食べ物トーク、そして時間・数字・ロールプレイまで、ゆるく楽しく脱線します。

勉強というより、笑いながら「なんとなく分かる」バイリンガル・ポッドキャストです。

Theme Jingle by Michelle MaliZaki

Support the show

🎙️ Nihongo To English No Show — a bilingual comedy podcast by Michelle MaliZaki and Michael Allen (GoatVsFish).
💌 Got a language or culture question? Email us at NihongoToEnglishNoShow@gmail.com

📱 Follow us on Instagram @NihongoToEnglishPodcast for new episodes every 2nd, 12th & 22nd of the month!

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🎧 Episode 9 Description

Is a stripe the same as a border?
(No. Definitely no.)

In Episode 9 of Nihongo to English, comedians Michelle MaliZaki and Michael Allen CPA tumble into classic Japanese–English confusion while debating stripes, borders, and why English sounds so confident even when it’s wrong. Along the way, they snack on zebra popcorn, wander into euphemisms, sake cups, gift-giving customs, and — eventually — make their way back to studying Japanese.

This episode loosely follows Genki Book 1, Chapter 1, Pages 49-51, but as always, digressions are encouraged. Whether you’re learning Japanese, brushing up on English, or just here for the chaos, you’re in the right place.

Episodes drop on the 2nd, 12th, and 22nd of every month.
Listen, laugh, and accidentally learn something.

🎵 Theme Jingle by Michelle MaliZaki

Support the show

🎙️ Nihongo To English No Show — a bilingual comedy podcast by Michelle MaliZaki and Michael Allen (GoatVsFish).
💌 Got a language or culture question? Email us at NihongoToEnglishNoShow@gmail.com

📱 Follow us on Instagram @NihongoToEnglishPodcast for new episodes every 2nd, 12th & 22nd of the month!

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In this episode of Nihongo to English (No Show), Michelle and Michael learn Japanese the way adults actually do — through real conversation, mistakes, and a little sake.

We dive into Genki textbook Japanese (pages 46–48), including school years (〜年生), age counters (〜歳), and the confusing but essential grammar pattern 〜ようになる (“to become able to do”). Along the way, we untangle passive vs ability forms like taberareru and nommeru, and why they trip up English speakers.

Cultural detours include Japanese drinking age vs America, the image of the drunk salaryman, why “leftovers” (残り物) sound strangely negative in Japanese, and how Minecraft, Black Friday shopping, and adult learning habits somehow all connect.

If you’re learning Japanese, brushing up after years away, or just curious how Japanese is actually spoken outside the classroom, this episode is for you.

Theme Jingle by Michelle MaliZaki

Support the show

🎙️ Nihongo To English No Show — a bilingual comedy podcast by Michelle MaliZaki and Michael Allen (GoatVsFish).
💌 Got a language or culture question? Email us at NihongoToEnglishNoShow@gmail.com

📱 Follow us on Instagram @NihongoToEnglishPodcast for new episodes every 2nd, 12th & 22nd of the month!