Where We Call Home
People from around the globe who put down roots in Japan offer a glimpse into their lives and the hardships they face in Japanese society.
Where We Call Home
People from around the globe who put down roots in Japan offer a glimpse into their lives and the hardships they face in Japanese society.
Where We Call Home
People from around the globe who put down roots in Japan offer a glimpse into their lives and the hardships they face in Japanese society.
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Episodes
Episode 1: The Daily Struggles of a Pakistani Used Car Dealer
The number of people who've chosen Japan to be their new home reached the highest in history in 2019...
Episode 2: Little India in Big Tokyo
"Little India" in Tokyo's Edogawa Ward is a community of about 4,000 Indian nationals first establis...
Episode 3: A Helping Hand for Foreign Women in Kyoto
Neighborhood relations, childcare, PTA: in Japan, issues that involve women are plenty and part of e...
Episode 4: A Hot Meal for Every Child
Japan is the world's third largest economy yet its poverty rate is high, with one out of 7 children...
Episode 5: Support for Foreign Disabled and Elderly
The city of Toyota in Aichi Prefecture is home to some 18,000 foreigners, mainly Latin Americans of...
Episode 6: A Budding Farmer Dreams of Peanuts
Struggling with depopulation and a dwindling farming industry, Akitakata City in Hiroshima Prefectur...
Episode 7: Under the Coronavirus Outbreak
The coronavirus is shaking the world, and Japan is no exception with over 10,000 infected cases nati...
Episode 8: Working Under the Outbreak
Like in the rest of the world, the coronavirus is disrupting life in Japan. As businesses shift to t...
Episode 9: Chinese Entrepreneurs Fight for Survival
Chinese nationals make up about 30% of foreigners in Japan. Among the younger generations of Chinese...
Episode 10: Struggles for Recovery in the Restaurant Industry
A month after the state of emergency was lifted in Japan, we focus on 3 foreigners in the restaurant...
Episode 11: Entertainers Under the Pandemic
The entertainment business in Japan has been dealt a heavy blow by the coronavirus pandemic. Join us...
Episode 12: Tourism's Fight to Endure the Crisis
The coronavirus outbreak has taken a heavy toll on businesses that cater to tourists visiting Japan...
Episode 13: Charmed by the Beauty and Flavor of Noto
This episode takes us to the Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa Prefecture where we visit an inn run by Aust...
Episode 14: A University Fostering Exchange and Diversity
On this episode, we follow Mali-born Oussouby Sacko, who has been the president of Kyoto Seika Unive...
Episode 15: Keeping the Faith in Chinatown
Yokohama is home to Japan's biggest Chinatown. The neighborhood has survived war and disaster over t...
Episode 16: For the Love of Sweets and Family
On this episode: a taste of sweetness with traditional confections, or "wagashi," prepared at a 200-...
Episode 17: Together We Can Make It Through!
This episode focuses on Vietnam-born Do Van Tuan, chairman of the Sendai Vietnamese Association. As...
Episode 18: A Cozy Place for Everyone
One of the issues many foreigners face when they come to live in Japan involves looking for an apart...
Episode 19: Uniting People Through Manga
On this episode, we meet manga creator René Hoshino from Cameroon who's been living in Japan since c...
Episode 20: Coriander Farmers in Pursuit of Happiness
On this episode, we visit a coriander farm in Bando, Ibaraki Prefecture run by Thai-native Satapon S...
Episode 21: Keeping Wood Weaving Alive
The former village of Oguchi in Ishikawa Prefecture was home to a 400-year-old wood weaving techniqu...
Episode 22: Rural Reinvigoration on Video
This episode takes us to the rural community of Kito in Tokushima Prefecture. While its population o...
Episode 23: Chris's Little Nigerian Shop
On this episode, we meet Nigerian-native Chris Andrews, who runs a small shop in Saitama Prefecture'...
Episode 24: American Taste, Japanese Apples
On this episode, we visit American-born Janie Ikegami who grows apples in Nagano Prefecture. Wishing...
Episode 1: Two Countries Linked by Tofu
On this episode, we meet Bhutanese Robin Sharma who works for an agricultural company in Uwa, Ehime...
Episode 2: A Meaty Thanks to Akita
This episode takes us to Akita Prefecture, where Polish-born Michal Taberski runs a sausage and ham...
Episode 3: A Pianist's Love, Loss and Life in Takasaki
On this episode, we visit Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture to meet Russian-native Yulia Lev, a pianist w...
Episode 4: The Pandemic Rages On
People from around the world who have made Japan their home must adapt to a new community, but the u...
Episode 5: Say Cheese! to Life in Okinawa
This time, we meet American-born Pamela Ann Matsunaga who's traveled the world with her 5 children,...
Episode 6: Working Under the Pandemic
On January 7, 2021, a state of emergency was once again declared for 11 prefectures in Japan in resp...
Episode 7: In Search of a Ray of Hope
As the pandemic shows little to no signs of abating, we continue to touch base remotely with some of...
Episode 8: Togo Tailored Kyoto Tradition
This episode takes us to Kyoto to meet Togo-native Kabressa Deabalo. A master tailor in his home cou...
Episode 9: Vietnamese Vets and Hokkaido Horses
On this episode, we travel to Urakawa Town in Hokkaido Prefecture where Nguyen Van Bao and Nguyen Va...
Episode 10: The Uniting Spirit of Karate
In recent years, the Nepalese population has been growing in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture. Acting as a b...
Episode 11: Eatery Adversity Into Delivery Opportunity
We follow Chinese-born Aya Wu, owner of Szechuan restaurants in the Tokyo area. To help her business...
Episode 12: Living With Forest and Mountain
In this episode, we head to the forested Northern Alps of Nagano Prefecture with Lama Gyalu, a Sherp...
Episode 13: The Big Top of Smiles
Step right up, ladies and gents! Come witness the thrilling spectacle that is our latest episode! Wi...
Episode 14: Health Beyond the Wall of Words
When living abroad, the language barrier can be a major obstacle. This is particularly true in healt...
Episode 15: To the Rescue of the Unemployed
With the pandemic, the number of foreigners in Japan who find themselves without work is on the rise...
Episode 16: A Messenger for Peace
On this episode, we visit Hiroshima to meet Mary Popeo from the US. She works there as a "Peace Guid...
Episode 17: Preserving a Village and Its Traditions
Like in many other small villages in Japan, the population of Sasama in Shizuoka Prefecture is decli...
Episode 18: Beer Brewing in Harmony with Kyoto
United by their love and passion for craft beer and their adoptive Kyoto Prefecture, Chris Hainge fr...
Episode 19: Abroad but Not Alone
Lack of social contact due to the pandemic can cause feelings of isolation and anxiety, which can be...
Episode 20: Firing Up the Colors of Nature
On this episode, we meet UK-born potter Adam Smith who lives in Nagano Prefecture. After learning Ja...
Episode 21: Business with Passion and Spice
We follow Nitin Hingarh who runs a Tokyo company selling ingredients from his native India to restau...
Episode 22: Elderly Care Under the Pandemic
In recent years more and more foreign workers are being hired in Japan in response to the shortage o...
Episode 23: Guiding Preschoolers Through Language Barriers
This time, we head to Kikugawa in Shizuoka Prefecture where many non-Japanese workers live. For the...
Episode 24: New Country, New Life, New Dream
We meet Maurice Torralba, a former member of the national volleyball team in his native Cuba, whose...
Episode 25: Enchanted by the Hues of Gifu
On this episode, we head to Gifu Prefecture to meet German-native Bernd Kestler, a knitting artisan...
Episode 26: A New Take on a Beloved Cake
In Japan, castella cake has been popular for generations. It's the descendant of "pao-de-lo," a dess...
Episode 1: The Pie-oneer in the North
Join us as we visit Naganuma in the northern prefecture of Hokkaido where Australian Karl Diercke ru...
Episode 2: Finding Hope Among the Rubble
On July 3rd 2021, massive mudslides caused by heavy rainfall swept through the town of Atami in Shiz...
Episode 3: Sake Mastery Starts With Rice
This episode takes us to Shiga Prefecture, home of Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan. It's there...
Episode 4: Bending Industry Back Into Shape
On this episode, we visit Kamata in Tokyo, which is home to many small factories expert in machining...
Episode 5: Cultivating a Circle of Collaboration
This time, we follow Dharma Lama, a mandala artist born and raised at a temple in his home country o...
Episode 6: Giving Japanese Knives a New Edge
In Osaka City is a kitchen knife shop run by Canadian Bjorn Heiberg. Promoting the quality of Japane...
Episode 7: Presenting Japanese Puppetry to the World
On this episode, we meet 2 gray-bearded North Americans passionate about Japanese traditional arts....
Episode 8: Prayers for Peace from Okinawa to Ukraine
This time, we visit Okinawa Prefecture to meet Ukraine-born Katarin Honma, whose soul was shaken by...
Episode 9: Fostering a Future for Fishery
On this episode, we visit Nakanoshima Island off the coast of Shimane Prefecture to meet Myanmar-bor...
Episode 10: A Helping Hand for Our Fellow Sri Lankans
We visit Ibaraki Prefecture where 2 Sri Lankan businessmen work to support their compatriots in need...
Episode 11: Far from Their Homeland, But Not in Heart
On this episode, we meet two Ukrainians supporting their compatriots in Japan, from before and after...
Episode 12: Seeing Tokyo from the Trees
On this episode, we discover a lesser-known side of Tokyo with US-born magazine Editor Lucas Badtke-...
Episode 13: Striving for a Barrier-free Society
On this episode, we meet Canadian Josh Grisdale. A wheelchair user due to cerebral palsy, Josh works...
Episode 14: Alan's Cultural Center Without Borders
In 2020, Yamashita Alan, a Brazilian of Japanese descent and former Japanese champion of Brazilian j...
Episode 15: An App to Support Women and Ukraine
This time, we meet Ukrainian Anna Kreshchenko, an entrepreneur in Kyoto who creates apps that provid...
Episode 16: Supporting Childbirth in a Faraway Land
For women, giving birth abroad can be a daunting prospect. Luckily, the Brazilian expectant mothers...
Episode 17: No One Left Behind
On this episode, we visit Myanmar refugee Aung Myat Win who runs a restaurant in Osaka Prefecture th...
Episode 18: Pas de Deux for Peace
On this episode, we meet Yevhenii Petrenko and his wife Nagasawa Mie – two professional dancers for...
Episode 19: A Ukrainian Boy's Martial Art Journey
This time we head to mountainous Nagano Prefecture where 13-year-old Artem Tsymbaliuk fled from the...
Episode 20: Tony's Canteen for Kids Hits the Road
On this episode, we revisit Ghana-native Tony Justice, who runs a canteen for children from families...
Episode 21: Welcome to the Village in the Sky!
On this episode, we head to the forested mountains surrounding the village of Totsukawa in Nara Pref...
Episode 22: Children's Tales Cast in Shadows
This time, we visit Toyama Prefecture to meet US-born Jack Lee Randall, a weaver of tales for childr...
Episode 23: Kendama Connects the World
On this episode, we meet US-born Shelby Brown in the city of Nagai in Yamagata Prefecture. Shelby is...
Episode 24: May the Biwa's Beauty Live On
The biwa is a Japanese string instrument with a long history, and the 130-year-old chikuzen biwa is...
Episode 25: Saving the Serpentine Soup of Ryukyu
On this episode, we go to Kitanakagusuku Village in Okinawa Prefecture to meet US-born Alex Hopson,...
Episode 26: A Town's Festive Refreshening
We visit Kochi City in Kochi Prefecture to meet US-native Owen Wade, a member of a local business ow...
Episode 27: Concerto on a Stringed Survivor
This time, we visit Hiroshima Prefecture to meet Ukrainian-born Hiraishi Olena and her son, budding...
Episode 28: A Fresh New Start for an Old Cowboy
On this episode, we meet US-born Tim Jones in the town of Kuromatsunai in Hokkaido Prefecture. A vet...
Episode 29: Cultivating Land and Community
This time, we meet American Thomas Kloepfer, a farmer living in Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, wher...
Episode 30: Growing Tasty Shiny Jewels
On this episode, we head to Mitoyo in Kagawa Prefecture to meet French-native Jerome Rupp who grows...
Episode 31: Farm-bot to the Rescue!
The aging of the population and labor shortages are some of the biggest issues Japanese agriculture...
Episode 32: Handcrafting the Beauty of Nature
This time, we head to Wakayama Prefecture to take in the beauty of Japanese nature captured by Germa...
Episode 33: Climb a Tree, Change Your Life!
On this episode, we venture into the woods of Seto in Aichi Prefecture to do some tree climbing with...
Episode 34: Martial Arts Build Unbreakable Bonds
We revisit the Ukrainian families who came to Nagano Prefecture in April 2022 to flee the war in the...
Episode 1: Fostering the Future of the Countryside
Japan finally eased its restrictions on entering the country - good news for the inbound tourism ind...
Episode 2: Hunting with Reverence for Life and Nature
This time, we venture into the forested mountains of Miyazaki Prefecture to meet aspiring hunter Ant...
Episode 3: Hitting the Powdery Backcountry in Safety
This time we visit the snow-covered mountains in Hakuba, Nagano Prefecture, where Canadian Dave Enri...
Episode 4: Caring for Patients Like Family
On this episode, we meet Nguyen Quoc Dam, a nurse in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture. Nine years ago, Dam...
Episode 5: Life Lessons Learned Through Play
On this episode, we head to Sakegawa Village in Yamagata Prefecture, where American Frederick Lauer...
Episode 6: Preserving the Memories of 3.11
It's been twelve years since the massive earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011 hit northeastern J...
Episode 7: Bound in Heart by Sumo
On this episode, we step into the ring to meet Gantugs Rentsendorj from Mongolia, a coach for the su...
Episode 8: Chin Up! Let's Dance!
Put on your dancing shoes and get ready for some toe-tapping good time in Yokohama with Filipino Edu...
Episode 9: Two-Wheelers Like None Other
This time we visit Toyonaka in Osaka Prefecture to meet Gerson Aizawa Hara, a third-generation Brazi...
Episode 10: In Search for the Taste of Yashiostan
Home to a large Pakistani community, the city of Yashio in Saitama Prefecture is nicknamed Yashiosta...
Episode 11: Bridging Cultural Gaps in Work and Life
This time, we visit Shimane Prefecture to meet Vietnamese Pham Van Toi, the president of an agency t...
Episode 12: For Little Smiles Beyond the Ocean
This time, we visit Nagano Prefecture to meet Fidea Kobayashi, who supports orphans in her native Ta...
Episode 13: Never Give Up, Your Chance Will Come
On this episode, we visit Fussa, Tokyo, to meet American Frederick Roberts. While stationed at a loc...
Episode 14: A Ugandan Teen's Big-league Dream
This time, we take you out to the ballgame! Or more specifically to Sanda City in Hyogo Prefecture,...
Episode 15: Keeping the Fire of Folkcraft Burning
Mass-produced items are nice and cheap, but none have the beauty and warmth of handmade objects. Thi...
Episode 16: Glamping Mongolian Style
This time we go to Tsukuba in Ibaraki Prefecture to meet Mongolian Chimedtseren Amarzul, or Amura to...
Episode 17: Happiness Rests on the Clouds
We follow Alek Pashkowski and Vadym Bezvuliak, a Ukrainian music duo that's been entertaining audien...
Episode 18: Living It Slow in Rural Japan
This time, we discover the enchanting natural landscape of Miyama in Kyoto Prefecture. Drawn to the...
Episode 19: A Crafter of Wheelchairs and Smiles
On this episode, we visit the workshop of Habib ur Rahman, a craftsman from Pakistan who designs and...
Episode 20: A Fresh New Breeze in Glass Art
The city of Otaru in Hokkaido Prefecture is famous for its glass making tradition. Fascinated by Ota...
Episode 21: A Brazilian's Journey to Buddhist Priesthood
In the village of Yamakogawa in Chiba Prefecture, Brazilian Joken Fernandes trains at a temple to be...
Episode 22: A World of Home Flavors in Saitama
On this episode, we take you on a culinary tour of Saitama Prefecture's diverse international commun...
Episode 23: Kayla's Festival of Friendship
We visit the Iizuna Highlands in Nagano Prefecture where Canadian Kayla Afrin runs a popular café. H...
Episode 24: When Horse, Rider and Bow Become One
Performed at Shinto shrines, Yabusame is a ritual in which an archer on horseback shoots arrows at t...
Episode 25: Pastor Istvan's Botanical Blessings
We meet Istvan Lorincz, a Romanian of Hungarian origin who's a pastor and expert herbalist in Sappor...
Episode 26: A Personal Chef with a Personal Touch
We meet French-born Germain Guibilato who works as a personal chef for events and special occasions...
Episode 1: Trust in the Healing Power of Anime
We meet Italian Francesco Panto, a psychiatrist in Saitama Prefecture who develops a therapy method...
Episode 2: A Hearty Recipe for Recovery
This time, we meet Togawa Aya, a naturalized Japanese born in China who runs a cafeteria in Okuma, F...
Episode 3: Spirits Strengthened by Martial Arts
This time, we follow three Ukrainians – a teenage boy and a female entrepreneur who both came to Jap...
Episode 4: A Prayer for Peace in Song and Images
We revisit Ukrainian musicians Alek and Vadym in Nagasaki Prefecture as they create a music video to...
Episode 5: Top Your Sushi With Conviction
We meet Jan Markiewicz from Poland, who trains at a Tokyo sushi restaurant in preparation for the Wo...
Episode 6: Mr. Deo, the Dedicated Teacher
We meet Uganda-born Kalule Deogratius who teaches English at a middle school in Nagano Prefecture, a...
Episode 7: A Well-Rooted Future for Children
We meet Muhammad Nurul Elahi in Niigata Prefecture who grows lotus roots to fund an elementary schoo...
Episode 8: Preserving Lacquerware Beyond the Quake
We follow UK-born Suzanne Ross - a lacquerware artisan in Wajima - in her efforts to recover after t...
Episode 9: Step Into the Ring for Ukraine
We meet Ukrainian Ivanna Berezovska, a female sumo wrestler who trains at a university club in Fukuo...
Episode 10: Children's Books Cross Barriers
On this episode, we meet American Jerry Martin, an author of children's books based in Saitama Prefe...
Episode 11: Prayers for Peace in Gaza from Hiroshima
We meet Ashley Souther from the US, who teaches a class on peace at a secondary school in Hiroshima...
Episode 12: Chin Up! Let's Dance Again!
On this episode, we revisit Filipino dance instructor Eduardo Macarat in Yokohama who changed his ca...
Episode 13: Drawn to the Land of Carpentry
We meet South Korean Kang Dong Ju who runs his own carpentry business in Takayama, Gifu Prefecture,...
Episode 14: Racing for Peace
We meet South Sudanese Abraham Guem, a 1,500-metres runner who trains in Japan in hope to qualify fo...
Episode 15: Saving the Giant Salamanders
We meet Richard Pearce, a British ecotourism guide who runs an NPO dedicated to Japanese giant salam...
Episode 16: A Festival to Bring Cultures Together
We meet Indian Choudhury Rudra Charan Mohanty who organizes a festival in Aichi Prefecture to bring...
Episode 17: Spreading Smiles with a Parfait Passion
This time, we accompany Finnish native Laura Kopilow on her journey to discover tasty parfaits all o...
Episode 18: A US Pro Coach for Japan's Youth Baseball
We meet American Bianca Smith, a former pro baseball coach who now trains children and teens in Hokk...
Episode 19: The Right Words for Young Carers
In Gunma Prefecture, we meet Pakistani Aziz Ahmed who helps children that have to interpret for fore...
Episode 20: Eco-friendly Farming in Fukushima
We meet French illustrator Emilie Bouquet who runs an eco-friendly farm in Okuma, Fukushima Prefectu...
Episode 21: Creating the Wheelchairs of Tomorrow
We revisit Pakistani Habib ur Rahman, a crafter of custom-made power wheelchairs in Kobayashi, Miyaz...
Episode 22: Work Opportunities for Syrian Evacuees
In Tokyo, we meet Syrian Iskandar Salama who works to find job opportunities for his fellow Syrians...
Episode 23: Sowing the Seeds of Peace
We meet Polish Izabela Ishikawa who works to find and return the remains of those who died during Wo...
Episode 24: Closer to the Heart
We meet Peruvian Estela Nakazaki and her daughter Namiko, both working in elderly care in Narashino,...
Episode 25: Roly Keeps the Apples Rolling
We meet English-born Roland Gregory, a.k.a. Roly, who runs his own apple orchard in the Nagano count...
Episode 26: Keeping the Traditions of Noto Alive
We revisit Aussie chef Benjamin Flatt and lacquerware artist Suzanne Ross from the UK in their effor...
Episode 1: Follow Your Heart and Listen to the Soup!
We meet Austrian fashion designer Edwina Horl Ota who works to bring her late husband's Tokyo ramen...
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