Hi everyone, I’m Mayu! Thank you for your hard work this week✨
Grab your favorite drink☕️sit back, and relax with me for a cozy weekend chat.💬
In this episode, I’ll be sharing my peaceful weekend routine of making fluffy Japanese pancakes and taking morning walks. 🥞 Then, I’ll talk about my recent trip to a hair salon and dive into the unique culture of Japanese customer service! Have you ever wondered why Japanese hairstylists ask so many polite questions during a shampoo—even when no one actually answers them? Let’s uncover the secrets behind Japan’s thoughtful “omotenashi” hospitality. Everything is spoken at a natural speed, just like talking to a friend!
Whether you are doing chores, taking a walk, or just relaxing, I hope this helps you with your Japanese listening and shadowing practice.
What is your favorite way to spend a relaxing weekend? Have you ever been to a hair salon in Japan? Let me know in the comments!
💡 For Japanese Learners (N5 / N4 / N3):
This podcast is spoken at a natural speed so you can experience “Real Japanese”.
・N5 learners: Don’t worry if you don’t understand every word! Just listen to the rhythm and enjoy it as background music (聞き流し) while cooking or relaxing.
・N4/N3 learners: Perfect for your shadowing and listening practice! Try to catch the keywords like “Asa-sanpo” (morning walk) and “Omotenashi” (hospitality).
【Timestamps】
00:00 Weekend casual chat starts! How do you spend your day off?
01:57 The benefits of “Asa-sanpo” (morning walks) in Japan
02:40 My ultimate weekend happiness: Baking thick, fluffy Japanese pancakes!
05:38 Weekday rush vs. Relaxing weekends & Saving this video for later
07:55 Getting a haircut! Looking at Japanese hair salons from a new perspective
09:40 Do Japanese hair salons talk too much? The hidden culture of one-way phrases
12:51 The ultimate shampoo question: “Is there any spot that feels itchy?”
16:41 The second classic question: “How is the water temperature?”
17:42 Why do they ask questions if you don’t need to reply? The spirit of Japanese hospitality