Unveiling the Real Japan: An American Expat's Inside Look | Hot takes, commentary, and unfiltered insights on life as a foreigner in Japan.
| Platform |  | Pricing | Only free issues | Publishes | Daily |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issues | 453 | Founded | 6 years ago | Last Issue | 42 hours ago |
| Active | |||||
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realgaijin.substack.comLatest Issues
Putting Faces to Names: Inside Tokyo’s First Substack Writers’ Meetup
Most of the group (excluding those who were still at the bar when this photo was taken)
TL;DR
- On November 5, 2026, 20 co-hosts gathered in person for the first Japan Substackers IRL (In Real Life) Meetup, uniting over 40 writers...
Japan has made hiring as easy as takeout. But who handles safety?
Japan’s spot-work apps make hiring almost instantaneous, but workplace safety training remains the employer’s responsibility (original AI-generated image by author Mark Kennedy)
TL;DR
- A new Tokyo Shoko Research (TSR・東京商工リサーチ) sur...
When Does the Japanese Term “Gaijin” Become an Insult?
Same pronunciation, different message. Few Japanese people would openly call a foreigner gaijin (害人)—a deliberate insult—to their face, but the term can surface in SNS comments. As if navigating Japan’s complicated recycling rules weren’t c...
▶︎ AMA Podcast (S-02, E-28) with CD Damitio: Two Houses in Japan for Under $40,000—and a Life Beyond the Conventional
What happens when an American writer buys two aging houses in Hokkaido, Japan, one of which he has never been inside? Come along for a house tour and candid conversation about Japan’s abandoned homes, unconventional living, and the search f...
🍻 Cheers to Everyone Who Joined the 3rd Halloween Edition of “Beers with Real Gaijin” -- Let’s Talk Japan (S-01, E-03)
What were you drinking?
My sugar-free (really?) Kirin Ichiban certainly satisfied my thirst—even though its price was probably determined in a back-room collusion session with Kirin’s age-old competitors Asahi, Sapporo, and Suntory!
🍻 Th...
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Authors
The writers behind this newsletter.
Mark, a Chicago native, spent nearly three decades navigating the corporate world of Tokyo. But in a bold move, he ditched the suit and tie in his early fifties, seeking a simpler life in the heart of Japan's countryside on the island of Kyushu.
Joyrides Fueled by the World’s Most Beloved Beverage. 🍵🎵👻 ✏️ ⚽️ - Kamkaura, Japan + Los Angeles, California.
Japan Country Manager for a European company. Writing about business, work culture, and what it really takes to succeed in Japan. Mom of two.
Master's Student in Japan from Australia Researching Labour & Political Economics at Kobe University
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