Live from Tokyo, Jamie Christy shares his path from growing up Japanese-American in Minnesota to reconnecting with his roots while living in Kawasaki, Japan. He opens up about the complexities of relearning Japanese as a native speaker and how language continues to shape his identity. From The X-Files and John Grisham novels to the intricacies of Japanese legalese, Jamie reflects on the quirky and unexpected joys of bilingual discovery. We also dive into travel tips, the fun of filmmaking, onsen life, and Star Wars fandom, including a peek behind the scenes at the Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo. It’s a lively conversation about curiosity, creativity, and uncovering the in-between spaces of culture and self. Enjoy!
Episode Highlights
00:21 Jamie: live from Hibiya, Tokyo!
02:11 Japanese language learning as a native Japanese speaker
03:20 Moving to the states at 5 - everything was in English!
04:39 Frustration at not being able to express himself
06:11 Relearning Japanese as an adult
06:35 The X-Files, John Grisham, Japanese crime novels, all things legalese
08:21 Love of film and Star Wars
9:37 Japan travel tips - global cuisines, Sumo, Chanko hotpot!
13:34 Jamie's life - onsen life, being a foodie, working remote
14:17 Navigating the in-between space of being Japanese-American
16:00 [In Japanese] All about the Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo
17:06 Favorite thing about Japan?
18:08 Commit to lifelong learning and growing
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Credits
🎙️ Host & Producer: Molly Mamaril
🎸 Guitar: Amund Gismervik
