[00:19 - 00:28] The speaker discusses getting a new phone for Christmas due to their current phone being shattered.

[00:47 - 00:58]They initially wanted a Z Fold but realized it wouldn't work for their bike.

[01:52 - 01:59]They went to SoftBank to buy a new phone but were told they couldn't purchase it in store and had to make a booking due to COVID restrictions.

[03:36 - 03:42]They were unable to purchase the new Google Pixel 7 Pro because their visa was expiring soon.

[03:36 - 03:42]SoftBank also wouldn't give them a new SIM card for the phone, citing their visa expiration as the reason.

[06:05 - 06:15]As a result, they are stuck with a broken phone and no options for getting a new one.

[06:15 - 06:22]The speaker was unable to purchase a new phone or SIM card from any other carriers due to their visa expiration.

[00:00 - 06:29]The speaker discusses their frustrating experience trying to purchase a new phone in Japan due to COVID restrictions and their visa expiration. Despite having a plan with SoftBank and multiple SIM cards from other carriers, they were unable to buy a new phone or SIM card, leaving them stuck with a broken phone.

[06:29 - 06:38] Dokomo offered a sim that tethers for an unlocked phone from Google

[06:43 - 06:49]They also offered a 10% discount on all sims if a third one was purchased

[07:02 - 07:12]Japan has a system that punishes people for using unlocked phones

[07:20 - 07:25]Companies make it difficult to get a sim plan and discourage using unlocked phones

[07:35 - 07:40]Some UK companies allow for sims to be shipped to Japan and used on any phone

[07:40 - 07:49]Japanese companies cater to a market of people who will never use another sim

[10:26 - 10:33]The speaker received a passive aggressive text for not wearing a mask in the gym

[12:10 - 12:15]Japan is still paranoid about COVID and gyms have strict mask policies

[12:10 - 12:15]Some people in the gym don't wear masks, especially those who are more ripped

[06:29 - 12:51]Dokomo offered a sim that tethers and a 10% discount for a third sim, but Japan has a system that punishes using unlocked phones. Companies make it difficult to get a sim plan and discourage unlocked phones. Japan is still paranoid about COVID and gyms have strict mask policies, but some people, especially those who are more ripped, don't wear masks. The speaker received a passive aggressive text for not wearing a mask in the gym.

[13:33 - 13:42] Person is talking about their experience in Japan during the pandemic.

[13:50 - 14:01]They have noticed inconsistencies in COVID precautions at different establishments.

[15:48 - 15:56]They recently got their fourth COVID shot and had a conversation with an elderly man who spoke English well.

[16:22 - 16:28]The person and the elderly man were scolded for talking at the vaccination center due to COVID precautions.

[17:05 - 17:24]The person believes that some COVID precautions are more for show than actual effectiveness.

[17:24 - 17:37]They mention a specific example of a restaurant where a screen is placed between customers, causing inconvenience.

[19:00 - 19:07]The person believes that the country's reopening and influx of tourists has caused a shift in how locals treat foreigners in terms of COVID precautions.

[12:51 - 19:31]Overall, the person finds the situation in Japan to be inconsistent and frustrating.

[19:31 - 19:42]The speaker recently did a collab for a Japanese TV channel where they were interviewed in Japanese

[19:42 - 19:55]The studio was run by Tokyo television and had proper production

[19:42 - 19:55]The set had a long, semicircle table with three seats and the speaker was in the middle

[19:56 - 20:01]There was a huge plastic device on the set, likely for COVID precautions

[20:09 - 20:17]No one in the room was wearing masks and the speaker shook hands with the hosts upon arrival

[20:43 - 20:49]The speaker questions the effectiveness of the plastic dividers if they can shake hands without masks

[22:02 - 22:08]The speaker believes that Japan is slow to adopt and get rid of precautions and habits

[23:13 - 23:20]Japan has always had a culture of wearing masks and now it has become even more prevalent due to COVID

[23:42 - 23:48]Influenza shots are common in Japan, while they are not as common in other countries

[26:19 - 26:24]The speaker wishes the mask mandate at the gym would be lifted, but it has not been

[19:31 - 26:33]The speaker recently did a collab for a Japanese TV channel, where they questioned the effectiveness of COVID precautions and discussed Japan's slow adoption and reluctance to get rid of habits.

[26:33 - 26:39]Japanese schools do not require masks during exercise

[27:11 - 27:17]In other countries like the US and UK, it was either all or nothing with mask-wearing

[27:11 - 27:17]In Japan, there is a mix of when masks are required

[27:42 - 27:49]Lack of consistency in mask-wearing rules is frustrating

[29:33 - 29:41]Health check-ups and concerns about cholesterol levels

[31:25 - 31:34]Discussion about Christmas shopping and gift-giving

[32:26 - 32:35]Difficulty in buying gifts for oneself or for others

[55:54 - 56:27]Pressure and confusion in social interactions

[26:33 - 56:34]Overall, the speaker feels frustrated and conflicted about mask-wearing rules, health concerns, and gift-giving.

[57:07 - 57:13]The speaker is reflecting on why they do not enjoy being the center of attention or having their own birthday parties.

[57:13 - 57:18]They mention a childhood friend who had a birthday close to theirs and would often have joint birthday parties, possibly leading to their aversion to being the center of attention.

[58:09 - 58:22]The speaker cannot remember any birthday parties between the ages of 10 and 18, and only has vague memories of their childhood.

[59:20 - 59:31]They recall a few specific birthday party memories, such as going to a McDonald's playpen and attending a premiere of Finding Nemo.

[1.01:39 - 1.02:03]The speaker mentions not being able to afford snacks at the cinema and sneaking in snacks from the supermarket below.

[1.03:00 - 1.03:06]They discuss a rich person in their class who would invite everyone to their birthday parties and have extravagant activities, such as bouncy castles.

[1.03:36 - 1.03:47]The speaker also remembers being forced to attend dinners with their parents' friends and feeling bored.

[1.03:36 - 1.03:47]The speaker concludes that they have scattered memories of their childhood, but most of them involve being on Trash Taste.

[1.04:12 - 1.04:17]The speaker mentions a specific memory of being asked to translate for their drunk father at an izakaya in Japan.

[56:34 - 1.04:32]The speaker reflects on their aversion to being the center of attention and not enjoying their own birthday parties, possibly due to joint birthday parties with a childhood friend. They have scattered memories of their childhood, including specific memories of attending a McDonald's playpen and a Finding Nemo premiere. They also discuss not being able to afford snacks at the cinema and sneaking in snacks from the supermarket. They mention a rich person in their class who would invite everyone to their extravagant birthday parties, and they also recall being forced to attend boring dinners with their parents' friends. The speaker concludes that they have scattered memories of their childhood, most of which involve their podcast, Trash Taste.

[1.05:09 - 1.05:29] Narrator talks about translating for his dad and being bored as a kid while visiting family friends

[1.06:35 - 1.06:50]Brian asks about parks and the narrator shares his dislike for them

[1.06:35 - 1.06:50]The narrator's friend, City, also dislikes parks

[1.08:32 - 1.08:39]They talk about how parks are good for nature and relaxation

[1.09:57 - 1.10:10]The narrator and City question the purpose of parks and why people go to them

[1.10:10 - 1.10:26]The narrator and City come across a kid having fun in the park and feel envious

[1.10:43 - 1.10:50]The narrator enjoys walking around the park with City and finds it refreshing

[1.11:58 - 1.12:07]They discuss the benefits of being around nature and greenery

[1.12:18 - 1.12:29]The narrator used to enjoy bushwalks in Australia

[1.12:18 - 1.12:29]The narrator used to enjoy going on bushwalks in Australia

[1.04:33 - 1.12:29]The narrator and his friend City discuss their dislike for parks and question their purpose, but also recognize the benefits of being around nature and greenery. The narrator used to enjoy bushwalks in Australia and finds walking in the park with City to be refreshing.

[1.18:00 - 1.18:11]The speaker enjoys going to the park every few weeks to walk and explore nature.

[1.18:37 - 1.18:45]They believe that cities should be built around or within nature, rather than replacing it with buildings.

[1.18:45 - 1.18:53]The speaker values nature on trips to beautiful places and believes it adds to the overall happiness of a city.

[1.18:45 - 1.18:53]As a child, the speaker only went to parks for specific activities, but still has a mental barrier against visiting parks for leisure.

[1.18:53 - 1.19:01]They find parks to be artificial and prefer to experience nature in its natural form.

[1.19:01 - 1.19:17]They prefer to have a destination or goal when walking, rather than just walking for the sake of it.

[1.19:01 - 1.19:17]The speaker's partner enjoys walking without a destination, but the speaker needs a goal to appreciate the journey.

[1.19:01 - 1.19:17]They prefer to have a destination or goal to work towards, even if it is a simple one.

[1.19:22 - 1.19:29]The speaker did not see any parks during their time in London, but believes that it has a good park to city ratio.

[1.19:22 - 1.19:29]The speaker values having options for community spaces and believes that Tokyo lacks them.

[1.19:29 - 1.19:40]They prefer to take weekend trips outside of Tokyo for nature experiences.

[1.19:29 - 1.19:40]The speaker believes that walking without a destination is a waste of time, but can appreciate the journey if there is a destination in mind.

[1.19:29 - 1.19:40]They prefer to have a clear endpoint or goal in mind for any journey.

[1.12:29 - 1.19:40]Overall, the speaker values nature and believes it adds to the happiness and livability of a city. They prefer to experience nature in its natural form rather than in artificial parks.

[1.20:05 - 1.20:25]Person is discussing their preference for having a clear goal or destination when going on a trip or doing exercise

[1.20:25 - 1.20:33]They mention that they enjoy streaming as a form of exercise and content creation

[1.20:25 - 1.20:33]The person's friend mentions that they also enjoy streaming and content creation while being active, which makes them feel less like a "slob"

[1.21:09 - 1.21:50]The person then talks about their recent realization of the appeal of slice of life anime, which they previously found boring

[1.24:10 - 1.24:39]They explain that this feeling of enjoying doing nothing is similar to their experiences on a yearly trip to a quiet area in Japan

[1.25:32 - 1.25:49]The person reflects on their childhood experiences in Japan and how they relate to the appeal of slice of life anime

[1.25:32 - 1.25:49]They mention recent enjoyment of the slice of life anime "Yuru Camp"

[1.26:01 - 1.26:22]The person reflects on Japan as a country that has perfected "vibes" and how this can be found in both city and countryside settings

[1.26:58 - 1.27:07]They mention using slice of life anime as a way to wind down and relax after a stressful experience at a phone store

[1.27:07 - 1.27:18]The person compares their viewing of slice of life anime to the way others may view documentaries, as a way to zone out and relax

[1.19:40 - 1.27:36]Person discusses their preference for having a clear goal or destination, and how this relates to their newfound appreciation for slice of life anime.

[1.27:36 - 1.27:45] The speaker discusses their enjoyment of non non beauty as it reminds them of their childhood in Japan.

[1.27:57 - 1.28:06]They comment on the feeling of nostalgia and yearning that comes from watching slice of life shows, even if they have no attachment to Japan.

[1.28:18 - 1.28:30]The speaker talks about Japan being a country of vibes and its popularity on Instagram.

[1.28:54 - 1.29:08]They mention a Mexican restaurant they visited and the aesthetic of Japan.

[1.31:52 - 1.32:21]The speaker talks about the comfort and escape of slice of life anime, as opposed to more complex shows.

[1.34:43 - 1.34:49]They discuss the changing interests and priorities as they grow older and how it affects their consumption of anime.

[1.27:36 - 1.34:55]The speaker discusses their enjoyment of slice of life anime, particularly non non beauty, and how it reminds them of their childhood in Japan. They also discuss the feeling of nostalgia and yearning that comes from watching these shows, and the popularity of Japan's aesthetic on Instagram. They touch on the comfort and escape of slice of life anime, and how their interests have changed as they have grown older.

[1.34:55 - 1.35:12] Narrator mentions not being able to get into "K-On" anime

[1.35:12 - 1.35:24]Narrator connects to slice of life anime that replicate experiences they've had

[1.36:02 - 1.36:08]Narrator relates to feeling of just doing cool musical shit with friends in "K-On"

[1.36:02 - 1.36:08]Narrator gets annoyed when people criticize "K-On" for being about cute girls drinking tea

[1.36:23 - 1.36:32]Narrator recalls forming a band and hanging out with friends in high school

[1.36:33 - 1.36:40]Narrator's band never got big due to lack of time and space to practice

[1.38:12 - 1.38:19]Narrator and friend travel to Japan and decide to eat at a local sushi restaurant

[1.38:19 - 1.38:33]Sushi restaurant has no paper menu and only a single counter

[1.39:26 - 1.39:36]Sushi chef asks if they can speak Japanese

[1.39:26 - 1.39:36]Narrator and friend successfully order and have a conversation with the sushi chef

[1.41:04 - 1.41:10]Sushi chef calls his grandson in America to talk to the narrator and friend

[1.42:33 - 1.42:41]They walk around the town and stumble upon a festival with a band playing

[1.42:46 - 1.43:02]The band is dressed up as Santa Claus, Mario, and the clown outfit the narrator wore for a podcast episode

[1.43:10 - 1.43:26]Narrator and friend get recognized by a random person at the festival

[1.34:55 - 1.43:26]The narrator discusses their difficulty getting into "K-On," but relates to slice of life anime that replicate their own experiences. They recall their experience forming a band in high school and relate to the feeling of just doing cool musical things with friends in "K-On." They share a story about visiting a local sushi restaurant in Japan and having a conversation with the sushi chef, who ends up calling his grandson in America for them to talk to. They also stumble upon a festival where they get recognized by a random person.

[1.43:26 - 1.43:33] The speaker recalls an incident where they were on guard after something happened.

[1.43:39 - 1.43:45]Suddenly, a random Japanese man sits down next to them and they assume he is a fan.

[1.44:37 - 1.44:44]Upon looking at him, they realize he is the sushi chef they did not recognize.

[1.45:16 - 1.45:25]The speaker and the chef have a conversation and the chef invites them to his sushi place.

[1.45:34 - 1.45:40]The speaker reflects on this interaction as a "slice of life" moment that made them appreciate their own life.

[1.46:49 - 1.47:02]The speaker then recounts another experience with elderly tourists who were struggling with their SIM cards.

[1.49:00 - 1.49:10]The speaker concludes by reflecting on the overall welcoming atmosphere in Japan.

[1.49:16 - 1.49:23]The speaker also notes that the vibe in the city of Osaka is more chill and outgoing compared to other parts of Japan.

[1.49:16 - 1.49:23]The speaker also mentions a more talkative atmosphere in the city of Kyoto.

[1.49:47 - 1.49:55]The speaker helps them and notices a cultural difference in the level of outgoingness in different parts of Japan.

[1.50:37 - 1.50:51]They speculate that the weather may play a role in this difference.

[1.51:08 - 1.51:13]They mention experiencing this difference in both summer and winter.

[1.43:26 - 1.51:41]The speaker shares their experiences with cultural differences and interactions in different parts of Japan, including a memorable encounter with a sushi chef and observations on the varying levels of outgoingness in different regions.

[1.52:29 - 1.52:51] The speaker talks about his experience in Okinawa, where people are more relaxed and friendly compared to Tokyo.

[1.52:58 - 1.53:04]The speaker also talks about how his friend's traditional Japanese house in Okinawa was a sanctuary for him, where time moved slowly and he didn't worry about being busy or stressed.

[1.53:14 - 1.53:20]He mentions how nothing seems to happen there but he enjoys the slower pace of life and the tropical climate.

[1.55:15 - 1.55:22]The topic shifts to the concept of a sanctuary and the speaker's own grandmother's house in Japan, which he hasn't visited since she moved.

[1.56:05 - 1.56:17]The speaker expresses some dread about going back to his grandmother's house and how it won't be the same as it was before.

[1.56:17 - 1.56:23]He also talks about his grandmother's house in Australia, which hasn't changed in 50 years and is his sanctuary.

[1.57:24 - 1.57:29]The concept of nostalgia is brought up, with the speaker and his co-hosts discussing whether they feel nostalgic or prefer to constantly upgrade.

[1.58:45 - 1.58:51]The episode ends with the hosts promoting their Patreon and other social media platforms and wishing their listeners happy holidays.

[1.51:41 - 1.59:09]The speaker discusses his experiences in Okinawa and the concept of a sanctuary, sharing his own and his co-hosts' thoughts on nostalgia and constantly upgrading. The episode ends with the hosts promoting their Patreon and wishing their listeners happy holidays.