#24 Living Like a Local: Learning, Working, and Belonging

#24 Living Like a Local: Learning, Working, and Belonging

When I came to Melbourne, I didn’t just want to travel—I wanted to live like a local. In this episode, I share my Workaway experience: how I exchanged my design and cooking skills for a place to stay, what it was like living in a beautiful Airbnb studio, and the lessons I learned from helping a real family in Melbourne. From dumpling-making and video editing to wine tasting and rabbit poop (yes, really), it was a few weeks full of new challenges, warm connections, and unforgettable stories. If you're curious about slow travel, Workaway, or what it's really like to live and work in Australia, this one’s for you.

#23 Love at First Flight: How and Why I Started a Life in Melbourne

What started as a failed interview turned into a spontaneous trip to the Southern Hemisphere—and somehow, a dream life in Melbourne. In this episode, I share my first impressions of Australia, the travel mistakes I made (yes, even at the airport 😅), and how I unexpectedly found myself falling in love with this country… in just three days. I had to take selfies in a Narita Airport toilet to verify my visa. Spoiler: there are animals, braces, and $4 water involved. 🛫 Come along for the start of this new adventure! IG: @just_another_human_jp [https://www.instagram.com/just_another_human_jp/] YouTube: @just_another_human_jp [https://www.youtube.com/@just_another_human_jp]

#22 Hiroshima Through a Kid’s Eyes. And an Adult’s Heart.

I’ve been to Hiroshima more than 30 times, but this trip hit differently. From childhood memories of folding paper cranes and crying museum dolls… to adult reflections on war, shame, respect, and peace — this episode is a personal journey through one of Japan’s most important cities. I also visited Kure and Ōkunoshima (aka Rabbit Island!), and realised just how much I still carry from that sixth-grade school trip. Travel isn’t just about new places. Sometimes it’s about seeing old ones with new eyes.

#21 When a Mahjong Game Got Me a Design Job

🎙 Just Another Human | EP.16 “When a Mahjong Game Got Me a Design Job” What do mahjong, a traditional Japanese house, and a hundred bucks of paint have in common? In this episode, I share the story of how a casual game night turned into my very first interior design job. From childhood memories with my miya-daiku dad to turning old furniture into something beautiful, this project brought together everything I love — DIY, creativity, and making people feel at home. I talk about the challenges, the funny surprises (like the client's dad slowly taking over the house), and how I transformed the space on a tight budget. Plus, the real lesson I learned: design isn’t just about making things look good — it’s about helping people feel confident in their own space.

#20 My Dream House — And Why Old Japanese Homes Weren’t Built for the Cold

🎙 Just Another Human This week, I’m talking about my dream to live in a traditional Japanese countryside house—and why that might be harder than it sounds. From Japan’s “Empty House Problem” to moldy clothes, freezing winters, and shoji magic, I share my experience living in a super old house in snowy Ishikawa and what I’ve learned about why Japanese homes were never really built for the cold. I also talk about what I’m looking for in my future home, and how DIY culture is giving these homes a second life. If you’re into Japanese design, rural life, or just curious about how people actually live in Japan, this one’s for you! You can find script for this episode from here [https://moq-design.notion.site/About-my-ideal-dream-house-1ed8113356d78058ae71dc0631d18d5d?pvs=4]. If you realize some weird English and you are just a human, please let me know.