Japanese vs American Food Culture (Thanksgiving & Inari Sushi)

In Episode 5 of Nihongo to English (No Show), Michelle and Michael talk about Thanksgiving through a Japanese lens—and discover how food, gratitude, and cultural assumptions don’t always translate cleanly.

The conversation starts with Thanksgiving basics and quickly veers into Japanese food culture, including inari sushi, leftovers, and what it actually means to share a meal. Along the way, we unpack how Japanese expresses gratitude differently, why certain foods feel “special” in one culture but ordinary in another, and how meaning shifts when traditions cross borders.

As always, language sneaks in naturally: everyday food words, casual phrasing, and the kinds of expressions textbooks skip but real conversations demand. We also reflect on family gatherings, expectations, and the quiet cultural rules that shape how (and when) you say thank you.

It’s a relaxed, conversational episode about Japanese vs. American culture, food as language, and learning how to talk about familiar holidays in an unfamiliar tongue—without overthinking it.

Highlights

• 🦃 Thanksgiving explained for Japanese learners
• 🍣 Inari sushi and everyday Japanese food culture
• 🙏 How gratitude is expressed differently in Japanese and English
• 💬 Casual food-related Japanese you’ll actually hear
• 🌏 Cultural translation gaps around holidays and family meals

Keywords

Learn Japanese, Japanese food culture, Thanksgiving in Japan, inari sushi, Japanese vs American culture, bilingual podcast, Japanese conversation practice, language learning through culture

Email: nihongotoenglishnoshow@gmail.com

Original Theme Jingle by Michelle MaliZaki