ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Free seminar for adult Japanese learners: https://shop.funjapaneselearning.com/2609smj-pod/
Why busy adults struggle to speak Japanese — and the 3-step cycle that helps you start using it.
Japanese is more than words and grammar. It is a way of seeing and relating to the world.----------------------------------------------------------------
When you look at an old photo and feel a pang of longing, you say "I miss it." But did you know that the word "miss" literally means to perceive an absence? It trains your brain to focus on loss.
In this episode, Asuka sensei explores why Japanese people experience memories completely differently — through a word called "Natsukashii" (懐かしい). Unlike nostalgia, which comes from the Greek words for "return" and "pain," Natsukashii carries no pain at all. Its etymology traces back to "Natsuku" — the way a puppy runs towards you with trust and warmth.
If you've ever wished you could look back on your past without feeling sadness, this episode will give you a powerful new emotional tool — rooted in the Japanese language.
What you'll learn:
- Why "nostalgia" literally means "the pain of wanting to return"
- How "Natsukashii" turns loss into gratitude
- The surprising etymology: a puppy running to you with trust
- How the Kanji 懐 connects to "keeping something close to your heart"
- A simple mindset shift you can practise today
You can watch the video version of this episode here
Learn travel-themed Japanese (with audio and e-flash cards) for your next Japan trip!
Japanese Language Learning Guide for Travelers
https://amzn.to/3SeluZu
Are you interested in learning Kanji?
Japanese Kanji for Beginners
For Hiragana and Katakana learning
Complete Japanese Hiragana
Complete Japanese Katakana
🎓Who is Asuka sensei?
Asuka sensei, Dr Asuka Tsuchiya, is an award-winning psychologist, a qualified Japanese educator, an Amazon UK, US, and Japan #1 best-selling author, and a mother with two adorable kids.
She studied linguistics and education at the University of Tokyo, earning a Master's degree, and later obtained a PhD in psychology from Nara Women's University. While in Japan, she worked as a psychotherapist, supporting individuals in their personal growth and well-being.
After she moved to the UK, she dedicated herself to Japanese education by pursuing Japan's official qualification for professional Japanese teachers and taught Japanese to adult learners in the Lifelong Learning Department at the University of Southampton for nearly 10 years.
Now she runs the online Japanese school specifically for busy adults who want to feel the depth and richness of Japanese culture through language learning.
