This week, Mitch and Natsuki are joined by special guest from Natsuki's past to talk about life in America vs Japan, as well as talk about the news this week in Japan! Articles from this week's episode Women in Japan say biggest cause of low birth rate is high cost of child care: survey - The Mainichi https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230525/p2a/00m/0na/010000c Baby boomtown: does Nagi hold the secret to repopulating Japan? | Japan | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/29/baby-boomtown-does-nagi-hold-the-secret-to-repopulating-japan Japan court rules disallowing same-sex marriage is unconstitutional https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/05/74a20340d484-breaking-news-court-rules-not-recognizing-same-sex-marriage-as-unconstitutional.html Japan aims to halve pollen emissions in 30 years to tackle hay fever https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/05/4bca5537822c-japan-aims-to-halve-pollen-emissions-in-30-years-to-tackle-hay-fever.html Kishida eyes Japan's child care budget boost of about 3.5 tril. yen https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/05/c02f8a20abbd-kishida-eyes-japans-child-care-budget-boost-of-about-35-tril-yen.html Japan PM Kishida sacks son as executive secretary amid criticism https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/05/737ffea2ae80-urgent-kishidas-son-to-step-down-as-executive-secretary-to-pm-govt.html Foreigner hotel stays in Japan top 10 mil. for 1st time in 3 years https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2023/05/9f77ed09dcfd-foreign-hotel-guests-in-japan-top-10-mil-for-1st-time-in-3-yrs.html Tokyo seeks measures to stop out-of-town billboard trucks | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14907752 Photograph : Thrill Ride: Stripper Mobile - https://m.lasvegassun.com/photos/2011/jun/13/120813/ Japanese government promises, for real this time, that expressways will be free by the year 2115 | SoraNews24 -Japan News- https://soranews24.com/2023/06/02/japanese-government-promises-for-real-this-time-that-expressways-will-be-free-by-the-year-2115/ “Horse Feces Cafe” opens in Tokyo, looks stylish and delicious【Photos】 | SoraNews24 Japan News https://soranews24.com/2023/06/01/horse-feces-cafe-opens-in-tokyo-looks-stylish-and-delicious%e3%80%90photos%e3%80%91/ Fans in Japan don’t sound happy with Netflix’s One Piece live-action changes to the Going Merry | SoraNews24 Japan News https://soranews24.com/2023/05/30/fans-in-japan-dont-sound-happy-with-netflixs-one-piece-live-action-changes-to-the-going-merry/ Japan to boost child care spending to match Sweden - The Mainichi https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230601/p2g/00m/0na/049000c Support us on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/smalltalkjapan Check out our sponsors! STAPLETON 英会話: https://stapleton.me/ Online classes! DROPS Hair: http://drops-hair.jp/ If you are interested in the equipment we use, check out the links below! mic https://amzn.to/3gtJapQ mixer XLR USB https://amzn.to/2XtQ8SL camera https://amzn.to/2ZwsLuu headphones https://amzn.to/2TAYt64 amp https://amzn.to/3ehnfQM