
SisterVibes
A podcast hosted by three sisters with a lifetime of stories and insights to share. From growing up in Japan to now living across three continents, we've gone through life's twists and turns. Join us as we dive into our cherished childhood memories, offer our unique perspectives on a wide range of topics, and recount our humble experiences living in different parts of the world. Despite long distances and scheduling conflicts that have kept us physically apart for years, we're here to give you a glimpse of what it's like to have sisters, regardless of the miles that separate us. Are we still the same as we used to be, or have we grown and changed along the way living in diverse locations? Stay tuned; we hope you’ll be entertained!
Episodes
19 episodes
18. Pregnancy to Birth: A Cross-Cultural Journey
In this episode, we share our unique pregnancy and childbirth experiences, highlighting cultural differences in maternal care. From Japan’s focus on natural birth to the U.S.'s medical approach, our stories reveal how environment and culture sh...
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Season 2
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Episode 6
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31:46

17. Humor Us: Hypothetical "What If" Scenarios
In this lighthearted episode, we entertain the ideas of fictional "what if..." scenarios:1. What if one of us murder someone? Would we rat her out or protect her?2. What if we get stranded on an island, what would we do?2. ...
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Season 2
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Episode 5
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38:20

16. Winter Holiday in Japan: Insights for Future Visitors
This year, we celebrated Christmas and New Year's in Japan, where the winter weather greeted us with surprisingly mild weather. Our whole family gathered at Sumie's house in Kanagawa prefecture for an unforgettable holiday weeks. In this episod...
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Season 2
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Episode 4
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31:13

15. Sister Reflections: New Year Resolutions & Milestone Birthdays
How did we fare with our New Year resolutions last year, and what are our goals for the Year of the Snake? We reflect on what we achieved (and didn’t) with our resolutions and whether we've set our sights on the year 2025. Reminiscing on our pa...
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Season 2
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Episode 3
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30:53

14. Blowfish, Bellgirl & Pizza: Our First Jobs in Japan
In this episode, we share the adventures of Kaori, Tomo, and Sumie as we tackle our first short-term jobs in Japan during the summers of our university years. Each of us steps into a completely unique role, embracing the challenges of Japanese ...
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Season 2
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Episode 2
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28:15

13. Dreamworld: Adventures In Our Nighttime Imagination
Join us for our podcast’s one-year anniversary as we explore the whimsical world of dreams, sharing personal stories of language fluency, surreal adventures, strange sensations, and the hidden meanings behind our most peculiar dreamscapes. Can ...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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34:21

12. Navigating Tech Evolution: Past Stories & Now
In this episode, we explore the interesting experience of growing up as Millennials, witnessing the shift from a tech-free childhood to a world where everything is accessible through smartphones. We'll reminisce about the days of rushing to ans...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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29:52

11. Follow Up Episode: Unique Marriages & The Wonders Of Japanese Vending Machines
Welcome to the follow-up! We recommend listening to the previous episode for a full context.This time, we dive into Mr. Kondo's marriage to virtual character Hatsune Miku, exploring themes like fictosexual and objectophilia. Plus, hear a...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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30:26

10. The Quirky Side Of Japan: High-Tech Toilets, Virtual Marriages & More
How do high-tech toilets, virtual marriages, and sumo wrestlers making babies cry fit into the same conversation? In this SisterVibes episode, we explore Japan's quirky and unique culture, discussing everything from its distinct office practice...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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28:12

09. Sister Showdowns: Memorable Fights & The Stories Behind Them
In this episode, we share a few unforgettable fights from our childhoods alongside stories involving other family members. We recount tales of sticking up for each other amongst friends at times, showcasing the strong loyalty that defines our b...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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31:19

08. Japan? USA?: Could We Move Back To A Country Where We Once Grew Up?
KO was born and raised in Japan until 12 years old and Tomo until 10. Sumie spent majority of childhood until mid-teenage years in the US. Though we live in different countries now, could we ever see ourselves moving back to where we used to li...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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26:00

07. Country Etiquette: Surprises & Unexpected Discoveries
Join us as we explore the fascinating world of cross-cultural social norms and etiquette! From bowing in Japan to holding doors open in the U.S. and quiet dogs in Germany, we'll share personal anecdotes and insights from our experiences living ...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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29:16

06. Schools: Then & Now, In Japan & Western World
Meeting up in a park at 6:30 am for nationwide gymnastics and having summer homework assignments were the norm while growing up in Japan (or during any school break for that matter). We discuss what it's like going to schools in Japan, US, and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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27:28

05. Sibling Stereotypes: Personality Traits Based On Birth Order
Despite our shared experiences as siblings, each of us is unique, and our individual traits may be influenced by stereotypes associated with birth order. Does the research match up to who we were then and did that carry into our adulthood? List...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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28:17

04. Okasan (Mom): The Leap Day Child
Our conversations start with okasan (mom) which quickly pivots to her hometown, reflecting on our visits there in the 80’s and 90’s. Find out why her home she grew up in somewhat resembled a house from one of Ghibli Studio films, “My Neighbor T...
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28:32

03. Happy New Year 2024
2024 is here! We discuss resolutions for the year as well as how the holiday is celebrated in each country.The most important holiday in Japan is welcoming the new year. We discuss all the traditions which start, immediately the day aft...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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27:10

02. Christmas: Unwrapping Our Memories & Family Traditions
Caution: Exercise discretion when listening to this episode around children, as it delves into the harsh realities of Christmas experienced by all three of us sisters in our youth.Christmas traditions vary among countri...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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31:18

01. Intro: Meet The Sisters
Explore the memories of three sisters, as we recall our experiences moving from Japan to the U.S. and how we all end up living in different time zones. Navigating new culture, language and people are not all bad in our youth, but challenges are...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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27:02
