Every week, I share authentic, unfiltered reflections on my journey.
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#2. September Week 1 Review & Week2 Plans
Episode Highlights* Good Points: Turned 3+ incomplete tasks into complete ones, learned surprising facts about Prince Shotoku, and why bookstores are my spiritual power spots.* Areas for Improvement (MOA): Soft volleyball knee strain & why running shoes don’t work on the court.* Week 2 Goals: Reaching 20 km of running and diving into Heian history.* Casual Chat: Fall anime releases (Aoashi, Blue Box) & launch of paid reflection content.ScriptIntroHello, and welcome back to Taiki Arai’s Solo Talk Radio! I’m your host, Taiki Arai. Thank you so much for joining me today.Today, I’m going to look back on how the first week of September unfolded and share my plans and goals for the second week.1. Look Back on Week 1: Good PointsLet’s start with the “Good” points from the first week of September. I’ve got a few updates to share!First off, I managed to knock out more than three tasks that were sitting on my to-do list. The biggest win was wrapping up the registration process for two tour-guiding platforms. I’d left those hanging last week, but I finally submitted everything. Now I’m just waiting to hear back from them, so I’m counting that as a done deal!On top of that, I recorded and published my August week four review in English. I also posted a review article on Note about the show “Can You Call 100 Friends?”. Plus, I went to check out the Chiikawa movie! Some of you might wonder why I count going to a movie as a completed task, but watching Chiikawa was surprisingly insightful and really fun.Second, regarding my Japanese history studies—I’m sitting for an exam on November 15th, so I’ve been hitting the books. Right now, I’ve managed to cover everything from the Jomon period up to the Nara era. One of the coolest takeaways or “aha!” moments for me was learning about Prince Shotoku. Nowadays, textbooks usually refer to him as Prince Umayado, but I learned that the actual name of our country, “Japan” (Nihon), originated right around his time.I probably picked this up back in high school, but I had completely blanked on it—mostly because I was so obsessed with track and field back then! Before that period, China referred to Japan as “Wa” or “Wajin.” I remembered that part, but when I looked into why, I found out that the character “Wa” actually had a pretty condescending vibe to it, basically implying Japan was inferior to China. Learning that made me go, “Ah, I see! That makes total sense.” It was such a cool realization.Third, speaking of the review I mentioned earlier, I put out a review of the Prime Video show “Can You Call 100 Friends?”. I posted it last week, and I was honestly blown away by the response. It made me realize that people aren’t just looking for English-learning tips; they also really enjoy these kinds of raw reflections and reviews. It actually got the highest listenership among my recent episodes! While listener count isn’t something I can control, it still felt awesome. What surprised me even more was that around 70% of the listeners stayed tuned all the way to the end.Fourth, I managed to drop five podcast episodes in total during the first week of September: two on junior high English grammar, one listening episode, the review of “Can You Call 100 Friends?”, and my English review episode. That’s almost overdoing it, right?Finally, I had a few deep realizations. Just to name a few topics: “Putting Your Heart into Your Work,” “Uploading 10,000 Episodes,” and “Bookstores are Power Spots.” Having at least three deep insights was definitely a major highlight for me.2. Look Back on Week 1: MOA (More Of Anything / Room for Improvement)Now, moving on to areas where I need to step up, or what I call “MOA.”The biggest one is my running distance. I only logged 7 km during the entire first week of September. I think I’ve been playing a bit too much soft volleyball lately. Recently, I felt a slight tweak in my knee, so I decided to play it safe and hold off on my runs.I’ve been playing volleyball for about two years now, but I’ve been wearing running shoes on the court. Running shoes are specifically built for forward momentum. Volleyball, on the other hand, demands lateral movement, sudden stops, quick cuts, and a solid grip so you don’t slide on the gymnasium floor. The footwear requirements are completely different. The other day on the court, I almost wiped out because my shoes slipped! I think that lack of proper support is putting a lot of strain on my knees.Another area for improvement: while I cleared out three pending tasks, I had five extra items I wanted to tackle this week that I just couldn’t get to.Lastly, you might think I’m being greedy, but I wished I could have uploaded more content to Audio Japan. You might say, “Wait, five episodes a week is basically daily publishing!” But my ideal target is even higher. The bottleneck isn’t just time management; it’s mainly that my episode titles and narrative structures aren’t sharp enough yet.3. Score, Changes & GrowthIf I had to rate this past week, I’d give it a solid 70 out of 100. That’s a bit higher than last week! Being able to thoughtfully unpack my thoughts on “Can You Call 100 Friends? Season 2” was huge for me. Clarifying what moved me made a real difference. Also, coming up with 3 to 5 new realizations was massive. When you gain fresh insights, new questions naturally pop up, and you carry those questions with you in daily life.Compared to a week ago, here are four areas of growth:* Translation Habit: Whenever I spot Japanese signs or manuals, I instantly try to translate them into English in my head. This habit has gotten way stronger recently, which will be super useful for guiding. It forces me to constantly ask, “Is this phrasing spot-on? Does this verb carry the right nuance?”* Teaching English: Working on junior high grammar content reaffirmed that once you get the core structures down, it’s just a matter of fitting puzzle pieces together to pick the right verbs and expressions.* Community Selection: As I mentioned last week, I applied for a local community initiative here in Fukui, and I made the cut! The kickoff is next week, running through March. It’s still a bit mysterious, so I’ll keep you posted!* Volleyball Progress: On the court, people started giving me props, saying things like, “Your weight transfer on attacks is getting really clean!” or “Your setting has improved!” That felt great. I still can’t put top-spin on my attacks, though. It’s tough! I get the power aspect, but putting that spin on the ball hasn’t clicked yet.4. Goals for Week 2 of SeptemberLooking ahead to the second week of September, here’s my game plan:* Podcast Uploads: I want to drop at least 5 episodes—2 grammar episodes, 1 listening episode, 1 English review, and 2 for Audio Japan. That’s basically 1 episode a day! At minimum 3, ideally 5, and if I can push it, 7. (Haha, I was this close to slipping into my Keisuke Honda impression when I said “7”! That was close!)* Running: Aiming for 20 km in total—ideally two 10 km runs. Now that September is here, the mornings and evenings are cooling down, making it way more comfortable to run.* History Studies: Since I reached the Nara era, I want to dive into the Heian and Kamakura periods this week.* Community Activity: The program kicks off this weekend. There are about 30 members, so my goal is to put faces to names. A group of 30 feels just like a classroom! Everyone comes from completely different backgrounds and age groups.* Pending Tasks: Knock out those 5 or more unfinished tasks.* Kyoto Trip Prep: I’m planning to head to Kyoto in late September for tour-guide scouting, so I want to map out which spots to inspect.5. Casual Talk: Fall Anime, Sports, & Paid ContentNow for some casual chat! I watch a ton of anime, and a massive wave of new shows is dropping in October. When I checked out the lineup, I was hyped to see so many great series returning!* Aoashi Season 2: This is a soccer anime. The manga is already done, but what makes it special is how the main character, Ashito, plays soccer by constantly thinking and analyzing. As you watch him grow, you gain new perspectives and learn about tactical training. It really sharpens your critical thinking. Season 2 starts in October, and I can’t wait!* Blue Box Season 2: Also starting in October! Do you remember the main character’s name? It’s Taiki Inomata! It’s super rare to see a main character named Taiki in anime. So whenever Chinatsu-senpai calls out “Taiki-kun!” in the show, you’re probably going to end up picturing me, Taiki Arai, too! Haha, alright, forget I said that! But Season 1 left us hanging on such a massive cliffhanger. It’s been two or three years, so I’m thrilled Season 2 is finally here.* Other Anime: I was shocked to see Sgt. Frog (Keroro Gunso) making a comeback in Fall 2026! I used to binge it on Animax or Kids Station in elementary school. Also, Ace of Diamond is coming back in October 2026, and Tokyo Revengers has a new season. I dropped Tokyo Revengers when it became a Disney+ exclusive, but I might give it another shot. Lastly, The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup Final is coming out. I’ve been following Prince of Tennis since 4th or 5th grade—that means it’s been nearly 20 years! That’s mind-blowing.* Sports Events: Starting late September, the Asian Games will be held across Aichi Prefecture. I’m pumped to watch track and field, soccer, and volleyball. Then in early October, Ekiden season kicks off. If all goes smoothly, I think Waseda University will take the title![Concept for Paid Content] Recently, I read a book by Lan Domon titled The Practice of Writing the Truth. The author talks about the importance of self-disclosure—starting with raw journaling that nobody sees, but eventually stripping down those thoughts and putting them out into the world.While this weekly review is already a form of self-disclosure, creating a closed, trusted space behind a paid filter allows for a safer connection with listeners where I can open up even more. I plan to share deeper reflections—like my thoughts on uploading 10,000 episodes, putting your heart into your work, and who I truly want to reach.If you’re interested, I’m thinking of two options: paid posts on Note, or a feature called “Room” connected to my main hosting platform, LISTEN. I’ll post the links in the description once updated.OutroLooking at 2026, if we count 4 weeks per month, there are only about 16 weeks—around 15 episodes—left until the year wraps up! It flies by so fast.If you have any questions, comments, or feedback for me, Taiki Arai, please drop a message in the Google Form linked below. Also, if you’re interested in English coaching or a free trial session, feel free to check out the description as well!Thank you so much for listening until the very end. This was your host, Taiki Arai. See you in the next episode! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bignoblemen.substack.com
#1: August Week 4 Review & September Plans
Episode Highlights* Self-Introduction: My background as an English coach, guide interpreter in training, and marathon runner.* Fukui Torrential Rain: What happened two days ago and the unexpected alarm at 2:00 AM.* Weekly Review: Hits & misses in content creation, running, and studying Japanese history.* Key Learning: The massive gap between “just knowing” and “actually being able to do it.”* September Goals: Weekly English podcasts, resuming note/X posts, and running targets.Links & Contact* Japanese Version:* LISTEN* Spotify* Apple Podcast* Free English Trial Lesson & Inquiries:* https://mosh.jp/services/380220?openExternalBrowser=1Full TranscriptWelcome to Taiki Arai’s Solo Talk Radio! First, let me introduce myself. I’m Taiki, an English coach and podcaster. Currently, I’m preparing for the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter exam coming up next August, while doing some tour guiding on the side. I’m also training hard to break the 3-hour mark in a marathon next March. In my free time, I love reading and watching anime.Before jumping into today’s main topic, I really need to talk about what happened here in Fukui two days ago, on Saturday. It was around midnight or 1:00 AM when an unbelievably heavy torrential rain started pouring down. Then around 2:00 AM, my phone suddenly went off with an emergency alert alarm—it was honestly terrifying.Here in Fukui Prefecture, we usually divide the region into two main areas: Reihoku in the north and Reinann in the south. I live in Sabae City in the Reihoku area. Further north, in places like Fukui City and Mikuni, some residential areas actually suffered severe flooding. Just a few days prior, Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures had reached Level 5 emergency warnings, so I thought Fukui might dodge the worst of it. But seeing this happen right in front of us was a real wake-up call, making me feel the tangible effects of global warming. My heart goes out to everyone affected.Now, getting into today’s main topic: I’ll be looking back at the fourth week of August and sharing my plans for September.I’ve been reviewing each week in Japanese since the first week of August. To express myself in both English and Japanese, I decided to try making this double-language output one of my daily habits.So, what went well this week? Let’s start with the good points.First, regarding my content creation goals for August, I successfully posted two videos on junior high school-level English grammar and one update for “Mimi Eigo” as planned. I also posted two short spoken videos on TikTok. While uploading them was a win in itself, I realized that given my current daily routine, keeping up with short video creation takes a massive amount of time and effort. So I decided to pivot and switch that effort into uploading podcasts like this instead.Besides that, I stumbled upon a show on Amazon Prime Video called Can You Make 100 Friends? (Season 2). I happened to open Prime Video on Friday night and saw that Season 2 had just been released on August 28th. I had watched Season 1 last year and loved it, so I ended up binge-watching the entire second season in just one night! Season 2 was every bit as good as the first. What impressed me most was the incredible dynamic between Gekidan Hitori, Fuwa-chan, and the duo Masuda and Koyabu, as well as an appearance by Yuji Maeda, the CEO of SHOWROOM.Let me give you a quick overview of how the show works. There are three main host players, and each player calls their actual friends to ask if they can come to Makuhari Messe on short notice. Once those friends arrive on-site, they team up to play games and earn coins. After four rounds of games, the team with the most coins wins a grand prize of 100 million yen. Both the players and their invited friends know about this massive financial reward, which creates intense entertainment and fascinating human drama.Anyway, getting back to my weekly review: I ran around 25 km this week, bringing my total running distance for August to about 70 km. Back at the beginning of August, I set an ambitious goal of running 100 to 150 km, so I couldn’t reach that target. However, considering how brutal the summer heat and humidity have been, and remembering how little I ran this time last year, I feel good about putting in the hard work.On another note, I attended the selection process for a local community initiative here in Fukui. It was great to interact with people from totally different backgrounds. Overall, I wasn’t too nervous, but I did get a bit flustered during one task where we had to give a self-introduction to everyone in exactly 45 seconds. Even though it was clearly written in the orientation guidelines, it had completely slipped my mind, so I had to improvise without any preparation!Moreover, I officially resumed my Japanese history studies, focusing specifically on the ancient period from the Paleolithic to the Kofun period. That’s because I’m taking the Level 2 Japanese History Test on November 15th. Passing this exam will grant me an exemption from the history section of the National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter exam next year. With about two and a half months left, devoting around an hour every day to structured review gives me a solid chance of passing.Next, what are some areas for improvement—what I like to call my “MOA” (Mindset or Action to improve)?First, regarding my work as an English instructor, I’m currently offering a free trial lesson to my listeners. However, I feel the marketing flow to help people actually sign up needs refinement. Up until now, I relied mostly on word-of-mouth or people I already knew in person. But as I transition my coaching business to a fully online model, establishing a clear, digital acquisition path has become a key challenge.Second, while I was able to track what tasks I completed each week, I fell short on visualizing how much time I actually spent on each activity. Merely tracking tasks is okay, but visualizing time allocation gives a much clearer sense of momentum toward long-term goals.Third, as I mentioned in my previous updates, I’ve been getting ready to register on two major tour-guiding platforms. While my applications are approved, I haven’t quite finished setting up my profile details yet.So, how would I rate this week overall?I’d give myself a 60 out of 100. I hit the absolute bare minimum by publishing my scheduled content, which is good. But my pending to-do list is gradually piling up. Since my willpower alone is unreliable, I need to focus on building robust habits and relying on autopilot systems rather than pure effort.Now, looking at what changed compared to last week:My primary content projects are steadily moving forward. But the biggest realization I had this week was understanding the massive gulf between “just knowing” something and “actually being able to execute it”.For example, when I played soft volleyball recently, I watched YouTube tutorials beforehand on how to hit a topspin drive attack. But when I actually stepped onto the court, I couldn’t execute the technique at all. It was a vivid reminder that possessing intellectual knowledge is fundamentally different from physical mastery.To bridge that gap and move from “knowing” to “can do,” focused practice is non-negotiable. But even more important than mindless repetition is deeply grasping the underlying core principle. I’m often reminded of a quote by major league pitcher Yusei Kikuchi, who said that if you truly grasp the core mechanics of how to do something, you can reproduce that skill anytime with minimal practice. I also realized that while people’s words can be unreliable, observing their actual behavior reveals the ultimate truth.Lastly, what are my goals for September?I have three main objectives. First, I want to establish a firm habit of publishing an English podcast episode once a week, just like my Japanese show. This will replace my previous short video efforts and move me closer to an ideal production system.Second, audio content alone has a limited reach. To help more people discover my work, I will resume writing articles on note and posting updates on X (Twitter). Text-based media makes it much easier for new listeners to discover and consume information.Third, for my running, I aim to log at least 100 km, or ideally 150 to 200 km in September. That breaks down to running about 10 to 12 km per session. In October, I’ll be participating in the Shibamasa Relay Marathon as part of a team, so I want to build up my stamina and get into peak physical shape!If you’d like to listen to the original Japanese edition of this podcast, please check out “Taiki Arai’s Hitorigoto Radio”. I’ve left the link in the show notes below.Also, if you’re interested in taking my free English trial lesson, preparing for Eiken exams, or if you simply have questions or advice about language learning, feel free to contact me through the form in the show notes anytime!Thank you so much for listening all the way to the end. See you in the next episode! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bignoblemen.substack.com
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