In this lively and heartfelt episode, Ting and Dr. Catherine return with stories from their first-ever trips to Japan—one for work, the other for family vacation. Through reflections on politeness, public bathrooms, service culture, and spicy cheese naan, they unpack rich lessons in cultural intelligence. From Tokyo’s surprising diversity to the invisible skills of multilingual waiters and caregivers, they explore what it really means to adapt across cultures. Plus: unexpected insights on language, accent bias, and Japan’s global future.

[00:00] Season 3 intro: What’s new this season on The Cultural Quotient podcast

[01:00] Lunar New Year in Singapore: A multicultural Loh Hei lunch and new traditions

[03:00] First impressions of Japan: Travel experiences and surprises in Tokyo

[05:45] Cultural surprises: Clean toilets, confusing colors, and friendly strangers

[07:45] Challenging stereotypes: Japan’s surprising diversity and migrant communities

[09:00] Cheese naan and CQ: Observing intercultural service and adaptation in restaurants

[11:30] What makes someone culturally intelligent?: Skills, intuition, and social flexibility

[14:00] The halal restaurant moment: Realizing hidden needs and context on a family tour

[17:00] Street festival serendipity: Authentic local discovery through cross-cultural curiosity

[18:30] Japan’s shifting global outlook: Immigration, language, and economic drivers

[20:30] Corporate CQ challenges: Different approaches to planning and execution

[22:00] Caregiving and integration: Why Japan recruits Filipinos—and what makes them thrive

[24:30] Accent bias and stereotypes: The case of Ilonggo caregivers

[27:00] Halloween and anime: Japan’s soft power and regional pop culture influence

[28:30] Is Tokyo still “real Japan”?: Reflections on cosmopolitanism vs tradition

[29:30] Teaser for next episode: Culture Day in Japan and Ting’s upcoming U.S. trip