What if the rules holding Japan together are mostly invisible?Introduction by Nick SasakiWhy Japan is uniquely different from any other culture isn’t something you understand by reading a guidebook. You feel it the moment you step into shared space—on a train platform, in a quiet line, on a crowded street where somehow nobody collides. It’s not magic. It’s a … [Read more...] about Japanese Etiquette: The Quiet Rules That Hold Society Together
Lifestyle and Culture
Mastering the Spirit of Service: Transform Everyday Interactions
Introduction by Nick SasakiThank you all for gathering here today.We live in a world where service is often treated as a transaction, a skill, or a job description. But the deeper truth is that service is a spiritual practice. It is a way of honoring the people we encounter, whether they are family members, coworkers, customers, or strangers passing briefly … [Read more...] about Mastering the Spirit of Service: Transform Everyday Interactions
A Christmas Story in Florence: The Ponte Vecchio Bell Ringer
On Christmas Eve, Florence glowed like a living painting — the Arno River reflecting ribbons of gold, the Duomo rising in soft crimson light, and the streets filled with the scent of roasted chestnuts and winter rain. Lovers strolled hand in hand beneath old stone archways, while small shop windows flickered with candles and nativity scenes.But the most magical … [Read more...] about A Christmas Story in Florence: The Ponte Vecchio Bell Ringer
Christmas Stories: Santa in Disguise Around the World
Introduction by Santa in Disguise People often imagine me living only at the North Pole, stepping into the world once a year, leaving gifts, then vanishing again like a dream.But that has never been the full truth.The truth is simpler, quieter, and perhaps more surprising:I walk among you.Not as the figure on postcards or the jolly giant in red, but as someone … [Read more...] about Christmas Stories: Santa in Disguise Around the World
Paris 1920: Jazz, Salons, and Midnight Confessions
Introduction by Sylvia Beach Paris in 1920 was not just a city—it was a heartbeat, a crossroads where artists, dreamers, and outcasts came to reimagine the world. I watched them pass through my bookshop, Shakespeare and Company, each carrying the weight of their own visions: Hemingway with his terse truths, Joyce with his labyrinthine words, Stein with her firm … [Read more...] about Paris 1920: Jazz, Salons, and Midnight Confessions
Comedy Without Politics: How Humor Can Still Unite Us
Introduction — Johnny Carson Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. You know, for thirty years I stood behind a desk, told a few jokes, and tried to make America laugh before bedtime. What I learned is this: laughter is the one language that everybody understands. Politics may divide us, but waiting in line at the DMV, losing your luggage, or trying to put … [Read more...] about Comedy Without Politics: How Humor Can Still Unite Us
From Conflict to Connection: Israel and Foes in Japan
Introduction by Benjamin Netanyahu When I was first invited to Japan for this peace journey, I came with skepticism. For much of my life, I have lived in conflict — leading a nation that faces enemies on all sides. I have stood at podiums defending Israel, shaking my fist at those who vowed our destruction. The idea of sitting in silence with these … [Read more...] about From Conflict to Connection: Israel and Foes in Japan
Charlie Kirk on Japan: Lessons America Must Learn
Introduction by Charlie Kirk When I first set foot in Tokyo, I was struck not just by the dazzling skyline or the efficiency of the trains, but by the feeling that society itself still worked. People respected one another. Streets were clean. Crime was rare. It made me ask: what makes Japan different, and what can we learn from it?Over the next discussions, … [Read more...] about Charlie Kirk on Japan: Lessons America Must Learn
Top Podcasters Roundtable: Shaping the Future of Storytelling
Introduction by Ira Glass “Podcasting didn’t begin as an industry. It began as voices in rooms—people telling stories with nothing but their breath and a microphone. When This American Life first dipped into the medium, we didn’t know we were lighting a fuse. But look around: podcasts have become where people go for news, for laughter, for therapy, for … [Read more...] about Top Podcasters Roundtable: Shaping the Future of Storytelling
Conan Learns Why Women Deserve Endless Respect
Introduction by Conan [Conan walks on stage, the crowd cheers. He straightens his tie, does the awkward hair flip, and leans into the mic.]“Good evening, everybody! Normally, I come out here and make fun of myself for being pale, lanky, and shaped like a question mark. But tonight… tonight’s different. I had a revelation.See, I’ve spent most of my life … [Read more...] about Conan Learns Why Women Deserve Endless Respect