If you've ever felt drawn to Japan - its quiet beauty, its rituals, its unhurried way of moving through the world - this conversation is for you.
Today I'm speaking with Hiroko Yoda, Tokyo-based author, translator, folklorist, and certified kimono consultant. Her book Eight Million Ways to Happiness is the culmination of more than a decade of research, exploration, and living in Japan. It's a cultural history of the Japanese spiritual landscape - and a roadmap for anyone questing for meaning in the modern world, without locking themselves into any specific faith or belief system.
And I am thrilled to say this is her first Australian podcast interview.
In this conversation, we explore:
- What Japan's eight million gods and spirits tell us about finding meaning in the everyday
- How Japanese spiritual traditions - from shrine visits to seasonal rituals - can help us feel more grounded and present
- The concept of awe and why seeking wonder in ordinary life changes everything
- What Japan's elders have taught Hiroko about what really matters in the second half of life
- How to reconnect with nature and the seasons as a doorway to something deeper
- Whether Japan's quiet everyday spirituality translates to our busy Western lives - or whether it's a simplistic outsider fantasy
- How to weave a meaningful experience into a trip to Japan without it feeling like a tourist checklist
This is a conversation about slowing down, finding hidden meaning in the everyday, and what an ancient culture might offer a modern world that is moving very, very fast.
Episode Resources:
- Hiroko's website: hirokoyoda.com
- Hiroko's Newsletter: blog.hirokoyoda.com
- Instagram: @hi_yoda_1
Additional Resources:
- Your SPACE Prescription - Anti Guilt Calculator
- Free Weekly Newsletter
- Dear Blokes Downloadable
- Setting Boundaries That Stick - checklist
- 52 Ideas for YOUR Version of A Grown Up's Gap Year
📚 Get your copy of A Grown Up’s Gap Year the book, from Amazon, moniquevantulder.com, bookshops and libraries, subscribe to the podcast, and take the first step toward your own A Grown Up’s Gap Year.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
NFL Daily with Gregg Rosenthal
Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.