The J-Pops: Attempting Parenting in Japan

Months 6, 11, 23, 24, & pregnancy week 24. This week Justin is still in America, but has deigned to join Mark & Joe to discuss the merits and further merits of the Japanese childcare leave system, which is not something Joe has experienced. There's all the usual favourites, plus the bits you don't like very much. Watch out for a made-up Dad Joke from Joe, you can tell which one it is from Mark's reaction. As usual, please send any questions or comments to us by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 5, 11, 23, 24, & pregnancy week 22. This week Mark & Joe are mostly on their own, as Justin abandoned them for America! Actually, it was more a scheduling conflist that kept us apart. We'll be back to normal next time. For this episode the main topic is the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Please send any questions or comments to us by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 5, 10, 22, 24, & pregnancy week 20. Wow, the list of ages is getting long. Partly because there's another baby on the way, and partly because we have a new host who brought along a baby of his own! Welcome Joe! He's guest-hosted a time or two, so J-Pop regulars will known him well. Today, he catches us up on Yuki, his 10 month old. Other topics for discussion include: wisdom teeth, epidurals, and the toys we hate. Please send any questions or comments to us by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 4, 22, & 23. This week Justin drops some life-changing news on us! What could it be?!?! Plus, we talk about the terrible twos... or as it's known in Japan - the Devil's two year old. Please send any questions or comments to us by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 4, 21, & 23. Japan has lots of rules, and we wonder how this impacts a kid's mental state. This week, we look at a study or two and discuss our personal experiences/concerns about childhood mental health. Also, there's some Noto earthquake round up. Please send any questions or comments to us by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 3, 21 & 22. This week Justin recounts he and his family's experience getting stuck in the Noto Peninsula during the 2024 New Year's Day Noto Peninula Earthquake for 5 days in an evacuation shelter with no water, no power and limited food. Please send any questions or comments to us by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 3, 20, & 22. J-Pop Jeff Wu takes a turn in the guest host seat today. He's a Japan resident from Taiwan with a 10-month-old baby boy. His wife is also from Taiwan, so he talks about navigating parenthood in Japan without a citizen in the family. We also discuss moving the Christmas holiday, public baths, large fish, and Christmas parties. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 3, 20, & 21. What does it mean to be the oldest child? How about the youngest? We discuss whether it matter in determining the outcome of a person's personality. There's also some toddler development talk and Xmas movie recommendations. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 2, 20, & 21. It's a rite of passage for any parenting podcast: the poop episode. This week we scat about toddler constipation and how to alleviate it. We stray off topic a few times, but it all keeps coming back around to poop. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 2, 19, & 21. Tantrums are easily the most enjoyable part of raising toddlers, right? No? Well this week we discuss them in full detail including ways to prevent them and get through them. It's a real minefield out there, so be careful. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 1, 18, & 20. This episode could save your baby's life! And we're not just whistling click bait. That is, once you further learn about the safety tips we discuss in today's episode from more reputable sources, you'll better know how to handle emergencies. So go do that! Topics also include: colic, twins vs not twins, and a very special Brian in Fukuoka contribution. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 1, 18, & 20. This week we dive back into deciding whether some parenting thought are deep or high with a quiz, plus get into onomatopoeia for everyday things. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 18, 19, & a 2-week-old. Screen for young kids is an evil, right? Maybe. Probably. This week we look at an interesting article on screen time that puts it in a slightly different light. There's also talk of health checks, trading babies, and peeing one's pants. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 17, 19, & ...another newborn! This week we talk about how the birth of Emma went and give updates on our toddlers. There's talk of boneless ham, daycare adventures, and even Jenny McCarthy for some reason. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 17, 18, & pregnancy week 37. Toddlers gonna YouTube, so the J-Pops bring you the choicest channels to entertain/educate them. Other talking points include: in-laws in the house, the ABCs, giant Costco teddy bears, and cornhole. Please send any questions or comments to us on the website formerly known as Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 16, 18, & pregnancy week 35. Lots of updates and sickness talk this week. Nico had adventure time for the past 2 weeks with the overseas grandparents visiting, and Koda was dealing with yet another illness that he defeated. Never a dull moment with toddlers. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 16, 17, & pregnancy week 33. Obon vacation is kicking off, and the J-Pops have the kids at home for a while. We talk family Obon plans, as well as a COVID week for one pop and a cruise week for the other. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 15, 17, & pregnancy week 31. It's hot. Summer is happening in Japan again and we've got some sweaty toddlers. We talk about ways to keep them (and you) cool while having fun in the sun. There's also some dad jokes, Japanese of the day and a question or two. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 15, 16, & pregnancy week 29. The J-Pops are unfit parents... in that they've really let themselves go. Today we talk about carving out time for diet and exercise with a baby in the house, baby sign language fails, the Tanabata holiday, and much, much more. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 14, 16, & pregnancy week 27. Ever wondered what parenting style is the best? We talk about it this week and try to figure out why raising humans isn't easier. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 14, 16, & pregnancy week 25. Updates galore and then we get down to the issue of screen time for babies. Other talking points include vendettas against Elmo and Emo. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 14, 15, & pregnancy week 23. This week we talk yet again with our good friend and newly minted J-Pop Joe! We talk with him about worrying too much, not enough, gender issues, and sleeping arrangements. We also have some more fun with ChatGPT. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 13, 15, & pregnancy week 21. Anyone in Japan knows that we had big ol' earthquake recently, and one of the J-Pops reports from the epicenter! There were some health issues at the other J-Pop's, so we have front-line reporting from the doctor's office as well. Our main topic though is the kids showing favoritism toward one parent over the other (spolier alert: both our kids favor the parent with the hit podcast), and we talk about communicating with your kid when he's an old, old man. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 13, 14, & pregnancy week 19. It's time to ask the age old question: how do our kids stack up against their peers? But more specifically, are they reaching their milestones? With the help of ChatGPT we take a few quizzes to determine how they're doing and go over typical milestones for a 13 month old and a 15 month old. We also discuss high fevers, dealing with stuffy noses, and the fleeting nature of existence! Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 12, 14, & pregnancy week 17. We have a couple of one year olds now, so is it time to start disciplining them? We discuss an article that takes a hard approach to that question. There's also some daycare talk, some first words, and we toy with the idea of giving up our toys. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Years 1, 1+ & pregnancy week 15. It's a party up in here! Or it was this past weekend. Koda's first birthday party was a success so Mark and Justin decided to give some tips on how to make sure every birthday party is too. There's also talk of formal atire for a daycare ceremony and ways to get kids to stop hitting you. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 11, 13 & pregnancy week 13. Today the Pops talk about time and how to manage that bucking broncress. We also get into shots, post-breakfast clean up, and babies feeding themselves. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 11, 12 & new pregnancy week 11! Time flies when you're stressed out! This week Mark & Justin get into the ins and outs of daycare procedures. There's a lot... They also discuss parenting stress and how they deal with the ever changing parental landscape. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 10 & 12. Mark and family are back in Japan. He talks a bit about the trip, and somehow we wander into a classic US vs Japan gun culture discussion. Don't worry--we end up being right about everything. This episode is mostly about the updates, and Mark breaks some news that just may change The J-Pops forever. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 10 & 1 year (almost)! Koda goes to America & Nico gets shot with a new vaccine. Hear about both of their experiences and what a BCG vaccine actually is. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 9 & 11. Babies are dynamic little creatures. Some baby stuff gets way harder through their first year, other things get easier, and other things get harder, then easier, then harder again. We pick that apart this episode, and we talk about getting into daycare, tips for flying with babies, and much more. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 9 & 11. Justin made it safely back to Japan after his family's long visit to America! We discuss his experience traveling back and how it compares to his trip to America now that his son is older. We also talk about our emotions, how terrible JAL is, and a scary feeding incident. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 8 & 10. Early edition! Celebrating Christmas and New Year's in another country lets you pick and choose the traditions you want for your family. Today we discuss what our holidays abroad look like, plus IKEA, bruises, chess, cold temperatures, and Satan. I mean Santa. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 8 & 10. This week we are joined by soon-to-be J-Pop Joe Fowler to discuss he and his wife's pregnancy journey. We get into IVF, balancing schedules, sleeping arrangements, and even some JLPT bashing. Joe can sometimes be found on his own podcast Ishikawa Summit to Sea @ISummittosea but mostly his own Twitter @KumaYama100. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 7 & 9. Justin sits down with Jessica Riley, a 12-year veteran of the Head Start childcare program. She gives her advice on several best practices for raising young kids, with topics including educational toys, schedules, baby-proofing, conflict resolution, conscious discipline, and much more. The J-Pops also talk tattoos and the fame that likely awaits their boys. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 7 & 9. Justin & Mark decide it's time to put the dad knowledge to the test by, well, taking an online test. There's also some tooth talk, poop talk, and new carseat talk. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 6 & 8. Mark has a quiz this week about baby best practices, and Justin has the answers, mostly. We also talk Halloween, discipline, and a Japanese nursery rhyme. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 6 & 8. This week Justin talks about terrifying his child at a local farm and Mark shares his experience hauling his child across the country on a road trip. New experiences for everyone! Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 5 & 7. Well, it finally happened. We've had the first sick J-Baby. Today, we discuss the road back to baby health, some baby firsts, and our ideal family sizes. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 5 & 7. This week the J-Pops get in their way-back machines and talk about how they ended up in Japan in the first place. They also talk about ways to save for a child's college tuition in both the US and Japan. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 5 & 6. J-Pop Justin's family is in the USA, and that meant a 13-hour flight with baby in tow. Today we share tips on flying with a 6-month-old, and we talk US baby life in general. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 4 & 6. This week we're joined by our wives, otherwise known as the J-Moms, and our two babbling baby boys. We discuss things from our wive's perspectives and go over some 4 & 6 month old milestones. Please forgive any sound issues with this episode. We were al sitting around one mic, which made editing very difficult. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 4 & 5. This week, we come clean about bath time. We have a couple hundred baby baths under our belts at this point, and we share all the tips and tricks we've happened upon so far. We also discuss what we've changed about ourselves since having kids. And finally, the dad jokes take a tragic turn. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 3 & 5, still. This week we discuss Mongolian spots that can occur on many babies around the world, but not all, as well as developments in their digestive tract that can lead to odd pooping schedules. We also have some important updates at the end, so hopefully you'll make it that far. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 3 & 5. This week we look into mysterious nighttime fussiness. We also talk music and somehow end up recommending an Insane Clown Posse song. Surprising twist: the "J" in J-Pops stood for juggalo all along. We also take a ruminative look at our lives in Japanese. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Months 3 & 5. Lots to cover this week. We get into toys, shopping, turning walls into chalk boards, 100 days photo ops, and yet another round of vaccines. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Week 14 & Month 4. Summer is here, and we have the sweaty babies to prove it. Today, we talk about how to navigate the heat with a tiny, delicate child, plus the usual updates, language troubles, and superior dad jokes. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Week 13 & Month 4 (still). This week we discuss when to introduce solid foods & the differences between Japan & the US/UK. We also discuss 4 month check-ups, ways to get a US baby their social security number from Japan & talk weird dietary habits.

Week 12 & Month 4. This week, a J-Baby tries and fails to open a bank account and keep his milk down. We tackle infant banking difficulties and somehow end up with a plan to reorganize the US congress. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Week 11 & Month 4. The boys are growing and getting better at talking, and so are their babies... Hey oh! But seriously, this week's episode gets into baby social, physical, and cognitive milestones for 2 and 4 month olds, as well as some actual baby talk. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Weeks 9 & 16. This week we catch up on almost two weeks of updates, like birthdays, more vaccines, consulate visits, & some baby trauma (but not really). Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Weeks 8 & 15. We forgo all the normal stuff today and interview Japan podcast legend Brian Waters. His family background (one Japanese parent and one American) gives him a lot of perspective relevant to our own mixed race kids. He has also raised kids of his own in Japan, so Brian brings the J-Pop goods. Did we mention he does autopsies? Topics include: the pursuit of bilingualism, being "half," being "quarter," life on the autopsy floor, and Norm, peace be upon him. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Weeks 7 & 14. Both J-Babies spent quality time with 2 year olds this week, and we share what we learned. Nico had his 100-day ceremony, and he pretended to eat many foods (and nonfoods) as part of it. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Weeks 6 & 13. This week was much of the same, so we get into some bottle feeding & sanitization needs. There are also new types of dad jokes being told, so be prepared to cringe a little less this week. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Weeks 5 & 12. This Golden Week was all about travel, festivals, and medical emergencies. Not full-blown emergencies, I guess, but a trip to the hospital for a case of lactation mastitis. We also talk new parents' diets and baby acne, and we sing the praises of the Honda Freed, peace be upon it. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Weeks 4 & 11. Check-ups, immunizations, and home visits from healthcare professionals. We had all three this week, and we talk about 'em. Baby shots, man. Heartbreaking. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Weeks 3 & 10. The topic this week is a cherished rite of passage: baby's first consular appointment. We also talk about babies' lopsided heads, and we jump back into the frigid waters of dad jokes. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Weeks 2 & 9. This week we share what we've found on developing both your baby's vision and bilingual skills. We also share some extreme poos we've experienced, and we co-author a saying that will continue to be used hundreds of years from now, no question. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Weeks 1 & 8. How do you integrate a baby into your dog's life? Or is it a dog into your baby's life? Either way, we answer this question from the perspective of Mark's dog Isla. We also reveal our fatherly emotions and that we have them. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

A 7-week old & ...a newborn! In this very special episode, the J-Pops welcome another J-Baby. Mother and child are A-OK, both hanging at the hospital this week. Mark shares the ins and outs of the delivery (OK, mostly just one big out). Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Pregnancy week 37 & a 6-week old. This week we take a dive into What to Expect: The First Year and discuss the wildest things written there. Then we, the hosts of a parenting podcast, caution against overparenting. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Pregnancy week 36 & a 5-week old. Not gonna beat around the bush: This week we talk about sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and the measures you can take to defend against it. It's a heavy topic to be sure, but we artfully balance it out with dads bods, ridiculous customs, and a carefully curated selection of the finest dad jokes. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Pregnancy week 35 & a 1-month old. This week we highlight a few newborn necessities. We also separate the deep ideas from the high ones. There are a few cultural anxietites mixed in, mostly to balance out the mellow from all the high ideas. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Pregnancy week 34 & a 3-week old. Track your baby's progress via app like a real 21st century parent! We also share a few baby-centric YouTube channels that we've come across. Oh, and there's a lot of wisdom this week, but please don't expect these wisdom levels out of us every time. This time we were just so wisdom for some reason. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Pregnancy week 33 & a 2-week old. We run the gamut today: picking them up when they cry, child-friendly photo sharing, STEM toys, the mysteries of the placenta, and giraffe turn-ons. You heard me. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Pregnancy week 32 & a 1-week old. The main event today is a good long chat with TV personality Bobby Judo. We talk about his experiences raising twins in Japan, using baby sign language with them, and how being mixed race has come into play. We've also got the usual updates and jokes*. (*Mark and Justin freely admit that what they say cannot technically be described as "jokes" and with this acknowledgement hereby absolve themselves of any damages claimed on grounds of false advertising.) Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Pregnancy week 31 & ...a newborn! In this very special episode, the J-Pops welcome a J-Baby. All is good with mother and child, but there was a surprising and sad turn along the way. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Pregnancy weeks 30 & 37. This week we dive into the pregnancy book and find the five weirdest things written there. We also talk about how we'd like to prep our little digital natives for their high-tech futures. Please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter at @JPopsPodcast or by email at info@thejpops.com.

Pregnancy weeks 24 & 31. This week, we'll tell you everything you always wanted to know about Japan's parental leave system but were afraid to ask, and we share misadventures in a maternity photo shoot. We also have new car updates, and we put the final nail in the JLPT's coffin. As always, please send any questions or comments to us on Twitter @jpopspodcast or via email at info@thejpops.com.

Pregnancy -- Weeks 17 & 24. Welcome to The J-Pops, the only podcast with "J-pop" in the title that gives you a 100% no J-pop guarantee. We are Mark and Justin, two soon-to-be dads (pops) living in Japan (J). We both hail from the US, and this podcast covers our attempts at parenting abroad. Today's episode gets into our experiences with fertility clinics and IVF in Japan (OK, mostly our wives' experiences). Our guest Paige McGee spent over two years as a nursing manager at a fertility clinic in San Francisco, and she helps us compare/contrast with fertility treatments in the US. We also talk ceremonies and eggs. Enjoy! Questions/comments; Email: info@thejpops.com, Twitter @JPopsPodcast