Alex in Japan — Episode 01
October 11, 2026
Chapter 1 — A Slightly Uncertain Morning
“Alex! You’re going to be late!”
Dad’s voice echoed through our new apartment in Osaka.
“Coming!”
I was standing in front of the mirror, trying to fix my blond hair.
It wasn’t working.
Sixteen years old. A new country. A new school. And approximately zero Japanese words in my vocabulary.
Three days ago, my biggest problem was packing my suitcase.
Now I was about to attend a Japanese high school.
Dad appeared in the doorway.
“Nervous?”
“Me? Never!”
He gave me a look.
“Alex.”
“Okay. Maybe a little.”
Dad smiled.
“It’s your first day. You don’t have to understand everything right away.”
“That’s good, because I currently understand nothing.”
We both laughed.
But when I picked up my schoolbag, I felt a strange tightness in my stomach.
Back home, I knew everyone.
Here, I didn’t even know how to ask where the bathroom was.
Dad gently patted my shoulder.
“Just try to make one friend today.”
“One friend? Easy!”
At least, I hoped it would be.
Chapter 2 — Wait… Why Is Everyone Taking Off Their Shoes?!
The school building looked enormous.
Students were walking through the entrance, chatting with friends and greeting teachers.
Everything seemed normal.
Until I noticed something strange.
Everyone was taking off their shoes.
Not one person.
Not two.
EVERYONE.
I stopped.
“Wait… what?”
Students opened small lockers, removed their outdoor shoes, and changed into different shoes.
I stared.
Was there a problem with the floor?
Was this some kind of special ceremony?
Then a teacher approached me.
Teacher: 「アレックス君ですね。おはようございます。」
(You’re Alex, right? Good morning.)
I smiled.
“Good morning!”
Teacher: 「まず、ここで上履きに履き替えてください。」
(First, please change into your indoor shoes here.)
I smiled again.
I understood exactly one thing.
He was definitely talking to me.
“Sorry… English?”
The teacher paused.
Then he looked across the entrance.
Teacher: 「ハル君、ちょっと来てくれる？」
(Haru, could you come here for a moment?)
A black-haired boy turned around.
He looked like someone who had been enjoying a perfectly peaceful morning.
Until now.
Chapter 3 — The Boy Who Spoke English
The black-haired boy walked toward us.
He had a quiet expression and the unmistakable look of someone who preferred not to attract attention.
Teacher: 「ハル君、アレックス君に上履きのこと説明してあげて。」
(Haru, please explain the indoor shoes to Alex.)
Haru: 「えっ、僕ですか？」
(Huh? Me?)
Teacher: 「英語、得意やろ？」
(You’re good at English, aren’t you?)
Haru: 「……まあ、多少は。」
(…Well, a little.)
The teacher smiled.
Teacher: 「ほな、頼んだで。」
(Then I’m counting on you.)
Haru let out a tiny sigh.
Haru: 「……朝からえらいことになったな。」
(…What a way to start the morning.)
Then he turned to me.
Haru: “You need to change your shoes.”
I froze.
“WAIT. YOU SPEAK ENGLISH?!”
Several students turned to look at us.
Haru blinked.
Haru: “Yes. A little.”
“THAT’S AMAZING!”
Haru: “You don’t have to shout.”
“Sorry! I’m just really happy!”
For the first time since arriving in Japan, I felt my shoulders relax.
Someone understood me.
Haru pointed toward the lockers.
Haru: “In many Japanese schools, students have separate indoor shoes. We call them uwabaki.”
I looked down at my sneakers.
“So… my shoes aren’t allowed inside?”
Haru: “That’s right.”
“But they’re clean!”
Haru: “That’s not the point.”
I thought for a moment.
“So Japan has indoor shoes… and outdoor shoes?”
Haru: “Yes.”
“Does Japan have indoor socks too?”
Haru stared at me.
Haru: 「……なんやねん、それ。」
(…What kind of question is that?)
I grinned.
I liked this guy already.
He didn’t look nearly as enthusiastic.
Chapter 4 — The Loudest New Student
A few minutes later, we entered the classroom.
The teacher stood at the front.
Haru was beside me.
Teacher: 「じゃあ、アレックス君。みんなに自己紹介してもらおうか。」
(All right, Alex. Could you introduce yourself to everyone?)
Haru translated.
Haru: “He wants you to introduce yourself.”
“Oh! I’ve got this!”
I stepped forward.
“HELLO, EVERYONE!”
The classroom went silent.
Then a few students giggled.
“MY NAME IS ALEX! I’M SIXTEEN, I’M FROM AMERICA, AND I’M REALLY EXCITED TO BE HERE!”
Haru closed his eyes for a second.
Haru: 「……声、でかすぎるやろ。」
(…Does he have to be that loud?)
The teacher looked at Haru.
Teacher: 「ハル君、通訳してくれる？」
(Haru, could you translate that?)
Haru: 「はい……。」
(Yes…)
Haru turned to the class.
Haru: 「アレックスです。16歳で、アメリカから来ました。日本に来られてうれしいそうです。」
(His name is Alex. He’s sixteen, he’s from America, and he’s happy to be here in Japan.)
I gave everyone a big thumbs-up.
“LET’S BE FRIENDS!”
Haru sighed again.
Haru: 「……みんなと仲良くしたいそうです。」
(…He says he wants to be friends with everyone.)
Someone laughed.
Then someone else.
Soon, the classroom felt a little less frightening.
I smiled.
Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Chapter 5 — Best Friends Already?!
By lunchtime, I had made an important decision.
Haru was going to be my first friend in Japan.
There was just one small problem.
I hadn’t told Haru yet.
I walked straight to his desk.
“HEY, HARU!”
He nearly dropped his pencil.
Haru: “What?”
“Let’s explore Osaka together sometime!”
Haru: “Explore?”
“Yeah! Food, shops, famous places… everything!”
Haru hesitated.
He clearly hadn’t planned on becoming anyone’s personal Osaka tour guide.
Haru: “Well… maybe, if I get the chance.”
My eyes lit up.
“AWESOME! IT’S A PLAN!”
Haru: “Wait, I didn’t—”
But I was already celebrating.
Haru lowered his head.
Haru: 「……それ、断ったつもりやってんけどな。」
(…I thought I’d politely turned him down.)
I didn’t understand the Japanese words.
But I did notice something.
For just a second, Haru almost smiled.
“See? We’re going to be great friends!”
Haru: “You really don’t give up, do you?”
“Nope!”
Haru: 「……先が思いやられるわ。」
(…This is going to be exhausting.)
Chapter 6 — A Slightly More Fun Japan
After school, I walked toward the station.
The streets of Osaka were busy.
Bicycles passed by.
Trains rumbled overhead.
Shop signs filled the streets with unfamiliar Japanese characters.
Yesterday, all of it had felt overwhelming.
Today, something was different.
I was still confused by almost everything.
I still couldn’t read the signs.
And I still didn’t understand why one building needed so many different kinds of shoes.
But now, I knew someone.
“Haru!”
He turned around.
I waved.
“SEE YOU TOMORROW!”
Haru gave me a puzzled look.
Haru: “Tomorrow is Saturday.”
“Oh. Right!”
I laughed.
“Then see you Monday!”
Haru: “See you.”
He started walking away.
Then he glanced back.
Haru: “And Alex?”
“Yeah?”
Haru: “Don’t forget your indoor shoes on Monday.”
I grinned.
“NO PROMISES!”
Haru shook his head.
But this time, I was almost certain he was smiling.
That evening, Dad asked me how my first day had gone.
“Did you make a friend?”
I thought about Haru.
Then I smiled.
“Yeah. I think I did.”
For the first time since moving to Japan, I wasn’t just wondering what I’d left behind.
I was looking forward to what came next.
Alex’s Discovery — Japanese School Life
1. Why do Japanese students change shoes?
In many Japanese schools, students remove their outdoor shoes at the entrance and change into special indoor shoes called uwabaki (上履き).
This helps keep indoor spaces clean and is part of everyday school life.
2. Can “maybe” mean “no” in Japan?
Japanese conversations sometimes use indirect expressions to avoid rejecting someone too strongly.
For example, 「また機会があれば」 (Maybe another time, if there’s an opportunity) can be a polite way to decline an invitation.
However, the meaning depends on the situation and the speaker. It doesn’t always mean no.
Alex takes Haru’s uncertain answer as an enthusiastic yes — much to Haru’s surprise.
Japanese Words to Remember
- 上履き (Uwabaki): Indoor shoes worn at school.
- 下駄箱 (Getabako): Shoe locker or shoe cabinet.
- おはようございます (Ohayō gozaimasu): Good morning.
- ほな (Hona): A Kansai-style expression meaning “well then” or “see you,” depending on context.
