第500回目のポッドキャストのテーマは「Hapa英会話Podcastの10年を振り返る」です。今日は500回目のエピソードであり、10周年を迎える記念すべき日です。この10年間、私たちはリスナーの皆さんと共に成長し、数々の特別な瞬間を共有してきました。今回のエピソードでは、ポッドキャストを始めたきっかけから、これまでの学びや挑戦、そして未来へのビジョンについて語ります。Hapa英会話を支えてくださった皆さんへの感謝の気持ちを込めて、これからも共に学び、成長していきましょう！

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Welcome to a very special episode of the Hapa Eikaiwa podcast! Today marks our 500th episode and, incredibly, our 10th anniversary! I can hardly believe it. It feels like just yesterday that I released the very first episode, not knowing what would come of it. Back in 2014, podcasting was still a relatively new platform, and honestly, I wasn’t even sure if it was going to stick around for a few years, let alone become what it has today.

When I think back to those early days, I never could have imagined that this podcast would continue for a whole decade or that we’d reach the milestone of 500 episodes. It’s been an incredible journey, filled with so many memorable moments, and none of this would have been possible without all of you—my amazing listeners. Your support, your encouragement, and your dedication to learning have been the driving force behind this podcast. I am so grateful to each and every one of you for coming along on this journey with me.

So, in honor of hitting these big milestones, I wanted to take some time today to reflect on how the Hapa Eikaiwa podcast got started, the lessons I’ve learned, the challenges I’ve faced, and what I see in store for the future. I hope that by sharing my story, I can inspire you to pursue your own passions, no matter how daunting they may seem.

The beginning of the Hapa Eikaiwa podcast was actually a bit of an accident, if you can believe it. At the time, I was running an Eikaiwa school in LA called BYB English Center. Many of my Japanese students were struggling with a common issue—they could understand what we were saying in English during the lessons, but when it came to real-life situations outside the classroom, like ordering at a fast food restaurant or trying to follow a conversation between native speakers, they found it almost impossible. The English we teach in classrooms is often slow, clear, and simplified, but in the real world, people speak at a natural pace, use slang, and sometimes mumble. It’s a whole different ballgame, and I wanted to find a way to bridge that gap.

One day, a student asked me, “Jun, can you talk to me like you talk with your friends?” I tried, but it was so hard to replicate that natural flow. The words just didn’t come out the same way because, at the end of the day, he was my student, not my friend. That’s when I had an idea—what if I could record real, unscripted conversations between native English speakers and use those as learning materials? No dialogue to memorize, no simplified language—just real, natural conversations.

So, I started recording my English teachers talking about everyday topics, and these recordings became lessons for my students. They were a hit! Around that time, I also started listening to podcasts, including one about how to start a podcast. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that podcasting could be the perfect medium to share these conversations with a wider audience. It was something you could listen to anywhere—on your commute, while exercising, or even while doing chores around the house. And just like that, the Hapa Eikaiwa podcast was born.

I’ll be honest—when I first started out, I had no idea if anyone would listen. I remember telling myself that I’d try making ten episodes and see how it goes. At first, it was just a few of my students and my mom tuning in, but slowly, more people started to find the podcast. By the time I hit the 10th episode, I was getting close to 100 downloads, which blew my mind. That’s when I knew I had to keep going—not just because the numbers were growing, but because I genuinely loved what I was doing.

Over the years, this podcast has become more than just a teaching tool; it’s turned into a diary of my life. Through this platform, I’ve been able to share so many personal stories—my travels, my wedding, the birth of my children, moving to Japan, and even navigating life during a global pandemic. In a way, this podcast has been an audiobook of my life, and I’m so thankful for all of you for allowing me to share these moments with you.

One of my favorite episodes has to be the first interview I did with my mom—episode 99, called “母親との対談.” It remains one of the most downloaded episodes on the Hapa Eikaiwa podcast to this day. That conversation gave me a chance to ask my mom about her experiences moving to the US in her early twenties, facing cultural barriers, and overcoming the challenges of an international marriage. It was an eye-opening experience for me, and I learned so much about her that I didn’t know before.

Looking back on these past 10 years, I’ve realized that one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of consistency. Aside from a few breaks during major holidays, I’ve put out a new episode almost every week. It’s taught me that great things are achieved through small, consistent actions. As the saying goes, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

But, I have to admit, there were times when it was really tough to come up with stories to tell in the introduction. I’d find myself staring at a blank page for hours, trying to think of something interesting to share. That process taught me another valuable lesson: to notice the little things in life. I used to think that only big events were worth talking about, but the truth is, life is made up of small moments—doing chores, commuting, taking care of your kids, conversing with a friend, taking a walk around your neighborhood—and these everyday moments are just as valuable if we take the time to notice them.

The past 10 years have been an incredible ride, and I want to thank every single one of you who have supported me and been on this journey with me. One of the best things that’s come out of this podcast is the connection I’ve been able to make with all of you. Before the pandemic, I had the chance to meet many of you in person during seminars in Japan, and I hope to do more of that in the future.

One of my goals for the next 10 years is to find more ways to bring us together, both online and in person. I believe that learning English is about more than just studying a language—it’s about connecting with people. Whether it’s connecting with native speakers or other English learners, English is a bridge that brings people together, and I want to continue building that bridge with all of you.

Once again, thank you so much for listening and supporting the Hapa Eikaiwa podcast. Whether you’ve been with me since the very beginning or just started listening today, I am so grateful to have you here. I’m not sure what the next 10 years will bring, but I promise to continue providing quality content that will help you learn and grow. Let’s continue this journey together, one step at a time, and most importantly, let’s have fun!

Before I wrap up today, I want to leave you with a little something to think about. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past decade, it’s that life is always changing, and sometimes the smallest steps lead to the biggest adventures. So, whatever it is you’re passionate about, whatever dream you have in your heart—take that first step. You never know where it might lead you.

Thank you all so much for listening today. Here’s to another 10 years of learning, growing, and connecting. Until next time, keep challenging yourself, keep pushing forward, and remember, you’re capable of more than you think.