In this delightfully chaotic and cross-continental episode, Walter calls in from Tokyo, where he’s adjudicating a piano festival, eating eel jelly, avoiding horse carpaccio, and discovering hidden bar pianos in the backstreets of Japan. Meanwhile, Pokie shares his experience performing rare tree-themed piano music at a local church (hello, Sibelius fans), prepping for a Mahler summer concert, and navigating the pet peeve minefield of slurping and leg-shaking.

Together, they dive into:

• What it’s like to hear 200 students perform over 10 days in Japan
• Why Latin American piano repertoire is having a moment overseas
• How Japanese bathrooms are more elegant than your apartment
• Pokie’s BarTech tips on building a musician website—why something is better than nothing and how to get started without perfectionism holding you back
• Their favorite vending machine snacks (and the ones to avoid)
• The top 10-second pet peeves from their group chat (you’ve been warned)

🎹 Whether you're a musician, traveler, or curious foodie, this episode offers laughs, insights, and just the right amount of musical geekery.

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