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When sharing our faith invites ridicule, will we hide the One we love or stand unashamed in belonging to Him? Will we magnify Jesus or build our lives around avoiding people's disapproval? When two classmates visit the café where Hanaya works part-time, they turn her faith into the punchline of their jokes. The nickname they give her is meant to mock, but Hanaya sees it differently. She doesn't merely tolerate being called Jesus Girl. She owns it. Yet it isn't defiance that sustains her. It's the love of Jesus. When the café owner, Yeona's dad, steps in to defend her, an unexpected conversation follows about ridicule, the cost of standing with Jesus, and what it means to remain unashamed in a world that doesn't always understand Him. PS: If you liked the song in this episode, you can find my music project, ⁠DREAMMERE⁠, on Spotify and Apple Music. I write original lyrics and create songs inspired by my stories and reflections.  Hanaya Oki Chapters:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPy Know more:https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

An episode about faith, doubt, and trusting God in difficult times. Sometimes, the hardest days are the ones that leave us with the most questions. After a disappointing setback and an unexpected emotional blow, Yeona finds herself wrestling with jealousy, loss, and fears she doesn't quite know how to express. Caught between the things she longs for and the things she fears losing, she turns to God—with honest questions and a heart full of doubts. What do you do when life becomes complicated in ways you never expected? And how do you trust God when you can't understand what He's doing? Sometimes, God draws near like a gentle wind—not always with the answers we want, but with a whisper of hope. Yet surrendering can be the hardest part. He knows the places within us that need healing and freedom, even when we're not ready to let go. He gently knocks and waits for us to open the door. PS: If you liked the song in this episode, you can find my music project, ⁠⁠⁠DREAMMERE⁠⁠⁠, on Spotify and Apple Music. I write original lyrics and create songs inspired by my stories and reflections. Hanaya Oki Chapters: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPy Know more: https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

An episode about faith and the unexpected ways our lives can become intertwined. Yeona opens up to her dad about her growing interest in Jesus and the woman who's helping her think more deeply about God, faith, and the meaning of life. Then comes an unexpected discovery. Suddenly, people and relationships in Yeona's life seem more connected—and more complicated—than she ever imagined. Is it simply coincidence, or could there be more to it? As Yeona continues her journey toward Jesus, what might these unexpected discoveries mean for her future? Hanaya Oki Chapters:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPyKnow more:https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

What does resilient faith look like when life doesn't turn out as planned? After hearing Emika's story of an unexpected pregnancy at seventeen and a life-changing encounter in a park, Yeona wants to know what happened next. Emika shares her journey through young motherhood, building a business, and hardship, while learning to trust God one step at a time. But there's something Yeona still doesn't know: Emika is Hanaya's mother. When others see your mistakes, God sees more. If you feel judged by one part of your story, remember: you don't have to prove your worth to the world or run someone else's race. God sees the struggles nobody else sees. Sometimes, faithfulness means simply taking the next step with Him. PS: If you liked the song in this episode, you can find my music project, ⁠⁠DREAMMERE⁠⁠, on Spotify and Apple Music. I write original lyrics and create songs inspired by my stories and reflections. Hanaya Oki Chapters: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPy Know more: https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

A Christian story of faith, grace, and hope—and the unexpected ways God can change a life. Before Hanaya's story began, there was another story: the story of her mother, Emika. At seventeen and six weeks pregnant, Emika faced a future she never expected—filled with fear, uncertainty, and a choice that would echo through the years. Sitting alone on a park bench, she replayed the words people had spoken to her, wondering what was going to happen to her life. But that afternoon, one unexpected encounter would change everything. Sometimes, the person who eventually becomes strong was once the person who thought she couldn't survive another day. Sometimes, the woman who teaches others about grace first had to discover that grace was meant for her, too. And sometimes, what looks impossible at the beginning is only the first page of something God hasn't finished writing. PS: If you liked the song in this episode, you can find my music project, DREAMMERE, on Spotify and Apple Music. I write original lyrics and create songs inspired by my stories and reflections. Hanaya Oki Chapters: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPy Know more: https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

Life doesn't always have to look the way it has always looked. Sometimes God invites us beyond our past identities, familiar routines, the expectations of others, and the boundaries we've placed around ourselves. He may lead us into new environments, relationships, opportunities, and adventures. Some things from the past may remain. But don't be afraid to step out of old ruts. Challenge limiting assumptions. Dream again. Reimagine what could be. Stay open to the new. After a short school event, Hanaya, Noriko, Yuri, and Yeona find themselves with an unexpected free afternoon—and decide to spend it at an amusement park. What begins as a fun afternoon becomes a conversation about growing up, the end of their school days, and how life changes. Some beautiful seasons of life don't last forever. But that doesn't mean the journey is over. There are still new adventures waiting. Follow the wind of the Spirit into wide-open spaces and uncharted places. There may be risk, but also unexpected possibilities for those willing to follow God's leading. PS: If you liked the song in this episode, you can find my music project, DREAMMERE, on Spotify and Apple Music. I write original lyrics and create songs inspired by my stories and reflections. Hanaya Oki Chapters:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPyKnow more:https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

Following Jesus doesn't necessarily mean giving up every dream.But sometimes the most important question isn't whether we will reach our dreams, but what kind of person we will become on the way there. Noriko has dreamed of becoming a K-POP idol for years. After several unsuccessful attempts to become a K-POP trainee, she is finally shortlisted for a live global audition event in Tokyo with a Korean entertainment agency. She asks Hanaya to accompany her. After the audition, they return to Kamakura and spend some time at the beach. As Noriko waits to find out what happens next, she and Hanaya talk about what she is really chasing. They talk about talent, rejection, fame, surrender, and eternity. Noriko is very close to believing in and following Jesus, and Hanaya understands that pursuing a K-POP career could present genuine challenges to Noriko's faith, from clothing and choreography to lyrics, concepts, and the image she may be expected to present. And if the agency eventually forms a girl group, the pressure could become even greater. Noriko would be expected to follow the agency's direction and the group's direction. What will she be willing to compromise? And what will she do when following Jesus and pursuing her dream pull her in different directions? PS: If you liked the song in this episode, you can find my music project, DREAMMERE, on Spotify and Apple Music. I write original lyrics and create songs inspired by my stories and reflections. Hanaya Oki Chapters:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPyKnow more:https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

Who gets to define the life I’m supposed to live? What happens when following God means questioning the future others have planned for you? Parents, relatives, church leaders, teachers, and friends may all have ideas about who we should become. But sometimes discovering how God has designed us means going against the grain. Some battles need to be fought because the cost of not fighting them can be even greater. Hiroto’s parents believe he has finally returned to the future they had planned for him. But when his mother discovers he has been spending time with Hanaya after school, questions about faith, family expectations, and Hiroto’s future can no longer remain hidden. God has given us minds, abilities, interests, and freedom. Learning how to use them may mean disappointing people when their plans for our lives differ from God’s leading. Sometimes freedom means cutting the string. The string isn’t bad because someone is guiding you. The problem comes when it is held so tightly that you never learn to fly. PS: If you liked the song in this episode, you can find my music project, DREAMMERE, on Spotify and Apple Music. I write original lyrics and create songs inspired by my stories and reflections. Hanaya Oki Chapters:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPyKnow more:https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

What do you do with the things you can’t fix? There are some things we cannot go back and change. Some pain stays with us longer than we expect. Some memories make us smile. Others still hurt. In this episode, Yeona finally tells Emika why she became emotional and cried that day in the bookstore when Emika called her “Sweetie.” But Yeona still doesn’t know that Emika is Hanaya’s mom. As Yeona opens up about a painful memory she has carried for years, she begins to wrestle with what it means to grieve, to let go, and to trust God with the things she cannot fix. Sometimes, we carry the grief and still move forward. It doesn’t mean leaving the broken parts of our story behind. It means learning to place them in God’s hands. The wound may still hurt. We may still remember. But we don’t have to stay there, and we don’t have to carry it alone. Because God’s love is bigger than the things we regret. PS: If you liked the song in this episode, you can find my music project, DREAMMERE, on Spotify and Apple Music. I write original lyrics and create songs inspired by my stories and reflections. Hanaya Oki Chapters:https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPyKnow more:https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

What do you do when you love someone deeply, but you don’t know where God is leading either of you? Sometimes love doesn’t have to be abandoned. But the timing—and the outcome—have to be surrendered. After summer break, Hiroto and Hanaya sit together after school for one of their usual conversations—conversations that began when Hiroto first became interested in Jesus. Now a Christian himself, Hiroto has come a long way in a short time, with Hanaya walking alongside him through questions of faith, life, and love. But the future they once imagined together is becoming harder to hold onto. Hiroto’s parents have no intention of supporting his plans to study overseas with Hanaya. They don’t want him pursuing Jesus or getting involved in missions, and they already have their own plans for his future. When Hiroto tries to find another way to make those plans possible, things don’t go the way he hoped. With the future weighing heavily on him, Hiroto does most of the talking. Their conversation moves through young love, faith, purity, waiting, surrender, and what it means to trust God when you cannot see what comes next. For Hanaya, could this conversation be more than just another talk? Could God be using Hiroto’s words to quiet the fear she has been carrying—that one day, he might simply forget her? And could their relationship become a blueprint for something bigger than romance? Hanaya Oki Chapters: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPy Know more: https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

What if God has been preparing your life for a purpose long before you noticed? What do you do when fear makes you question the path ahead? As Hanaya and her mother walk along the seaside streets of Kamakura, Hanaya opens up about the questions weighing on her heart. What begins as an ordinary conversation unfolds into a gentle journey through love, loss, calling, fear, and faith. Together, they wrestle with questions about relationships, missions, finances, the uncertainty of the future, and what it truly means to trust Jesus—one step at a time. As a mother seasoned in faith, she gently reminds Hanaya that God has brought her too far to turn back. Whether you're discerning God's calling, navigating uncertainty, or simply longing to follow Jesus more wholeheartedly, this episode invites you to slow down, listen, and discover the beauty of a life rooted in Him. "I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace." — The Apostle Paul | Acts 20:24 Hanaya Oki Chapters: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPy Know more: https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

A quiet visit to a bookstore turns into an unexpected conversation about Jesus, the Christian faith, love, eternity, and the Gospel. Yeona comes to buy her first Bible, hoping to understand why the boy she loves—and the girl he loves—are both being changed by Jesus. Instead, she meets Emika, the bookstore owner, whose gentle questions lead the conversation far beyond romance. Together, they explore questions many seekers ask: Why would someone choose Jesus over a relationship? Why do some Christians wait until marriage or even walk away from romance for their faith? What is sin, and why does the Gospel say everyone needs forgiveness? Why did Jesus die on the cross? Why would a loving God allow Hell? Is Christianity true because it's useful—or because it's true? As the conversation unfolds, Yeona begins to realize that the deepest questions aren't really about finding the right relationship—they're about whether Jesus is truly worth more than anything. What neither of them realizes is that Emika is Hanaya's mother—the very girl Yeona sees as her romantic rival. As Yeona unknowingly describes Hanaya, Emika offers wisdom without realizing how deeply personal the conversation truly is. Whether you're exploring Christianity, asking honest questions about faith, or wondering whether Jesus is truly worth following, this episode is an invitation to consider the Gospel for yourself. Hanaya Oki Chapters: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPy Know more: https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

An episode on faith, entrepreneurship, long-term thinking, and the courage to build for the future God is calling you toward. What if the dream God has placed in your heart requires more than passion? What if it requires patience, vision, and the willingness to build slowly and strategically long before you see the results? Sometimes God calls us to look beyond immediate opportunities and short-term gains, investing instead in a future we cannot yet fully see. The work He entrusts to us can become more than a career—it can become a Kingdom assignment. He can use our skills, relationships, and businesses as instruments of His mission. After years of faithfully sharing Jesus with others at school, Hanaya prepares for the next season of her calling. She dreams of becoming an entrepreneurial missionary—building a business that serves people while advancing a Kingdom purpose.  When a newly opened café catches her attention, Hanaya walks in looking for a part-time job during her summer school break. What begins as a simple interview quickly becomes something more. As the owner listens to her vision for the future, he realizes she isn't just a teenager asking for a job. In the episodes ahead, Hanaya will also discover who the owner really is—and why this encounter may be far more significant than she imagined. Hanaya Oki Chapters: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPy Know more: https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

Is God teaching you to surrender an outcome you desperately want? Sometimes we hold people, dreams, expectations, and plans so tightly that they become the source of our anxiety. Yet when we loosen our grip, we gain a wider perspective. Maybe some things are broken by design. Maybe some things are never meant to unfold the way we hope. And perhaps that is not a tragedy. There is a quiet beauty in accepting that rather than fighting it. In this episode of State of Mind, Hiroto finds himself missing Hanaya only a week into summer break. Knowing she would never agree to meet him one-on-one outside of school days, he turns to Yuri for help. Together, they plan a "chance encounter" at Shichirigahama Beach. Hanaya likes Hiroto, but she remains cautious. Her life is centered on God's calling and mission, leaving her uncertain where a relationship fits into her future. Hiroto understands this and has no intention of pressuring her or pushing beyond her boundaries. Instead, he simply wants to cherish whatever time he can with her. As they talk, he quietly confronts a painful truth: the path Hanaya feels called to follow may not be one he can walk beside her—at least not for now. Hanaya doesn't fully grasp the deeper meaning behind his words. What she doesn't realize is that the Holy Spirit has been quietly reshaping Hiroto's perspective. Rather than clinging to the outcome he wants most, he is learning something far more difficult: how to let go. Hanaya Oki Chapters: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPy Know more: https://superdifferent.com/hanaya

A photoshoot. A conversation about God. And a challenge neither of them expected. After drifting apart during Yeona's two years in Seoul, childhood friends Hiroto and Yeona reunite as high school classmates. Now a budding teen model, Yeona asks Hiroto to help with a photoshoot, sparking an unexpected conversation about Christianity. When Yeona turns Hiroto's own advice back on him, questions about God lead to deeper questions of the heart. Both find themselves challenged in ways they never expected. But what about our own lives? We all have areas that seem dormant, and God often works through seasons, cultivating growth over time. Yet sometimes, in ways we cannot predict, He brings unexpected beauty from barren places. A superbloom is rare and cannot be forced. But when the conditions are right, what once seemed lifeless can burst into life. Perhaps God's most surprising works are the ones we never saw coming. Episode artwork: The cover art features Yeona's photoshoot concept from this episode. Hanaya Oki Chapters: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7r2cZbxW9a3lozAhzXfEPy Know more: https://superdifferent.com/hanaya