In this lesson we’ll discuss how to deal with a cold which is pretty common during the winter months in Japan. We’ll look at how to describe symptoms and remedies for recovery.

The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 52 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Learn Japanese Pod Patreon page

The show notes of podcast 52 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Learn Japanese Pod Patreon page

In Japan, the tradition of “大掃除” (Ōsōji), meaning “big cleaning,” takes place at the end of the year. This cultural practice involves a thorough cleaning of homes, workplaces, and public spaces to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one with a fresh start. Families engage in deep cleaning, decluttering, and organizing […]

The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 51 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Learn Japanese Pod Patreon page

The show notes of podcast 51 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Learn Japanese Pod Patreon page

As the sun sets on 2023, I recently hung out with my good friend Andy on the Fun Friday edition of the podcast to review the highs and lows of the past year in Japan. Enjoy!      

It’s been a while but in this Fun Friday edition of the podcast I met up with my good friend and Japan enthusiast, Peter of Beards Brewery. He’s just completed an epic two-month journey across Japan and in this episode I caught up with him to get a debriefing on his trip. We chatted about […]

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to refuse things in Japanese. This is an important skill to have, as you’ll often find yourself in situations where you need to say no to someone. You’ll also learn how to refuse offers in Japanese appropriately in different situations using different levels of politeness. A word of warning. […]

The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 50 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Podcast 50 Japanese Audio Drill

The show notes of podcast 50 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Podcast 50 Show Notes

In this podcast I interview Matthew Dons, a dear friend and long term resident of Japan. We talk about his experiences of doing a home stay when he first came to Japan. Matthew also gives his advice on the dos and don’ts of Japanese etiquette and culture to make your stay in Japan go more […]

If you are interested in visiting Kyoto then this podcast is for you. In this Fun Friday edition of the podcast I interview my long suffering brother Ben about his work as a tourguide in Kyoto. We talk about what to visit, when to come, etiquette for tourists, food, history and more! For more Japan […]

In this lesson we will teach you useful phrases for disagreeing with people and how to use them in different situations. Different phrases and inflections in your voice can be interpreted in many ways, from being vague to being very direct or even rude. Compared to some cultures, Japanese people tend to be less confrontational […]

The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 48 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Podcast 49 Japanese Audio Drill

The show notes to our podcasts can now be accessed with Patreon Membership. Podcast 49 notes

In this lesson Ami Sensei and I will teach you how to express different levels of certainty in Japanese. You’ll learn how to express the probability you think something will happen through various example sentences and dialogues. In English we do this all the time with words such as “definitely”, “probably” and “might”. And of […]

The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 48 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Podcast 48 Japanese Audio Drill

The show notes of podcast 48 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Podcast 48 Show Notes

In this podcast, Ami Sensei and I talk about how to make small talk in Japanese. We talk about appropriate topics and ones to avoid. And we also teach you some useful vocabulary, phrases and grammar to make you sound more natural and fluent. Please note we have opened a new Premium membership that provides […]

The Japanese-only audio drills for podcast 47 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Podcast 47 Japanese Audio Drill

The show notes of podcast 47 have moved to our new Patreon page. Please click the link below for access: Podcast 47 Show Notes

In this Fun Friday edition of the podcast, Alex, A-Chan and Andy talk about the major events that shaped Japan in 2022. For more Japan themed podcasts visit Learn Japanese Pod

In this podcast you will learn what Darui means and how to use it naturally in conversation in Japanese. This lesson includes the main podcast lesson, PDF show notes and an extra audio drill. You can find all of these resources by going to Learn Japanese Pod

In this lesson, you will learn what Darui means. Check out the example sentences and dialogues to learn how these phrases are naturally used by native Japanese speakers in conversation. Example 1: 怠い – Darui I’m tired Example 2: 天気が悪くて体がだるい – Tenki ga warukute karada ga darui I’m so tired because of the weather. Example 3: […]

These are the PDF show notes for podcast #46 ” Darui”. For more Japanese language learning podcasts, visit Learn Japanese Pod

In this lesson you will learn how to agree with people in Japanese. Check out the example sentences and dialogues to learn how these phrases are naturally used by native Japanese speakers in conversation. How to study This lesson includes the main podcast lesson, PDF show notes and an extra audio drill. You can find […]

In this lesson you will learn how to agree with people in Japanese. Check out the example sentences and dialogues to learn how these phrases are naturally used by native Japanese speakers in conversation. Main Dialogue (Japanese) A: 今日めっちゃ暑いよね。 B: だよね。 A: なんか、夏は好きだけど湿気が嫌い。 B: わかる、わかる。 A: 今年の夏は猛暑が続いたよね。 B: 本当だよね。 Main Dialogue (Pronunciation) A: Kyō meccha […]

These are the PDF show notes for podcast #45 ” How to agree with people in Japanese”. For more Japanese language learning podcasts, visit Learn Japanese Pod

In this podcast, Ami Alex tell you the meaning of 半端ない Hanpa nai  and how to use it naturally in a conversation in Japanese. For more Japanese language learning podcasts visit Learn Japanese Pod

This post includes only Japanese dialogues and sentence examples from podcast #44 “Hanpa nai”. This lesson focuses on the phrase 半端ないhampa nai which means something like amazing, epic or unbelievable. Here are example sentences from the podcast: Example 1: 半端ないよね – Hampa nai yo ne That’s really awesome Example 2: あの人半端ないよね – Ano hito hampa […]

These are the PDF show notes for podcast #44 ” Hampa nai”. For more Japanese language learning podcasts visit Learn Japanese pod

This lesson focuses on how to receive compliments in Japanese. We’ll teach you some useful phrases you can use to respond to people who say nice things to you. We’ll also discuss Japanese attitudes towards compliments, why they make them and what they really mean. Spoiler alert, the cultural mindset in Japan might be quite […]

These are just the Japanese dialogues and example sentences taken from podcast #43 “Receiving compliments in Japanese”. This lesson focuses on how to receive compliments in Japanese. We’ll teach you some useful phrases you can use to respond to people who say nice things to you. We’ll also discuss Japanese attitudes towards compliments, why they […]

These are the show notes to podcast #43 “Receiving compliments in Japanese”. For more Japanese podcasts visit: Learn Japanese Pod

In this podcast, Ami Sensei and Alex teach you the meaning of とりあえず Toriaezu and how to use it naturally in Japanese conversation. For more Japanese podcasts visit Learn Japanese Pod

This lesson focuses on the word Toriaezu, what it means and how to use it naturally in conversation in Japanese. What does Toriaezu mean? とりあえず Toriaezu roughly translates as “for the time being” or “for now we’ll do so and so”. This is a useful phrase to use when you want to make a temporary […]

Here are the show notes for podcast 42, “What does Toriaezu mean?”. For more podcasts visit Learn Japanese Pod

In this Fun Friday edition of the podcast I interviewed my good friend and fellow student of Japanese Peter Manthei. We talked about various topics including the challenges of studying Japanese outside of Japan, Japanese versus American craft beer, useful methods to improve your Japanese as well as some great travel tips. Peter runs a […]

In this podcast, Ami and Alex teach you some useful phrases to cheer someone up in Japanese. For more Japanese podcasts visit: Learn Japanese Pod

These are the dialogues for podcast 41 “Cheering someone up in Japanese”. In this podcast you will learn some useful phrases to cheer someone up in Japanese. Check out the dialogues below: Main Dialog 1 – Cheering someone up (Japanese) A: もういやだ。 B: どうしたの？ A: 仕事がうまくいってなくて。 B: 大丈夫だよ。元気出して。 A: ちょっと自信ないんだよね。 B: 君ならできるよ。頑張って！ Main Dialog 1 […]

These are the PDF show notes for the Learn Japanese Pod podcast episode 41 “Cheering someone up in Japanese”. For more podcasts check out Learn Japanese Pod

In this Fun Friday edition of the podcast, I sat down with Ben and A-Chan to talk about random things including green tea, ramen, life in Kyoto and more. For more podcasts visit Learn Japanese Pod

In this lesson you will learn all about Japanese onomatopoeia which are words that resemble sounds. Some examples in English are splash, bang, zap and beep and you will learn how similar words are used in daily Japanese conversation. Listen to the podcast for dialogue examples as well as vocabulary and grammar explanations. For more […]

In this lesson you will learn all about Japanese onomatopoeia which are words that resemble sounds. Some examples in English are splash, bang, zap and beep and you will learn how similar words are used in daily Japanese conversation. Check out the dialogue and grammar notes below. Main Dialog 1 – Daily Japanese Onomatopoeia (Japanese) […]

These are the PDF show notes for the Learn Japanese Pod podcast episode 40 “Daily Japanese Onomatopoeia”. For more podcasts check out Learn Japanese Pod

In this Fun Friday edition of the podcast, Andy and Alex sit down to talk about the Japanese buzzwords influenced by the major trends in Japan during 2021. For more podcasts visit Learn Japanese Pod

In this Fun Friday edition of the podcast, Ami and I talk about some of our favorite Anime, the latest and most popular releases and some old classics that are famous in Japan but not so well known abroad. We are certainly not Anime experts and we couldn’t properly cover all the major Anime even […]

In this podcast Ami Sensei and Alex teach you useful phrases for calling an ambulance and talking to emergency services during a medical emergency. For more Japanese language learning podcasts, visit Learn Japanese Pod

In this lesson you will learn how to call for an ambulance during a medical emergency. You’ll also learn related phrases for describing people’s physical condition including injuries and illness. Main Dialog 1 – Calling an ambulance (Japanese) A: 119番の消防ですが 火事ですか、救急ですか? B: 救急です。 A: 救急ですね。住所を教えてください。 B: 東京都渋谷区渋谷1丁目12-13。郵便局の前です。 A: 怪我ですか病気ですか B: 病気です。人が倒れています。 A: わかりました。あと5分ほどで救急車が到着します。 Main Dialog […]

These are the PDF show notes for the Learn Japanese Pod podcast episode 39 “Calling an ambulance in Japanese”. For more podcasts check out Learn Japanese Pod

In this podcast, Ami and Alex teach you how to make suggestions to your friends in natural, fluent Japanese. Check out the dialogues and show notes to practice and improve your Japanese. For more podcasts visit Learn Japanese Pod

In this lesson you will learn how to make a suggestion to your friends in natural sounding Japanese. It’s better to be indirect with your language as being too pushy can make you come off as being arrogant or rude. But don’t worry, we have you covered. Just check out the main dialogue and extra […]

DOWNLOAD PDF SHOW NOTES These are the PDF show notes for the Learn Japanese Pod podcast episode 38 “Making a suggestion in Japanese”. For more podcasts check out Learn Japanese Pod  

In this Fun Friday edition of the podcast, Andy and Alex answer listener questions about living in Japan, its culture and tips on learning Japanese. For more Japanese language learning podcasts visit Learn Japanese Pod  

In this podcast, Ami and Alex teach you how to use the verb Kureru naturally in Japanese conversation. Kureru is a verb you can use to ask people to do things for you. It’s used casually between friends and family and very common in everyday conversation. Check out the podcast and show notes to learn […]

In this lesson you’ll learn how to use the verb kureru. Kureru is a verb you use when asking someone to do something for you. It translates roughly as do something for me. Check out the main dialogue on the next page to see how it is used naturally in conversation in Japanese. Main Dialog […]

These are the PDF show notes for podcast #37 “How to use the verb Kureru in Japanese”. For more Japanese learning podcasts check out Learn Japanese Pod  

In this podcast, I talk to Andy, a good friend and veteran of Japan. We discuss how the Coronavirus, travel restrictions and curfews have effected Japan and how we think things will develop from here. This is the Fun Friday edition of the podcast where we put down our textbooks and talk to interesting people […]

In this podcast, Ami and Alex teach you some useful phrases to describe people’s appearance in Japanese. Listen to the example dialogue to hear how this is done in natural and fluent Japanese. For more Japanese podcasts visit Learn Japanese Pod

These are just the Japanese dialogues from podcast #36 “Describing people’s appearance in Japanese”. Main Dialog 1 – Describing people’s appearance A: ね、私の家族の写真見る? B: 見る見る! A: これはおじいちゃん。背が高いんだよね。 B: ほんと、スマートでかっこういいね! A: そうだけど、反対におばあちゃんは私に似て背が低いんだよね。 B: へえー。彼女は誰?お姉さん? A: そう!最近髪をショートにして金髪に染めたの! B: 顔がそっくりだね!それに家族みんなお洒落だよね。 A: ありがとう! Main Dialog 1 – Describing people’s appearance (Pronunciation) A: Ne, watashi no kazoku no shashin miru? […]

These are the downloadable PDF show note for podcast #36 “Describing people’s appearance in Japanese.” For more Japanese language learning podcasts  visit Learn Japanese Pod

In this podcast, Asuka and Alex are back to teach you how to do a self introduction in Japanese to a group of people. For example, this might be useful for you on your first day of Japanese class at university, college or school. We cover how to say your name, where you are from […]

These are just the Japanese dialogues for podcast #02 “How to do a self introduction in Japanese. How to do a basic self introduction in Japanese Today’s podcast will teach you how to do a self introduction in Japanese. This is extremely useful for students who are about to start a new Japanese course at […]

These are the PDF show notes for podcast #02 “How to do a self introduction in Japanese”. You can access the show notes through the podcast feed or simply click the PDF icon below.

These are just the Japanese audio dialogues featured in podcast #01: How to ask your friends to hang out in Japanese. Us this to practice your listening and speaking skills. Here are the main dialogues used in today’s lesson: Dialogue 01 A: ね,アレックスお寿司好き B: 好き、好き A: じゃあ、明日一緒にお寿司食べに行かない B: いいね、楽しみ A: Ne, arekkusu, osushi suki B: […]

These are the PDF show notes for podcast #01 “How to ask your friends to hang out in Japanese”. You can either download the PDF from the podcast feed or click on the PDF icon below.