Hi! I'm Meg — a Japanese teacher & storyteller from Japan 🇯🇵
This podcast is for beginner to pre-intermediate learners (JLPT N5–N3).
Immerse yourself in the language through storytelling, shadowing, and TPRS, all in simple, natural Japanese.
Learn about Japanese culture, daily life, and myths such as The Kojiki Story Series — Japan’s oldest legends retold in modern Japanese.
🌸 Scripts → meg-smile.com/podcast
📺 YouTube → youtube.com/@Meg_Smile_Japanese_Teacher
Let’s learn Japanese and smile together! 😊
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Données mises à jour le 14/07/2026
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Découvrez des podcasts liées à Simple Japanese Listening with Meg（めぐ）Smile. Explorez des podcasts avec des thèmes, sujets, et formats similaires. Ces similarités sont calculées grâce à des données tangibles, pas d'extrapolations !
In this New Edition, I talk about my daily morning routine using clear and natural Japanese at the JLPT N4 level.
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This video is perfect for:
・JLPT N4 learners
・Learners who want to improve listening comprehension with natural but simple Japanese
・Students who enjoy daily-life topics and clear narration
・Anyone studying Japanese for work or life in Japan
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Through this video, you’ll learn:
・Common Japanese expressions for daily routines
・Vocabulary related to morning activities, work, and schedules
・How Japanese is used naturally in everyday life
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🎧 Try listening first without subtitles, then listen again while reading the script to deepen your understanding.
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📚 Level
Upper Beginner (JLPT N4)
Clear and natural narration using N4-level grammar.
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🕒 Chapters
00:00 Opening (オープニング)
00:15 Story Start ▷ Morning routine（ストーリー：朝の習慣）
00:54 Dog’s breakfast（犬の朝ごはん）
02:01 Morning walk（散歩へ）
#72 Short Story：Hanako’s Room – Inside the Apartment / storytelling // Beginner Japanese Listening
jeudi 11 décembre 2025 • Durée 15:52
🌸 About this video
Welcome to my Japanese listening series for beginners!
This episode is an original N5-level story about Hanako and her new apartment room.
This video is the third installment of the Hanako Series:
１） Hanako’s Daily Life（#5）
２） Hanako's holiday（#13）
３） Hanako’s summer vacation（#19・#22）
４） Hanako’s New Room（#59）
５） Hanako’s Room – Inside the Apartment（this video）
If you enjoy simple Japanese stories with clear narration, this video is perfect for you.
Through this story, you will learn everyday Japanese used to describe rooms, furniture, favorite items, and daily routines — all in JLPT N5 grammar and vocabulary.
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📚 Level
Beginner (Early JLPT N5)
This story is told slowly and clearly, using mainly –masu form.
The te-form is not used, so it’s ideal for learners who are studying basic verb forms and want to listen to natural Japanese without advanced grammar.
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🕒 Chapters
00:00 Opening (オープニング)
00:12 Story Start ▷ Hanako’s Room（ストーリー：はなこさんのへや）
00:47 Room Overview (部屋のようす)
01:53 The Bed and Special Items (ベッドと大切なもの)
02:58 The Desk (つくえ)
04:13 The Bookshelf (本棚)
05:08 Relaxing Time (ゆっくりする時間)
05:39 Question Time (しつもんの時間)
#71 Japan’s Schindler Chiune Sugihara // Upper Beginner Japanese Listening
mardi 9 décembre 2025 • Durée 33:20
🌸 About this video
Welcome to my Japanese listening series for upper beginners!
In this episode, you’ll learn about Chiune Sugihara (杉原千畝) – the Japanese diplomat often called “Japan’s Schindler” – who helped thousands of Jewish refugees escape during World War II by issuing life-saving transit visas.
The story is told in simple Japanese (Upper Beginner / JLPT N4 level) with clear narration, so you can practice listening while learning about an important part of history.
This video is perfect for:
・Upper beginner learners (around JLPT N4)
・Learners who enjoy story-based Japanese
・People interested in Japanese history and real heroes
・Anyone who wants to build listening skills with meaningful content
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📚 Level
Upper Beginner (JLPT N4)
Clear and natural narration using N4-level grammar.
Some vocabulary is more advanced, but the story is told slowly and clearly for learners.
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🕒 Chapters
00:00 Opening (オープニング)
00:03 Introduction (イントロダクション)
00:51 Childhood in Gifu（子どものころ）
01:41 Languages and Diplomatic Career（外国語と外交官の道）
02:48 Lithuania and Refugees（リトアニアと難民）
07:39 Life-Saving Visas and Difficult Choices（命のビザと杉原さんの決断）
10:13 Life after the War（戦後のつらい生活）
11:22 “Thank You” – Meeting the Survivors（ありがとうと言われた日）
13:03 Question Time (しつもんの時間)
#70 New Edition：わたしの まち《My Town》 // Beginner Japanese Listening
lundi 24 novembre 2025 • Durée 13:13
Welcome to the New Edition of my Japanese listening series for beginners!
This video is a refreshed and expanded version of my earlier Episode #37 “わたしの まち《My Town》” (N5 Level).
In this New Edition, I introduce my town in Fukuoka using simple Japanese (JLPT N5 level).
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This video is perfect for:
・Japanese beginners (JLPT N5–N4)
・Learners who enjoy simple stories with clear narration
・Anyone who wants to improve listening comprehension naturally
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Through this story, you’ll learn everyday Japanese vocabulary and expressions used to describe places, festivals, food, and daily life.
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📚 Level
Beginner (JLPT N5)
Clear, slow-paced narration with natural rhythm and simple grammar.
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🕒 Chapters
00:00 Opening (オープニング)
00:34 Story: My Town Introduction（ストーリー：わたしのまち紹介）
04:25 Question Time (しつもんの時間)
04:32 Question Time Part 1 (しつもん①～⑤)
06:19 Question Time Part 2 (しつもん⑥～⑪)
08:41 Replay Guide (How to Listen / 聞き方の説明)
08:48 Listen Again Without Subtitles (字幕なしでもう一度ストーリーを聞こう)
12:40 Ending (エンディング)
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💡 Learning Tips
✔️ Listen several times — your ears will gradually get used to natural Japanese.
✔️ Try shadowing short phrases aloud.
Kojiki #4 Teaser | The Land of Yomi – Izanagi’s Journey to the Underworld
vendredi 21 novembre 2025 • Durée 00:37
🌸 About this teaser
This is the official teaser video for Episode 4 of the Kojiki Japanese Story Series.
In this episode, Izanagi travels to the Land of the Dead (黄泉の国 / Yomi) to see his beloved wife Izanami once more.
But what he finds there is terrifying — darkness, demons, and a world he can never return from.
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If you enjoy Japanese stories, mythology, and simple Japanese listening,
you’ll love the full episode.
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▶️ Watch the Full Episode (Ep.4)
Full video & 18-page study PDF are available here:
Perfect for learners who want to enjoy both Japanese language and culture through stories.
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🎞️ Watch the Kojiki Series
◀️ Previous Episode (Ep.3)
“The Creation of Islands and Gods | イザナギとイザナミが生んだ島や神様”
👉 https://youtu.be/32IVsK5Tar8
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▶️ Next Episode (Ep.5)
“The Gods Born from Izanagi’s Purification | イザナギが生んだ神様たち”
👉 Coming soon
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🎬 Start from Episode 1
“What Is the Kojiki? | 古事記とは何か”
Kojiki Story #3 – The Islands and Gods Born from Izanagi and Izanami (Excerpt from Full Episode)
mercredi 12 novembre 2025 • Durée 01:00
✨ Kojiki Story #3 – The Islands and Gods Born from Izanagi and Izanami ✨
This is a short clip from the full Episode 3.
Discover how heaven and earth began, and meet Izanagi and Izanami — the divine couple who created Japan.
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🎥 Watch the full story on YouTube → youtube.com/@Meg_Smile_Japanese_Teacher
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☕ Support My Channel
If you enjoy my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi.
Your contribution helps me create more high-quality Japanese learning materials 💖
👉 https://ko-fi.com/megsmile
｜
🌏 Learn Japanese with Me
Would you like to take my class?
I’d love to help you explore Japanese through stories and culture!
🌐 https://meg-smile.com/lesson/
｜
🏯 About the Kojiki SeriesThis series introduces the ancient myths of Japan — from the creation of heaven and earth to the birth of the gods and the origins of Japan’s emperors.
Through these stories, you’ll discover not only Japanese language but also the deep cultural values that still shape Japan today.
｜
🌏 Thinking about moving to Japan?
I also support visa and immigration procedures as a certified administrative scrivener (immigration lawyer) in Japan.Learn more here:
👉 https://www.trust-gyosei.com/immigration-en/
｜
🎵 Images, Videos & Music Credits
CANVA：https://www.canva.com/
Kojiki Story #2 – The Birth of the Gods (Excerpt from Full Episode)
vendredi 7 novembre 2025 • Durée 01:00
✨ Kojiki Story #2 – The Birth of the Gods ✨
This is a short clip from the full Episode 2.
Discover how heaven and earth began, and meet Izanagi and Izanami — the divine couple who created Japan.
If you enjoy my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi.
Your contribution helps me create more high-quality Japanese learning materials 💖
👉 https://ko-fi.com/megsmile
🌏 Learn Japanese with Me
Would you like to take my class?
I’d love to help you explore Japanese through stories and culture!
🌐 https://meg-smile.com/lesson/
🏯 About the Kojiki SeriesThis series introduces the ancient myths of Japan — from the creation of heaven and earth to the birth of the gods and the origins of Japan’s emperors.
Through these stories, you’ll discover not only Japanese language but also the deep cultural values that still shape Japan today.
🌏 Thinking about moving to Japan?
I also support visa and immigration procedures as a certified administrative scrivener (immigration lawyer) in Japan.Learn more here:
👉 https://www.trust-gyosei.com/immigration-en/
Kojiki #1 | What Is the Kojiki? | Easy–Intermediate Japanese
vendredi 7 novembre 2025 • Durée 05:24
🌸 About this video
Welcome to the first episode of my new series — Learn Japanese through the Kojiki!In this series, I retell stories from the Kojiki (古事記) — Japan’s oldest record of myths and history — in simple Japanese (around CEFR A2–B1 / JLPT N4–N3 level).
You’ll enjoy Japan’s ancient mythology while naturally improving your Japanese listening and comprehension skills.
In this first video, we’ll explore:
💫 What is the Kojiki?
📖 Why was it written?
🌏 What kind of stories does it contain?
📚 Level Upper Beginner → Lower Intermediate (around CEFR A2–B1 / JLPT N4–N3) Perfect for learners who want to enjoy both Japanese language and culture through stories.
🕒 Chapters
00:00 Opening (神話の世界へ)
01:00 What Is the Kojiki? (古事記とは)
02:33 Structure of the Kojiki (三つのパート)
03:26 What Stories Are Included? (どんな物語がある？)
04:14 What You Can Learn from This Series (このシリーズで学べること)
04:52 Next Episode Preview (次回予告)
💡Learning Tips
✔️ Listen several times to get used to the rhythm of Japanese.
✔️ Try to shadow the narration aloud.
✔️ Pause and think when you hear the question section.
📘 Study MaterialsFull script (with/without furigana) + vocabulary list + cultural notes are available here 👇
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🕒 Chapters
00:00 Opening (オープニング)
00:32 Story Start ▷ Alex’s Family（ストーリー：アレックスさんの家族）
00:54 Alex’s Father (アレックスさんのお父さん)
02:26 Alex’s Mother (アレックスさんのお母さん)
03:14 Alex’s Sister (アレックスさんの妹)
04:18 Alex (アレックスさん)
05:12 Question Time (しつもんの時間)
05:19 Question Time Part 1 (しつもん①～⑦)
07:40 Question Time Part 2 (しつもん⑧～⑭)
10:13 Replay Guide (How to Listen / 聞き方の説明)
10:21 Listen Again Without Subtitles (字幕なしでもう一度ストーリーを聞こう)
15:02 Ending (エンディング)
｜
💡 Learning Tips
✔️ Listen several times — your ears will get used to natural Japanese.
✔️ Try shadowing short phrases aloud.
✔️ Answer the questions out loud to check comprehension.
✔️ Listen again without subtitles to build confidence.
✔️ Practice introducing your own family in Japanese!
｜
📄 Study Materials
The full script (with/without furigana, Romaji)and the vocabulary list are available as a study PDF on Ko-fi.
👉 https://ko-fi.com/s/32be8f43ea
｜
☕ Support My Channel
If you enjoy my content, consider supporting me on Ko-fi.
Your support helps me continue creating high-quality Japanese learning materials 💖
👉 https://ko-fi.com/megsmile
｜
🏯 About Meg
I am a certified Administrative Scrivener (immigration lawyer) in Japan
and a Japanese teacher who creates storytelling-based learning materials for beginners.
👉 https://ko-fi.com/s/a79ff5736e (PDF for Episodes 1 & 2 are available for free for a limited time ☕)
☕ Support My Channel
If you enjoy my content, please consider supporting me on Ko-fi. Your contribution helps me create more high-quality Japanese learning materials 💖 👉 https://ko-fi.com/megsmile
🌏 Learn Japanese with Me
Would you like to take my class? I’d love to help you explore Japanese through stories and culture! 🌐 https://meg-smile.com/lesson/
🏯 About the Kojiki Series
This series introduces the ancient myths of Japan — from the creation of heaven and earth to the birth of the gods and the origins of Japan’s emperors. Through these stories, you’ll discover not only Japanese language but also the deep cultural values that still shape Japan today.
🌏 Thinking about moving to Japan?
I also support visa and immigration procedures as a certified administrative scrivener (immigration lawyer) in Japan.Learn more here:👉 https://www.trust-gyosei.com/immigration-en/
