Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast YAHHO! First Japanese with Kimi

Today’s episode is another Japanese Only Challenge!

This time, let’s learn about Japan’s four seasons (shiki) using simple Japanese.

First, listen at natural speed.
Then, we’ll review important vocabulary, listen again slowly, and finally check everything together in English.

Don’t worry if you don’t understand every word.
Try to guess from the context—this is one of the best ways to improve your listening skills!

• watashi wa nihon no shiki ni tsuite hanashimasu.
• haru
• natsu
• aki
• fuyu
• sakura
• hana ga sakimasu
• ohanami
• omatsuri
• hanabi
• momiji
• yama
• happa
• midori
• kiiro
• aka
• yuki ga furimasu
• sukii
• sunooboodo

If you’d like to practice Japanese conversation with me, you’re always welcome to join my private lessons on italki!

👉 https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

#learnjapanese #japanesepodcast #japanese #nihongo #jlpt #beginnerjapanese #japaneselistening #japaneselesson #immersivelearning #shiki #seasonsinjapan

Nihongo (Today’s Topic)

Did you know that Japanese 「ストレート」 doesn’t always mean English “straight”?

In this episode, we talk about how Japanese people use ストレート, and how it’s different from English.

You’ll also learn about:

• sutoreeto (neat / plain)
• burakku koohii (black coffee)
• sutoreeto tii (plain black tea)
• miruku tii (milk tea)
• remon tii (lemon tea)
• rokku (on the rocks)
• mizuwari (whiskey with water)
• tansanwari / haibooru (with soda)

I also share a funny story from when I lived in New Zealand and accidentally bought a bottle of sweet green tea!

These little cultural and language differences are everywhere, and they’re one of the most fun parts of learning Japanese.

If you’d like to practice real Japanese conversation with me, you’re always welcome on italki.

👉 https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #WaseiEigo #Katakana #JapaneseCulture #JapaneseVocabulary #Nihongo #SpeakJapanese #JapaneseListening #EnglishVsJapanese

Practice 〜ています and 〜ていました with me!

In this episode, we’ll practice one of the most useful Japanese patterns through repetition and speaking.

🎧 Round 1: Listen and repeat.
🎧 Round 2: Translate from English into Japanese before I give the answer.

Today’s practice includes:

• ima ohirugohan o tabete imasu
• terebi o mite imasu
• nihongo o benkyou shite imasu
• Kariforunia ni sunde imasu
• Nyuuyooku ni sunde imasu
• ginkou de hataraite imasu
• byouin de hataraite imasu
• mainichi sanpo o shite imasu
• maiasa ranningu o shite imasu
• shuu ni sankai jimu ni kayotte imasu
• Nihon ni sunde imashita
• enjinia toshite hataraite imashita
• Bosuton de nihongo o benkyou shite imashita
• kodomo no koro sakkaa o shite imashita

Keep practicing a little every day, and you’ll start using these patterns naturally!

If you’d like to practice Japanese conversation with me, you’re always welcome on italki.

👉 https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #JapaneseGrammar #TeForm #JapanesePractice #Shadowing #Nihongo #JLPT #SpeakJapanese #JapaneseListening

Today, let’s learn one of the most useful Japanese grammar patterns:

〜te imasu (ています)

Many learners think 〜te imasu is only used like English “-ing.”

Sometimes that’s true…

But Japanese also uses 〜te imasu to talk about:

• where you live
• where you work
• things you do regularly
• situations that continue over time

You’ll also learn 〜te imashita (ていました) to talk about past situations.

This episode is designed to help you understand when Japanese people naturally use ています, without worrying too much about grammar rules.

In the next episode, we’ll practice these sentences together!

If you’d like to practice speaking Japanese with me, you’re always welcome to join my private lessons on italki 😊

italki lesson:
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Japanese used in this episode

• ima, ohiru gohan o tabete imasu
• ima, terebi o mite imasu
• ima, nihongo o benkyou shite imasu
• Toukyou ni sunde imasu
• Chiba de kurashite imasu
• gakkou de hataraite imasu
• ginkou de hataraite imasu
• mainichi poddokyasuto o tsukutte imasu
• maiasa ranningu o shite imasu
• shuu ni sankai jimu ni kayotte imasu
• Oosutoraria ni sunde imashita
• shefu to shite hataraite imashita
• Nyuujirando de eigo o benkyou shite imashita
• kodomo no koro, sakkaa o shite imashita

#learnjapanese #japanesegrammar #teform #japaneselessons #japanesepodcast #beginnerjapanese #japanesepractice

Today’s episode is a special Japanese only listening challenge!

Can you understand Japanese without English?

In this episode, I will introduce myself only in Japanese.

I will talk about:

• my hometown
• where I live now
• my family
• my experience living in New Zealand and Australia
• my life as a chef
• why I make this podcast

First, listen at normal speed.
Then, listen again slowly.
Finally, I will explain the meaning in English.

This episode is a great way to practice Japanese listening and learn Japanese naturally through context.

If you have been listening to my podcast from the beginning, you will recognize many expressions from previous episodes!

Thank you for studying Japanese with me every day.

If you enjoy my podcast, please like and follow. Your support helps me continue creating new episodes for Japanese learners.

I also teach private Japanese lessons on italki.
If you would like to practice speaking Japanese with me, you are welcome to join my lessons 😊

italki lesson:
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

#learnjapanese #japaneselearning #japaneselistening #japanesepractice #beginnerjapanese #intermediatejapanese

Practice real Japanese with Kimi! 🇯🇵

Today’s episode is a short one!

It’s been a busy weekend with my kids, so I didn’t have time to make a longer episode.

But I still wanted to share a quick Japanese tip with you!

Today, we’re talking about the difference between “drive” and the Japanese word “doraibu.”

Even though doraibu comes from the English word drive, Japanese people use it a little differently.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🚗 unten suru = to drive a car

🚗 doraibu ni iku = to go for a drive for fun

It’s a small difference, but it’s a very natural expression that Japanese people use all the time.

I hope this quick tip helps you sound more natural in Japanese!

If you’d like to practice real Japanese conversation with me, I also teach private Japanese lessons on italki.

You’re always welcome!

👉  ⁠Book a lesson on italki

Thank you so much for listening!

See you in the next episode! 🌸

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #JapaneseVocabulary #Katakana #Doraibu #UntenSuru #JapaneseConversation #StudyJapanese #JapaneseForBeginners #italki

Today, we’re doing something a little different.

It’s a Japanese Katakana Quiz!

Katakana is one of the three Japanese writing systems:

hiragana, katakana, and kanji.

Katakana is often used for words that come from other languages, especially English.

But…

Even if you speak English, katakana words are not always easy to understand!

Many Japanese words originally came from English, but the pronunciation and rhythm changed when they became Japanese.

In this episode, I’ll say 10 Japanese katakana words.

Can you guess the original English words?

Try to guess before I give you the answers!

How many did you get?

Did any of them surprise you?

Katakana can be tricky, but the more Japanese you listen to, the easier it becomes.

Let’s have fun learning Japanese together!

Katakana Quiz Answers

1. プロフィール → profile
2. マネージャー → manager
3. ツイッター → Twitter
4. ボリューム → volume
5. スマートフォン → smartphone
6. ビタミン → vitamin
7. ボタン → button
8. マーガリン → margarine
9. アレルギー → allergy
10. ウイルス → virus

If you’d like to practice Japanese conversation with me, I also teach private Japanese lessons on italki.

You’re always welcome!

👉  ⁠Book a lesson on italki

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Thank you so much for listening!

See you in the next episode! 🌸

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #Katakana #KatakanaQuiz #JapaneseVocabulary #JapaneseForBeginners #SpeakJapanese #StudyJapanese #JapaneseConversation #italki

Does pitch accent really matter when learning Japanese?

Should beginners focus on pronunciation, or is grammar and vocabulary more important?

In this episode, I share my personal thoughts as both a Japanese teacher and an English learner.

We talk about:

🎙 What pitch accent is

🎙 Why many learners can understand Japanese but still sound a little unnatural

🎙 Why changing pronunciation later is much harder than learning it correctly from the beginning

🎙 How your Japanese learning goals can change what you should focus on

I also share my own experience learning English and why I wish I had paid more attention to pronunciation from day one.

Whether you’re learning Japanese for travel, conversation, or living in Japan, I hope this episode helps you decide where to focus your time and energy.

If you’d like to practice Japanese pronunciation and conversation with me, I also teach private Japanese lessons on italki.

You’re always welcome!

👉  ⁠Book a lesson on italki

Thank you so much for listening!

See you in the next episode! 🌸

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #PitchAccent #JapanesePronunciation #SpeakJapanese #JapaneseConversation #JapaneseForBeginners #StudyJapanese #LanguageLearning #italki

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Practice Japanese with Kimi!

This is the practice episode for Episode 64.

Today we’ll practice how to answer one of the most useful Japanese conversation patterns:

”…ta koto ga arimasu ka?”

(“Have you ever…?”)

In this episode, you’ll practice natural replies like:

✅ hai, itta koto ga arimasu.

(Yes, I have.)

✅ iya, itta koto ga arimasen.

(No, I haven’t.)

✅ demo, itsuka itte mitai desu.

(But I’d like to go there someday.)

You’ll practice answering questions such as:

• nihon ni itta koto ga arimasu ka?

• okonomiyaki o tabeta koto ga arimasu ka?

• panda o mita koto ga arimasu ka?

• saafin o shita koto ga arimasu ka?

This episode includes:

🎧 Round 1: Listen and repeat.

🎧 Round 2: Answer before I do!

Speaking out loud is one of the fastest ways to improve your Japanese, so don’t be afraid to pause the episode and practice with me.

I’d love to help you improve your Japanese even more!

If you’d like private one-on-one Japanese lessons, you’re always welcome to join me on italki.

👉  ⁠Book a lesson on italki

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Thank you so much for practicing with me!

See you in the next episode! 🌸

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #JapanesePractice #SpeakJapanese #JapaneseConversation #JapaneseForBeginners #JLPT #italki #StudyJapanese #RealJapanese

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In this episode, you’ll learn how to answer one of the most useful Japanese conversation patterns:

”…ta koto ga arimasu ka?”

(“Have you ever…?”)

Instead of answering with only yes or no, you’ll learn how Japanese people naturally keep the conversation going.

You’ll practice useful replies like:

• hai, itta koto ga arimasu.

(Yes, I have.)

• iya, itta koto ga arimasen.

(No, I haven’t.)

• demo, itsuka itte mitai desu.

(But I’d like to go someday.)

You’ll also learn how to answer questions like:

• okonomiyaki o tabeta koto ga arimasu ka?

• panda o mita koto ga arimasu ka?

• saafin o shita koto ga arimasu ka?

You’ll discover a natural Japanese expression that native speakers use all the time:

”…te mitai desu.”

Instead of simply saying ikitai desu (“I want to go”), Japanese people often say itte mitai desu, which means “I’d like to try going.”

It’s a small difference, but it makes your Japanese sound much more natural.

If you’d like to practice real Japanese conversation with me, I also teach private Japanese lessons on italki.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or already speaking Japanese, you’re always welcome!

Thank you so much for listening.

See you in the next episode! 🌸

This is the practice episode for Episode 62.

In this episode, we’ll practice one of the most useful Japanese conversation patterns:

”…ta koto ga arimasu ka?”

It means:

“Have you ever…?”

You’ll repeat after me in Round 1, then test yourself in Round 2 by answering before I do.

Today’s practice includes questions like:

• kyouto ni itta koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever been to Kyoto?)

• nihon ni itta koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever been to Japan?)

• takoyaki o tabeta koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever eaten takoyaki?)

• sukiyaki o tabeta koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever eaten sukiyaki?)

• fujisan o mita koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever seen Mt. Fuji?)

• yoga o shita koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever done yoga?)

• nihonshu o nonda koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever tried sake?)

• nattou o tabeta koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever eaten natto?)

This pattern is perfect for meeting new people, making small talk, and having natural conversations with Japanese people.

The more you say these sentences out loud, the more natural they’ll become.

If you’d like even more speaking practice, I’d love to help you!

I teach private Japanese lessons on italki, where we practice real Japanese conversation in a fun and relaxed way.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or already speaking Japanese, you’re always welcome!

Thank you so much for practicing with me.

See you in the next episode! 🌸

In this episode, you’ll learn one of the most useful conversation patterns in Japanese:

”…ta koto ga arimasu ka?”

It means:

“Have you ever…?”

Japanese people use this pattern all the time when they first meet someone or want to get to know someone better.

It’s perfect for small talk, traveling in Japan, and everyday conversations.

In this episode, you’ll learn useful examples like:

• kyouto ni itta koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever been to Kyoto?)

• nihon ni itta koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever been to Japan?)

• takoyaki o tabeta koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever eaten takoyaki?)

• sukiyaki o tabeta koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever eaten sukiyaki?)

• fujisan o mita koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever seen Mt. Fuji?)

• yoga o shita koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever done yoga?)

• nihonshu o nonda koto ga arimasu ka?

(Have you ever tried sake?)

Don’t worry if this pattern feels a little difficult at first.

Just learn it as one useful expression, and you’ll start hearing it everywhere in real conversations.

In the next episode, we’ll practice these sentences together!

If you’d like to practice Japanese conversation with me, I also teach private lessons on italki.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or already speaking Japanese, I’d love to help you improve your Japanese through personalized one-on-one lessons.

Thank you so much for listening!

See you in the next episode! 🎉

Practice Japanese with Kimi!

This is the practice episode for Episode 60.

In this episode, we’ll practice useful Japanese expressions for talking about hot, cold, and warm.

You’ll repeat after me, then challenge yourself by answering before I do!

Today’s practice includes:

☀️ atsui – hot (weather)

❄️ samui – cold (weather)

🧊 tsumetai – cold (things you touch)

☕ attakai – warm

You’ll also practice useful everyday phrases like:

• kyou wa atsui desu ne.

• kono heya wa samui desu ne.

• kore wa tsumetai mizu desu.

• tsumetai ocha o kudasai.

• attakai koohii o kudasai.

• atsu!

• tsumeta!

Repeating out loud is one of the best ways to build natural Japanese speaking skills, so don’t be shy—say each sentence with me!

A quick tip!

Remember:

samui is for the weather.

tsumetai is for things you touch, like water, ice, or a cold drink.

This is one of the most common mistakes Japanese learners make, so keep practicing and you’ll sound much more natural.

If you’d like to practice Japanese conversation with me, I also teach private lessons on italki.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or already speaking Japanese, I’d love to help you improve your Japanese through personalized one-on-one lessons.

Thank you so much for practicing with me.

See you in the next episode!

Welcome back to YAHOO! First Japanese with Kimi!

🎉 Episode 60! Yay!

Thank you so much for listening and learning Japanese with me.

I can’t believe we have already reached 60 episodes!

Every time I see people listening to my podcast, it gives me motivation to keep creating new episodes.

Thank you for being part of this Japanese learning journey!

Today’s topic is:

Hot, Cold & Warm in Japanese

In English, we use simple words like “hot,” “cold,” and “warm,” but Japanese has different words depending on the situation.

In this episode, you will learn:

☀️ atsui — hot (weather)
❄️ samui — cold (weather)
🧊 tsumetai — cold (things you touch)
☕ atatakai / attakai — warm

You’ll also learn natural Japanese expressions that Japanese people use every day:

atsui na~
(“It’s so hot…”)

tsumeta!
(“It’s cold!”)

Small differences like these will help you sound more natural when speaking Japanese.

If you want to practice Japanese conversation with me, you can book a lesson on italki.

I’d love to help you improve your Japanese through personalized lessons!

Thank you for listening!

Practice useful Japanese phrases that you can use in online lessons!

In this episode, you’ll review practical expressions like:

• もういちど おねがいします (One more time, please.)
• わかりました (I understand.)
• それは わかります (I already know that.)
• わかりません (I don’t understand.)
• ゆっくり はなして もらえますか (Could you speak more slowly?)
• これは にほんごで なんと いいますか (How do you say this in Japanese?)
• きこえますか (Can you hear me?)
• みえますか (Can you see me?)
• なるほど (I see.)
• だいじょうぶです (That’s OK.)

First, repeat after me.

Then, challenge yourself with real-life situations and answer before I do!

This episode is perfect for beginners studying Japanese or anyone taking online Japanese lessons.

✨ Want to practice real conversations with me?

Book a lesson here:
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

🎙️ New episodes every week!
Please follow the podcast and subscribe on YouTube if you’re enjoying these lessons.

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #BeginnerJapanese #OnlineJapanese #JapanesePractice #JLPTN5 #TravelJapanese #JapaneseLessons

In this episode, we’ll learn useful Japanese phrases that you can use in almost every Japanese lesson — and also in everyday conversations.

Have you ever missed what your teacher said?
Do you want to ask someone to speak more slowly?
Do you know the difference between わかります and わかりました?

Today we’ll practice:

✨ もういちど おねがいします
(One more time, please.)

✨ ゆっくり はなしてもらえますか？
(Could you speak more slowly?)

✨ わかります vs わかりました
(I understand / I got it)

✨ ちょっと わかりません
(A softer way to say “I don’t understand.”)

✨ ○○は にほんごで なんと いいますか？
(How do you say ○○ in Japanese?)

✨ みえますか？ / きこえますか？
(Can you see me? / Can you hear me?)

✨ なるほど！
(Oh, I see! / That makes sense!)

✨ だいじょうぶです
(Okay / No problem / I’m fine / No thank you)

These small phrases will make your Japanese lessons much easier and help you feel more comfortable speaking Japanese.

Perfect for beginner Japanese learners, travelers, and anyone studying Japanese online.

Let’s learn real Japanese together!

How do Japanese people talk about their husband or wife?

In this practice episode, you’ll learn how to use:

• つま (wife)
• おくさん (someone else’s wife)
• だんな (husband)
• だんなさん
• しゅじん
• おっと

You’ll also practice useful travel conversations like:

• おくさんは どこですか？
• だんなさんは おげんきですか？
• つまの きみです。
• しゅじんは いま でかけています。
• だんなは いま いません。

Perfect for beginners who want to sound more natural in Japanese.

🎧 Practice with me, repeat after me, and answer before I do!

📚 More Japanese lessons:
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #JapaneseConversation #BeginnerJapanese #TravelJapanese #JapaneseListening #JapaneseVocabulary #RealJapaneseWithKimi

In today’s Coffee Break episode, let’s talk about something that surprises many Japanese learners!

How do Japanese people say husband and wife?

You’ll hear words like:

• しゅじん (shujin)
• おっと (otto)
• だんな (danna)
• だんなさん (danna-san)
• つま (tsuma)
• おくさん (okusan)
• よめ (yome)

We also talk about:

• Why some people say だんなさん even though it’s technically not the standard form
• How to talk about someone else’s husband or wife
• How couples actually call each other at home
• Why many parents call each other おとうさん or おかあさん
• Small cultural differences that even Japanese people sometimes disagree about!

If you’ve ever wondered what sounds natural in real Japanese conversation, this episode is for you.

🎧 Learn practical Japanese with Kimi!

🌸 italki Lessons
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Follow for more beginner-friendly Japanese!

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #JapaneseConversation #JapaneseCulture #JLPT #BeginnerJapanese #RealJapaneseWithKimi

🎙️ Episode 55 – Family Words Practice!

Let’s practice the family vocabulary from Episode 54!

In this episode, you’ll practice how to introduce your own family and how to politely talk about someone else’s family in Japanese.

We’ll do two rounds:
✨ Round 1 – Repeat after me
✨ Round 2 – Answer before I do!

Today’s vocabulary:

• むすこ (musuko) = son
• むすめ (musume) = daughter
• むすこさん (musuko-san) = someone else’s son
• むすめさん (musume-san) = someone else’s daughter
• あに (ani) = my older brother
• おにいさん (onii-san) = someone else’s older brother
• あね (ane) = my older sister
• おねえさん (onee-san) = someone else’s older sister
• おとうと (otouto) = younger brother
• いもうと (imouto) = younger sister
• きょうだい (kyoudai) = siblings
• うえのこ (ue no ko) = oldest child
• したのこ (shita no ko) = youngest child

💡 One of the most common mistakes I hear from my students on italki is mixing up words like musume and musume-san. After today’s practice, you’ll sound much more natural!

🎧 Listen to Episode 54 first if you haven’t already.

🌸 Want to practice speaking with me?

👉 iTalki Lessons:
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Thanks for listening!

See you in the next episode!

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #JapanesePractice #BeginnerJapanese #JapaneseConversation #JLPTN5 #RealJapanese #JapaneseListening #SpeakJapanese #FamilyJapanese #JapaneseVocabulary

Have you ever wondered why Japanese has so many different words for family members?

In this episode, we talk about the real Japanese words people use for family—and when to use each one.

You’ll learn the difference between:

👨 Father
・パパ
・おとうさん
・ちち

👩 Mother
・ママ
・おかあさん
・はは

👦 Children
・むすこ (son)
・むすめ (daughter)
・むすこさん / むすめさん (someone else’s son or daughter)

👨‍👦 Brothers & Sisters
・あに (older brother)
・おとうと (younger brother)
・あね (older sister)
・いもうと (younger sister)
・きょうだい (siblings / brothers)
・しまい (sisters)

✨ Bonus Japanese family expressions:
・うえのこ (oldest child)
・まんなかのこ (middle child)
・したのこ (youngest child)
・ちょうなん (eldest son)
・ちょうじょ (eldest daughter)
・じなん (second son)
・じじょ (second daughter)

You’ll also learn why Japanese people often change family words depending on whether they’re talking about their own family or someone else’s family, and why adding さん is so important.

🇯🇵 Learn practical Japanese for travel and real conversations.

🎧 Practice episode coming next!

⭐ Book a Japanese lesson with me:
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #JapaneseFamily #JapaneseVocabulary #BeginnerJapanese #JapaneseListening #RealJapanese #JLPT #TravelJapanese

Practice speaking natural Japanese by expressing what you like, love, dislike, and what you’re not interested in.

This is the practice episode for Episode 52. We’ll review useful everyday expressions that Japanese people actually use in conversation.

❤️ すきです – I like it
😍 だいすきです – I love it
🙂 あまり すきじゃありません – I don’t really like it
🍣 あまり たべません – I don’t eat it very often
🌶 ちょっと むりです – It’s a little impossible for me (a very natural Japanese expression!)
😅 ちょっと にがてです – I’m not very good with it
⚽ きょうみが ありません – I’m not really interested in it

In Round 1, listen and repeat.

In Round 2, answer before I do and practice speaking like you’re having a real conversation!

🎧 If you haven’t listened to Episode 52 yet, I recommend starting there first.

📚 Book a lesson with me on italki:
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

#JapanesePodcast #LearnJapanese #JapanesePractice #JapaneseListening #JapaneseSpeaking #JapaneseForBeginners #JLPTN5 #EasyJapanese #Shadowing #JapaneseConversation #53

You’ll practice:

Have you ever noticed that Japanese people rarely say “I hate it” directly?

In this episode, we’ll explore how Japanese people naturally express likes and dislikes in everyday conversation.

You’ll learn useful expressions like:

🍣 すきです (I like it.)
❤️ だいすきです (I love it.)
👎 すきじゃありません (I don’t like it.)
😣 にがてです (I’m not good with it / It’s not my favorite.)
🙅 むりです (No way. I just can’t.)
🤔 あまり～ません (I don’t really…)
💬 きょうみがあります / きょうみはありません (I’m interested / I’m not really interested.)

More importantly, you’ll discover why Japanese people often avoid saying “I hate it” directly, and how they soften their opinions to sound more natural and polite.

If you want to sound less like a textbook and more like a real Japanese speaker, this episode is for you.

🎧 Listen, relax, and enjoy your Japanese coffee break with Kimi!

📚 Book a lesson with me on italki if you’d like to practice real Japanese conversation:

#EP52 #JapanesePodcast #LearnJapanese #JapaneseConversation #JapaneseCulture #NaturalJapanese #JapaneseForBeginners #JLPT #SpeakJapanese #JapaneseListening

Ready to practice Japanese taste words?

In this practice episode, we’ll review the vocabulary from Episode 50 and practice using it in real Japanese sentences.

Today’s practice includes:

🍩 このドーナツは あまいです。
🍋 このレモンは すっぱいです。
🍛 このカレーは からいです。
☕ このコーヒーは にがいです。

You’ll also practice useful travel questions like:

• このカレーは からいですか？
• どのくらい からいですか？
• けっこう からいです。
• そんなに からくないですよ。

We’ll do:

✅ Round 1 — Repeat after me
✅ Round 2 — Listen to the English first and say the Japanese before the answer.

Perfect for beginners learning natural Japanese conversation!

🎧 Want more speaking practice?

Book a lesson with me on iTalki:
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

See you in the next episode!

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #JapanesePractice #JLPTN5 #BeginnerJapanese #JapaneseListening #JapaneseSpeaking #JapaneseVocabulary #TasteWords #EP51

In this episode, we’ll learn some of the most useful Japanese words for describing food and flavors!

Today’s vocabulary:

• あまい (sweet)
• からい (spicy)
• すっぱい (sour)
• にがい (bitter)

You’ll also learn how Japanese curry packages are labeled:

• 甘口 (あまくち) – Mild
• 中辛 (ちゅうから) – Medium
• 辛口 (からくち) – Hot

I’ll also explain why Japanese food is usually much milder than many people expect, and how to ask questions like:

• これは からいですか？
• どのくらい からいですか？

Perfect for beginners who want to understand real Japanese used in restaurants and supermarkets.

🎌 Book a lesson with me on italki:
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #JapaneseBeginner #JapaneseListening #JapaneseVocabulary #JLPT #JapaneseConversation #JapaneseLanguage #EasyJapanese #EP50

In this episode, Kimi shares a small but very important cultural difference in Japanese conversation: why people rarely use “anata,” and how they actually call each other in real life.

You will learn why Japanese often drop the subject in sentences, and why using a person’s name with “さん” or “ちゃん” is much more natural than saying “あなたは…”

Kimi also explains how names and forms of address change depending on closeness, and why even close friends sometimes keep using the same name style for years.

If you are not sure what to call someone, the simple rule is: start with “きみさん” or ask directly:
「なんてよべばいいですか？」

It is always better than guessing, because every person feels a little different about names.

And if you want to practice natural Japanese conversation more deeply, Kimi also offers lessons on  iTalki⁠.

Thanks for listening, and see you in the next episode!

In this practice episode, you’ll review Japanese supermarket vocabulary while practicing simple, useful sentences.

Today’s vocabulary:

🥬 やさい (vegetables)
🍅 とまと (tomato)
🥒 きゅうり (cucumber)
🥬 きゃべつ (cabbage)
🥔 じゃがいも (potato)
🥕 にんじん (carrot)
🧅 たまねぎ (onion)
🍉 すいか (watermelon)
🍒 さくらんぼ (cherry)
🥚 たまご (egg)
🥛 ぎゅうにゅう (milk)
🍞 ぱん (bread)

You will practice:

・きのう すーぱーに いきました。
・きょう とまとと きゅうりを かいました。
・まいあさ ぎゅうにゅうを のみます。
・あさ ぱんと たまごを たべます。
・なつに すいかを たべます。
・はるに さくらんぼを たべます。
・ときどき ぎゅうにくを たべます。
・あした たまごを かいます。
・きゃべつを きります。
・ぱんを やきます。

Practice with me, then test yourself by answering before you hear the Japanese!

Book a lesson with me on italki:
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Today we’re taking a tour through a Japanese supermarket!

Learn useful Japanese vocabulary for vegetables, meat, bread, milk, and more while discovering some fun cultural differences you’ll notice when shopping in Japan.

In this episode, you’ll learn words like:

• やさい (vegetables)
• トマト (tomato)
• きゅうり (cucumber)
• キャベツ (cabbage)
• にんじん (carrot)
• たまねぎ (onion)
• じゃがいも (potato)
• とりにく (chicken)
• ぶたにく (pork)
• ぎゅうにく (beef)
• たまご (eggs)
• ぎゅうにゅう (milk)
• パン (bread)

We’ll also talk about:

• Seasonal food in Japan (旬)
• Japanese cherries vs. American cherries
• Why Japanese meat is usually sliced thin
• What あいびきにく means
• Bread surprises like あんこ and カレーパン
• Organic, free-range, and cage-free products in Japan

Next episode, we’ll practice using all of these words in Japanese!

Ready to sound more natural in Japanese?

In this practice episode, we’ll practice one of the most important parts of real Japanese conversation: aizuchi (listener responses).

You’ll practice natural reactions like:

・あ、はい
・そうですか
・なるほど
・わかりました
・そうそう
・へえ
・ええ！

Instead of translating, react naturally like a Japanese speaker.

We’ll practice with simple Japanese you’ve already learned.

Round 1: Guided practice with explanations
Round 2: Real conversation practice

Let’s practice together!

Practice the Japanese particle 「で」 with real examples!

In this episode you’ll practice using 「で」 for places where actions happen and transportation.

You’ll practice sentences like:

• あした とうきょうで ラーメンを たべます
• きのう おおさかで たこやきを たべました
• まいあさ カフェで コーヒーを のみます
• らいげつ しんかんせんで おおさかに いきます
• せんげつ ひこうきで おきなわに いきました

Remember the sentence order:

Time → Place → Object → Verb

Repeat after me, then challenge yourself by answering before hearing the Japanese.

Let’s practice together!

In this episode, we learn “aizuchi.”
These are small listening responses that Japanese people use all the time during conversations.

You don’t always need to stay silent when someone is speaking.
Instead, you can use short reactions to show:

“I’m listening.”
“I understand.”
“I’m interested.”

Today’s aizuchi:

• あ、はい
Ah, ok / yep

• そうですか
Oh, I see / really?

• なるほど
That makes sense / I get it

• わかりました
I understand

• そうそう
Exactly / yeah, that’s right

• へえ
Oh really / wow

• えー
No way / really?!

Mini note:
When speaking Japanese, small reactions are very important.
Japanese people often use these sounds while listening in conversation.

Try using:
あ、はい / そうですか / なるほど / わかりました / そうそう / へえ / えー

It will make your Japanese sound much more natural.

If you want more practice and real conversation support, I also teach lessons on italki.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to use the Japanese particle で.

So far we’ve learned:

• を (object)
• に (destination)

Now it’s time to learn で, which is used for:

• places where actions happen
• transportation and methods

Examples:

• とうきょうで ラーメンを たべます
• カフェで コーヒーを のみます
• しんかんせんで おおさかに いきます
• くるまで ともだちの いえに いきます

We’ll also review:

• あした
• まいあさ
• きのう
• せんしゅう
• せんげつ
• きょねん

and practice using present, past, and future sentences together.

Book a lesson with me on italki:

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Let’s study Japanese together! 🇯🇵✨

In this Imagination Japanese episode, you’ll practice a real travel situation at a Japanese train station.

Imagine you’re standing in a busy station and need to find the correct platform to get to Shinjuku Station.

You’ll practice useful Japanese such as:

🚉 すみません
🚉 しんじゅくえきに いきたいです
🚉 ちゅうおうせんは どこですか
🚉 ４ばんせん
🚉 まっすぐ
🚉 わかりました
🚉 ありがとうございます

You’ll also learn an important travel communication tip:

Instead of immediately saying “I understand,” try confirming important information using:

✅ 〜ですね

For example:

まっすぐいって、４ばんせんですね。

This is a great way to make sure you correctly understand directions, train information, and other important details.

Imagine the situation, listen for key words, and practice using Japanese in a real-world context.

📚 Learn Japanese with Kimi on italki:

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Let’s keep studying together!

またね！

Kimi 🎙️

Today we’ll practice checking into a hotel in Japan.

This episode is a little different from previous Imagination Japanese episodes.

The hotel staff uses real Japanese hospitality language, which is often more polite and more difficult than everyday Japanese.

Don’t worry if you don’t understand every word.

The goal is to catch the key words and guess the situation from context — just like in real life.

Key words you’ll hear today:

• ごよやく
• おなまえ
• ごじゅうしょ
• カードキー
• エレベーター
• 5かい
• ちょうしょく
• おまちください
• かしこまりました

You’ll practice:

✅ checking into a hotel

✅ understanding polite Japanese

✅ listening for key words

✅ guessing meaning from context

✅ surviving real travel situations in Japan

Remember:

You do NOT need to understand every word.

Focus on the key words and the situation.

That’s how real Japanese listening works.

📚 Learn Japanese with Kimi on italki:

[YOUR ITALKI LINK]

🎧 Imagination Japanese Series

EP39 Restaurant Challenge 🍜

EP40 Café Challenge ☕

EP41 Hotel Check-in Challenge 🏨

またね！ 👋

Imagine you’re in a Japanese café with your partner.

Can you order drinks and food in Japanese?

In this Situation Japanese episode, you’ll practice listening, guessing from context, and responding naturally in real-life situations.

You’ll hear useful Japanese such as:

• てんないで おねがいします
• ごちゅうもんは おきまりでしたら どうぞ
• アイスコーヒーを ひとつ おねがいします
• ホットカフェラテを ひとつ おねがいします
• Sサイズ
• Lサイズ
• ごちゅうもんを くりかえします
• いじょうで よろしいでしょうか
• おせきまで おはこびします
• おまちください

You’ll also learn about the Japanese café word:

• モーニング

Try to imagine the situation as clearly as possible and answer before I give the model response.

The goal is not perfect Japanese.

The goal is reacting naturally in Japanese.

📚 Learn Japanese with Kimi on italki:

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/4261617

🎧 Situation Japanese Series

Episode 39 – Restaurant Challenge 🍜
Episode 40 – Café Challenge ☕

Today we try a different kind of Japanese practice.

Instead of translating English into Japanese, you’ll imagine a real situation and react in Japanese.

You walk into a restaurant in Japan.

The staff asks questions.

You need to order food, ask about ingredients, request the check, and pay with a credit card.

Can you remember the Japanese you’ve learned so far?

In this episode, you’ll practice:

• すみません
• なんめいさまですか
• これはぶたにくですか
• おすすめはありますか
• ドリンクバーはありますか
• おかいけいおねがいします
• クレジットカードはつかえますか
• とてもおいしかったです
• ごちそうさまでした

The goal is not translating.

The goal is reacting naturally in Japanese.

Close your eyes, imagine the situation, and let’s practice together!

📚 Learn Japanese with Kimi on italki:

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/4261617

Let’s practice Japanese past tense sentences using common past time words:

• きのう (yesterday)
• せんしゅう (last week)
• せんげつ (last month)
• きょねん (last year)

In this practice episode, you’ll review:

• 〜ました (past tense)
• たべました
• のみました
• べんきょうしました
• みました
• かいました
• しらべました
• とりました
• いきました

Examples:

• きのう すしを たべました
• せんしゅう ラーメンを たべました
• せんげつ にほんしゅを のみました
• きょねん にほんごを べんきょうしました
• きのう とうきょうに いきました
• きょねん おおさかに いきました

Round 1:
Listen and repeat.

Round 2:
Listen to the English sentence and say the Japanese before the answer.

Perfect for beginner Japanese learners who want more speaking practice.

Book a lesson with me on iTalki:

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Today we’ll learn useful Japanese time words for talking about the past:

• きのう (yesterday)
• せんしゅう (last week)
• せんげつ (last month)
• きょねん (last year)

You’ll learn:

• how to talk about when something happened
• why Japanese usually puts the time first
• simple examples using 〜ました
• a preview of いきました (went)

Examples:

• きのう すしを たべました
• せんしゅう ラーメンを たべました
• せんげつ にほんしゅを のみました
• きょねん にほんごを べんきょうしました
• とうきょうに いきました

In the next episode, we’ll practice these words together with speaking exercises.

Book a lesson with me on iTalki:

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Today is a practice episode for:

〜ました

the Japanese past tense.

In this episode, we’ll practice sentences such as:

• にほんしゅを のみました
• こうちゃを のみました
• ふじさんを みました
• テレビを みました
• ラーメンを たべました
• てんぷらを たべました
• くつを かいました
• ふくを かいました
• レストランを しらべました
• おんせんを しらべました
• にほんごを べんきょうしました
• スペインごを べんきょうしました
• チケットを とりました

Round 1:

Listen and repeat.

Round 2:

Listen to the English sentence and try saying the Japanese before you hear the answer.

Perfect for:

• Beginner Japanese learners
• JLPT N5 learners
• Japan travelers
• Anyone practicing Japanese past tense

Book a lesson with me on iTalki:

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Today we learn one of the most useful Japanese grammar patterns:

〜ました

The Japanese past tense.

If you already know:

• たべます
• のみます
• いきます
• みます

then you’re very close!

Simply changing ます → ました lets you talk about things you did in the past.

In this episode, we practice:

• たべました (I ate)
• のみました (I drank)
• いきました (I went)
• みました (I saw / watched)
• かいました (I bought)
• しらべました (I looked up)

We also learn useful travel vocabulary:

• にほんしゅ (sake)
• ふじさん (Mt. Fuji)
• ラーメン (ramen)
• くつ (shoes)
• レストラン (restaurant)
• どうが (video)

Plus a simple grammar tip:

• を for actions
• に for destinations

Perfect for:

• Beginner Japanese learners
• Japan travelers
• JLPT N5 learners
• Anyone who wants to start talking about the past in Japanese

In the next episode, we’ll do a full practice lesson using 〜ました, so don’t worry about memorizing everything today.

Just listen, repeat, and enjoy learning Japanese!

Book a lesson with me on iTalki:

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Japanese with Kimi 🇯🇵✨

Have you ever wondered why Japanese convenience stores are so famous?

In this episode, we talk about Japanese コンビニ (convenience stores) and why they are so useful for travelers.

You’ll learn useful Japanese words such as:

• コンビニ (convenience store)
• おにぎり (rice ball)
• おべんとう (lunch box)
• のり (seaweed)
• Suica
• ATM

We also talk about:

• How to open a Japanese おにぎり correctly
• Why the のり stays crispy
• Seasonal foods like おでん and にくまん
• Hot foods such as からあげ
• Buying alcohol at convenience stores
• Finding a トイレ while traveling
• Using an ATM and topping up your Suica card

This episode is a little different from our grammar and practice episodes.

Instead, you’ll learn practical Japanese vocabulary while discovering an important part of everyday life in Japan.

Perfect for:

• Japanese beginners
• Japan travelers
• People planning their first trip to Japan
• Anyone interested in Japanese culture

では、いっしょに がんばりましょう！

Japanese with Kimi 🇯🇵✨

Book a lesson with me on iTalki:

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

I’d love to help you with practical Japanese for travel and daily conversations! 🇯🇵✨

Today is our first Japanese conversation practice episode!

Everything in this conversation uses words, phrases, and grammar we’ve already learned in previous episodes.

Let’s see how much Japanese you can understand using what you already know.

In this episode, we practice a simple conversation at a Japanese convenience store.

You’ll hear Japanese we’ve learned before, including:

• すみません
• おねがいします
• どこですか？
• これはなんですか？
• わかりました
• Sサイズ・Mサイズ・Lサイズ

We’ll practice situations such as:

• asking where something is
• buying coffee
• understanding simple product information
• ordering food at a convenience store

First, listen to the conversation and see how much you can understand.

Then we’ll check the meaning together in English.

Finally, listen again and challenge yourself to understand more Japanese.

The final conversation is spoken at a more natural speed, so don’t worry if you don’t understand everything the first time.

Just keep listening and let your ears get used to Japanese.

Perfect for:

• beginner Japanese learners
• Japan travelers
• listening practice
• learning Japanese naturally through conversation

🎌 Japanese Lessons with Kimi

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

#LearnJapanese
#JapanesePodcast
#JapaneseForBeginners
#TravelJapanese
#JapaneseListening
#JapaneseConversation
#StudyJapanese
#SpeakJapanese
#JapanesePractice
#ConvenienceStoreJapanese

やっほー！

きみです。

This is a practice episode.

If you haven’t listened to EP 31 yet, please start there first.

In this episode, we’ll practice:

まいにち (every day)

まいあさ (every morning)

よく (often)

ときどき (sometimes)

You’ll hear useful travel and everyday Japanese such as:

まいあさ コーヒーを のみます。

まいにち にほんごを べんきょうします。

よく ラーメンを たべます。

ときどき すしを たべます。

First, repeat after me.

Then, try answering by yourself before hearing the answer.

Let’s practice Japanese together!

がんばって！

🎌 Japanese Lessons with Kimi

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

In this episode, we continue our ます series and learn four very useful frequency words that Japanese people use every day.

Today’s words:

• まいにち (every day)
• まいあさ (every morning)
• よく (often)
• ときどき (sometimes)

You’ll hear example sentences such as:

• まいあさ コーヒーを のみます。
• まいにち にほんごを べんきょうします。
• よく ラーメンを たべます。
• ときどき すしを たべます。

We also talk about why these words are important in Japanese and how they help make the meaning of a sentence clearer.

If you’re new to the ます form, I recommend listening to Episode 29 and Episode 30 first.

Perfect for:
• Beginner Japanese learners
• Travel Japanese
• Everyday conversation
• Building natural Japanese habits

In the next episode, we’ll practice these expressions together.

じゃあ、またね！

きょうは
れんしゅう の エピソード です。

In this episode:
• listening practice
• repeat after me
• English to Japanese practice
• common Japanese sentence patterns

Practice sentences like:
• コーヒーを のみます
• すしを たべます
• チケットを かいます
• えいがを みます
• しゃしんを とります

If these sentences are new to you,
please listen to EP29 first.

This episode is designed for repetition and speaking practice.

A casual beginner Japanese practice episode with simple English instructions.

きょうは
〜を 〜ます
の ぶんを れんしゅうします。

In this episode:
• simple Japanese sentences
• using を with verbs
• common travel Japanese
• useful daily phrases

Examples:
• コーヒーを のみます
• すしを たべます
• チケットを かいます
• えいがを みます
• しゃしんを とります

We also talk about a new format:
one episode for explanations,
and another episode for practice and repetition.

A casual beginner Japanese episode with simple English explanations.

きょうは
ます
について はなします。

In this episode:
• polite Japanese verb forms
• how ます works
• Japanese vowel patterns
• う verbs and る verbs

We also practice useful verbs like:
• いきます
• たべます
• のみます
• みます

A casual beginner Japanese episode with simple English explanations and listening practice.

きょうは
あいうえお
について はなします。

In this episode:
• Japanese vowel sounds
• あいうえお patterns
• why ます form feels confusing sometimes
• how Japanese verb sounds change

We also talk about:
• かきくけこ patterns
• learning hiragana in order
• why chunk practice is important

A casual beginner Japanese episode with simple English explanations.

きょうは
にほんの コーヒーぶんか
について はなします。

In this episode:
• vending machines in Japan
• コンビニ coffee
• ブレンドコーヒー
• アメリカンコーヒー
• hot and cold canned coffee

We also talk about:
• black coffee in Japan
• ドリンクバー

A casual Japanese listening episode for beginner learners and Japan travelers.

きょうは
おつかれさまです
を しょうかい します。

おつかれさまです
is one of the most common Japanese phrases,
but it does not have a direct English translation.

Japanese people use it:
• at work
• when saying goodbye
• after hard work
• with friends and family

In this episode,
we talk about the meaning and feeling behind this very Japanese expression.

Perfect for:
• beginner Japanese learners
• understanding Japanese culture
• natural daily Japanese

きょうは
じゃないです
and
くないです
を れんしゅう します。

Examples:

アメリカじんじゃないです

げんきじゃないです

あつくないです

In this episode, we practice simple negative Japanese patterns for beginners.

We also talk about:
• な adjectives
• い adjectives
• learning Japanese naturally as chunks

Perfect for beginner Japanese learners and Japan travel.