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A weekly podcast for upper beginner to intermediate learners of Japanese. Listen to Yumi talk about... whatever she wants to talk about. Practice your listening comprehension with natural (howbeit slightly slowed down) Japanese on various topics such as Japanese culture, fun idioms, and, of course, cats. The episodes can be enjoyed in any order. -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript and a list of key vocabulary. www.MakotoPlus.com
Episodes
Sunday Jun 19, 2022
Sunday Jun 19, 2022
Yumi continues to talk about counters in Japanese. This series started due to a question from a listener about how to count Godzilla. Then, she talked about rabbits (which uses 一羽 ichiwa -- just like birds). This time, she turns her attention to fish. Fish in general are easy to count. But… of course, it isn't that simple in the real world.
KEY VOCABULARY:
数(かぞ)え方(かた) way of counting
島国(しまぐに) island country
たくさんの種類(しゅるい) many varieties
季節(きせつ)による by season; according to the season
サバ (mackerel)、サンマ (Pacific saury; mackerel pike)、アジ (horse mackerel)、マグロ (tuna)、ブリ (Japanese amberjack)、イワシ (sardine)、カツオ (bonito)、イカ (squid)、カニ (crab)、エビ (shrimp)、貝類(かいるい) (shellfish)、海藻(かいそう) (seaweed)、ワカメ (wakame seaweed)、昆布(こんぶ) (konbu kelp)、フグ (puffer fish)
水族館(すいぞくかん) aquarium
漁師(りょうし)さん fisherman
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-91
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-91-m
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Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday Jun 13, 2022
Monday Jun 13, 2022
Yumi continues counting in Japanese. Last time, she discussed how to count Godzilla (is it 一匹 ippiki or 一頭 ittou?). This week, she turns her attention to the interesting counter for rabbits. Is it 一匹 ippiki? Nope. It's 一羽 ichiwa -- just like birds. Why? Listen as Yumi gives two possible etymologies.
KEY VOCABULARY:
数(かぞ)え方(かた) way of counting
頭(とう) counter for large animals (meaning head)
匹(ひき) counter for most small animals and insects
羽(わ) counter for birds and rabbits (means feathers)
束(たば) bundles
把(わ) counter for bundles
説(せつ)があります there is a theory
生類(しょうるい)憐(あわ)れみ mercy on living things
食糧事情(しょくりょうじじょう) food situation
一般(いっぱん)の庶民(しょみん) ordinary folk; common people
頓智話(とんちばなし) story of a quick-witted person
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-90
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-90-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Sunday Jun 05, 2022
Sunday Jun 05, 2022
In the original Godzilla movie from 1954, the professor uses the counter 一匹 to count Godzilla. But isn't 匹 used with small animals? Shouldn't Godzilla be counted as 一頭? This was a bit of a puzzle for Yumi too, so she researched the subject. Listen as Yumi explains what she discovered.
KEY VOCABULARY:
ゴジラ Godzilla [mix of ゴリラ (gorilla) and クジラ (whale)]
白黒(しろくろ) Black and white [in Japanese, "white and black"]
科学的(かがくてき)な説明(せつめい) scientific explanation
古臭(ふるくさ)い stale; old-fashioned; hackneyed; trite
普遍性(ふへんせい) universality; omnipresence
興味深(きょうみぶか)い very interesting; of great interest
昆虫(こんちゅう) insects; bugs
研究者(けんきゅうしゃ) researchers
脚本(きゃくほん) script
数(かぞ)え方(かた) way of counting
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-89
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-89-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Sunday May 29, 2022
Sunday May 29, 2022
Japan has many wonderful things. The latest technology, tons of entertainment, low crime… but Japan also has one of the highest rates of suicide. Why is this so? Yumi talks about this difficult subject and gives a few of her thoughts about how to help prevent it.
KEY VOCABULARY:
自殺率(じさつりつ) suicide rate
私自身(わたしじしん)は I, myself; as for me, I…
有名(ゆうめい)な芸能人(げいのうじん) famous entertainer
他(ほか)の国(くに)の人(ひと) a person from another country
真面目(まじめ) serious; honest; sober; earnest
働(はたら)き者(もの) hard worker
ブラック企業(きぎょう) business that exploits its employees
残業(ざんぎょう) overtime work
従業員(じゅうぎょういん) employee; worker
上司(じょうし) boss; superior
精神科(せいしんか) psychiatry
助言(じょげん) advice
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-88
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-88-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Sunday May 22, 2022
Sunday May 22, 2022
Yumi was very careful to always keep a sharp eye out on her children when they were young. In the shortest of moments, the unthinkable can happen. Japan is a very safe country most of the time, but children are left unsupervised moreso than in other countries. Yumi wonders is it's time to rethink that.
KEY VOCABULARY:
行方不明(ゆくえふめい) missing (person); lost; whereabouts unknown
一致(いっち)する to match; to agree; to conform
キャンプ場(じょう) camp site
ほんのちょっと only a little; just a little
警察(けいさつ) police
諦(あきら)めずに never give up; not giving up
残念(ざんねん)な悲(かな)しいニュース unfortunate and sad news
誘拐(ゆうかい)される to be kidnapped
神隠(かみかく)し (the idea that the gods take missing children who cannot be found)
千(せん)と千尋(ちひろ)の神隠(かみかく)し Spirited Away (anime)
冒険(ぼうけん) adventure
現実(げんじつ)には as for reality; but really
敏感(びんかん) sensitive; alert; aware
小学校(しょうがっこう)の高学年(こうがくねん) upper elementary school
後(あと)からついていきました followed after
それに比(くら)べると compared to that; comparing the two
話題(わだい)になりました became a hot topic of conversation
幼児(ようじ) toddler; young child
判断(はんだん)する to judge
無事(ぶじ)に safe and sound; safely
責任(せきにん)を取(と)る to take responsibility
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-87
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-87-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday May 16, 2022
Monday May 16, 2022
Did you know Yumi once fell asleep during a production of Cats. You may be thinking, that's because it was in English! Nope. It was a performance in Nagoya in Japanese. She then concluded stories with lines sung rather than spoken make her sleepy and aren't worth the money. But then she saw The Phantom of the Opera.
Listen as Yumi explains a similarity that musical shares with modern anime.
KEY VOCABULARY:
オペラ座(ざ) opera house
怪人(かいじん) phantom; mysterious person
映画版(えいがばん) movie version; film version
舞台美術(ぶたいびじゅつ) stage design; scenic design
俳優(はいゆう)さん actor
舞台(ぶたい) state (theater); scene or setting
華(はな)やかな衣装(いしょう) gorgeous costumes
幻想的(げんそうてき) fantastic; magical; wondrous; fairytale-like
傑作(けっさく) masterpiece; best work
演劇(えんげき) drama; theater; play
恋愛(れんあい) love; passion; emotion
主人公(しゅじんこう) protagonist; main character; hero (of a story)
不気味(ぶきみ)な weird; ominous; eerie
暗(くら)い雰囲気(ふんいき) dark atmosphere
気味(きみ)が悪(わる)い creepy (feeling); uneasy feeling; giving one the creeps
魅力的(みりょくてき) charming; fascinating; attractive
現象(げんしょう) phenomenon
進撃(しんげき)の巨人(きょじん) Attack on Titan
世界観(せかいかん) world view; outlook on the world
共通点(きょうつうてん) point in common; common features
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-86
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-86-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday May 09, 2022
Monday May 09, 2022
Walk 10,000 steps a day! Have you heard that slogan? Today, Yumi talks about how many steps the latest research suggests you should walk and what one should do with conflicting health suggestions.
KEY VOCABULARY:
体(からだ)に良(よ)い good for the body
若(わか)い頃(ころ) youth; when (I) was young
ラジオ局(きょく)に勤(つと)めていた Worked at a radio station
田舎町(いなかまち) country town
階段(かいだん) stairs
健康効果(けんこうこうか)がある have health benefits; effective for health
万歩計(まんぽけい) pedometer
最新(さいしん)の研究(けんきゅう) latest research
イエス様(さま) Jesus
何事(なにごと)も all things; everything; anything
食(た)べ過(す)ぎず飲(の)み過(す)ぎず don't eat too much; don't drink too much
ほどほどに in moderation
本末転倒(ほんまつてんとう) failing to properly evaluate the (relative) importance (of); putting the cart before the horse; getting one's priorities backwards
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-85
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-85-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Sunday May 01, 2022
Sunday May 01, 2022
Living to 100 is becoming more common in Japan. In the 1960s, only a few hundred people were over a hundred. Today, that number is around 80,000. Yumi continues with a few of her thoughts about how she plans to live longer.
KEY VOCABULARY:
保険(ほけん) insurance
漠然(ばくぜん) vague; obscure; hazy
長生(ながい)き long life
金(かね)を貯(た)めてください please save up money
最高齢(さいこうれい) oldest (person); oldest age
認定(にんてい)されています is recognized; is certified
老人福祉法(ろうじんふくしほう) Welfare Law for the Elderly
その頃(ころ) at that time
和食(わしょく) Japanese food; Japanese diet
子育(こそだ)て raising children
紫外線(しがいせん) ultraviolet rays
摂(と)っています taking (vitamins; protein; etc.)
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-84
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-84-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Getting in shape and staying healthy isn't just to feel better now, it also increases the change one can live longer. Japanese have the longest life expectancies on earth. Today, Yumi shares a few of her thoughts about how she plans to live longer.
KEY VOCABULARY:
水筒(すいとう) canteen; water bottle; thermos
グビグビ in loud gulps (drinking)
水分(すいぶん)をとる to take (drink) liquids
意識(いしき)し始(はじ)める to begin to be aware of; becoming aware of; to be conscious of
平均寿命(へいきんじゅみょう) life expectancy
排泄(はいせつ) excretion (poop or pee)
手(て)を借(か)りる to get someone's help; to ask for help
生活習慣病(せいかつしゅうかんびょう) lifestyle disease; disease caused by lifestyle choices
老化(ろうか)する to age; to grow old
若々(わかわか)しく保(たも)つ to maintain youthfulness
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-83
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-83-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com
Monday Apr 18, 2022
Monday Apr 18, 2022
Do you have allergies? Yumi lives in Florida and while she doesn't have bad allergies, the pollen season is bad. In Japan, however, people with allergies don't just have pollen to worry about but yellow dust from Mongolia called 黄砂【こうさ】 also.
KEY VOCABULARY:
花粉(かふん) pollen
花粉症(かふんしょう) hay fever; allergy to pollen
の季節(きせつ) the season of…
アレルギーがある to have allergies
幸(さいわ)いなことに thankfully; a good thing is
砂埃(すなぼこり) a cloud of dust or sand
積(つ)もる to build up; to accumulate
日本海側(にほんかいがわ) Western Japan on the side of the Sea of Japan
偏西風(へんせいふう) prevailing westerlies; prevailing winds blowing from west to east
モンゴルの砂漠(さばく) Mongolia deserts
PM2・5 atmospheric particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers; PM2.5
For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/
Take a quiz on this episode here:
https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-82
If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:
https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-82-m
--
Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.
www.MakotoPlus.com