Daylight savings time in America is the one thing all Americans can agree to hate, and yet… they still can’t seem to come together long enough to pass a law to rid themselves of the twice-a-year menace. Yumi shares her thoughts and hope that this “Fall back” will be the last. KEY VOCABULARY: 夏時間(なつじかん) summer time 早起(はやお)き rising early 時刻(じこく) time; the hour 有効(ゆうこう) valid; effective 電力(でんりょく)の節約(せつやく) saving energy 目的(もくてき) goal; purpose 実際(じっさい)に actually 徐々(じょじょ)に gradually 連動(れんどう) working t...
Nov 14, 2022•5 min•Ep. 111
Yumi’s family band! It was one of her dreams and recently her family had a chance to perform. Listen as she tells us her thoughts on families coming together to perform. KEY VOCABULARY: 弾(ひ)きます to play (stringed instrument such as piano or guitar) 中級(ちゅうきゅう)の初(はつ)め beginning of intermediate stage 音符(おんぷ) musical notes 伴奏(ばんそう) (musical) accompaniment 演奏(えんそう) (musical) performance 上手(うま)い下手(へた) skillful or unskilled 素人(しろうと)の私(わたし) an amateur such as I am 長男(ちょうなん) eldest son 担当(たんとう)の人(ひと) pers...
Nov 07, 2022•5 min•Ep. 110
Fall is a great time for families to get together and have fun. In this episode, Yumi shares a little about a recent multi-family getogether. There was much talking, children playing, and then… someone brought out a rope for a game of tug-of-war. KEY VOCABULARY: 遊(あそ)びに行(い)く to go visit (someone); to have fun with ちっちゃい子(こ)どもさん a small child それぞれ思(おも)い思(おも)いに as each one likes; as each one pleases しばらくすると a little later; after that 綱引(つなひき)き tug of war 力持(ちからも)ち strong person 小柄(こがら) small frame...
Oct 31, 2022•6 min•Ep. 109
Most years, Yumi takes her family to a nearby farm to experience cows, goats, fun outdoor activities, and homemade ice cream. Clay… didn’t do very well in the heat. Listen as Yumi talks about this year’s trip, and her thoughts on cows. KEY VOCABULARY: 秋(あき) fall; autumn 牧場(ぼくじょう) farm 先日(せんじつ) the other day 同士(どうし) fellow (cousin); mutual 写真(しゃしん) photograph インスタ映(ば)え looking good on Instagram メイン main (reason) 本物(ほんもの)の a real… の影響(えいきょう) the influence of 経営(けいえい)が苦(くる)しい business is suffering ...
Oct 24, 2022•6 min•Ep. 108
The taste of fall has come and Yumi shares her thoughts about what this time of the year means in Japan. For more fun autumn words, please see our new lesson page here: https://thejapanesepage.com/no-aki-the-autumn-of-japanese-expressions-for-fall/ KEY VOCABULARY: 秋(あき) fall; autumn 特(とく)に especially 大喜(おおよろこ)び great joy 南部(なんぶ) southern part 秋(あき)らしく飾(かざ)ります fall decor 実(み) fruit 柔(やわ)らかく soft 涼(すず)しい cool 苦手(にがて) not good at 玄関(げんかん) entrance (of a house) に比(くら)べる compared to 繊維質(せんいしつ) dietar...
Oct 18, 2022•4 min•Ep. 107
Hurricanes and typhoons. Not much fun, but both Japan and where Yumi currently lives, Florida, experience them annually. Japan not only has typhoons but other natural disasters— particularly earthquakes. Therefore, Yumi reasons, Japanese people tend to have a higher sense of crisis and therefore make tons of preparations. Listen as she compares Japan and Florida’s preparations for bad weather. KEY VOCABULARY: 台風(たいふう)とハリケーン typhoons and hurricanes 同(おな)じもの same thing 気象現象(きしょうげんしょう) weather phen...
Oct 10, 2022•6 min•Ep. 106
The exciting conclusion of Yumi’s “cleaning the dryer vent” two-part series. Okay, maybe not too exciting, but there are a number of useful vocabulary words (see below), and she ends with a lesson how this relates to learning Japanese. KEY VOCABULARY: 詰(つ)まっている clogged 乾燥機(かんそうき) dryer 穴(あな) hole 私自身(わたしじしん) myself 直(なお)したい want to fix ホームセンター DIY store; home improvement store 業務用(ぎょうむよう) industrial use 大型掃除機(おおがたそうじき) large-sized vacuum cleaner 馬力(ばりき) horse power 吸(す)い込(こ)む to suck up; to inha...
Oct 03, 2022•5 min•Ep. 105
Yumi is a do-it-yourselfer. With the help of YouTube, she has learned how to fix quite a few things around the house. But this time, it was a big challenge. The dryer’s vent going outside was clogged and the length and angle of the vent made reaching the clog very difficult. Listen as she describes the challenge. KEY VOCABULARY: 乾燥機(かんそうき) dryer 調子(ちょうし)が悪(わる)い in bad shape; not doing well; out of condition 洗濯物(せんたくもの) laundry; the washing 乾(かわ)かす to dry 一般的(いっぱんてき) general 生乾(なまがわ)き half-dried ...
Sep 26, 2022•5 min•Ep. 104
Last week, a friend of ours brought his son over to talk about Japan. This young man really wants to move to Japan. Yumi felt a little nostalgic after the meeting. His strong desire to learn Japanese and live in Japan reminded her of her husband Clay when he was younger. Today, she tells a little more about this son and the challenges he has to overcome. KEY VOCABULARY: 前回(ぜんかい) last time; last episode 息子(むすこ)くん (other person’s) son 我(わ)が家(や) my home; our house 遊(あそ)びに来(き)た came to visit 若者(わかもの...
Sep 18, 2022•4 min•Ep. 103
Japan is a very safe country. It is also very clean. There isn’t much garbage on the streets as you might see in other countries. However, there aren’t many public garbage cans. Listen as Yumi explains the connection between the lack of garbage cans and public safety. KEY VOCABULARY: 先日(せんじつ) the other day 我(わ)が家(いえ) our house; our family 長年(ながねん)の友達(ともだち) long-time friend 息子(むすこ)さん (his) son; someone else’s son 遊(あそ)びに来(き)ました came over; came to visit 一生懸命(いっしょうけんめい) with utmost effort 文化(ぶんか)や歴...
Sep 11, 2022•3 min•Ep. 102
The 101st episode. Today, Yumi shares some details and trivia about a 1991 hit TV drama called The 101st Proposal starring Takeda Tetsuya and Asano Atsuko. KEY VOCABULARY: 101回目(かいめ) 101st time 101回目(かいめ)のプロポーズ 101st Proposal (1991 Fuji TV drama) 平成(へいせい)3年(ねん) Heisei 3; 1991 フジテレビ Fuji TV (TV Station) 放送(ほうそう)された was broadcast 武田鉄矢(たけだてつや) Takeda Tetsuya [Japanese folk singer and actor; he has a weekly podcast called 今朝の三枚おろし (This Morning’s Three Cuts) where he shares interesting tidbits from ...
Sep 05, 2022•4 min•Ep. 101
100th episode. Yumi started this podcast exactly two years ago and is now on her 100th episode. Today, Yumi talks about several interesting Japanese phrases that include the word 百【ひゃく】 (hundred). Also, to celebrate the 100th episode, Makoto+ members not only get a full transcript, but we also created an Anki flashcard deck with dozens of key vocabulary words heard in today’s podcast. Not only that, each card has a sound file. Listen, learn, and repeat with Yumi! KEY VOCABULARY: 百回(ひゃっかい)目(め) th...
Aug 29, 2022•6 min•Ep. 100
Yumi has been on a cleaning kick. She’s always been tidy, but recently, she’s gotten serious about it. Japan has very clean streets despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that there are few public trash cans. Is there some connection with Japanese history and mythology to explain this? KEY VOCABULARY: 掃除(そうじ) cleaning ピカピカ with a glitter; with a sparkle; shiny and new 磨(みが)いています polishing; shining 主婦(しゅふ) housewife; homemaker 言葉(ことば)に触発(しょくはつ)されて inspired by words [言葉 (words) に (by) 触発 (trigge...
Aug 22, 2022•4 min•Ep. 99
Yumi continues her discussion on onomatopoeia in Japanese. Japanese use sound words and mimetic words far more frequently than in English. Learning how to use these words well will help improve your fluency. KEY VOCABULARY: オノマトペ onomatopoeia ごちゃごちゃ messy; confused; chaotic 整理(せいり)されていない not organized 状態(じょうたい) condition; state of things ペコペコ very hungry; starving ペラペラ fluent (speaking foreign languages); incessantly (speaking) 流暢(りゅうちょう)に fluent; flowing ゴロゴロする roll about; idling about; thunder...
Aug 15, 2022•5 min•Ep. 98
Yumi continues her discussion on onomatopoeia in Japanese. Japanese use sound words and mimetic words far more frequently than in English. Learning how to use these words well will help improve your fluency. KEY VOCABULARY: オノマトペ onomatopoeia 日本人(にほんじん)らしく話(はなし)せる to be able to speak like a Japanese 汗(あせ)をかいた to sweat さっぱり refreshed 含(ふく)まれます includes さっぱり分(わ)からない don’t know at all ゴロゴロ loafing; rolling; sound of thunder 回転(かいてん)する to rotate; to turn クタクタ exhausted; tired; worn out 芯(しん) wick; c...
Aug 08, 2022•5 min•Ep. 97
Yumi continues her discussion on onomatopoeia in Japanese. Japanese use sound words and mimetic words far more frequently than in English. Learning how to use these words well will help improve your fluency. KEY VOCABULARY: オノマトペ onomatopoeia 擬音語(ぎおんご) sound word onomatopoeia 擬態語(ぎたいご) mimetic word 音(おと)を真似(まね) imitating sounds ぴかぴか光(ひか)るto sparkle; to glitter; to twinkle ギラギラ glaringly; dazzlingly バキーっ boom ドカーン boom ドドド b.b.boom 迫力(はくりょく)が出(で)ます show power; have strength ドキドキする to be excited; ...
Aug 01, 2022•7 min•Ep. 96
Yumi is surprised by Clay’s usage of onomatopoeia. “Just as a Japanese person would say,” she thought. Onomatopoeia is used much more often in Japanese than we would in English. Yumi is convinced learning to use onomatopoeia correctly and in natural situations will greatly improve your Japanese conversation. KEY VOCABULARY: オノマトペ onomatopoeia よっぽど to a large extent; greatly 日本人(にほんじん)らしい like a Japanese person ぐうぐう寝(ね)てる fast asleep; sleeping soundly すやすや寝(ね)る to sleep like a baby; sleeping peac...
Jul 25, 2022•5 min•Ep. 95
Today, Yumi looks at a few ways to help prevent dementia. Good news! By listening to this podcast, you are already doing one very powerful thing. KEY VOCABULARY: 認知症(にんちしょう) dementia; senility; cognitive impairment 認知症予防(にんちしょうよぼう) dementia prevention 言(い)い方(かた) way of saying; term アルツハイマー型認知症(がたにんちしょう) Alzheimer's disease 症状(しょうじょう) symptoms 開口一番(かいこういちばん) first words out of one's mouth 義理(ぎり)のお母さん mother-in-law 公務員(こうむいん) civil servant 規則(きそく) rules; regulations 政治家(せいじか) politician 高齢(こうれい)の方...
Jul 18, 2022•6 min•Ep. 94
We spend so much time behind our computer screens, so it is nice to, once-in-a-while, actually meet people. Today, Yumi shares a meeting with a Makoto+ member who happened to be in town. It was a lot of fun and helped motivate Yumi to keep on doing what she's doing. KEY VOCABULARY: わざわざ taking the trouble (to do something) 海(うみ)を越(こ)えて crossing the sea and 有名人(ゆうめいじん) famous person 用事(ようじ) business; tasks; affairs 年齢(ねんれい) age 鬼滅(きめつ)の刃(やいば) Demon Slayer (manga/anime) 披露(ひろう) presentation; displ...
Jul 11, 2022•5 min•Ep. 93
A Makoto+ member had a question for Yumi. "Why are Diet members (Japanese parliament) called "kun" when "kun" is mostly for little boys?" Good question. Listen as Yumi delves into the fascinating history behind this common honorific title. KEY VOCABULARY: 子供(こども)の頃(ころ) when I was a kid; childhood そういう感(かん)じ such a feeling; that's how (I) feel 新聞社(しんぶんしゃ) newspaper company 決(き)まりがある there's a rule 年下(としした) younger (person) 現代(げんだい)の日本(にほん) modern Japan 国会議員(こっかいぎいん) Diet member 子供(こども)っぽい childis...
Jul 04, 2022•5 min•Ep. 92
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)、...
Jun 20, 2022•5 min•Ep. 91
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) b...
Jun 13, 2022•4 min•Ep. 90
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; tr...
Jun 06, 2022•5 min•Ep. 89
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...
May 30, 2022•5 min•Ep. 88
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...
May 23, 2022•5 min•Ep. 87
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 ver...
May 16, 2022•5 min•Ep. 86
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...
May 09, 2022•5 min•Ep. 85
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...
May 02, 2022•5 min•Ep. 84
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...
Apr 25, 2022•5 min•Ep. 83
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 Japa...
Apr 18, 2022•4 min•Ep. 82
