This is the final part of the long-awaited journey to Japan! This time, Yumi will tell us about an incredible visit to USJ and more about Tokyo. Listen to the podcast and pay attention to her recommendations for your next trip to Japan! KEY VOCABULARY: たどり着(つ)くfinally arrive at; to get to (at last); find one’s way to 書斎(しょさい) library; study; sanctum 超(ちょう)おすすめ highly recommended [超(ちょう) (highly; extremely; super); おすすめ(recommendation)] 激(はげ)しかった was intense [激(はげ)しい (violent; intense)] 開場(かいじょう)...
Aug 28, 2023•7 min•Ep. 141
In this episode, Yumi will tell us about the troubles she encountered while in Japan. Can you imagine what was the most difficult thing during her stay there? You may never imagine what was… Listen to the podcast and find out what it was! KEY VOCABULARY: 随分(ずいぶん) considerably; rather; fairly; quite お久(ひさ)しぶり it has been a long time [お 久(ひさ)しぶりis politer form for 久(ひさ)しぶり] 無事(ぶじ) safely; with no problems [無事(ぶじ)に can be used here as well] ご無沙汰(ぶさた)しております (I) have been away; (I) haven’t contacting...
Aug 21, 2023•4 min•Ep. 140
In the previous episode, Yumi talked about her arrival to Japan. This time, she will talk about what she and her family did after that, like going on a sightseeing bus in Tokyo or visiting an old friend. But, arriving at the countryside where her parents live after going around Tokyo made her wonder about the differences you can find between big cities and the countryside. KEY VOCABULARY: ２階(かい)建(だ)て double-decker; two-story structure; two-story building [階(かい) (story); 建(だ)て (build)] 国(こっ)会(かい)...
Jul 17, 2023•7 min•Ep. 139
Finally, Yumi and her family are in Japan! It’s been a long time since the last visit, and it seems things have changed. At least, at the convenience stores! Listen to her and take note of ideas for souvenirs for your next trip! KEY VOCABULARY: 片(かた)付(づ)け tidying up 一段落(いちだんらく) stopping point (before the next stage) [段落 (end; end of a paragraph)] 復活(ふっかつ)させる revive; come back [復活(ふっかつ) (revival; resurrection); させる (causative of ～する)] 真(ま)下(した) right under; directly below) [真(ま) (prefix for “just...
Jul 11, 2023•6 min•Ep. 138
In the previous episode, Yumi told us she’s going back to Japan with her family. But she was having some issues deciding what to pick as souvenir for her family and friends. This time, she will talk about what she bought and where. Listen to her and take note of ideas for souvenirs for your next trip! KEY VOCABULARY: 何人(なんにん)か分(ぶん) portion for some people [何人(なんにん)か “some people” (かindicates it to be “not a specific number”); 分(ぶん) (portion)] 先(さき)ほど earlier; a short while ago; a moment ago 伴侶(は...
Jun 19, 2023•5 min•Ep. 137
Yumi is going back to Japan with her family! This is a long-awaited trip. Soon they will be reunited with family and friends, but… There is something troubling Yumi’s mind. Listen to the podcast to know more about it! KEY VOCABULARY: 帰(き)省(せい) homecoming visit; going to one’s parents’ home うんうんうなるto moan (in pain or in discomfort) [うんうん (onomatopoeia that mimicking the sound of moaning); うなる (to growl; to moan; to grunt)] 夢(ゆめ)のまた夢(ゆめ) a dream within a dream; beyond (one’s) wildest dream [litera...
Jun 11, 2023•6 min•Ep. 136
In the previous podcast, Yumi started to talk about her family trip to St. Augustine. Don’t miss the end of this story, where she explains the main reason of their trip and why she couldn’t sleep well that night. KEY VOCABULARY: 予(よ)約(やく) reservation; booking 無(む)効(こう) invalid; void 慌(あわ)てて in a hurry; in haste [fixed phrase] 近(ちか)場(ば) nearby place 重(かさ)ね合(あ)わせてtaking (the both countries’ histories) together and … [重(かさ)ね合(あ)わせる (to layer multiple things; to overlap)] 説得(せっとく) persuasion 温(おん)故知...
Jun 05, 2023•9 min•Ep. 135
This time Yumi went to a trip to St. Augustine, a city she usually goes with her family to the beach. But this time she made a different kind of trip. In this first part of Saint Augustine’s trip story, she tells us about the history of the fortress located there, San Marcos, among other things. KEY VOCABULARY: 昔(むかし)ながらの unchanged as old time; as it was in the past [a fixed phrase] 日(ひ)帰(がえ)り day trip ～ばかりの頃(ころ) around the time when ~ [～ばかり (just doing ~); 頃(ころ) (approximate time period; around...
May 29, 2023•5 min•Ep. 134
Japanese culture about nakedness is different from the occidental one. Japanese people go to onsen naked while most occidental people would feel embarrassed for doing this. In this podcast, Yumi talks about it, and about the changes over time around this culture. KEY VOCABULARY: 恥(は)ずかしがる to be shy of; to be bashful お相(す)撲(もう)さん Sumo wrestler(s) [affectionate way of calling sumo wrestlers] まる見(み)え full view; completely visible [まるprefix for “whole/total/all”/full; 見(み)え noun form of 見(み)える (to b...
May 15, 2023•7 min•Ep. 133
Description: Japan is a country with many hot springs. Going to one is an experience you may not want to miss during your stay in Japan. Listen to Yumi talking about ryokans, hot springs and how she overcame the embarrassment about going naked to one. KEY VOCABULARY: 湧(わ)いてきた started gushing out; started bubbling out [湧(わ)いて from 湧(わ)く(to gush out); てきた from てくる (to start doing ~)] (お湯(ゆ)に)つかる to be soaked (in warm water); to be submerged (in warm water)] (足をお湯に)つける to soak (one’s feet in hot wa...
May 08, 2023•6 min•Ep. 132
Yumi went with her family to see the Super Mario Brothers movie. Listen to Yumi talk about her thoughts on the movie and what she wanted to do after watching it! KEY VOCABULARY: 公開(こうかい)される to be open; to be open to the public [公開(こうかい) (opening to the public; release)] 話(わ)題(だい)に上(のぼ)る to come up in conversation [話(わ)題(だい) (topic)] 毎週(まいしゅう)のように almost every week [毎(まい) (every);週(しゅう)(week)] 期(き)待(たい)通(どお)りas expected; as hoped for [期(き)待(たい) (expectation; anticipation; hope)] 再現(さいげん)される to be...
Apr 24, 2023•5 min•Ep. 131
Last time, Yumi talked about things she does on a daily basis. This time, she speaks about things she does occasionally and then things she would like to do in the future. KEY VOCABULARY: こまめに frequently; diligently; regularly 大(おお)掃(そう)除(じ) major cleanup 掃(そう)除(じ)機(き) vacuum cleaner 拭(ふ)く to wipe 隅(すみ)っこ corner; recess [隅(すみ)っこ is casual or spoken language for 隅(すみ) (corner; recess)] 安息(あんそく)日(び)sabbath [安息(あんそく) (rest; relax)] 勧(すす)める to recommend; to advise; to encourage 美(び)容(よう) beauty; bea...
Apr 17, 2023•8 min•Ep. 130
In today’s episode, Yumi shares a few things she does every single day (or almost every day). KEY VOCABULARY: 精神的(せいしんてき) psychological; mental; spiritual [精神(せいしん) (mind; spirit; soul); 的 suffix (-ical, -ive, -al, -ic,-y and etc.)] 専門的(せんもんてき) professional; [専門(せんもん) (specialty; expert; area of expertise)] 運動(うんどう)不(ぶ)足(そく) lack of physical exercise; inactivity [運動(うんどう) (physical exercise); 不(ふ) 足(そく) (insufficiency; deficiency; lack)] 解消(かいしょう) resolution; reduction [also “cancellation”] 見(み...
Apr 10, 2023•7 min•Ep. 129
Yumi brought her family to Universal Studios in Orlando and couldn't help but compare the experience to her visit to Universal Studios in California more than two decades ago. Both the theme park and Yumi herself have undergone significant transformations since then. KEY VOCABULARY: 遠足(えんそく) school trip; field trip 揃(そろ)って all together [揃(そろ)う(to make a full set; to be all present)] 街並(まちな)み cityscape [街(まち) (city; town); 並(な)み (row or line of houses)] 再現(さいげん) recreation; reenactment; reproduct...
Apr 02, 2023•7 min•Ep. 128
Yumi is worried about inflation. Everything is more expensive. Still, she maintains a positive outlook with affirmations and positive thinking. Even when bad things happen, there is always something to be grateful for. KEY VOCABULARY: 必死(ひっし)に with one’s best effort; work very hard to do something; with one’s best effort; desperately 節約(せつやく)する save money 食(しょく)費(ひ) food expense 電(でん)気(き)代(だい) electricity bill [電(でん)気(き) (electricity); 代(だい) (charge; fee; substitute)] 便乗(びんじょう)値(ね)上(あ)げ piggybac...
Mar 20, 2023•8 min•Ep. 127
In this episode of Nihongo no Tane, Yumi discusses onomatopoeia in Japanese. She mentions that there are approximately 5,000 onomatopoeic words in Japanese, making it the language with the most onomatopoeia in the world. Onomatopoeic words can have multiple meanings and be used in various situations. For example, you probably know ペラペラ to mean "fluent" when describing someone's language skills, but did you know it can also mean "flimsy" when referring to paper flapping about in the wind? Learnin...
Mar 13, 2023•7 min•Ep. 126
Yumi wraps up her talk about buying two cars and the problem with buying insurance for teenage drivers. KEY VOCABULARY: 更新(こうしん)する to renew; to update 代理店(だいりてん) agency 事(じ)情(じょう)circumstance; condition; situation 担当(たんとう) being in charge; being 曇(くも)った表(ひょう)情(じょう) worried/sad look on one’s face [曇(くも)った (cloudy); 表情(ひょうじょう) (facial expression; facial look)] ため息 sigh [ため (collect; gather); 息 (breath)] 嫌(きら)う dislike; not to like 計算(けいさん)する to calculate; compute; to figure (out) 予(よ)想(そう)する to ex...
Mar 06, 2023•5 min•Ep. 125
Today, Yumi continues her story about her recent car-buying experiences. KEY VOCABULARY: 普通(ふつう)(の) normal; common 結構(けっこう) fairly 頑張(がんば)る endure; survive; keep at it; make an effort 自宅(じたく) one’s home; one’s house めでたく happily; with much joy [this word has a celebratory connotation to it] 面倒(めんどう)な troubling; troublesome; difficult [面倒(めんどう)(trouble)] スケジュールを組(く)む schedule ~; arrange a schedule [組(く)む (form; arrange; assemble)] ローンを組(く)む get a loan; take out a loan 重(かさ)なる overlap; occur at th...
Feb 27, 2023•5 min•Ep. 124
Until recently, Yumi’s family has only had one car. This is unusual in the part of Florida that she lives in. Most families have at least two cars. But Yumi and Clay both work from home and until their son got his driver’s license, they rarely had need for a second car. But now their son has his license, Yumi decided … it was time. KEY VOCABULARY: 仮免許(かりめんきょ) driver’s permit; learner’s permit 同乗(どうじょう)する ride along 運転免許(うんてんめんきょ) driver’s license 取得(しゅとく) obtainment 普通(ふつう) normal; common; ordin...
Feb 13, 2023•3 min•Ep. 123
February 3rd was setsubun in Japan. The day that marks the end of winter and is followed by the beginning of spring. Listen as Yumi tells us a little bit about how this special occasion is celebrated in Japan. KEY VOCABULARY: 節分(せつぶん) last day of winter in the traditional Japanese calendar 立春(りっしゅん) first day of spring in the traditional Japanese calendar 季節(きせつ)の変(か)わり目(め) time of change of seasons; time when season changes 邪気(じゃき) evil spirit; misfortune; bad vibes that cause illness or other ...
Feb 06, 2023•4 min•Ep. 122
In today’s podcast, Yumi digs deep into an interesting superstition which caused the birth rates to plummet one year in the 1960s. It has to do with the Chinese Zodiac, the Edo period, and Natsume Souseki. Listen to find out about this fascinating bit of historical trivia. KEY VOCABULARY: 十二支(じゅうにし) 12 animal signs of Chinese zodiac 干支(えと) 60 year cycle of 12 zodiac signs and 5 elements in Chinese astrology 暗記(あんき)する memorize ~歳違(さいちが)い ~ years apart ひと回り １２年 [one full cycle of 12 zodiac signs] ...
Jan 30, 2023•7 min•Ep. 121
Yumi recently visited Silver Springs, a nature park in Florida which is famous for its glass bottom boats and manatees. Did you know manatees may have been mistaken for mermaids? Yumi then shares some stories about Japanese mermaids. KEY VOCABULARY: 州立公園(しゅうりつこうえん) state park 被害(ひがい) damage; injury; harm 諦(あきら)める give up; abandon 水(みず)湧(わ)く spring out; gush out 水族館(すいぞくかん) aquarium 癒(いや)す heal 第一印象(だいいちいんしょう) first impression 好奇心旺盛(こうきしんおうせい) full of curiosity; full of inquisitiveness 好奇 心(curio...
Jan 23, 2023•7 min•Ep. 120
Sometimes simple analogies hit home the hardest. Learning a language is like breathing. It’s the small repetitive acts that keep us going and growing. Keep growing your Japanese little by little by studying, reading, and listening to Japanese daily. KEY VOCABULARY: 新年(しんねん)の抱負(ほうふ) New Year’s resolution 一番(いちばん)最初(さいしょ)に the very first thing… 痩せたい want to lose weight 大成功(だいせいこう) big success ∼もつかの間(ま) ∼ was only short time 気(き)が緩(ゆる)む relax too much; lose an intention; become remiss 健康的(けんこうてき)に ...
Jan 16, 2023•4 min•Ep. 119
In this short message, Yumi has some good news to share with the New Year. KEY VOCABULARY: 令和(れいわ)5(５)年(ねん) Reiwa 5 西暦(せいれき) Western calendar 新年早々(しんねんそうそう) early in the New Year; at the beginning of the New Year 引(ひ)っ越(こ)し move (to a new house) 実家(じっか) one’s parent’s home; home where one grew up in 長(なが)い間(あいだ) long time 孫(まご) grandchildren 低学年(ていがくねん) early grade levels 節(ふし) occasion; time; section; passage; season; holiday 情報(じょうほう) information 長生(ながいけ)き long life 一期一会(いちごいちえ) once-in-a-life...
Jan 02, 2023•3 min•Ep. 118
As the year 2022 comes to a close, Yumi thinks back on all the things that happened to her and her family this year. KEY VOCABULARY: 今年(ことし) this year 最後(さいご) last; final 何(なに)も覚(おぼ)えていません don’t remember anything 性格(せいかく) personality; character 写真(しゃしん) photo 娘(むすめ) daughter ウクレレ ukulele いわゆる the so-called 弾(ひ)き語(がた)り singing to one’s own accompaniment 遊園地(ゆうえんち) amusement park 成人式(せいじんしき) coming-of-age-ceremony 運動会(うんどうかい) sports day 映画(えいが) movie ブルーベリー狩(が)り blueberry picking 掃除(そうじ) cleaning ...
Dec 26, 2022•4 min•Ep. 117
This year’s kanji has been selected. Out of 220,000 votes, the kanji for war or battle was chosen. Yumi talks about this as well as what’s been going on in Japan recently. KEY VOCABULARY: 戦争(せんそう) war 漢字能力検定(かんじのうりょくけんてい)協会(きょうかい) Kanji Proficiency Test Association 戦(たたか)う to fight; to battle 全国(ぜんこく) all of the country; the whole country 印象(いんしょう) impression 同時多発(どうじたはつ)テロ simultaneous attacks (particularly 9/11) 物騒(ぶっそう) troubled; disturbed さらに in addition; moreover 大盛(おおも)り上(あ)がり great excite...
Dec 19, 2022•5 min•Ep. 116
Yumi’s daughter speaks Japanese, but sometimes incorrectly. In today’s episode, Yumi tells us how her daughter messes up “to give” in Japanese, and this spurred her to research how to best teach あげる・くれる・もらう(give and receive). Yumi discovered the key is to understand Japanese culture. Listen as she explains. KEY VOCABULARY: あげる・くれる・もらう To Give and Receive in Japanese ゴチャまぜ mess; jumble; chaos おやつ snack ちょうだい please give me 日本(にほん)の文化(ぶんか) Japanese culture 考(かんが)え方(かた) way of thinking 内(うち)と外(そと) ...
Dec 12, 2022•5 min•Ep. 115
Yumi has a problem. The three large pecan trees in her backyard have produced tons of pecans. In this episode, she talks about what she’s doing with the pecans and then compares pecans to chestnuts in Japan. KEY VOCABULARY: ピーカン pecan 我(わ)が家(や) my house 裏庭(うらにわ) backyard 地面(じめん) ground 食(く)い込(こ)む bite into; to dig into; to encroach 敷(し)き詰(つ)められた to be covered with 季節(きせつ)外(はず)れ unseasonal 殻(から) shell 作業(さぎょう) work 単純(たんじゅん) simple 無(む)になれる become free from thoughts 自生(じせい)する growing wild 農家(のうか)...
Dec 05, 2022•5 min•Ep. 114
In this episode Yumi talks about Kuroyanagi Tetsuko, a longtime announcer and personality, and her secrets for living long and well. KEY VOCABULARY: 義理(ぎり)のお母さん Mother-in-law 物忘(ものわす)れ forgetfulness 予防(よぼう) prevention 若々(わかわか)しく youthful 将来(しょうらい)に備(そな)えたい to prepare for the future 黒柳徹子(くろやなぎてつこ) Kuroyanagi Tetsuko (born August 9, 1933) 女優(じょゆう) actress 団子(だんご) dango; dumpling 放送(ほうそう) broadcast テレビ業界(ぎょうかい) the TV industry クイズ番組(ばんぐみ) Quiz (TV) show 正解率(せいかいりつ) percentage of correct answers 司会者...
Nov 28, 2022•6 min•Ep. 113
Description: It’s Thanksgiving and Black Friday season in the US. Yumi talks a little about what she and her family is doing and compares that with Japanese holidays. KEY VOCABULARY: 感謝祭とブラックフライデー Thanksgiving and Black Friday 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-112 If you are...
Nov 21, 2022•5 min•Ep. 112
