I have such good memories of the Fourth of July 2021. It was a perfect day in Chicago. Clear and warm but not hot, and when the sun went down there was a crisp breeze off the lake. For dinner, … Continue reading →
Jul 17, 2023 • Subscribe
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How to Learn Kanji
Learn Japanese with Yuta: https://bit.ly/3OlJdUu Support me on Patreon: https://goo.gl/aiWNd5 Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThatYuta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatyuta/ Facebook: https://bit.ly/381qpHS Blog: http://www.yutaaoki.com/blog/ 0:00 Read, seriously 1:38 Skip writing 2:25 But learn stroke order 2:58 Learn words instead of individual kanji 3:49 Radicals…
How to Japanese Podcast – Episode 44 – スミマセン
In the newsletter this month, I took a look at 非外来語のカタカナ表記 (non-gairaigo katakana notation), which is a complicated way of saying “katakana used to write words that are…
How to Japanese Podcast – Episode 45 – コロケーション
I finally managed to see John Wick: Chapter 4. It only came out in Japan in September, six months after it’s initial release. In the newsletter this month,…
How Do Compound Kanji Make Japanese Idioms?
Learn how Japanese makes complex phrases and concepts with short characters.
JLPT Kanji: How to Study Kanji for Your Level
There are far too many kanji to study them all! That's why you need to break it down and only focus on the JLPT Kanji for your level.
How to Japanese Podcast – Episode 42 – のだ
I remember vividly learning how to use んだ in Japanese. My third year teacher did a section on storytelling/explaining, and she had us tell different stories over and…
How to Japanese Podcast – S03E01 – Emergency Murakami Podcast
We have the title for the new Murakami novel due out on April 13! It’s the same title as a 1980 novella that Murakami disavowed as a “failed…
How to Japanese Podcast – Episode 43 – それが
Ahoy! Here’s the podcast, kanjilubbers! This month I’m talking about the message behind the message, inspired in part by my high school calculus teacher, Dr. Collins. Check out…
How to Study Kanji for the JLPT Pt.1: Kanji Radicals
The trick to memorizing kanji for the JLPT is... don't! Instead, focus on learning kanji radicals, the alphabet of kanji characters!
Japanese Train Kanji To Know When Commuting
Traveling to Japan? Here are some basic kanji to know when riding trains.
Japanese Train Kanji To Know When Commuting
Navigate the Japanese train system with these essential kanji characters.
How to Japanese Podcast – 号外 – Pre-JET Japanese Triage
Extra extra, read- er, hear all about it! Special edition of the How to Japanese Podcast! This is an audio version of a presentation I gave to departing…
Radical Kanji: Intermediate Japanese for Understanding Kanji ‘Pieces’
Learn how to break down kanji into easier, bite-sized chunks.
How to Japanese Podcast – S03E03 – Murakami’s Origin Story
This week, I take a look at Murakami’s famous origin story with the help of writer and translator Matt Schley. We looked at ten different accounts of the…
号外 - How to Japanese Podcast Season 2
New episodes every Sunday/Monday
How to Japanese Podcast – S03E02 – The Murakami Season
Well, I’ve had a week to mull over the title announcement for the new Murakami novel, and I’m still just as stunned as I was last week. Here’s…
How to Japanese Podcast – S02E20 – Instinctual Nattō and Introversion
On the final episode this season, I talk about the importance of celebrating your little victories as you study a language. And in Japanese, I think about how…
How to Japanese Podcast – S03E04 – Murakami Novel Power Rankings
It’s finally time – here are my Murakami Novel Power Rankings! I spent the last two months re-reading Murakami’s novels, and I feel prepared to put them in…
How to Japanese Podcast – S03E05 – Murakami Bibliography – 1979-1987
This week on the podcast I’m taking a close look at Murakami’s complete bibliography for the first eight years of his career. See my Google Sheet version of…
How to Japanese Podcast – S02E20 – Instinctual Nattō and Introversion
On the final episode this season, I talk about the importance of celebrating your little victories as you study a language. And in Japanese, I think about how…
How to Japanese Podcast – S02E16 – Pools and 趣味
What’s something that surprised you about Japan that was completely ordinary? For me it was the access to swimming pools. Living in Japan changed my relationship with swimming…
How to Japanese Podcast – S02E06 – Performative Adjectives and 系
Adjectives in Japanese are not always what they appear to be! I think part of this is because they function as what I call “performative adjectives.” One of…
How to Japanese Podcast – S03E06 – Murakami Bibliography – 1988-2005
This week is the second part of my look at Murakami’s complete bibliography. See my Google Sheet version of all this information and follow along with the podcast…
How to Japanese Podcast – S02E04 – Tourist Mindset and ノーダメージ
You don’t have to go very far to be a tourist, and looking at the world with that mindset can also be helpful for language study. In this…
How to Japanese Podcast – S03E07 – Murakami Bibliography – 2006-2023
This week is the third part of my look at Murakami’s complete bibliography. See my Google Sheet version of all this information and follow along with the podcast…
How to Japanese Podcast – S02E09 – Morgan Giles – Reading Japanese, Translation, MEXT Scholarship
Morgan Giles is a Japanese translator based in London. She’s translated a number of different writers, including Kanehara Hitomi, Furukawa Hideo, and the National Book Award-winning Tokyo Ueno…
How to Japanese Podcast – S03E09 – Immediate Reactions to Murakami’s New Novel
Good God, that’s Murakami Haruki’s music! 街とその不確かな壁 (The City and Its Uncertain Walls/The Town and Its Uncertain Wall) launched today in Japan, and holy moly, it’s a wild…
Japanese Medicine And Kanji To Know When You’re Sick
Shelley reviews the kanji to know when you’re sick and what medication to use. See more videos on our Gaijinpot Youtube...
Episode 41: Christmas in Japanese Literature
Listen to Episode 41 of the Read Literature podcast. Transcript available. Happy holidays! And, in the interest of today’s episode, merri kurisumasu!Today we’re going to start with the…
How to Japanese Podcast – S03E08 – Predictions for Murakami’s New Novel
It’s the final podcast before publication of the new Murakami novel! I go over some Murakami vocabulary, predictions I have for the novel, and some comments about potential…
How to Japanese Podcast – S02E08 – Roomshare.jp and のり弁
Living with Japanese roommates in Tokyo was the highlight of my time in Japan. I found those roommates on the website Roomshare.jp, a great site that I introduce…
How to Japanese Podcast – S02E11 – Brian Epstein – Patent Law, Working with Japanese Clients, Japanese Emails
Brian Epstein is a patent attorney with Modal Law who has been working with Japanese clients and patent attorneys for his 14-year career. He started his own practice…
How to Japanese Podcast – S02E13 – Mercedez Clewis – Intensive Japanese Study, JET Program, Writing/Localizing
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How to Use Japanese Counters
You can count on us to make Japanese counters easy! Let's sum of the basics with real-world examples.
How to Read Japanese Folktales
Japanese folktales have layers that require some thought to fully understand. Of course, Grimm’s fairy tales and even the Bible require reflection too. Context matters for understanding any…
How NOT to Learn Japanese
Learn Japanese with Yuta: https://bit.ly/3jowd6P Support me on Patreon: https://goo.gl/aiWNd5 Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThatYuta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatyuta/ Facebook: https://bit.ly/381qpHS Blog: http://www.yutaaoki.com/blog/
How to TikTok in Japanese
I’m catching up with my Japan Times articles. I had an article about Japanese TikTok accounts at the end of May: “Immerse yourself in the creativity and language…
How to Speak Demure Japanese
Learn Japanese with Me - https://bit.ly/4drmyU2
How to Speak Japanese Naturally
Learn Japanese with Yuta: https://bit.ly/3OY3G5c Support me on Patreon: https://goo.gl/aiWNd5 Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThatYuta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatyuta/ Facebook: https://bit.ly/381qpHS Blog: http://www.yutaaoki.com/blog/
How to look up kanji you can't just copy & paste #learnjapanese
Learn Japanese with Me - https://bit.ly/4drmyU2
How to Japanese Podcast – S02E19 – Jens Petersen – Japanese in Sweden, Music and Art, Job Fairs
Jens Petersen has been working in real estate in Tokyo for over 13 years. He initially found interest in Japanese independent music. In recent years his interest has…
How to Japanese Podcast – S02E19 – Jens Petersen – Japanese in Sweden, Music and Art, Job Fairs
Jens Petersen has been working in real estate in Tokyo for over 13 years. He initially found interest in Japanese independent music. In recent years his interest has…
Maser Patrol podcast episode 41: Alita – Battle Angel
In this episode, Kevin, Benji, and Josh sit down for a spoiler-laden review of the long, long, long-awaited new Hollywood quasi-hit Alita: Battle Angel! We jump right into…
Transcript of Episode 41: Christmas in Japanese Literature
Find out more about Episode 41 of the Read Literature podcast on the episode page. Link to listen Notes and sources Ways to support the podcast This is…
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There is an official order to the 都道府県 (todōfuken, prefectures) in Japan. I share some thoughts about it and in Japanese discuss the importance of learning how to…
How to Japanese Podcast – S02E07 – Jason Coskrey – Immersion, Sports Writing in Japan
Jason Coskrey is a sports writer for The Japan Times. He previously worked at the Birmingham Post Herald and the Marietta Daily Journal before moving to Japan in…
How "Textbook Japanese" Sounds to Japanese People #learnjapanese
Learn Japanese with Me - https://bit.ly/4drmyU2
How to Japanese Podcast – Episode 48 – The 1,000-yen Haircut and まとめる
On the podcast this month, I continued the conversation about value in Japan, specifically looking at the 1,000-yen men’s haircut, which I think is one of the worst…
How to be Sarcastic in Japanese
Learn Japanese with Yuta: https://bit.ly/41x1x3t Support me on Patreon: https://goo.gl/aiWNd5 Twitter: https://twitter.com/ThatYuta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thatyuta/ Facebook: https://bit.ly/381qpHS Blog: http://www.yutaaoki.com/blog/
How to Read a Japanese Payslip
When payday comes around, it's important to know how to read a Japanese payslip to understand your earnings, allowances and tax deductions.