The Tofugu Podcast: Japan and Japanese Language

Apr 25 2023 114 ep. 54 mins 9.7k
The Tofugu Podcast: Japan and Japanese Language artwork

For people who want to visit Japan, live in Japan, and learn Japanese. Please excuse the tangents.

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けど (Kedo): Why Are Japanese Speakers Always Ending Their Sentences with "But"?

Apr 25 2023 65 mins  
In this episode, the Tofugu crew, Kanae and Nick, discuss how "but" in Japanese, けど (kedo), is often used at the end of sentences in real-life conversations.For more details, check out Kanae's article: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/kedo/

How To Language Exchange Successfully

Dec 18 2022 68 mins  
Language exchange is a fun and free way to improve your Japanese. But to do it successfully, you should consider a few things.In this episode, the Tofugu crew, Kanae and Ian discuss tips and practical expressions you can use for language exchange sessions.For more details, check out: www.tofugu.com/japanese/language-exchange/

How and Where to Buy Japanese E-Books

Nov 04 2022 47 mins  
In this episode, the Tofugu crew, Kanae and David discuss why e-books can be great materials for Japanese learners, all their tips for buying Japanese e-books, and their favorite Japanese e-book stores.After listening to the episode, check out: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/how-to-buy-japanese-ebooks/

Why Is Everyone Raving about "Yotsuba&!"?

Jul 22 2022 44 mins  
よつばと！ (Yotsuba&!) is a Japanese slice-of-life comedy manga series that's become very popular in the Japanese learning community.In this episode, the Tofugu crew, Kanae and Ian talk about how much they love Yotsuba&! and why it's such a great manga series to pick up for Japanese learners, especially beginners.After listening to this episode, check out Ian's review

"Yuri" — Japanese Queer Women Love Stories

Jun 26 2022 56 mins  
In this episode, Emily and Kanae discuss “yuri,” the Japanese genre of women-loving women (wlw) romantic relationships.Check out this episode to learn a brief history of yuri, famous examples of yuri, and Emily’s yuri/LGBTQ+ recommendations, such as:少女革命ウテナ (Revolutionary Girl Utena)やがて君になる (Bloom Into You)しまなみ誰そ彼 (Our Dreams at Dusk)

Things I Wish I Knew When I Was A Beginner Japanese Learner, Feat. Ian Battaglia

Apr 01 2022 54 mins  
In this episode, Ian Battaglia, a Japanese resource review writer at Tofugu and an enthusiastic Japanese learner who’s still actively working his way to the advanced level, discusses all kinds of things he wishes he knew when he was a beginner Japanese learner.Ian covers topics like:Learning Japanese is not a race! Go at your own “sustainable” paceA recommended learning order

Things I Wish I Knew When I Was A Beginner Japanese Learner, Feat. Emily Suvannasankha

Mar 25 2022 58 mins  
In this episode, Emily Suvannasankha, a Japan category writer at Tofugu and an enthusiastic Japanese learner of over a decade, discusses all kinds of things she wishes she knew when she was a beginner Japanese learner. Even more, she also shares tips and advice that she got from interviewing her friends who study Japanese.Emily covers topics like:A little a day adds up to a LOT —

Things I Wish I Knew When I Was A Beginner Japanese Learner Feat. David Honeycutt

Mar 18 2022 41 mins  
In this episode, David Honeycutt, a Japanese resource review writer at Tofugu and an enthusiastic Japanese learner of over a decade, discusses all kinds of things he wishes he knew when he was a beginner Japanese learner.David covers topics like:How to follow some sort of curriculum even if you’re a self-learnerThe power of SRS (Spaced Repetition System)Using a built-in dictionar

MEXT Research Scholarship: Get a Master’s Degree in Japan for Free

Dec 21 2021 50 mins  
The MEXT Research Scholarship is Japan's government-funded program that will let you do a free master's and cover living expenses to boot....Sounds too good to be true? Well, Emily is living proof that it's not.In this episode, Kanae and Rachel welcome Tofugu’s new writer Emily as a co-host and talk about her experience with the scholarship program she just finished in Nagoya a f

は and が: Part 3

Nov 18 2021 32 mins  
This is the third and final episode in our three-part mini-series on the Japanese particles は and が. In this episode, Kanae and Jenny turn their attention to the particle が, including the effects of switching it out with は in cases like すしが好き and すしは好き. Join us for some food-obsessed examples of が usage.For more details about は and が, check out Jen