Japanese Daily News

This morning in Sendai, in northern Japan, the city's famous star festival begins — the streets fill with thousands of giant paper streamers. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜まで — until ~
• 〜で作る — to make with/from ~ (material)
• 〜ますように — may ~ (a wish or prayer)
• 何 + counter + も — many ~ (emphasizes a large amount)
• 〜と同じ — the same as ~

Free grammar notes, practice questions and Anki decks for JLPT N5–N1: jpnotes.dev

In the world of shogi, Japanese chess, Tomoka Nishiyama is one title away from becoming the first woman ever to qualify as a full professional player. Today she met the press before her big match. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜として初めて — as the first ~ (to do something)
• 一度も〜ない — never; not even once
• 〜ば — if ~ (conditional)
• 〜のか — whether ~; the question of ~
• 「〜」と話しました — said that ~ (quotation)

Free grammar notes, practice questions and Anki decks for JLPT N5–N1: jpnotes.dev

This week in Akita, in northern Japan, the night sky is full of glowing lanterns. Performers balance long bamboo poles covered with lanterns on their hands, foreheads, and shoulders. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜より — than ~ (comparison)
• 〜のように見える — to look like ~
• 「〜」という + noun — a ~ that says ...
• 一番〜 — the most ~
• 〜ています — ongoing state (has been ~ing)

Free grammar notes, practice questions and Anki decks for JLPT N5–N1: jpnotes.dev

Automaker Nissan is back in the black for the first time in two years, after deep cost cuts — but its road ahead is still rough. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜ぶり — for the first time in (a period)
• 数量＋あまり — a little more than; over (a number)
• 〜となる — to become (formal)
• 一方、〜 — on the other hand
• 〜ためです — it is because ~

Free grammar notes, practice questions and Anki decks for JLPT N5–N1: jpnotes.dev

A brand-new species of jellyfish, named after the Japanese god of fire, has just gone on display for the first time anywhere in the world, at two aquariums in Japan. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜から（起点） — from ~ (starting point)
• 〜のように見える — to look like ~
• 〜ことができる — can do ~, to be able to ~

Free grammar notes, practice questions and Anki decks for JLPT N5–N1: jpnotes.dev

For the first time in fifteen years, Japan and the United States have jointly stepped into the currency market, buying yen to stop its historic slide. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜以来 — since (a point in the past)
• 〜とは — as for ~ (introducing a definition)
• 〜たり〜たりする — do things like A and B
• 〜ため — because of; due to
• 〜と言われている — it is said that

Free grammar notes, practice questions and Anki decks for JLPT N5–N1: jpnotes.dev

This weekend, one of Japan's most famous summer festivals started in Aomori, in the north of Japan. Huge glowing paper figures parade through the city at night. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜まで — until ~
• 〜ながら — while doing ~
• 〜ば — if ~ (conditional)
• 〜と呼ばれる — to be called ~
• 〜の一つ — one of ~

Free grammar notes, practice questions and Anki decks for JLPT N5–N1: jpnotes.dev

As of yesterday, Japan's old paper health insurance cards can no longer be used at hospitals — the country has fully switched to a digital insurance card built into the national ID card. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜によりますと — according to (polite news style)
• 〜なくても — even if one does not do
• 〜のうち — among; out of (a group)
• 〜なければなりません — must; have to
• 〜てほしい — want someone to do

Free grammar notes, practice questions and Anki decks for JLPT N5–N1: jpnotes.dev

This week, Japan decided on a plan to raise the minimum wage. The national average will go up to a new record. It is important news for everyone who works, especially part-time workers. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜くなる — to become ~
• 〜より — than ~ (comparison)
• 〜からです — it is because ~
• 〜てくる — has been ~ing; change up to now
• 〜ごろ — around ~ (time)

Free grammar notes, practice questions and Anki decks for JLPT N5–N1: jpnotes.dev

Japan has just launched a new intelligence agency — a single command center for gathering and analyzing information about national security and diplomacy. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜に関する — related to; concerning
• 〜ず（に） — without doing; not doing (formal negative)
• 〜として — as; in the role of
• 〜をもとに — based on
• 〜ていく — go on doing; do from now on

Free grammar notes, practice questions and Anki decks for JLPT N5–N1: jpnotes.dev