Japanese Daily News

Tonight, a look at Japan's rising food prices, and the global forces pushing them up. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜される（受身） — to be ~ed (passive)
• 〜を中心に — centered on ~; mainly ~
• 〜あたり — per ~; for each ~
• 〜以来 — since ~; ever since ~

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

Here's a bright summer story from Tokyo: an old festival where a temple fills up with little orange plants and the gentle sound of wind chimes. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜という〜 — a ~ called ~; the ~ named ~
• 〜と呼ばれる — to be called ~; to be known as ~
• 〜と（条件） — when / if ~ (then a natural result follows)
• 〜と言われている — it is said that ~; people say that ~

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

Here's a story about turning old gadgets into treasure: Japan is testing a new way to collect used phones and computers using delivery trucks. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜と呼ばれる — to be called ~; to be known as ~
• 〜ため — because ~; due to ~
• 〜という〜 — the ~ that (says/is) ~
• 〜かどうか — whether or not ~

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

Here's a heartwarming animal story from central Japan. At a park in Toyama, seven chicks of a very rare mountain bird have just hatched. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜ぶり — for the first time in ~ (a period)
• 〜くなる — to become ~ (with i-adjectives)
• 〜てほしい — to want someone to ~
• 〜から〜にかけて — from ~ through ~ (a span of time or place)

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

A large, very powerful typhoon is bearing down on Okinawa's southern islands right now. Today's story is about the warnings and what people there are being told to do. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜見込みです — is expected to ~; is likely to ~
• 〜おそれがある — there is a risk / fear that ~
• 〜ように（呼びかける・伝える） — to urge / tell someone to do ~
• 〜ので — because ~; since ~

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

Summer in Japan means festivals and fireworks. Today's story is about one of Tokyo's most famous fireworks festivals, coming up later this month. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜で（場所） — at ~; in ~ (place of an action)
• 〜から〜まで — from ~ to ~
• 〜に来る（目的） — come to do ~
• 〜になる — to become ~; to turn into ~

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

Here's a story for anyone who travels abroad: from this month, the tax you pay when you leave Japan has gone up. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜とき(に) — when ~; at the time of ~
• AでもBでも — whether A or B; both A and B
• つまり — in other words; that is
• 〜まま — as it is; unchanged

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

Here's a weather story that tells you summer has truly arrived. In much of western Japan, the long rainy season has just ended, earlier than usual, and hot days are on the way. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

Grammar in this episode:

• AはBより〜 — A is more ~ than B
• 〜ように + 言う／呼びかける — to tell / urge someone to ~
• 〜のあと(は) — after ~
• 〜ましょう — let's ~

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

Here's a story from space. Japan's asteroid probe just flew right past a small asteroid, and the mission also helps develop technology to protect the Earth. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜という＋名詞 — a ~ called/named ~
• 〜と発表する／〜と話す — to announce / say that ~
• 〜ため（に） — because ~; due to ~
• 〜と期待されている — it is expected/hoped that ~

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

Here's a tasty summer story. Japan has a special midsummer day when people eat eel to beat the heat. This year that day is coming soon, and shops have started taking reservations. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

Grammar in this episode:

• 〜ため(です) — in order to ~; the purpose is ~
• い-adjective + くなる — to become ~ (more expensive, etc.)
• 〜を楽しみにしている — to be looking forward to ~
• 〜からです — it is because ~

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