Volcanic activity is rising at Mount Aso in Kumamoto, and the eruption alert level has been raised to three. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

Last night, giant fires glowed on the mountains of Kyoto — a summer tradition with a beautiful meaning. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

Tokyo's Ueno Zoo is saying goodbye to its old panda house — demolition starts tomorrow. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

In eastern Hokkaido, a tiny salamander is getting some big help from the government. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

Eighty-one years ago today, the Second World War ended for Japan. This evening's story is about the national memorial ceremony held in Tokyo for those who died in the war. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

Some happy news from Nagoya — one of the rarest animals in the world just had a baby at the city zoo. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

This evening's story is about rice. The average supermarket price of rice has gone up for the first time in seven weeks — but only slightly, and prices are still expected to keep falling. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

It's shooting star season — one of the year's most famous meteor showers is lighting up Japan's summer night sky, and this year the conditions are perfect. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.

This evening, record-breaking rain hit Chiba Prefecture, next to Tokyo, and the weather agency issued its highest-level emergency warning for fourteen cities. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.

Today's story is about three old Japanese paintings that were separated about one hundred fifty years ago — one stayed in Japan, and two crossed the ocean. Now they are together again in Tokyo. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.