June 16, 2025

Nihongo no Tane 171: ラジオ番組 Radio Show | Japanese Immersion podcast

4 minutes

In this episode, Yumi visits her family home in Japan, only to find it cold, boring, and isolating—with no internet, books, or entertainment. Feeling stuck in what she jokingly calls a "mini-prison," she unexpectedly finds joy in a Japanese radio show. Listener stories and nostalgic memories rekindle her love for storytelling and inspire her to share more fun tales with her audience. A charming reflection on boredom, discovery, and the power of laughter.

KEY VOCABULARY:

刑務所(けいむしょ) — "Prison." 刑(けい) means "punishment" or "penalty," and 務所(むしょ) means "workplace" or "institution." Together, this refers to a penal institution where people serve criminal sentences.

大(おお)げさ — "Exaggerated; over the top." This word is used to describe something overly dramatic or blown out of proportion. Often used to modestly admit to possible exaggeration, as in "maybe I’m exaggerating."

ローカル局(きょく) — "Local TV/radio station." ローカル means "local" (borrowed from English), and 局(きょく) means "bureau" or "station." Together, it refers to a regional broadcasting station.

映(うつ)る — "To be reflected; to be broadcast." This verb often refers to something being visible on a screen or being shown on TV. In this context, it means "to be shown (on TV)."

高齢(こうれい) — "Elderly; advanced in age." A formal term used to describe older individuals. Common in written and official contexts.

どういうわけか — "For some reason." A phrase used when the reason is unknown or unclear. It adds an air of mystery or puzzlement.

契約以上(けいやくいじょう) — "Beyond the contract limit." 契約(けいやく) means "contract" or "agreement," and 以上(いじょう) means "more than" or "beyond." Used when referring to exceeding agreed terms, such as data usage limits.

節約(せつやく) — "Saving; economizing." Often refers to cutting expenses or conserving resources. Used commonly in household and budget discussions.

放送局(ほうそうきょく) — "Broadcasting station." 放送(ほうそう) means "broadcast," and 局(きょく) is "bureau/station." This refers to a television or radio network office or station.

日曜天国(にちようてんごく) — "Sunday Heaven." The title of a radio program. 日曜(にちよう) means "Sunday," and 天国(てんごく) means "heaven" or "paradise." Together it conveys a cheerful, relaxing Sunday-themed show.

一部分(いちぶぶん) — "A part; a portion." 一部(いちぶ) means "one part," and 分(ぶん) also means "portion" or "segment." Emphasizes that only a partial section of something is being referred to.

クスクス — "Chuckle." An onomatopoeia representing soft, suppressed laughter, like giggling to oneself.

ゲラゲラ — "Loud laughter." Another onomatopoeia, this time representing uninhibited, hearty laughter.

リスナーさん — "Listener (polite)." リスナー is a borrowed word meaning "listener," and さん adds a polite and respectful tone.

おハガキ — "Letter/postcard (from a listener)." ハガキ means postcard, and お is an honorific prefix used to show politeness or respect toward the sender.

一言(ひとこと) — "One remark; a few words." Literally “one word,” but used to mean a short statement or comment.

帰(かえ)ってくるなり — "As soon as (someone) gets home." 帰(かえ)ってくる is "to come back home," and なり expresses an immediate sequence — something happened immediately upon return.

恐竜(きょうりゅう) — "Dinosaur."

体験談(たいけんだん) — "Personal story or experience." 体験(たいけん) means "experience," and 談(だん) means "story or talk." Together, it refers to a shared anecdote or testimony.

いたんだよって — "They were there, you know?" いた is the past form of いる (to exist, for living things), んだ emphasizes explanation, よ adds assertion, and って is quoting a statement.

自身(じしん) — "Oneself; self." Often used to emphasize the subject personally, as in “his own experience.”

地元(じもと) — "Local; hometown." Refers to one’s home area or region.

案外人(あんがいひと) — "Surprisingly, people..." 案外(あんがい) means "unexpectedly" or "surprisingly," and 人(ひと) here refers to people. Often used to express that people may react in a way that’s not expected.

癒(いや)すもの — "Something that heals." 癒す means "to heal" or "soothe," and もの ("thing") indicates the object that performs the action.

気取(きど)りで — "With the air of; acting like." 気取(きど)り means "pretension" or "affectation," and で indicates the manner in which something is done — in this case, acting as if one were an announcer.

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-171

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-171-m

Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

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By TheJapanesePage.com

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