Yumi has been on a cleaning kick. She’s always been tidy, but recently, she’s gotten serious about it. Japan has very clean streets despite (or perhaps because of) the fact that there are few public trash cans. Is there some connection with Japanese history and mythology to explain this?

KEY VOCABULARY:

掃除(そうじ) cleaning

ピカピカ  with a glitter; with a sparkle; shiny and new

磨(みが)いています polishing; shining

主婦(しゅふ) housewife; homemaker

言葉(ことば)に触発(しょくはつ)されて  inspired by words [言葉 (words) に (by) 触発 (triggering; inspiring) されて (passive)]

管理(かんり) control; management

整理(せいり) sorting; arrangement; putting in order

真剣(しんけん)に earnestly; in earnest

隙間(すきま)  crevice; crack; gap

面倒(めんどう)くさい bothersome; tiresome

綿棒(めんぼう) cotton swab

竹串(たけぐし) bamboo skewer

神道(しんとう) Shinto

境内(けいだい) grounds (of shrine); compound

神話(しんわ) mythology; legend

日本(にほん)の国旗(こっき) Japanese flag

清潔(せいけつ) cleanliness; hygienic

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-99

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-99-m

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