Have you ever felt like prices change just because you searched?

In this episode, I share what I’ve noticed, what I’ve heard, andwhat I’ve tried to do to resist algorithms.

This episode's vocab list:

5週間ぶりのポッドキャストです。It’s my first podcast in 5 weeks N4

とても気が早い I might be too hasty; it might be a bit early. N3

予約 booking; reservation N4

チャンスを逃してしまいました。 I missed the chance N3

予約が始まってすぐ as soon as reservations opened N3

値段 price(s) N5

微妙に変動しているchanging slightly N1

気が付きました。I noticed it. N4

ネット予約 online booking N4

一般的 common; general N3

アルゴリズム algorithm N2

人気がある日にち popular dates N4

値段を上げるそうです。I heard that they raise prices. N3

つまり in other words N3

検索  search; retrieval N3

検索すればするほど値段が上がるThe more you search, the higher the prices go. N3

では、検索しない方がいいということですよね。So does that mean it’s better not search? N3

アルゴリズムにばれないように without being noticed by the algorithm N3

どうすればいいのでしょうか。What should we do? N3

泊まりたい日にちだけでなくnot only the dates I want to stay N2

他の日にちもbut also other dates N4

同じように in the same way N4

再来週 the week after next N2

どう思いますか。What do you think? N4

この方法でアルゴリズムにばれないと思いますか。Do you think this method can avoid being detected by the algorithm? N3

何かいい方法があったら、ぜひ教えてください！ If you have any good tips, please let me know. N3

Pleasenote that these levels are approximate, teaching-based estimates — they are meant to give a rough idea of difficulty, not an official classification.
I hope this helps your learning, and feel free to focus on the words that are most interesting or useful to you!

Teaching gives me energy – just like a vitamin.

I feel lucky to have a job, that gives me energy. Do you have something in your life that energized you? Let’s take a moment to appreciate it. As the seasons begin to change, so please take good care of yourself!

This episode's vocab list:

あっという間に in the blink of an eye; before you know it  [N3]

充実した１か月 a fulfilling month [N3]

体調の問題 a health problem  [N3]

おかげさまで thankfully  [N3]

改善しました。It improved; it has gotten better  [N2]

私なりに考えてみたところwhen I thought about it in my own way; after thinking it over myself [N2]

どうやら体が冷えていたことが原因だったようです。It seems my body being too cold may have been the cause. [N2]

ぐっすり眠る to sleep soundly  [N3]

私の方が元気をもらっている I’m the one receiving energy. [N3]

レッスンは仕事でありながら Even though teaching is my job, [N2]

不思議な存在 something special and hard to describe  [N2]

まるでビタミン剤のようなもの something like a vitamin supplement   [N3]

正直な所 to be honest  [N3]

同じことを質問してしまうこともあります。Sometimes, I end up asking the same question. [N3]

その都度 every time; each time  [N2]

日本語そのものに集中しているせいか、Perhaps because I’m focusing on their Japanese itself  [N2]

細かい内容 the small details   [N3]

なかなか記憶に残らない it doesn’t easily stay  in my memory. [N2]

丁寧に答えてくれます。They answer carefully and politely. [N4]

上達 improvement; progress  [N3]

心を打たれます To be deeply moved  [N2]

相変わらずです it’s the same as always   [N3]

温かく接してくれる to treat me warmly  [N3]

3月もすぐそこですね。March is just around the corner. [N4]

北半球でも南半球でもin both the Northern and Southern hemispheres [N4]

季節の変わり目 the change of the seasons; seasonal transition   [N3]

体調を崩さないよう、くれぐれも気を付けてくださいね。 Please take good care of yourself, and try not to get sick. [N2]

Please note that these levels are approximate, teaching-based estimates — they are meant to give a rough idea of difficulty, not an official classification.
I hope this helps your learning, and feel free to focus on the words that are most interesting or useful to you!

Do you sleep well every day?

Last week, I couldn’t sleep at all and even had a terrible headache. I talk about what happened, what I tried, and how it made me think again about health and daily habits. This episode is shared in easy Japanese with a mix of levels, so I hope you can relax and enjoy listening while learning.

This episode's vocab list:

眠れない not to have a sleep [N4]

頭痛 headache [N4]

酷い terrible  [N3]

睡眠不足で苦しんだことがありますか。Have you suffered from a lack of sleep? [N3-N2]

原因 the cause  [N4]

しかも what’s more [N3]

突然 suddenly  [N4]

水泳 swimming [N4]

水泳を止めました。I stopped swimming. [N4]

関係ないかもしれません might not be related [N3]

念のため just in case  [N3]

状態は変わりません。My condition hasn’t changed. [N3]

健康を一番に考えようと思った矢先に just as I decided to put my health first [N2]

起きました。This happened. [N5]

睡眠用のサプリ supplement to help me sleep  [N3-N2]

ビタミン不足 a lack of vitamins  [N3]

睡眠に影響するそうです。 I’ve heard that it can affect sleep [N3]

どうしますか。What do you do? [N5]

Please note that these levels are approximate, teaching-based estimates — they are meant to give a rough idea of difficulty, not an official classification.
I hope this helps your learning, and feel free to focus on the words that are most interesting or useful to you!

“A mother’s day trip that didn’t go as planned — what happened next?”

My mother suddenly decided to go on a day trip by herself — and then she changed her mind. I hope you enjoy listening to her unexpected story.

This episode's vocab list:

母の話をします。I will talk about my mother. [N5]

土日 Saturday and Sunday; the weekend [N5]

富士山を見に、for the purpose of seeing Mt. Fuji [N4]

とてもきれいに富士山が見えたそうです。I heard that she could see Mt Fuji very clearly [N3]

鳥居 Shrine gate [N3]

観光 sightseeing [N3]

時間がまだ早かったです。 it was still early. [N3]

ある考えが浮かびました。 One idea came to mind. [N2]

足を伸ばす to extend the journey; to go a bit further [N2]

突然のプラン sudden plan [N2]

1時間40分かける to spend 1 hour and 40 minutes [N4]

ずっと all the way; the whole time  [N4]

当日 on that day; the same day  [N2]

当日ホテルをとったからかどうか分かりません。 I am not sure whether it was because she booked the hotel on the same day or not [N2]

ホテル代 the hotel cost; hotel fee  [N3]

私が母の旅行のプランナーになろうと思っています。I’m thinking of becoming my mother’s travel planner. [N3]

もうすでに already  [N4]

計画を立てています。I’m making a plan; I’ve already started planning. [N3]

日本のホテルを予約する to book a hotel in Japan [N4]

どんなウェブサイト which website; what kind of website [N4]

Please note that these levels are approximate, teaching-based estimates — they are meant to give a rough idea of difficulty, not an official classification. I hope this helps your learning, and feel free to focus on the words that are most interesting or useful to you!

‘Play’ in English isn’t just あそぶ in Japanese — find out why!

In this episode, I explore how one English verb can be expressed using different verbs in Japanese. Before listening, try making one English sentence with this verb. I hope this episode helps you enjoy discovering how Japanese works.

This episode's vocab list:

気が付いていましたか。Have you noticed? [N4]

英語の文をひとつ one English sentence [N5]

たいてい usually [N4]

アクションが違うと、日本語では使う言葉も違います。If the actions are different, the words used in Japanese are also different. [N3]

他のスポーツ other sports [N5]

間違える to make a mistake [N4]

これは、英語の影響ですね。This is influenced by English. [N3]

Kids playの意味が強い時 When meaning of “Kids play” is stronger, [N3]

残念ながら、どんな楽器でも「弾きます」を使うことができるわけではありません。Unfortunately, It doesn’t mean you can use the verb “hikimasu” for any instrument. [N2]

基本的に、弦楽器だけです。Basically, it’s only for stringedinstruments. [N3]

例外 exception [N3]

電子ピアノ electric piano [N3]

つまり in other words [N3]

訳す to translate [N3]

ただし however; but (common in explanations) [N2]

注意が必要です。You need to be careful. [N3]

このように like this; in this way;  as mentioned above [N3]

集めてみる to try collecting [N4]

It’s been a long time since the last episode! Hope you’ve beenwell. 2026 has started, and I’d like to talk about my New Year’s resolution.

This episode's vocab list [JLPT level]:

毎年恒例 annual event [N1]

新年の抱負 New Year’s resolution [N1]

健康に過ごすこと staying healthy [N3-4]

体力作り physical training; building physical strength [N2]

積極的に actively; proactively; with a positive attitude [N3]

気合いっぱい full of motivation; all fired up [N2]

この目標を忘れずに without forgetting this goal [N3]

水泳 swimming  [N3]

かなづち literally ‘a hammer’ but it means ‘can’t swim’ in this context  [N1]

苦手 my weak point; something I’m not good at [N4]

泳げるようになっています。I’m becoming able to swim. [N4]

暑い間は while it’s hot [N3]

スタミナをつけたいです。I want to build up my stamina. [N3]

ゴルフを始めようと思っています。I’m thinking of starting golf. [N4]

いつか one day [N4]

報告できるといいなぁ。I hope I can let you know. [N3]

残念ながら unfortunately [N3]

チャンスを逃してしまいました。I missed the chance. [N3]

珍しくunusually; rarely [N3]

初夏 the beginning of summer [N2]

あんまり暑くないといいんですが。I hope it’s not too hot. [N4]

The last day on Nakasendō Trail brought some unexpected moments including a sudden change of plans, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying every moment. Turn in to hear how the journey wrapped up!

This episode's vocab list:

実は actually

歩くのをやめました。I decided not to walk

山を越える to cross a mountain

きっと surely; certainly

実際 actual condition; in reality; in practice

オフシーズンだったため because it was off-season

お店があんまり開いていませんでした。Many shops were not open.

有名な橋を渡りたかったです。 I wanted to cross the famous bridge

予定より時間が余りました。 We had more spare time than planned

松本のホテルまで移動する to head up to the hotel in Matsumoto

松本の観光 sightseeing in Matsumoto

旅行の予定を立てる to make a travel plan

臨機応変に depending on the circumstances; flexibly

変更できるようにしておく to make it possible to change

用意しておきましょう。It’s better to be prepared

何より more than anything

達成感 a sense of achievement

熊野古道 Kumano Kodo in Wakayama prefecture

四国のお遍路 the pilgrimage in Shikoku island

On Day 3, we took a one-day break from walking the Nakasendō Trail, but we unexpectedly caught a breathtaking view. Even without the trail, we discovered something truly special and worth sharing. Check it out!

This episode's vocab list:

中山道トレイルを中休みしました。We had a one-day break from walking the Nakasendo Trail.

2日目の夜から2泊しました。We stayed 2 nights from the 2nd night of the trip

最寄り駅 the nearest station

移動するto move (from one place to another); travel; head to

とはいえ though we had a break; that said; even so

阿寺渓谷 Atera Valley; Atera Gorge

エメラルドグリーン emerald green

素晴らしかったです。It was stunning; amazing; marvellous;breathtaking

川沿いalong the river

途中から from halfway

雪がたくさん積もっていました。A lot of snow had accumulated/piled up

ひんやりしたchilly

冷たい空気 cold air

夏なら if it’s summer

次回 the next time

中山道トレイルの最終回 the final episode about our Nakasendo Trail journey

On Day 2, we walked to Tsumago-juku along the Nakasendō trail. It was a great experience. Check it out and enjoy my story!

This episode's vocab list:

大型連休 the long consecutive holidays

真っ最中 right in the middle

最初は in the beginning

上り坂 uphill slope

朝早くから出発しました。 we departed early in the morning

天候にも恵まれました。 we were blessing with good weather

新鮮な空気 fresh air

澄んだ青空 clear blue sky

印象的でした。It was impressive.

展望台 lookout point; observation deck

早くも already

随分前に a very long time ago

残り remaining

案の定 as expected

大きく転んでしまいました。I slipped and fell down badly.

バックパックが守ってくれました。 my backpack protected me

怪我 injury

前日 the previous day

半分以上 more than half

昔の町並み historical streets of a town

残念でした That’s unfortunate.

充実感 a sense of fulfillment

達成感 a sense of achievement

引き続き continually

この続きは次回をお楽しみに！Look forward to the continuation in the next episode.

We stayed one night at Magome Ryokan - a beautiful traditional inn that made us feel like we’d stepped back in time. It was a wonderful, invaluable experience full of charm and nostalgia. Tune in to hear all about it!

This episode's vocab list:

4連休 a 4-day long weekend

予定 plan

先週お話したように as I mentioned last week

初めての体験 first experience; new experience

そのうちの1つ one of them

旧中山道 Old Nakasendo

あぜ道 pathway between rice fields

住宅が並んでいました。 residential buildings lined along the streets

一日目 the first day

中津川駅 Nakatsugawa station

歩き始めるTo start walking

中津川宿 Nakatsugawa, a former post town on the Nakasendō

宿場町a post town

普通の田舎町 a typical regional town

近づいていく to get closer and closer

実感できます。You can really feel it

おさむらいさんたち Samurai warriors

不思議な気持ちになるto have a miraculous sense of connection.

着こむ to wear a lot

目的地 the destination; the goal

馬籠宿 Magome, a former post town on the Nakasendō

お店も並んでいます。 Shops are also lined up.

気に入りました。I like it now.

観光バス tour bus

またこの続きは来週をお楽しみに！Look forward to the continuation next week.