Did you know Japan has a rainy season? It’s staring now. I talked about this unique period and share recommendations for activities to make the most of it. Check it out and discover what Japan’s rainy season has to offer.

This episode's vocab list:

季節 season

梅雨入りthe onset of the rainy season

本州の北の方 the Northern part of honshu, the main island of Japan

6月中旬 mid-June

下旬 the end of the month

梅雨明け ending the rainy season

天気予報 weather forecast

ローカルならではunique to the local area; something only found locally

この時期ならでは unique to this season; specific to this time of year

梅雨の風物詩 a symbol of the rainy season

アジサイ hydrangea

全国各地 everywhere in the country

名所 noted place

ピッタリ just right

感動しますよ。I bet you will be impressed by the scenery.

代表的 representing

花菖蒲 iris

アジサイと比べると with a comparison with hydrangea

一万四千 14 thousand

ホタル観賞 firefly viewing

神秘的 mystic

博物館 museum

美術館 art museum

科学館 science museum

地元の人 local people

日本人観光客 domestic tourists

活動的 active

空いている to not be crowed

マイナスなことばかりではありません。There are not only negative things.

Do you have any tips for making a travel plan? I have a new one to share with you here. Check it out!

This episode's vocab list:

旅行の計画を立てる to make a travel plan

どこまでしっかり決めますか。How details and precise do you decide it? How thoroughly do you plan it?

その日その日に day by day; each day

決めないという人もいるかもしれませんね。Some may not decide; may not make any plans.

ちょっとした秘訣 a little secret; a small tip

完全に completely

そうゆうタイプでした。I was that type of person.

計画を変える to change the plan

問題ないです that’s

先に beforehand

考え方 way of thinking; mindset

情報 information

決めていたことができないと If you couldn’t do what you decide

少なからず not a little bit

残念に思いますよね。You’re disappointed.

最初から決めていなければ If I didn’t decide from the beginning

できたことを喜べます。I can be glad for I’ve accomplished

発想の転換です。It’s a different angle of looking at it.

海外旅行 oversea travel

日帰り旅行 one-day trip

計画上手になる to become good at planning

ヒント a tip

Now, renting a bike in Japan is very easy to find and organise, and also makes it convenient even for travellers. Why not give it a try? I hope it adds more fulfilled moments for your next visit to Japan.

This episode's vocab list:

やっと涼しくなって来ました。It’s finally become cool.

主人 my husband

遠いところ somewhere far away

片道 one way

電動自転車 electric bike

長距離 a long distance

以前 before

観光地 tourist cities or spots

よく見かけました。I often saw them.

住宅地 residential areas

街中 middle of the city

駐輪場に置いてあります。They are parked in the bike parking lot.

アプリ app

予約 booking

支払い payment

人とのコンタクトなしで借りられる to be able to rent it without any contact with people.

値段 price

手頃 reasonable

あちこち回ったら if you go around here, there, everywhere

爽やかな風 refreshing breeze

自転車で走れる to be able to ride a bike

Are you confused by any homophones or pitch accents in Japanese? You may discover a new tricky aspect of the language. Just laugh! Every language has its own tricky elements for learners.

This episode's vocab list:

日本語にある音の数 the number of sounds in the Japanese language

英語と比べると compared to English

同音異義語 homophones

とは言え、 however; although that was said,

話の内容 context of the conversation or story

もうひとつ例を挙げる to give another example

もう、笑うしかありません。No way, we have no choice but to laugh.

Looking to improve your Japanese language skills? Finding conversation partners can be one of the best ways. But where do you find them? Tune in to this episode to find out. You just might discover a new perspective on Japanese practice.

This episode's vocab list:

目的 purpose

共通の趣味 common hobbies; common interests

日本人プレーヤーを探す to look for Japanese players

協力的な人ばかりではありません Not everyone is cooperative.

基本的に basically

一石二鳥ですね。It’s a case of killing two birds with one stone.

いい出会い good encounter; nice meeting

思いつかなかった所 a place I didn’t think of; a place I didn’t consider

Navigating a doctor's visit in a foreign country can be daunting. How do you prepare for such an experience? Join me in this episode as I introduce my simple strategy for overcoming this challenge.

This episode's vocab list:

初めて for the first time

眼医者 eye doctor; ophthalmologist

ドライアイが気になりました。 I worried about dry eyes

緊張する to feel nervous

それに moreover; also

聞きなれない言葉 unfamiliar words

たまたまpurely by chance

主人もその時間空いていました。My husband also had that time period free

検査の結果 the result of the examination

意識的に瞬きをする to blink consciously

目薬をさす to apply eye drops

瞼を暖める to warm eyelids

目が潤う the eyes become moist or hydrated

前もって beforehand

気持ちが楽になります。I will feel better.

心の準備 mental preparation

Do you know about Japan’s 3 major holiday seasons? One of them is coming up this weekend! Are you eager to experience the festivities or looking to plan your visit around them?

This episode's vocab list:

土日 Saturday & Sunday

祝日 public holiday

天皇 Emperor

翌月曜日 following Monday

振替休日a Monday makeup holiday

ゴールデンウィークを知らずに without knowing it will be the Golden Week

計画を立てる to make a plan

ゴールデンウィーク中 during the Golden Week

たくさんの人で賑わっている to be bustling; to be crowded with people

普通では味わえないこと something we cannot experience; savour; appreciate in a standard situation

参考までに just for reference

8月中旬 mid-August

年末年始 from the end of one year to the start of the next new year

Do you have any recent happy stories? I do! Join me as I share two of mine here.

This episode's vocab list:

嬉しい話 happy story

2組 2 pairs

合計 totally

全員 all of these people

幸せを分けてもらえる to receive a share of their happiness

結婚祝い a wedding gift

インターネットショッピングで注文する to order online

ちょうど帰国中でした。 she happened to be returning to Japan at just the right time.

届く to be delivered

和紙 handmade Japanese paper

ラッピングペーパー wrapping paper

喜んでくれるといいなぁ！I hope they like it.

聞き始める to start listening

旧ツイッター old Twitter

数字 the number; the amount

受け取る to receive

心から続けていてよかったぁって思います。I truly feel glad that I’ve kept going from the bottom of my heart

メイトさんの顔が見られない分、Not being able to see your face makes a result, which will be mentioned after this

繋がっていると感じる to feel like we are connecting

嬉しい気持ちが抑えられない to be unable to hold in my joy and delight

Reading an English short story before bed works very well for me. I am now curious if a Japanese book would have the same effect. If it does, I might have an new idea for my dream. Stay turned!

This episode's vocab list:

不眠症に悩んでいる to suffer from insomnia

穏やかな calm; peaceful

意外にもよく効いています。It works better than I expected.

日常everyday life

日記 diary

ハラハラドキドキする to be thrilled and have butterflies in one’s stomach

同じように効くかどうか試したい to

書いてみたい to give it a try to write

一冊出しました。I released one book.

投稿する to post; contribute

集めた物 a collection

今度は for this time

夢見ています。I am dreaming of it.

言葉 speech; words you have said

不思議な力 miraculous power

言葉通りの事が起きます。the same thing as you said will happen.

心に秘める to keep it hidden in your heart

もしくは or

Did you commemorate your first day of primary school with a special ceremony? Listen to this episode as you reflect on significant milestones in your life. Gain fresh insights that may inspire your approach to future milestones.  Enjoy this episode.

This episode's vocab list:

入学 admission to school

新学期 a new school term

入社 joining a company; entry to be an employee

節目 "a milestone"; "a significant point to mark a transition or change, often indicating the beginning or end of a phase or marking progress between old and new phases"

節目節目に at each start of a new phase; at every milestone

必ずと言っていいほど "to the point where I can say it happens without fail" or "to the extent that I can confidently say it occurs without fail."

式を開く To hold a ceremony; conduct a ceremony

社会人 a working member of society; working adult

自然と naturally; automatically

通常 normally; generally

入学式があるのが当たり前だと思っていました。 I thought it was natural/normal that we have a ceremony for school entry

寂しく感じます。I feel something lacking.

周りから与えられなくても even if it’s not provided from surroundings; even if it’s not given by others

発想の転換 a change in perspective; a shift in thinking