At a shop, do you typically pay with cash, credit card, or another method? With the greater variety of payment methods available now than before, have you found it easier to navigate? Are you comfortable with these choices or do you sometimes feel uncertain? Enjoy this episode.

This episode's vocab list:

支払う方法 the way of payment

急に suddenly

店員さん shop workers

現金 cash

渡す to hand in

機械に入れる to insert it into the machine

セルフレジ self-checkout

画面 screen

戸惑いました。I was at a loss. I was puzzled over.

以前は、formerly; before

確認されました。I was verified.

デビットカード debit card

クレジットカード以外 except credit cards

定期的に at regular intervals

アップデート update

Have you ever experienced losing your wallet or any valuables in Japan? Was it retrieved? Guess what I want to emphasize about this topic. Enjoy this story in Japanese.

This episode's vocab list:

財布 wallet

戻って来ましたか。Was it retrieved?

どなたの財布も all their wallets

必ず certainly; without fail

学生の頃 in my school days

置き忘れる to leave it behind

ボウリング場 bowling centre

貴重品 valuable items

ホッとしたのと同時に the moment I was relieved

声を大にして言いたいです。I want to say it loudly or emphasise it.

Spring is just around the corner in Japan. What　reminds you of a　season? Enjoy this story in Japanese.

{Special thanks} https://n-kishou.com/corp/news-contents/sakura/

This episode's vocab list:

発表されました。It was announced

天気予報 weather forecast

開花 bloom

咲き始めるto start blooming

全国的に nationwide

平年並み similar to an average year

南北に長い島a long island stretching from south to north

3月中旬 middle of March

1か月以上も差があります。There is a difference of more than 1 month

満開full blossom

たくさん散ってしまいます。A lot of them will fall unfortunately.

見頃 the best time to see

種類 type; species

種類の違いに目を向けるto pay attention to the differences among species

This is the story of my challenge for this year. I hope it can inspire you to try something you’ve been wanting to do but haven’t or couldn’t. Enjoy the story in Japanese.

ようやく finally; at last; at length

余裕が出て来ました。I have started affording; Now I have some time to start doing that

定期的に at regular intervals

言い訳 excuse

気候 climate

合わない unsuitable

おでかけ going out; outing

手始めに first; to begin with

制服 uniform

乞うご期待です！Please look forward to it; Anticipate with high hopes

What brings joy to your seasons and how do you savour them? Check out this episode to find out what adds warmth to my heart and makes each season special.

This episode's vocab list:

ひな人形 dolls displayed at the Girls’ Festival; Hina dolls

桃の節句 the Girls’ Festival

おさがり hand-me-down

思い出が詰まったもの something filled in with sweet memories

毎年飾る度に every time or whenever I decollate them every year

心に温かいものを感じます。I feel something warm in my heart

日本人の心 Japanese spirit; Japanese mind

姉妹 sisters

感謝しています。I appreciate that

伝統的なもの something traditional

風習 custom

だんだん消えて行っています。It’s been disappearing gradually.

それでも even so; nevertheless

今残っているもの something that remains now

次の世代 the next generation

受け継がれる to be inherited; to be passed down

Take a look at the photo on this thumbnail!  Can you guess which part surprised me?

This episode's vocab list:

電車の案内表示板 the electronic information board displaying the next train information on a platform

先々週 2 weeks ago

写真に納まっていました。It was captured in a photo

両側 both sides

２つあるはずです。 There should be two of them.

片側 one side of the two

２つずつ 2 each

前の方 forward area

後ろの方 backward area

使い分けている to use one in different ways; to use and distinguish between or among

問題が起きます。 A trouble occurs

電車の数が少ない駅 a station with infrequent train service

遠慮なく without hesitation

不安なこと something uncertain or worrisome; something causing anxiety

電車の移動 traveling by train

Do you find yourself getting enough sleep every day? Personally, I’ve been suffering with a lack of sleep. If you could help me, that would be wonderful! Tune in to this episode and share your suggestions. Your insights can make a world of difference!

This episode's vocab list:

不眠症 insomnia

不眠症に悩んでいます。I’m suffering from insomnia

原因 cause

いつも通り as usual

一杯だけ only one cap

すぐ寝付ける able to fall asleep quickly

夜中に in the middle of the night

目を覚ましてしまいます。I happen to wake up

慢性的に chronically

寝不足の状態the condition of lack of sleep

続いています。It continues.

眠くなってしまうんです。I become sleepy although I don’t want

ストレスが溜まった時 when stress builds up

Please have a glance at the episode thumbnail and then give it a listen! You're in for an 'aha' moment during this episode. Don't miss out! Check it out now!

案内 information

声 voice

画像 picture; image

表示 display

三角印 a triangle mark

数字 a number

範囲 a range

恐らく probably

わざわざ intentionally; deliberately

位置 a place; a position; a location

停車する to make a brief stop/pull over for a short time

乗車位置 boarding position

無視する to ignore; disregard; pay no attention to

疑問を抱く to doubt

知識 knowledge

繋がる to be linked to; lead to

Welcome back and thank you for your patience, Mates! I hope

This episode's vocab list:

無事 safely

気持ちを新たに with a renewed spirit

再開します。I will resume

4週間以上5週間未満 more than 4 weeks & less than 5 weeks

その間 during that period

私の準備不足でした  I wasn’t prepared enough.

環境 environment

3分の１ one third

実家 my house where I grew up

ペンキ塗り painting

修理 repairing

親孝行 Conduct by which children honour and serve their parents well

満足 satisfaction

残り the rest

あちこち here, there, everywhere

予定外のこと something I didn’t expect

地震 earthquake

元日 the new year's day

震源地 epicentre of an earthquake

横に side-way

揺れました。It shook.

揺れ a shake

途中 in the middle of the event

雪の影響 で新幹線のダイヤが1時間遅れました。The bullet train timetable was delayed by one hour due to snow.

体験する to experience

新幹線が遅れるほど雪が降っている it’s snowing as heavy as the timetable is delayed.

想像できますか。Can you imagine?

切に思ったのは、what I was keenly aware of is …

一泊する to stay over night

空港に向かっている to be heading to the airport

日本の土産話 Souvenir stories from Japan

This is the last episode for this year. Check out what I am going to do during the holidays. Thank you for your listening again this year. The next episode will be released on the 1st of February.

This episode's vocab list:

いよいよ finally; here it comes

明後日(あさって) the day after tomorrow

その間(かん) during that period

お休(やす)み time off

浸水(しんすい)した家(うち) flooded houses

道路(どうろ)も冠水(かんすい)した。 the roads were also submerged; flooded; inundated

ホッと一安心(ひとあんしん)です。Now, I can forget about this issue.

大切(たいせつ)な人(ひと)たち your loved ones

お届(とど)けします。I will release it.

お伝(つた)えしたいです。 I want to tell you