In this episode, we’ll learn some of the most useful Japanese words for describing food and flavors!

Today’s vocabulary:

• あまい (sweet)
• からい (spicy)
• すっぱい (sour)
• にがい (bitter)

You’ll also learn how Japanese curry packages are labeled:

• 甘口 (あまくち) – Mild
• 中辛 (ちゅうから) – Medium
• 辛口 (からくち) – Hot

I’ll also explain why Japanese food is usually much milder than many people expect, and how to ask questions like:

• これは からいですか？
• どのくらい からいですか？

Perfect for beginners who want to understand real Japanese used in restaurants and supermarkets.

🎌 Book a lesson with me on italki:
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

#LearnJapanese #JapanesePodcast #JapaneseBeginner #JapaneseListening #JapaneseVocabulary #JLPT #JapaneseConversation #JapaneseLanguage #EasyJapanese #EP50

In this episode, Kimi shares a small but very important cultural difference in Japanese conversation: why people rarely use “anata,” and how they actually call each other in real life.

You will learn why Japanese often drop the subject in sentences, and why using a person’s name with “さん” or “ちゃん” is much more natural than saying “あなたは…”

Kimi also explains how names and forms of address change depending on closeness, and why even close friends sometimes keep using the same name style for years.

If you are not sure what to call someone, the simple rule is: start with “きみさん” or ask directly:
「なんてよべばいいですか？」

It is always better than guessing, because every person feels a little different about names.

And if you want to practice natural Japanese conversation more deeply, Kimi also offers lessons on  iTalki⁠.

Thanks for listening, and see you in the next episode!

In this practice episode, you’ll review Japanese supermarket vocabulary while practicing simple, useful sentences.

Today’s vocabulary:

🥬 やさい (vegetables)
🍅 とまと (tomato)
🥒 きゅうり (cucumber)
🥬 きゃべつ (cabbage)
🥔 じゃがいも (potato)
🥕 にんじん (carrot)
🧅 たまねぎ (onion)
🍉 すいか (watermelon)
🍒 さくらんぼ (cherry)
🥚 たまご (egg)
🥛 ぎゅうにゅう (milk)
🍞 ぱん (bread)

You will practice:

・きのう すーぱーに いきました。
・きょう とまとと きゅうりを かいました。
・まいあさ ぎゅうにゅうを のみます。
・あさ ぱんと たまごを たべます。
・なつに すいかを たべます。
・はるに さくらんぼを たべます。
・ときどき ぎゅうにくを たべます。
・あした たまごを かいます。
・きゃべつを きります。
・ぱんを やきます。

Practice with me, then test yourself by answering before you hear the Japanese!

Book a lesson with me on italki:
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Today we’re taking a tour through a Japanese supermarket!

Learn useful Japanese vocabulary for vegetables, meat, bread, milk, and more while discovering some fun cultural differences you’ll notice when shopping in Japan.

In this episode, you’ll learn words like:

• やさい (vegetables)
• トマト (tomato)
• きゅうり (cucumber)
• キャベツ (cabbage)
• にんじん (carrot)
• たまねぎ (onion)
• じゃがいも (potato)
• とりにく (chicken)
• ぶたにく (pork)
• ぎゅうにく (beef)
• たまご (eggs)
• ぎゅうにゅう (milk)
• パン (bread)

We’ll also talk about:

• Seasonal food in Japan (旬)
• Japanese cherries vs. American cherries
• Why Japanese meat is usually sliced thin
• What あいびきにく means
• Bread surprises like あんこ and カレーパン
• Organic, free-range, and cage-free products in Japan

Next episode, we’ll practice using all of these words in Japanese!

Ready to sound more natural in Japanese?

In this practice episode, we’ll practice one of the most important parts of real Japanese conversation: aizuchi (listener responses).

You’ll practice natural reactions like:

・あ、はい
・そうですか
・なるほど
・わかりました
・そうそう
・へえ
・ええ！

Instead of translating, react naturally like a Japanese speaker.

We’ll practice with simple Japanese you’ve already learned.

Round 1: Guided practice with explanations
Round 2: Real conversation practice

Let’s practice together!

Practice the Japanese particle 「で」 with real examples!

In this episode you’ll practice using 「で」 for places where actions happen and transportation.

You’ll practice sentences like:

• あした とうきょうで ラーメンを たべます
• きのう おおさかで たこやきを たべました
• まいあさ カフェで コーヒーを のみます
• らいげつ しんかんせんで おおさかに いきます
• せんげつ ひこうきで おきなわに いきました

Remember the sentence order:

Time → Place → Object → Verb

Repeat after me, then challenge yourself by answering before hearing the Japanese.

Let’s practice together!

In this episode, we learn “aizuchi.”
These are small listening responses that Japanese people use all the time during conversations.

You don’t always need to stay silent when someone is speaking.
Instead, you can use short reactions to show:

“I’m listening.”
“I understand.”
“I’m interested.”

Today’s aizuchi:

• あ、はい
Ah, ok / yep

• そうですか
Oh, I see / really?

• なるほど
That makes sense / I get it

• わかりました
I understand

• そうそう
Exactly / yeah, that’s right

• へえ
Oh really / wow

• えー
No way / really?!

Mini note:
When speaking Japanese, small reactions are very important.
Japanese people often use these sounds while listening in conversation.

Try using:
あ、はい / そうですか / なるほど / わかりました / そうそう / へえ / えー

It will make your Japanese sound much more natural.

If you want more practice and real conversation support, I also teach lessons on italki.

In this episode, you’ll learn how to use the Japanese particle で.

So far we’ve learned:

• を (object)
• に (destination)

Now it’s time to learn で, which is used for:

• places where actions happen
• transportation and methods

Examples:

• とうきょうで ラーメンを たべます
• カフェで コーヒーを のみます
• しんかんせんで おおさかに いきます
• くるまで ともだちの いえに いきます

We’ll also review:

• あした
• まいあさ
• きのう
• せんしゅう
• せんげつ
• きょねん

and practice using present, past, and future sentences together.

Book a lesson with me on italki:

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Let’s study Japanese together! 🇯🇵✨

In this Imagination Japanese episode, you’ll practice a real travel situation at a Japanese train station.

Imagine you’re standing in a busy station and need to find the correct platform to get to Shinjuku Station.

You’ll practice useful Japanese such as:

🚉 すみません
🚉 しんじゅくえきに いきたいです
🚉 ちゅうおうせんは どこですか
🚉 ４ばんせん
🚉 まっすぐ
🚉 わかりました
🚉 ありがとうございます

You’ll also learn an important travel communication tip:

Instead of immediately saying “I understand,” try confirming important information using:

✅ 〜ですね

For example:

まっすぐいって、４ばんせんですね。

This is a great way to make sure you correctly understand directions, train information, and other important details.

Imagine the situation, listen for key words, and practice using Japanese in a real-world context.

📚 Learn Japanese with Kimi on italki:

https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/6340545?lv=1

Let’s keep studying together!

またね！

Kimi 🎙️

Today we’ll practice checking into a hotel in Japan.

This episode is a little different from previous Imagination Japanese episodes.

The hotel staff uses real Japanese hospitality language, which is often more polite and more difficult than everyday Japanese.

Don’t worry if you don’t understand every word.

The goal is to catch the key words and guess the situation from context — just like in real life.

Key words you’ll hear today:

• ごよやく
• おなまえ
• ごじゅうしょ
• カードキー
• エレベーター
• 5かい
• ちょうしょく
• おまちください
• かしこまりました

You’ll practice:

✅ checking into a hotel

✅ understanding polite Japanese

✅ listening for key words

✅ guessing meaning from context

✅ surviving real travel situations in Japan

Remember:

You do NOT need to understand every word.

Focus on the key words and the situation.

That’s how real Japanese listening works.

📚 Learn Japanese with Kimi on italki:

[YOUR ITALKI LINK]

🎧 Imagination Japanese Series

EP39 Restaurant Challenge 🍜

EP40 Café Challenge ☕

EP41 Hotel Check-in Challenge 🏨

またね！ 👋