The Tofugu Podcast: Japan and Japanese Language

Language exchange is a fun and free way to improve your Japanese. But to do it successfully, you should consider a few things. In this episode, the Tofugu crew, Kanae and Ian discuss tips and practical expressions you can use for language exchange sessions. For more details, check out: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/language-exchange/

よつばと！ (Yotsuba&!) is a Japanese slice-of-life comedy manga series that's become very popular in the Japanese learning community. In this episode, the Tofugu crew, Kanae and Ian talk about how much they love Yotsuba&! and why it's such a great manga series to pick up for Japanese learners, especially beginners. After listening to this episode, check out Ian's review article about "Yotsuba&!": https://www.tofugu.com/reviews/yotsubato/

In this episode, Ian Battaglia, a Japanese resource review writer at Tofugu and an enthusiastic Japanese learner who’s still actively working his way to the advanced level, discusses all kinds of things he wishes he knew when he was a beginner Japanese learner. Ian covers topics like: - Learning Japanese is not a race! Go at your own “sustainable” pace - A recommended learning order for self-learners to have the foundation for immersion - Reading practice is surprisingly beneficial in general - Focus more on practice, not process - Be okay with not understanding everything in Japanese and more. Make sure to give it a listen for Ian’s Japanese learning wisdom!

In this episode, David Honeycutt, a Japanese resource review writer at Tofugu and an enthusiastic Japanese learner of over a decade, discusses all kinds of things he wishes he knew when he was a beginner Japanese learner. David covers topics like: - How to follow some sort of curriculum even if you’re a self-learner - The power of SRS (Spaced Repetition System) - Using a built-in dictionary on computers or phones - Setting tangible goals with deadlines and more. Make sure to give it a listen for David’s Japanese learning wisdom!

Put your hands up if you agree that は and が are up there with the most confusing aspects of Japanese grammar. Part of the confusion is that they're often conflated as being more or less the same thing. And while that's intuitive in lots of situations, it can be confusing if you come up against an example where they add a different nuance, or where using one of them sounds just plain weird. If you've ever been confused about は and が, join us for this three-part mini-series on the two trickiest particles in Japanese. In this first episode, Kanae and Jenny discuss particles in general, then shift their focus onto は and が, answering a listener's question and trying not to get too confused themselves as they pick apart different examples. For more details about は and が, check out Jenny's article: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/wa-and-ga/

This is the third and final episode in our three-part mini-series on the Japanese particles は and が. In this episode, Kanae and Jenny turn their attention to the particle が, including the effects of switching it out with は in cases like すしが好き and すしは好き. Join us for some food-obsessed examples of が usage. For more details about は and が, check out Jenny's article: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/wa-and-ga/

もったいない (mottainai) is a unique Japanese word that articulates the sense of regret, guilt, and sorrow you feel for wasting all sorts of things — food, physical objects, time, opportunities, and potential. In this episode, Kanae and Jenny (big fans of mottainai) talk about the nuances of the word, as well as Japan's cultural and religious views that have deeply influenced it or been influenced by it. For more information about もったいない, check out Kanae's article: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/mottainai/

The particles に (Ni) and で (De) can both be used to specify locations, but each serves a different purpose. If you ever wondered how they're different, or you've been using them without knowing the difference, this episode is for you! In this episode, Kanae and Rachel discuss the basic difference and illustrate it using examples and quizzes. They even talk about which particle to use to describe niche situations like "egging a house" or "dropping a phone in the toilet." After (or before) listening to this episode, make sure to also check out Mami's article "に vs で: Which Particle To Choose and Why": https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/ni-vs-de/

This is the fourth episode of our What Should I Call "You"? series. In Japanese, pronouns for "others" (which includes everything besides "I" — "you" "they" / "she" / "he" ) are not generally used in conversation. In this series, the Tofugu crew discusses different ways to refer to others without using pronouns. In this episode, Kanae, Cameron and Mami talk about back up options you can use when the other methods we've covered don't work, such as using すみません (sumimasen), そちら (sochira), お宅 (otaku), and more! After listening to this episode, check out our article for a more in-depth explanation of the topic: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/what-should-i-call-you/

This is the second episode of our "What Should I Call 'You'?" series. In Japanese, pronouns for "others" (which includes everything besides "I" — "you" "they" / "she" / "he" ) are not generally used in conversation. In this series, the Tofugu crew discusses different ways to refer to others without using pronouns. In this episode, Kanae, Jenny and Rachel talk about using names in place of pronouns as well as the Japanese name system, nick names and name enders. After listening to this episode, check out our article for a more in-depth explanation of the topic: https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/what-should-i-call-you/

In this episode, Mami, Cameron, and Kanae talk about two sentence-ending particles, よ (yo) and ね (ne). They dive deep into their different nuances and uses, with a lot of examples. Also make sure not to miss a special cameo appearance of a very special holiday guest! After listening to this episode, check out our article on Tofugu.com for more info: "よ and ね: WHAT DO THESE PARTICLES REALLY MEAN TO JAPANESE SPEAKERS?" (https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/yo-vs-ne/)