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.
Nakasendō is one of Japan’s historic trails, and is still populartoday. I walked just a small part of it. Even though it was off- season, I still enjoyed the experience. On the first day, I walked from Nakatsugawa JR station up to Magome-juku, a post town along the Nakasendō. Check it out!
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
お侍さんたち 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.
I’m back! Thank you so much for your patience. In this episode, I’ll share what I’ve been up to during the past month. Please check it out!
This episode's vocab list:
一か月以上 more than one month
くことをお知らせしようと思っていました。 I was planning to let you know
出発前 before departing; before leaving
想像以上に more than I imagined
初めての体験 first experience
昔々 long time ago
道 pathway
一部 one part
スノーシュー snowshoe
雪の森 snowy forest
着いた所 place where we got to
雪の池 snow-covered pond
雪と言うより氷の滝 waterfalls with ice rather than snow
言葉では表せないくらい素敵でした。It was so wonderful that words can’t describe it.
お寺 temple
ホテルゲストのように泊まる to stay like a hotel guest
瞑想meditation
朝のお経 morning prayer service with chants
参加するTo participate
精進料理 vegetarian cuisine
ひとつずつ one by one
詳しくお話したいです。 I want to talk about it in detail
Valentine’s Day is coming! What do you usually do in your country? Do you know what people do in Japan on this day? Listen to this episode to learn more about Japanese Valentine’s Day traditions. Happy Valentine’s Day!
This episode's vocab list:
バレンタインデー Valentine’s Day
日本人らしいイベント an event that matches Japanese characteristics
一番最初にバレンタインデーが日本に紹介されたのは、The first time the Valentine’s Day was introduced to Japan was
神戸 Kobe city
チョコレートメーカー a chocolate manufacturer
宣伝 advertisement; promotion; campaign
最初に興味を示したのは、 The first group to show interest was
それが1970年代。That was in the 1970s.
女の子が男の子に愛を告白する girls confess their love to boys
常識が生まれました。This common knowledge was born.
大人たちに浸透していくTo spread among adults
日本風にin the Japanese style
Shopping and enjoying Japanese food are probably some of your top reasons for visiting Japan, right? Make sure you are well prepared to fully enjoy them. I hope this episode helps with both your travels and your Japanese learning.
This episode's vocab list:
払う to pay
PINと呼ばれる暗証番号 a passcode called PIN
サインをする to sign; to put your signature
3月末まで until the end of March
暗証番号がないと without the passcode
支払い payment
原則 in principle
普段から regularly
国によって depending on the country
登録されていない to not be registered
これまで通り as before; as usual; the way it has been so far
本人確認 identity verification
1万円未満 less than 10,000 yen
4月以降 from April onwards
My new hobby: Zero waste! Am I stingy? I don’t mind. I’m enjoying zero waste now.
This episode's vocab list:
テレビ局 TV station
リサイクル recycle
いわゆる what is called
リメイク remake
材料 material
布 fabric
帯 belt worn with kimono
ボロボロになる to become worn out or ragged
そのまま as it is
ボタン button
紐 string; cord
取って置く to set it aside; keep it for later
これこそ This is
けち stingy; not generous with money
みみっちい stingy; mean
逆に on the contrary
もったいない wasteful; what a waste
ミニマリスト minimalist
流行っている to be trending
物を減らすために in order to lessen things or reduce clutter
使い切る to completely use it
まさに一石二鳥です！It is truly a case of killing two birds with one stone.
Sad news, but I believe Japan can find a way to solve this problem!
This episode's vocab list:
猛暑日extreme heatwave days
雨が降ってほしいと願っています。I’m wishing for rain soon.
スキー場がにぎわっています。 Ski resorts are crowded and lively.
その反面 on the other hand
スキー場を含め including ski resorts
観光地 tourist areas
問題 issue; problem
ゴミ rubbish; garbage; trash
ゴミ箱が少ないです。 There are few rubbish bins
その結果かどうかは分かりません。 I’m not sure if it happens as a result
道にゴミを捨てる人は、ゴミ箱がないから道に捨てるんでしょうか。Do you think people throw rubbish on the street because there are no bins?
私の持論 my fixed opinion; my firm belief
ゴミ箱がなければ持って帰る to take it home if there’s no bin
ゴミ箱があってもなくても it doesn’t matter whether there is a bin or not
捨てる人は捨てます。 People who throw rubbish would throw it anyway
ゴミが出る所 the places where rubbish ends up
必ずゴミ箱はあります。 There should always be a rubbish bin
食べ歩き eating as you stroll
立って食べる to eat while standing
紙に包む to wrap it up in paper
入れておくTo put it in and leave it there.
次にゴミ箱を見つけた時に、捨てればいいんです。You can throw it away when you find a bin next time: it’s not a big deal. Just do it!
少し協力するだけ only a small amount of cooperation
どうしたらいいと思いますか。What do you recommend they do to solve the problem?
日本のよさをそのままに by preserving the best aspects of Japan このゴミ問題を解決する方法 the way to solve this rubbish problem
This episode is far from scary! It’s all about quite positive thinking and mindset. Check it out and let the good vibe flow!
This episode's vocab list:
病院の救急外来 emergency outpatient department at the hospital
辛い数日 a few painful days
湿疹 skin rash
両腕 both arms
両脚 both legs
痒い itchy
耐えられませんでした。I couldn’t stand it
氷で痒い所を冷やす to cool the itchy parts with ice
すぐ痒みが止まります。The itching stops quickly.
また痒みが出ます。The itch will come back again
年始早々 Right at the beginning of the New Year
縁起が悪い inauspicious; unlucky; bad omen
これで厄払いできました。I was able to drive out Evil Spirits with this; This helped me drive away bad luck.
苦しい事struggles, difficulties, challenges
辛い事 tough time, painful experiences, hardships
大変な事 difficult situations, tough matters, challenging things
追い出す to force out; drive out; expel; kick out
実際に見えるものではない invisible
宗教的に聞こえます。it sounds like religious
同じ状況でも even in the same situation or circumstances
どんな気持ちでいるかによって depending on how you feel; depending on the emotions you’re experiencing
New Year’s Greetings: I hope we can share more time together this year through this podcast.
This episode's vocab list:
お正月 New Year’s Day and the days that follow
どのように過ごしましたか。How did you spend your time?
体中 all over my body
虫に刺されました。 I got bitten by bugs
いろいろな面で in various aspects
準備をしっかりする to make thorough preparation
そうは言っても、Even so; That being said
挑戦したいです。I want to take on a challenge
言葉にすると、目標に近づけます。By putting it into words, you will get closer to your goal.
見返す to look back at it; to review it
メイトさんと繋がっている to stay connected with you
How was your 2024? Check it out! This is the last episode of this year. Thank you for listening to my podcast again this year. Wishing you a wonderful festive season and a very happy New Year!
This episode's vocab list:
4週間ぶり first time in 4 weeks
言い訳 excuse
振り返ると When I look back on the past
今年は人生で一番忙しい年だったかもしれません。This year might have been the busiest year of my life.
大袈裟だったかな。Was it exaggerating?
改めてonce again or anew; afresh
実行する to carry out; put into action
ことわざ proverb
終わり the end
途中 on the way; in the middle of it; during the time
総合的な評価 overall assessment
些細な事 small things
祝日 public holiday
来年も引き続き continuing into next year
よいお年をお迎えください。Wishing you a Happy New Year!
What katakana words confuse you? Is “Mansion” one of them? Check it out!
This episode's vocab list:
どんな建物 building
モデルルーム show apartment/ show flat
普通のアパート standard apartment/flat
紛らわしい misleading; confusing; ambiguous
その違いは、はっきりと決められている訳ではないそうです。I found that the distinction isn’t clearly or officially defined.
それでも一般的には、Even so, generally speaking,
木造 wooden building
軽量鉄骨造 light steel-frame building
3階建て 3-story
鉄筋コンクリート造 reinforced concrete building
鉄骨鉄筋コンクリート造 steel-frame reinforced concrete building
これは正しいとか正しくないとか、そういうものではない This is not about whether something is correct or incorrect
エレベーターがあるかないかを目安にする to use the presence or absence of an elevator as a standard
義務 obligation
自信を持つ to have confidence
How is your Japanese learning journey going? Do you struggle with Katakana words? I recently came across a Katakana word that I hadn’t noticed was strange before. Now, it’s part of my ‘strange word’ group. Check it out!
This episode's vocab list:
カタカナ語に苦労する to struggle/challenge with Katakana words
英語のような発音 pronunciation that sounds like English
通じません。It’s not understood /It isn’t coming through.
英語以外の言葉 languages other than English
フランス語 French
ポルトガル語 Portuguese
ドイツ語 German
オランダ語 Dutch
その中でも特に変なのは The especially strange ones among them are
ブランド名 Brand name
３つとも all three
使い始めました。They began using
カタカナ語の由来 the origin of that katakana word
ただの偶然かもしれません。It might be just a coincidence.
部品 parts of the product
What autumn foods make your appetite grow? Do you know any autumn foods from Japan? Guess what I will be introducing in this episode. Check it out!
This episode's vocab list:
毎年話している気がします I feel like I talk about this every year
食欲の秋 Autumn: the season of good appetite
私たちの食欲が増すOur appetite increases.
個人的な意見ですが、This is just my personal opinion, but
栗 chestnut
柿 persimmon
さんま pacific saury
上げればきりがないほどあります。There are too many to list because the possibilities are endless.
お米 rice
新米 new rice
並べる to set side by side
新米は収穫した年の12月31日までに袋詰めされたお米です。Shinmai refers to rice that has been polished and packed by the 31st of December of the harvest year.
この時期だけ only during this period
いつものご飯と全然違いますよ。It’s completely different from rice we usually eat.
もちもちした食感を体験してほしいです。I want you to experience its pleasantly chewy, slightly sticky texture.
“You can do it” is now one of my favourite phrases. I used to misunderstand what it meant, but I’ve come to appreciate its significance. I hope this episode inspires to have more heartfelt exchanges with others.
This episode's vocab list:
学ぶ to learn
がんばって Good luck; Go for it; hang in there; do your best
表現 expression
相手 the other person
応援している to support; to cheer
伝える to convey
覚えてほしいです I want you to remember
高校生 high school student
答えが返って来ました。The answer/reply returned to me
信じている to believe
誤解していました。I misunderstood.
別の生徒さん other student
克服したい to want to overcome a challenge
英語に訳さなくてもいい not necessary to translate into English
応援している気持ちを受け取ってください。Please accept their feelings of support. Please accept their heartfelt encouragement.
What would your answer be to this question, “What day is the 10th of October?” I’ve found various interesting pieces of information about this date. Enjoy learning Japanese though this episode!
This episode's vocab list:
体育 physical education
祝日 public holiday
どうして10月10日かというと The reason why it’s set for the 10th of October is because
開会式the opening ceremony
移動する to move; transfer
延期 postpone
2年連続 2 years in a row
第2月曜日 the second Monday
「体育の日」を思い出します。It reminds me of the Taiiku no hi holiday
目の愛護 eye protection; eye care
横向きに倒す to turn them sideways; lay them down sideways
眉毛 eyebrow
転倒slipping over; tripping over
予防 prevention
発想conception; way of thinking
銭湯 public bath
パターン pattern; way
世界的に Internationally
Which term do you use for a mobile phone in your language: ‘mobile’ or ‘phone’? Languages are changing and we often find that there can be more than one correct answer. Enjoy learning Japanese!
This episode's vocab list:
残り3か月になりました。 There are 3 months left.
ちょっと焦ります。 I’m feeling a bit anxious or stressed.
目の前のことにひとつずつ取り組みます。 I’ll tackle each task one by one, focusing on what’s right in front of me.
早速始めます。I’ll start right away.
言語 language
時代とともに変わって行きます。It’ll change with the times.
母国語 mother language; first language; native language
疑問 question; wonder
なんて言いますか。What would you say?
違いはない there is no difference
自然にnaturally
我が家 my home
家電Home phone
確実に certainly
時代とともに over time; as time goes by
「電話」の代表 representative of a phone
「携帯」になりつつある to be becoming “mobile”; to be transitioning to “mobile”
日本人はどうだろうかと疑問に思いました。I wondered how Japanese people do
今でも still now
正しい答えは、ひとつとは限りません。Correct answers are not limited to just one.
Are you planning a long holiday in Japan - weeks, months or even years? How long would you like to stay if you could? I am curious about the types of visas that make extended stays possible for tourists. Take a break and join me for a chat!
This episode's vocab list:
どんなビザ what type of visa
滞在 the temporary nature of the stay
計画している人が何人かいます。There are a few people who are making plans.
観光ビザ tourist visa
いろいろ条件があります。 There are various requirements they need to meet.
詳しいです。 I’m knowledgeable about it.
留学ビザ student visa
以外 other than those
どんなところに住んでいますか。What kind of place do you live in?