Sunshine Japanese Yasashii Nihon-go radio Yoko O'Brien

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
no problem

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
いつも以上に more than usual

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
次の旅行のプランに加えてみてください！ Please add it to your next travel plan.

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.
これで解決します！ This will solve the issue.

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