Learn Japanese with Noriko

Japanese with Noriko
  • 4.8 (17)
  • LANGUAGE LEARNING
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Hi, I’m Noriko 🌸—a certified Japanese teacher and Neurolanguage Coach®. Learn Japanese with Noriko is for intermediate to advanced learners. If you're an intermediate student, please start from Season 1—I speak slowly at first, then gradually faster. Season 3 is a level-up version with real-life dialogues, philosophy, and language learning topics. Join Japanese Together for our Podcast Conversation Club & Book Club, and sign up for my newsletter at Japanese with Noriko to learn about my coaching service. Enjoy listening!

  1. Season 3-148 From “Mottainai” to “Washlet”: Japanese in Global English

    4D AGO

    Season 3-148 From “Mottainai” to “Washlet”: Japanese in Global English

    In this episode, Noriko shares a mix of personal reflections, language learning experiences, and cultural insights. She begins by talking about rereading Kokoro by Natsume Soseki, noting how differently it feels compared to when she first read it years ago. Despite struggling with the old writing style, she’s determined to finish it. She also mentions her progress in learning Korean, especially improving her reading skills. The main topic focuses on Japanese words newly added to the Oxford English Dictionary. Noriko introduces several examples, such as “washlet,” “senpai,” and “mottainai,” explaining how some retain their original meanings while others evolve globally. She highlights how language reflects culture, emphasizing “mottainai” as a uniquely Japanese value now spreading worldwide. Overall, the episode blends language, culture, and personal growth in an engaging and thoughtful way. Reflective Questions（振り返り質問） あなたは昔読んだ本をもう一度読みたいと思いますか？ 自分と違う性格の人と話すのは好きですか？ あなたの国の言葉で世界に広がっているものはありますか？ Discussion Questions（ディスカッション質問） 言葉が文化を表すという考えについてどう思いますか？ 外国語として使われるときに意味が変わることは問題だと思いますか？

    13 min
  2. Season 3-147 Why Does Manchester Have a Bee Symbol? The Story Behind Its Beautiful Library - やさしく解説：マンチェスターのコットン産業・図書館・蜂のシンボル

    APR 29

    Season 3-147 Why Does Manchester Have a Bee Symbol? The Story Behind Its Beautiful Library - やさしく解説：マンチェスターのコットン産業・図書館・蜂のシンボル

    Want to take your listening further? Join Japanese Together — our Podcast Conversation Club is the perfect place to discuss each episode and connect with fellow learners! 💬 投げかけの質問（Discussion Questions） Manchester のどんなところに一番興味を持ちましたか？ あなたの国にも「産業で発展した都市」はありますか？ 歴史と今がつながっている場所に行ったことがありますか？ English Summary : Discover the real story of Manchester, England in this episode of Japanese with Noriko. Known for the Industrial Revolution, football, and working-class culture, Manchester is much more than its stereotypes. In this episode, I share my personal day trip experience, including the stunning John Rylands Library, one of the most beautiful libraries in the UK. Learn how Manchester became “Cottonopolis,” a global centre of the cotton industry, and how its growth was closely connected to Liverpool through trade, railways, and industry. I also explore the deeper history behind the city, including the realities of industrialisation, and explain the meaning of the famous Manchester bee symbol — a powerful symbol of hard work, resilience, and community, especially after the 2017 Manchester attack. If you are interested in UK cities, history, culture, or travel, this episode will give you a deeper perspective on Manchester.

    12 min
  3. Season 3-146 Book Talk with Yuko 9 癒やされたい？刺激が欲しい？日本語教師2人がハマった対照的な6冊

    APR 15

    Season 3-146 Book Talk with Yuko 9 癒やされたい？刺激が欲しい？日本語教師2人がハマった対照的な6冊

    ビートたけし『アナログ』太宰治『女生徒』九段理江『Schoolgirl』坂木司『和菓子とアン』坂木司『アンと青春』村田沙耶香『世界99上下』村田沙耶香『コンビニ人間』村田沙耶香『消滅世界』星野道夫『約束の川』村田沙耶香『消滅世界』朝井リョウ『時をかけるゆとり』In this episode of Book Talk with Yuko, Noriko and Yuko talk about several Japanese books they have recently read or want to recommend. First, Yuko introduces the novel “アナログ” by Beat Takeshi. It is a romantic story about a man and a woman who decide not to exchange contact information and instead meet at the same restaurant every Thursday. The story feels very “analog” in a digital age. Next, Noriko talks about “Schoolgirl” by Kudan Rie, a short story connected to Dazai Osamu’s “女生徒.” The story explores relationships between three generations of women and touches on modern topics like social media and environmental activism. Yuko then introduces the “An-chan series” by Sakaki Tsukasa, which takes place in a department store food basement (depachika) and features traditional Japanese sweets. The story focuses on everyday life, human relationships, and personal growth. Noriko also shares her thoughts about “世界 99” by Sayaka Murata, a dystopian novel that explores society, gender roles, and a mysterious new creature called “Pyokorun.” The book is intense and thought-provoking. For a calmer reading experience, Yuko recommends “Yakusoku no Kawa” by photographer Hoshino Michio, a book that beautifully describes nature and life in northern regions. Finally, Noriko talks about the essay “Toki wo Kakeru Yutori” by Asai Ryo, which made her laugh a lot because of its humorous stories about everyday life. They conclude by encouraging listeners to choose books depending on their mood—sometimes relaxing books, sometimes challenging ones—and invite listeners to join their Japanese Together book club. 恋愛小説 — れんあいしょうせつ — romance novel 連絡先 — れんらくさき — contact information 現代 — げんだい — modern times 会話 — かいわ — conversation 表現 — ひょうげん — expression 読書体験 — どくしょたいけん — reading experience 世代 — せだい — generation 母と娘の関係 —ははとむすめのかんけい — mother-daughter relationship 環境問題 — かんきょうもんだい — environmental issues 和菓子 — わがし — Japanese traditional sweets デパ地下 — でぱちか — department store food basement 主人公 — しゅじんこう — protagonist 成長 — せいちょう — personal growth 社会 — しゃかい — society 価値観 — かちかん — values 生きづらさ — いきづらさ — difficulty of living / social pressure 自然 — しぜん — nature 写真家 — しゃしんか — photographer 描写 — びょうしゃ — description 癒し — いやし — healing / comfort エッセイ — えっせい — essay 日常 — にちじょう — everyday life 失敗談 — しっぱいだん — story about a mistake

    28 min
  4. Season 3-145 WHAT IS LUXURY TODAY? Choosing inconvenience in a digital world

    APR 8

    Season 3-145 WHAT IS LUXURY TODAY? Choosing inconvenience in a digital world

    My program : Let's read a Japanese novel 1️⃣ Short English Summary：In this episode, Noriko talks about “luxury time” and “analog experiences” in our modern digital world. She begins by sharing a recent visit to the cinema in Liverpool. The tickets and popcorn were expensive, and the movie itself was not very good. However, she realized that watching a film without checking her smartphone for two hours felt like a luxury. Noriko reflects on what “luxury” means today. For her, luxury is not expensive hotels or restaurants, but cultural experiences such as going to museums, concerts, events, or reading quietly in a café. She also talks about analog choices in a digital world. Because we are constantly connected to smartphones, the internet, and AI, many people feel information fatigue. Noriko shares how she limits her social media time and tries to reconnect with slower, more intentional experiences. For example, one of her students built a mechanical analog watch, and her husband started wearing a traditional watch again to check the time during meetings without using his phone. Noriko also joined two meetups in Liverpool: a Quiet Book Club and a philosophy discussion group. Although she is introverted, meeting people face-to-face felt refreshing and meaningful. She concludes that choosing slightly inconvenient, analog experiences—like going to the cinema, reading books, or meeting people in person—may actually be a modern form of luxury. 2️⃣ Vocabulary List (for understanding the episode) 贅沢（ぜいたく） — luxury文化的（ぶんかてき） — cultural特別展示（とくべつてんじ） — special exhibition情報（じょうほう） — information情報疲れ（じょうほうづかれ） — information fatigue悪循環（あくじゅんかん） — vicious cycle制限する（せいげんする） — to limit / control腕時計（うでどけい） — wristwatch部品（ぶひん） — parts / components組み立てる（くみたてる） — to assemble通知（つうち） — notification便利（べんり） — convenient不便（ふべん） — inconvenient確認する（かくにんする） — to check / confirm集まる（あつまる） — to gather実際に（じっさいに） — in reality / in person新鮮（しんせん） — fresh / new feeling体験（たいけん） — experience傾向（けいこう） — tendency選ぶ（えらぶ） — to choose

    12 min
  5. Coffee Break with Noriko - Real Talk & Daily Thoughts 8

    APR 1

    Coffee Break with Noriko - Real Talk & Daily Thoughts 8

    🎧 Episode Summary : In this Coffee Break with Noriko episode, recorded in late February 2026, Noriko shares reflections on her month. She talks about celebrating her 19th wedding anniversary at a high-end restaurant in Liverpool — delicious food, but very small portions! She also shares her disappointment about a postponed rock concert that has been rescheduled for a year later, which makes her reflect on how unpredictable life can be. A highlight of the month was reconnecting with her husband’s childhood friend, who is currently on a three-month world trip. Hearing about his journey inspires Noriko to think more seriously about travel and making the most of life while she is healthy. She also reflects on her recent reading, especially Sekai 99 by Sayaka Murata — a powerful and mentally exhausting dystopian novel — and an essay collection by Banana Yoshimoto, which reminded her to live simply, avoid excessive desire, and not expect anything in return when doing something for others. Finally, she encourages listeners to turn input into output — after listening or reading something, try summarizing it or sharing your thoughts. Small output habits can transform language learning. 📚 Vocabulary List (15 Key Words) 結婚記念日（けっこんきねんび）– wedding anniversary 高級レストラン（こうきゅうレストラン）– high-end restaurant 延期（えんき）– postponement 再会（さいかい）– reunion 世界一周（せかいいっしゅう）– around-the-world trip 憧れる（あこがれる）– to admire / to long for 中年（ちゅうねん）– middle age 上下巻（じょうげかん）– two-volume set (upper and lower volumes) 放心状態（ほうしんじょうたい）– state of shock / mental blankness 衝撃的（しょうげきてき）– shocking エッセイ – essay 欲（よく）– desire 見返り（みかえり）– something in return / reward 名言（めいげん）– memorable quote / wise saying アウトプット – output (active production, e.g., speaking/writing)

    28 min
  6. Season 3-144 Noriko’s Philosophy Playground 8 ミイラとモラル：博物館で考える3つの哲学的な質問

    MAR 25

    Season 3-144 Noriko’s Philosophy Playground 8 ミイラとモラル：博物館で考える3つの哲学的な質問

    🎧 Short English Summary : In this episode of Philosophy Playground, Noriko reflects on a discussion she joined at a museum in Liverpool. The theme was ancient Egyptian mummies and morality. She explores three philosophical questions: Is it morally acceptable to display human remains in museums? Is a mummy still the same person who once lived? And should we judge ancient cultures by today’s moral standards? There are no correct answers. The purpose of this episode is to think deeply and respectfully about history, identity, and human dignity. 道徳（どうとく）– morality 遺体（いたい）– human remains, corpse 展示（てんじ）– exhibition, display 敬意（けいい）– respect 尊厳（そんげん）– dignity 価値観（かちかん）– values 判断する（はんだんする）– to judge 基準（きじゅん）– standard, criterion 意識（いしき）– consciousness 宗教観（しゅうきょうかん）– religious belief, view of religion

    10 min
  7. Japanese Brain-Friendly Coaching 6: Progress Is Not Perfection: Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone コンフォートゾーンの外で脳は育つ

    MAR 18

    Japanese Brain-Friendly Coaching 6: Progress Is Not Perfection: Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone コンフォートゾーンの外で脳は育つ

    🌿 English Summary: In this episode of the Japanese Brain Friendly Coaching Series, Noriko talks about what really happens to your brain when you step outside your comfort zone. She shares her recent experience attending a philosophy discussion meetup in Liverpool. As a non-native English speaker, she felt nervous and unsure, especially in a fast-paced group of native speakers. However, by participating, sharing her opinion, and staying in the conversation, she experienced a strong sense of achievement. Noriko explains that progress is not about becoming perfect. It is about gently stepping into slightly uncomfortable situations. Moderate nervousness is not harmful. In fact, it helps the brain grow. By repeating these small challenges in a safe environment, we train our brain to handle real-life conversations more calmly. She encourages listeners not to wait until they feel fully confident or “ready.” Growth begins when we take one small step outside our comfort zone. 1. コンフォートゾーン安心していられる、自分にとって楽な環境や状態。 2. 抜け出す（ぬけだす）今いる場所や状態から出ること。 3. 哲学ディスカッション（てつがく）人生や価値観などについて意見を交換する話し合い。 4. 初対面（しょたいめん）初めて会うこと。 5. ネイティブスピーカーその言語を母語として話す人。 6. 聞き取る（ききとる）話している内容を理解する。 7. 達成感（たっせいかん）やりとげたときに感じる満足感。 8. 進歩（しんぽ）少しずつ良くなること。上達すること。 9. 準備（じゅんび）前もって用意すること。 10. 緊張（きんちょう）ドキドキして体や心がかたくなること。 11. 慣れる（なれる）経験をくり返して自然にできるようになること。 12. 適度（てきど）ちょうどよい程度。強すぎないこと。 13. 安全な雰囲気（あんぜん な ふんいき）安心できる空気や環境。 14. 足を踏み出す（あしを ふみだす）新しいことに挑戦する。 15. 完璧（かんぺき）まちがいがなく、完全であること。

    11 min
  8. Season 3-143 聞く人が会話をつくる - Be a Better Listener

    MAR 11

    Season 3-143 聞く人が会話をつくる - Be a Better Listener

    English Summary : In this episode, Noriko talks about the importance of listening in communication, inspired by the bestselling book 人は聞き方が９割 by Shigehisa Nagamatsu. Many language learners feel pressure to speak well, say smart things, or avoid mistakes. But this episode shifts the focus from speaking to listening. According to the book, good communicators are not those who talk the most, but those who make others feel comfortable and heard. Noriko reflects on her own experiences in Japanese, English, and podcast conversations, and explains why the listener is the true main character of a conversation. She introduces the idea of “魔法の傾聴 （まほうのけいちょう）” and shares five key listening behaviours. Finally, Noriko encourages Japanese learners to stop worrying so much about perfect grammar or vocabulary and to focus on listening with genuine interest and asking simple, thoughtful questions. By doing so, conversations can become more natural, relaxed, and enjoyable. 聞き方｜ききかた｜way of listening 聞く力｜きくちから｜listening skills 会話の主役｜かいわ の しゅやく｜main character of a conversation 聞き手｜ききて｜listener 安心感｜あんしんかん｜sense of security, feeling of safety うなずき｜nodding 相づち｜あいづち｜verbal listening responses 否定しない｜ひていしない｜not to deny, not to reject 受け止める｜うけとめる｜to accept, to take in 質問を投げかける｜しつもん を なげかける｜to ask questions, to prompt with questions

    12 min
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4.8
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About

Hi, I’m Noriko 🌸—a certified Japanese teacher and Neurolanguage Coach®. Learn Japanese with Noriko is for intermediate to advanced learners. If you're an intermediate student, please start from Season 1—I speak slowly at first, then gradually faster. Season 3 is a level-up version with real-life dialogues, philosophy, and language learning topics. Join Japanese Together for our Podcast Conversation Club & Book Club, and sign up for my newsletter at Japanese with Noriko to learn about my coaching service. Enjoy listening!

Information

  • Creator
    Japanese with Noriko
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    753
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Japanese with Noriko
  • Show Website
    Learn Japanese with Noriko

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