Sunshine Japanese Yasashii Nihon-go radio Yoko O'Brien

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

Do you know about Japan’s 3 major holiday seasons? One of them is coming up this weekend! Are you eager to experience the festivities or looking to plan your visit around them?

This episode's vocab list:

土日 Saturday & Sunday

祝日 public holiday

天皇 Emperor
建国記念日 National Foundation Day

翌月曜日 following Monday

振替休日a Monday makeup holiday

ゴールデンウィークを知らずに without knowing it will be the Golden Week

計画を立てる to make a plan

ゴールデンウィーク中 during the Golden Week

たくさんの人で賑わっている to be bustling; to be crowded with people

普通では味わえないこと something we cannot experience; savour; appreciate in a standard situation

参考までに just for reference

8月中旬 mid-August

年末年始 from the end of one year to the start of the next new year
避ける to avoid

Do you have any recent happy stories? I do! Join me as I share two of mine here.

This episode's vocab list:

嬉しい話 happy story

2組 2 pairs

合計 totally

全員 all of these people

幸せを分けてもらえる to receive a share of their happiness

結婚祝い a wedding gift

インターネットショッピングで注文する to order online

ちょうど帰国中でした。 she happened to be returning to Japan at just the right time.

届く to be delivered

和紙 handmade Japanese paper

ラッピングペーパー wrapping paper

喜んでくれるといいなぁ！I hope they like it.

聞き始める to start listening

旧ツイッター old Twitter

数字 the number; the amount

受け取る to receive

心から続けていてよかったぁって思います。I truly feel glad that I’ve kept going from the bottom of my heart

メイトさんの顔が見られない分、Not being able to see your face makes a result, which will be mentioned after this

繋がっていると感じる to feel like we are connecting

嬉しい気持ちが抑えられない to be unable to hold in my joy and delight