Japanese Daily News
A daily Japanese news podcast designed for learners. Each episode covers a real news story with vocabulary breakdowns, grammar notes, and practice quizzes. Hosted by Maya.
エピソード
EP 209: ノーベル化学賞、東京理科大の硤合憲三さんに
This morning: a Japanese scientist wins the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 208: 卓球・松島輝空が世界ランキング1位、日本男子46年ぶり
This evening: a historic first in table tennis. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 207: ズーラシアでオカピの赤ちゃんが誕生
This morning: a rare baby animal at a zoo in Yokohama. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 206: ノーベル生理学・医学賞、「光遺伝学」の米独3氏に
This evening: this year's Nobel Prize in medicine. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 205: 「皇居ラン」のマナー違反、千代田区が調査へ
This morning: running manners around the Imperial Palace in Tokyo. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 204: 阪神、球団史上初のセ・リーグ連覇
This evening: a historic baseball title for the Hanshin Tigers. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 203: 柔道世界選手権、古賀若菜が初の金メダル
This morning: a gold medal for Japan in judo. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 202: 佐川急便、宅配便の料金を平均13.8%値上げへ
Tonight: a big delivery company raises its prices. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 201: 村上宗隆、大リーグのポストシーズンで初ホームラン
This morning: a big home run in American baseball. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 200: スガキヤ、ドムドムハンバーガーを子会社に
Tonight: a famous ramen chain buys Japan's oldest hamburger chain. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 199: 上司を「さん」で呼ぶのがいい、4人に1人
This morning: a new survey on how people in Japan call their bosses, and how they feel about handwriting. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 198: マクドナルドの「ドナルド」が「ロナルド」に名前を変更
Tonight: McDonald's in Japan gives its famous clown a new name. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 197: ビールの税金が下がり、1本9円ほど安く
This morning: beer in Japan just got a little cheaper. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 196: 民間の平均給与、487万円で過去最高に
Tonight: average pay in Japan just hit a record high. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 195: 王子動物園のアジアゾウ「マック」が死ぬ、34歳
Some sad news from Kobe: a beloved elephant, who came to the city right after a great earthquake, has died. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 194: 東京都心、9月は全ての日で降水 観測史上初
Tokyo has just set a weather record — rain fell every single day of September, a first in one hundred fifty years of record-keeping. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 193: 両陛下がジブリパークで「ネコバス」に笑顔
Japan's Imperial Household Agency has released two delightful photos: the Emperor and Empress visiting Ghibli Park, and smiling from the window of the Cat Bus. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 192: 東京大学に初めての女性総長が誕生へ
Japan's most famous university has chosen its next leader — and for the first time in its long history, the job goes to a woman. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 191: 技能五輪国際大会、日本がメダル10個を獲得
Young workers from about seventy countries just competed in a big skills competition in Shanghai — a kind of Olympics for job skills — and Japan came home with ten medals. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 190: ビール系飲料の酒税が一本化へ
Starting next month, Japan's beer tax rules change in a big way — real beer gets cheaper, while cheaper beer-like drinks go up. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 189: 昭和記念公園で400万本のコスモスが見ごろ
In a big park in western Tokyo, four million cosmos flowers are in bloom right now, turning a whole hill bright yellow. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 188: アジア大会マラソン、山下一貴が金メダル
At the Asian Games in Nagoya, a Japanese runner won the men's marathon for the first time in eight years. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 187: 「都民の日」、東京の動物園や庭園が無料に
This coming Thursday is a special day in Tokyo — Citizens Day, when zoos, gardens, and museums all over the city open their doors for free. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 186: 11歳の栗原悠輝、eスポーツでアジア大会最年少の金メダル
At the Asian Games in Nagoya, an eleven-year-old boy has just made sports history. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 185: 秋の夜空に「中秋の名月」
Last night, people all over Japan looked up at the sky for a beautiful autumn tradition — the harvest moon. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 184: ドコモが携帯電話の料金プランを値上げへ
Japan's biggest mobile carrier, Docomo, has announced it is raising its prices. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 183: 映画「ちいかわ」が今年の興行収入1位に
A movie about small, cute characters has become Japan's biggest hit of the year. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 182: 17歳の大橋信、競泳200m平泳ぎで世界新記録
At the Asian Games in Japan, a seventeen-year-old swimmer has just rewritten the world record book. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 181: よこはま動物園ズーラシア、来園者3000万人を達成
A big zoo in Yokohama has just welcomed its thirty-millionth visitor since it opened. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 180: 台風25号が関東南部などに記録的な大雨
Typhoon Number twenty-five brushed past Japan's Pacific coast during the holiday weekend, bringing record rain to the Tokyo area. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 179: 秋の全国交通安全運動が始まる
All across Japan, the autumn traffic safety campaign is underway — ten days of extra care on the roads as the days get shorter. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 178: バスケの新リーグ「Bプレミア」が開幕
Tonight in Tokyo, Japanese basketball opened a brand-new top league — exactly ten years after the old league's very first game. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 177: すみだ水族館でアオウミガメの赤ちゃん「星」と「空」を公開
At an aquarium in Tokyo, two baby green sea turtles have just gone on display — and their new names mean Star and Sky. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 176: 65歳以上の高齢者の割合、29.6%で過去最高に
New government data shows the elderly share of the population has hit a record high. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 175: 国内最高齢のアフリカゾウ「メアリー」が60歳に
At a zoo in Sendai, an African elephant named Mary has turned sixty — the oldest African elephant Japan has ever had. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 174: 日銀が政策金利を1.25%に引き上げ、31年ぶりの高水準
The Bank of Japan has raised its key interest rate to the highest level in thirty-one years. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 173: 埼玉・巾着田で500万本の彼岸花が見ごろに
Autumn is here, and at a famous park in Saitama, near Tokyo, five million bright red flowers are starting to bloom. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 172: トヨタ、内製ロボット40万台を工場に導入へ
Toyota has unveiled a huge plan: four hundred thousand AI robots working alongside people in its factories. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 171: 九州新幹線が52日ぶりに全線で運行再開
Some happy news from southern Japan: the Kyushu bullet train is finally running on its full line again, fifty-two days after a big earthquake stopped part of it. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 170: 高市首相が内閣改造、第2次改造内閣が発足
Yesterday, Prime Minister Takaichi reshuffled her cabinet, launching a new lineup focused on the economy. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 169: 11年ぶりの5連休「シルバーウィーク」が始まる
Starting tomorrow, Japan begins a rare five-day holiday called Silver Week — the first one in eleven years — and millions of people are getting ready to travel. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 168: 「東京ゲームショウ2026」が幕張メッセで開幕
The Tokyo Game Show, Japan's biggest video game event, opened today for its thirtieth-anniversary edition — the largest one ever. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 167: 太平洋クロマグロの漁獲枠、25%の拡大が決まる
Here is some good news for sushi lovers — countries around the Pacific have agreed to let fishermen catch more bluefin tuna, because the fish has made a great comeback. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 166: 102歳で富士山登頂、最高齢のギネス世界記録に認定
A one-hundred-two-year-old climber has been certified by Guinness World Records as the oldest man ever to reach the top of Mount Fuji. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 165: 山形の新しいお米「ゆきまんてん」、知事と小学生が稲刈り
In Yamagata, in northern Japan, the governor and a group of elementary school students harvested a brand-new variety of rice together. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 164: 100歳以上の高齢者、初めて10万人を超える
Japan's population aged one hundred or older has topped one hundred thousand for the first time ever. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 163: 大相撲の秋場所が東京・両国国技館で開幕
The autumn grand sumo tournament has just started in Tokyo, and every seat is sold out. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 162: 沖縄県知事選、古謝玄太氏が初当選
Okinawa has elected a new governor — a forty-two-year-old newcomer who defeated the incumbent. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 161: バレー男子日本代表がアジア選手権で優勝、ロス五輪へ
Japan's men's volleyball team has won the Asian Championship — and with it, a ticket to the Los Angeles Olympics. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 160: 中部電力、浜岡原発の再稼働審査を取り下げへ
A major power company is giving up its bid to restart a nuclear plant, after a data scandal. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 159: 野球のU18日本代表、アジア選手権の決勝へ
Japan's under-eighteen baseball team — all high school students — has reached the final of the Asian Championship in Taiwan. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 158: 睡眠研究の柳沢正史さんに米ラスカー賞
A Japanese scientist who studies sleep has just won one of the world's top medical prizes. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 157: アップルが新しいiPhoneを発表、初の折りたたみモデルも
This week, Apple announced its new iPhones — and for the first time, one of them folds like a book. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 156: コメ農家の廃業・倒産が過去最多ペース
Rice farmers in Japan are quitting at a record pace this year, even after rice prices surged. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 155: 東京駅前に新しい高層ビル「トフロム八重洲」が開業
A brand-new skyscraper has just opened right in front of Tokyo Station, full of restaurants, a theater, and a huge bus terminal. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 154: サムスン電子、横浜に半導体の研究拠点を開所
South Korea's Samsung Electronics has opened a big semiconductor research center in Yokohama, teaming up with Japan on next-generation chip technology. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 153: 東海道新幹線に新しい豪華シート「スプリームクラス」
Japan's famous bullet train is getting new luxury seats — almost like little private rooms on rails. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 152: 「Suicaのペンギン」の後継を決める投票が始まる
After almost twenty-five years, the penguin on Japan's Suica transit card is retiring, and the public gets to vote on its successor. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 151: 生活道路の速度、時速60キロから30キロに
Japan just changed a big traffic rule. On the narrow streets where people live, cars must now drive much more slowly. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 150: 国際学力調査、日本がOECD加盟国で初の全分野1位
Japan's fifteen-year-olds just topped every OECD country in the world's biggest school survey — but there is a catch in the results. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 149: 秋の味覚シャインマスカット、今年は甘くて安い
It's autumn fruit season in Japan, and one big green grape is the star of the markets right now. This year it's sweeter than usual — and cheaper, too. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 148: アジア競技大会、まもなく愛知・名古屋で開幕
Asia's biggest sports festival opens in Japan later this month, and athletes are already arriving. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 147: 日本の景気拡大、戦後最長になった可能性
Japan's economy may have just made history: the current expansion could now be the longest since the end of the war. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 146: 悠仁さま、20歳の誕生日を迎える
Prince Hisahito, a young member of Japan's imperial family, has just turned twenty. Today we hear about his birthday and his life as a university student. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 145: アニメ映画「君の名は。」が公開から10年
Ten years ago this week, the anime movie Your Name opened in theaters across Japan. Now the director and fans are celebrating its birthday. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 144: 水玉の芸術家・草間彌生さん死去
Yayoi Kusama, the artist loved around the world for her polka dots and pumpkin sculptures, has died at the age of ninety-seven. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 143: 姫路セントラルパークで35年ぶりにゾウの赤ちゃんが誕生
At a big safari park in western Japan, a baby elephant has been born — the first one there in thirty-five years. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 142: スズキ初の軽乗用EV「eスカイ」、今秋発売へ
Automaker Suzuki has unveiled its first kei-car electric vehicle, the e SKY, set to go on sale this autumn. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 141: 愛媛のとべ動物園でジャガーの双子の赤ちゃんを公開
At a zoo in western Japan, twin baby jaguars have just met the public for the first time. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 140: 首里城の正殿、火災から7年で復元完成へ
Seven years after a fire destroyed it, the main hall of Okinawa's Shuri Castle has been rebuilt — and its reopening date is now set. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 139: 名古屋の東山動植物園でアルマジロの赤ちゃんが誕生
At a zoo in Nagoya, a very unusual baby animal was born — a little armadillo. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 138: 葛西用水など4つの施設が世界かんがい施設遺産に認定
Four historic Japanese waterways — from an Edo-era canal to the moat of an ancient tomb — have just been named World Heritage Irrigation Structures. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 137: 男鹿水族館のホッキョクグマにジャンボスイカのプレゼント
At an aquarium in northern Japan, a polar bear got a very big and very special summer present. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 136: フィギュアペアの「りくりゅう」が婚約を発表
Japan's Olympic champion figure-skating pair shared some happy personal news today — an engagement, sealed with a proposal on the ice. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 135: 日本の探査機「MMX」、火星の月へ出発へ
Japan is getting ready for an exciting trip into space — a new probe will fly all the way to a moon of Mars, and bring something back. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 134: 智弁和歌山が夏の甲子園で5年ぶり4回目の優勝
Japan's summer high school baseball tournament crowned its champion today, with a dramatic comeback in the final at Koshien Stadium. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 133: 秋の味覚のサンマ、今年は「高級魚」に？
In Japan, autumn is the season of a famous grilled fish — the Pacific saury. But this year, that fish is becoming rare and expensive. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 132: 7月の消費者物価指数、上昇率が1.8%に拡大
Japan's consumer prices rose one point eight percent in July, and inflation is picking up speed again. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
EP 131: 旭山動物園でアムールヒョウの赤ちゃんが誕生
From a famous zoo in Hokkaido, in northern Japan, comes some happy news about a very rare baby animal. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N5-N4.
EP 130: 首都圏の新築マンション平均価格が過去最高に
The average price of a new condominium in the greater Tokyo area has hit a record high. Learn Japanese with native audio, furigana, vocabulary and grammar. Level N4-N3.
