Educational
Learning Japanese (in Japanese):
- 「日本語塾」 - Japanese Cram School
Rating: 9.5
Ease: I have read that this podcast is aimed for advanced learners but it sounds beginner-friendly to me.
Review: This is just excellent, and if only there were more episodes. Each episode is 1-3 mins long and covers an important aspect of speaking Japanese. For example, how the word 「あなた」 is used, how to accept compliments in Japanese, ら行, 擬音語、the ambiguity of the Japanese language, etc. I especially like how each podcast is very short and concise.
- 「今すぐ使える新潟弁ｂｙポッドキャスト」 - “Use Niigata Dialect Immediately with Podcast”
Rating: None
Ease: Intermediate and advanced.
Review: If you’re using it for the purpose of learning 新潟弁 and not for simply Japanese exposure, I think this podcast will serve your needs. But aside from learning the dialect, the radio show doesn’t seem especially appealing. Maybe I’m biased and just annoyed with the girls yelling loudly and the host’s voice...
But anyway, no rating because it would be low and that wouldn’t be fair because it does have potential for those learning 新潟弁。
- “Japanese Listening Advanced” TRANSCRIPTS included
Rating: 8
Level: Even though the title says advanced, I think this has potential for beginners, especially if your reading comprehension is better than listening comprehension, because it comes with transcriptions of the dialogue for most clips.
Review: It’s not only clips of informal Japanese conversation between two guys -- there are also scripts. So this could be very valuable for those who wish to increase their listening comprehension, or for those who want to shadow or use sentences for a deck. Topics include: Love hotels, eating in cars (unusual in Japan apparently), fishing, sake, etc.
- “Nippon Voice Blog” (files on the site are down, but buonaparte has uploaded them and they are linked to HERE. - TRANSCRIPTS included on website
Rating: 9
Level: All levels. This also has the advantage of text to go with audio.
Review: This blog is just excellent. Entries on various aspects of the Japanese culture with audio readings. You can shadow, improve listening comprehension, pick up sentences for your deck and learn about Japanese culture at the same time. The only downside -- lack in variation in readers/reading style and background music. However, if you go further back you will find interviews with experts in different areas of Japanese culture.
History:
- 「江戸東京人セミナー2.0」- ”Edo period seminar”
Rating: 9
Ease: I think this is perfect for all learners. It's good for beginners because you can actually hear other things going on than just conversation, so as you're experiencing the podcast (instead of simply listening for what you can understand), you can understand through context.
Review: This podcast introduces different aspects of the edo jidai. There were a few episodes on celebrations carried out during the edo jidai, which included audio recorded from when the host went to an edo-styled festival while talking about it. There’s another episode about music with samples of shamisen playing. In another episode, the host is visiting a temple and listens in on the monks chanting and later her audio explanation is added in. She also interviews people at the temple. There are also guests who come on the show. It’s one of the most unique podcasts I’ve listened too. You don’t usually get to hear someone going around to different places like this in a podcast.
- 「石川晶康の日本史史料Podcast」 - “Ishikawa Akiyasu’s Japanese History Historical Documents”
Rating: None
Ease: Definitely intermediate and advanced. But if you're a beginner just looking for some Japanese that'll put you to sleep, this podcast may help.
Review: This is on my iPod that I use for sleeping. Can you guess why? He drones on and on about Japanese history
More difficult vocabulary is being used -- just the titles of each podcast may be difficult to read. So for some users this may be considered a good challenge, or for more advanced users, it could be a very good way to expose themselves to more higher level words. I can’t easily rate this one because, well... I sleep to it more than actively listening to it.
Science, Psychology and Social Science:
- 「 Science Xitalk - サイエンス・サイトーク」 Science Xitalk
Rating: 9
Ease: Intermediate and advanced.
Review: Experts come on to this show to talk about various science-related topics. Examples are: blood types (including how they are viewed in other countries), human dissection, predicting earthquakes, gender change, “the nonexistance of the swine flu?,” studies of the brain, etc. There are also more social issues being discussed, such as separation of waste articles, the debate on whether psychological tests really work, how Japanese people view crime in other countries, solving the mystery of “the traffic jam,” etc. So obviously, these people really know how to gather interesting topics. Really advanced words are being used here, seeing as there’s lots of 専門用語.
- 「セクシー 心理学」- Sexy Psychology
Rating: 8
Ease: Intermediate and advanced listeners and get more out of this, just like any other podcast, but I don't see why a beginner can't listen to this. The show has personality so I think it'd be appealing, even to a beginner.
Review: Judging by the title, I at first expected this to have more mature topics, but I’ve listened to most of the podcast sessions and they’re actually very innocent. Topics include: “Are you good at pretending to listen?” “Are you trying to avoid success?” “Which of the following is not okay to ask your partner in the first stages of dating?” etc. As you can see, some questions aren’t even related to sex or love. Most of the sessions include a one-question quiz, and the answer will determine something about you psychologically. The conversations between Matsushita and Yuuki-sensei are very entertaining and insightful.
- 「男女の心理 学知りたい！相手の気持ち」 - ”I want to know the opposite sex’s mentality! Partner’s feelings” Download 35 older episodes here: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FUSLO2VH
Rating: 10
Ease: I'm pretty sure learners of all levels can get something from this.
Review: This is a gem. It’s so easy for their personalities and way of talking to grow on me, and the episodes never seem to get old, no matter how many times I listen to them. The podcast also has a “resident psychologist” who comes on and talks about what makes men and women attractive. I would feel guilty listening to a shallow radio show such as this, if I was listening in English... but since I’m learning Japanese in the process, can’t say I feel bad about it.
- 「森田ゆりのポッドキャスト」 - “Morita Yuri’s Podcast”
Rating: None yet
Ease: This is probably better for intermediate and advanced learners, but don't hesitate to try it, beginners. She speaks more on the slower slide, but with somewhat difficult topics.
Review: Morita Yuri is a humanitarian who writes and podcasts on topics such as domestic violence, sexual abuse against children, the border between discipline and abuse, etc. She has a soothing way of speaking, so this podcast is recommended for sleeping. I use it for sleeping, so my perception of it is warped due to being drowsy and half out of it while listening, so no rating.
Etc:
- 「こどもの音感教育」 - “Auditory Training for Children”
Rating:７
Ease: All levels. There may be a lot that beginners can't grasp, but it's easy on the ears and not so fast-paced, so why not?
Review: Interesting topic, good opportunity to learn some different vocabulary. Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be many episodes (since I could only find the iTunes link, and not a blog that would show more episodes). But what’s included are some interesting topics, such as “What should your children learn - Piano or violin?” and “Classroom or individual lessons?” It’s also very calming -- another good podcast for relaxing to.
Learning Japanese (in Japanese):
- 「日本語塾」 - Japanese Cram School
Rating: 9.5
Ease: I have read that this podcast is aimed for advanced learners but it sounds beginner-friendly to me.
Review: This is just excellent, and if only there were more episodes. Each episode is 1-3 mins long and covers an important aspect of speaking Japanese. For example, how the word 「あなた」 is used, how to accept compliments in Japanese, ら行, 擬音語、the ambiguity of the Japanese language, etc. I especially like how each podcast is very short and concise.
- 「今すぐ使える新潟弁ｂｙポッドキャスト」 - “Use Niigata Dialect Immediately with Podcast”
Rating: None
Ease: Intermediate and advanced.
Review: If you’re using it for the purpose of learning 新潟弁 and not for simply Japanese exposure, I think this podcast will serve your needs. But aside from learning the dialect, the radio show doesn’t seem especially appealing. Maybe I’m biased and just annoyed with the girls yelling loudly and the host’s voice...
But anyway, no rating because it would be low and that wouldn’t be fair because it does have potential for those learning 新潟弁。
- “Japanese Listening Advanced” TRANSCRIPTS included
Rating: 8
Level: Even though the title says advanced, I think this has potential for beginners, especially if your reading comprehension is better than listening comprehension, because it comes with transcriptions of the dialogue for most clips.
Review: It’s not only clips of informal Japanese conversation between two guys -- there are also scripts. So this could be very valuable for those who wish to increase their listening comprehension, or for those who want to shadow or use sentences for a deck. Topics include: Love hotels, eating in cars (unusual in Japan apparently), fishing, sake, etc.
- “Nippon Voice Blog” (files on the site are down, but buonaparte has uploaded them and they are linked to HERE. - TRANSCRIPTS included on website
Rating: 9
Level: All levels. This also has the advantage of text to go with audio.
Review: This blog is just excellent. Entries on various aspects of the Japanese culture with audio readings. You can shadow, improve listening comprehension, pick up sentences for your deck and learn about Japanese culture at the same time. The only downside -- lack in variation in readers/reading style and background music. However, if you go further back you will find interviews with experts in different areas of Japanese culture.
History:
- 「江戸東京人セミナー2.0」- ”Edo period seminar”
Rating: 9
Ease: I think this is perfect for all learners. It's good for beginners because you can actually hear other things going on than just conversation, so as you're experiencing the podcast (instead of simply listening for what you can understand), you can understand through context.
Review: This podcast introduces different aspects of the edo jidai. There were a few episodes on celebrations carried out during the edo jidai, which included audio recorded from when the host went to an edo-styled festival while talking about it. There’s another episode about music with samples of shamisen playing. In another episode, the host is visiting a temple and listens in on the monks chanting and later her audio explanation is added in. She also interviews people at the temple. There are also guests who come on the show. It’s one of the most unique podcasts I’ve listened too. You don’t usually get to hear someone going around to different places like this in a podcast.
- 「石川晶康の日本史史料Podcast」 - “Ishikawa Akiyasu’s Japanese History Historical Documents”
Rating: None
Ease: Definitely intermediate and advanced. But if you're a beginner just looking for some Japanese that'll put you to sleep, this podcast may help.
Review: This is on my iPod that I use for sleeping. Can you guess why? He drones on and on about Japanese history
More difficult vocabulary is being used -- just the titles of each podcast may be difficult to read. So for some users this may be considered a good challenge, or for more advanced users, it could be a very good way to expose themselves to more higher level words. I can’t easily rate this one because, well... I sleep to it more than actively listening to it.Science, Psychology and Social Science:
- 「 Science Xitalk - サイエンス・サイトーク」 Science Xitalk
Rating: 9
Ease: Intermediate and advanced.
Review: Experts come on to this show to talk about various science-related topics. Examples are: blood types (including how they are viewed in other countries), human dissection, predicting earthquakes, gender change, “the nonexistance of the swine flu?,” studies of the brain, etc. There are also more social issues being discussed, such as separation of waste articles, the debate on whether psychological tests really work, how Japanese people view crime in other countries, solving the mystery of “the traffic jam,” etc. So obviously, these people really know how to gather interesting topics. Really advanced words are being used here, seeing as there’s lots of 専門用語.
- 「セクシー 心理学」- Sexy Psychology
Rating: 8
Ease: Intermediate and advanced listeners and get more out of this, just like any other podcast, but I don't see why a beginner can't listen to this. The show has personality so I think it'd be appealing, even to a beginner.
Review: Judging by the title, I at first expected this to have more mature topics, but I’ve listened to most of the podcast sessions and they’re actually very innocent. Topics include: “Are you good at pretending to listen?” “Are you trying to avoid success?” “Which of the following is not okay to ask your partner in the first stages of dating?” etc. As you can see, some questions aren’t even related to sex or love. Most of the sessions include a one-question quiz, and the answer will determine something about you psychologically. The conversations between Matsushita and Yuuki-sensei are very entertaining and insightful.
- 「男女の心理 学知りたい！相手の気持ち」 - ”I want to know the opposite sex’s mentality! Partner’s feelings” Download 35 older episodes here: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=FUSLO2VH
Rating: 10
Ease: I'm pretty sure learners of all levels can get something from this.
Review: This is a gem. It’s so easy for their personalities and way of talking to grow on me, and the episodes never seem to get old, no matter how many times I listen to them. The podcast also has a “resident psychologist” who comes on and talks about what makes men and women attractive. I would feel guilty listening to a shallow radio show such as this, if I was listening in English... but since I’m learning Japanese in the process, can’t say I feel bad about it.
- 「森田ゆりのポッドキャスト」 - “Morita Yuri’s Podcast”
Rating: None yet
Ease: This is probably better for intermediate and advanced learners, but don't hesitate to try it, beginners. She speaks more on the slower slide, but with somewhat difficult topics.
Review: Morita Yuri is a humanitarian who writes and podcasts on topics such as domestic violence, sexual abuse against children, the border between discipline and abuse, etc. She has a soothing way of speaking, so this podcast is recommended for sleeping. I use it for sleeping, so my perception of it is warped due to being drowsy and half out of it while listening, so no rating.
Etc:
- 「こどもの音感教育」 - “Auditory Training for Children”
Rating:７
Ease: All levels. There may be a lot that beginners can't grasp, but it's easy on the ears and not so fast-paced, so why not?
Review: Interesting topic, good opportunity to learn some different vocabulary. Unfortunately, there don’t seem to be many episodes (since I could only find the iTunes link, and not a blog that would show more episodes). But what’s included are some interesting topics, such as “What should your children learn - Piano or violin?” and “Classroom or individual lessons?” It’s also very calming -- another good podcast for relaxing to.
Edited: 2011-10-19, 5:16 pm