{"id":105884,"date":"2023-04-18T16:12:22","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T20:12:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/learn-japanese-language-podcasts\/"},"modified":"2025-02-26T03:49:35","modified_gmt":"2025-02-26T08:49:35","slug":"learn-japanese-language-podcasts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/learn-japanese-language-podcasts\/","title":{"rendered":"Japanese Podcasts for Learners [2025 Edition]"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As a Japanese speaker, I can tell you that the best way to pick up the language is by listening to it, and what better way to listen to the language than with a podcast?<\/p>\n<p>I have listened to my fair share of Japanese podcasts and I am here to share some of my favorites with you. With these 15 picks, you&#8217;ll learn <strong>vocabulary, grammar and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/learn-japanese-with-music\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">the rhythm and music<\/a> of the Japanese language.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n<h2>1. Best Overall: <a class=\"tasr-replaced\" href=\"https:\/\/www.japanesepod101.com\/member\/go.php?r=1807495&amp;l=%2F\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"sponsored noopener\">JapanesePod101<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><strong>JapanesePod101 is one of the best podcasts for learning Japanese<\/strong><strong> from native speakers.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Japanese Pod 101\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/3v3WuNeZHoTn3vJDy4w1lw?si=94894cacd6824549&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>There are audio and video lessons for the beginner, intermediate and advanced language learner that cover a wide range of topics.<\/p>\n<p>One of the many great features of JapanesePod101 is that <strong>the pronunciation is so clear and distinct,<\/strong> allowing for every syllable to be heard.<\/p>\n<p>The host covers <strong>language and conversation essentials<\/strong> plus occasional tidbits of Japanese lifestyle which helps keep the lessons interesting.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"3pNjZF9By5\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/reviews\/japanesepod101\/\">My Honest JapanesePod101 Review: Fun, High-Quality Content but Lacks Grammar and Writing Practice<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;My Honest JapanesePod101 Review: Fun, High-Quality Content but Lacks Grammar and Writing Practice&#8221; &#8212; FluentU\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/reviews\/japanesepod101\/embed\/#?secret=gQtK1Xrhjh#?secret=3pNjZF9By5\" data-secret=\"3pNjZF9By5\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>2. Best for Beginners: News in Slow Japanese<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/japanese-podcast.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-22551\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/japanese-podcast.jpeg\" alt=\"news in slow japanese logo of a cartoon woman in front of a blue background\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<p><strong>This resource features a different news topic every week that is read out in clear Japanese.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is a wonderful way to hone your listening and comprehension skills.<\/p>\n<p>If you need more of a challenge, you can listen to a faster version of each slow news story.<\/p>\n<p>Among the site\u2019s eclectic mix of categories are movies, manga, good news, culture, humor, internet and sports.<\/p>\n<p>The audio is accompanied by <strong>popup<\/strong> <strong>translations and readings of the <em>kanji<\/em>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2>3. Best for Fun: <a href=\"https:\/\/learnjapanesepod.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Learn Japanese Pod<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-106478 size-thumbnail alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/learn-japanese-pod-app-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/learn-japanese-pod-app-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/learn-japanese-pod-app-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/learn-japanese-pod-app-65x65.png 65w, https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/learn-japanese-pod-app-120x120.png 120w, https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/learn-japanese-pod-app.png 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/h2>\n<p><strong>This one is a good choice for the beginner who needs to master useful Japanese phrases and vocabulary.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The podcast features a handful of<strong> short conversations<\/strong> between the two friends that created the podcast.<\/p>\n<p>They&#8217;re designed to illustrate how certain words and phrases are used.<\/p>\n<p>Each conversation is then dissected in English and backed up by supporting materials, including transcripts of the conversations in Japanese and English.<\/p>\n<h2>4. Best for Intermediate Learners: <a class=\"tasr-replaced\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lingq.com\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LingQ<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-22474 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/japanese-podcast-3.png\" alt=\"linq logo of a yellow-orange stylized speech bubble on a navy blue background\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/h2>\n<p><strong>LingQ features lots of different formats and topics of everyday<\/strong><strong> interest.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>LingQ\u2019s podcasts include interviews, features and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/japanese-audio-books\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">audiobook<\/a> excerpts, although most of the lessons are<strong> conversations in real Japanese.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Topics include current affairs, education, food, drink and more.<\/p>\n<p>There are also transcripts for free, but you can pay for a membership for features like<strong> flashcards, vocabulary lists, progress trackers and neat web browser extensions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"dwvbhKI3l6\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/reviews\/lingq\/\">Complete 2024 LingQ Review: Abundant Authentic Content but Lacks Writing and Speaking Skills<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; visibility: hidden;\" title=\"&#8220;Complete 2024 LingQ Review: Abundant Authentic Content but Lacks Writing and Speaking Skills&#8221; &#8212; FluentU\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/reviews\/lingq\/embed\/#?secret=CeBWJb6UYz#?secret=dwvbhKI3l6\" data-secret=\"dwvbhKI3l6\" width=\"500\" height=\"282\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2>5. Best for Casual Japanese:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/thejapanesepage.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">The Japanese Page<\/a>\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/The-Japanese-Page.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-221833 size-thumbnail alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/The-Japanese-Page-150x150.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/The-Japanese-Page-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/The-Japanese-Page-65x65.png 65w, https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/The-Japanese-Page-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a><strong>The Japanese Page aims to get you away from textbook Japanese and get you to have real conversations.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The mini podcast lessons feature <strong>short conversations in Japanese,<\/strong> which are then explained in English.<\/p>\n<p>Each lesson concludes with a quick recap and episodes are accompanied by English and Japanese texts of key phrases and information.<\/p>\n<p>Although each podcast episode can be listened to in isolation, they do build on each other. Each one starts with a quick review of what was covered in the previous lesson.<\/p>\n<h2>6. Best for Quick Lessons:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www3.nhk.or.jp\/lesson\/english\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NHK World<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/japanese-podcast-5-1.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-22575 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/japanese-podcast-5-1.png\" alt=\"nkh world japan logo of words on white and red background\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><strong>These ten-minute lessons feature English intermixed with Japanese words and phrases and how they&#8217;re used in different situations. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The moderate pace of the Japanese is fairly easy to comprehend and the hosts repeat conversations, exploring them in a little more detail.<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s a strong focus on <strong>pronunciation and grammar <\/strong>and there are also <strong>interactive elements<\/strong> to check your understanding of the Japanese.<\/p>\n<p>There are 50 lessons in all and among the featured topics are how to ask for things, ordering in a restaurant and words associated with disaster situations.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>7. Best for Advanced Learners:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/jla-japanese-listening\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Japanese Listening Advanced<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/japanese-podcast-2.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-22553\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/japanese-podcast-2.jpeg\" alt=\"japanese listening advanced logo of letters JLA in red on a white background with black border\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<p><strong>This podcast features Japanese natives talking at natural speed, using colloquialisms and the language you&#8217;ll hear on the street.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you&#8217;re at an advanced level but not currently in a Japanese-speaking country, then this podcast will keep your language skills alive.<\/p>\n<p>If you find any parts of the conversations too difficult, there are<strong> downloadable transcripts<\/strong> in Japanese with English translations.<\/p>\n<h2>8. Best for Studying for the JLPT: <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/jlpt-stories\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">JLPT Stories<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/jlpt-stories-150x150-1.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-22578 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/jlpt-stories-150x150-1.jpg\" alt=\"jlpt stories logo with title on yellow background above a small street scene in japan with N1-5 in a circle in the corner\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>These episodes feature<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><b>carefully-formatted Japanese that\u2019s suitable for a certain JLPT level<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>The JLPT Stories podcast will help you study and do the best you can on the test.\u00a0The content isn\u2019t always textbook-type, and many episodes cover <strong>realistic and relatable scenarios.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, the original uploader of the series and its accommodating transcripts is now defunct. However, a generous uploader has amassed <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">some of the episodes at the link above.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>9. Best for Building a Study Habit: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tofugu.com\/podcast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tofugu<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/tofugu.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"86\" class=\"size-full wp-image-221838 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/tofugu.png\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>Tofugu is a very popular Japanese culture and language blog that gives <\/strong><\/span><b>tips on how you can improve your study habits<\/b><strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Whether you\u2019re struggling with proper translation or wondering how to speed up your progress, the Tofugu podcast can offer helpful suggestions to <strong>boost your confidence.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The podcast also covers topics related to the Japanese way of life. These are great to listen to if you\u2019re just curious about <strong>Japanese customs,<\/strong> or if you\u2019re planning to swing by and take a trip to the country itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>10. Best for Japanese Dialogue: <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.storylearning.com\/japanese-conversations-sales-page4q1vsj7k\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Japanese Conversations<\/b><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/japanese-podcast.jpeg.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-22560\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/japanese-podcast.jpeg.jpg\" alt=\"japanese conversations logo of headphones on a circle with blue ellipses above the word conversations\" width=\"150\" height=\"127\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Tailored for intermediate learners, Japanese Conversations provides audio of Japanese conversations. <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You\u2019ll listen to <\/span>realistic, narrative-based dialogue<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> that spans a variety of situations, and you can follow along with the provided transcripts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The intermediate level is always a tough stepping stone for learners, and Japanese Conversations is very mindful of that fact. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">It doesn\u2019t baby you, as it <\/span><b>uses regularly-paced Japanese speech, a variety of accents and commonly-used slang<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>.<\/strong> However, alongside transcripts, English translations are also provided.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Keep in mind that the series isn\u2019t free; it\u2019s only accessible for a price of $197.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>11. Best for Advancing Japanese Levels: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/7rzB4zCdrSf67jd3nHm8Vy\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Let\u2019s Talk in Japanese<\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p><strong>The summary of this podcast is, simply put: &#8220;A Japanese teacher talks in Japanese.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: Let\u2019s talk in Japanese\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/playlist\/1BqxIUjoSo0f9I9rAqQ1dA?si=fd66081c2c724309&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You\u2019ll listen to friendly Tomo as he rambles on about a variety of different topics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Since Tomo is a teacher, he\u2019s aware of what learners need to both practice and challenge their Japanese skills. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">He makes it <\/span><b>obvious which episodes are for what level learner<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> by including their corresponding JLPT level. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">His lower-level content uses slow and steady voiceover with simple vocabulary, while his higher-level content features native-level cadence and lexicon.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The podcast has become a popular pick for learners due to its clear difficulty distinction, so I recommend you check out videos of different levels to see what suits you best.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>12. Best for Learning with Japanese News: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/bilingualnews.libsyn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Bilingual News<\/b><\/a><b><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-22460 size-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/bilingual-news.jpg\" alt=\"bilingual news podcast logo of world on blue and white background with japanese text and the word podcast\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Bilingual News allows you to stay up to date with current events and get some language practice at the same time.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Every episode <\/span><b>covers a mix of current news topics<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, discussed by your hosts Michael and Mami. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Michael speaks in English, while Mami speaks primarily in Japanese (but also provides commentary in English). <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">With this unique format, you can get a serious listening workout as you intently process the Japanese, fall into a lull with the English, then focus seriously once more when Japanese is spoken again.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The podcast is probably best suited for higher-level learners, since the Japanese used is quick and natural and the <\/span><b>ping-ponging between Japanese and English makes for an interesting challenge<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>13. Best Native Podcast: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/archive.org\/details\/hikibiki_podcast\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Hiiki Biiki<\/b><\/a><b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/hiiki-biiki.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-22461\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/hiiki-biiki.jpg\" alt=\"hiiki biiki podcast logo of two japanese speaking in a tea house with a black text box with japanese text\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><b><\/b><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Hiiki Biiki is a casual podcast featuring a designer and voice actress as they discuss all kinds of things that pique their interest.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The <\/span><b>dialogue is very free-flowing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><strong>,<\/strong> so it feels like you\u2019re just sitting in on two people having a nice chat. It\u2019s a good option for when you want to spiff up your conversational Japanese.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">But a fair warning: The format of the podcast doesn\u2019t seem to be catered to language learners. The Japanese used is native-level, so the content is <strong>best suited for advanced or upper-intermediate students<\/strong> who have a strong grasp of grammar and vocabulary. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">However, lower-level learners might find the podcasts useful for honing their ears to the speed and tone of normal Japanese speech.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>14. Best for Speaking Practice: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/japaneseswotter.wordpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Japanese Swotter<\/b><\/a>\u00a0<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Japanese Swotter lets you carefully listen to specific Japanese phrases and expressions that you can then repeat aloud.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Spotify Embed: 81 [\u27104.5] Thanks to you + Shadowing\" style=\"border-radius: 12px\" width=\"100%\" height=\"152\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/show\/7MxIeWnE7paLsVofrwvFHv?si=b5902dde194b4358&#038;utm_source=oembed\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The episode format is very direct. The content, which includes Japanese of different formality levels, is suitable for <strong>beginner to mid-level learners. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The podcast sometimes covers important grammatical concepts (with example sentences) that you\u2019ll want to review frequently.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The guided nature of Japanese Swotter can make it <\/span><b>particularly helpful to those who enjoy a more interactive study session<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> or those who may be prone to zoning out when listening to audio.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you sign up for a membership to the content creator\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/japaneseswotter\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Patreon<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, you can also get access to Hiragana episode transcripts.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Bonus: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/japanese\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FluentU<\/a><div style=\"float: right;\" id=\"fluen-1444684124\"><a data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\" class=\"a2t-link\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"FluentU New iOS App Icon\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/iTunesArtwork@1x.png\" alt=\"FluentU New iOS App Icon\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/iTunesArtwork@1x.png 512w, https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/iTunesArtwork@1x-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/iTunesArtwork@1x-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/iTunesArtwork@1x-65x65.png 65w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\"   \/><\/a><\/div><\/h2>\n<p>FluentU isn&#8217;t a podcast, but it can help you with your listening skills, which in turn will make it easier for you to listen to Japanese podcasts.<\/p>\n<p>\r\n<strong><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">FluentU takes real-world videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons<\/a>.<\/strong>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nIt naturally and gradually eases you into learning Japanese language and culture. You\u2019ll learn real Japanese as it\u2019s spoken in real life.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nJust take a look at the <a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">wide variety of authentic video content<\/a> available in the program. Here\u2019s a small sample:\r\n<\/p>\r\n<a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2474\" title=\"5 Great Japanese Kids Cartoons to Level Up Your Japanese\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/Japnaese-5.png\" alt=\"learn-japanese-with-short-videos\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a>\r\n<p>\r\nYou\u2019ll discover tons of new Japanese vocabulary through these great clips.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nDon\u2019t worry about your skill level being an issue when it comes to understanding the language. <strong>FluentU makes native Japanese videos approachable through interactive transcripts.<\/strong>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2477\" title=\"5 Great Japanese Kids Cartoons to Level Up Your Japanese\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/Japanese-2.png\" alt=\"learn-japanese-with-songs\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a>\r\n<p>\r\nTap on any word to look it up instantly.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nYou\u2019ll see <strong>definitions, in-context usage examples and helpful illustrations<\/strong>. Simply tap \u201cadd\u201d to send interesting vocabulary words to your personal vocab list for later review.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2476\" title=\"5 Great Japanese Kids Cartoons to Level Up Your Japanese\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/Japanese-6.png\" alt=\"learn-japanese-with-movies\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a>\r\n<p>\r\nFluentU even uses a <strong>learning program which adapts to your specific needs<\/strong> to turn every video into a language learning lesson and get you to actively practice your newly-learned language skills.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2478\" title=\"5 Great Japanese Kids Cartoons to Level Up Your Japanese\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/Japanese-7.png\" alt=\"practice-japanese-with-adaptive-quizzes\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a>\r\n<p>\r\nStart using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. <a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\r\n\n<h2>The Benefits of Listening to Japanese Podcasts<\/h2>\n<p>Podcasts are great for learning! Here are just a few reasons why:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>They&#8217;re created by people who are <strong>passionate about language learning<\/strong> and committed to giving you the resources and imaginative lessons you need.<\/li>\n<li>Listening to Japanese podcasts is one of the best ways of <strong>improving your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/listen-to-japanese-course\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Japanese listening skills<\/a>. <\/strong>This is something that books and flashcards can&#8217;t do.<\/li>\n<li>You can listen to them <strong>any time and anywhere<\/strong>\u2014on the long commute home, while you&#8217;re jogging around the park or soaping up in the shower. They can even be playing in your ears as you go to sleep at night!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The sooner you start listening to these podcasts, the sooner you can get yourself on the fast track to Japanese fluency.<\/p>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a Japanese speaker, I can tell you that the best way to pick up the language is by listening to it, and what better way to listen to the&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":47,"featured_media":252486,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"Japanese Podcasts for Learners [2025 Edition] | FluentU Japanese","description":"Japanese podcasts are a great way to practice your listening and comprehension skills all while having fun! This post will show you 14 of the best podcasts to practice your Japanese listening skills from beginner to advanced, plus a bonus audio study method."},"footnotes":""},"categories":[545,546],"tags":[],"coauthors":[16],"class_list":["post-105884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-japanese","category-resources-japanese"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/47"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105884"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105884\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":252487,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105884\/revisions\/252487"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/252486"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105884"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=105884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}