Flexing your Fluency

Top 10 Japanese Foods: Curry and rice

Learn about the next of our top Japanese foods: curry and rice

Top 10 Japanese Foods: Onigiri

Learn about the traditional Japanese dish of onigiri

Top 10 Japanese Foods: Udon and Soba

Learn about the difference between two popular Japanese noodle dishes: soba and udon

Top 10 Japanese Foods: Tempura

Learn about the Japanese dish tempura and the steps to making the perfect version of it

Top 10 Japanese Foods: Miso soup

Learn about the large number of varied ingredients that you can use to make the famous Japanese dish of miso soup

Top 10 Japanese Foods: Rāmen

Learn about ramen, the popular Japanese noodle dish

Top 10 Japanese Foods: Nattō

Learn about the Japanese food natto

Top 10 Japanese Foods: Sukiyaki

Learn about sukiyaki, a popular Japanese hot-pot dish

Top 10 Japanese Foods: Manjū and Senbei

Learn about two famous Japanese snacks, manjū and senbei

A Japanese Business Presentation

Listen to a business presentation

Getting a Gym Membership in Japan

Listen to a conversation about a gym membership

At a Printing Company in Japan

Listen to a conversation about getting a brochure printed

Reserving Tickets to a Play in Japanese

Listen to a conversation about reserving tickets for a play

Preparing For a Japanese Business Meeting

Listen to a conversation about an upcoming business meeting

Top 10 Japanese Historical Figures: Prince Shōtoku

Learn about Prince Shōtoku, a famous Japanese historical figure

Top 10 Japanese Historical Figures: Minamoto no Yoshitsune

Learn about today's Japanese leaders

Top 10 Japanese Historical Figures: Takeda Shingen

Learn about Takeda Shingen, a Japanese military commander

Top 10 Japanese Historical Figures: Nobunaga Oda

Learn about Nobunaga Oda, a Japanese historical figure well known for his abilities as well as his temper

Top 10 Japanese Historical Figures: Toyotomi Hideyoshi

Learn about Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a famous Japanese historical figure

Top 10 Japanese Historical Figures: Ieyasu Tokugawa

Learn about Ieyasu Tokugawa, one of the great Japanese leaders of the Warring States period in Japan

10 Minutes • Audio

Top 10 Japanese Historical Figures: Yoshinobu Tokugawa

Learn about Japan's famous last shogun, Yoshinobu Tokugawa

Top 10 Japanese Historical Figures: Takamori Saigō

Learn about Takamori Saigō, a famous figure in Japanese history

10 Minutes • Audio

Top 10 Japanese Historical Figures: Yukichi Fukuzawa

Learn about Yukichi Fukuzawa, a famous figure history

Top 10 Japanese Historical Figures: Hideyo Noguchi

Learn about Hideyo Noguchi, an important Japanese scholar

Deciding on a Hotel in Japan

Listen to a conversation about choosing a hotel

Setting up a Meeting Room in Japan

Listen to a conversation about arranging furniture in a meeting room

Ordering Office Supplies in Japanese

Listen to a conversation about ordering office supplies

Getting to the Airport in Japan

Listen to a conversation about getting to the airport

Talking to a Supplier in Japanese

Listen to a conversation about ordering sweaters from a supplier

Japanese Tourist Spots - Hokkaido

Learn about a tourist destination in Hokkaidō called Shiretoko

Japanese Tourist Spots - Aomori

Learn about the Japanese tourist destination called Aomori

Japanese Tourist Spots - Miyagi

Learn about a Japanese tourist location situated in the Miyagi prefecture

Japanese Tourist Spots - Tokyo

Learn about one of the newest landmarks in Tokyo, Japan: the Tokyo Sky Tree

Japanese Tourist Spots-Yamanashi and Shizuoka

Learn about the highest mountain peak in Japan, Mt. Fuji

Japanese Tourist Spots-Nagano

Learn about the Nagano Prefecture in Japan

Japanese Tourist Spots-Nara

Learn about the Nara Prefecture in Japan

Japanese Tourist Spots-Hiroshima

Learn about Hiroshima Prefecture in Japan

Japanese Tourist Spots-Yamaguchi

Learn about Akiyoshido in the Yamaguchi Prefecture in Japan

Japanese Tourist Spots-Kagoshima

Learn about Kagoshima and the National Heritage Island, Yakushima, in Japan

Going to the Library in Japan

Listen to a conversation about using a library

Choosing Travel Insurance in Japan

Listen to a conversation about choosing travel insurance

Discussing Survey Results in Japanese

Listen to a conversation about survey results

Giving Back to the Community in Japan

Listen to a conversation about volunteering

What's On These Shelves in Japan

Listen to a conversation set in a supermarket

Japanese Musicians - Hibari Misora

Learn about the person most often considered the national singer of Japan, Hibari Misora

Japanese Musicians - Yazawa Eikichi

Learn about the Japanese rock singer that is nicknamed "Boss"

Japanese Musicians - Imawano Kiyoshiro

Learn about the Japanese "King of Rock," Kiyoshiro Imawano

Japanese Musicians - Southern All Stars

Learn about the Japanese band the Southern All Stars

Japanese Musicians - Matsutōya Yumi

Learn about Japanese singer-songwriter Yumi Matsutoya

Japanese Musicians - Nakajima Miyuki

Learn about Japanese musician Nakajima Miyuki

Japanese Musicians - Ozaki Yutaka

Learn about Japanese musician Ozaki Yutaka

Japanese Musicians - Dreams Come True

Learn about the Japanese band Dreams Come True

Japanese Musicians - Utada Hikaru

Learn about the Japanese singer Hikaru Utada

Japanese Musicians - Mr. Children

Learn about the Japanese band called Mr. Children

New Year's Day

Learn all about New Year's Day in Japan and how it's celebrated

Coming of Age Day

Learn all about Coming of Age Day in Japan and how it's celebrated

Bean-Throwing Ceremony

Learn all about the end-of-winter Bean-Throwing Ceremony in Japan and how it's celebrated

National Foundation Day

Learn all about National Foundation Day in Japan and how it's celebrated

St. Valentine's Day

Learn all about St. Valentine's Day

Doll Festival

Learn all about the Doll Festival in Japan

White Day

Learn all about the White Day in Japan

Vernal Equinox Day and Higan

Learn all about the Vernal Equinox Day and Higan in Japan

School Graduation and Entrance Ceremony

Learn all about the School Graduation and Entrance Ceremony in Japan

Cherry Blossom Viewing Season

Learn all about the Cherry Blossom Viewing Season in Japan

Showa Day

Learn all about the Showa Day in Japan

Constitution Day

Learn all about the Constitution Day in Japan

Boys' Festival

Learn all about the Boys' Festival in Japan

Tanabata

Learn all about Tanabata in Japan

Obon

Learn all about Obon in Japan

Respect for the Aged Day

Learn all about the Respect for the Aged Day in Japan

Autumnal Equinox Day and Higan

Learn all about the Autumnal Equinox Day and Higan in Japan

Tsukimi

Learn all about the Tsukimi in Japan

Health and Sports Day

Learn all about the Health and Sports Day in Japan

Culture Day

Learn all about the Culture Day in Japan

Shichi-Go-San

Learn all about the Shichi-Go-San in Japan

Labor Thanksgiving Day

Learn all about the Labor Thanksgiving Day in Japan

Christmas

Learn all about Christmas in Japan

Year-End Party

Learn all about the Year-End Party in Japan

New Year's Eve

Learn all about New Year's Eve in Japan

An Emergency Situation in Japan

Learn how to understand information about an emergency

2 Minutes • Video

Reading Promotional Information

Learn how to read promotional materials

Reading Japanese Directions

Learn how to read directions

Japanese Email Instructions

Learn how to read Japanese email instructions

A Changed Train Schedule

Learn how to understand changes to a train schedule