Recommended listening

Best Japanese podcasts for beginners

Slow, simple, made-for-learners shows are the fastest way to start understanding real Japanese. Here are the best ones for beginners (about N5–N4) and how to get the most from them.

The best beginner shows speak slowly, stick to everyday topics, and repeat useful phrases. Pick one or two, listen for the gist, and don’t worry about catching every word — the goal is hours of Japanese you can mostly follow.

Nihongo con Teppei (for Beginners) N5–N4

Short, slow, all-Japanese episodes on everyday topics. The classic first podcast — hundreds of episodes, so you’ll never run out.

Learn Japanese with Noriko N5–N4

Friendly, clear monologues in simple Japanese, with topics chosen for learners and a warm, easy pace.

Japanese with Shun N4

Calm, natural-but-slow Japanese about daily life and culture — a gentle step up once N5 shows feel comfortable.

Sakura Tips N5

Bite-size episodes on Japanese life and language, easy to fit into a short commute.

Bitesize Japanese Podcast N5

Very short beginner episodes built around a single phrase or idea — ideal when you only have a few minutes.

How to use them

Listen in short, focused bursts. Catch the gist first, then look up only the words that block meaning, and re-listen — the second pass is where it clicks. Save what’s worth keeping and review it later with the audio.

Listen with tap-to-understand

Add any of these shows to Wakatta and tap any word for its reading and meaning, let the AI explain the tricky sentences, and review what you save — with the original audio.

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