Hi, I’m Noriko 🌸—a certified Japanese teacher and Neurolanguage Coach®. Learn Japanese with Noriko is for intermediate to advanced learners. If you're an intermediate student, please start from Season 1—I speak slowly at first, then gradually faster. Season 3 is a level-up version with real-life dialogues, philosophy, and language learning topics. Join Japanese Together for our Podcast Conversation Club & Book Club, and sign up for my newsletter at Japanese with Noriko to learn about my coaching service. Enjoy listening!
Learn Japanese with Noriko
Claim This Podcastby Japanese with Noriko
4.9(437 reviews)
756 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇯🇵
Podcast Overview
Hi, I’m Noriko 🌸—a certified Japanese teacher and Neurolanguage Coach®. Learn Japanese with Noriko is for intermediate to advanced learners. If you're an intermediate student, please start from Season 1—I speak slowly at first, then gradually faster. Season 3 is a level-up version with real-life dialogues, philosophy, and language learning topics. Join Japanese Together for our Podcast Conversation Club & Book Club, and sign up for my newsletter at Japanese with Noriko to learn about my coaching service. Enjoy listening!
Language
🇯🇵
Publishing Since
2/5/2020
1 verified contact email on file for Learn Japanese with Noriko
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
May 27, 2026
Season 3-151 Noriko’s Philosophy Playground 9 - How Do You Talk About Death in Japanese? - 日本語で「死」をどう語る？
<p>Join our <a href="https://japanese-together.mn.co/plans/1444036?bundle_token=4e773bdf3bb6f00648a6a920381053df&utm_source=manual" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Japanese Together </a>community and explore podcast topics through discussion.</p><p>In this reflective episode of Japanese with Noriko, Noriko explores the profound theme of death through language, culture, and personal experience. She begins by drawing a parallel between the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms in Japan and the transient nature of life, highlighting how different flowers have unique expressions for “falling,” reflecting the nuance of Japanese language and worldview.</p><p>Noriko then examines various ways to express death in Japanese, from direct terms like 死ぬ to softer expressions such as 「天国に行く」 or 「旅立つ」, showing how language shapes emotional perception. She shares personal encounters with death, including the loss of her grandfather, a childhood friend, and a colleague, illustrating how death appears repeatedly throughout life in different forms.</p><p>The discussion expands to philosophical perspectives, including insights from a philosophy club and a Buddhist concept shared by a listener: 「往生する」, which frames death not as an end but as a transition and continuation. Noriko connects this idea back to nature’s cycles, suggesting that death may not be purely tragic but part of a larger renewal.</p><p>She concludes by inviting listeners to reflect on their own views about death and how it influences how they live today.</p><ul><li><p>儚い（はかない）— fleeting, transient</p></li><li><p>満開（まんかい）— full bloom</p></li><li><p>散る（ちる）— to fall (flowers)</p></li><li><p>現象（げんしょう）— phenomenon</p></li><li><p>表現（ひょうげん）— expression</p></li><li><p>評価（ひょうか）— evaluation</p></li><li><p>中立的（ちゅうりつてき）— neutral</p></li><li><p>宗教観（しゅうきょうかん）— religious view</p></li><li><p>結びつく（むすびつく）— to be connected</p></li><li><p>恐ろしい（おそろしい）— frightening</p></li><li><p>意識（いしき）— awareness</p></li><li><p>漠然と（ばくぜんと）— vaguely</p></li><li><p>同級生（どうきゅうせい）— classmate</p></li><li><p>事故死（じこし）— accidental death</p></li><li><p>溺れる（おぼれる）— to drown</p></li><li><p>振り返る（ふりかえる）— to look back</p></li><li><p>定期的（ていきてき）— regularly</p></li><li><p>覚悟（かくご）— resolve, readiness</p></li><li><p>影響（えいきょう）— influence</p></li><li><p>浄土（じょうど）— Pure Land</p></li><li><p>仏（ほとけ）— Buddha</p></li><li><p>働きかける（はたらきかける）— to act upon, influence</p></li><li><p>種（たね）— seed</p></li><li><p>芽（め）— sprout</p></li><li><p>受け入れる（うけいれる）— to accept</p></li></ul>
May 20, 2026
Season 3-150 What Is “Normal”? A Deep Dive into Convenience Store Woman
<p><strong>Apply Noriko's A Supportive, </strong><a href="https://canva.link/6nlh77vqoedghxc" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>One-to-One Program</strong></a><strong> Let's Read a Japanese Novel Together </strong></p><p>In this episode, I explore コンビニ人間Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata, focusing on the concept of “normality” in society. I reflect on how the protagonist, Keiko, struggles with being perceived as different from childhood and gradually learns to imitate others in order to fit in. I also discuss how her job at a convenience store provides her with structure and a sense of belonging through clear rules and manuals.</p><p>As Keiko reaches her 30s, I explain how societal expectations intensify—questions about marriage, relationships, and career stability become unavoidable. I point out that these pressures are not unique to Japan, but can be found globally. Through this story, I raise an important question: can “normal” and “abnormal” truly be separated, or are they subjective and constantly shifting concepts?</p><p>I also highlight the contrast between Keiko and another character, Shiraha, who is also marginalised but in a different way. By comparing them, I show how the novel deepens its critique of societal norms.</p><p>Ultimately, I encourage listeners to reflect on personal happiness, social conformity, and the pressures created by cultural expectations. I emphasise that the discomfort we feel in life may not only come from ourselves, but also from society.</p>
May 13, 2026
Season 3-149 Sound Like a Native with Japanese Onomatopoeia オノマトペでネイティブっぽく話す
<p>あかね的日本語教室『生活で使える日本語オノマトペ』</p><p><strong>English Summary：</strong>This episode introduces Japanese onomatopoeia through a personal story and quiz-style listening activity. Noriko describes her day off using expressions like ぶらぶら, ザーザー, ビュービュー, ゴロゴロ, and だらだら, showing how they add vivid detail and make Japanese more natural.</p><p>She also reviews a practical onomatopoeia book, highlighting useful features such as manga for context, podcasts for listening practice, and a reference section for quick review. She stresses that learners should connect vocabulary to real-life experiences to truly use it, not just memorize it.</p><p>Noriko encourages learners to choose study methods that suit their style and shares her own approach of starting with listening. The episode ends with a novel example featuring ピンピン, reinforcing how onomatopoeia appears in real conversations.</p><p><br></p>
756 total episodes available
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
Everyday Japanese Podcast
Sayuri Saying
The Bite size Japanese Podcast
Layla from Bite Size Japanese
The Real Japanese Podcast! 日本語の勉強ポッドキャスト！
Haruka
Let’s Talk in Japanese!
Tomo
The Miku Real Japanese Podcast | Japanese conversation | Japanese culture
Miku
日本語の聴解のためのPodcast
あかね的日本語教室
YUYUの日本語Podcast【Japanese Podcast】
YUYU NIHONGO
日本語の会話のpodcast −ことのは−
日本語の先生：ことのは
Japanese with Shun
Shunsuke Otani
Oyasumi Japanese with Shun
Japanese with Shun
Learn Japanese | JapanesePod101.com (Audio)
JapanesePod101.com
Easy Japanese: Conversation Lessons | NHK WORLD-JAPAN
NHK WORLD-JAPAN
桃李日語留聲機
桃李SQHOOL
日文流利聽說訓練 | MJ日語 | MJ Japanese
MJ日語 | MJ Japanese
Deep-dive analytics for Learn Japanese with Noriko
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Learn Japanese with Noriko?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 10 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
No, this podcast does not typically feature guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.