💜 Join our vibrant community, "Japanese Together". Access exclusive content, transcripts with furigana 📝, and meet-ups 🤝 to practice with fellow learners. Let's embark on this adventure together! 🌐 Visit my website for Neurolanguage Coach® sessions. Let's discuss your goals 🎯 and vision 👀 for your learning journey. 📰 Subscribe to our Substack newsletter. I live in the UK, and my parents live in Japan. They occasionally send me packages from Japan. The other day, a package arrived. It usually takes about 10 days for a package to arrive from Japan. Inside the box, there were various things. First, there was instant miso soup and a knitted hat made by my mother. My mother enjoys knitting, and the hat is very cute. Then, there were lots of books. I had ordered books from Amazon Japan, and my parents packed them into the box. Lastly, there was a planner for next year. The planner is for writing down my thoughts and plans. It's from a Japanese brand called "Hobonichi Techo." This year’s design features sushi. It's very unique and cute, and I really like it. That’s all for today, see you next time!
💜 Join our vibrant community, "Japanese Together". Access exclusive content, transcripts with furigana 📝, and meet-ups 🤝 to practice with fellow learners. Let's embark on this adventure together! 🌐 Visit my website for Neurolanguage Coach® sessions. Let's discuss your goals 🎯 and vision 👀 for your learning journey. 📰 Subscribe to our Substack newsletter. This year, I did a Japanese reading challenge. Among the participants, I sent cards as a reward to those who were able to finish reading a Japanese novel. There were a total of 5 cards. One went to Georgia, three to the U.S., and the last one to Canada. To be honest, it had been a while since I last sent a letter. It had also been a long time since I wrote a postcard in Japanese. And it had been a while since I last went to the post office too. The shipping cost was a bit high, but I was excited and nervous as I sent the cards, wondering if they would reach my students safely. It took some time for the cards to arrive. The first one reached my student in Canada. Two weeks later, that student contacted me right away, saying, "The card has arrived!" However, even though it has been a month, there are still places where the cards haven't arrived. I'm a bit worried. Will they arrive safely?
💜 Join our vibrant community, "Japanese Together". Access exclusive content, transcripts with furigana 📝, and meet-ups 🤝 to practice with fellow learners. Let's embark on this adventure together! 🌐 Visit my website for Neurolanguage Coach® sessions. Let's discuss your goals 🎯 and vision 👀 for your learning journey. 📰 Subscribe to our Substack newsletter. I went to a town called Chester, which is about an hour's drive from Liverpool. Chester is a very beautiful town. There are old buildings and a castle. Chester Cathedral is especially famous. It’s a large church, and the courtyard inside is very beautiful, quiet, and a peaceful place. There’s also a fountain, and it’s very relaxing. Chester also has ruins from ancient Roman times. There are remains of a bathhouse built by the ancient Romans. As I walked through the town, I felt a sense of its long history. There are also city walls, and you can take a walk around them. Many tourists visit and enjoy the town. Chester is a very charming town, with a medieval atmosphere still present. It’s perfect for a day trip. You can take a walk along the riverside and enjoy a mini cruise. I really liked Chester. If you come to England, I highly recommend visiting Chester!
💜 Join our vibrant community, "Japanese Together". Access exclusive content 📚, transcripts with furigana 📝, and meet-ups 🤝 to practice with fellow learners. Let's embark on this adventure together! 🚀 https://japanese-together.mn.co 🌐 Visit my website for Neurolanguage Coach® sessions. Let's discuss your goals 🎯 and vision 👀 for your learning journey. https://www.japanesewithnoriko.com/ 📰 Subscribe to our Substack newsletter. https://nihongostorytime.substack.com/p/welcome-to-nihongo-storytime-lets?r=celgs Dear Noriko-sensei, Hello! How are you? Thanks to you, I have safely arrived in Japan, and since my new life has begun, I decided to write you an email. Is it already autumn in England? It's still hot in Okayama in September, and it's tough. Well, I’ve started living on my own in Okayama. My apartment is small, but it’s very clean and comfortable. It’s near Okayama Castle, and I can get to Kōraku-en Garden in about 10 minutes by bike. School has also started, and the other day, I had my first class. I was really nervous, but Tanaka-sensei, my colleague, has been helping me. I’ll be teaching a lesson about British culture soon. I’m thinking of talking about fish and chips... There’s still almost nothing in my apartment, but after I get my first paycheck next month, I plan to buy a table and chairs. I’m excited because I feel like I’m gradually creating my own space. Thanks to you, I think I’m doing okay with Japanese conversation so far. But my colleagues speak fast, so sometimes I can’t catch what they’re saying. Please don’t worry, though. I’m managing somehow. I’ll keep doing my best, and I’d be happy if you could give me more advice in the future. I’ll contact you again. Take care. Sincerely, Tim
💜 Join our vibrant community, "Japanese Together". Access exclusive content 📚, transcripts with furigana 📝, and meet-ups 🤝 to practice with fellow learners. Let's embark on this adventure together! 🚀 https://japanese-together.mn.co 🌐 Visit my website for Neurolanguage Coach® sessions. Let's discuss your goals 🎯 and vision 👀 for your learning journey. https://www.japanesewithnoriko.com/ 📰 Subscribe to our Substack newsletter. https://nihongostorytime.substack.com/p/welcome-to-nihongo-storytime-lets?r=celgs Finally, the first day as an ALT arrived. Tim was a bit nervous, but as soon as he entered the classroom, the students energetically greeted him with, "Hello!" Hearing that, Tim smiled and felt a little more relaxed. In class, he taught some simple English phrases and tried doing role-plays. There were some enthusiastic students, but there were also a few who seemed bored. Tanaka-sensei, the English teacher and his colleague, said, "For your first time, you did really well. Next, could you prepare a class where you read about and talk about British culture?" Tim thought he would do his best to prepare for the next class. As he walked down the hallway, many students spoke to Tim in Japanese. Thanks to his lessons with Noriko, he could understand most of the Japanese. He felt confident about having conversations too. However, since Tim is an English teacher, he decided to speak to the students in English as much as possible. And so, Tim's new life in Japan began. He hopes to continue enjoying his experiences in Japan. He also wants to travel around the country a lot and learn even more about Japan.
💜 Join our vibrant community, "Japanese Together". Access exclusive content 📚, transcripts with furigana 📝, and meet-ups 🤝 to practice with fellow learners. Let's embark on this adventure together! 🚀 https://japanese-together.mn.co 🌐 Visit my website for Neurolanguage Coach® sessions. Let's discuss your goals 🎯 and vision 👀 for your learning journey. https://www.japanesewithnoriko.com/ 📰 Subscribe to our Substack newsletter. https://nihongostorytime.substack.com/p/welcome-to-nihongo-storytime-lets?r=celgs In Okayama, Tim started living alone for the first time. His new apartment was small, but it was very clean and comfortable. The apartment was near Okayama Castle, and he could reach the famous Korakuen Garden in about 10 minutes by bike. It was also close to the Asahi River. He heard that in spring, many cherry blossoms bloom beautifully, and he was looking forward to seeing them. School hadn’t started yet. While going to the nearby supermarket and taking walks in the park, Tim gradually got used to the city. Since he wanted to cook for himself, he also bought a pot, a frying pan, and other kitchen essentials. Japanese supermarkets are completely different from those in the UK. He enjoyed looking at the various foods and products. There was still almost nothing in his apartment. Next month, after he gets his first paycheck, he plans to buy a table and chairs.
💜 Join our vibrant community, "Japanese Together". Access exclusive content 📚, transcripts with furigana 📝, and meet-ups 🤝 to practice with fellow learners. Let's embark on this adventure together! 🚀 https://japanese-together.mn.co 🌐 Visit my website for Neurolanguage Coach® sessions. Let's discuss your goals 🎯 and vision 👀 for your learning journey. https://www.japanesewithnoriko.com/ 📰 Subscribe to our Substack newsletter. https://nihongostorytime.substack.com/p/welcome-to-nihongo-storytime-lets?r=celgs Tim arrived in Japan. When he stepped off the plane, he felt a little nervous, but breathing in the Japanese air gave him energy. Everything was new, and he couldn’t stop feeling excited. With his suitcase in hand, he took a train to Shinagawa Station in Tokyo. From there, he transferred to the Shinkansen and headed toward Okayama, enjoying the Japanese scenery along the way. When he arrived in Okayama, a new life was waiting for him. Tim was about to start teaching English as an ALT in Okayama City. He first went straight to the Okayama Prefectural Office to meet with the person who would be helping him. The city was quiet, and many people were riding bicycles. "Ah, I've really come to Japan," Tim thought to himself, feeling it deeply. He really felt excited.
💜 Join our vibrant community, "Japanese Together". Access exclusive content 📚, transcripts with furigana 📝, and meet-ups 🤝 to practice with fellow learners. Let's embark on this adventure together! 🚀 https://japanese-together.mn.co 🌐 Visit my website for Neurolanguage Coach® sessions. Let's discuss your goals 🎯 and vision 👀 for your learning journey. https://www.japanesewithnoriko.com/ 📰 Subscribe to our Substack newsletter. https://nihongostorytime.substack.com/p/welcome-to-nihongo-storytime-lets?r=celgs Tim lives in Manchester and works as a math teacher. He loves Japan and has been studying Japanese on his own for the past five years. Over the last two years, he discovered Noriko’s podcast and listened to it frequently to continue improving his Japanese. Noriko’s way of speaking was easy to understand and very helpful. This past year, he also took private lessons with Noriko to practice conversation. Tim’s dream is to teach English in Japan as an ALT. Recently, he had an interview for the position and successfully passed. He was thrilled and excited for his new adventure to begin. Finally, the day to depart for Japan in August arrived. During his last lesson with Noriko, Tim said, "This is the end, isn't it?" But Noriko smiled and said, "It's a new beginning. Good luck!
💜 Join our vibrant community, "Japanese Together". Access exclusive content 📚, transcripts with furigana 📝, and meet-ups 🤝 to practice with fellow learners. Let's embark on this adventure together! 🚀 https://japanese-together.mn.co 🌐 Visit my website for Neurolanguage Coach® sessions. Let's discuss your goals 🎯 and vision 👀 for your learning journey. https://www.japanesewithnoriko.com/ 📰 Subscribe to our Substack newsletter. https://nihongostorytime.substack.com/p/welcome-to-nihongo-storytime-lets?r=celgs Music from YouTube Music Library Fine Dining by TrackTribe
🎙️Welcome to Japanese Simple Storytime with Noriko! 🌟Join Japanese Together for story scripts and translations. Engage in monthly meet-ups to connect with fellow learners and explore Japanese deeper. 💜Japanese Together https://japanese-together.mn.co Music from YouTube Music Library Fine Dining by TrackTribe
🎙️Welcome to Japanese Simple Storytime with Noriko! 🌟Join Japanese Together for story scripts and translations. Engage in monthly meet-ups to connect with fellow learners and explore Japanese deeper. 💜Japanese Together https://japanese-together.mn.co Music from YouTube Music Library Fine Dining by TrackTribe This is Noriko from Nihongo Storytime. In this podcast, I speak slowly. I have a website called "Japanese with Noriko." Please check it out if you have the chance. Now, let me share my story with you today. In July, I went to Sweden and Denmark. Please listen. At the end of July, I went to Lund in Sweden. Lund is located in the southern part of Sweden. I have relatives who live in Lund. First, I flew to Copenhagen Airport in Denmark, and from there, I took a train. It takes about an hour by train from Copenhagen to Lund. The purpose of this trip was to visit family. My in-laws live in Lund, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark. This time, I went to visit them. Lund, Sweden is famous for its university. It’s a student town. However, since I went in the summer, there were no students around. It was very quiet. Sweden is known for its delicious sweet pastries. The cinnamon rolls are particularly tasty. I went to a famous bakery in Lund and bought freshly baked cinnamon rolls. I also took a walk in a park in Lund with my niece. There were many apple trees. Next time, I plan to visit Lund during Christmas.
🎙️Welcome to Japanese Simple Storytime with Noriko! ☕️Thank you for your support： https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nihongostorytime July 22, Monday It’s now Monday, July 22, 2024, 9:55 AM in the UK. The start of a new week. Let’s do our best this week. July 23, Tuesday It’s 8 AM, and I’m a bit tired. I wanted to wake up at 6 but ended up waking at 6:30. What time did you wake up this morning? July 24, Wednesday It’s 7:55 AM in the UK. I’m drinking my morning coffee, checking emails. What do you drink in the morning? July 25, Thursday It’s 7:30 AM. I’m preparing for a summer vacation starting tomorrow, traveling to Denmark and Sweden. Do you have any travel plans? July 26, Friday It's 6:30 in the morning. I woke up earlier than usual because I had a stomachache. I have to go to the airport soon. I'm a little worried. It takes just over an hour by car from my house to Manchester Airport. Do you have any plans for this weekend? Please let me know. July 27, Saturday I am currently in Sweden, it is 9:45 AM. I am staying at the home of our family living in Sweden. This family has two little girls. I have been playing with them. They are so energetic that I am exhausted! Everyone, have a great weekend. July 28, Sunday I am in Sweden now. In the morning, I went to a bakery to buy some bread. Speaking of bread in Sweden, it's cinnamon rolls. The freshly baked bread was really delicious. What kind of bread do you like? Please let me know. July 29, Monday It’s 3 PM now. Today, I went to a supermarket in Sweden and bought vegetables, fruits, cheese, and other things. When I go to other countries, I always visit the local supermarkets to shop. Going to supermarkets in other countries is fun. How many times a week do you go to the supermarket? July 30, Tuesday I am having breakfast at a cafe in Copenhagen right now. Today, I will spend half the day in Copenhagen and then return to England. There are many delicious coffee shops in Copenhagen. I want to relax in a cafe. Do you often go to cafes? July 31, Wednesday I came back to Liverpool at 1 AM. The trip was fun, but I am tired today. Today, I have already returned to my usual routine and I have to do the laundry. After a trip, there is always a lot of laundry to do, which is quite a task. Also, there is no food in the refrigerator. I have to go to the supermarket today as well. August 1, Thursday Today marks the beginning of August. Do you have any plans for August? I don't have any specific plans for August. I'll continue my usual routine every day. However, from the end of August, I'll be taking a new course to obtain a new qualification. I'm looking forward to it. Everyone, please share what you want to work hard on in August. August 2, Friday I bought delicious coffee beans in Copenhagen, my travel destination. Copenhagen has many cafes where you can drink delicious coffee. This morning, I made drip coffee myself and drank it. I drink drip coffee every morning. I like the quiet time in the morning. And I like delicious coffee.
🎙️Welcome to Japanese Simple Storytime with Noriko! ☕️Thank you for your support： https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nihongostorytime 🌟Join Japanese Together for story scripts and translations. Engage in monthly meet-ups to connect with fellow learners and explore Japanese deeper. 💜Japanese Together https://japanese-together.mn.co Hello everyone. This is Noriko from Nihongo Storytime. In this podcast, I speak slowly. Please also listen to my other podcast, Japanese with Noriko, where I speak faster. Well, today I will tell you my story. My in-laws came to Liverpool. So, please listen. I am married. My husband is Peruvian. In July, my in-laws came to Liverpool from Peru. We spent about ten days together. My father-in-law and mother-in-law do not speak much English. I do not speak much Spanish. So, it was a bit difficult. I studied Spanish long ago, but I haven’t studied it at all recently. However, I tried to speak a lot in Spanish. I remembered some simple words. My mother-in-law is good at cooking. She made delicious Peruvian food every day. My father-in-law likes the Beatles. So, he was very happy to visit famous Beatles-related places in Liverpool. When they came to Liverpool from Peru, the weather was cold. They wore sweaters. I wore a short-sleeved T-shirt. It’s interesting, isn’t it? Finally, my father-in-law likes whiskey. I also like whiskey. So, we went to a delicious whiskey bar in Liverpool. We tasted Scotch whiskey. That’s all for today.
🎙️Welcome to Japanese Simple Storytime with Noriko! ☕️Thank you for your support： https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nihongostorytime 🌟Join Japanese Together for story scripts and translations. Engage in monthly meet-ups to connect with fellow learners and explore Japanese deeper. 💜Japanese Together https://japanese-together.mn.co Hello everyone. This is Noriko from Nihongo Storytime. In this podcast, I speak slowly. Please also listen to my other podcast, Japanese with Noriko, where I speak faster. Now, today is another story from me. It's about Liverpool. Please listen. I live in Liverpool, England. In November 2024, I moved to Liverpool from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Liverpool is famous for The Beatles. Before The Beatles became famous, they played at a live music venue in Liverpool. That place is called The Cavern Club. Last Friday, I watched a Beatles tribute band live at The Cavern Club. The tickets for the live show were £20 per person. The live show lasted about three hours. People who looked like the members of The Beatles played many of their songs. Their costumes were also like The Beatles, and it was a very enjoyable show. Most of the audience was elderly. Everyone listened to famous Beatles songs and danced and sang along. I also stood up and danced during "Twist and Shout." The last song was "Hey Jude." At that time, everyone in the audience stood up and sang together loudly. If you come to Liverpool, please visit this live house. It's an interesting place where you can feel the atmosphere of that time.
🎙️Welcome to Japanese Simple Storytime with Noriko! ☕️Playlists https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLk8IZbrxRK3Q-oQX4WhtRUmHJBRFAFrZD 🌟Join Japanese Together for story scripts and translations. Engage in monthly meet-ups to connect with fellow learners and explore Japanese deeper. 💜Japanese Together https://japanese-together.mn.co I went to London in June. It was a 3-day trip with 2 nights. The purpose of this trip was to attend a concert. It was a concert of the Korean singer IU. I am studying Korean. I love IU's songs. IU is a female singer and also an actress. She appears in famous dramas and movies. The concert was on Friday night at Wembley Arena in the suburbs of London. It was sold out. The concert lasted from 6:30 PM for 3 hours. It was very long and tiring, but it was really enjoyable. It felt like a dream. I was able to go to the concert I had always wanted to attend. Do you go to concerts? Do you have a favorite artist? Thanks to this concert, my motivation to study Korean has increased. I want to study more and sing IU's songs in Korean. Do you listen to Japanese songs? I am part of the community Japanese Together. I made a playlist of Japanese songs recommended by the community members. I will share the link, so please listen to it.
🎙️Welcome to Japanese Simple Storytime with Noriko! ☕️Thank you for your support： https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nihongostorytime 🌟Join Japanese Together for story scripts and translations. Engage in monthly meet-ups to connect with fellow learners and explore Japanese deeper. 💜Japanese Together https://japanese-together.mn.co I like going to museums. There is the Tate Modern Museum in London. I love this museum. The special exhibitions at this museum are always amazing. I saw a special exhibition of Matisse before. It was really wonderful. The Tate Modern Museum is free, but you need to pay to see the special exhibitions. The special exhibitions are expensive, but they are a very good experience. This time, I saw a special exhibition about Expressionists. I don't know much about paintings, but when I go to the museum, I find a painting I like and buy its postcard. The Tate Modern Museum is along the Thames River in London. I recommend walking along the Thames River. You can see many landmarks in London. Do you go to museums? If you have any recommended museums or favorite paintings, please tell me.
🎙️Welcome to Japanese Simple Storytime with Noriko! ☕️Thank you for your support： https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nihongostorytime 🌟Join Japanese Together for story scripts and translations. Engage in monthly meet-ups to connect with fellow learners and explore Japanese deeper. 💜Japanese Together https://japanese-together.mn.co I live in Liverpool, England. I went to London from Liverpool in June. It took 2 hours and 40 minutes by train. I love London and often go there. This time, it was my first time in London in a year. London has many delicious restaurants and cafes. There are also many museums and art galleries. There are various landmarks, and just walking around is fun. This time in London, I went to some interesting restaurants. One was a Japanese udon restaurant called "Marugame Udon." In Japan, udon is cheap, but the Marugame Udon in London was stylish and surprising. The udon was also much more expensive than in Japan. Another place was a Peruvian restaurant. In London, you can eat food from many different countries. At the restaurant, you can hear Spanish. The menu has many Peruvian dishes, and the taste is delicious. So, I always go there. Oh, I forgot to mention, my husband is Peruvian. He also likes the taste of this restaurant. Have you ever been to London? Do you want to go?
🎙️Welcome to Japanese Simple Storytime with Noriko! ☕️Thank you for your support： https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nihongostorytime 🌟Join Japanese Together for story scripts and translations. Engage in monthly meet-ups to connect with fellow learners and explore Japanese deeper. 💜Japanese Together https://japanese-together.mn.co Music from YouTube Music Library Fine Dining by TrackTribe "Italian café culture is quite different from that in the UK. I visited local cafés in Milan and Bologna. In the UK, it is common to sit down and drink a latte or an Americano. However, Italian cafés have counters where many people stand to drink espresso or caffè lungo. Everyone stands at the counter, drinks their coffee there, and leaves right away. Many people stand and drink in Italian cafes in the morning. In Italian cafés, it is normal to stand and quickly drink your coffee. Not only that, but there are many cafés and restaurants with terrace seating, meaning there are plenty of seats outside in front of the shop. Italy has better weather than Liverpool, where I live in the UK. Therefore, there are many terrace seats. During my travels in Italy, I often saw cafés open early in the morning. However, in the UK, it is rare to find a café open at 7 AM. Additionally, many people in Italy eat sweet Danish pastries or cream-filled croissants in the morning. It's a sweet breakfast. On the other hand, the famous breakfast in the UK is the English breakfast, which is full of sausages and bacon and is not sweet at all. English breakfast is a fattening breakfast.This difference is very interesting. Personally, I prefer the Italian-style breakfast."
🎙️Welcome to Japanese Simple Storytime with Noriko! ☕️Thank you for your support： https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nihongostorytime 🌟Join Japanese Together for story scripts and translations. Engage in monthly meet-ups to connect with fellow learners and explore Japanese deeper. 💜Japanese Together https://japanese-together.mn.co Music from YouTube Music Library Fine Dining by TrackTribe "Bologna is about an hour away from Milan by train. The trains are high-speed, similar to Japan's Shinkansen. If you book a special seat, you can receive water and snacks on the train. Enjoying the scenery outside the window while having snacks made the journey to Bologna feel very short. In Bologna, we stayed at an Airbnb. This city is known as the 'Gastronomic Capital' of Italy. Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, which is renowned for its rich variety of food ingredients. There are many delicious foods such as mortadella (Bologna sausage), Parmigiano-Reggiano, and Modena balsamic vinegar. Additionally, egg pasta is used in dishes like tortellini and lasagna. Although we stayed for only two nights, we enjoyed delicious food from morning till night every day. The most delicious item was, of course, the dessert tiramisu. It was creamy and very tasty. The tiramisu you can buy in British supermarkets is too sweet, but the tiramisu we had in Bologna was not overly sweet. The gastronomic journey in Bologna was truly a wonderful experience. I definitely want to go again!"
🎙️Welcome to Japanese Simple Storytime with Noriko! ☕️Thank you for your support： https://www.buymeacoffee.com/nihongostorytime 🌟Join Japanese Together for story scripts and translations. Engage in monthly meet-ups to connect with fellow learners and explore Japanese deeper. 💜Japanese Together https://japanese-together.mn.co Music from YouTube Music Library Fine Dining by TrackTribe "I went to Milan and Bologna in Italy for a 6-day, 5-night trip. In Milan, I had lunch at a restaurant with members of the community Japanese Together. This restaurant is very famous for its handmade fresh pasta. Fresh pasta is different from dried pasta. It has a chewy texture and is delicious. The term 'fresh' does not mean that it can be eaten raw. It means it is 'fresh' in the sense that it is soft and has not been dried yet. The boiling time is also shorter than that of dried pasta. The fresh pasta I had at this restaurant was truly different from any pasta I have ever had before; it was very delicious. I love noodle dishes, and I also came to love this fresh pasta. This was my second time visiting Milan. I stayed at a hotel near Central Station. I also went to Bologna, which is about an hour by train from Central Station. It was a very comfortable trip on the high-speed train. I will talk about Bologna in the next episode."