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Fluent Fiction - JapaneseAre you ready to supercharge your Japanese listening comprehension? Our podcast is the perfect tool for you. Studies show that the key to mastering a second language is through repetition and active processing. That's why each episode of our... Author: FluentFiction.org
Are you ready to supercharge your Japanese listening comprehension? Our podcast is the perfect tool for you.Studies show that the key to mastering a second language is through repetition and active processing. That's why each episode of our podcast features a story in Japanese, followed by a sentence-by-sentence retelling that alternates between Japanese and English.This approach not only allows you to fully understand and absorb the vocabulary and grammar but also provides a bilingual support to aid your listening comprehension.But we don't stop there. Research in sociolinguistics highlights the importance of culture in language learning, which is why we provide a list of vocabulary words and a transcript of the audio to help you understand the cultural context of the story. And for your convenience, we also include a transcript of the audio to help you refer back to any parts you may have struggled with.And our podcast is not just for language learners, it's also for travelers or people who want to connect with their roots. Are you planning a trip to Japan? Maybe you want to speak Japanese with your friends from Tokyo? Our podcast will give you the cultural and linguistic background to fully immerse in Japanese.Our podcast is based on the latest research in linguistics, sociolinguistics, psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, and education to provide the most effective method for mastering Japanese listening comprehension. Don't miss this opportunity, give our podcast a try and see the results for yourself. Language: en Genres: Education, Language Learning Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Harmony in Tokyo: A New Year’s Tale of Friendship and Decor
Wednesday, 14 January, 2026
Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Harmony in Tokyo: A New Year’s Tale of Friendship and Decor Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-01-14-23-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 冷たい冬の朝、東京の高級ゲート付きコミュニティに雪がちらほら降る。En: On a cold winter morning, snowflakes gently fall in a luxurious gated community in Tokyo.Ja: 愛子は温かいコートを羽織り、今年こそ隣人を驚かせようと新年の飾り付けを考えていた。En: Aiko, wrapped in a warm coat, was contemplating decorations for the new year to impress her neighbors this time.Ja: 特に、手強い隣人のケンジを。彼はいつも豪華な飾りでみんなの注目を集めている。En: Especially her formidable neighbor, Kenji, who always catches everyone's attention with his lavish displays.Ja: 愛子の家の周りは、古風ながらもモダンな家々が整然と並び、葉を落とした桜の木が風に揺れていた。En: Around Aiko's house, traditional yet modern homes stood in neat rows, with cherry trees, now bare, swaying in the wind.Ja: 新年に向けて、愛子は完璧な飾りを探しに出かけることを決意した。En: As the new year approached, Aiko decided to go out and search for the perfect decorations.Ja: しかし、人々が慌ただしく買い物をする中、愛子は理想の飾りを見つけるのに苦戦していた。En: However, amidst the bustling crowds shopping busily, she was struggling to find the ideal ornaments.Ja: 「どうしよう、時間がないわ。」愛子は漏らした。En: "What should I do? I'm running out of time," Aiko muttered.Ja: その時、友人の美香が愛子に声をかけた。En: Just then, her friend Mika called out to her.Ja: 「愛子、知ってる？隠れた名店があるの。でも、ちょっと遠いの。」美香のアドバイスに従い、愛子は少し離れたところにある高級ブティックへと足を運んだ。En: "Aiko, you know what? There's a hidden gem of a store. But it's a bit far." Following Mika's advice, Aiko headed to a high-end boutique located a little distance away.Ja: 店内は静かで洗練された雰囲気。En: Inside the store, the atmosphere was quiet and sophisticated.Ja: そこで、愛子は息をのむほど美しい中心飾りを見つけた。En: There, Aiko found a breathtakingly beautiful centerpiece.Ja: それは全員の目を引く特別なものであった。En: It was something special that would draw everyone's eyes.Ja: しかし、彼女がその飾りに手を伸ばした瞬間、後ろから声がした。En: However, just as she reached out for the decoration, a voice came from behind.Ja: 「それは俺が見つけたやつだ。」振り返ると、そこにはケンジがいた。En: "That's the one I found first." Turning around, there stood Kenji.Ja: お互いに一歩も譲れない状況に緊張が走る。En: Tension ran through the situation where neither could back down.Ja: しかし、愛子は思い切って提案した。「これは二人で分け合おう。どうかしら？」En: However, Aiko boldly proposed, "How about we share this between us?"Ja: ケンジは意外にも笑顔を見せ、「そうだな、仲良くしよう。」と賛成した。En: Surprisingly, Kenji smiled and agreed, "That's right, let's be friends."Ja: 二人は飾りを分け合い、それぞれの家を飾った。En: They split the decoration and each adorned their own home.Ja: 新年の夜、愛子の家とケンジの家は見事に調和した飾りで照らされていた。En: On New Year's Eve, both Aiko's and Kenji's houses were illuminated with their impressively harmonized decorations.Ja: 人々は感心し、二人の友情にも感動した。En: People were impressed and touched by their friendship.Ja: 愛子はその時気づいた。競争よりも、協力し合うことの方がずっと楽しいし、価値があることを。En: In that moment, Aiko realized that cooperating was far more enjoyable and valuable than competing.Ja: 新しい年は、共に分かち合う素晴らしい年になりそうだった。En: The new year seemed likely to be a wonderful year of sharing together. Vocabulary Words:contemplating: 考えていたformidable: 手強いlavish: 豪華なornaments: 飾りmuttered: 漏らしたsophisticated: 洗練されたcenterpiece: 中心飾りbreathtakingly: 息をのむほどtension: 緊張boldly: 思い切ってproposed: 提案したilluminated: 照らされていたharmonized: 調和したcooperating: 協力し合うvaluable: 価値があるluxurious: 高級gated: ゲート付きbare: 葉を落としたbustling: 慌ただしくideal: 理想hidden gem: 隠れた名店boutique: ブティックadorned: 飾ったimpressed: 感心したtouched: 感動したcompeting: 競争sharing: 分かち合うcherry trees: 桜の木catch: 注目を集めているrows: 整然と
