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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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Whispers Through Torii: A Winter Encounter in Kyoto
Tuesday, 2 December, 2025
Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Whispers Through Torii: A Winter Encounter in Kyoto Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2025-12-02-08-38-20-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 冬の朝、冷たい空気が京都の街を包む中、晴樹と同級生たちは伏見稲荷大社への遠足に出かけました。En: On a winter morning, as the cold air enveloped the city of Kyoto, Haruki and his classmates set out on a field trip to Fushimi Inari Taisha.Ja: 赤い鳥居のトンネルがそびえ立ち、山肌をカーブして続くその光景に、彼の心は静かに打たれていました。En: The tunnels of red torii stood tall, curving along the mountainside, a sight that quietly struck a chord in his heart.Ja: 「今日は楽しくなるといいな」と、晴樹は心の中でつぶやきました。En: "I hope today turns out to be fun," Haruki muttered to himself.Ja: いつもは静かで、人との会話が苦手な彼は、En: He was usually quiet and not very good at talking with people.Ja: 文化や歴史に強い興味を持っていましたが、そのことで他の生徒から少し浮いているように感じていました。En: Even though he had a strong interest in culture and history, he felt somewhat out of place among the other students.Ja: そのため、彼はしばしば孤独を感じ、クラスメートとの関わり方に悩んでいました。En: As a result, he often felt lonely and struggled with how to connect with his classmates.Ja: 一方、クラスメートのユキはいつも明るくて元気。En: On the other hand, his classmate Yuki was always bright and energetic.Ja: 彼女は誰とでもすぐに仲良くなれる性格ですが、心の奥に似たような寂しさを抱えていました。En: She had a personality that allowed her to easily become friends with anyone, but deep down, she harbored a similar loneliness.Ja: 遠足が始まり、クラスメートたちは賑やかに笑顔で写真を撮ったり、おしゃべりを楽しんだりしていました。En: The field trip began, and the classmates cheerfully took photos and enjoyed chatting with one another.Ja: しかし、晴樹は少し離れた場所で静かに立ち止まり、周りの風景に見入ることを選びました。En: Haruki, however, chose to quietly stand a little apart, engrossed in the surrounding scenery.Ja: 「本当にここに来て良かったのかな…」とひそかに思いながら。En: While doing so, he silently wondered, "Did I really make the right choice by coming here..."Ja: 彼は意を決して、クラスの列から離れて一人静かな道を選びました。En: He gathered his resolve and chose a quiet path, stepping away from the class line.Ja: 冬の清らかな空気が彼の頬を撫で、鳥居の連なる道を一人歩き出しました。En: The pure winter air caressed his cheeks as he began walking alone along the path of torii.Ja: その途中、小道の角を曲がると、彼は同じく一人歩いているユキに出会いました。En: Turning a corner on the trail, he encountered Yuki, who was also walking alone.Ja: 「晴樹くん？」と驚いた顔を上げたユキは、En: "Haruki-kun?" Yuki said, lifting her face in surprise.Ja: 少し微笑むと、「一緒に歩いてもいい？」と聞きました。En: With a slight smile, she asked, "Is it okay if I walk with you?"Ja: 少し戸惑った晴樹は、控えめに頷きました。En: A bit bewildered, Haruki gave a modest nod.Ja: 二人は言葉少なにしばらく歩きました。En: They walked in near silence for a while.Ja: やがて、木々に囲まれた静かな場所に差しかかると、小さな石の祭壇が目に入りました。En: Eventually, they arrived at a peaceful spot surrounded by trees, where a small stone altar caught their eyes.Ja: そこには七五三の飾りがまだ残っており、その周りには赤と白の美しい千歳飴の包み紙が静かに落ちていました。En: The decorations from the shichigosan festival were still there, and around it lay the beautiful red and white wrappers of chitose ame quietly scattered.Ja: 「ここ、素敵だね」とユキが言いました。En: "This place is lovely," Yuki said.Ja: 「この祭壇、忘れられたみたい。でもまだ、とても特別。」En: "This altar seems forgotten, yet it's still so special."Ja: その言葉に彼は少し安心し、自分の思いをポツリポツリと話し始めました。En: Reassured by her words, Haruki began to slowly share his thoughts.Ja: 文化や歴史に触れることで自分が何かもっと大きなものの一部になりたいこと、そしてそれが人との距離を作ってしまう不安。En: He spoke about wanting to become part of something larger by connecting with culture and history, and the anxiety that this created a distance between him and others.Ja: ユキも自分の気持ちを語りました。いつも明るく見せるけれど、本当に心を開ける人を探していること。En: Yuki, too, shared her feelings—she always seemed bright but was searching for someone with whom she could truly open up.Ja: その場に立ち、心を通わせたことで、二人はなんだか軽くなった気がしました。En: Standing there, as they communicated with their hearts, the two felt somehow lighter.Ja: ありのままの自分を理解してくれる存在がいることに気づいたからです。En: They realized the importance of having someone who understood them as they truly were.Ja: やがて、二人はゆっくりと仲間のいる場所に戻りました。En: Eventually, they returned slowly to where their classmates were.Ja: 心の重荷は軽くなり、晴樹は初めて自信を持って仲間に話しかけることができました。En: The weight on their hearts had lifted, and for the first time, Haruki could confidently speak to his friends.Ja: その後の時間、彼は笑顔を見せ、みんなと写真を撮り、遠足を心から楽しむことができました。En: From then on, he showed his smile, took pictures with everyone, and truly enjoyed the field trip.Ja: それ以来、晴樹は少しずつ他の友人たちとも心を通わせるようになり、ユキとも大切な友達として毎日を過ごしていきました。En: Since that day, Haruki gradually began to connect more with other friends and continued to spend each day as close friends with Yuki.Ja: 伏見稲荷での一日は、彼にとって忘れられない特別な思い出の始まりとなったのです。En: That day at Fushimi Inari became the beginning of an unforgettable and special memory for him. Vocabulary Words:enveloped: 包むcurving: カーブしてstruck a chord: 心に打たれるmuttered: つぶやきましたlonely: 孤独harbored: 抱えていましたcheerfully: 賑やかにengrossed: 見入るresolve: 意を決してbewildered: 戸惑ったmodest: 控えめaltar: 祭壇decorations: 飾りsheer: 清らかなwrappers: 包み紙reassured: 安心anxiety: 不安communicated: 心を通わせたunderstood: 理解してconfidently: 自信を持ってgradually: 少しずつunforgettable: 忘れられないspecial: 特別began: 始まりましたinterest: 興味classmate: クラスメートbright: 明るくてpath: 道encountered: 出会いましたsilent: 静かに
