Advanced Audio Blog 1

The Advanced Audio Blog series provides you with an in-depth look into Japan, Japanese culture, and the life of a typical Japanese person.

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Advanced Audio Blog 1

The Advanced Audio Blog series provides you with an in-depth look into Japan, Japanese culture, and the life of a typical Japanese person. These lessons are entirely in Japanese and you can find transcripts in the first comment of each lesson. Season 1 consists of 109 audio blogs presented by Miki, a college student studying in Tokyo.

Lesson	Title	Topic	Summary	Cultural Fact	Vocab
1	Meet Miki	Introduction of the blog writer, Miki	Miki, the author of this Audio Blog series, introduces herself.		茨城県広告論文いろんな静岡県千葉県おばあちゃん肉じゃが海水浴過ごす高速道路
2	Fireworks	Sumida River fireworks	Miki talks about the Sumida River Fireworks festival that she recently went to.	Yukata are often worn in the summer at festivals	お祭り花火打ち上げる力士江戸っ子会場浴衣合言葉
3	Izu	Shaboten in Izu	Miki talks about Shaboten park in Izu.		先日伊豆シャボテン枯れる鉢ガッカリ
4	The Environment	Music event in Shizuoka.	Miki talks about a music event and environmental issues.		腫れ診察蕁麻疹野外環境問題地球
5	Birthday	Disneyland and Disney Sea	Miki talks about going to Disneyland on her birthday.	Japan has both Disneyland and Disney Sea	飽きる回数
6	Report from Kyoto (Part 1) - The Cultural Capital of Japan	Kyoto and Miki's grandmother	Miki talks about visiting her grandmother in Kyoto.	Kyoto has many historical sites which attract a lot of tourists.	夜行バス迷子歴史的ウトウト
7	Report from Kyoto (Part 2) - Sightseeing	Second day of sightseeing at Kiyomizu temple	Miki talks about Kiyomizu temple and the Maiko.	An expression from Kiyomizu temple, and the Maiko traditional entertainers.	清水寺高台寺ねねの道八坂神社祇園京都御所国宝見渡す舞台紅葉決断舞妓上品宴席町並み
8	Report from Kyoto (Part 3) - Arashiyama	Arashiyama and the sites	Miki talks about sightseeing around Arashiyama on a bicycle.	Arashiyama and other sites around it	嵐山嵯峨野象徴地元雑貨屋抹茶撮影すっきりメインストリート早速
9	Fridge	Cleaning the fridge	Miki talks about cleaning her fridge and finding things that have been stored away.		冷蔵庫奥整理瓶
10	Autumn	Autumn and its popular activities	Miki talks about autumn pastimes and her favorite.	Autumn in Japan is associated with many different activities.	読書行楽芸術回顧展柔らかい固執
11	Cafeteria Food	Cafeteria food at the University	Miki talks about types of food you can find at the cafeteria for students.		学生食堂学食笑顔素敵
12	Finding a Job	Job hunting and the process	Miki talks about talks about what she wanted to be as a child, and how she will soon start working.	Job hunting is a whole process that usually starts at the end of the third year in college.	将来幼稚園生再来年就職活動向く
13	Metro	The subway in Tokyo and a movie about it	Miki talks about talks about a movie with a character that goes back in time when riding the subway.	In Tokyo, subways are very convenient along with other train lines	主人公タイムスリップ理解過去未来
14	Preparation for X'mas	Christmas in Japan	Miki talks about Christmas in Japan and how the December season is usually a busy time.	Christmas in Japan has no religious ties for most people.	キリスト教別名師走
15	Dream	Dreams and sleeping	Miki talks about a bad dream, sleep walking, and the first dream in the New Year.	There are three things believed to be good to dream about in the first dream of the new year.	大男追いかける寝言元旦初夢緑起
16	As If	Metaphors	Miki talks about favorite metaphors from a book		口癖比喩想像膨らむお気に入りセリフ
17	Santa Claus	Christmas and Santa Claus	Miki talks about her childhood memories of Santa Claus		余計に混雑予想枕元トナカイ煙突解決する伝言疑う耳元鈴
18	New Year!	What goes on during New Year	Miki talks about things that are going on in the New Year, work, and resolutions.	Around New Years, people usually visit shrines.	わずか初詣おみくじ運勢占う放送選挙退屈触れる
19	New Year's Firsts	New Year activities	Miki talks about good fortune papers and good luck bags	Good luck bags contain goodies that can't be seen from the outside.	幸運祈る成就福袋袋詰め半額稼ぐ
20	That Winter Feeling	Trucks that make rounds in the winter selling things	Miki talks about the sweet potato truck, the kerosene truck and the music they play.	In the winter, small trucks go around selling things	陽気軽トラック竿竹個性的迷惑石焼き芋サツマイモ灯油暖房判断実感
21	Gettin' Hitched	Japanese weddings	Miki talks about a traditional style Japanese wedding with the Kimono and the way to drink sake.	Kimonos are worn for traditional Japanese weddings and when special ceremonies takes place.	先日いとこ風習鍾乳洞
22	Systems of Seniority	Seniority and the work environment	Miki talks about the system of seniority and how it affects the work environment.	Seniority and respect to elders are important in all aspects of Japanese society.	年功序列入社傾向採用発揮景気出世ミスマッチ実力主義
23	About Shopping	Things to do at Odaiba	Miki talks about Odaiba as a popular date spot because of the different activities.		お台場隣席観覧車備える諦める縁
24	Happy Valentine's Day	Valentine's Day and chocolates	Miki talks about Valentine's Day in Japan and the chocolate giving scene.	Women give men chocolate on Valentine's Day to either show their friendship or love.	由来山積み下駄箱仕掛け
25	Japanese Tea	Japanese tea and a sign of good luck	Miki talks about Japanese tea, flavored tea, and the stalk of a tea leaf.		感覚試す茶柱茎模様
26	Blowfish	Popular winter dish and drinks	Miki talks about blowfish (fugu) and different ways to prepare it.	Only licensed chefs can prepare the blowfish since it is poisonous.	鍋旬透ける鰭
27	The Bath	Differences in bathing	Miki talks about taking a bath to relax at the end of the day	Bath water is not drained after each person in Japan, but rather drained after the whole family takes a bath.	異常気象工夫欠かす
28	Hay Fever	Spring and hay fever	Spring is the beginning and end of many things, and also the season for hay fever.	People wear masks during hay fever season.	花粉症節目くしゃみ目薬鼻薬油断
29	Hinamatsuri	March 3rd is the Japanese Doll Festival	Miki talks about hina dolls that are displayed on the March the 3rd.	Hina Matsuri is a day to pray for the health of young girls. Hina dolls put on display must be put away right after the 3rd, otherwise it's believed that the girl will not be able to get married.	ひな祭り飾るぼさぼさデリケートお嫁
30	Flower Viewing	Popular cherry blossom viewing season	Miki talks about eating and drinking under the cherry blossoms.	Hanami began in the Heian period and the tradition has carried on to today.	開花宴会一斉に散る
31	The Dentist	Dentist visit and wisdom teeth	Miki talks about why she doesn't like the dentist, and explains why wisdom teeth are called oyashirazu.	Wisdom teeth are calleded oyashirazu, which means 'not knowing the parents', because they grow later in life.	歯医者健康病院治療
32	Winter Melon	The togan vegetable	Miki talks about how the togan vegetable is called the winter melon.	After togan is harvested, it is stored until the winter to eat.	祖父野菜新鮮煮物収穫
33	It's Tough Being a Guy!	Otoko wa Tsuraiyo - the movie	Miki talks about a popular old movie.		季節就職活動旅先風景人情
34	Graduation Thesis	Writing a graduating thesis	Miki talks about her graduating thesis which has to be a certain length.		初々しい健康診断時間割卒論倍の
35	Bambo Shoot Picking	Going bamboo shoot picking in the mountains	Miki talks about going bamboo shoot picking with an elder woman during golden week.		半袖筍ゴールデンウィーク知り合い地面名人力強い宝物煮物
36	Mother's Day	Mother's Day and presents	Miki talks about trying to decide what to give her mother on Mother's Day		感謝一般的枯れる弁当箱
37	Night in Nagoya	Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture	Miki talks about well known foods in Nagoya, and the company Toyota.		横浜名古屋豊田市
38	Knock on Wood	Superstition	Miki talks about an act of luck done when nervous.		就職活動緊張指真似
39	May Sickness	The reason for becoming ill in May	Miki talks about May sickness and how it came about.	May is the start of the new school year and fiscal year in Japan.	何事やる気環境かかる解消
40	A Trip to the Aquarium	Tuna at the aquarium	Miki talks about interesting facts about tuna fish, which is popularly eaten as sashimi.		生き物食べ物思い出す眠る死大変水族館世界
41	Mail Order Madness	Mail order sales	Miki talks about mail order sales and a particular type that she recently tried.	Mail order shopping is very popular in Japan.	通信販売社長部長人気逆商品授業
42	Rainy Season	Tsuyu is the rainy season	Miki talks about humidity during the tsuyu period	Tsuyu is from mid June to July	季節梅雨初心者練習元気出かける時期咲く
43	Ueno Zoo	Ueno Zoo and the animals that are there	Miki talks about unusual animals at the zoo and ones that she doesn't like		動物園歴史人気珍しい叫ぶ飼う久しぶり
44	Mosquitos	Summer mosquitos	Miki talks about battling mosquitos and the worst places she's been bitten		叩く起き上がる気のせい何人かまぶた戦う許す
45	Mixed Bathing	Onsen in Gunma Prefecture	Miki talks about hot springs and a mixed bath with both men and women		露天風呂男風呂女風呂ゆで卵狙う泊まる大満足
46	The Legend of the Lost Tooth	What to do when your baby teeth come out	Miki talks about a visit to the dentist and a superstitious belief of what to do with baby teeth	Upper teeth are thrown under the porch, and the lower teeth are tossed up on the roof as a superstition	匂い削る親知らず通う言い伝え抜ける投げ入れる
47	Uniforms	Types of school attire	Miki talks about different school uniforms for boys and girls		夏休みセーラー服ブレザー名札ジャージほとんど人目洋服
48	Otaku	Akihabara and the otaku culture	Miki talks about Akihabara, the electronics district, and how the otaku enjoy themselves	Akihabara is the mecca of otaku culture	派手情熱的詳しい難しい一部電気街没頭
49	Summer Nights	Tokyo Bay Cruise	Miki talks about planning on a cruise around Tokyo Bay in a yukata		夏バテ伝統的納涼夜景軒下浴衣吊るす
50	Nagashi Sōmen	Summer dish	Miki talks about soumen and the various ways of eating it		厳しい食べ方代わり一般的温かい
51	Cockroach	Cockroaches	Miki talks about her hate for cockroaches and cockroach traps.		現れる素早く大発生仕掛け一家引っ越す添い寝
52	Earthquake	Earthquakes and the Kanto Earthquake	Miki talks about her mother's fear of earthquakes and what to do when one does hit.		地震火事怖い特に急いで正しい普通揺れナマズ
53	UNESCO World Heritage	Gassho Zukuri and Mt. Fuji	Miki talks about visiting Shirakawago and talking about Mt. Fuji		独特屋根囲炉裏昔話理由角度屋根都会豪華ゴミ悲しい
54	Backgrounds of Studio Ghibli	Ghibli art	Miki talks about Kazuo Oga's exhibition of art		魔女宅急便神隠し現代表現人気匂い週末手書き
55	I Like Hunting!	Pear picking	Miki talks about pear picking and different kinds of harvesting		毎年捕まえる奪う掘る農家潮干狩り紅葉狩り蛍狩り
56	Driver's Licence	Driver's licence	Miki talks about renewing a licence and parking spaces in rural Japan.		取得更新料金田舎飲酒懲役高い罰金最高
57	Sports Day Memories	Sports Day activities	Miki talks about running and marathon when in school.		前後時期思い出す諦める呆れる間に合う完走苦手
58	An Interesting Proverb	Two proverbs	Miki talks about introduces two proverbs and the meanings behind them		説嫁と姑思いやり
59	Koncert in Kyōto	Going to a concert in Kyoto	Miki talks about a concert in Heian Jingu in the moonlight		鳥居参加以上復興混乱幻想的歴史楽器月明かり
60
61	Seven Five Three	Shichigosan	Miki talks about shichigosan and how she felt when she did it.		成長感謝祈るお参り神社真っ赤不機嫌豪華祝う行事
62	Tako Yaki	Tako yaki at festivals	Miki talks about ｔakoｙaki at the university festival and how they made balled cake instead.		出来上がり代わりお菓子生地道具大成功地域穴
63	Blood Type	Blood Type and personality	Miki talks about the common belief that personality and blood type are related.		性格判断当てる真面目二重人格献血参考作業几帳面
64	Entrance Exam	Exams at different levels	Miki talks about exams and how even some parents make the children sit them.		卒業入学公立私立縁起合格頼る
65	Un-Chinese Chinese Hot Buns	Winter foods	Miki talks about some popular winter foods and what they are.		大根醤油経つ煮込む意味紹介中華先ほど
66	New Year's Greeting Cards	Nengajo	Miki talks about writing nengajo for the New Years.		年越し年末挨拶状葉書手書き古典的透明あぶる写真簡単便利
67	End of Oshōgatsu	New Year's foods	Miki talks about talking aboutcertain foods that are eaten on certain dates.		鏡餅汁粉年末刃物縁起小豆砂糖鏡開き最近インスタント食品太る堅い
68	The Chinese Zodiac	Chinese Zodiac	Miki talks about the animals and the story behind the zodiac signs.		逸話神様理由密かに直前嘘恨み
69	Kappa and Tengu	Mythical creatures	Miki talks about talking about the kappa and tengu		寿司生き物緑色天狗河童失敗表現
70	Sapporo Snow Festival	Snow festival and snow statues	Miki talks about about the snow statues at the Sapporo Snow Festival.		降る寒い困る最も訪れる幅四方様々な流行出来事遊び方自衛隊影響開催
71	Setsubun	Activities on setsubun	Miki talks about Setsubun in Japan		立春筒状丸々一本刺す玄関先投げるだらけ後片付け幸せ方角大変
72	Part Time Job	Part time job at a fast food	Miki talks about what her part time fast food job consists of.		手作り暇潰す辞める潰れる絶対に赤字続ける頑張る全て卒業
73	Strange Pet Owners	Pets and the owners	Miki talks about dressing up pets.		薄い中心広がる帽子赤ちゃん時代間違える塗る洋服起きる
74	Folk Remedies	Home remedies	Miki talks about some traditanal home remedies used when sick.		風邪頼る治す効く焼く巻く試す匂い合う思い込む
75	Congratulations!	Graduation ceremony	Miki talks about typical clothing for graduation ceremonies.		後半卒業式華やか格好制服名残和服洋服定番寂しい社会人ワクワク
76	Names	Unique names	Miki talks about how children are named and some unique names.		決める願い限る最初読み方例えば虹色聖宇宙らしい難しい目立つ逆に大変
77	Okinawa	Okinawa	Miki talks about some history about Okinawa and a market she went to.		地域雰囲気独立統治歴史影響本島首里城観光食欲市場新鮮地元食生活
78	Nail Art	Fashion and nails	Miki talks about different kinds of nail decorations		つけ爪雑誌手入れ塗る予め載る貼る飾り方法初めて体験満足生活気を使う
79	Do You Have Everything?	Forgetting things	Miki talks about things lost on a roller coaster and things forgotten.		傘忘れ物落し物入れ歯カツラ性格何でも手帳絶対叫ぶ払う受け取る
80	Keitai Straps	Cell phone straps	Miki talks about cell phone straps and their popularity.		思い出お土産種類特に引っ張る便利特徴生かす買い集める買い替える
81	IC Cards	Names of electronic cards	Miki talks about IC cards named after certain abbreviations in different regions.		改札通る便利引き落とす定期券電車賃再発行安心日本一関西弁九州弁方言導入唯一
82	Lining Up	Standing in line	Miki talks about waiting in line for popular items	Standing in line for a meal or something popular is a common thing to do.	並ぶ外国旅行比べるラーメン屋気になる珍しい出店落ち着く経つ開店
83	Burglar	Burglary	Miki talks about how her bike seat was stolen.		実は外出侵入銀行印鑑盗む荒らす様子残高不幸救い茎気がつく
84	Eki-ben	Lunch boxes on trains	Miki talks about how eki-ben are different from regular bento boxes.	Eki-ben are particular to the region of the train station and are popular to buy when travelling long distances.	駅弁売店弁当お供最高通学通勤基本的出品実際に土地味わう迷うマナー違反
85	Shooting Stars	Wishing on a star	Miki talks about how to make a wish on a shooting star.		流れ星願い事願い叶う流れる暗い明るい驚く固まる暮らす強い
86	Vending Machine Evolution!	Vending machines	Miki talks about different kinds of vending machines.	There are many vending machines on the streets in Japan. You can find vending machines selling a cariety of things.	電池新聞様子実況飽きる仕組み日々喋る方言釣り銭切らす親しげ営業現金小銭面倒話しかける
87	Playing Grown Up	Theme park for kids	Miki talks about the theme park Kidzania and how kids can try out different occupations.		おそろい人見知り免許証職人医者職業制服仮想銀行貯金本物そっくり将来体験
88	Freak of Nature	Cards with a magnetic strip	Miki talks about how her cards with magnetic strips always lose their magnetism.		相性通帳連れ去られる取り替える振込み機会割合弱くなる空港怪しい何度も特別代表体験
89	Sakasa Fuji	Mt. Fuji upside down	Miki talks about Mt. Fuji's upside down reflection and traditional scenery found on bills.		頂上天気水面逆さま映る紙幣硬貨菊代表肖像画発行流通特徴
90	Pineapple Park	Pineapple Park in Okinawa	Miki talks about how the Pineapple Park is making money		名産食べ放題乗り物見学園内植物世話儲けるからくり試しに漬け物並べ方納得する
91	A Rude Customer	A customer yelling	Miki talks about a strange customer that yells at people at the place she works at.		アルバイトお客さん機嫌注文怒鳴る気に入る狂う食事怖い殴る警察トラウマ二度と探す
92	Personal Stamps	Hanko	Miki talks about hankos and which ones are used for what.		判子口座受け取る結婚離婚必要応じて実印役所簡単三文判名字両方登録恥ずかしい当て字
93	Chopstick Manners	How to correctly use chopsticks	Miki talks about chopstick manners and what not to do.		一膳切る挟む混ぜる使い捨て割り箸割る引っ張る反動刺す迷う渡す死者火葬焼き魚納豆
94	Monja-yaki and Okonomi-yaki	Monja-yaki and Okonomi-yaki and the differences	Miki talks about Monja-yaki and Okonomi-yaki and how they are different.		醤油鉄板材料関東関西立場おかず一緒単独縦横いくつかの四角三角おやつ溶かすたらす覚える工夫
95	The Beckoning Cat	The story behind the beckoning cat	Miki talks about the story behind the beckoning cat and how the left and right paws mean different things.		片手手招き置物三毛猫金運招く両方お手上げ貧しい飼う将来武士休憩突然立派和尚世の中手のひら
96	Origami	Origami and paper cranes	Miki talks about when a thousand paper cranes are folded.		歴史原点貴族流行完成祈る特別束ねる千羽鶴贈り物健康
97	Bathing Twice a Year	Special baths	Miki talks about Children's Day and the winter solstice, when people take special baths.	Putting certain objects in the bath when bathing is common.	特別別名冬至感謝菖蒲チクチク匂い温まる効果お菓子特徴柚子触る潰れる風邪市販自然香り
98	An Unexpected Japanese Tradition	Umbilical cord	Miki talks about how a piece of the umbilical cord is kept after a baby is born.	The umbilical cord is often kept by the mother as a luck charm that keeps the child safe.	生まれるびっくりするへその緒管乾燥自然に大切に絆一生想像印象煎じる治る筆最高
99	Snowboard	Going snowboarding	Miki talks about going snowboarding by bus		夜行バス狭い人気基本さらさら粉雪結晶転ぶ痛い状態温泉全身途中
100	Nebuta Festival: A Festive Japanese Summer Tradition	Nebuta Festival in Aomori	Miki talks about the activities in the Nebuta festival.	During the summer, festivals are common in many prefectures in Japan. Each prefecture may have a festive activity that is particular to the region.	夏祭り発散熱気行事鮮やか武士鬼人形電球迫力衣装遠征引き回す七夕
101	Lose Weight Fast!	Inventions and ideas by housewives	Miki talks about many things that have been created as a result of ideas by housewives.		女性初恋普通健康家事痩せる貼る乗り換え位置車両道具無駄に地下鉄発明
102	Eating Right in Japan	Obento	Miki talks about decorative obento and what can be found in them.		お弁当栄養調理彩り用品収納保つ仕切り凝るもったいない思い出おかず詰める充実
103	Toilets in Japan: Instructions Needed!	Toilets	Miki talks about high tech toilets in Japan		誇る懐かしい快適機能便座自動珍しい恥ずかしい感覚健康輸入値段負ける迷う田舎ハイテク
104	Halloween in Japan?	Moon Viewing custom	Miki talks about the moon viewing custom and how children go and collect dumplings.		飾る眺める例える発想神話関係盗むお菓子身近黄身目玉焼き限定凸凹影習慣挟む
105	Where to Find Real Japanese Ninjas!	Ninjas	Miki talks about Ninjas and their history		忍者大名領主歴史武器見学落とし穴中心的迷路両方一気にコスプレ闇屋敷隠れる紺色紛れる
106	Japan's Hidden Beauty	Mt. Takao	Miki talks about Mt. Takao and its nature.		豊か一面昆虫証拠壊れるトンネル工事影響掘る井戸水危険便利不便守る自然正解自生する滝減る
107	The Emergence of the Independent Japanese Woman	Indepedent women	Miki talks about the buzzword "ohitorisama" and women doing activities alone.		丁寧敬語元々尋ねる用意質問目立関係他人上手憧れる買い物付き合う気を使う精神的に孤独
108	Secrets of Japanese Temples	Yakushiji temple	Miki talks about Yakushiji temple in Nara prefecture		神社完成災害再建建築あえて重み沈む造る専門大工世代子孫建てる目先世界遺産移動する塔生命力ため息
109	Avoiding the Japanese Beer Tax	Different types of beer in Japan	Miki talks about different types of beer that exist in Japan and the struggle over taxes on beer		市場変化法律第三の大豆越える努力水の泡いたちごっこ繰り返す遊び造る工夫税金麦芽発泡酒えんどう豆メーカー決着