NIHONGO CANDY: Learn Japanese for Beginners & JLPT N5-N3

Ever walked through a Japanese castle, or seen one in an anime or game? In this episode we look at how the castles of the samurai were built, and why so few of the original ones still stand.

This is Episode 7 of our mini-series on Japanese history, made for JLPT N5–N3 learners. In about seven minutes, you'll learn the two key parts of a castle — the tenshu (天守 / tenshu), the tall tower, and the ishigaki (石垣 / ishigaki), ...

Meet two of the most popular heroes of the Sengoku period — the ones you may already know from anime and games. Date Masamune (伊達政宗 / date masamune), the "one-eyed dragon," and Sanada Yukimura (真田幸村 / sanada yukimura), the "greatest warrior in Japan."

This is Episode 6 of our mini-series on Japanese history, made for JLPT N5–N3 learners. In about seven minutes, you'll learn the story behind Masamune's eyepatch and cresce...

Takeda Shingen (武田信玄 / takeda shingen) and Uesugi Kenshin (上杉謙信 / uesugi kenshin) were destined rivals who clashed again and again — and yet respected each other deeply.

This is Episode 5 of our mini-series on Japanese history, made for JLPT N5–N3 learners. In about seven minutes, you'll meet the "Tiger of Kai" and the "Dragon of Echigo," follow their Battles of Kawanakajima (川中島の戦い) and the legend of their duel, and lea...

Who was Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康 / tokugawa ieyasu), the man who waited and finally won all of Japan?

This is Episode 4 of our mini-series on Japanese history, made for JLPT N5–N3 learners. In about seven minutes, you'll follow Ieyasu from his long years as a hostage (人質) to his victory at the Battle of Sekigahara (関ヶ原の戦い, 1600), and see how he opened the Edo shogunate (江戸幕府, 1603) and began about 260 years of peace.

You'll also m...

Who was Toyotomi Hideyoshi (豊臣秀吉 / toyotomi hideyoshi), the man who was born a farmer's son and ended up ruling all of Japan?

This is Episode 3 of our mini-series on Japanese history, made for JLPT N5–N3 learners. In about seven minutes, you'll follow Hideyoshi from his first job carrying his lord's sandals, to the moment he took over after Nobunaga's death, to the unification of Japan in 1590 — and see what he did with ...

Who was Oda Nobunaga (織田信長 / oda nobunaga), the revolutionary who changed the Sengoku period?

This is Episode 2 of our mini-series on Japanese history, made for JLPT N5–N3 learners. In about seven minutes, you'll follow Nobunaga from the Battle of Okehazama (桶狭間の戦い, 1560) — where a young lord once called a "fool" defeated a huge army — to his revolutionary policies, his dream of tenka fubu (天下布武), and his sudden en...

What was Japan's Sengoku period (戦国時代 / sengoku jidai), and why does it appear in so many anime, manga, and games?

This is Episode 1 of our new mini-series on Japanese history, made for JLPT N5–N3 learners. In about seven minutes, you'll learn what the Warring States period was, when it began (the Ōnin War of 1467), and the key idea behind it — gekokujō (下剋上), the lower overthrowing those above.

You'll also pick up six es...

Want to ask a friend or coworker how their trip was — and share your own travel stories in Japanese? Learn the essential Japanese vocabulary for asking about and talking about a recent trip — including どうだった (do datta / how was it?), 一番 (ichiban / the most, number one), 最高 (saiko / the best, amazing), 景色 (keshiki / scenery, view), 感動する (kando suru / to be moved, touched), and おすすめ (osusume / a recommendation) — so...

Need to explain sales figures, trends, or data in a Japanese meeting or presentation? Learn the essential Japanese vocabulary for describing how numbers change — including 上がる (agaru / to go up), 下がる (sagaru / to go down), 増える (fueru / to increase), 減る (heru / to decrease), 横ばい (yokobai / flat, unchanged), 大きく (ookiku / greatly), わずかに (wazuka ni / slightly), and ほぼ (hobo / almost) — so you can confidently present data a...

Want to sell your used clothes, books, or electronics in Japan? Learn the essential Japanese vocabulary for selling secondhand items on flea market apps like Mercari (メルカリ) — including 出品する (shuppin suru / to list an item), 状態 (joutai / condition), and 送料込み (souryou komi / shipping included) — so you can confidently list and sell your things online.

🚀 NEXT STEPS FOR YOUR JAPANESE 💻Systematic Learning (Self-Study) 🎁 Po...

Confused about Japanese verb pairs like 開く / 開ける (aku / akeru)? Learn how to use 自動詞 (jidoushi / intransitive verbs) and 他動詞 (tadoushi / transitive verbs) correctly — including the particles が and を — so your Japanese sounds natural in everyday conversation and at work.

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Learn how to use 「念のため」(nen no tame / just in case) to confirm plans and stay on the safe side — naturally, in both casual and professional Japanese.

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Want to say "this book is worth reading" or "it's worth trying" in Japanese? The phrase 「価値がある」(kachi ga aru / kachigaaru / to be worth it) is essential for giving recommendations, evaluating experiences, and talking about life choices. In this episode, master its two key patterns (Noun + に価値がある / Verb + 価値がある), learn high-frequency collocations like 価値観 (kachikan / values), 付加価値 (fuka kachi / added value), and 価値判断 (kachi handan /...

Want to say "companies compete in price wars" or "compete with yesterday's self" in Japanese? The verb 「競争する」(kyōsō suru / kyousou suru / to compete) is essential for business, sports, and personal growth conversations. In this episode, master its meaning, key collocations like 競争相手 (kyōsō aite / rival) and 競争力 (kyōsō ryoku / competitiveness), and hear it used naturally in a relatable workplace monologue.

🚀 NEXT STEPS FOR YOUR JAPA...

Want to say "his excuses are childish" or "I've been forgetful lately" in Japanese? Mastering the suffix "-ppoi" (っぽい) is essential for expressing that something has a certain quality, appearance, or a strong tendency to happen.

A common hurdle for learners is knowing exactly how to attach it to different types of words. In this quick reflex training, we will practice 8 highly practical phrases covering the 2 essential connection pa...

Want to say "I left the AC on" or "Please leave it exactly as it is" in Japanese? Mastering the word "mama" (まま) is essential for describing situations where a state or condition remains unchanged.

A common hurdle for learners is mastering the connection rules, which change depending on whether you are using a verb, noun, or adjective. In this quick reflex training, we will practice 8 highly practical phrases covering the 5 essentia...

Want to say "I only have..." or "I have no choice but to..." in Japanese? Mastering the particle "shika" (しか) is essential for expressing limitations and decisions in natural business and daily conversations.

A common hurdle for learners is remembering the golden rule: "shika" must always be followed by a negative verb, even though it translates to "only" or "just" in English. In this quick reflex training, we will practice 8 highly...

Want to say "as expected" or "on schedule" in Japanese? Mastering the "~tōri" and "~dōri" pattern is essential for natural business and daily conversations.

A common hurdle for learners is knowing when to use the voiced "dōri" (like yotei-dōri) versus the unvoiced "tōri" (like itta tōri). In this quick reflex training, we will practice 10 highly practical phrases to help you instinctively choose the correct sound without overthinkin...

Do you say "Mada kaimasen deshita" to mean "I haven't bought it yet"? This is one of the most common mistakes Japanese learners make!

In English, "not yet" is often associated with the past, leading many to use the Japanese simple past tense ("masen deshita"). However, in Japanese, if an action hasn't happened yet but is expected to happen, it is considered an ongoing state. Therefore, you must use the present continuous form: "Mada...