Japanese, in practice.
Notes on learning, speaking, and making Japanese part of everyday life.
Recent articles
The Best Beginner Japanese Podcasts in 2026
Eleven beginner Japanese podcasts, checked against their own feeds in September 2026 and sorted from slowed-down speech to upper-beginner, plus how to listen so it sticks.
How to Practise Speaking Japanese Without a Partner
No one to talk to? A ten-minute routine for practising spoken Japanese alone: say one real sentence, change it, and rehearse the moment a reply goes too fast.
How to Get Past the Intermediate Japanese Plateau Without Another Beginner Course
Stuck at intermediate Japanese? The plateau usually means your study still rewards recognition while your goals now need output. How to find the skill that stopped moving and restart it.
How to Use an AI Japanese Tutor Without Learning Its Mistakes
AI Japanese tutors make speaking practice easy to start, but they can mispronounce words, mishear you and agree too easily. How I set one up like a tutor and check the corrections that matter.
How to Stop Freezing When Speaking Japanese
Going blank when someone is waiting for your answer is common, even when you know the words. Why it happens, two recovery lines to learn first, and how to practise the freeze on purpose.