John and Friends in Tokyo

Tag along as John's friends help him tackle common daily tasks like shopping, paying the bills, going on dates, and more.

This fun series is presented entirely via dialog that is realistic but also easy to follow. It's a great way to become more familiar with the kinds of patterns you might hear among friends, including common speech contractions, hesitation words, good-natured teasing, and more. As always, our friendly notes help break down potentially tricky spots so that you can understand what you hear and incorporate it into your own speech. (Ongoing)

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Episode 1
Fashion-challenged John asks for a little wardrobe help from friend Satoko.
Notes: This episode contains lots of useful planning vocabulary, like words that mean "in that case," "to begin with," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 5631
Voice Only Unread 974
Episode 2
As they navigate the shopping center, Satoko digs for information on John's dating life.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the use of the word ko to refer to adults, one on using nai with the suffix -sou, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 2026
Voice Only Unread 354
Pro
Episode 3
John explains what he's looking for and gets some help from a friendly salesperson.
Notes: This episode contains several examples of a way of making an ordinary verb more polite, as well as lots of good vocabulary and patterns related to clothing.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 1167
Voice Only Unread 183
Pro
Episode 4
John gets down to the business of trying on clothes as Satoko teases him.
Notes: This episode contains a note that explains how to use proverbs in sentences, as well as one on a pattern for suggesting a course of action.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 766
Voice Only Unread 122
Pro
Episode 5
John and Satoko debate the merits of tight versus roomy clothing.
Notes: This episode has notes that look at several important patterns, including the -te aru pattern and the adjective stem + -me pattern.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 653
Voice Only Unread 114
Pro
Episode 6
Done with their shopping, John and Satoko figure out where to eat.
Notes: This episode contains a long note on the use of -doori to mean "exactly in accordance with (the preceding noun)," a note on the kekkou that means "quite," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 591
Voice Only Unread 89
Pro
Episode 7
John and Satoko pore over their menus.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a service-industry equivalent of desu, a way of saying something appears in print, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 561
Voice Only Unread 73
Pro
Episode 8
John and Satoko complete the task of deciding what to order.
Notes: This episode reviews the difference between kimeru and kimaru, looks at an unexpected use of a word that looks like it might mean "service," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 464
Voice Only Unread 69
Pro
Episode 9
As John and Satoko tuck into their lunch, they discuss their meal and different approaches to seasoning.
Notes: This episode contains a long note on a short phrase that might feel tricky.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 420
Voice Only Unread 63
Pro
Episode 10
The pair discuss the intention behind the flavoring of side dishes.
Notes: This episode contains a note that breaks down a potentially tricky sentence, one that looks at the difference between two words for "flavor," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 384
Voice Only Unread 61
Pro
Episode 11
John wonders about the Japanese obsession with raw ingredients.
Notes: This episode contains a note that takes up the difference in meaning that can occur by using a present versus a past tense verb before the word toki, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 341
Voice Only Unread 44
Pro
Episode 12
Satoko asks John about his upcoming date plans over dessert.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the word rounin, one that explains how to say "it was more X than I thought it would be," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 317
Voice Only Unread 48
Pro
Episode 13
Satoko and John talk about different types of people.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a word that literally means "camp" or "faction," but which you can use to talk about being a "dog person" or "cat person."
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 274
Voice Only Unread 41
Pro
Episode 14
Satoko suggests some date ideas to John.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a word that means "easy; light; carefree," one on a special meaning of sono, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 244
Voice Only Unread 38
Pro
Episode 15
John calls Nanako to plan their upcoming date.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a pattern for reintroducing a previously discussed topic, one on a word that means "mostly," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 249
Voice Only Unread 39
Pro
Episode 16
John and Nanako meet up and head to the theater.
Notes: This episode contains a note on using zenzen with positive endings, one on a way to express happiness/relief about how things turned out, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 221
Voice Only Unread 36
Pro
Episode 17
John and Nanako have a lively discussion of the film's characters and their motivations.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a convenient way to ask for clarification, a note on the word datte, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 195
Voice Only Unread 27
Pro
Episode 18
The pair talks about what to do next on their day out.
Notes: This episode contains a note that takes a closer look at the relationship between the pattern for making comparisons and the pattern for saying one should do something.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 193
Voice Only Unread 32
Pro
Episode 19
John and Nanako discover an interesting shop.
Notes: This episode contains a note on how to name years in Japanese, one on "dad jokes," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 150
Voice Only Unread 25
Pro
Episode 20
Nanako revels in childhood memories as John enjoys some old-time candy.
Notes: This episode contains a note on an expression that means "if only...!", one on the use of mono/mon as a particle, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 140
Voice Only Unread 22
Pro
Episode 21
John and Nanako debate the best place to have dinner.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a phrase that means "to call it dinner," one that looks at "I asked a friend" versus "I heard it from a friend," and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 120
Voice Only Unread 13
Pro
Episode 22
John starts to wonder if he has bitten off more than he can chew.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the words that start with 以-, one on a fancy equivalent of kara, and more.
Editions Status Total Readers
With Sound Effects Unread 74
Voice Only Unread 12