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Fluent Fiction - Japanese

Fluent Fiction - Japanese

By: FluentFiction.org
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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.

今日から私たちの日本語のストーリーであなたのリスニング力を向上させましょう！Copyright FluentFiction.org Language Learning
Episodes
  • Embracing Change: Haru's Journey Under Kyoto's Torii Gates

    Embracing Change: Haru's Journey Under Kyoto's Torii Gates
    Feb 23 2026
    Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Embracing Change: Haru's Journey Under Kyoto's Torii Gates Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-02-23-23-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 冬の空気は冷たく、京都の伏見稲荷大社には多くの人々が集まっています。En: The winter air was cold, and many people gathered at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto.Ja: 朱色の鳥居が並ぶ小道を進むと、香炉から立ち上るお香の匂いが漂います。En: As they progressed down the path lined with vermilion torii gates, the scent of incense wafted up from the incense burners.Ja: 鈴の音が響き、祭りを楽しむ人々の笑い声が混ざります。En: The sound of bells echoed, mixed with the laughter of people enjoying the festival.Ja: ハルは二人の友人、ユキとサクラとともに初詣に訪れていました。En: Haru visited for the hatsumode with two friends, Yuki and Sakura.Ja: ユキは大学で法律を学び、将来の弁護士を目指しています。En: Yuki was studying law at university, aiming to become a future lawyer.Ja: サクラは地元の新聞社で記者として働いています。En: Sakura was working as a reporter at a local newspaper.Ja: 二人とも自信に満ち、明るい未来を見据えていました。En: Both were full of confidence, looking forward to a bright future.Ja: 一方、ハルは悩んでいました。En: On the other hand, Haru was troubled.Ja: 現在の仕事に満足しておらず、将来が不透明に感じられました。En: He was not satisfied with his current job and felt his future was uncertain.Ja: しかし、友人たちにはその不安を隠していました。En: However, he hid these worries from his friends.Ja: 彼らにどう話せばよいのか、悩んでいました。En: He was unsure how to talk to them about his concerns.Ja: 神社の境内で、ハルたちは豆まきを行うことにしました。En: At the shrine's precincts, Haru and his friends decided to perform a bean-throwing ritual.Ja: 「鬼は外、福は内」と叫びながら豆を投げると、ハルの心の中の不安が少しずつ和らぐのを感じました。En: As they shouted, "Demons out, fortune in," and threw beans, Haru felt his inner anxieties gradually ease.Ja: 豆を投げる瞬間、ハルは大切なものに気付きました。それは、友人たちとともに歩むことの大切さでした。En: At the moment of throwing the beans, Haru realized something important: the value of walking alongside his friends.Ja: 次の日、ハルは心の中の重荷を軽くしようと、ユキとサクラに話しました。En: The next day, Haru decided to lighten the burden in his heart by speaking with Yuki and Sakura.Ja: 「最近、仕事のことで悩んでいるんだ」と正直に告白しました。En: He honestly confessed, "Lately, I've been troubled about work."Ja: ユキは優しい目でハルを見つめ、「一人で考え込まず、私たちにも話してみたら？」と提案しました。En: Yuki looked at Haru with gentle eyes and suggested, "Instead of thinking about it alone, why not talk to us about it?"Ja: サクラも「新しいことに挑戦するのは怖いけど、私たちがいるから大丈夫だよ」と微笑みました。En: Sakura smiled and added, "It's scary to take on new things, but with us here, it'll be alright."Ja: その優しさに触れて、ハルは心が温かくなりました。En: Touched by their kindness, Haru felt his heart warm.Ja: 彼は自分を見つめ直し、新たな目標を見つけようと決意しました。En: He decided to reevaluate himself and find a new goal.Ja: 友人の支えが、ハルに大きな自信を与えました。En: The support of his friends gave Haru great confidence.Ja: 祭りの歓声が続く中、ハルは未来に向かって一歩ずつ前進する勇気を取り戻しました。En: Amid the ongoing festival cheers, Haru regained the courage to take steps towards the future.Ja: 彼の歩む道は険しくとも、ユキとサクラとともに、それを乗り越える力を感じました。En: Although the path ahead was steep, he felt the strength to overcome it with Yuki and Sakura by his side.Ja: そして、彼は心の底から感謝を感じ、晴れやかな気持ちで神社を後にしました。En: And with gratitude welling up from the bottom of his heart, he left the shrine with a cheerful spirit.Ja: 伏見稲荷大社の鳥居の下、冬の風が爽やかに吹き抜けました。En: Under the Fushimi Inari Taisha's torii gates, the winter wind blew refreshingly through. Vocabulary Words:vermilion: 朱色wafted: 漂うincense: お香precincts: 境内ritual: 儀式anxieties: 不安gradually: 少しずつconfessed: 告白しましたreevaluate: 見つめ直しburden: 重荷cheers: 歓声overcome: 乗り越えるsteep: 険しい...
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    15 mins
  • Journey Through the Torii: A Tale of Hope and Heritage

    Journey Through the Torii: A Tale of Hope and Heritage
    Feb 23 2026
    Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Journey Through the Torii: A Tale of Hope and Heritage Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-02-23-08-38-20-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 冬の日、春人は伏見稲荷大社への参拝を決意しました。En: On a winter's day, Haruto decided to make a pilgrimage to Fushimi Inari Taisha.Ja: 彼は祖母からもらったお守りを大切に持ちながら、未来への道を探していました。En: Holding tightly to the amulet he received from his grandmother, he was searching for a path to the future.Ja: 赤い鳥居が続く道を歩きながら、彼は心に誓いました。「祖母のためにも、この巡礼を完了しよう。」En: As he walked along the path lined with red torii gates, he vowed in his heart, "For my grandmother's sake, let me complete this pilgrimage."Ja: 今日は節分。特別な日です。En: Today was Setsubun. A special day.Ja: 春人は幸運を祈り、豆を撒くことを楽しみにしていました。En: Haruto was looking forward to throwing beans and praying for good fortune.Ja: 彼の友人、さくらとあきらもそれに加わります。En: His friends, Sakura and Akira, joined him as well.Ja: 彼らは鳥居をくぐりながら、お互いを励まし合っていました。En: As they passed through the torii gates, they encouraged each other.Ja: 鳥居の道は静かで、冷たい風が吹いていました。En: The path through the torii was quiet, and a cold wind was blowing.Ja: 急に、空が暗くなり、嵐が始まりました。En: Suddenly, the sky darkened, and a storm began.Ja: 強い雨は道をぬらし、滑りやすくしました。En: Heavy rain soaked the path, making it slippery.Ja: 春人は足元に気をつけながら進みました。「このお守りを絶対に落とさないようにしよう」と彼は思いました。En: Haruto treaded carefully, thinking, "I must not drop this amulet."Ja: 雨は強くなる一方で、春人の服はずぶ濡れでした。En: The rain only intensified, and Haruto's clothes were drenched.Ja: でも、彼は決して立ち止まりませんでした。En: Yet, he never stopped moving forward.Ja: 「僕ならできる」と心に言い聞かせました。En: He told himself, "I can do it."Ja: さくらとあきらも彼を応援し、共に進みました。En: Sakura and Akira also cheered him on, progressing together.Ja: やがて、春人たちは神社の奥の聖域にたどり着きました。En: Eventually, Haruto and his friends reached the sacred area deep within the shrine.Ja: 嵐は最高潮に達し、あたり一面見えないほどの雨が降っていました。En: The storm reached its peak, and the rain fell so heavily it obscured everything around them.Ja: しかし、その雨の中で春人の心は静かになりました。En: However, amidst the rain, Haruto's heart grew calm.Ja: 「この嵐も試練だ。僕を洗い清めてくれるものだ」と悟りました。En: He realized, "This storm is also a trial. It's here to cleanse me."Ja: しばらくすると、嵐は嘘のように止みました。En: After a while, the storm miraculously ceased.Ja: 空は澄み渡り、明るい太陽が顔を出しました。En: The sky cleared up, and the bright sun emerged.Ja: 春人は新しい目的を感じ、心が晴れ渡るようでした。En: Haruto felt a new sense of purpose, and his heart seemed to be brightened.Ja: 彼は、自分の選んだ道に自信を持ちました。En: He gained confidence in the path he had chosen.Ja: 「祖母の記憶とお守りが、僕を未来につないでくれた。」En: "The memory of my grandmother and her amulet have connected me to the future."Ja: 「春人、笑顔に戻ってきたね」とさくらが言いました。En: "Haruto, you've got your smile back," Sakura said.Ja: 「その通りだ」とあきらが頷きました。En: "That's right," Akira nodded in agreement.Ja: 3人は微笑み合いながら、来た道を戻りました。En: The three of them smiled at each other as they retraced their steps on the path they came from.Ja: 伏見稲荷の道を歩きながら、春人の心は新しい夢と希望で満ちていました。En: As he walked along the path of Fushimi Inari, Haruto's heart was filled with new dreams and hopes.Ja: 巡礼によって、彼は自分の未来に続く道を見つけたのです。En: Through the pilgrimage, he had found the path leading to his future.Ja: 彼はもう迷わないと決めました。En: He resolved never to be lost again.Ja: 彼の心には、未来への力強いビジョンが刻まれていました。En: Within his heart, there was etched a strong vision of the future. Vocabulary Words:pilgrimage: 巡礼amulet: お守りtorii gates: 鳥居vowed: 誓いましたSetsubun: 節分fortune: 幸運encouraged: 励まし合ってstorm: 嵐intensified: 強...
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    15 mins
  • Rekindling Bonds: A Winter Reunion at Ashinoko

    Rekindling Bonds: A Winter Reunion at Ashinoko
    Feb 22 2026
    Fluent Fiction - Japanese: Rekindling Bonds: A Winter Reunion at Ashinoko Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.com/ja/episode/2026-02-22-23-34-02-ja Story Transcript:Ja: 箱根の冬、芦ノ湖のほとりにその小さなキャビンはひっそりと佇んでいた。En: During the winter in Hakone, the small cabin stood quietly by the shores of Ashinoko.Ja: 静かな雪が木々を覆い、湖は静かな光を放っている。En: Quiet snow covered the trees, and the lake emitted a tranquil glow.Ja: その場に姿を現した二人の兄妹、春樹と愛子。En: Two siblings, Haruki and Aiko, appeared at this place.Ja: 彼らは何年離れていたことだろう。En: How many years had it been since they were apart?Ja: 家族のキャビンを訪れたのは、過去の溝を埋め、再び兄妹としての絆を再建するためだった。En: They visited the family cabin to mend past rifts and rebuild their bond as siblings.Ja: キャビンは暖かかった。En: The cabin was warm.Ja: 薪ストーブが赤々と燃え、木の家具には古き良き時代の香りが残っている。En: The wood stove burned brightly, and the wooden furniture retained the scent of a bygone era.Ja: 春樹は窓から外を見つめていた。En: Haruki gazed out the window.Ja: 彼の心は静かに動揺している。En: His heart was quietly unsettled.Ja: それでも、妹の愛子の顔を見ると、少しだけ勇気が湧いてきた。En: But when he saw his sister Aiko's face, he felt a little courage rise within him.Ja: 愛子は笑顔を見せたが、その目には深い思いが隠れていた。En: Aiko showed a smile, but deep thoughts were hidden in her eyes.Ja: 彼女は兄に話したいことがたくさんあった。En: She had many things she wanted to say to her brother.Ja: だが、どこから始めればいいのか分からなかった。En: However, she didn't know where to begin.Ja: 夕方になり、二人は湖のほとりを歩いた。En: As evening came, the two walked along the lakeside.Ja: 雪がしんしんと降る中、兄妹は無言の時間を共にした。En: While snow fell silently, the siblings shared a time of silence.Ja: しかし、春樹の心には言葉が渦巻いていた。En: However, words swirled in Haruki's heart.Ja: 「愛子、昔のことだけれど、あの時は…」春樹は静かに話し始めた。En: "Aiko, about the past, back then..." Haruki began to speak quietly.Ja: 彼は自分が離れていった理由を話した。En: He explained why he had gone away.Ja: あの時の彼の選択が、どれほど彼自身を苦しめてきたかを告白した。En: He confessed how much his choices back then had tormented him.Ja: 愛子はじっと耳を傾けていた。En: Aiko listened attentively.Ja: 彼女の心にも未解決の感情があり、兄の言葉がそれを解きほぐしていく。En: She also had unresolved feelings in her heart, which her brother's words began to unravel.Ja: 静かな湖畔で、冷たい空気の中、愛子も自分の気持ちを語り始めた。En: At the quiet lakeshore, in the cold air, Aiko started to speak about her feelings as well.Ja: 「私も辛かった。兄さんがいなくて、寂しかった。でも今、ここにいてくれることが嬉しい。」En: "I was having a hard time too. I was lonely without you. But now, I'm glad you're here."Ja: 二人は長い間話し合った。En: The two talked for a long time.Ja: 時間が経つにつれ、彼らの心にあったわだかまりが少しずつ溶けていった。En: As time passed, the bitterness held in their hearts began to melt away.Ja: 最後に、春樹はもう一度、はっきりと愛子に言った。「これからは、もっと良い兄でいたい。」En: Finally, Haruki clearly told Aiko once again, "From now on, I want to be a better brother."Ja: 愛子は微笑んだ。「私も、いい妹でいるね。」En: Aiko smiled. "I'll be a good sister too."Ja: その夜、キャビンの中はさらに温かくなった。En: That night, the cabin grew even warmer.Ja: 薪ストーブの音が心地よく響き、外の雪は静かに降り続けた。En: The sound of the wood stove resonated pleasantly, and the snow continued to fall quietly outside.Ja: これからは、二人とも過去を置いて新しい関係を築いていく決意を抱いていた。En: Both of them were determined to leave the past behind and build a new relationship.Ja: 彼らは、これからもっと頻繁に連絡を取り合うことを約束し、笑顔で夜を迎えた。En: They promised to keep in touch more frequently from now on and welcomed the night with smiles.Ja: 和解の一日が、静かに幕を下ろした。En: A day of reconciliation quietly came to a close.Ja: 春樹と愛子の心には、新しい始まりの光が灯っていた。En: In the hearts of Haruki ...
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    16 mins
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