What YouTube channels and dramas do you recommend for studying Japanese? How to make the most of it?

update date 2024/06/15

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Foreign residents, are you having a hard time learning Japanese? Learning a new language is a daunting challenge for anyone, isn't it?

But by utilizing YouTube and dramas, you can improve your Japanese language skills rapidly. Popular YouTube channels for Japanese language learners offer a variety of learning content for all levels, from beginner to advanced. In addition, watching Japanese dramas is a natural way to learn about Japanese expressions and culture.

In this issue, we will introduce an effective way to learn Japanese using YouTube and dramas. We will explain in detail how to choose recommended channels and dramas, as well as tips on how to utilize them, so please take a look.

Make steady progress in learning Japanese, one step at a time, with our easy-to-understand, fun, and practical learning methods!

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【 Japanese language education YouTube channel for studying 】 Japanese by purpose and level

YouTube offers not only entertainment, but also a wealth of educational resources. Especially for learners of Japanese, YouTube is an extremely valuable learning tool. Here are some recommended YouTube channels to help you learn Japanese, from beginner to advanced levels, and for different purposes. We are sure you will find a channel that suits your needs.

1. beginner channel "JapanesePod101

JapanesePod101 is the perfect channel for learners of Japanese at all levels, from beginner to advanced. It covers a wide variety of topics including grammar, vocabulary, listening, and conversation, and daily live streams offer listening, speaking, and writing practice. In addition, there is a wealth of fun and educational content, including 230 basic vocabulary words and Japanese nursery rhymes. It is also great that you can check your learning progress with vocabulary and grammar quizzes. Explanations are given in English, so beginners will find it easy to understand.

Visit our channel at ▶︎:Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101.com

2. intermediate channel "Meshclass

Meshclass is recommended for intermediate level learners of Japanese. It has a wide variety of videos to improve your business Japanese, daily conversation, grammar, and listening skills, and it features and explains real-life situations in which Japanese is used. For example, tips on self-introductions in business situations and detailed grammar differences, such as the difference between "koto" and "no", are clearly explained with illustrations. There is also a wealth of practical content, such as phrases for speaking like a native speaker and listening training using news stories. Although the explanations are given in Japanese, subtitles in multiple languages are also supported.

Visit our channel at ▶︎:Meshclass Japanese

3. advanced channel ".Yozi's International Exchange."

Recommended for advanced level Japanese language learners is "Yohji's International Exchange," which provides videos of interviews with foreigners living in Japan and interviews with Japanese people. In particular, the interviews with Japanese people are conducted entirely in Japanese, so students can learn natural conversational expressions and vocabulary while being exposed to live Japanese. The contents of the interviews cover a wide range of topics, including Japanese culture from a foreigner's point of view, characteristics of Japanese people, and interesting topics that even Japanese people do not know. This channel is perfect for advanced learners who want to learn real Japanese language and culture.

4. "Japanese Ammo with Misa" for those who want to learn grammar

For those who want to learn Japanese grammar in detail, "Japanese Ammo with Misa" is recommended. The book provides clear explanations of detailed grammar points, such as the use of "da" and "desu" and correct pronunciation, with specific examples, and includes reading and listening practice for the JLPT N4/N5, which will help you prepare for the exam. In addition, there is a wealth of content on Japanese customs and culture, so you can learn both the language and the culture.

Visit our channel at ▶︎:Japanese Ammo with Misa

5. "Miku Real Japanese" for those who want to improve their conversation skills

Miku Real Japanese" is recommended for those who want to learn daily conversation and natural Japanese expressions. The site is full of videos dealing with real everyday situations, such as conversations with friends or at a beauty salon. It also features videos in various dialects and levels, such as Kansai-ben and simple Japanese conversation (N5/N4 level). There are also plenty of Vlogs about Japanese life and culture, so you can learn not only the language but also Japanese culture at the same time.

Visit our channel at ▶︎:Miku Real Japanese

5. for those who want to practice listening

For those who want to improve their listening skills, we recommend Mori in Japanese, which specializes in JLPT preparation and provides actual test questions and listening practice for learners at all levels. The site is perfect for test preparation, as it covers the letter/vocabulary questions and listening comprehension questions well. In addition, students can learn practical Japanese, such as Japanese expressions not found in textbooks and Kansai-ben (Kansai dialect) courses. The diverse content on Japanese language education, such as on-site classes in Taiwan, is also noteworthy.

Visit our channel at ▶︎:Japanese Language Forest

6. for those who want to learn Kanji characters ".Learn Japanese Channel."

For those who want to practice reading and writing Kanji intensively, "Learn Japanese Channel" is recommended. Aimed at beginner to intermediate level learners, the channel offers kanji reading and writing practice according to JLPT levels. In particular, the lessons focus on N5 to N3 level kanji. You can improve your kanji skills efficiently with practical reading and writing practice using example sentences and short sentences. The lessons also cover basic Japanese grammar such as conjugation of verbs and adjectives, so you can learn both kanji and grammar at the same time.

Visit our channel at ▶︎:Learn Japanese Channel

7. "Sambon Juku" for those who want to prepare for the JLPT

Sambon Juku -Sambon Juku- is a channel for preparing for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), covering each level from N1 to N5, with detailed explanations on grammar, vocabulary, listening and reading comprehension for the test. For example, it carefully explains grammar points that frequently appear in the exam, such as the use of "mono" in N2 level and "mama" in N3 level. In addition, the book includes listening practice using actual listening comprehension exercises and a wealth of content on Japanese culture and daily life, so you can acquire not only test-taking strategies, but also practical Japanese language skills.

Visit our channel at ▶︎:Sambon Juku

8. "Japasta" for those who want to learn business Japanese and natural Japanese expressions

Japasta is recommended for intermediate level learners who want to learn Japanese expressions that can be used in business situations and natural expressions used in daily conversation. This channel explains expressions related to work in Japan and wording specific to business, and also introduces many natural phrases and nuances commonly used in daily conversation. It is full of useful information and practical phrases for business situations, allowing you to efficiently acquire Japanese language skills that can be used both at work and in everyday life.

Visit our channel at ▶︎:Japasta/Let's study Japanese

Recommended Dramas for Japanese Language Study and How to Use Them

For Japanese language learners, drama is not only entertainment, but also an excellent learning tool. By watching dramas, students can naturally learn live Japanese expressions, pronunciation, and cultural background.

Here, we will explain in detail which dramas we recommend for Japanese language study and how to use them effectively. We will also give you some pointers on selecting dramas for different levels, from beginner to advanced. Let's have fun while improving your Japanese language skills through dramas!

(1) Advantages of studying Japanese through drama

The advantages of using drama to learn Japanese are manifold. Some of the main advantages are listed below.

(1) Learn practical conversation.

Because dramas often depict everyday life, students can learn Japanese expressions and phrases that are actually used in real life. In particular, dramas that focus on school, work, and family life feature a wealth of everyday conversation.

(2) Understand pronunciation and intonation.

In the drama, you can listen to the actual audio of Japanese people speaking. This allows for a visual understanding of correct pronunciation, intonation, and mouth movements.

(iii) Learn about the cultural background

Because the dramas reflect the cultural context, viewers can learn about Japanese culture and society. They can understand not only the language, but also Japanese customs, practices, and values.

(2) How to study Japanese using drama

Here are some effective ways to use drama to learn Japanese.

(1) Utilize subtitles

If you are starting Japanese language study with a drama for the first time, it is a good idea to choose a drama with Japanese subtitles. By watching with subtitles, you will be able to understand words and phrases that are difficult to understand.

(2) Practice lines from the drama

By practicing the lines of the drama by saying them out loud yourself, you can learn Japanese pronunciation and intonation. Also, by actually speaking the language yourself, you will deepen your understanding.

(3) Look up words you didn't catch.

If you encounter words or phrases that you did not catch while watching a drama, it is important to pause and look them up. This will allow you to expand your new vocabulary.

(3) Dramas recommended for Japanese language study

Here are recommended dramas for Japanese language study by level: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Selecting the appropriate drama for each level will lead to effective learning.

Drama for beginner level

For beginner-level learners of Japanese, we recommend dramas that focus on simple daily conversation.

'TheIt's human nature to be ashamed to run away but it's useful▶︎ depicts contemporary Japanese views of marriage, love, and social life, and contains a wealth of basic Japanese expressions to help students deepen their understanding of everyday conversation.

'Thejuvenile▶︎ It tells the story of a young woman who moves from the countryside to the city, and is rich with conversations about everyday life.

'TheTokyo Love Storyis a portrait of young people living in Tokyo, and provides an opportunity to learn about Japanese culture and social issues.

These dramas feature many basic conversational expressions and scenes from everyday life.

Drama for intermediate level

For intermediate level learners of Japanese, we recommend dramas with more complex expressions and specialized topics.

'Thedowntown rocket▶︎ This drama depicts the challenges and innovations of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and provides a deeper understanding of Japanese business culture and social issues.

'Thequartetis a drama about four men and women living together and their various relationships and emotions, and allows students to learn everyday conversation.

'Thered string (traditionally fated lovers are joined by this unseen string, tied around one little finger of each)▶︎ This drama depicts Japanese love culture and adolescence, with many realistic phrases commonly used in daily conversation, allowing students to learn emotional expressions of Japanese youth.

These dramas also deal with business conversation, Japanese culture, and social issues.

[Drama for advanced level

For advanced level learners of Japanese, we recommend dramas that delve deeply into difficult expressions and specialized topics.

."Love Shuffle."
▶︎ This drama skillfully depicts the complexities of love and relationships. For advanced-level learners, it will further deepen their understanding of Japanese romantic and social life.
."JIN."
▶︎ The special setting of the end of the Edo period, the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate, includes a lot of archaic and historical expressions. This allows for a deeper understanding of Japanese culture and history for advanced level learners.
."Confidence Man JP."
▶︎ portrays contemporary Japanese society and human relationships through thrilling and humorous storytelling. It includes a wide range of expressions, from everyday conversation to specialized expressions, to strengthen the vocabulary of advanced learners.

These dramas deal with specialized vocabulary, challenging expressions, and abstract topics.

(4) Three recommended drama distribution services

Here we introduce three recommended video streaming services that offer many dramas useful for learning Japanese.

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video offers a large number of dramas in a wide range of genres. Japanese dramas are also abundant, and some of them have Japanese subtitles.

For more information: ▶︎ Amazon Prime Video

TVer

TVer is an official TV portal site where you can watch Japanese dramas for free, offering a wide range of popular programs. It offers missed programs within a week of broadcast and a wide variety of lineup from on-air dramas to past productions.

For more information: ▶︎ TVer

3) Netflix

Netflix is a well-known, global video distribution service. Many Japanese dramas are also available, and you can set up subtitles or dubbing. There is also a wide variety of original works.

For more information: ▶︎ Netflix

If you would like to watch more Japanese dramas, please take advantage of the video streaming services listed in this article.
▶︎ Introducing recommended video streaming in Japan! Also explains how to watch TV you missed!

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summary

In this article, we have detailed an effective method for studying Japanese language using YouTube and dramas.

There are many Japanese learning channels on YouTube for different levels, from beginner to advanced. The main attraction is that you can learn grammar, conversation, listening, etc. according to your objectives. Find the channel that suits you best and enjoy learning.

Also, by using dramas, you can learn practical Japanese expressions and pronunciation. You will also deepen your understanding of Japanese culture. Please make use of the subtitles and practice the dialogues to make the dramas useful for your Japanese language study.

By combining YouTube and drama, a multifaceted approach can be taken. The four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing can be developed in a well-balanced manner.

If you want to learn Japanese even more in depth, we also recommend this article.

There are many different approaches to learning Japanese. Please find the resource that suits you best and continue learning while having fun. We look forward to supporting your improvement in your Japanese language skills!