#39 Learn Japanese: Making Umeshu | Izakaya Recipe: Umeshu (Week 3)

#42 Learn Japanese: DIY Equipment | Izakaya Recipe: Nagashi Somen (Week 2)

#42 Learn Japanese: DIY Equipment | Izakaya Recipe: Nagashi Somen (Week 2) たなばた fever hits the izakaya, and Nami is ready to try ながしそうめん at home — but how do you even build a stand for it? Traditionally you'd use たけ (bamboo), yet not everyone has a bamboo grove out back. Enter Namihei, who casually reveals that you can craft a homemade ながしそうめんだい from ペットボトル or a とい (gutter). Cut them vertically, connect them into a long channel, give them just the right こうばい (slope) so the water flows just so — and the whole conversation turns into a wonderful lesson in the Japanese てづくり spirit, where a little creativity and everyday materials become an entire summer memory. This week you'll learn the vocabulary of DIY summer play — てづくり (handmade / DIY), こうさく (craft / construction), すいりゅう (water flow), こうばい (slope / gradient), and くふう (creative idea). You'll also pick up natural patterns like 〜そう (looks like ~), まさか (don't tell me / could it be), and たいへんな ことに なる (things become a big mess), plus a warm look at why くふう and てづくり are treasured cultural values at the heart of a Japanese summer. And the mystery deepens — Namihei knows way too much about building a nagashi somen stand. Not just the technique, but oddly specific warnings about water splashing everywhere and turning the whole place びしょびしょ. When Nami narrows her eyes and asks, "まさか、けいけんした ことが あるの？" he panics and blurts out "そうぞうだよ!" — but Nami is starting to notice a pattern. How does a little white cat know so precisely what happens when the こうばい is set wrong…? The premium study guide includes the full transcript (romaji + English), in-depth explanations of the key grammar patterns, complete vocabulary lists, comprehension and writing exercises with answers, a step-by-step DIY nagashi somen stand guide, and cultural deep dives into the Japanese てづくり spirit, the joy of くふう, and the sound of running water at the heart of Japanese summer. 📚 Check Out the Full Study Guide on Substack https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com/ [https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com/subscribe [https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

#41 Learn Japanese: Summer Festival Flavors | Izakaya Recipe: Nagashi Somen (Week 1)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com [https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] #41 Learn Japanese: Summer Festival Flavors | Izakaya Recipe: Nagashi Somen (Week 1) July brings たなばた — the Star Festival — and this week Nami decides to make ながしそうめん for lunch, just the way her father always did. As she decorates the ささのは with wishes behind the izakaya, she shares her own ねがいごと: that the izakaya will prosper, and that she'll grow as skilled in the kitchen as her father once was. The talk turns to a cherished memory — how he made nagashi somen every Tanabata, always saying "なつは さっぱりした ものが いちばん" (in summer, light and refreshing food is the best). It's the perfect season to learn how Japanese seasonal legends and cool summer flavors come together. This week you'll learn the vocabulary of Japanese seasonal tradition at the heart of the story — でんせつ (legend), ねがいごと (a wish), ささのは (bamboo leaves), なつの ふうぶつし (a summer seasonal tradition), and さっぱり (light and refreshing). You'll also pick up natural patterns like 〜ますように (a heartfelt wish), 〜みたいに (just like ~), and そういえば (come to think of it), plus a warm look at why ながしそうめん is the quintessential taste of a Japanese summer. And the mystery deepens — the moment Nami mentions her father's nagashi somen, Namihei carelessly blurts out a memory only her father could know, before scrambling to cover it with a frantic "にゃーにゃ〜にゃ〜!" Nami is starting to wonder how this little white cat could possibly know such things... The premium study guide includes the full transcript (romaji + English), in-depth explanations of the key grammar patterns, complete vocabulary lists, comprehension and writing exercises with answers, a step-by-step nagashi somen recipe, and cultural deep dives into the たなばた legend and the Japanese spirit of celebrating the seasons through food. 📚 Check Out the Full Study Guide on Substack https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com/ [https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com/]

#40 Learn Japanese Drama | Izakaya Recipe: Umeshu (Week 4)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com [https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] #40 Learn Japanese Drama | Izakaya Recipe: Umeshu (Week 4) The umeshu is made — and this week, we step into a heartwarming short drama. While tidying the izakaya storeroom, Nami stumbles on a row of old bottles. The label, written in her father's own hand, reads "June, Heisei 28, made by Namihei." It feels almost too precious to open... but with a brave ゆうおうまいしん, she pours a glass. One sip of that beautiful こはくいろ, and the memories come flooding back — picking plums with her father, helping remove the stems, the あいじょう he poured into everything he made. Moved to tears, Nami resolves to brew umeshu of her own this year, carrying his taste forward for her customers. This week you'll learn the vocabulary of memory and emotion at the heart of the story — おもいで (memories), よみがえる (to come flooding back), うけつぐ (to carry on, inherit), あいじょうをこめる (to do something with love), and こころづよい (reassuring). You'll also pick up natural patterns like 〜てくれる (to do something for me), 〜ながら (while doing), 〜たがってる (someone else wants to ~), 〜ようなきがする (it feels as if ~), and 〜てもらいたい (I want someone to ~), plus a heartfelt look at why inheriting a flavor means inheriting love itself. And the mystery deepens — every time the talk turns to her father, Namihei is startled, his voice cracks, and twice he lets a quiet "おとうさん" slip out before scrambling to cover it with a frantic "にゃーにゃ〜!" Nami is starting to wonder what this little white cat is really hiding... The premium study guide includes the full transcript (romaji + English), in-depth explanations of the six key grammar patterns, complete vocabulary lists, comprehension and writing exercises with answers, a step-by-step umeshu-making guide, and cultural deep dives into あいじょうをこめる and the Japanese spirit of carrying tradition forward. 📚 Check Out the Full Study Guide on Substack https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com/ [https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com/]

#39 Learn Japanese: Making Umeshu | Izakaya Recipe: Umeshu (Week 3)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com [https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] #39 Learn Japanese: Making Umeshu | Izakaya Recipe: Umeshu (Week 3) The plums are chosen — now it's time to make the umeshu. Nami is ready to dive straight in, but Namihei stops her: first comes the ひとてま, the little extra care that makes all the difference. Remove each stem one by one, sterilize the jar with boiling water, then layer plum and rock sugar, plum and rock sugar, and finally pour in the white liquor. But the real secret isn't a technique at all — it's あいじょう, the love you pour in, and the patience to wait month after month. This week you'll learn the vocabulary of care and patience that defines Japanese home cooking — ひとてまかける (to put in that extra effort), あいじょうをこめる (to do something with love), ざっきん (germs), ねっとうしょうどく (sterilizing with boiling water), and まいにちはなしかける (to talk to it every day). You'll also pick up natural patterns like 〜なくちゃ (I have to ~), 〜ように (so that ~), and だいごみ (the real joy of something), and discover why the slow, unhurried craft of waiting is treasured as deeply as the cooking itself. And the mystery lingers on — when Namihei says to talk to the umeshu every day, Nami hears her father's exact words... and the little white cat scrambles to cover his tracks. The premium study guide includes the full transcript (romaji + English), in-depth explanations of the five key expressions, complete vocabulary lists, eight exercises with answers, a step-by-step umeshu-making guide, and cultural deep dives into the spirit of ひとてま and the Japanese joy of waiting. 📚 Check Out the Full Study Guide on Substack https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com/ [https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com/]

#38 Learn Japanese: Choosing Plums | Izakaya Recipe: Umeshu (Week 2)

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com [https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] #38 Learn Japanese: Choosing Plums | Izakaya Recipe: Umeshu (Week 2) The umeshu journey continues — but before you can steep a single plum, you have to choose the right ones. Nami heads to the retro shopping street, where the wisdom of her father and the local greengrocer (やおや) comes together: for umeshu, only firm green あおうめ will do, never the soft yellow ripe ones. And there's a surprising twist — those green plums are actually a little bit poisonous, until the alcohol works its magic. This week you'll learn the specialized vocabulary the Japanese use to choose and prepare ingredients — したごしらえ (preparation), かたくずれ (losing shape / falling apart), ぜつみょうなバランス (an exquisite balance), せいさんはいとうたい (the cyanogenic glycoside in raw plums), and むがいになる (to become harmless). You'll also pick up handy patterns like さすが (as expected of you!), 〜しにくい (hard to do), and コツ (the trick / the knack), and discover why choosing good ingredients by touch, smell, and a trained eye is treasured as a culinary art in Japan. And of course, the mystery deepens — Namihei knows the greengrocer's tricks a little too well for "just a cat"... The premium study guide includes the full transcript (romaji + English), in-depth explanations of the five key expressions, complete vocabulary lists, eight exercises with answers, a step-by-step plum selection and preparation guide, and cultural deep dives into the neighborhood greengrocer and the science of green plums. 📚 Check Out the Full Study Guide on Substack https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com/ [https://learndeliciousjapanese.substack.com/]