S02E18 – 都道府県 and 貪る

S02E18 – 都道府県 and 貪る

Author: Daniel Morales August 30, 2021 Duration: 11:35

There is an official order to the 都道府県 (todōfuken, prefectures) in Japan. I share some thoughts about it and in Japanese discuss the importance of learning how to really devour (貪る, musaboru) your Japanese studies.

This is a nice post with a close look at the numbering. Here is the official website for the 全国地方公共団体コード. And I previously wrote about the alphabet in Japanese.

Feel free to reach out with any questions or 悩み事 to howtojapanese@gmail.com.

You can also follow How to Japanese on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.


Ever feel like you're navigating the complexities of the Japanese language alone? How to Japanese Podcast offers a sense of guidance, that experienced voice you wish you had. Host Daniel Morales, the mind behind HowToJapanese.com, acts as that digital mentor, drawing from his own journey and conversations with others who've walked the path. This isn't about dry grammar drills; it's a collection of lived experiences. You'll hear from guests who share the practical strategies that actually worked for them, whether they were studying textbooks, navigating daily life in Tokyo, or using Japanese in a professional setting abroad. Each episode feels like a candid chat with a knowledgeable friend who gets the specific frustrations and triumphs of learning this language. The focus is on the real-world application-how people have moved from theory to conversation, from confusion to clarity. Tune into this podcast for honest reflections on what makes the process stick, finding motivation, and understanding the cultural nuances that textbooks often miss. It’s a resource for anyone looking to move beyond the basics and build a more authentic, sustainable relationship with Japanese.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 77

How to Japanese Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 54 - 確認 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:42
確認 (kakunin, confirm/check) is one of the most flexible words in the language. This month I go over all the different usages. Check out the newsletter for the prefixes/suffixes it connects with and how it's an extremely…
Episode 53 - 日記 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:56
It's been three years since I restarted my kanji study, and unfortunately it's languished over the past year. I take a look at the recommendations I made last year to see if they still hold up and provide an alternate me…
Episode 52 - 聖地巡礼 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:47
Do you have an 推し? Do you do 推し活? Have you been on a 聖地巡礼 as part of this? Do any of the words I just wrote make any sense at all? If not, tune in for details on how the language of fandom is mutating into more mainstrea…
Episode 51 - 文壇 (The Japanese Literary World) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
This month I looked at the 文壇 (bundan, literary world) and 文芸誌 (bungeishi, literary journals) thanks to the 120th anniversary issue of Shinchō. Murakami Haruki has a short story, but the real reason to pick up the issue…
Episode 50 - Sentence Diagramming [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:41
How do you improve your ability to understand Japanese sentences on your own? And to craft structurally sound Japanese sentences? I have a theory that sentence diagramming is a great step along the way, and I wrote about…
Episode 49 - 角ハイ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:23
The word 角ハイ (kakuhai) kind of formed in my mind without me even consciously realizing what it was, so I explored that for the newsletter and the podcast this month. Turns out, it's related to Suntory, Japan's whiskey hi…
Episode 48 - The 1,000-yen Haircut and まとめる [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:49
This month I continue the conversation about value in Japan with a close comparison of the 1,000-yen men's haircut and the 2,000-yen men's haircut. The former has terrible value, while the latter has great value. I also…
Episode 47 - Murakami and 見積もり [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:03
明けましておめでとうございます! New Year, New Murakami. We're getting a Jay Rubin translation of Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World in September. I talk about the market for used Birnbaum translations and go over some of t…
Episode 46 - そうこうしているうちに [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:39
We made it! 2023 is a wrap. Life sometimes seems busy and overwhelming, but we can have it all--including our language goals. This month I take a look at Japanese recipe creators that you can rely on for simple meals whi…
Episode 45 - コロケーション [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:10
This month I analyze the subtitle translation for the latest John Wick movie, which came out in Japan in September. The episode includes one spoiler, but I frontloaded additional content and provide a spoiler warning if…