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
S02E14 – The Katakana Fallacy and 言語の支え [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:11
The Katakana Fallacy is the mistaken belief that katakana are more difficult to learn than hiragana (and maybe even kanji?!). A closer look at what drives this believe helps explain why Japanese is, in fact, the easiest…
S02E12 – かもしれない and 食中毒 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:06
かもしれない (kamoshirenai, may/might) has subtle nuances, and it can be easy to overuse. I talk about a time when I did, and how many years later that mistake allowed me to become an advice columnist very briefly. And in Japa…
S02E10 – 車検 and 人生初めてのカラオケ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:03
The dreaded 車検 (shaken, car inspection) is an expat's worst nightmare, but it's not a reason to not get a car. Driving in the Japanese countryside is absolutely the best way to get around and make some great memories. I…
S02E08 – Roomshare.jp and のり弁 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:44
Living with Japanese roommates in Tokyo was the highlight of my time in Japan. I found those roommates on the website Roomshare.jp, a great site that I introduce this week. And in Japanese I talk about how I ate のり弁 for…
S02E07 – Jason Coskrey – Immersion, Sports Writing in Japan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:41
Jason Coskrey is a sports writer for The Japan Times. He previously worked at the Birmingham Post Herald and the Marietta Daily Journal before moving to Japan in 2007. We spoke about learning Japanese (and how to do spor…
S02E06 - Performative Adjectives and 系 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:51
Adjectives in Japanese are not always what they appear to be! I think part of this is because they function as what I call "performative adjectives." One of my sixth-grade students helped me finally understand what かわいそう…