にほんごのたね Nihongo no Tane with Yumi

A few months ago, Yumi comment us about the souvenirs she was planning to take to Japan for family and friends. Now that she’s back, she will tell us which are the ones that people liked and which ones may have not being such a success. Listen to the podcast to find out!   KEY VOCABULARY: 経(た)つ (for time) to pass 落(お)ち着(つ)く to settle down 反応(はんのう) response; reactions 喜(よろこ)ぶ to be pleased; to be delighted がっかりされた was disappointing (for people); disappointed (people); had (people) get disappointed [がっかり(disappointment); された (past & passive form of する (to do)); がっかりする means “to get disappointed”; Note: がっかりされる and がっかりさせるsay the something, but がっかりされる have a nuance that “what disappoints people to be receiving people’s disappointment”] 微(び)妙(みょう) tricky; subtle; delicate (situation) 親戚(しんせき) relatives アメリカっぽい American-like; American-ish; American-esque [～っぽい(-ish; -like) is a suffix which is added after nouns or adjectives; アメリカ風(ふう) is a similar another word] ビスケット cookie [crispy cookies that are somewhat dry]　 甘(あま)さ控(ひか)えめ low in sugar; not too sweet; less sweet side [甘さ (sweetness); 控(ひか)え “ます-stem” of 控(ひか)える(to refrain); め is a suffix that indicates degree or tendency of some condition] 味(あじ)わい flavor; taste 食(た)べごたえ satisfying to eat [used for food that are satisfying because of a big portion size] そこら中(じゅう) everywhere there; all over the place [中(じゅう)is a suffix that means “all over”, “everywhere”, or “all through”] 奥様(おくさま) wife; house wife; married lady [very polite way to say “married woman”] 派手(はで) loud; flashy; gaudy 生地(きじ) cloth; fabric; material 色使(いろづか)い color usage; use of color ウケ popularity; (people’s response) [used when describing how something (like “Jokes”) is received by people] 一択(いったく) one option; one choice [used when making a choice with no hesitation] 余(あま)る to remain; to be in excess; to be left over     For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/ Take a quiz on this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-142 If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing: https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-142-m -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF. www.MakotoPlus.com  

This is the final part of the long-awaited journey to Japan! This time, Yumi will tell us about an incredible visit to USJ and more about Tokyo. Listen to the podcast and pay attention to her recommendations for your next trip to Japan!   KEY VOCABULARY: たどり着(つ)くfinally arrive at; to get to (at last); find one’s way to 書斎(しょさい) library; study; sanctum 超(ちょう)おすすめ highly recommended [超(ちょう) (highly; extremely; super); おすすめ(recommendation)] 激(はげ)しかった was intense [激(はげ)しい (violent; intense)] 開場(かいじょう) opening; opening (of the doors) [開(かい) (open); 場(ば) (place; location)] 日差(ひざ)し sunlight; rays of the sun; sunshine [日(ひ)(sun); 差(さ)し (shining); also written as 日射(ひざし)し or 陽射(ひざし)し] 海浜公園(かいひんこうえん) beachfront park; seaside park [海浜 (seaside; beach); 公園(こうえん) (park)] 自(じ)由(ゆう)の女(め)神(がみ)の像(ぞう) statue of liberty [自(じ)由(ゆう) (liberty; freedom);女(め)神(がみ) (Goddess); 像(ぞう) (statue)] 展望台(てんぼうだい) lookout tower [展望 (lookout; viewing); 台(だい) (tower)] 水上(すいじょう)バス　water bus; water taxi [水上(すいじょう) (on the water)] 優雅(ゆうが)な elegant; graceful ～のはず is supposed to be ~; should be ~ 熱中症(ねっちゅうしょう)heat stroke; heat exhaustion [熱中(ねっちゅう) (fever); 症(しょう) (illness; symptom; condition (of illness)] 濡(ぬ)れた wet [濡(ぬ)れる (to get wet)] 冷房(れいぼう)の効(き)いている～ air-conditioned [same as 冷房(れいぼう)が効(き)いている～; 冷房(れいぼう) (cooler; air-conditioner); 効(き)いている (is in effect; is on) which is the progressive form of 効(き)く(to be effective)] 避(さ)ける avoid 涼(すず)しい cool (in air temperature) 食(た)べ歩(ある)き eating tour; trying different food at various restaurants while visiting a town 最悪(さいあく) worst (case) [最(さい) (the most); 悪(あく) (bad)] 携帯(けいたい) cell phone [shortened form 携帯(けいたい) (portable); 電(でん)話(わ) (phone)]     For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/ Take a quiz on this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-141 If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing: https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-141-m -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF. www.MakotoPlus.com

In this episode, Yumi will tell us about the troubles she encountered while in Japan. Can you imagine what was the most difficult thing during her stay there? You may never imagine what was… Listen to the podcast and find out what it was!   KEY VOCABULARY: 随分(ずいぶん) considerably; rather; fairly; quite お久(ひさ)しぶり it has been a long time [お 久(ひさ)しぶりis politer form for 久(ひさ)しぶり] 無事(ぶじ) safely; with no problems [無事(ぶじ)に can be used here as well] ご無沙汰(ぶさた)しております (I) have been away; (I) haven’t contacting you; (I) have been in touch with you [ご無沙汰(ぶさた) (long silence; situation in which one is not contacting someone); しております I have been (not contacting), which is the humble form for しています; the dictionary form is ご無沙汰(ぶさた)する; a common expression to start a conversation or a letter after not contacting someone for a certain period of time. This expression gives a sense of apology for not being present in their relationship] 長(なが)かったようで短(みじか)かった felt like a long time but actually was a short time [a common expression which is used when one looks back a period of time in the past] 総(そう)じて overall; for the most part; as a whole [総(そう) (whole; total)] 老人(ろうじん)ホーム retirement home; nursing home 歯医(はい)者(しゃ) dentist [歯(は) (teeth); 医者(いしゃ) (doctor)]   ～度(たび)に every time ~; each time ~ [“dictionary form V + 度(たび)に”; 度(たび) counter for occasion, situation or occurrences] 記(き)憶(おく) memory はっきりしてきた became clear [past form of はっきりしてくる (to become clear)] 更新(こうしん)する renew [to renew (a record)] 危(あぶ)なっかしい seemingly dangerous; unsafe looking [an expression from the speaker’s point of view to describe someone to be not safe or not stable while engaging in some activity to the degree that the speaker feels worried about the safety of the person in action] 迷(まい)子(ご)になる to get lost [迷(まい)子(ご) (lost child; lost person)] 干(ほ)す hang out to dry; hang (outside) to dry 乾(かわ)かす dry [to dry] 天(てん)気(き)予(よ)報(ほう) weather forecast [天(てん)気(き) (weather); 予(よ)報(ほう) (forecast)] ～のうちに within (a certain time frame) ドンドンゴロゴロ (onomatopoeia) bang; boom [sound of thunder] 当(あ)たり前(まえ) usual; the norm; common; natural; common place [na-adjective that used to describe something to be natural as a matter of course]     For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/ Take a quiz on this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-140 If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing: https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-140-m -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF. www.MakotoPlus.com

In the previous episode, Yumi talked about her arrival to Japan. This time, she will talk about what she and her family did after that, like going on a sightseeing bus in Tokyo or visiting an old friend. But, arriving at the countryside where her parents live after going around Tokyo made her wonder about the differences you can find between big cities and the countryside.   KEY VOCABULARY: ２階(かい)建(だ)て double-decker; two-story structure; two-story building [階(かい) (story); 建(だ)て (build)]　 国(こっ)会(かい)議(ぎ)事(じ)堂(どう) National Parliament building [国会(こっかい) (parliament); 議事(ぎじ) (proceedings); 堂(どう) (hall)] 皇居(こうきょ) imperial Palace [皇(こう) (imperial);居(きょ) (residence)] ギリギリ just barely (onomatopoeia) 高速道(こうそくどう)路(ろ) expressway; highway [高 (high); 速 (speed)] 優(ゆう)雅(が)に gracefully; elegantly [優(ゆう)雅(が) (elegant; graceful; refined)] 乗(の)り心(ごこ)地(ち) riding comfortability [乗(の)り(riding); 心(ごこ)地(ち) (comfortability; level of physical comfort); 心(ごこ)地(ち) is pronounced ここち by itself] 誇(ほこ)る to be proud 乗(の)り換(か)え connection; transfer of public transportation [乗(の)り(riding); 換(か)え (change; switch)] 素(す)早(ばや)く quickly; promptly [素(す) is prefix  for “exceedingly” in this case] 距(きょ)離(り) distance 接(せっ)する to touch; to come in contact (with) 人口密(じんこうみつ)度(ど) population density [人口(じんこう) (population); 密(みつ)度(ど) (density)] 新(しん)緑(りょく) new spring foliage color [新(しん) (new); 緑(りょく)(green)] 清潔(せいけつ) clean sanitary 整(せい)備(び) maintenance; servicing ～ひとつ…ない no ~ is there; no ~ exists [concise version of ～がひとつもない (there is no ~, not even one; not even one ~ exists)] 溢(あふ)れる to over flow 一切(いっさい)～ない not ~ whatsoever; not ~ at all 整(ととの)い方(かた) the way (things are) in order [整(ととの)い (ます- stem of 整(ととの)う(to be in order)); 方(かた) (the way); “ます- stem V + 方(かた)” is “the way to ~” or “the method of doing ~”]   For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/ Take a quiz on this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-139 If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing: https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-139-m -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF. www.MakotoPlus.com  

Finally, Yumi and her family are in Japan! It’s been a long time since the last visit, and it seems things have changed. At least, at the convenience stores! Listen to her and take note of ideas for souvenirs for your next trip!   KEY VOCABULARY: 片(かた)付(づ)け tidying up  一段落(いちだんらく)  stopping point (before the next stage) [段落 (end; end of a paragraph)]  復活(ふっかつ)させる revive; come back [復活(ふっかつ) (revival; resurrection); させる (causative of ～する)]  真(ま)下(した) right under; directly below) [真(ま) (prefix for “just~”; “right ~”)]  墜落(ついらく) crash 大惨(だいさん)事(じ) catastrophic event [惨事(さんじ) (disaster)] 入(にゅう)国(こく)検(けん)査(さ) Immigration clearance; Passport control; Immigration examination [入国(にゅうこく) (entry into country); 検(けん)査(さ) (examination)]  当(あ)てる hold ~ against [to put ~ on; to put ~against] 国籍(こくせき) nationality; citizenship 実感(じっかん) actual feeling; solid feeling [実感(じっかん) (real feeling); feeling and knowing of something by a first-hand experience] 流暢(りゅうちょう) fluent (in language skill) 丁寧(ていねい)に thoroughly [丁寧(ていねい) can mean “polite” or “courteous”, but here it means “thorough” in explanation] お湯(ゆ)を張(は)る fill up with hot water [張(は)る (to stretch); it describes the way the surface of water looks stretched out to all the way around inside of the tub. It’s sort of an elegant Japanese expression compared to お湯(ゆ)を入(い)れる (to pour the water in), which can be used here.] 湯(ゆ)船(ぶね) bath tub [船(ぶね) (tank; tub; vessel); basically same as “お風呂(ふろ)”, but has the ambiance of old world] つかる is submerged; is soaked 揃(そろ)っている have everything; fully stocked [揃(そろ)う(to be complete; to be all present); (て) いる describes “a certain condition”] ～し、～し、 (揃(そろ)ってますし、~ありましたし、) ~ and ~ and, therefore … [used when listing up reason(s) to support the following conclusion] 快適(かいてき) pleasant; comfort; amenity   For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/ Take a quiz on this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-138 If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing: https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-138-m -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF. www.MakotoPlus.com  

In the previous episode, Yumi told us she’s going back to Japan with her family. But she was having some issues deciding what to pick as souvenir for her family and friends. This time, she will talk about what she bought and where. Listen to her and take note of ideas for souvenirs for your next trip!   KEY VOCABULARY: 何人(なんにん)か分(ぶん) portion for some people [何人(なんにん)か　“some people” (かindicates it to be “not a specific number”); 分(ぶん) (portion)] 先(さき)ほど earlier; a short while ago; a moment ago 伴侶(はんりょ) spouse 更(さら)に furthermore; moreover 地(じ)元(もと) home area; home town; local area 大学(だいがく)時(じ)代(だい) college years [大学(だいがく) (college; university); 時(じ)代(だい) (era)] 軽(かる)くなっちゃうんです easily turns into (20 to 30 people) [軽(かる)く(easily); なっちゃうcontracted fromなってしまう (ends up turning into); んです contracted from のです (“it is the case that ~”; の explanatory particle emphasizing what is being said)] さらに furthermore 交友関係(こうゆうかんけい)が広(ひろ)い has a large circle of friends; has many friends [交友(こうゆう)関係(かんけい) (circle of friends one has; friendships with people one has); 広(ひろ)い (extensive; broad)] 全(ぜん)部(ぶ)合(あ)わせる put (everybody) all together [全(ぜん)部(ぶ) (all parts); 合(あ)わせる (to combine; to put together); causative form of 合(あ)う (to fit; to match) ] お菓子(かし)類(るい) snacks and sweets [お菓子(かし) (snacks; sweets); 類(るい) (kind; type)] 作(つく)り quality of how something was manufactured [noun form of 作(つく)る (to make)] 消毒(しょうどく) disinfection [消 (extinguishing); 毒 (poison)] 何々(なになに)さん so-and-so; Mr. so-and-so 匂(にお)い sent; smell 旗(はた) flag お守(まも)り charm 気(き)持(も)ちを込(こ)める to put one’s heart into something [気(き)持(も)ち (feeling; heart); 込(こ)める (to include)] 1ドルちょっとぐらい about a little over $1 [1ドルちょっと ($1 and a little); ぐらい (approximate; about)] ご報告(ほうこく) しようwill report [報告(ほうこく) (report)]   For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/ Take a quiz on this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-137 If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing: https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-137-m -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF. www.MakotoPlus.com  

Yumi is going back to Japan with her family! This is a long-awaited trip. Soon they will be reunited with family and friends, but… There is something troubling Yumi’s mind. Listen to the podcast to know more about it!    KEY VOCABULARY: 帰(き)省(せい) homecoming visit; going to one’s parents’ home うんうんうなるto moan (in pain or in discomfort) [うんうん (onomatopoeia that mimicking the sound of moaning); うなる (to growl; to moan; to grunt)] 夢(ゆめ)のまた夢(ゆめ) a dream within a dream; beyond (one’s) wildest dream [literally, “a dream beyond another dream” which basically means “something impossible to happen” or “something impossible for one to experience”]　 水際対策(みぎわたいさく) border control measures [水際(みぎわ) (beach; shore; coastline; national border); 対策(たいさく) (countermeasures)] 連絡(れんらく)が取(と)れる to be able to get in touch; to be able to make contact [連絡(れんらく) (contact; communication); 取(と)れる to be able to get/to take (potential form of 取(と)る)] 悩(なや)んでいる to be having a hard time [悩(なや)む (to have a hard time with something mentally)] 20 年(ねん)ぶりに for the first time in 20 years [ぶりis a suffix that indicates a period of time that has passed before for one to experience the same situation. It is only used for positive circumstances] フロリダらしい Florida-like; Florida style 頭(あたま)に浮(う)かばない does not come to mind [literally, “doesn’t float to head]; used when one can’t think of ideas and such] 不(ふ)健康(けんこう) unhealthy; poor health どぎつい intense; gaudy; garish; loud in color [ど (casual prefix for “very”, “super” or “extremely”); ぎつい from きつい (intense; forceful; demanding)] 面倒(めんどう)くさい bothersome; hassle あげなきゃいいんじゃないの ？ isn’t it better not to give? [more casual form for あげなければいいのではないのですか？; あげなきゃcontracted fromあげなければ (if you don’t give); いいんじゃ contracted from いいのでは (it’s good; it’s better); ないの contracted from ないのですか (is (it) not?)] 分(わ)け与(あた)えてあげる share; divide out [分(わ)け与(あた)えて (to share); あげる (to do a favor of doing ~)]   帰(かえ)り際(ぎわ)に right before going home; just as one is leaving [帰(かえ)り (”ます- stem” of 帰る); 際(ぎわ) (when; occasion); ”ます- stem V + 際(ぎわ)” is “on one is about to doing something”] 何々(なになに)さん so-and-so; Mr. so-and-so 配(くば)る deliver; distribute; pass around; hand out 御(お)札(ふだ) やお守(まも)り amulets and charms [御(お)札(ふだ) (amulet); お守(まも)り(charm)] 気(き)軽(がる)に easily; without hesitation いろんなとこ many places [いろんな (various); とこ contracted from ところ (place; location) which is only used in casual setting]   For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/ Take a quiz on this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-136 If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing: https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-136-m --

In the previous podcast, Yumi started to talk about her family trip to St. Augustine. Don’t miss the end of this story, where she explains the main reason of their trip and why she couldn’t sleep well that night.   KEY VOCABULARY: 予(よ)約(やく) reservation; booking 無(む)効(こう) invalid; void 慌(あわ)てて in a hurry; in haste [fixed phrase] 近(ちか)場(ば) nearby place 重(かさ)ね合(あ)わせてtaking (the both countries’ histories) together and … [重(かさ)ね合(あ)わせる (to layer multiple things; to overlap)] 説得(せっとく) persuasion 温(おん)故知(こち)新(しん) visiting old, learn new [温(おん) (to warm; to rewarm); 故(こ) (old); 知(ち) (to know); 新(しん) (new); this saying means “an attempt to understand new things by studying the past”] 覗(のぞ)いたり doing peeking into (stores) and [覗(のぞ)い from 覗(のぞ)く(to peek into ; to take a quick look at); ~たり、～する (doing such thing like ~ing and ~ing)] お洒落(しゃれ)なstylish; fashionable; chic;　lovely 結構(けっこう) fairly; quite a bit 大賑(だいにぎ)わい big crowd 雰(ふん)囲気(いき) atmosphere; mood of a space or situation 子(こ)供(ども)連(づ)れtaking children along 漂(ただよ)ってました (to be in the air) [漂う (to be in the air; to drift)]　 清潔感(せいけつかん) sense of cleanliness [清潔 (clean; sanitary)] (ぱぱぱと)しか見なかった looked only (quickly) […しか～ない (to do ~ only …)] 飼(か)っていた had (peacocks) [飼う to have/own (animals or pets)] 野良(のら)クジャク stray peacock [野良(のら) (stray); クジャク (peacock)] 時(とき)すでに遅(おそ)しthe ship has already sailed [literally, “Time is already late”] 順調(じゅんちょう)に smoothly For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/ Take a quiz on this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-135 If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing: https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-135-m -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF. www.MakotoPlus.com  

This time Yumi went to a trip to St. Augustine, a city she usually goes with her family to the beach. But this time she made a different kind of trip. In this first part of Saint Augustine’s trip story, she tells us about the history of the fortress located there, San Marcos, among other things.   KEY VOCABULARY: 昔(むかし)ながらの unchanged as old time; as it was in the past [a fixed phrase] 日(ひ)帰(がえ)り day trip ～ばかりの頃(ころ) around the time when ~ [～ばかり (just doing ~); 頃(ころ) (approximate time period; around the time)] 砦(とりで)/要塞(ようさい) fort；fortress [slightly differs from each other in definition but basically “fort”] 詰(つ)まった packed [past of 詰(つ)まる (to be packed; to be clogged)] 石灰(せっかい)石(せき) lime stone [石灰(せっかい) (lime); 石(せき) (stone)] 遡(さかのぼ)りますと going back (in the history) [遡る (to date back); と (when; if)] 取(と)り戻(もど)す take back; regain 牢(ろう)屋(や) jail; prison 脱走兵(だっそうへい) defector; deserter [脱走(だっそう) (escape; desertion); 兵(へい) (solider)] 投獄(とうごく)されていた were imprisoned; were incarcerated [投獄(とうごく)される (to get imprisoned); (て) いた indicates a situation or state] 入(いり)江(え) inlet; cove; bay 合流(ごうりゅう)する merge; come together 狙(ねら)い撃(う)ち sniping; snipe attack [狙(ねら)い (aim); 撃(う)ち (shooting)] 領(りょう)土(ど)争(あらそ)い territorial dispute [領(りょう)土(ど) (territory); 争(あらそ)い (dispute; conflict)] 翻弄(ほんろう)された was trifled with; was tossed around 凄(すさ)まじさ ferocity; savagery [noun form of 凄(すさ)まじい (horrible; terrible)] 愚(おろ)かさ　foolishness; absurdity [noun form of 愚(おろ)か (foolish)] 感慨(かんがい)にふけってしまいました was absorbed in deep emotion [感慨(かんがい)にふける (to be overcome with emotion; to be sunk in thought); 感慨(かんがい) (deep emotion which arises from deep thought or introspection)] 目的(もくてき)を果(は)たす accomplish the goal; fulfill the objective [目的(もくてき) (goal; purpose); (を)果(は)たす (to fulfill)]   For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/ Take a quiz on this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-134 If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing: https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-134-m -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF. www.MakotoPlus.com

Japanese culture about nakedness is different from the occidental one. Japanese people go to onsen naked while most occidental people would feel embarrassed for doing this. In this podcast, Yumi talks about it, and about the changes over time around this culture.   KEY VOCABULARY: 恥(は)ずかしがる to be shy of; to be bashful お相(す)撲(もう)さん Sumo wrestler(s) [affectionate way of calling sumo wrestlers] まる見(み)え full view; completely visible [まるprefix for “whole/total/all”/full; 見(み)え noun form of 見(み)える (to be visible)] 伝統(でんとう)国(こく)技(ぎ) traditional national sport 競(きょう)技(ぎ) competition; game; match; contest まる出(だ)し bare; fully exposed 明(めい)治(じ)時(じ)代(だい) Meiji period (1868-1912) 禁(きん)止(し) prohibition 根(ね)強(づよ)くfirmly; persistently [adverb form of 根(ね)強(づよ)い (firm; persistent; deep-seated; deep-rooted) 銭湯(せんとう) public bathhouse [銭(せん) (coin); 湯(とう) (bath water; warm water)] 展(てん)示(じ) する to exhibit; to display 海水浴場(かいすいよくじょう) designated swimming area beach 彫刻(ちょうこく)家(か) sculptor [彫刻(ちょうこく)(carving; sculpture); 家(か) (suffix for some professions or title for people with highly skill) 裸(ら)体(たい) naked body; nudity 矛(む)盾(じゅん)する to contradict [矛(む)盾(じゅん) (contradictory)] 価値(かち)観(かん) sense of values; value system [価値(かち) (value); 観(かん) (view)] 普(ふ)段(だん) usual; ordinary 基(き)準(じゅん) standard 中(ちゅう)世(せい) Middle Age 股(こ)間(かん) crotch; groin [股(こ) (groin; thigh); 間(かん) (between)]   For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/ Take a quiz on this episode here: https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-133 If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing: https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-133-m -- Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF. www.MakotoPlus.com