Bilingual News

Michael and Mami have been producing Bilingual News since 2013, making it one of the longest-running Japanese-English podcasts available. With 698 episodes, the format is simple but effective: each week they discuss current news stories, with Michael speaking primarily in English and Mami in Japanese. The unscripted, one-take approach means conversations feel genuine rather than rehearsed, and listeners get exposed to both languages simultaneously in a natural back-and-forth. The topics range widely — recent episodes have covered time zone science, divorce statistics, AI language models, cybersecurity, and various scientific phenomena. This breadth means you pick up vocabulary across many domains rather than just daily-life Japanese. The bilingual format also works as a built-in comprehension check: if you miss something in Japanese, the English discussion often covers the same ground, and vice versa. Transcripts are available through the official Bilingual News app, which many listeners consider essential for deeper study. The 4.4-star rating from 207 reviews and the show's decade-plus track record speak to its staying power. At 698 episodes, there is an enormous archive covering news from the last twelve years, offering a time capsule of how Japan and the world have changed. The explicit content rating reflects the hosts' willingness to discuss any topic honestly rather than sanitizing for a classroom audience. For upper-intermediate to advanced learners who want real content rather than pedagogical material, this remains a gold standard.