Slow Japanese

Slow Japanese does exactly what the name promises, and it does it remarkably well. Created by Akari, a certified Japanese language teacher, the podcast is built around one core principle: speaking slowly enough that beginners can actually follow along without constantly reaching for the pause button. The show launched in 2021 and has grown to over 140 episodes, updating twice a week. What makes the pacing work is that Akari does not just speak slowly in a robotic way -- she maintains natural intonation and rhythm while giving each word enough space to land. The first 49 episodes are designed specifically for absolute beginners, with the difficulty gradually increasing as the series progresses. By episode 50 and beyond, the content shifts toward high-beginner and low-intermediate territory, so the podcast grows with you. Episodes typically run 10 to 16 minutes and cover topics like Japanese history, daily life, travel, and cultural traditions. The show targets A1 through B1/B2 learners on the CEFR scale. Akari offers transcripts and exclusive bonus lessons through her Patreon, and her philosophy that even beginners can start speaking from day one comes through in how she structures each episode. With a 4.7-star rating, listeners consistently praise the pacing as genuinely suited for early-stage learners, something that many podcasts claim but few actually achieve.