Speak Japanese Naturally Podcast

Speak Japanese Naturally Podcast zeroes in on something most Japanese learning resources overlook entirely: pronunciation, rhythm, pitch accent, and intonation. Host Fumi explicitly targets intermediate and advanced learners who already have grammar and vocabulary under their belt but struggle to sound natural when they speak. This focus on the phonetic side of Japanese makes the podcast unique in a crowded field. With 59 episodes averaging 30 to 45 minutes each and weekly updates continuing into 2026, the show covers culturally rich topics like Japanese school club culture, earthquake preparedness, and the surprisingly complex rules around garbage disposal in Japan. These real-world subjects give learners exposure to practical vocabulary while the longer format allows Fumi to develop ideas in depth. The podcast has earned a 4.8-star rating from 10 reviews, with listeners specifically praising the accompanying YouTube shadowing videos as a valuable complement to the audio content. Fumi also offers a paid subscription course at her website for structured lessons on pronunciation fundamentals. The show sits in a sweet spot for learners at the N3 to N1 range who can understand most Japanese but want to close the gap between comprehension and production. If you have ever been told your Japanese sounds textbook-like or robotic, this podcast directly addresses that problem with practical, focused guidance on how native speakers actually shape their sounds.