Japanese Podcasts - What do you like?

[Mordoc]

Does anyone have any recommendations for Japanese podcasts? I'm not looking for a podcast for learning Japanese, but a podcast in Japanese made for Japanese people. What do you like listening to? I listen to some language and tech podcasts right now, but I'm really open to any topic. I'm looking something specifically for my listening comprehension with native speech, so something more talk based than music based would be good.

[Evgeniy]

Hi Mordoc
What r u interested in? Just chit-chat or some serious stuff?

[Mordoc]

Probably nothing too serious. I watch the news and dramas on TV as much as I can when I'm at home, but I find I've been spending a lot more time in the car. I'm looking for something to pass the time while I'm driving. Ideally I'm not looking for the one perfect podcast, but a bunch of suggestions that I can try out and see which ones I like. I throw a couple of them on my ipod and listen to a few episodes to see if I like it. So, if you like a podcast, and you think someone else might like it, and it's in Japanese, throw it up as a suggestion.

[irishjoe]

I have found Japanese Pod 101 to be really good. It is a conversation, then with translation and notes, then vocab and lastly a grammar point. All fairly easy going. There is a whole lot of material too, with many different levels to choose from. Worth the fee in my opinion.

[Crowbeak]

Japanese Pop 101 is really good, but it's also not what he's looking for. It was not made for Japanese people, it was made for learners of Japanese.

I don't listen to podcasts myself, for the most part, but I do know how to make a Japanese iTunes account without a Japanese credit card, and then you can go browsing. At the bottom of the iTunes store there will be a change your country option; if you switch countries it will automagically log you out, if you were logged in, and then you go through the account creation process as normal. If you don't have a Japanese credit card, you'll need to shell out 1500 for an iTunes gift card to get the account set up. Even if you never use the money from the gift card, you get access to free podcasts and the free single of the week.

[Phillippa_MiePA]

I like the BayFM podcasts:

http://www.bayfm.co.jp/

There's also the NHK radio app which is a real bargain (being free) and having three of NHK's channels on it as a live stream.

[Mordoc]

Japanese Pop 101 is really good, but it's also not what he's looking for. It was not made for Japanese people, it was made for learners of Japanese.

I don't listen to podcasts myself, for the most part, but I do know how to make a Japanese iTunes account without a Japanese credit card, and then you can go browsing. At the bottom of the iTunes store there will be a change your country option; if you switch countries it will automagically log you out, if you were logged in, and then you go through the account creation process as normal. If you don't have a Japanese credit card, you'll need to shell out 1500 for an iTunes gift card to get the account set up. Even if you never use the money from the gift card, you get access to free podcasts and the free single of the week.

I agree, Japanesepod101.com is great and I've been using it for about 2 years, but not what I'm looking for. I'm ready to add more variety to my study.

You can actually make a Japanese iTunes account without a credit card or gift card. In order to do that you must be on a computer (no iOS) and go to the Japanese iTunes store using the button at the bottom of the page. Once there, go to the "Apps" section and try to purchase a free app. Since you are not logged in to an account you will be asked to log in or create an account. When you create an account using this method, there is an option for "none" as the payment method. If you try and purchase anything that is not free you will be asked to add a payment method, but until then, you can get as much free content as you like without that initial gift card.

[irishjoe]

Sorry there, I read your post very quickly. Yes in that case japanese pod 101 isn't what you're looking for. I don't have any recommendations for ya, sorry!