This week's podcast
Overview
A quick study guide for the episode: what you will hear, what you can review, and what to revisit after listening.
Learn Japanese with real stories from Japan. This episode walks through three current news stories — a wild new avatar calling app, the return of a beloved late-night drama, and a major musical opening — then highlights useful vocabulary and a practical grammar pattern, and ends with short listening passages you can review while you study.
Three real Japanese news stories with language-learning context
A vocabulary deep dive focused on Midnight Diner and entertainment Japanese
A practical grammar note on に向けて used for goals and preparation
Listening practice passages in simple Japanese for review
Show notes
News Stories
These are the three stories covered in the episode, with direct links to our full article breakdowns and the original sources.
POPOPO 3D Avatar Calls
A new app called POPOPO launched in Japan on March 18 as a smartphone-only service where users make voice calls through 3D avatars. The app can generate cinematic scenes automatically from conversations, and up to 30 people can join a single call. Over 400 avatars are available at launch, with collaborations planned from franchises like Evangelion and Touhou Project. A massive launch campaign offers one randomly selected user 100 million yen for making a call lasting at least one minute.
Midnight Diner Returns
深夜食堂 (Midnight Diner) is returning to Japanese TV for the first time in seven years. A new series will air in fall 2026, with Kaoru Kobayashi reprising his role as the Master. The show is set in a tiny diner open from midnight until dawn, where customers come with worries, memories, and small joys. Since its debut in 2009, it has run five seasons, produced two films, and been remade in China and South Korea.
Jekyll & Hyde Musical
The musical ジキル＆ハイド opened a new Japanese production in Tokyo on March 15, starring Hayato Kakizawa and Takayuki Sato. The production features refreshed direction and updated script work. Key expressions from the article included 引き継ぐ (to inherit/take over) and 試行錯誤 (trial and error). The production will tour Osaka, Fukuoka, Aichi, and Yamagata after its Tokyo run.
Language focus
Deep Dive: Midnight Diner Vocabulary
Review the core vocabulary from this episode, then study the grammar pattern used in formal notices and campaigns.
続投
ぞくとう • zokutou
彼はドラマで同じ役を続投します。
Kare wa dorama de onaji yaku o zokutou shimasu.
“He continues in the same role in the drama.”
撮影中
さつえいちゅう • satsueichuu
新しい映画は今撮影中です。
Atarashii eiga wa ima satsueichuu desu.
“The new movie is filming now.”
待ち望む
まちのぞむ • machinozomu
ファンは新シリーズを待ち望んでいます。
Fan wa shin shiriizu o machinozonde imasu.
“Fans are eagerly awaiting the new series.”
織り成す
おりなす • orinasu
いろいろな人の物語が織り成されます。
Iroiro na hito no monogatari ga orinasaremasu.
“Various people's stories are woven together.”
嬉しすぎる
うれしすぎる • ureshi sugiru
そのニュースを聞いて嬉しすぎます。
Sono nyuusu o kiite ureshi sugimasu.
“Hearing that news makes me too happy.”
に向けてni mukete
A pattern used to show direction, goal, or preparation. Common in news articles about plans, events, and works in progress.
Structure: noun + に向けて
試験に向けて勉強します。
Shiken ni mukete benkyou shimasu.
“I study for the exam.”
秋の放送に向けて撮影しています。
Aki no housou ni mukete satsuei shite imasu.
“They are filming toward the fall broadcast.”
大会に向けて練習しています。
Taikai ni mukete renshuu shite imasu.
“We are practicing for the tournament.”
Listen again
Listening Practice
The episode ends with short recaps in simple Japanese. Try listening first, then use the passages below to check what you caught.
Passage 1
一つ目のニュースです。ぽぽぽというアプリが日本で始まりました。人は顔を見せないでアバターで話します。期間中に1分以上電話するとくじに入れます。
Passage 2
二つ目のニュースです。深夜食堂が7年ぶりに戻ってきます。今年の秋にテレビで始まる予定です。マスター役の小林薫も出ます。
Passage 3
三つ目のニュースです。ジキルアンドハイドのミュージカルが東京で始まりました。新しい演出とキャストで上演しています。3月の終わりまで東京で、そのあと他の町に行きます。
Keep studying
Links & Next Steps
Continue with the resources mentioned in the show notes or jump back to the podcast hub for future episodes.