Learn Japanese with YouTube (helpful and entertaining content)
Scroll down for a long list of my recommended YouTube channels for learning Japanese! They are ordered by level from beginner to advanced.
Let’s start with the big question, can you learn Japanese from YouTube? Overall, it’s possible to learn quite a bit Japanese from YouTube. Where it shines the most is the huge quantity of videos made for listening practice at all levels. Listening practice is critical, and the visual element helps convey more information for easier understanding.
There are essentially two types of videos: listening practice and instructional videos. Instructional videos can be further broken down into those that use English as the language of instruction (for lower levels), and those that use Japanese (for higher levels). These videos teach things like grammar and vocabulary. Although there are many high-quality instructional videos, I think they are best treated as supplemental.
I would not make YouTube your primary learning resource, rather, I would recommend classroom study or a private tutor and supplement with YouTube. For example, I certainly made good use of a channel called Nihongo no Mori as one of my supplemental resources while studying for the Japanese Language Proficiency Tests (JLPT). But definitely make use of YouTube for your listening practice!
Nice features of learning Japanese through YouTube:
- For instructional content, it is nice to see the teacher and if they use teaching aids like whiteboards, you can see them on screen.
- Even for video podcasts in which the host is just speaking into the camera, it is nice to see their facial expressions and gestures.
- A lot of the videos have Japanese captions on screen so you can read along as you watch.
- In some videos the host goes outside to various places in Japan, so it’s nice to see the scenery while you learn.
- Comments. You can interact with your favorite creators and make requests!
I would say that if you are at approximately JLPT N3 level, you will be able to enjoy most of the channels on the list below. Many are in all Japanese, and many specifically cater to Japanese learners. The creators are either Japanese teachers, or just people that want to help learners. Their content is meant to be comprehensible input to help you practice and learn.
Most channels listed are for listening practice, but there are instructional channels too which mainly appear at the lower levels. In terms of relative difficulty ranking, I did my best to be objective but there is certainly room for other opinions! Please move up and down the list as needed. And by the way, many of the creators listed have podcasts as well. I have listed the best podcasts for learning Japanese here.
YouTube Channels for Learning Japanese
Beginner
Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101.com
Link to channel
JLPT level: All
Language: Mainly English for lower levels, mainly Japanese for higher levels
Focus area(s): All aspects of learning Japanese
Hosts: There are many, but Alisha and Risa appear frequently
This is one of the first dedicated Japanese learning channels on YouTube and there is a huge amount of content! A lot of content is dedicated to beginners but there is plenty of advanced content as well. There are lots of different kinds of videos, about vocabulary, grammar, listening comprehension, reading comprehension, kanji, Japanese culture... If you like these videos, you will also like the podcast lessons! Learning with Jpod is one of my top recommendations for learning Japanese. I have written about it here.
Learn Japanese with Sakura
Link to channel
JLPT level: Absolute beginner
Language: Japanese and English
Focus Area(s): Vocabulary and simple phrases.
Host: ???
The videos on this channel present various beginner level vocabulary, verbs and simple phrases. The English plus the romaji and hiragana Japanese are provided. If you want to learn some Japanese without any formal study, this channel would be good for you. It’s colorful and the animated characters are cute.
JapanSocietyNYC
Link to channel
JLPT level: Absolute beginner
Language: English
Focus area(s): Beginner Japanese
Host: Various teachers from the Japan Society
Several video series from the Japan Society are made for absolute beginners. See Japanese Language Lessons, Waku Waku Japanese Language Lessons! and Uki Uki NihonGO! The videos aim to help you learn basic, but useful Japanese for everyday life. For example, the Japanese Language Lessons series start with greetings, and then works up to full sentences while presenting vocabulary, verbs and verb conjugations along the way.
Learn Japanese from Zero!
Link to channel
JLPT level: N5-N4
Language: English
Focus area(s): Grammar
Host: George
Japanese from Zero! is a very popular and well-liked series of five books designed to take learners from absolute beginner to a lower intermediate level. A lot of the videos on the channel are dedicated to supplementing the lessons taught in the books, but there are lots of other kinds of videos too, such as the Ask a Teacher series which covers things like differences between similar grammar points and about learning Japanese in general. Overall, this channel is very beginner friendly!
ToKini Andy
Link to channel
JLPT level: Absolute beginner
Language: English
Focus area(s): All aspects of learning Japanese
Host: Andy, Yuki
As in the channel’s description, Andy teaches Japanese, mainly using two popular textbook series, Genki and Quartet. If you are using one of these textbooks and self-studying, this channel is a great supplement. One thing I really like is the emphasis on the importance of learning kanji. Many videos are dedicated to beginner Japanese lessons, but there are other videos such as the Japanese listening practice series in which Andy and Yuki have conversations in Japanese on accessible everyday topics.
By the way, Genki is one of my top recommendations for beginners. I have written about it here.
Jp Launch
Link to channel
JLPT level: N5-N4
Language: English
Focus area(s): Vocabulary, grammar
Host: Yuki
This is a good channel for beginners. The main focus is introducing grammar and vocabulary for the JLPT N5 and N4 levels. It will be a good supplement to your JLPT studies. The vocabulary videos go over all vocabulary required for the respective tests. I think the grammar points are well explained and several example sentences are provided. There are also kanji videos that show stroke order, some listening practice videos, and some quiz videos too.
Japanese Suki
Link to channel
JLPT level: N5-N4
Language: Japanese (with English aids)
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: ???
This channel is mainly centered on beginner Japanese conversations. For example, a character will say a phrase in Japanese multiple times so you can get used to listening to it and try to catch what is being said, then an English translation is provided. It’s like classroom listening drills. There is also N5-N4 listening practice in which simple everyday topics are discussed in slow Japanese monologue with text on screen. There are also videos focusing on basic vocabulary and phrases.
NihonGoal
Link to channel
JLPT level: Absolute beginner - N3
Language: English
Focus Area(s): Grammar, vocabulary
Host: Rose
This channel is good for beginners. Rose presents grammar and vocabulary from a well-known textbook series called Minna no Nihongo. The videos follow along with the lessons from the books, so this channel will be a great supplement if you are using these books.
Japanese Ammo with Misa
Link to channel
JLPT level: N5-N3
Language: English
Focus area(s): Grammar, Vocabulary, Listening practice
Host: Misa
These videos are great for lower-level learners. Misa is highly proficient in English and her explanations are easy to understand. There are grammar lessons for N5-N3 levels, but also a lot of other kinds of videos such as the Japanese writing systems, slang, listening practice, culture… Some videos are in all Japanese with Japanese captions and English subtitles.
Ryoji O (Japanese by Chunking)
Link to channel
JLPT level: N5-N2
Language: English
Focus area(s): Grammar, Phrases, Onomatopoeia
Host: Ryoji
There are a few different types of videos on this channel, many are focused on grammar for JLPT levels N5 to N2. Other videos are about basic Japanese phrases for various everyday situations, and as in the show’s name, there are many one-minute chunking videos focusing on one useful phrase. Another large category of videos is onomatopoeia.
Game Gengo ゲーム言語
Link to channel
JLPT level: N5+
Language: English
Focus area(s): JLPT Grammar and dialogue analysis
Host: Matt
This is a cool channel. If your interest in learning Japanese stems from playing Japanese video games, this channel is for you! Actual dialogues and on-screen text from video games are used to present the learning material. For example, many videos cover JLPT grammar. For a given grammar point several dialogues from a video game using the grammar point will be provided to demonstrate its use.
Lower Intermediate
日本語の森 (Nihongo no Mori)
Link to channel
JLPT level: All
Language: Japanese for higher JPLT levels, English for lower JLPT levels
Focus area(s): JLPT preparation
Host: Yuka, Tara
Most videos are in all Japanese, but there are some video series in all English hosted by Tara for the N5 and N4 levels. There is content for each JLTP level with grammar instruction as the main focus. Some videos have Japanese captions on screen. Beyond the JLPT, there are videos about Japanese not found in textbooks and Kansai dialect. On a personal note, I used Nihongo No Mori a lot as a supplemental grammar resource when I was studying for various levels of the JLPT.
Japanese Immersion with Asami
Link to channel
JLPT level: N4+
Language: Japanese
Focus Area(s): Japanese practice
Host: Asami
This is an interesting channel suitable for beginners. Asami records real lessons that she has with her students. The lessons mainly involve reading a storybook or looking at a picture together. Asami asks her students questions about what they are seeing, and they respond in Japanese. I like the interactive aspect of these videos. Instead of just passively listening, what you can do is pause after Asami asks a question and try to answer yourself before continuing.
Ako from Nihongo Picnic
Link to channel
JLPT level: N5-N2
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): JLPT grammar levels N5-N2
Host: Ako
Most videos are lesson style videos about grammar points. Comparisons between similar grammar points, example sentences, and quizzes are provided. Some explanations in English appear on screen. There are also podcast videos for each level. The podcasts are mainly short monologues about everyday topics.
Easy Japanese with Yuri
Link to channel
JLPT level: N5-N3
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice, JLPT vocabulary and grammar
Host: Yuri
The focus of this channel is comprehensible input using words and grammar from JPLT N5, N4, N3 levels. Some videos are for both listening and reading practice, Yuri reads a story, and the Japanese text is put on screen for you to follow along. Other videos are for learning Japanese vocabulary with short phrases and pictures.
Comprehensible Japanese
Link to channel
JLPT level: N4+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Yuki (and several other teachers from Comprehensible Japanese)
This channel is very aptly named. It is in all Japanese, but very good for beginners. If you are past the absolute beginner phase and have been studying beginner level vocabulary and grammar, the videos on this channel are a great way to get listening practice. Some videos are aimed at intermediate and advanced learners, but what I really like is the accessibility for lower-level learners without the intervention of English.
HINA Japanese
Link to channel
JLPT level: N5-N2
Language: Japanese
Focus Area(s): Listening practice
Host: Hina
Each video is labeled with the corresponding JLPT level from N5 to N2. Topics are simpler at lower levels and get more varied as the difficulty increases, but it's mostly everyday topics. The videos at higher difficulty levels tend to be longer. Even if you are at a lower level, this is a good channel to practice your listening skills because it is in all Japanese. There are Japanese captions on screen.
わさび Japanese Teacher Vtuber
Link to channel
JLPT level: N4+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Grammar
Host: Wasabi
On this channel Japanese is taught via a Vtuber avatar named Wasabi. There are a lot of videos! Many are shorts with a Japanese grammar quiz question. The grammar covers JLPT N5-N1. There are also longer quiz videos containing more questions. I like the series ‘Learn Japanese through pop culture’, in which each video takes a closer look at things like song lyrics and lines from popular anime. Difficult lines are broken down and explained. Other videos include grammar explanations and a podcast for listening practice.
Intermediate
Speak Japanese Naturally
Link to channel
JLPT level: Absolute Beginner to N3+
Language: Japanese and English
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Fumi
There are several kinds of videos on this channel, but the biggest categories are listening practice, pronunciation, pitch accent and intonation. I like the listening practice videos in which Fumi will narrate in Japanese over film she has taken while on a walk somewhere or as she travels around various places. There are captions in Japanese and sometimes English subtitles on screen. The pronunciation etc. videos are in English. Fumi also has a podcast in all Japanese.
NihongoDekita with Sayaka
Link to channel
JLPT level: N5-N2
Language: English and Japanese
Focus area(s): Vocabulary, Listening practice
Host: Sayaka
One of the main features of this channel are the many short videos about Japanese words and phrases aimed at beginner level learners. In other longer videos, Sayaka discusses nuances of the Japanese language and introduces various parts of Japanese culture. Sayaka seems like quite a fun person, so the videos are often quite entertaining.
Yosuke Teaches Japanese
Link to channel
JLPT level: N4+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Yosuke
Videos on this channel are mostly monologues spoken by Yosuke with Japanese captions on screen. Yosuke mainly speaks about various parts of Japanese culture and society, but he also touches on other everyday topics and discusses his own life as well. The great part is that most videos are quite long, so you get a lot of listening and reading practice. There are also several vocabulary videos and a few grammar videos aimed at beginner level learners.
Japanese with Shun
Link to channel
JLPT level: N4+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Shun
Shun seems like a really fun guy. My favorite videos on the channel are podcast videos, although nothing really appears on screen, the listening practice is excellent for lower-level learners. Shun speaks slowly, clearly and makes an effort to speak at a level suitable for learners working with the Genki series textbooks. There are also vlog videos in which Shun goes various places in Japan and talks about them. Shun speaks a little faster in these videos, but there are Japanese captions on screen. Another type of video is ‘easy Japanese interviews’ in which Shun talks to strangers in various public places.
Kiku-Nihongo Listening and Learning Japanese
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice for intermediate learners
Host: Azusa
Most videos are for listening practice. It’s in all Japanese, but Azusa speaks slowly and clearly. So, for those that are looking to start listening to all Japanese content, this is a good resource. In many videos Azusa talks about a specific aspect of the Japanese language which will help you sound more natural. A few other categories are word of the day and intermediate listening practice about various aspects of traditional and modern Japanese culture.
【Wasabi】Listening daily Japanese
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Yoshie
This is a great channel. There are two main types of videos: listening practice and podcasts. The listening practice videos in particular are excellent learning resources. The videos center on short monologues on everyday topics, but they are wonderfully formatted in 4 steps. Step 1: monologue at slow speed. Step 2: review of useful expressions. Step 3: monologue at regular speed. Step 4: vocabulary review. I also like the podcast videos. Yoshie speaks slowly and clearly about topics such as Japanese culture and society, life in Japan, her personal life... There are Japanese captions on screen.
しのせんせい
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Shino
This channel is centered around listening practice videos. It’s great for intermediate learners. In the listening practice videos, Shino will narrate a story and the text of what she is saying is displayed on screen. Challenging words are also displayed on screen with their English equivalents. My favorite series are Daily News and Trivia. For example, the news stories are delivered at a similar level as NHK’s Web News Easy, but not quite as challenging as native level.
Learn Japanese with Tanaka san
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Various aspects of Japanese
Host: Tanaka
This is a lovely channel; the characters are beautifully illustrated and seem to be hand drawn by Tanaka. There is a little bit of everything on the channel such as: listening practice, conversation practice, phrases, grammar, vocabulary, hiragana... Videos all have Japanese captions on screen. I like the Tanaka Radio podcast, there are only a few episodes, but Tanaka's voice is very soothing so it's a relaxing way to do listening practice. She mainly talks about various events from her life.
WAKU WAKU JAPANESE
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3
Language: Japanese and Portuguese
Focus Area(s): Japanese listening practice, Grammar, Vocabulary
Host: Various actors
This is actually mainly a channel for learning Japanese, but the language of instruction is (I think) Portuguese. There are many types of videos covering grammar, particles, pronunciation, vocabulary, culture... But there is also a video series called “Learn Japanese with Drama” which I highly recommend. The dramas are in all Japanese and they are so funny! It’s like going to an improv comedy show. Japanese and romaji captions plus English subtitles are on screen.
Miku Real Japanese
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese and English
Focus area(s): Listening practice, grammar
Host: Miku
There are several kinds of videos on Miku’s channel, for example, grammar, conversations, monologues, vlogs… Some videos are more instructional, such as the grammar videos, in which Miku provides a lot of example sentences in Japanese and explanations in English. A series that I really like is Japanese Conversations. What I like is that when a sentence with a key grammar point is used, it appears on the screen with the grammar highlighted along with an English translation. Many videos have Japanese captions.
Upper Intermediate
Organic Japanese with Cure Dolly
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3-N2
Language: English
Focus area(s): Grammar, Strategies for learning Japanese
Host: Cure Dolly
There are several kinds of videos on this channel, for example, strategies and tips for learning Japanese and understanding the subtleties of the Japanese language. X vs. Y videos contrasting similar verbs or grammar structures but that have different nuances and usages. Videos about grammar structures that are not well explained elsewhere. Videos that give deeper understanding about even common grammar points…
Nihongo with May【日本語学習】
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: May
This channel is essentially a podcast. May speaks about various aspects of Japanese culture and everyday things. Although she mainly talks about Japan, she lives in Australia, so she is able to speak about it with a bit of an outside perspective. May speaks slowly and clearly and there are Japanese captions on screen. The content is in all Japanese, but still accessible to lower intermediate learners looking to challenge themselves.
Uki Uki Japanese Podcast
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening Practice
Host: A native Japanese speaker from Tokyo
This channel is essentially a podcast in which the host speaks about various things which mainly center on Japanese culture, life in Japan and everyday topics. I think this is a good channel for intermediate learners. The topics and the language are accessible which makes it easy to just focus on listening. The host speaks slowly and clearly and there are Japanese captions on screen.
Emma:)Japanese
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Emma
This channel is essentially a podcast in which Emma speaks about various topics. Emma's goal is to speak using easy Japanese, which she does well, but on top of that she also has a very soft voice that is easy to listen to. Topics are varied and range from Japanese culture to her personal life. Many of the topics would probably interest young adults. There are Japanese captions on screen.
Get to Know Japan - Nihongo Audio Lounge
Link to channel
JLPT level: N4-N1
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice, Practical Japanese
Host: Atsuko
The great thing about this channel is the focus on practical Japanese for life in Japan. Some of the videos discuss situations, such as, shopping in a convenience store, and provide useful Japanese that you could use in the situation. Other videos provide synopses in simple Japanese of various well known anime films and explain some of the vocabulary used in them. And yet other videos are conversation practice and listening practice. All videos have Japanese captions on screen.
Daily Japanese with Naoko
Link to channel
JLPT level: N4-N2
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Comprehensible input
Host: Naoko
Most videos are dedicated to comprehensible input. For example, Naoko will talk about some sort of everyday activity that she is doing as she does the activity. She speaks slowly and clearly. Other videos discuss culture, cooking and some are vlogs. The audio is in Japanese, but there are prompts in English and Japanese captions on screen.
Meshclass 日本語
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Grammar
Host: Tezuka, Tsutsumi, Chou
This channel mainly focuses on grammar and nuances of the Japanese language. The grammar is from JLPT N3-N1. The videos are in all Japanese, if your listening comprehension is at a roughly intermediate level, I think it's great to try to learn new Japanese grammar in Japanese! There are also some other types of videos, some covering business Japanese for example, which is great for those at a higher level.
Onomappu
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Onomatopoeia, listening practice
Host: Hitoki
As in the name of the channel, in most videos Hitoki presents a Japanese onomatopoeia (known in Japanese as擬音語 giongo and 擬態語 gitaito). Some videos are centered around the onomatopoeia itself and how to use it naturally in Japanese. In other videos Hitoki will tell a story from his personal life and when the use of an onomatopoeia naturally occurs, he will stop and explain it. Other videos are about the nuances of the Japanese language, common mistakes, and some are about modern Japanese culture and society.
あかね的日本語教室 (Akane's Japanese Class)
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice, practical Japanese
Host: Akane
Akane is one of my personal favorite creators. I really like her podcast. I think she makes a great effort to teach you practical Japanese that can be used in everyday situation. Many videos on the channel are for listening practice in which Akane speaks in monologue, but there are also plenty of conversations with other people. Videos are mainly vlogs, and everyday conversations at restaurants, cafés, hotels… Some videos have Japanese captions on screen.
OkkeiJapanese
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Okkei
This channel is great for lower intermediate level learners who are ready to listen to all Japanese content but are not ready for full speed native content. Okkei speaks in slow and natural Japanese. Some videos are conversations with other people, but most are Okkei speaking in monologue about various topics, the most common are stories from his own life such as trips he’s taken and life in Japan. Some videos are an hour long. Most videos have Japanese captions.
Haru no Nihongo
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus Area(s): Listening practice
Host: Haruka
Most videos on Haruka 's channel are dedicated to listening practice. The main series is her podcast, which I really like. I usually just listen, but the videos are great because they all have Japanese captions. Haruka talks about all sorts of topics, including her personal life, her travels, Japanese society and culture, anime, video games… some videos are dedicated entirely to talking about anime and learning Japanese form anime. Other videos are game play of Haruka playing a game and talking about what she is doing as she plays.
もしもしゆうすけ
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3-N2
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Yusuke
In most videos Yusuke walks around an area of a city with a camera on his shoulder and speaks in a monologue. His speech is slow and clear. Japanese captions and English subtitles are provided on screen. It’s quite interesting to just look at the raw footage of a day in nondescript part of a Japanese city. In some videos he collaborates and has conversations with other YouTubers/Podcasters.
けんさんおかえり / Japanese Conversations
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Ken
Ken seems like a really nice guy. He speaks slowly and uses simple Japanese. There are several kinds of videos on this channel. My favorite are the ones in which Ken walks around and talks about what he is doing. He walks around in a lot of interesting places, so you get to see some unique places in Japan. In other videos he has conversations with people, plays a guessing game with cards... There are Japanese captions and English subtitles on screen.
WALKS JAPAN
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3-N2
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: ???
In the videos on this channel, a person walks around a place in Japan with a camera and you watch the scenery as a monologue of a topic is given. Daily life topics and topics related to Japanese culture and society are discussed. Japanese captions are provided on screen.
YUYUの日本語Podcast
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Yuyu
As the name suggests, this channel is mostly a podcast, but what a great podcast it is! It’s well suited for intermediate learners. Yuyu is very entertaining, and he talks about a large variety of topics, such as, language learning, Japanese culture, philosophy, his personal life, scary stories… videos have Japanese captions on screen.
peko peko vlog
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Kumi
This is a great channel for learning how young Japanese people talk. There are two types of videos, podcasts and vlogs. In the podcasts, Kumi talks about daily life in Japan and other everyday topics. In vlogs she goes various places, introduces the things to see there, and talks about what she is doing. There are Japanese captions on screen.
三本塾 -Sambon Juku-
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus Area(s): Grammar
Host: Ayano, Akki
I like the name of this channel because it uses the word ‘juku’ (often translated as ‘cram school’ in English), which makes it feel like you are a student. Most videos on this channel are dedicated to grammar (JLPT N3-N1) and looking at nuances in the usage of various words and grammar. For example, the video about the difference between は and が is very good. I still struggle with using these particles properly and I learned something from this video. The channel is in all Japanese, so it is good for higher level learners.
AHR JAPAN SCHOOL
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus Area(s): Classroom style lessons, listening practice
Host: Karen, Nomoto
One of AHR School’s goals is not just to teach Japanese but, to teach about Japan through videos. They have many types of videos on their channel including videos about word usage and the subtleties of the Japanese language, grammar lessons, Japanese business etiquette, unique Japanese holidays, words not found in textbooks, conversation… I like the series “Japanese words for daily life” in which a word will be presented but instead of just a simple definition they give stories about the word and its significance in daily life. Most videos have Japanese captions on screen.
Japanese super immersion
Link to channel
JLPT level: N3+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Toriyama and Miyazaki
This channel is like a podcast, in which two male friends are chatting at a bar. They mainly talk about their daily lives and everyday topics. They do a good job of speaking a little bit slowly and pronouncing their words clearly. I like the videos in "日本人がよく使う言葉集 / A playlist of words commonly used by Japanese people" which mainly present grammar points and various Japanese words. Their explanations are in all Japanese, but they are clear and entertaining.
Jiro, just Japanese
Link to channel
JLPT level: N2+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Jiro
The videos are mainly of Jiro speaking in monologue about various topics. Several videos are an hour long, so it is good for advanced learners. In some videos he goes for a walk in the city, filming the scenery and narrating. In other videos he enters a virtual world as an avatar and has impromptu conversations with other people that he meets. Japanese captions are displayed on screen as well as challenging words and their English equivalents.
Sayuri Saying
Link to channel
JLPT level: N2+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Sayuri
Sayuri has a few different kinds of videos on her channel, several are vlogs in which she visits various interesting places in Japan and narrates her journey. In other videos she has conversations with people, especially other Japanese teachers. And in other videos Sayuri talks about all sorts of topics related to daily life, modern Japanese culture and society, and some lesser discussed topics about Japanese society. Most videos have Japanese captions on screen. Sayuri also has a great podcast!
Advanced
Anime Bancho
Link to channel
JLPT level: N2+
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: None
My absolute favorite channel on the list! This channel features several animated mini shows of varying genres. The flagship show is Peeping life; others are Turning Girls and World Fool News. The shows are so funny! I have borrowed so many jokes from Peeping Life and used them when talking to Japanese people and always get a laugh. This channel is great for upper intermediate to advanced learners. It’s so entertaining that you’ll forget you’re watching it to improve your Japanese. This is also my favorite channel to recommend to Japanese natives who have not heard of it.
Japan Video Topics - 日本語
Link to channel
JLPT level: N2-N1
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening practice
Host: Professional narrator
This is one of my favorite channels on the list. I want to watch all the videos. They are about 4-5 mins in length and are produced in the style of a news feature story. There are several categories: food, pop culture, traditional culture, famous places in Japan, lifestyle, science and technology. The content is intended for a native speaking audience, but I think it’s accessible to upper intermediate and advanced learners because it’s mostly a narrator speaking clearly in monologue.
HikakinTV
Link to channel
JLPT level: N2-N1
Language: Japanese
Focus area(s): Listening Practice (for Japanese learners), General entertainment
Host: Hikakin
Produced like a variety TV show and centered around the antics of the show's namesake, Hikakin, a celebrity YouTuber. Hikakin originally rose to prominence as a viral beatboxer but is now a YouTuber and business owner. There is a variety of videos on the channel, for example, Hikakin will do a day as a staff member at a part time job, video game play, eating ramen around Japan, and stuff from his daily life. But it’s not most people’s daily life, it’s more like pranks and funny challenges that you would see on variety shows.
