6 great YouTube channels for learning Japanese

I really enjoy watching YouTube, probably much too often. It’s a go to platform for me to learn a new skill or research a topic. Even though I spend most time using books and SRS (spatial repetition apps) for learning Japanese, I really find it helpful when a particular topic is explained by a person talking. I also really enjoy taking a break for something less serious, which I can still count in as studying.

If you are anything like me I think you might find these YouTube channels really interesting:

Japanese Pod 101

There is a great chance you already know this one, as it’s probably one of the biggest resource of Japanese language video materials. If you haven’t heard about it, make sure to check it out. This channel has some great content with abundance of useful and pleasing to watch videos ranging mostly from basic to intermediate Japanese language topics as well as Japanese culture and live in Japan.

Learn Japanese From Zero!

Great Japanese learning channel by George Trombley. This guy really knows what he’s talking about, as he has spent many hours teaching Japanese and is an author of a series of Japanese learning textbooks: “Japanese From Zero!” and “Kanji From Zero!”. I highly recommend to check him out for great Japanese grammar and kanji lessons, as well as interesting facts about Japanese language.

Japanese Ammo with Misa

Japanese Ammo with Misa is a great channel by Misa-san who is Japanese native who works as a Japanese language tutor. Her videos mostly cover grammar and conversational Japanese as well as tips how to improve your vocabulary and speak more like a native. I think it’s a really great channel, especially for beginners and intermediate Japanese language students.

That Japanese Man Yuta

That Japanese Man Yuta is a really entertaining and educational channel by a Japanese native. Yuta-san talks about Japanese language and culture, as well as interesting and sometimes controversial topics concerning both Japanese and foreigners living in Japan. He also provides free video course of Japanese basics if you sign up for his mailing list. He’s English is very good and he’s very proficient in explaining language constructs. Highly recommended.

PDR

I also enjoy watching Japanese YouTube channels not specifically dedicated to language learning, even though I still don’t understand most of what’s being said. I especially found PDR’s channel to be quite useful (and entertaining) as he is native both in English and Japanese, and each time he speaks in Japanese he provides English subtitles done by him.

Dogen

Dogen is an amusing American guy with superb Japanese proficiency. Most of his videos are short form of humorous and educational content about Japanese language and life in Japan with some anime references. Very funny, especially if you are already living in Japan, as he acts out real life scenarios in slightly exaggerated way. This makes his videos quite relatable and entertaining.

He mostly talks in Japanese, and his pronunciation is basically perfect. Extremely impressive, if you ask me! He talks a bit about pronunciation as well, which is rare, and also provides an actually phonetics lessons on his Patreon account. If you’re into Japanese and comedy, it’s a must.

There are many more YouTube channels I came across that I probably should’ve listed here as well, but I don’t feel like I have fully explored them yet, so don’t really have any particular opinion on them, but you can have a look for yourself:

• Bobby Judo
• Bilingirl Chika
• Japanese for Morons by Gimmeaflakeman

Hope you also will find these channels useful and entertaining. I think they really have an outstanding content and deserve a recognition they get. Like, comment, subscribe 😉

Do you watch any Japanese language related content on YouTube? If so, which channels do you enjoy? Please let us know in the comments below, so we can all check them out. Have a great day.