Like My Anime

Send us Fan Mail Japanese mystery stories offer a unique look at crime fiction. We explore three iconic titles perfect for a Halloween watch. This episode breaks down the appeal of Japanese detective fiction by examining three distinct pillars of the genre. We start with the classic setup of The Honjin Murders by Seishi Yokomizo, a cornerstone of the field that defined the locked-room mystery for...

Send us Fan Mail We challenge the “untranslatable words” myth, then argue that some Japanese terms still earn a spot in English because they capture everyday feelings with unusual precision. We break down why these words work, how famous loanwords get misused, and what all of this reveals about language, culture, and how we frame our lives.  • why “untranslatable” usually means “needs a longer exp...

Send us Fan Mail This time we take a look at two manga about racism and finding where you belong with RuriDragon and Half is More  RuriDragon ルリドラゴン Genre: Slice of life, coming of age, fantasy Author: Masaoki Shindo Translation: Caleb D. Cook https://calebdcook.com/translatedworks/ Original Run: June 13, 2022 - Present Publisher: Shueisha English Publisher: Viz Media Imprint: Jump Comics Ma...

Send us Fan Mail This time, we unpack why life in Japan feels harder right now for both citizens and foreign residents alike. The episode connects Japan's weak currency, a record-breaking tourism boom, and a sweeping tightening of visa and permanent residency rules under the Takaichi government. All framed against a backdrop of rising anti-immigrant sentiment. Key Discussion Points COVID-era...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Overview We explore Japan's summer horror tradition — rooted in the Obon festival and kaidan ghost stories — through five recommendations spanning film, Netflix TV, legal drama, and anime. Key Discussion Points Obon and the belief that ancestral spirits return each summer, and how that gave rise to the kaidan storytelling tradition Dollhouse (2025): a haunted-doll J-h...

Send us Fan Mail Episode Overview A personal, spoiler-light review of the manga Spacewalking with You by Inuhiko Doronoda — a slice-of-life story about a "lazy" high schooler, Kobayashi, whose friendship with an unusual transfer student, Uno, slowly reveals just how much of his struggle was never really laziness at all. Key Discussion Points Overview of the manga's premise, setting,...

Send us Fan Mail This month's episode is a sort of announcement, I'm gonna be taking a break from the podcast for a bit to focus on YouTube. If all the same content as video essays and booktube videos sounds interesting to you then I'd love for you to subscribe to the Like My Anime YouTube channel Support the show Thanks for listening to Like My Anime! If you enjoyed the show, don&a...

Send us Fan Mail We try to explain why The Solitary Gourmet, a plotless Japanese food drama about a man eating alone, became a massive hit across East Asia. We also dig into why it’s one of the best resources for real Japanese listening practice and what “healing” media reveals about modern comfort viewing.  • the show’s simple formula and why “nothing happens” works  • how real restaurants turn e...

Send us Fan Mail We dig into why My Dress-Up Darling is more than a spicy high school rom-com and why dropping it after the first three episodes misses the real point. We talk craft, cosplay culture, gender expression, and why the series works surprisingly well for Japanese language learners.  • why the show gets mislabeled early and what changes after episode four  • Wakana Gojo’s Hina doll craft...

Send us Fan Mail Explore Japanese media, language, and culture every month on the Like My Anime podcast! Music: SUMMER TRIANGLE by Sharou Support the show Thanks for listening to Like My Anime! If you enjoyed the show, don't forget to subscribe, share it, or leave a review — it helps more people find the podcast! Watch episodes & extra content (eventually) on YouTube: 🔗 Like My Anime You...

Send us Fan Mail We unpack why L1 and L2 learning differ, where adult learners can excel, and how to use child‑like methods without buying the myth of effortlessness. Along the way we revisit the critical period, language intuition, and practical tools like nursery rhymes for better input. • L1 dominance, age of acquisition, and processing speed • Near‑native performance vs intuition in lab tests...

Send us Fan Mail We connect New Year momentum, Ekiden grit, and Murakami’s running log to practical Japanese study that survives real life. Flexible systems, tiny daily wins, and the power of noticing replace vague goals and pressure to “master” everything. • defining minimum viable study to protect consistency • replacing output goals with input systems • using interests and authentic media to su...

Send us Fan Mail Are Kids’ Shows the Secret to Learning Japanese? In this off-the-cuff episode, Tom explores why language learners often overlook the power of “lowbrow” media like anime, kids’ shows, and mass-produced manga—and why that’s a mistake. From the academic polish of the Read Japanese Literature podcast to the underrated artistry of Anpanman and My Hero Academia , we unpack the tension b...

Send us Fan Mail 📝 Key Topics: The Anime Study Trap The difference between exposure vs. acquisition Why “just hearing Japanese” isn’t enough Paul Nation & vocabulary learning 101 My Learning Pivot: From Passive to Purposeful How burnout forced me to rethink my study habits Using cognitive load theory to make anime more effective for learning Building curiosity over guilt when watching native...

Send us Fan Mail Today’s topic? One of the most hotly debated issues in Japanese learning communities: pitch accent . Spoiler: Pitch accent is way overhyped. In this episode, I’ll break down: What pitch accent is (and isn’t) Why it’s so hard to hear and learn What actually matters more for sounding natural How to improve your pronunciation without stressing over perfection Plus, I’ll recommend fou...

Send us Fan Mail You start learning Japanese, you’re pumped up, you make a study schedule… and two months later, your textbook is collecting dust, Anki notifications are haunting your dreams, and you’re wondering why you’re still stuck at “This is a pen.” Sound familiar? In this very first episode of Like My Anime , we’re diving into why motivation fades—and what actually keeps you moving forward...

Send us Fan Mail You probably spent years in school memorizing vocabulary, conjugating verbs, and passing grammar tests. So why can't you actually speak the language? In this episode, I break down why traditional language education fails so many of us—and what to do instead. From memory science to language acquisition theories, I’ll walk you through what actually works (and what doesn’t), wit...