# Let's Learn Japanese from Small Talk > An unscripted Japanese conversation podcast. Vocab lists live on the Hatena blog. Fit versus Teppei and hosted lesson audio. Canonical: https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/lets-learn-japanese-from-small-talk Last updated: 2026-08-27 Unscripted Japanese conversation podcast. Vocab lists live on the Hatena blog. Published: 2026-08-27 5 min read intermediate · free · easy · Listening · Podcast, Web [Visit Let's Learn Japanese from Small Talk](https://studyjapanese101.com/go/smalltalk) ## Key facts | Fact | Details | | --- | --- | | Best for | Intermediate listeners who want real conversation | | Avoid if | You still need beginner, slowed speech | | Pricing | Free podcast and Hatena vocab lists | | Platform | Podcast, Web | | Ease of use | easy | ## Pros - Intermediate listeners who want real conversation - People who will use the blog vocab list after an episode - Learners tired of hosted lesson English ## Cons - You still need beginner, slowed speech - You need a full transcript - You only start podcasts and never finish them Let’s Learn Japanese from Small Talk is an unscripted Japanese conversation podcast. The hosts talk in regular spoken Japanese. Vocabulary lists for episodes live on the Hatena blog. There is no official YouTube channel. ## Who it fits It fits intermediate listeners who already finish beginner audio and want speech that was not written as a lesson. Play one episode, then open the matching vocab list. ## Limits It is not a grammar course and it is not a full transcript product. New episodes stopped after 2023 on the Apple listing. If you still need short, hosted beginner audio, stay with [Nihongo con Teppei](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/nihongo-con-teppei). ## Sources checked Product details can change. Evidence pages and their individual check dates appear below. Profile reviewed 2026-08-27. - [Small Talk vocabulary blog](https://smalltalkinjapanese.hatenablog.com/) - official product · checked 2026-08-27 · Official Hatena blog used for episode vocabulary lists. - [Let's Learn Japanese from Small Talk on Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-learn-japanese-from-small-talk/id1449307021) - official product · checked 2026-08-27 · Official Apple Podcasts listing used for the free conversation format and the blog link. ## Alternative tools - [Activate Your Japanese!](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/activate-your-japanese) - Japan Foundation and NHK video material about communication strategies and everyday life. - [Akane Japanese Class](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/akane-japanese-class) - All-Japanese teacher videos and a podcast on daily life, with transcripts on the site. - [Ask Japanese](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/ask-japanese) - Street interviews in Japan about culture, anime, and daily life. ## Related - [Japanese listening resources](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/listening) - Listening tools range from hosted lessons to narrow pitch drills. Match the tool to the ear problem. - [Japanese YouTube channels by study goal](https://studyjapanese101.com/best/japanese-youtube-channels) - Start with Tanaka san for short visual lessons, NihongoDekita for practical explanations, Sambon Juku for grammar in Japanese, or one podcast for sustained listening. - [Nihongo con Teppei](https://studyjapanese101.com/resources/nihongo-con-teppei) - A free beginner Japanese podcast for daily listening. - [5 Best Anki Alternatives for Japanese: Inku Is Our Pick](https://studyjapanese101.com/best/anki-alternatives-for-japanese) - We recommend Inku first for most Japanese learners who want prepared daily review on iPhone. Renshuu fits a broader Japanese study system, JPDB fits media vocabulary, WaniKani fits a fixed kanji path, and Bunpro fits grammar retrieval. Protect your Anki collection before testing a replacement. - [Free Japanese Learning Resources: Build a Study Routine](https://studyjapanese101.com/best/free-japanese-learning-resources) - A complete free stack can start with Irodori for sequence, Tae Kim for explanation, Jisho for lookup, Renshuu for optional review, Tadoku for reading, and Nihongo con Teppei for audio. You do not need all six on day one. - [Hiragana and Katakana Resources for a Two-Week Start](https://studyjapanese101.com/best/hiragana-and-katakana-learning-resources) - Learn hiragana, then katakana, with one drill and one review loop. Inku fits prepared cards with audio on iPhone. Real Kana fits typed recall. A textbook or Irodori can teach the same script inside a course.