Pros
- Beginners who want spoken Japanese every day
- Commuters who will actually press play
- Learners who can tolerate incomplete understanding
Cons
- You need a public transcript attached to each episode
- You want JLPT item practice
- Podcasts never get finished in your life
Nihongo con Teppei is a free podcast of spoken Japanese aimed at beginners. Episodes are short on purpose. The job is ear time, not a syllabus.
Who it fits
It fits people who will play an episode while walking or commuting, and who can live with not catching every word.
Are transcripts available?
Yes, through Teppei’s Patreon rather than as a public transcript attached to every episode. His 1 Oct 2023 Patreon post offers members AI-generated transcript archives for the Beginner, Z, original, Noriko and Teppei, and several other feeds. Because these are AI transcripts, use them to find your place and check a phrase, not as an error-free reference.
Start with the public podcast site for audio. If transcript access matters, check the current membership terms on Teppei’s official transcript post before joining. The post confirms archives for named feeds, not a transcript guarantee for every current episode.
Limits
It is not a grammar reference and it is not a pronunciation lab. If you want official numbered audio lessons, try NHK World Easy Japanese. Keep NHK News Web Easy if you want text plus audio.
Sources checked
- Nihongo con Teppei official product · Official product page used for the public description, platform, and current offering.
- AI transcripts are now available on my Patreon official product · Creator post dated 1 Oct 2023 offering members AI-generated transcript archives for several Nihongo con Teppei feeds.