Learning a new language is always difficult, but luckily there are many great resources out there that can help you. One of the most popular ways of learning languages nowadays is via YouTube – a video-sharing service that can be used for free.
YouTube has millions of users and creators around the world and is one of the best ways of learning and sharing entertainment and educational videos.
Created in California in 2005, this platform has helped to share videos globally and reach billions. Creators on the platform work tirelessly to bring new content, with one of these areas being teaching languages at all stages – from beginner level to advanced.
As such, YouTube is one of the top platforms for learning a new language, and Japanese is one of the most popular topics. Thanks to this, if you were hoping to learn Japanese via YouTube, there are great options that you can turn to for quality lessons – and they are all free!
Is YouTube The Best Way To Learn Japanese In The First Place?
The method for learning a language will always depend entirely on the learner. Everyone learns differently and has different preferences.
Platforms like YouTube might be an incredible option for some learners, but will not work for others. Ultimately, you just need to try it out and see for yourself, then go from there!
If you find that YouTube doesn’t work for your needs, there are other options you can turn to.
Other Options For Learning Japanese Online
If you learn that YouTube is not a great way for you to learn a new language, there are other options for you to consider. Other options for learning languages might include the following:
Textbooks
Mobile apps
Games
In-person
Watch foreign movies and series
It should be noted that the best way to learn a new language is to use a number of options alongside each other.
Learn from YouTube videos as well as textbooks, apps, and other methods. It can be easy to only learn Japanese (and any other language) in one form (written, spoken, etc.).
However, in order to become fluent and capable, you should be able to write, speak, and understand the language in its various forms. So, making sure that you use different methods will ensure that you develop the capability to do all these things.
Which YouTube Channels Are Best For Learning Japanese?
Although there are probably hundreds of YouTube channels that focus on teaching Japanese, we have chosen the top 12. If you want to learn Japanese, then these channels are going to be excellent choices to start your journey.
If you want a channel that offers everything, JapanesePod 101 is a fantastic place to start. Here, there are complete learning videos for every level, from beginner to advanced and expert.
Their impressive catalog covers reading, listening, writing, and speaking, which covers everything you could need to know.
Risa, the presenter, is cheerful and easy to follow. There are songs, mangas, and a variety of learning processes to explore. The channel has over 2.5 million subscribers, and more than 800 million total views!
If you like the idea of Japanese lessons being delivered in entertaining skits, then Japanese Phonetic Lessons by Dogen is a fantastic option.
This is probably one of the most well-known Japanese-teaching YouTube channels out there, with several videos having millions of views.
The channel was started back in 2006 and primarily focuses on phonetic topics. This essentially means that the channel has a focus on speech sounds and the correspondence between sounds and symbols.
Anyone who has heard Japanese will know exactly how important this is!
Learn Japanese with Anime is a great option for anyone who wants to get a grip on the language while still having fun. Through anime, you can watch all your favorite shows and not miss out on anything.
Grammar, spelling, phrases – you name it. Anime has everything. The channel uses clips from well-known anime like Haikyuu and One Punch Man to formulate effective educational videos that everyone will love.
Misa is a well-known blogger and vlogger from Japan with a passion for helping others learn Japanese. She covers kanji, katakana, and hiragana, as well as basic vocabulary that anyone visiting the country should know to get by.
Videos are relaxed with a good atmosphere, and she will teach you about various colloquialisms and slang that you might come across.
She also reads manga in some of her videos to help learners and shows people how to spot and avoid common mistakes.
This great channel focuses on teaching viewers how to pass the JLPT for long-term visitors to Japan. The proficiency test covers a wide range of Japanese that you need to know in order to stay in the country.
While this channel would not be suitable for beginners, it is perfect for anyone who needs clear and systematic teaching of more advanced Japanese.
The setting is more formal than some other classes but covers everything you need to know for success when taking your proficiency tests.
This channel is perfect for anyone who would like to strengthen their JLPT N1, N2, and N3! Over the last few years, this channel has become massively popular for anyone who is looking to become more proficient in Japanese and pass their Japanese Language Proficiency Test.
On this channel, you can find plenty of tips and tricks regarding how to answer questions on tests, grammar, and various test questions.
This channel will get you to be a Japanese pro in no time, with clear and concise lessons, and a wide array of useful topics.
If you want your Japanese lessons to not feel like a lesson, this channel might be perfect for you. The style is more relaxed, and you will feel more like you are speaking to a friend than a teacher.
However, this might not be a good option if you want to learn Japanese in a hurry.
On this channel, you can expect to learn about Japanese through different means, including games, news, and JLPT. You can also book lessons with the creator to have some private sessions to further your understanding of the language.
Another incredible channel for intermediate and advanced Japanese learners who would like to further their skills, this channel is a must-use. Even beginners can get something useful out of every lesson that Akane-sensei has to offer.
This channel is especially good at improving your listening skills but also focuses a lot on language to help you get by. Lessons cover a range of topics and applications, including job interviews, daily conversations, grammar, kanji, JLPT, and much more.
It’s in the name – this YouTube channel is full of educational content! You can learn basic Japanese, including vocabulary and grammar, katakana, and hiragana with JLPT N4 and N5 levels.
The best part about this channel is that it isn’t just a YouTube channel. There is also a website that is full of excellent resources. Here, you can find examples and materials that will help you in your journey to learning the language.
As one of the newer channels on this list, you might not think that Lean Japanese with Noriko will have a lot in its catalog.
However, this channel is run by Noriko – a professional Japanese language teacher. Her work is well-paced, concise, and very easy to understand.
While the channel is aimed towards intermediate learners, beginners will also easily be able to follow along and get something valuable from each lesson.
The videos are a good length to keep viewers engaged, and everything she says is applicable and helpful, so you will always leave with something new in the repertoire.
Intermediate Japanese learners will do well to check out That Japanese Man Yuta’s YouTube channel for a casual lesson. Not only will you learn about the Japanese language, but also the culture of Japan.
He conducts street interviews and even goes through slang terms that you might come across in the country. Through his channel, you can learn so much more than you ever bargained for, and get a real taste of what life in Japan is like.
Looking for Japanese learning videos that are on the shorter side to keep your attention? Miku Real Japanese is going to be perfect – and very effective.
This channel focuses on grammar and tests and goes through everyday scenarios that will be useful to know if you are visiting Japan.
There is plenty of humor throughout the lessons, which works wonders for making the content stick better. If you want to learn more extensive materials, then there are also packages available that you can subscribe to.
So, there is content for every level if you are willing to pay a little.
Final Thoughts
If you want to learn Japanese through YouTube, the channels mentioned above are great places to start. Many of them can take you from a beginner level all the way to an expert, covering a wide range of topics.
There are channels that can help you pass your JLPT, or simply get by everyday life in Japan and colloquialisms. So, pick some of your favorites, and start learning!
Hi, I’m Jason Patrick, and for as long as I have been alive, I have been obsessed with Japanese culture. From the sights and sounds of Japan’s many cities to its culinary delights that have become famous worldwide, I simply cannot get enough of this wonderful nation!
I hope that, by exploring this website, you all will develop a much deeper appreciation for Japan, and that it may even influence you to pay it a visit yourself eventually! It is definitely a trip of a lifetime, and whether you experience it firsthand, or through my own website, I’m sure you will become just as passionate as I always have been!
