Hi. I’m a big YouTube guy. I spend a ton of time watching YouTube videos. But for the life of me, I can’t seem to enjoy Japanese YouTube. I do enjoy watching SOME vtubers occasionally when they play fun games. Other than that I don’t really read much unless it’s on reddit/lemmy or github. Someone pointed me to a Japanese mastodon instance but it has a pretty intense VPN block.

What do you guys watch/read in Japanese?

  • Auster@thebrainbin.org
    2·
    2 days ago

    In case it’s still useful, on video materials, don’t have much to suggest as I don’t follow many, but maybe you could check Nico Nico? It’s a streaming platform similar to Youtube. There’s also Apple Podcasts which apparently you can set the region of the algorithm.

    And about instances, maybe follow people from the one recommend to you through another? Also from what I can tell when following Japanese folks from either Misskey (part of ActivityPub) and Twitter, they seem to like boosting/retweeting posts a lot, so discoverability I’d imagine that’d be good.

    Also on reading materials, maybe check Japanese blogs too? Also if they have RSS, chances are you can get them posted to the fediverse too.

  • ludrol@bookwormstory.socialEnglish
    5·
    11 months ago

    I personally am going through tadoku catalog right now to get up to a level where I can watch and read random stuff.

    I tried a YT method with Russian but I only found 2 youtubers that ware making enjoyable stuff. It was very easy to just switch accounts so a bit of willpower to get through unfun recommended stuff was necessary. Try to use the Algorithm to your advantage. It wants you to stay on youtube. (Sadly I don’t want to learn Russian so I didn’t keep going)

    For Japanese Fediverse look into Misskey (and forks). They have a LOT of Japanese speaking people.

    I am already reading a bunch of LN and Anime so switching for me will be easy. I also have a backlog of interesting looking YT channels: ずんだもんの定理, あらゐけいいち and Clear Usui

    • りん〜@sopuli.xyzOPEnglish
      1·
      11 months ago

      I tried joining a Misskey instance last month with a VPN on and got kicked out :c It feels like I’ve tried everything in order for the algorithm to recommend me good videos. I try to like and comment on every good video I find. It has been like this for years at this point.

      • ludrol@bookwormstory.socialEnglish
        1·
        11 months ago

        It has been like this for years at this point.

        option 1: reset the algorithm or
        option 2: give up on youtube or
        option 3: use classic subscriptions instead of algorithm. Just watch one guy that you enjoy.

        joining a Misskey instance last month with a VPN

        a) Do you REALLY need a VPN?
        b) Find an instance that is VPN friendly. Just like lemmy.world has VPNs blocked but other instances don’t. It would be similar there.

  • PonyOfWar@pawb.social
    3·
    11 months ago

    Importing used books from Japan is relatively cheap. I have a shelf with various novels and manga in Japanese I bought over the years.

      • Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone
        2·
        11 months ago

        Re: manga, I’ve been thoroughly enjoying rereading manga that I’ve read in English, but this time in Japanese. It makes it much less stressful when I already know the gist of what’s happening. I’m probably a much more casual learner than most folks here, though.

      • PonyOfWar@pawb.social
        1·
        11 months ago

        I’ve read some volumes of のんのんびより which I’ve quite enjoyed. Attempted 君たちはどう生きるか but that one’s a bit tough for my level.

        • りん〜@sopuli.xyzOPEnglish
          1·
          11 months ago

          のんのんびより is nice and laid back. I haven’t read 君たちはどう生きるか tho.

    • DigitalAudio@sopuli.xyzM
      1·
      11 months ago

      If you have an amazon.jp account, you can also buy Japanese books for the kindle for a pretty low price. Though obviously Kindle books aren’t something you really own, so I prefer them for stuff I’m okay eventually losing.

  • tatterdemalion@programming.dev
    2·
    10 months ago

    I don’t know what level you’re at, but I enjoy the Japanese Super Immersion podcast geared towards Japanese listening practice: https://www.youtube.com/@JSI55

    I’m still mid-late beginner so I find this really helpful and entertaining. But I could see how more advanced listeners might find it too fundamental.

  • 柊 つかさ@lemmy.world
    1·
    11 months ago

    What about weather news with those cute girls? There is weather, news, games, pictures from viewers, stories etc. Although I haven’t watched that in a while.