Aoi · 26
From Sendai, now working in event production. She and Ren have known each other since university; Emi joined their circle after meeting Aoi at a work event.
A Japanese reading newsletter for N2 learners
A daily story in Japanese.
Follow six friends living in Kichijoji, Tokyo. Each email brings the next part of their story, with vocabulary and grammar notes alongside the Japanese.
Free daily emails. Unsubscribe any time.
Check your email.
Look for “Confirm your email · yomi-app” in your inbox, spam, or promotions. Open the link, then select “Confirm subscription”. Links expire after 24 hours; use the newest email if you request another.
Read the story preview while you wait →Story preview
The Promotion Dinner
Aoi’s friends are ready to celebrate her promotion. There’s just one problem: she hasn’t actually got it.
「昇進のお祝い、金曜日でいい？」
そう聞かれて、うなずいてしまった。
まだ決まったわけではない。上司には「期待している」と言われただけだ。
「六人、全員来られるって」
今さら、ただの食事会だとは言い出しにくい。
Vocabulary and reading notes
- 昇進（しょうしん） — a promotion at work
- うなずく — to nod
- 今さら（いまさら） — at this point; after things have gone this far
まだ決まったわけではない。
“It hasn’t actually been decided yet.” わけではない corrects the assumption that the promotion is settled.
What’s in an email
You’ll get a short scene, a recap, and vocabulary and grammar notes. Seven daily parts make one weekly story. There are questions and a weekly review if you want more practice.
Read at your own pace. If you miss a day, the next recap helps you pick up again.
The friends
They live in Kichijoji, in western Tokyo, near Inokashira Park. They meet at a fictional neighborhood café.
Haru · 25
Grew up in Tokyo and works at the café. He met the others across the counter, before their visits started turning into plans outside work.
Emi · 24
Japanese-British, raised mainly in Tokyo, and working in clothing sales. She knows Aoi through work and watches games with Lin.
Ren · 23
From Shizuoka, now a junior hair stylist. Aoi’s university friend and Sam’s roommate; Aoi introduced him to the café group.
Lin · 26
Moved from Taiwan for university and stayed to work in software testing. She met Haru as a café regular and bonded with Emi over sport.
Sam · 24
From Canada, now working at an outdoor shop and sharing a flat with Ren. He runs in Inokashira Park and joins the group through his roommate.
Why I’m making this
I studied Japanese in college and spent a semester studying abroad in Japan before Covid. That experience made me want to work in Japan after graduation. My first job here was teaching English in Hokkaido. I’ve lived in Tokyo since 2023, and I’ve passed JLPT N1.
I’ve come to think of learning a language as putting in the time and gradually getting better. But even after years of studying, I struggled to find a way of reading regularly that I wanted to stick with.
That’s why I’m building this newsletter. I want reading practice to be easy to start, accessible, and fun enough to come back to. I believe that enjoying it makes consistency easier, and that sticking with it is what leads to improvement over time.
My hope is that following these friends gives you a reason to read a little Japanese each day, and that you enjoy finding out what happens to them.
Questions
Is the Japanese right for my level?
This edition is for intermediate readers working toward N2. Try the scene above and open the notes when you need them. It’s fine to look things up. N3 and N1 editions aren’t available yet.
Does this count as JLPT preparation?
It’s practice reading connected Japanese and using vocabulary and grammar in context. Use it alongside listening practice and timed exam questions. It’s a reading companion, not a complete N2 course.
Do I have to start at the beginning?
No. A quick recap helps you join the current story. After confirming your email, you’ll receive the most recently delivered reading, or a sample if delivery hasn’t started. Earlier parts are optional.
Who writes and checks the stories?
I plan the stories and review each issue before release, using AI to help with drafting and checks. The Kichijoji story above is a preview; its full first week is still being prepared. An earlier story shows the complete reading format.
What happens when I sign up?
We’ll send a confirmation link. Open it and select “Confirm subscription” to receive your welcome email and join daily delivery with the next available issue. There’s no fixed inbox arrival time.
It’s free, with no separate account to create. To stop, open “Unsubscribe” in a welcome or daily email and select “Confirm unsubscribe”.