Japanese News, Made Readable
A real NHK news story every day, rewritten at beginner level with an English translation. Free, no login.
Kumamoto Castle Damaged by Earthquake Reopens to the Public
Kumamoto Castle, its stone walls scarred by last month's earthquake, reopens its gates to visitors on the 13th. Crowds gather from morning to walk through the damaged grounds and gaze over the city from the castle top, while one visitor from Fukuoka voices a quiet hope for its full restoration.
Kawasaki City to Start Japanese Classes for Foreign Workers in 'Development Employment' Program
Awa Odori Festival Begins in Tokushima Prefecture
Takinoe Town, Hokkaido Competes in Tree Cutting Speed Contest
Fukushima Prefecture: 'Crying Sumo' Event Prays for Healthy Growth of Babies
Be Gentle with Children Who Have Had Frightening Earthquake Experiences
Continued Hot Weather in Kumamoto: Beware of Strong Winds
Sendai Tanabata Festival: Beautiful Decorations Abound
Summer High School Baseball: First Female Umpire at Koshien
Typhoon No. 13: Be Cautious of Rain and Wind in Okinawa and Other Areas
End of the Rainy Season Brings Intense Heat to Western Japan
Haneda Airport: 'Check in Your Luggage 30 Minutes Before Boarding'
Prime Minister Takaichi: 'Reduce Consumption Tax on Food to 1%'
People Sheltering in Cars Should Beware of 'Economy Class Syndrome'
Hot Days Likely to Continue
Protect Your Head During an Earthquake
Evacuation During Hot Seasons: Be Careful of Heatstroke
Grand Sumo: Anseikin Wins Third Championship
Archaeological Site in Nara Prefecture Designated as World Heritage Site
Continued Dangerous Heat and Sudden Heavy Rain Warnings
What Color Clothes Are Best for Hot Weather?
Japan National Soccer Team's Next Coach Decided to be Tsuyoshi Oiwa
Wind Chimes on Boats Around Matsue Castle for a Cool Experience
Horse Price-Setting Meeting Held in Shinhidaka, Hokkaido
Deer Gathered by Horn Sound in Nara Park
Some Areas Experienced Dangerous Heat; Stay Cautious at Night
World Cup Soccer Final: Spain vs. Argentina
Nichirei's System Begins to Operate Again
July 26th is 'Doyo no Ushi no Hi': Eel Prices Expected to Drop This Year
Summer High School Baseball: Sign Language to Be Used for the First Time at Koshien Opening Ceremony
Kabutomushi Sumo Tournament in Kochi City
Yamanashi Prefecture: 'All-You-Can-Eat Peaches' Event Begins
President Xi Jinping and President Putin met and spoke
"Yellow dust" has blown into the sky over Japan.
Today's Japanese news
Every morning we take one story from NHK News Web Easy and rebuild it as a graded reading exercise: short sentences, beginner grammar, full English translation, and the proper nouns explained.
Questions about the daily Japanese news
Is this real Japanese news?
Yes. Every morning we take one story published by NHK News Web Easy — NHK's simplified news service written for Japanese learners and schoolchildren — and rebuild it as a graded reading exercise: short sentences, beginner grammar, furigana on every kanji, a full English translation, and the proper nouns explained.
What level do I need to read it?
Beginner. The Japanese sits around JLPT N5–N4: short sentences, everyday vocabulary, furigana on every kanji. If you can read hiragana and katakana you can start today — the English translation is one tap away on every story.
How often is it updated?
Once a day, every morning Japan time. The freshest story sits at the top of this page, and the full archive stays online, so you can catch up on the days you missed.
Do I need an account?
No. Every daily news story is free to read on the web — no login, no paywall, no reading limit. The Shinobi app adds the graded story library, vocabulary tracking and progress, but the news stays free here.
Why read the news instead of a textbook?
Because the vocabulary repeats. Japanese news cycles through the same themes — weather, trains, prices, sport, festivals — so the words you meet today come back next week. Textbook chapters move on and never return; the news keeps circling back, and that repetition is what turns recognition into recall.
350+ stories, native audio, tap-to-translate — in the app
The free web library is a curated slice. The Shinobi app has 350+ unique graded stories, native audio for every page, tap-to-translate on every word, JMDict dictionary lookups, and SRS review.