Is Terrace House: Boys & Girls in the City good for learning Japanese?

Yes, at intermediate level. Boys & Girls in the City puts six housemates in Tokyo, where they talk about jobs, ambitions and dating in largely unscripted Japanese. If you want to hear city adults talking normally, this is close to the real thing.

Level

Intermediate

Format

Show

Year

2016

Episodes

46

Length

about 31 min each

From

Netflix

Why it works for learners

With everyone working or studying in Tokyo, the conversation turns to careers, money, part-time work and goals. You hear how young adults explain their jobs to new acquaintances, a practical skill if you ever plan to live or work in Japan. Polite speech gives way to casual as people grow closer. With 46 episodes at about 31 minutes, you can watch a few each week and stay with the same people.

What makes it hard

Speech overlaps and sentences trail off, leaving meaning to be inferred. Young adult slang and vague dating talk are hard to pin down. The studio commentators are especially tough because they speak fast and joke constantly, and you can skip their segments at first.

How to use it

Watch house scenes first and skip panel commentary if it discourages you. Note how each newcomer introduces their job and goals, then write your own version in Japanese. Later, track how speech changes between two housemates over several episodes.

More for Japanese learners: our Japanese guides.