Japanese Sushi Vocabulary: Listening Practice and Culture

This lesson uses sushi to connect food vocabulary with a real topic: the future of the ocean. Listen to Sayuri's easy Japanese story, then review the words that make the main idea easier to understand.

How to use this listening lesson

1. Listen once without reading the transcript.
2. Listen again and pause when you recognize a word.
3. Read the transcript, review the vocabulary, then listen one more time.

Vocabulary to notice

• 寿司 (すし) — sushi
• 魚 (さかな) — fish
• 漁獲量 (ぎょかくりょう) — fish catch amount
• 海 (うみ) — sea
• 温暖化 (おんだんか) — global warming
• まぐろ (まぐろ) — tuna
• 将来 (しょうらい) — future
• 持続可能 (じぞくかのう) — sustainable

Grammar focus

Use 〜かもしれません for “might”: 将来、お寿司が食べられないかもしれません。 (In the future, we might not be able to eat sushi.)

Practice after listening

1. Listen first and write the food word you hear most clearly.
2. Use the transcript to find the environmental issue in the episode.
3. Make one sentence about the future with 〜かもしれません.

When you are ready, use the source episode below for the full Japanese listening practice.

Listen to the source episode

将来お寿司が食べられなくなる？

Original Nihongo Sayuri podcast episode for this JLPT N4 lesson.

Nihongo Sayurisayuri

Continue your practice

Japanese Listening Practice with Podcast Scripts

Find more easy Japanese listening lessons with scripts, vocabulary, and clear next steps.

Nihongo Sayurisayuri

Level: JLPT N4.