Anyone know of any introductory Japanese culture podcasts/audio/etc.
 

Hi, I live in California and am preparing to move to Japan (never been there before).

Does anyone know of any podcasts or audiobooks / audio, etc., something I could put on my mp3 player while I exercise (ie., no video)... which introduces foreigners to Japanese culture, etiquette, traditions, maybe some geography and foods, etc., just general knowledge for foreigners? Maybe even some word/phrase introductions or whatever, but mostly spoken in English.

That would be a huge help.

Podcasts would work best (ie., anything in episode format) but anything really will do, as long as it's audio and is made for newbie foreigners, and ideally is downloadable so I can hear it while exercising.

Thanks for any help or suggestions : )

Rosetta Stones comes to mind for language which you'll need if you want to LIVE there.

You need to learn Hiragana and as much Kanji as you can!

As for culture, Not sure. Sorry.

Again, Use flash cards to learn Kanji to help you! Japanese isn't something you can learn as audio completely

It's kind of anime oriented but when you meet an older person, apologize, or saying Thank You (Domo Arigatou ) bow.

Someone sent me a list of many phrases for beginners.

Yes / No
Hai / Ie

Thank you
Domo arigato

No, thank you
Kek-ko dess, arigato

Please [if you give something]
Dozo

Yes, please [if you ask something]
Onegai-shi-mass

I don’t understand
Wakari-masen

Do you speak English?
Eigo o hanashi-mass ka?

I don’t speak Japanese
Nihongo wa hanase-masen

I can speak a little Japanese
Nihongo wa amari hanase-masen

I don’t know
Shiri-masen

Can you speak a little slower please?
Mo skoshi yuk-kuri hanashte kudasai

Can you write it down please?
Kaite kure-masen ka?

My name is…
Watashi no namae wa… dess
Nice to meet you
Hajime-mashte, dozo yoroshiku

Goodmorning
Ohayo gozai-mass

Good afternoon
Konnichiwa

Goodnight
Oyasumi nasai

See you
Sayonara

How are you doing?
Ongenki dess ka?

Excuse me!
Sumimasen

Sorry, if you would excuse me
Honto ni sumimasen

Can you help me?
Chot-to sumimasen

Can you tell me…?
…o oshiete kure-masen ka?

Can I have…?
…itadake-mass ka?

What time is it?
Ima nanji dess ka?

Cheers!
Kampai!

Where is the toilet?
Otearai wa doko dess ka?
Sorry!
Chot-to!

Thank you
Domo

Thank you, very good
Genki dess, arigato

See you later!
Ja mata!

Is that so?
So dess ka?

That’s right
So dess

Do your best!
Gambatte!

Yes, it does
Hai, ikimasu / Hai, ikimasu yo

What’s this?
Kore wa nan desu ka?

It’s mine
Watashi no desu

You’re welcome
Do itashimashite

It’s over there
Asoko ni arimasu

What are you going to do?
Nani o shimasu ka?


In the restaurant

A table for one person, please
Hitori onegai-shi-mass

A table for two persons, please
Futari onegai-shi-mass

The menu, please
Menyu onegai-shi-mass

Can I have one of this, please?
Sore o hitotsu onegai-shi-mass?

Just a cup of coffee, please
Kohi ip-pai dake onegai-shi-mass

Can I have the check, please?
Okanjo onegai-shi-mass
I only want something to eat
Keishok de in dess

I didn’t order this
Kore wa chumon shi-masen deshta

The meal was fantastic, thank you
Gochoso-sama deshta, totemo oish-kat-ta dess


Shopping

Do you have…?
…ari-mass ka?

How much costs this?
Ikura dess ka?

Do you have any more of this/these?
Ko iu no wa mada ari-mass ka?

Do you have something that is a bit cheaper?
Mo skoshi yasui no ga ari-mass ka?

Do you have this/these in different colors?
Hoka no iro mo ari-mass ka?

Excuse me, how much is this?
Sumimasen. Kore wa ikura dess ka?

How much is that?
Sore wa ikura dess ka?

How much is that over there?
Are wa ikura desu ka?

This one?
Kore desu ka?

Could you show it to me, please?
Sore o misete kudasai?

Well, I’ll take this one, please
Ja, kore o kudasai

Which one? Do you mean this one?
Dore desu ka. Kore desu ka.

No, not that one. That one.
Iie, sore dewa arimasen. Sore desu.