Hello everyone! Happy New Year! 謹賀新年！ Lately, I have been silent, but not idle. Here’s the story: As you’re probably aware, in Japan, especially larger cities like Tokyo, there’s a lot of this business of moving around on trains. This leaves a train passenger with lots of free time to do things like stare into…
On Grammar
by khatzumoto
Momoko is really amazing, she only recently started learning Japanese, but she’s had, virtually word-for-word, the same grammatical insights as one of the most respected (if controversial) Japanese writers: HONDA Katsuichi (本多 勝一). Honda discussed his ideas on grammar in his primer on how to write easily understandable Japanese: 日本語の作文技術 (Nihongo no Sakubun Gijutsu, Techniques for…
How To Learn Japanese In 1 Second
by khatzumoto
I’ve figured it out, people. I finally brought a magic bottle of Japanese special sauce from down from the mountain. You can learn Japanese in one second, and I will show you how… Sort of. OK, so I really wrote that title to make you look (Haha! Made you look!), but it actually has a…
You can have do or be ANYthing, but you can’t have do or be EVERYthing
by khatzumoto
This entry is part 6 of 10 in the series What It Takes to Be GreatIn college, I worked as a janitor. Supposedly because all the TA spots were filled up. Looking back, I should have been more enterprising. But more on that later. Whatever it is about janitorial work from 10pm at night to…
Japan is Wherever You Are: 10 Ways to Turn Your Environment Japanese
by khatzumoto
We’ve previously discussed the importance of turning your environment as Japanese as possible. With very little money (far less than you might need for a typical class), you can turn wherever you live into a little Japan. Even if you already live in Japan but your Japanese needs work, these suggestions will still work for…
Dick and Jane, Episode 12
by khatzumoto
Dick and Jane continue to learn more about Hansel and Gretel. Who are they, and where have they come from? And what’s Mr. Brown planning? Find out more! 第 十二 話 やで (PL2) Episode 12, Dude! 第 【だい】 ordinal prefix 十二 【じゅう・に】 twelve; 話 【はなし】 episode や[is] this is a regional dialect version of だ. For a more…