Year 2013 Review

JAPANESE 1.0

• Learn the hiragana and katakana
• Finish Remembering the Kanji
• Learn to write notes with kana fast enough to keep up with my Japanese teacher
• Read through a manga in Japanese
• Learn to understand full content of one GACKT-interview without English subs

So here I am. On a plateau. I've climbed a freaking eternity and here I stand. I should be heading upwards, but I don't see any way where to go. I am tired, and I only see this damn plateau, reaching as far as eye can see. I know I should keep moving, but to which direction? This plateau is bare wasteland, it has no landmarks, no trees, no animals ( Read more... )

I'm not too fond of setting goals, because I always doubt my ability to fullfill them. However, since I've apparently already managed to fullfill part of my old list's goals, I decided to make a new one. It will include the ones I've already done, because I need it to remind me that it is doable. :)
JAPANESE 1.0

• Learn the hiragana and katakana
• Finish ( Read more... )

I remember every single language class at school having listening practice. Teachers would make us first listen to language-tapes, and later on language-cds.  Did I learn anything from them? Probably. But was what I listened to natural-like material? Did the people on those English-tapes speak like native-speakers in their everyday-lives? That I ( Read more... )

 「この雨の中に咲く、素敵な紫陽花になってくれ。」
"Bloom in today's rain and become a wonderful hydrangea."
-GACKT-

Somewhere on amaiakuyume’s great journal was a mention about All Japanese All the Time and a link to the website. Out of curiosity, I followed. And boy, am I glad I did.

The first reaction to Khatzumoto’s posts was strong “What the f*** is this guy going on ( Read more... )

“Where do I know this name from?”

I had been learning Japanese for a couple of months, when something ground-breaking happened. It wasn’t some frying-pan-to-the-head- sudden happening, but it was important nevertheless. In order for you to understand the situation I have to tell you about my relationship with music.

Music is something incredibly ( Read more... )

I've been learning Japanese now for about 8 months so I'm not even close to being advanced. However, I have definitely advanced with my learning, so maybe some other beginner finds my thoughts useful :)

”Why did you start to learn Japanese?”

I remember my Japanese-teacher asking the class this question during the first lesson. I answered like many ( Read more... )