#kana torii

[stuff-diary]

9 Border

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2024

9 Border (2024, Japan)

Director: Momoko Fukuda, Takuya Sakagami & Kana Torii

Writer: Arisa Kaneko

Mini-review:

9 Border doesn't break any new ground, but it goes through the usual tropes and clichés with flair and cleverness. The main character is very relatable, and the show has quite a few interesting conversations and ideas about aging, expectations and life as a whole. The romance storylines are mostly solid too, especially the one focused on the central couple, which is very sweet. I did feel a bit uncomfortable with the way it handles other topics, like cheating or child abandonment, but at least it doesn't devote much time to them. So yeah, not the best drama ever, but it's fun enough and leaves you with a pretty important message.

[haro-hawayu]

Spirited Away: Live Stage

I watched the Spirited Away Live Stage in theaters on Sunday AND Thursday because there’s two sets of casts for some of the major characters~ just wanted to write my thoughts down. This is me trying to be organized but gets a bit rambly later.

Prior to watching: I already learned about some of the cast. TBH, the only names I knew right away were Hashimoto Kanna and Kamishiraishi Mone--both of them playing Chihiro on separate shows. I’ll just refer to them as Show A/Cast A (Hashimoto) and Show B/Cast B (Kamishiraishi) when talking about them~ Another name was Paku Romi who was part of Cast B. I was familiar with both actresses from different movies: Hashimoto as Kagura in Gintama and also Kamishiraishi as Kana in Chihayafuru (and voice of Mitsuha in Your Name) so I really wanted to watch both shows because I was really excited to see how both actresses would interpret the role of Chihiro.

Thoughts: I love the use of the projections and stage mechanisms that they used to depict movement, and changing of scenes. I think a lot of it was very very very cleverly used.

+Stage projections: I especially loved the part where they projected the Japanese title 「 千と千尋の神隠し 」(literal translation is something like “Sen and Chihiro’s Spiriting Away”) on screen, and they took the kanji 千 from both Sen and Chihiro to form the little torii ⛩ (gate commonly seen in shinto shrines that separate the mundane and sacred worlds) that they drive right through (in the movie they pass by one that’s just leaning there), kind of to represent the moment when the Ogino family entered a different realm.��

+Stage mechanisms: The very obvious ones was how they just rotate some big parts to show different scenes, like Kamaji’s boiler room, Chihiro’s room, the inside/outside of the bathhouse, Yubaba’s office, etc. I liked how they made use of ladders, walkways, and doors/entrances. The whole train scene was amazing too~

+Stage hands: So many things were definitely made possible thanks to all the stage hands!!! It’s interesting that instead of black, they went for a brownish color, but I think it fits very well. I know some people might feel a little distracted by them, but I learned to really ignore them lol. It’s thanks to them that we have Kamaji’s arms/hands, the really cool scene of Haku grabbing Chihiro and running through/past many doors (that one part where they purposely did a “slow-mo” moment during their run when running past the pigs was really cool), the elevator scene, as well as the movement for the soot sprites, mouse-Bo, fly-bird, dragon Haku, and many other things. Oh yeah, and major props to them for the part where they lifted Chihiro and Haku up in the final scene where they reveal Haku’s name.

+Funny oopsies caught: Because it’s a stage play, not everything is full-proof and completely “perfect.” Although I tried to ignore the stage hands, there were some moments that made me giggle a bit. One of the earlier ones (Show A) was the scene where Chihiro is eating the onigiri from Haku and the camera just happened to show Chihiro handing off the onigiri to one of the tree stage-hands to hold onto. Another funny moment was (Show B) where a hurt Haku turns back into his human form, and again, the camera just so happened to show an angle where Haku’s actor sneaks onto the set and tries to quickly hide into the little doorway in Kamaji’s boiler where he waits to “roll out” when his dragon form disperses.

+Unique moments: There were def things that I noticed were unique and great specifically for the live stage play. I loved all the extra singing that was added. I absolutely love the sung version of 神々さま with the whole bathhouse cast. I know this song actually exists but every now and then I wonder if I dreamed that a sung version of this song exists because there’s no full version online. My Googling skills only helped me find the lyrics and clip of it. I also liked that they expanded the scene of everyone cheering/dancing when they freed the River Spirit, and for the play, they had everyone dance and Chihiro was dancing along with them. I loved that they added a (new?? pretty sure it is) theme song for No Face/Kaonashi, and there’s always that same musical motif that plays when he appears. NGL I felt like Kaonashi was extra creepy/scary in the live stage play >< There’s also a song that Kamaji sings and a sung version for The Sixth Station with the ladies which I found were quite nice additions too. Definitely appreciate all the music that was added.

I actually teared up both times during that scene when Chihiro goes back to her parents in the beginning and sees that they got turned into pigs and she was screaming in a panick as they were getting hit and those strange things started to appear around her. I think they were amazing at depicting how scary of a situation it is when a kid finds themselves in such a situation and seeing all these strange apparitions too. I personally felt that the parting scene for Haku and Chihiro more sad and bittersweet in the live stage version, especially when Haku is telling Chihiro to not look back, and in the live stage play, you can see that initial hesitation she had. My favorite added tidbit was the part at the very end where you see Haku standing at the entry of the tunnel. THERE IS HOPE IN THEIR PROMISE!!

+Additional thoughts: I really loved Hashimoto Kanna’s depiction of Chihiro. I really think she was the perfect Chihiro. There was that one scene where she was just about to cry when eating the onigiri and I think the camera angle was perfect because you see her eyes getting shiny just as she starts crying and I was just kinda wow’ed by that (angle wasn’t quite the same for Show B at that scene). I was kinda on the fence on how I would feel about seeing Show B with Kamishiraishi Mone, but she exceeded my expectations~! I still love Hashimoto’s Kanna more though. As for Haku, I’m a bit partial towards Cast B’s Haku, but I appreciated that Cast A’s Haku appeared to be the better dancer??? I liked that he had a little dance thing in the play. I was also really excited to see Paku Romi in Show B, but tbh I got a BIIIIIT distracted by her voice because I can’t help but go “kyaaa it’s Paku Romi!!” Oh yeah, small thing but I loved that they had Chihiro trying to read her new name and went “Chi” and Yubaba was like “CHIGAU (wrong!) it’s Sen!”--it made me giggle.

Overall, I think the stage play did such an amazing job at being true to the original movie, and even expanding a little more on some scenes. I was skimming through the original movie and soundtrack while writing this, so there were some things that made me go “wow, they actually were able to include this and this and this into the stage play”??!” They even copied some of the same guests/patrons of the bathhouse, but I was a bit disappointed that Ootori-sama was only mentioned but didn’t actually appear in the play (unless I was blind both times)?? Not sure what else I missed out on but will edit this post if I remember something important later~

tl;dr Spirited Away Live Stage is an excellent adaptation for the original movie. 100 out of 10 recommended! Also Blu-ray has been announced for July as well as return/rerun of the play in August with both Hashimoto and Kamishiraishi reprising their roles!! So exciting!!

[pepperbag76]

Kana-torii Gate - Fujiyoshida

📷 @odekakephoto7

Via visitjapan.us

[supersonicart]

“Ephemeral~ Territory of Girls 2021” at Jiro Miura Gallery.

A selection of work from the phenomenal group exhibition, “Territory of Girls,” on view at Jiro Miura Gallery in Tokyo.

The exhibition features work by Kaori Aoki, Momoko Akaike, Jana Brike, Amy Crehore, Olga Esther, Yuko Fukase, Ai Gonoi, Atsuko Goto, Mao Hamaguchi, Kumiko Higami, Miho Hirano, Miki Kato, Audrey Kawasaki, Rie Kawabe, Atsuko Kitoh, Kisaki yaya, Chihiro Kogure, Kozue Kuroki, Kimi Kuruhara, Satomi Kuwahara, Selena Leardini, Tracy Lewis, Hiroko Maki, Shiori Matsumoto, Miro Meguro, Kana Miyamoto, Yu Miyazaki, Margaret Morales, Virginia Mori, Yuko Murai, Yuko Nagami, Yuki Nagayoshi, Yumi Nakai, Ochopi, Kaori Ogawa, Yuka Sakuma, Harumi Shinozuka, Kazune Shintaku, Makiko Sugawa, Minae Takada, Tsubaki Torii, Yuki Toyonaga, Fuco Ueda, Masumi Yamamoto and Chie Yoshii.

Visit Jiro Miura Gallery for more information.

-

Follow on Instagram!

[koholint]

today’s playlist:

Rita - Weekend Chocolat Blanc

Megumi Nakajima - Koi wa Dog Fight

Camellia feat. Nanahira - NEKO*CHEF

Yuuna Inamura & Ryoko Shintani - Hajimari no Kirakiraboshi

Emiri Katou - Heart♥Iro♥Tori Dream

Eri Yukimura - Hello World

Kanon Torii - Niji no Kanata e

Yuko Miyamura - Mama Told Me

Suzukisan - Pokemon Ieru kana?

KIRIKO - Anata ga Furu Machi -a bird reached the sun-

Satori-san - Hari no Sora

Kaori - Pure Heart ～Sekai de Ichiban Anata ga Suki～

Kikuo - Technology ni Yume Nosete

Nayu - call my heart

thanks for listening!

[globetrotter-ori]

Japanese 30-Day Reading Challenge

Day 1 - 広島・宮島に行きましょう

Summary

たくさんとたくさんの犬は東京から宮島まで行きました。宮島で山の上へ歩いて行きました。山の上で鹿はです。鹿はたくさんを着ました。怖いですね！でも、たのしです！

Taku and his dog went from Tokyo to Miyajima. In Miyajima they went to the top of the mountain by foot. At the top of the mountain there were deer. The deer approached Taku. It was scary! But it was (also) fun!

Grammar Point

1. から～まで

You can use  から～まで to express “from~to” with places and time expressions to indicate distance or a time period. They don’t have to be used together all the time. By themselves,  から can also mean “since” and  まで can express “until”.

Example from the reading: 東京から広島まで4時間です。(It’s 4 hours from Tokyo to Hiroshima.)

2. ～ましょう

This conjugation can be attached to a verb to suggest doing something with enthusiasm. It could be interpreted as “Let’s (verb)!”.

Example from the reading: これに乗りましょう！(Let’s get on that! [as in, ride something])

Vocabulary List

1. 行きます [い・きます］Verb. To go, to move (in a direction or towards a specific location), to head (towards), to be transported (towards), to reach.

2. 犬 [いぬ] Noun. Dog.

3. きっぷ Noun. Ticket.

4. 買います [か・います] Verb. To buy, to purchase.

5. 駅 [えき] Noun. Station.

6. 新幹線 [しん・かん・せん] Noun. Bullet train.

7. 乗ります [の・ります] Verb. To get on (train, plane, bus, ship, etc.), to get in, to board, to take, to embark.

8. きれい Adjective. Pretty, lovely, beautiful, fair. (Ex. 富士山はきれいですね！）

9. はやい、はやく Adjective. Fast, quick, hasty, brisk. (Ex. 新幹線ははやい！)

10. 時間 [じ・かん] Noun. Time, hour.

11. 着きます [つ・きます] Verb. To arrive at, to reach.

12. これから Expression. After this.

13. 路面電車 [ろ・めん・でん・しゃ] Noun. Tram, streetcar, trolley, tramcar.

14. 大きな [おおき な ] Adjective. (Without な ) Great, grand, large. (With な ) A great deal, very much. (Ex. 広島は大きな町です。)

15. 町 [まち] Noun. Town, village, block, street.

16. 川 [かわ] Noun. Stream, river.

17. あります Verb. To be, to exist, to live. Usually written using kana alone, usually of inanimate objects.

18. 原爆ドーム [げん・ばく・ドーム] Noun. Atomic Bomb Dome. It is a peace monument in Hiroshima.

19. 船 [ふね] Noun. Ship, boat.

20. 赤い [あか・い] Adjective. Red, crimson, scarlet, vermilion. (Ex. 赤い鳥居があります。)

21. 鳥居 [とり・い] Noun. Torii, Shino shrine archway.

22. もうすぐ Adverb. Soon, shorty, before long, nearly, almost.

23. 島 [しま] Noun. Island.

24. 神社 [じん・じゃ] Noun. Shinto shrine.

25. 来ます [き・ます] Verb. To come (spatially or temporally), to approach, to arrive.

26.ロープウェイ Noun. Ropeway, aerial tram, cable car.

27. 山 [やま] Noun. Mountain.

28. 上 [うえ] Preposition. Above, up.

29. だめ Adjective. Cannot, must not, not allowed. (Ex. ロープウェイは犬はだめです。)

30. 歩きます [ある・きます] Verb. To walk.

31. 疲れます [つか・れます] Verb. To get tired, to tire.

32. 水 [みず] Noun. Water. 

33. とても Adverb. Very, awfully, exceedingly.

34. おいしい Adjective. Delicious, tasty, sweet. (Ex. 水がとてもおいしいです。)

35. 鹿 [しか] Noun. Deer.

36. かわいい Adjective. Cute, adorable, charming, lovely, pretty. (Ex. 鹿はとてもかわいいです。)

37. 怖い [こわ・い] Adjective. Scary, frightening, eerie, dreadful.

38. でも Conjunction. But, however, though, nevertheless, still, yet, even so, also, as well.

39. たのしい Adjective. Enjoyable, fun, pleasant, happy, delightful.

[katieaiko]

Another translation~

Translated another song! This one is a bit spookier than last one, this one is inspired by the Japanese spirit-summoning game “Kokkuri san”

Do let me know if I need to make any corrections to the lyrics!

Link to the song is here! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0H0p2kHHCg

“Go Through” English ver.

Go count the black torii gates, 

there's fifteen of them 

Are you ready? 

We can't speak to each other right now 

Laying our fingers over 

the uneven, scratching sounds of copper 

Shall we finish up? 

Yes             No 

"Who are you?" 

I've rowed out on this boat, swaying to and fro

I wonder if I should go home 

Kokkuri, Kokkuri

I alone am pointing my finger

 O spooky willows                    escape from them 

they will take you away          and make a pinky promise at the gate 

I want to make a pinky promise with you ‘round sixth PM

We have to get home                                        we can no longer go home 

 "Come here, I will sing for you a secret lullaby" 

 Shall we play? 

Yes?         No? 

"Who are you?" 

I've rowed out on this boat, swaying to and fro, heading towards somewhere 

I'm so tired 

Long ago, long ago 

there were two children 

 A single coin is dropped on the dark, dark scrap of paper 

Please return the favor to us

Please come to us

“Kuguru” Romaji ver.

Kuro no torii kazoete To-Itsutsu

Mou ii kai?

Hanashite wa ikenai yo

Dekoboko hikkaku tou no oto

Yubi kasanete

Owarimashou

Hai            Iie

“Anata wa dare?”

yura yura fune wo kogu

mou kaero kana

kokkuri kokkuri

yubisashi hitoribun

Obake yanagi ni         nigedashite

Tsurete ikareru zo       mon de yubisaki

yubikirishitai yo ne kuremutsu

Kaeranakya

Kaerenaku naru

“Oide

Himitsu no warabe uta

utatte ageru.”

Asobimashou

Hai?         Iie?

“Anata wa dare?”

Dokoka e yura yura fune wo kogu

mou tsukareta na

tokku ni tokku ni

ano ko wa futaribun

kurai kurai kamikire ni otoshita

hitotsu kouka

douzo okaeshi kudasaid

oide kudasai

【くぐる】Kanji ver.

黒の鳥居数えて十五つ 

もういいかい　

話してはいけないよ 

 でこぼこひっかく銅の音 

指重ねて 

終わりましょ

 はい　いいえ 

「あなたは誰？」 

 ゆらゆらふねをこぐ 

もう帰ろかな 

こっくり　こっくり 

指差しひとり分 

 おばけ柳に　　　　　　　逃げ出して

 連れて行かれるぞ　　　門で指切り 　　　　

指切りしたよね暮六つ 

帰らなきゃ　　　　　　　

帰れなくなる 

「おいで 

ひみつのわらべうた 

歌ってあげる」

 遊びましょ 

はい？　いいえ？ 

「あなたは誰？」 

 何処かへゆらゆらふねをこぐ 

もう疲れたな 

とっくに　とっくに 

あの子はふたり分 

 暗い暗い紙切れに落とした 

硬貨一つ 

どうぞお返しください 

おいでください

[blacksunradiance]

Nurarihyon no Mago Bonus Chapter: Valentine’s Day True Story

[monoarte-it]

Sono toki - Attimi giapponesi Capodanno: tra cielo e terra inizio di armonia ---- Ganjitsu wo tenchi wagou no hajime kana Masaoka Shiki #wa #torii #鳥居 #とりい #神道 #shinto #ganjitsu #hatsuhinode #sunrise #新年 #newyear #haiku #winter #冬 #naoshima #japan #monoartephoto #monoarte https://www.instagram.com/p/B6z_7JAKa2Z/?igshid=1brza39xykkjn

[the-nihongo-adventure]

Hello, kon'nichiwa!

I started self-learning Japanese around two years ago, and have been lucky to find some really good resources online over time. Sharing some of my favourite beginner-friendly resources that might help you in your journey:

🌸 For Learning Kana (Hiragana + Katakana)

1. Learn All Hiragana in 1 Hour (Japanese Pod 101)

2. Learn All Katakana in 1 Hour

Even though both these videos teach all kana in one hour each, I recommend pacing yourself and maybe finishing one video in one week - or if you prefer, you can learn both Hiragana and Katakana together - since they are different symbols for the same sounds, though Katakana has some more syllables in order to express loan words.

🌸 For Structure/Grammar

1. I recommend starting with this playlist by Cure Dolly Sensei from the YouTube Channel Organic Japanese with Cure Dolly. Her videos might seem a little unconventional in the beginning, but her grammar explanations are PURE GOLD + they are very beginner friendly. Here is the first video in the series: Lesson 1: The Core Japanese Sentence

2. Imabi

A very good repository of grammar explanations from beginner to advanced levels. I would recommend using this resource if you prefer verbal explanations over visual ones. Some learners say that it is hard to get into imabi in the beginning, but because of the way the lessons are structured I did not find it too difficult to follow through.

3. Japanese Ammo with Misa

I haven't watched a lot of her videos, but I did enjoy the ones I did watch and loved how detailed Misa-san's explanations are. It is also one of the most recommended channels for Japanese learners out there.

4. Japanese in 5! (Learn Japanese From Zero)

This is a playlist of bite-sized lessons of Japanese grammar (mostly under 5 minutes, as the name suggests) by George Trombley, who is also the author of the Japanese from Zero! textbook series. You can watch these videos when you are short on time and still want to get some studying done in Japanese.

🌸 For Vocabulary

1. Duolingo

2. Memrise

3. Drops

4. Torii (It's a spaced-repetition app with basic vocab & also vocabulary according to JLPT levels - I discovered it recently but it will be helpful for beginners too!)

🌸 For Kanji

1. WaniKani (first three levels are free, will have to pay a monthly/yearly fee post that)

2. Alice in Kanjiland book by Cure Dolly

3. Mastering Japanese Kanji book by Tuttle Publishing

4. Learn Japanese! Kanji Study app with Kanji for all JLPT levels

5. Japanese Kanji Study app for both Kanji and Vocabulary (I use it daily to look up words and their associated kanji)

🌸 Others

1. Jisho.org - best online Japanese dictionary to look up any word with its meanings, kanji, etc.

2. Tofugu - best meta resource with very well-researched articles on learning Japanese

3. Kanshudo - an AI based Japanese learning platform covering almost all areas of learning Japanese (you'll need to register on the website first, though).

4. Takoboto - Japanese dictionary app for Android

Hope this helps! Wishing you the very best for your Japanese language learning journey! がんばってください(◍•ᴗ•◍)❤

hi everyone! i just started learning Japanese not too long ago. does anyone have some advice, or good resources? please let me know!

[otakunews01]

El Manga ‘Maicching Machiko-sensei’ tendrá adaptación a obra de teatro en agosto

Un póster promocional para la obra que cuenta con Hikaru Aoyama como Machiko, también fue revelada: 

M-Smile opened abrió una web para una obra de teatro adaptación del Manga de Maicching Machiko-sensei  por Takeshi Ebihara. La obra se titula Butai-han Maicching Machiko-sensei ~Rinkai Gakkou Ningyo Densetsu! Sonna Kototte Arieru? no Kan~. El equipo de producción de la obra reveló un póster promocional que cuenta con la actriz Hikaru Aoyama interpretando a Machiko.

Además de Aoyama, el reparto de la obra tiene a (Nota: la romanización de los nombres de los personajes no es oficial):

Aimi Natsume como Kenta

Mami Yamashita Maicching como Tamao

Ayaka Misawa como Kinzo

Yui Ohtsuka como Hiroshi

Yumi Suzuhara como Hiromi

Karen Koizumi como Tenko

Saki Isakawa como Madoka

Rinko Kihata como  Maruko

Justaway Shiihashi como Yamagata-Sensei

Nego-Six yGoblin Kushida como el director Kokedaruma (doble reparto)

Makoto Takahashi como el Vice Director Aichi

Saki Yanase como la princesa sirena Arie

Naoko Mawatari como la madre de la princesa sirena Saaku

Fude Sekiguchi como la madre de princesa sirena Okutoba

Kazutoshi Sakamoto como Yamabiko

Kanae Shiina como el Jiangshi (vampiros chinos) Yukihi

Yuri Hori como Ungaikyou Semina

Mizuki Katase como Sodehikikozō Osode

Kanon Ayase como Toufukozou Ohaku

Shouko Moori como Hyoutankozou Ohyou

Zen como  Youkai Konaki

Erina Akimoto como Youkai Sunaka

Toshiki Sawa as Jack Amano

Kirara Torii como Abura Sumashiiko

Mayuko Inaba como  Togi Azuki

Aino Tamagawa como Makura Kaeko

Kelly Nishimura como Onna Yuki

Yukiko Nakano como Torihara Ukyou

La obra tendrá funciones en el teatro Buddhist Hall en Tokio del 17 de agosto, al 20 de agosto. Goblin Kushida esta dirigiendo y escribiendo el guión

El Manga inspiró un Anime para televisión en 1981-1983. El Manga también inspir�� un OVA en 2003 y ocho películas live-action de 2003 al 2009.

Los traviesos estudiantes de la Academia Arama conocen a una hermosa e inteligente nueva profesora, ¡la señorita Machiko! Pero están decididos a encontrarle una broma que realmente la avergüence. No importa lo que intentan ella todavía se las arregla para reírse y ayudarles con su trabajo y problemas escolares.

[metronomeihear]

"Heaven Won't Take Us Back'" for Nurarihyon no Mago, "Scandalous (Say the Birds on the Rooftops)" for Harry Potter and "Like Someone Else Instead" for Naruto!

Heaven Won’t Take Us Back

The fire crackled, the wood shifting at bits of it crumbled to white ash and black coal. They stared at the fire, quiet, somber, and more than a little scared.

Because this wasn’t what they set out to do when they were going to investigate a haunting. It was supposed to be fun, a trip to look for a yokai and spend some time with each other. The usual. Nothing more dangerous than anything they had done in the past. It was supposed to be safe.

But they weren’t safe. Not when they had woken up in a land where electicity didn’t seem to exist. Not when the people they spoke to, all wearing old, worn traditional clothes, with not a t-shirt or skirt in sight, didn’t understand them when they spoke. Like they were speaking vastly different dialects. Like an modern Englishman suddenly speaking only in Shakespeare .

Not when “Tokyo” didn’t exist.

“What are we going to do?” Kana asked, wide brown eyes glancing up at Kiyotsugu before turning her gaze to Rikuo and Yura. To Torii, Maki, and Shima. 

“I don’t know,” Rikuo admitted, looking grim.

After all, what do you do when you’re a group of teenagers stuck 400 years in the past?

…

Or: The Kiyo Cross Squad runs into trouble with a yokai none of them have seen before, and end up 400 years in the past. Cue Nurarihyon, Yohime, and child!Rihan trying to figure out who the hell these strange people are, and why one of them feel so familiar.

This would take place at some point before they figure out Rikuo’s a yokai, if only to bring in some added tension.

Scandalous (Say the Birds on the Rooftops)

Harry wasn’t quite sure why everyone found it so strange. It was just a language wasn’t it?

(”The stars, Pomona! He says he speaks to stars!”

“Stars? How utterly ridiculous. Stars don’t speak!”)

Or, Languages, he supposed. The plural was important. After all, if he could only speak to one thing, that was terribly sad. Then again, most humans seemed to be like that.

”Don’t worry, Child,” Hedwig told him. “Some humans are simply stupid.”

Harry rather thought he agreed.

…

Or: Harry is able to speak with just about anything. Birds, rocks, plants, stars, even people! He grows up listening to stories about just about anything from just about everything.

This one’s based off an idea I had as a child, that everything has a voice if only you know how to listen. Harry knows how to listen. Somehow. Maybe the killing curse did something to him? :P

Like Someone Else Instead

His name was Naruto. Sometimes. 

Sometimes it was Nagi. Sometimes it was Hinami. Sometimes it was Aiko. Or Kaito. Or Goro or Emi. Hana, Hideki, Kaoru, Juro, Itsuki, Kaede, Izayoi, Midori.

On and on and on and on and–

Sometimes he was blonde. Sometimes he was brunet. Sometimes he was male, sometimes not. Sometimes he had dark brown skin. Sometimes his skin was pale. He had blue eyes, green eyes, brown eyes, red eyes, and more.

And he was Naruto. Sometimes.

(Sometimes he wasn’t anyone at all)

…

Or: Naruto’s Sexy no Justu malfunctions while he’s creating it, and gives him the ability to shape shift into just about anything. Or anyone. He promptly capitalizes on this, and… looses himself, for lack of a better word, somewhere along the way.

Because I’ve been craving a good shape shifting fic and this title gave me the perfect excuse to get some of it out of me.

[rendakud]

漢字 (kanji) = 鳥居 かな (kana) = とりい ローマ字 (romaji) = torii meaning = Shinto shrine gate

[theccb-blog-blog]

Learning progress

Today I wrapped up Genki I, my first Japanese language textbook.  I remember the excitement of starting it, in August of 2017. I had just finished watching the youtube series “Found in Translation”, wherein Tim Rogers walks through the translation of Final Fantasy 7.  The fact that he could glean so much from the original text, and get much more color really piqued my interest.  At that time, reading kanji seemed like something of a parlor trick for someone raised in the US, but here I was -- he could read, speak and understand Japanse, and all it took was years of practice!  At some point after watching it, I decided I should give it a try.  

First I jumped into using duo lingo.  I remember clicking the seemingly meaningless symbols and associating them with sounds.  It really felt like I was making progress.  Every day I was doing my lessons, and after spending a week on it I could read like 40 Japanese symbols, WOW.  At one point you start to make actual sentences.  it was something like 今日銀行＿行く。and the options for the blank were に、を、は、と　.  I had no clue what the hell it was even asking, since the app provides no grammar explanations.  Eventually I learned that it was looking for に　but I can’t say I understood why.  I continued on, learning some vocabulary, but the lack of explanations left me really puzzled.  “What even are those things I’m putting in the blanks”.  

I kept pressing on and eventually felt like I just wasn’t actually learning Japanese, I was just plugging answers into a Japanese simulation machine -- but when it came to actually understanding what I was hearing, or producing novel sentences on my own -- I was still at square one.  

I can’t remember how I discovered tofugu.com, but when I found it all the sudden I felt like I had a friend out there that was willing to reach out a hand and guide me out of the droll world of duolingo Japanese.  It started with their silly mnemonic system for learning the kana.  After a few days of following it I understood:

1. How to read and pronounce hiragana

2. What the heck the particles were

3. How sounds are constructed.

By following along with their exercises, I finally felt like I started to “know” Japanese.  I mean I could  write こんにちは　on my computer, because on tofugu they told me how to write Japanese text using google input method. It felt really nice.  The next week I learned katakana using the similar methods: mnemonics, drag-and-drop practice, etc.  And from there I looked into their other resources.  They had lists of Japanese learning materials, and Genki seemed like a good option.

So I went on Amazon, ordered Genki I and II (and the workbooks), and in two short days I started learning real Japanese.

Through fits and starts, periods of heavy work and periods of slacking off, I continued.  I found myself progressing through the grammar, doing the workbook lessons and so on.  I could say “これはペンです”　and “トイレはどこですか I definitely wasn’t about to open up a Mishima novel and dive in or anything, but I was making progress.

I started learning Kanji around chapter 3  (and I continue today, and will probably continue for many years), and turned wanikani into a part of my daily routine.  I was learning the readings and meanings of those symbols that seemed impossible a few months earlier. I could say things like アニメに興味がない　(”I’m not interested in anime”, a white lie) and I could try to make sense a few signs I saw in Japanese movies. 

I slacked off in my studies at times, and let myself get discouraged.  Reading about other’s amazing progress left me feeling like I was too slow, or I was using the wrong method.  I let my reviews pile up. I let my non Japanese learning life take precedence. I let myself be impressed with the meager progress I made and thought “maybe thats enough.” Mind you I was (and still am) a total beginner, but at times I deceived myself and thought “well maybe I can just kinda wing it, listen to Japanese media and stuff and it will just come to me”.  I heard about people that became “fluent” in only a year using some bizarre method or the other.  I convinced myself that there may be some special way by which comprehension just happens without me putting in time.  Genki chapter 9 just stared back at me, unread for months.

Then I visited Japan.

The people I met were incredibly kind, and responded to my embarrassingly broken Japanese with the customary “ 日本語上手ですね。” (Your Japanese is so good) when i’d say something like “これを二つください” (I’ll have two of this.)  That type of sentence takes all of 20 minutes to comprehend to the most beginner of beginners, but they still gave me the kind (but maybe condescending) compliment.  It felt alright, but to me at that time, I just didn’t respect the difficultly of learning the language.  And it humbled me -- I didn’t know anything, and not studying wasn’t helping.

And so when I came back home, I realized I had to get it together.  I can’t gauge myself by what others are doing, and I can’t amend my studying plan just because some person on the internet claims they did something else and it was way better.  I realized that I’m still a total beginner, and beginners make mistakes.  But the difference between a beginner and an advanced speaker is really just a product of time, effort and efficacy.

Genki would teach me grammar and would help me read and write, but I needed to speak Japanese -- and begin to think in the language.  So I rebooted my Genki work and hired a teacher on Italki.  My teacher has been such a boon for me.  I feel like I have someone to be accountable to, and most importantly someone who will give me honest feedback. So for at least two hours a week, I have to speak and listen in Japanese, live.  I stumble over my words, I continue to mix up 使った　and 作った　but sometimes, rarely, I find myself communicating.  I find myself laughing and enjoying in a new language. It’s really an indescribable feeling for a monolingual American guy like myself.  I studied Latin for four years, but failed to continue on with it (also reading Latin usually means reading really poetic language and other highfalutin things, not much in the way of beginners material).  With Japanese, I’ve fallen off a few times, but each time I’ve got back on it.  I hope I can persist.  I hope I can continue to learn from my mistakes, stay humble about where I am, and practice consistently.  If that doesn’t lead me to proficiency, I’m not sure what would!

So now, I’ve finished my first textbook, at a phenomenally slow pace, but I finished it nonetheless.  I’m still a beginner, but I think every day I take a few steps forward.  To anyone out there learning a new language -- don’t beat yourself up if you struggle -- you can’t change your natural abilities, and everyone learns at a different pace.  The key is to stick with it, practice practice practice, and don’t lie to yourself about how much you know.  I know I have huge challenges ahead of me, but at least I’ve now got the resolve I lacked.

My routine:

Daily -

Morning: Wanikani reviews and lessons (kanji)

Lunch: Wanikani review and bunpro (grammar review/practice)

After work: Wanikani review, textbook lessons/workbook, bunpro, and Torii (vocabulary practice)

2x a week: 1hr lesson on Italki (conversation practice and grammar review)

1x a week: Japanese conversation meetup (a new addition to my routine)

Materials:

https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/learn-hiragana/

https://www.tofugu.com/japanese/learn-katakana/

https://bunpro.jp/

https://www.wanikani.com/

http://genki.japantimes.co.jp/index_en

https://steven-kraft.com/projects/japanese/

https://torii-srs.com/

Goals:

Finish Genki II

Begin Tobira

読者へ、ありがとう

[ao3feed-danganronpa]

DANGANRONPA: DESPAIR ASSIGNMENT

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2HXzghj

by nastylittleman

Fifty years after the reopening of Hope's Peak Academy, sixteen new students have been hand-picked to attend the prestigious school. However, when they find themselves isolated within its walls, it seems like something, or someone, has other plans for the Ultimates.

Come to think of it, did any of them get an acceptance letter in the first place...?

Words: 437, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of Nasty's Fanganronpas

Fandoms: Super Dangan Ronpa 2, Dangan Ronpa 3: The End of 希望ヶ峰学園 | The End of Kibougamine Gakuen | End of Hope's Peak High School, Dangan Ronpa: Trigger Happy Havoc, Dangan Ronpa - All Media Types

Rating: Mature

Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Major Character Death

Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M, Multi

Characters: Original Characters, Original Male Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Monokuma (Dangan Ronpa), Naegi Makoto (mentioned), Mutsuko Urayama, Akio Tezuka, Suko Torii, Miya Harumo, Kagei Fujioka, Irie Tanayuki, Rieko Kitajo, Arlo Foster, Nasu Aritomo, Reina Matsura, Kana Kikuchi, Aya Nobuhira, Yosoku Fukanoya, Utako Nishina, Sakuno Koyanagi, Kachi Miyabe

Additional Tags: Fanganronpa, Fan Killing Game (Dangan Ronpa), ive been planning this for... a while, this takes place roughly 50 years after danganronpa 3, the anime that is, idk how long this will be, but its gonna get violent, oh yeah, TW: Violence, tw: transphobia, TW: Blood, tw: Mentions of Suicide, TW: Homophobia, tw: albeism, tw: smoking, tw: alcohol, these kids are gonna swear, monokumas a dick, i know some of the ultimates arent original sue me, Ill add more tags as I see fit

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2HXzghj

[fromhobbiestoheroes-blog]

Crunchyroll Adds ‘Anime-Gataris’ For Fall 2017 Anime Lineup Home » All News » Crunchyroll Adds ‘Anime-Gataris’ For Fall 2017 Anime Lineup Crunchyroll Adds ‘Anime-Gataris’ For Fall 2017 Anime Lineup Posted by Chris Beveridge September 28, 2017 at 01:29 PM Another fun property that’s now set for the fall 2017 anime season is that of Anime-Gataris , the rare show where the word anime is actually in the title. Crunchyroll will be simulcasting the series with date and time coming soon as well as regional availability. The series is set for an October 7th, 2017 premiere in Japan. The project was directed by Kenshirou Torii based on the series composition by Mitsutaka Hirota. Soushi Kinutani served as the character designer and chief animation director with WAO World handling the animation production. The Japanese cast includes Kaede Hondo as Minoa Asagaya, Sayaka Senbongi as Arisu Kamiigusa, Hisako Tojo as Miko Kouenji, Rie Takahashi as Yui Obata, Rie Takahashi as Yui Obata, Junta Terashima as Kouki Nakano, Setsuo Itou as Kai Musashisakai, Anju Inami Erika Aoyama, Natsumi Takamori as Ayame Ōzaki, Asuka Nishi as Tsubaki Akabane, Miyu Takagi as Matsuri Toda, Kana Hanazawa as Yan Beibei, Makoto Furukawa as Masato Gomon, and Naomi Maruyama as ... He began http://crwd.fr/2yMoVOl back in 1998 and has covered nearly every anime http://crwd.fr/2xGnOPO