It has been a while since I have had a chance to write on Japanese Words, but I hope that everyone’s studying is going well. Today I want to talk about something that I see as a big problem when it comes to learning Japanese. Something that has more to do with the learner and less to do with the materials. What I am talking about is not taking advantage of...

It’s been a while since I have had a chance to post here on Japanese words. Hopefully every one’s studying is going well and you are all on your way to fluency. I have been pretty busy with putting together a wedding, having family visit, and all the chaos that goes along with that. I have also been trying to clean up around the house and have some...

While I was at the beach this morning I wrote a post on my personal blog about the importance of getting away from your computer and office to get work done. I figured I would write a bit here on Japanese Words about how important it is to do the same thing when you are studying. When I was a college student, I spent a lot of my time studying near a computer or...

I came across this video today of the traditional “pounding” of mochi, rice which is basically pounded into a soft sticky substance. The speed at which these guys do this is pretty impressive. I wonder how many times the guy has had his hand smashed. I bet they really hate when someone quites. Brings a whole new meaning to the pain of hiring someone. For...

Well, we are now in the middle of June and the weather here in Miyakojima has really started to warm up. Which means it’s time for BBQs, snorkeling, diving, and all kinds of other outdoor activities. Since a lot of my friends and family don’t know what it’s like over here, I have decided to start shooting short videos on the different places and...

Hey Everyone! The results are in and the flash card winners have been chosen, and e-mails have been sent. If you sent in an essay, please check your e-mail to see if you won. The judges were quite impressed with everyones motivation to learn Japanese, and especially impressed with those who made an effort to write in Japanese. Keep up the good...

This post is going to be really, really short.  This is just a reminder to let everyone know that the final deadline for submitting your essay for the Kanji/Kana flash cards contest  is tomorrow, Friday April 23 (Japan time). I look forward to getting all your essays and reading about your studies with...