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Does Learning Japanese Via Osmosis Really Work?

July 14, 2011
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Does Learning Japanese Via Osmosis Really Work?

I have truly been falling behind in my Japanese studies. “I’ve been exhausted lately.” “I’ve been sick.” “I’ve been busy.” I can sit here and fabricate any half-as*ed excuse that assuages my pride, but the fact remains…my Japanese skills are becoming stagnant. After work, I go home type a bit, surf the Internet, type some more, eat, and (as of late) end up crashing on my apartment floor. I sometimes get that urge to crack open my Japanese textbooks and get back to it. My brain then goes through this detailed feedback loop as to the reasons studying isn’t a good idea: “You need to work on your blog tonight, “ or “You’ve listened...

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Today is May 5th, Kodomo No Hi (こどものひ/子供の日)

May 5, 2011
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Today is May 5th, Kodomo No Hi (こどものひ/子供の日)

Today is May 5th and it’s Kodomo no Hi, こどものひ/子供の日! Kodomo no hi, also known as Children’s Day, is a national holiday that’s tied into Golden Week (one of Japan’s big holidays**). Initially Kodomo no hi was termed tangonosekku, たんごのせっく / 端午の節句, or the Boys Day Celebration. If you’ve read some of the earlier posts, there is also a Girl’s Day Celebration/Festival of Dolls known Hina Matsuri, ひなまつり / 雛祭り, that about two months prior on March 3rd. I don’t know exactly when the name of today’s holiday changed from Boy’s Day to Children’s Day, but now it’s a day that’s meant to celebrate all children to wish them happiness, health, and good luck....

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