Learning Japanese from “Famous” Quotes

日本語の練習 第117週

Japanese Practice Week 117

2022年02月20日「日」第117週 

Hello everyone! Today we’ll start off with Maddy explaining “famous” quotes in Japanese. Kind of reminds me of the cover of this post. She has other videos out on the Japanese from Zero Channel so check them out if you are interested. With that being said, let’s continue.

日本語のイベント／EVENT IN JAPANESE

「ゼロから日本語」というユーチューブチャネルは便利なチャネルです。日本語を勉強している人なら、このチャネルおすすめです。最近、マディさんはアニメやテレビゲームや漫画のセリフを説明しました。こんなものを好きなら、この動画シリーズがいいと思います。初めの動画は「進撃の巨人」のセリフ「捧げよ」です。動画をぜひ見てください。

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghln4Iz0Osw&list=PLOcym2c7xnBybMTbjAQoPPqL8OJZmbX72&index=3

N3　文法

[向け]

intended for, aimed at

Similar usage to the 向き grammar point introduced last week.

N + 向けだ／向けです
N + 向けに
N + 向けの

Ex: 中級者向けのコースがいいな。

　　(It’d be great if there was a course for intermediate students.)

Ex: このゲームは子供向けですけど、大人もプレイしていますよ。

　　(This game is intended for children but adults are playing it too.) 

Ex: 日本語を勉強し始めなら、これは初心者むけだ。

　　(If you started studying Japanese then, then this is for beginners.)

Ex: この学校は同人ゲームを作りたい人向けにコースを提供しています。

　　(This school offers courses for people who want to make games.) 

[ながらも]

but still, and yet, despite

Sounds like ながら (while doing something) but it is completely different. This is used to express even though something is the case you ignore that situation.

V（-ますform） + ながら（も）
V（てーform） + いながら（も）
N + ながら（も）
い/なAdj + ながら（も）

Ex: 彼は日本語に行きたいと言いながらも、日本語がわからないそうみたい。

　　(Even though he says he wants to go to Japan, it seems he doesn’t know Japanese.)

Ex: 彼女は日本語を一所懸命に勉強していながらも、日本語能力試験準備しないと思いそうです。

　　(Despite studying Japanese really hard, she thinks that she is not ready for the JLPT.) 

Ex: コナンくんは１年小学生ながらも、難しい漢字をたくさん読めます。

　　(Conan is a 1st grader but, he can read a lot of difficult Kanji.)

Ex: 外が寒いながらも、行かなきゃ。

　　(Even though it’s cold outside, I have to go.)

Ex: 日本語が上手ながらも、まだまだだと思います。

　　(Despite being good at Japanese, I don’t think I’m good yet.) 

N3　動詞／N3 VERBS

訓練（する）
くんれんする
training; drill; practice; discipline

訓 = instruction, explanation, Japanese character reading, read.
練 = practice, polish, refine.

In a way this makes sense on it’s own if you are familiar with doing kanji reading drills. You are practicing your reading. Another way to think about this is from the second kanji, 練, it is also from the word to practice, 練習. It’s like you are being taught and trained to do something. Like the student at UHA are training to be heroes.

対話／DIALGOUE

Naoya’s package arrived in the mail and he opened it while his friend was playing a game on his Switch.

[ポケモン勝負]

A: ついにポケモンシャイニングパールが来た！

B: え？！ほんとう？ブリリアントダイヤモンド買ったばかりだから、いつか二人で勝負しようぜ。

A: しよう。どんなポケモン？

B: えっと。。。ヒコザルやビップやコリンク。おまえは？ポケモンどっち選ぶのか？

A: ナエトルがいいと思う。え。。。名をつけたか？

B: うん。ナズロックを挑戦するから。ヒコザルはルフィ、ビップはキクイコ、そして、コリンクはソラ。

A: ソラ？どうして。

B: キングダムハーツだから。尻尾はパオプみたいだね。しかも、キングダムハーツIIでソラがライオンになるよ。

A: あ、そうか。

[Pokemon Battle]

A: My copy of Pokemon Shining Pearl finally arrived!

B: What?! Really? I just bought Brilliant Diamond so let’s have a battle sometime.

A: Let’s do that. What kind of Pokemon do you have?

B: Let’s see I have a Chimchar, a Bidoof, and a Shinx. What Pokemon are you going to choose?

A: I’m going to choose Turtwig. Huh… you named your Pokemon?

B: I’m doing a Nuzlocke Challenge. Named Chimchar Luffy, Bidoof Kikuiko (Tree Eater), and Shinx Sora.

A: Why Sora?

B: Kingdom Hearts. It’s tail looks like a Paopu fruit. Plus Sora becomes a lion in Kingdom Heart II.

A: Oh, I see what you mean.

記事を読もう／LET’S READ

Possible Shortage of 630,000 Foreigners Working in Japan by 2030

The lack of workers in Japan is becoming a problem.

JICA’s (Japan International Cooperation Agency) research laboratory has calculated the number of foreign workers needed in 2030. According to their calculations, even if machines take the place of humans, 413,000 foreigners will be needed by 2030 and will miss that mark by 63,000.

The reason for this, the economics in their own countries will grow and the pay in Japan will not change as much and things like not have enough children.

JICA stated “Japan needs to become a country where foreigner workers want to come to work. Japan needs to make a society where foreigners can work for a long time with job security”.

This is really good news for people who want to travel/work in Japan. Luckily they’ve been letting more people come in. Japan has a bit of a child crisis at the moment so bringing in foreigners is a great way to help there workforce that is getting relatively old.

This is a population pyramid (unspecified)

Having a population pyramid where the top (the oldest people in the population) is bigger than the bottom (the youngest people in the population) is terrifying for any country. And that is where immigration can come in handy. According to WORLD LIFE EXPECTANCY, this is what the population pyramid looked like in Japan in 2020.

Japan’s Population Pyramid

実況から勉強する：キングダムハーツ
LEARN FROM LET’S PLAYS: KINGDOM HEARTS

What this little guy up to? Let’s find out where it’s heading.

 ①カイリ、急（いそ）いで！

　でも、ソラも、リクも。。。

  • Kairi, hurry!
  • But, what about Sora and Riku…
    • EN: I can’t leave them behind!

②今（いま）は逃（に）げるしかないんだってば！

　追（お）ってきたー！

  • We need to escape now! 
    • EN: We can’t stay here!
  • They’re catching up!
    • EN: A Heartless is after us!

※ When you put a Plain form verb with しかない, it means you have no choice but to do that verb. So in this instance, they have no choice（しかない）but to run/escape（逃げる）.

※The だってば that Donald is using is emphasizing the urgency and the statement that he is making about needing to get away from Hollow Bastion.

※ Goofy’s line here comes from the V＋てーForm＋くる grammar. It means to start or to continue to do an action. They are being chased（追って）by the Heartless and they seem to keep chasing （追ってきた） them. Thought it’d be a good idea to go with something like that gives off the feel of “They’re gaining on us”.

③僕（ぼく）にまかせろ！

　 しつこいな！なんで消えないんだ！？

  • I’ll take care of them!
    • EN: I’ll take care of him!
  • Darn it! Why won’t you disappear?! 
    • EN: Confounded Heartless! Get lost, will ya?

※ The word まかせろ comes from the verb 任せる which means “to entrust” or “to leave to someone” The に particle acts as a way to suggest to listeners who they should entrust something to. Donald is telling them to leave the Heartless to him.

※ The word しつこい means that someone or something is being persistent and therefore being an annoyance. Tried to get this across by showing Donald’s frustration instead of saying “Gosh you’re stubborn” or “Man you’re persistent”.

🎮I think Donald is biting off more than he chew here. But hey they got all the way here while running. Then again why don’t they just keep running to the Gummi Ship…?

🎮Oh yeah Donald. We should definitely leave it to you. First time I’m seeing Donald clobbering someone with the staff instead of his magic. What the actual duck was he thinking XD. Then again… probably a good thing that he didn’t.

④ソラ！？ソラなの！？

　今度（こんど）は私（わたし）が助（たす）けなきゃーー

  • Sora?! Is it you?!
    • EN: Sora? Is that you?
  • This time I’ll protect you…

※ Kairi is technically saying “I have to save you” when she is saying 助けなきゃ. The なきゃ at the end is a shorter casual version of なければなりません which means “must/have to”. She’s also emphasizing that “this time” she will have help Sora just as he has all this time.

⑤カイリ　ありがとう。

　早（はや）く行（い）け！

  • Thanks Kairi
    • EN: Kairi, thank you.
  • Hurry up and go! 
    • EN: Go! Now!

🎮Goofy and Donald had one job and they couldn’t protect Kairi. Well that was a fast return from Sora. And Beast is back, too.

⑥一緒（いっしょ）に行こう！

　私がこの地（ち）を離（はな）れるときはベルも一緒だ。

  • Let’s go together!
    • EN: Come with us!
  • I’m not leaving this world without Belle.
    • EN: I told you before, I’m not leaving without Belle.

※ Beast is literally saying “I’ll be able to leave this world when Belle is with me”. The 離れるとき part is the key here. 離れる means “to leave” while とき is used to combine with this verb to express “when I leave”.

※Beast also uses が here. He’s using this to emphasize himself here. That he’s not going anywhere until he’s with Belle.

⑦さあ　もたもたするな！ハートレスが来るぞ！

　わかった　みんな　行こう！

  • Now quit dawdling! The Heartless are coming!
    • EN: Now, go! The Heartless are coming!
  • Okay. Everyone, let’s go!
    • EN: All right. Let’s get out of here.

※The word もたもた is an onomatopoeia that can mean “slowly”, “inefficiently” or “dawdling”. These are used quite a bit in Japanese to express things like adverbs or to describe things. Since there is a する, it is being used as a verb. The な at the end is a rough way of telling someone not to do something.

⑧何（なに）があったか話（はな）してくれ。

　鍵穴（かぎあな）が闇（やみ）を吐（は）き出（だ）しているのか。

  • Tell me what happened.
  • So the Keyhole is spewing out darkness. 
    • EN: So the darkness is flowing out of that Keyhole…

※ The verb 吐き出している is the active verb that means “to spit out” or “to vomit”. Those sound a bit gross, so I went with spewing out instead.

🎮If Sora’s explanation was similar to him explaining his dream to Kairi, I would’ve loved to have heard it. Can just imagine him saying “And I went BAM and Riku’s Keyblade went PWEW PWEW.”

⑨そのせいで　あちこちの世界（せかい）でハートレス　増（ふ）えてるの。

　食（く）いとめる方法（ほうほう）はーー

  • Because of that, the Heartless are increasing in every world.
    • EN: No wonder there are more and more Heartless everywhere.
  • Is there way to hold it back? 
    • EN: The only way to stop them is–

※ The verb 食いとめる can mean things like “to check”, “to hold back”, and “to stop”. I thought the pause was going to be for a question but the official translation works.

⑩鍵穴を閉（と）じればいいんだよな。

　だが　閉じた時（とき）に何が起（お）こるか誰（だれ）にもわからない。

  • I just have to seal the Keyhole, right?
    • EN: Seal the Keyhole, right?
  • But no one has clue what will happen when you do.
    • EN: Maybe. But no one knows what will happen once it’s sealed.

⑪だからって　ほっとけるかよ。あそこには　ともだちがいるんだ。

　。。。そうだったな。カイリだけでなく彼（かれ）も助けなくてはない。

  • Even so, I can’t ignore. I’ve got friends back there.
    • EN: Well, we can’t just stay here. We have to do something. I’ve go a friend back there.
  • …is that so. Kairi’s not the only one. You have to save him, too. 
    • EN: That’s right. You have one friend to worry about.

※ The expression N+だけでなく+Nも means “not only (but also)”. Leon is saying that Sora doesn’t just have Kairi （カイリだけではなく）to save but also “him (meaning Riku)”（彼も）.

⑫彼が使（つか）っていたキーブレードーは、鍵穴と同（おな）じく囚（とら）われたプリンセスの心（こころ）から生（う）まれたものだろう。

　もっとも、カイリの心が欠（かけ）けていた以上（いじょう）、不完全（ふかんせい）だったようだがーー。

  • The Keyblade he was using was created from the Keyhole and the captured Princesses’ hearts, right?
    • EN: Riku’s Keyblade must have been born of the captive princesses’ hearts– just like that Keyhole you saw.
  • It seems when Kairi’s heart was missing, the Keyhole was incomplete but now…
    • EN: Of course, without Kairi’s heart, it remained incomplete.

⑬そのキーブレードがくだけ散（ち）ると同時（どうじ）に、プリンセスの心解放（かいほう）されたーーはずだ。

　大丈夫（だいじょうぶ）だ、ソラ。おまえならきっとともだちを救（すく）える。

  • The Princesses’ hearts released at the same time that Keyblade shattered… that should be the case.
    • EN: Once that Keyblade was destroyed, the princesses’ hearts should have been freed.
  • It’s alright, Sora. If its you then I’m certain your friends can be saved. 
    • EN: Don’t worry, Sora. If anyone can save your friend, you can.

※Leon is linking that Keyblade that Sora used to release Kairi’s heart being destroyed and the Princess’ hearts being released with the word 同時 which means “same time” or “simultaneously”. The はずだ at the end of the sentence means “should”.

⑭なあ、もう一度（いちど）ホロウバスティオンに行（い）きたいんだ。

　あそこに舞（ま）い戻ろうってのか。そいつァ無理な相談（そうだん）だな。舞い

  • Hey, I want to go to Hallow Bastion one more time.
    • EN: Cid, I need to go back to Hollow Bastion.
  • So you’re waltzing back to that place, huh. Guess it’s pointless in tellin’ you that.
    • EN: I don’t think I can let you do that, kid.

※ The word 舞い means “dance” or “dancing”. Thought since we have similar phrasing that the waltzing would do fine here. Cid is expressing how Sora is planning on going somewhere dangerous as if he was going there to have fun (e.g. dancing).

※ The word 相談 means to consult or to give advice. It is being described as pointless with the なーAdj 無理. So Cid is telling him that there is no need for him to tell Sora the danger he’s putting himself in.

⑮よくわからんが、ハートレスが大増殖（ぞうしょく）してやがるんだ。

  • Don’t know why but, there’s a lot more Heartless.
    • EN: The Heartless there are multiplying by the minute

※ Cid prefaces this sentence with 「よくわからんが」meaning he doesn’t understand/know the reason behind what he’s about to say. The てーForm verb 増殖して means to increase or multiply.

※ The auxiliary verb やがる at the end of the てーForm verb means “to have the nerve to do…”. Cid is showing his frustration that the Heartless are increasing in massive mounds.

※ The ん at the end of やがる is used to explain something or give emphasis to something. In this case Cid is trying to explain that the Heartless have increased and goes on to explain to Sora that…

⑯この船（ふね）じゃあ、とても突破（とっぱ）できねえよ。

　じゃあ、どうせればいい？

  • This ship won’t be able to bust through them.
    • EN: They’d eat you ship up.
  • Then, what should we do?
    • EN: Then what can we do?

※The word 突破 means to break through. It is combined with the rough version of できない （できねえ）here to suggest that the ship won’t be able to (できない）break through（突破）.

⑰”急がば回れ（いそがばまわれ）”っつうだろ？

　 新しいナビゲーションを船につけてハートレスがいないルートを通りゃいい。

  • They say “haste makes waste”, right?
    • EN: Simple. Go around ’em instead of through.
  • I’ll install a new navigation gummi so you can take a route where there are no Heartless. 
    • EN: Install a new navigation gummi and take a new route.

※ The expression 急がば回れ is a proverb that means “more haste, less speed” or more fittingly known as “slow and steady wins the race” if you are familiar with the story “The Tortoise and the Hare”.

※The word after this phrase is spoken, っつう, means “meaning”, “called”, or “said”. It’s a slang version of という or といった.

※ The ゃいい at the end of the verb 通る(to pass)means that it is いい (OK) 通り(to pass) through. With this kind of phrasing the verb has to drop the ます and add ゃいい. For example:

通るー＞通りますー＞通りー＞通りゃいい。

⑱それって、どこ？

　地下（ちか）洞窟（どうくつ）だ。

  • Where do we find that?
    • EN: A new gummi? From where?
  • At the underground cave. 
    • EN: The secret waterway.

🎮Gee how convenient that it happens to be here of all places. Wait doesn’t that mean we could’ve got a warp gummi to Hollow Bastion ages ago?

⑲９年前（ねんまえ）、この街（まち）に辿（たど）り着（つ）いたときにな、いつかこんな日（ひ）がくるんじゃねえかと思って、しまっておいたんだ。

  • When I got here 9 years ago, I thought that one day this day would come. So, I kept it there just in case.
    • EN: When I came here 9 years ago, I stored it there in case I ever needed it.

※ The verb 辿り着いた means to struggle to get somewhere or arriving somewhere after something drastic happens. Like your whole entire world being swallowed by darkness.

※ いつか means someday while こんな日 means day like this or this kind of day. くる means to come but when it is conjugated with んじゃねえかと思って, Cid is explaining that he thought to himself “wouldn’t the day come when we need this?”.

⑳でもまさか、おめえみたいなガキが使（つか）うことになるとはな。。。

  • But never did I expect that a kid like you would be using it…
    • EN: Never thought a kid would be the one to use it!

※ One of the meanings of ことになる fits well here. It means “to be the outcome”. He emphasizes his disbelief with まさか which means “something unexpected” or “no way” or “by no means”.

※　He goes on to say おめえみたいな. The おめえ is a rougher way to say おまえ while みたいな　means “something like”. So in all, Cid didn’t expect that this navigation device would be used by a kid (ガキ) like Sora （you=おめえ）

🎮Well there’s a time for everything Cid. Now let’s go get that Navigation Gummi!

We’ll be finding that navigation gummi next time.

ヒトリゴト／JUST TALKING

タイトルを見る／WHAT’S IN A TITLE

脱・“孤独の王様”

脱（だつ）

This kanji is used to add the prefix de-. As in to remove or make a reversal of something.

It can also mean the prefix post-, which describes the time after something. Kind of like removing yourself out of a situation or a role. Like post-graduation: after graduation.

Speaking of removal, this kanji shows up in the verb 脱（ぬ）ぐ which means to remove.

・

This dot has many names for itself:

  • 中黒 (なかぐろ)  
  • 中点 (なかてん)
  • 中ポツ (なかぽつ)
  • 黒丸 (くろまる)
    It comes up a bit when I see it in foreign names. This is due to the katakana and you don’t want to misread their name or have it mashed together. I also see it beside kanji in manga to emphasize a word or even a whole statement.

    In this situation I think it is used as a spacer so you don’t get the kanji confused with what comes next. That’s the loveliness of kanji, it can get confusing and mean different things when combined with others.

孤独（こどく）の

The first kanji can mean orphan or alone. The second kanji can mean single, alone, spontaneously, or Germany(why?).

So this word has something to with being alone or isolated. And you would be right in thinking that. This noun/なーAdj means “solitude”, “loneliness”, or “isolation”. In this case the の isn’t a possessive but it is turning the adjective into a noun (aka nominalization).

Since it is being nominalized with another noun I think altering the definition a bit here is reasonable. Here are a few suffixes that can be used when nominalizing adjectives:

  • -ity
  • -ist
  • -ness
  • -th
  • -ry
  • -ty
  • -ly

I’ll choose how to do this after looking at the last word.

王様（おうさま）

This word means King. It also has the honorific suffix 様. Now that have this word figured out I think I can go with “solitary”, “lonely”, or maybe “isolated”.

So back to the 脱 part. Someone is “removing themselves” from playing the role of a lonely king. I could be literal and go with “The Post-Lonely King” or “The Lonely King’s Removal”.

Or maybe something more creative like “The Lonely King Dethroned” but that wouldn’t get the point across that the “Lonely King” is willingly choosing to have this title removed.

I think I’ll go with “No Longer the Lonely King” or for short:

“The ‘Lonely King’, No More”

This title comes from the first season of “Haikyuu!!”. I was recommended this anime for the MyAnimeList Annual Watching Challenge this year. I’m not really into sports anime. As of finishing this season of Haikyuu!!, I have only completed 27 sports anime. And according to MAL, I’ve completed 1,349 anime so far. So only 2% of the anime I’ve watched are Sports anime. Yikes.

Luckily, Haikyuu!! is a very enjoyable anime and I plan on watching the rest.

If you are curious about the “Solitary King” title, you’ll get the picture on what that may mean in the first few episodes.

Here’s a PV of the first season:

SUKIMASWITCH did the second OP and it is fantastic:

レイの日記

飛べないそう鳥ポケモンというドードーゲットだぜ。トベナカッタ名前を付けた。飛べないかと思ったが、できるさ。文句なし。ハヤカッタが死んだ以来、飛べるポケモンがいないなんて、面倒なあ。

少し訓練したが、アイツらが弱すぎ。チョウムに二つの技を覚えさせた。サイコキネシスとメガドレイン。フリクリはみんなの身代わりになるかも。念のため、ディフェンダーとクリティカッも書いておく。こんなものを買うの初めてだ。何でも必ず最初があるかもさ。

ジムリーダがサカキだ。こいつはもう諦めたと思ったんだ。

REI’S JOURNAL

Caught a bird with no wings named Doduo. I named it Tobenakatta. Didn’t think it could fly but it surprisingly can. I won’t complain. Ever since Hayattaka was killed, not having a Pokémon that fly has been a pain.

Trained a bit more but these Pokémon that I’m fighting are weak. Taught Choumu Psychic and Mega Drain. Maybe I’ll use Furi Kuri as a sacrifice. I’ll buy some X Defend and Dire Hit as well. First time I’m using these kinds of items. First time for everything I guess.

Turns out the gym leader is Giovanni. Thought this guy was finished.

In conclusion, I hope that this series is helpful with your journey to learning Japanese and/or taking an interest in the country’s culture. Until then… また来週！

What’s it Like to Learn Japanese in Japan?

日本語の練習 第116週

Japanese Practice Week 116

2022年02月13日「日」第116週 

Hello everyone! Starting off with talking about one of my favorite YouTubers experience with learning Japanese. She also talks about a few resources that have helped her out. With that being said, let’s continue.

日本語のイベント／EVENT IN JAPANESE

日本語はあまり完璧じゃないだと思いますが、もっと上手になりたいから、毎日少しずつ勉強しています。

好きなユーチューバーは３年ぐらい日本住んでいます。この動画は日本語の勉強のことです。

多分見ないけど、コメントした。

先週、akidearestはビデオを発表しました。

TODAIのアプリのことを話しましたが、このアプリで色んなものことができます。

N3　文法

[もしかしたら]

perhaps, maybe

Used to imply that the phrase being said is possible. Usually used with かもしれない.

もしかしたら + phrase + かもしれない
もしかすると + phrase + かもしれない

Ex: もしかしたら彼女は忙しいかもしれない。

　　(Maybe she’s busy.)

Ex: もしかしたら今年日本に行けるかもしれない。

　　(Perhaps I can go to Japan this year.) 

Ex: もしかすると彼氏と降られたかもしれない。

　　(Maybe she got dumped by her boyfriend.)

Ex: もしかするとドラマを見すぎたかもしれない。

　　(Perhaps he watches too many dramas.) 

[むき]

Suitable for…

Used to indicate a destination or an object. It can also indicate a person or a group. There are few ways to use this grammar that are listed below:

N + 向けだ／向けですー＞End of sentence
N + 向けにー＞Goes before a verb
向けの + Nー＞Goes before a noun

Ex: あの少年向けの漫画なのに、子供からお年寄りまで幅広く楽しめる感じがすごいですよね。

　　(Even though that manga is suited for boys, it’s great that it can be enjoyed by the young and old.)

Ex: あのゲーム会社はソシャゲが好きな人向けにゲームを発表する。

　　(That game company releases video games intended for people who like social games.) 

Ex: その図書館は大学生向けです。静かな場所で勉強したいなら、そこはおすすめです。

　　(That library is for university students. If you want to study in a quiet place, then I recommend that place.)

N3　動詞／N3 VERBS

記憶する
きおくする
memory; recollection; remembrance

記＝scribe, account, narrative
憶＝recollection, think, remember

Memory is like writing (scribing) a document and saving it so you can go back to later (recollection). Unfortunately the ability to remember things (記憶力) varies quite a bit from person to person. Some have a good memory some have a bad memory (記憶薄い). But Bradley here thinks all humans memory is trash.

対話／DIALGOUE

Two students discussing their struggles and wanting to go to Japan.

[日本に行きたい]

A: 日本語の勉強はどうですか？

B: いいですけど、まだ日本に行かないんです。

A: あ、そうですね。東京大学入学しても、日本に行かないなんて、最悪ですよ。

B: そうよ。でも、諦めたくないから、オンラインで勉強しています。

A: え？アメリカにいましたか？いつ起きましたか？

B: 午前４時。

A: すごい。何が手伝いのですか？

B: えっと、こんな数学の問題が苦手で、教えてくれませんか？

A: いいよ。

B: サンキュー。あ、そうだ。ジョシュアどうですか。

A: 今年、N2受け取るつもりですが、よかったら、一緒に日本語を勉強しましょうか？

B: うん、いいよ。

[I want to go to Japan]

A: How’s your Japanese studies coming along?

B: Fine, but I can’t go to Japan yet.

A: Oh yeah. For you not to be able to go to Japan even though you got into Tokyo University sucks.

B: It does. But I don’t want to give up, so I’m studying online.

A: Huh? Aren’t you in America? When do you wake up?

B: 4:00 am.

A: Wow. Is there anything I can help you with?

B: Uh, actually I’m not good at these kind of math problems, so could you help me with them?

A: Sure.

B: Thanks a bunch. Oh, and how about you Joshua? Anything you need help with?

A: I’m taking the N2 this year so could we study Japanese together?

B: Sure, I can do that.

実況から勉強する：キングダムハーツ
LEARN FROM LET’S PLAYS: KINGDOM HEARTS

Now that Maleficent has been dealt with, the time has come to fight Riku.

 ①「大広間（おおひろま）」への通路（どうろ）

　 カイリ　カイリ！　目（め）を開（あ）けてくれ！

  • Path to the Grand Hall
    • EN: Grand Hall
  • Kairi Kairi! Open your eyes!

※ The grammar てーForm＋くれ is the more casual form of くれます・くれる. It means “please do” a certain verb for the speaker. It’s used to ask a favor of someone else. Like Sora here wanting Kairi to wake up (open her eyes).

🎮:39 Hah Goofy’s not joining this fight.

②無駄（むだ）だ。その娘（むすめ）は心（こころ）をなくして眠（ねむ）り続（つづ）けている。

　おまえ　リクじゃ　ないーー？

  • It’s pointless. That girl no longer has a heart and will keep sleeping. 
    • EN: It’s no use. That girl has lost her heart. She cannot wake up.
  • You’re… not Riku?
    • EN: What? You… You’re not Riku.

🎮Riku’s going full Dio on us.

③最後（さいご）のプリンセスが眠っているせいで　鍵穴（かぎあな）は未完成（みかんせい）のままだ。

　プリンセスーー？カイリがそうだって言（い）うのか！？

  • Due to the last princess sleeping, the Keyhole remains incomplete.
    • EN: The Keyhole cannot be completed so long as the last princess of heart still sleeps.
  • Princess? You’re saying Kairi’s a Princess?! 
    • EN: The princess…? Kairi’s a princess?

※ The word 未完成 means incomplete while the のまま part expresses that this is still happening even now.

④その娘の力（ちから）なくして　鍵穴は完成（かんせい）せん目覚めてもらうぞ。

　 勝手（かって）にリクをあやつって何（なに）言（い）ってる 　んだ！リクの心を返（かえ）せ！

  • She has lost the power and the Keyhole can’t be complete. I’ll have you wake her up.
    • EN: Yes, and without her power, the Keyhole will remain incomplete. It is time she awakened.
  • What are you having Riku say?! Give his heart back to him!
    • EN: Whoever you are, let Riku go! Give him back his heart!

※ The せん part means makes the verb into a negative. It works like ません.

⑤ならばおまえもプリンセスに心を返すがいい。

　いったいーー

  • If that’s the case, then you should return the princess’s heart back to her.
    • EN: But first, you must give the princess back her heart.
  • What was… 
    • EN: What’s–

⑥まだわからんのか？

　 反応（はんのう）しているのだよ。プリンセスの心が！

  • You still don’t get it?
    • EN: Don’t you see yet?
  • The princess’s heart is responding!

⑦おまえの中（なか）に眠る　カイリの心が！

　カイリが　俺（おれ）の中にーー

  • Kairi’s heart sleeps within you!
    • EN: It has been there all along. Kairi’s heart rests within you!
  • Kairi’s (heart) is in me…?
    • EN: Kairi… Kairi’s inside me?

⑧わが目（め）はすべて見通（みとおし）ている。

　 おまえ　誰（だれ）なんだ。

  • My eyes see through all.
    • EN: I know all that there is to know.
  • Who are you? 
    • EN: Tell me. Who are you?

※The verb 見通している means to see（見） through（通す） or to anticipate. Riku(?) is saying that he is a omniscient being.

⑨我（わ）が名（な）はアンセム　闇（やみ）の探求者（たんきゅうしゃ）。

　さあ　引（ひ）きずり出（だ）してやるぞ　プリンセス。

  • My name is Ansem, Pursuer of Darkness.
    • EN: It is I, Ansem, the seeker of darkness.
  • Now I’ll drag you out, Princess. 
    • EN: So, I shall release you now, Princess.

※ The word 探求者 means pursuer or searcher but I do like how they changed it to seeker. I also like the “It is I” line. It really gives off the archaicness that 我が gives off. Still gives the same message and sounds cooler.

※The verb 引きずり出して just means to drag out something. Not as to prolong something but to drag an object (in this case a heart) out of somewhere (in this case Sora)

🎮Annd there goes Donald. So, it is a solo match. This’ll be fun. That Princess line is giving me flashbacks to Jafar.

⑩その力（ちから）で鍵穴（かぎあな）を完成（かんせい）させ。私（わたし）を不滅（ふめつ）の闇に導（みちび）け！

　 おまえなんかにーー　おまえなんかにカイリの心を渡（わた）すもんか！

  • Complete the Keyhole with your power. Guide me to eternal darkness!
    • EN: Complete the Keyhole with you power. Open the door, lead me into everlasting darkness!
  • As if I’d… As if I’d give Kairi’s heart to the likes of you!
    • EN: Forget it! There’s no way you’re taking Kairi’s heart!

※ The word 不滅 means immortal or undying. 導け is the imperative form of the verb 導く which means to guide or to lead.

🎮Heck yeah Sora now it’s time to do some exorcism. Didn’t know if you shoot magic at him he shoots it back. I always whacked him with the Keyblade. His ultimate attack is nothing. You just have to stand in a certain spot to avoid it. Paradigm Shifter’s reflexes are great though. I don’t think I could keep block liking that XD. Oh it’s over.

⑪ソラは✨ラグナロクを手（て）にいれた！

　ソラ　大変（たいへん）だ！

　 かっ　鍵穴がー！？

  • Sora learned ✨Ragnarök!
    • EN: Sora learned ✨Ragnarok.
  • Sora, this isn’t good! 
    • EN: Sora! Sora, look!
  • Th-the Keyhole…!?
    • EN: The… The Keyhole!

※If you ever want to make a character stutter start off with the first kana of that word and add a little つ (like this っ) and then put the word. How do you get the little つ? Just type x then tsu.

🎮Kind a find it a bit fitting that Sora learned Ragnarök here considering no one hasn’t died and the great battle hasn’t even started yet. But hey it sounds cool.

⑫だめだよ！鍵穴が不完全（ふかんせい）なんだ！

　どうすればいいんだ！？

　たぶん　カイリの目を覚（さ）ませばーー

  • It’s no use! The Keyhole’s not finish!
    • EN: It won’t work! The Keyhole’s not finished yet!
  • Then what do we do?!
    • EN: What can we do?
  • If Kairi wakes then we probably…
    • EN: Maybe we’ve gotta go wake Kairi up.

🎮I do wonder where Sora puts the Keyblade in this game. It just disappears. Glad they fix that in the other games. I’m also kind of confused on why this world specifically needed all the princesses of hearts. Is Hollow Bastion that special?

⑬カイリの力があればーー カイリを解（と）き放（はな）てばーー

　 どうしたらいい？どうすればーー

　 人（ひと）の心の扉（とびら）を開（ひら）く　キーブレードーー

  • If we had Kairi’s power… If we can release her heart…
    • EN: I think you’re right. If we can free her heart…
  • What should I do? What should I… 
    • EN: But… But how?
  • The Keyblade that opens a person’s heart…
    • EN: A Keyblade that unlocks people’s hearts… I wonder.

※The verb 解き放てば is the conditional form of 解き放つ which means to release. どうしたらいい is an expression that the speaker uses to say “what is the best thing to do” or “what to do”.

🎮Welp that’s one way to solve the problem but,…

⑭ソラ　まさか！？

　 待（ま）って！

　 みんなー！！！ソラを消（け）しちゃダメだーー！！

  • No way, Sora!
    • EN: Sora, hold on!
  • Wait!
    • EN: No, wait!
  • Guys!!! We can’t let Sora just disappear!!
    • EN: Sora! Come back, Sora!

※ The しちゃダメ is a colloquial form of てーForm＋だめ. It is used to say don’t or you can’t.

🎮Whose going to lock the Keyhole now?

🎮So wait a minute… Sora had all the Princess’s hearts inside him or were they reacting to Kairi’s being released from Sora.

⑮俺（おれ）どうなるんだろーー消えーー　てーー　闇にーー

　ソラ　ほんとに消えーー

　 ううん　消（け）さない！絶対（ぜったい）消さない！　

  • What’s going to happen to me… I’m disappearing into… the darkness.
    • EN: What’s… What’s happening to me? Falling… falling…into darkness.
  • Sora, did you really disappear… 
    • EN: Sora, are you really–
  • No, he won’t! He’s not going to!
    • EN: No. He can’t be! I won’t let him go!

🎮Was that a sign of how Kairi feels about Sora?!

⑯ようやく目覚めたか　最後（さいご）のプリンセスよ。

　だが鍵穴が完成した以上（いじょう）　もう用（よう）はない。

　 消えてもらうぞ。

  • So the last Princess has awakened at last.
    • EN: So, you have awakened at last, Princess.
  • But the Keyhole is now complete so I no longer have use for you.
    • EN: The Keyhole is now complete. You have served your purpose.
  • I’ll have you disappear now.
    • EN: But now it’s over.

🎮Still giving off creeper Jafar vibes… but okay.

⑰そうはさせないぞ！

　僕（ぼく）たちだけで　だいじょうぶかな？

　わかんないよ！

  • We’re not letting you!
    • EN: Don’t make another move!
  • Are we going to be okay with just the two of us? 
    • EN: Do you think we can stop him all by ourselves?
  • How would I know!
    • EN: I don’t know!

※ This わかんない is the colloquial expression for わからない. It means I don’t know, but I thought I’d go with something more snappy. Thought it’d be more in character for Donald.

⑱ば　ばかなーー

　俺の体（からだ）好（す）きにさせるか。

　 早（はや）く逃（に）げろ！ハートレスが来（く）るぞ！

  • T-this can’t be…
    • EN: Impossible…
  • I won’t let you do what you like with my body. 
    • EN: No. You won’t use me for this!
  • Hurry up and run! The Heartless are coming!
    • EN: You’ve got to run! The Heartless are coming!

⑲鍵穴はどうしよう？

　いいから　早く！

  • What about the Keyhole?
  • Forget that, let’s get out of here! 
    • EN: Let’s just get out of here!

🎮I wonder what that little guy is doing?

Looks like the main character is gone. We’ll find out what’s up with that little Heartless next time.

ヒトリゴト／JUST TALKING

タイトルを見る／WHAT’S IN A TITLE

起死回生！！めざせ彼女の座！！

起死回生（きしかいせい）

This word is a 四字熟語, four kanji word. Let’s break down the kanji in them first.

The kanji 起 is probably from the verb 起きる (to rise)

死 means death.

回 is used as a counter for times you do something. For instance, もう一回 (one more time)

生 means life. Together with 回 it becomes 回生 which means resurrection or coming back to life.

Altogether it means “Revival from the brink of Death”. It can also express making a comeback from a hopeless situation. So I think I’ll go with “Rise from the Dead” here.

めざせ（目指せ）

目 means eye. 指 is the word for finger. Imagine you have a goal to and you want to get to a certain point. Like learning Japanese. You tell someone “I’m aiming to go here” and then point at that goal with your finger. This is basically what this verb is doing. You are looking at a goal and pointing at it. Or in other words, you are aiming for it.

目指せ is the imperative form of 目指す which means “to aim for” or “to have an eye on”. I’ll try something like “Lock-on to”.

彼女（かのじょ）の

In this context it means “girlfriend” but it can also mean the pronoun “she/her”. The possessive particles just adds an apostrophe s and makes girlfriend turn into girlfriend’s. So there is a person that is aiming to become someone’s girlfriend.

座（ざ）

This word can mean things like seat, position, or status. I don’t think Girlfriend’s (seat, position, or status) would work well here, so I think I’ll drop the apostrophe s.

So in all I’d go with:

“Rise From the Dead!! Lock-on to the Girlfriend Position”

I think this fits a lot better. This title comes from the anime Lovely★Complex. If I’m correct this anime was translated by one of my favorite translators, Sarah.

I’m still watching this anime but it is about a tall girl (by Japan’s standard… she’s 5′ 7″) named Risa Koizumi (小泉 = “little spring”) who his friends with a short guy named Atsahi Otani (大谷 = “big valley”). Despite their last names their stature is the opposite.

What make it even more interesting is that they are called All Hanshin Kyojin（オール阪神・巨人）by their teacher and is seen as a comedy duo in their high school. They got this name due to comedy duo from the 1970’s where their height difference is the reason for their stage name. They’re still doing comedy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb_A4NgEb18

So Risa and Atsuhi both have a complex about their height… but where’s the love? Well one of the two starts to develop a crush on the other. How will it work out? Not sure, but I’m looking forward to finding out. Especially since this anime started airing the same year the manga ended. Which may mean that this anime is a highlight reel from the manga. But I could be wrong. Here’s to hoping I’m right.

On another note, I like that the characters mainly use Kansai-ben. It’s rare to find an anime like this so I’m happy to find one of the dialects that I want to learn here. Plus Risa is voiced by Nami from One Piece.

Here’s a PV if you are interested:

https://youtu.be/AhUnxTsHFCU

レイの日記

ジムリーダ戻ってきたが、ポケモンジムの石像の隣の男ジムリーダの正体が知らない。どうやって？あいつここに歩いてきたか？ちょっと。。。あのパネルなぜここにーまさか。。。「あの奴」だな。男はこのジムじめんタイプと言った。だから、イナズマ使えない。たぶんイッコケセイも。どうしたらいい？

エリートトレーナーのダグトリオキリヤマとグリマスを倒れた。殺し前に、レッド強くになるべきだ。パソコンでコクヨウガンとフリクリゲットした。あいつじめんタイプポケモンがいるジムと言ったが、いろんなタイプポケモンがいるぞ。

訓練しないと。誰も失いたくないんだ。トキワシティでニョロモを掴めた。「ウズマキ」あだ名付けた。２３番道路でオコリザル掴んで、「ルフィ」あだ名付けた。ウズマキニョロゾになった、この間、みずのいしで、ウズマキはニョロボンに進化したが強さまだまだだ。ジムリーダのバトル。。。誰かが倒れてしまう。。。誰？

REI’S JOURNAL

So, the Gym Leader has returned and the guy by the gym statue doesn’t know who it is. How? Didn’t he walk pass you? Wait… why are there moving panels here– No way… it can’t be “that guy”, right. This’ll be a ground type gym so I can’t use Inazuma. Probably not Ikkokesei, either. What am I going to do?

A cool trainer’s Dugtrio killed Kiriyama and Grimasu with Dig. Should go train Red before it gets killed, too. Took Kokuyougan and Furikuri out of the PC. He said that this is a ground type Gym, but these guys have different types.

Gotta go train my team. Can’t lose anyone else.

Caught a Poliwag in Viridian City and named it Uzumaki. Caught a Primeape on the Route 23. Named it Luffy. Uzumaki evolved to Poliwhirl, then I used a Water Stone to evolve it to Poliwrath. It’s still not strong enough. Someone’s gonna get sacrificed in this match… but who?

In conclusion, I hope that this series is helpful with your journey to learning Japanese and/or taking an interest in the country’s culture. Until then… また来週！

Tried Playing Kingdom Hearts on the Switch + Curry + Mobilizing the Hippos?

日本語の練習 第115週

Japanese Practice Week 115

2022年02月06日「日」第115週 

Hello everyone! Talking about Kingdom Hearts on the Switch. Played the demos a bit and I don’t think I’ll be getting them due to being playable only online. Plus I have some translated another article, so take a look at that. With that being said, let’s continue.

日本語のイベント／EVENT IN JAPANESE

ニンテンドーは「キングダムハーツはニンテンドースイチに来る」と言ったら、嬉しかったです。「やった！ついに、日本語で好きなゲームをしてできます。それに加えて、どこまでもプレイしてできます。」って期待している。

結果は少しがっかりしていました。キングダムハーツはクラウド版です。クラウドという版はオンラインでNintendo Switchにストリミングされますが、常に安定したインターネットに接続している。クラウドゲームは多分まだまだです。

体験版をプレイしてみました。キングダムハーツによって、１５分ぐらいやってできそうみたいです。別のゲームのことがわかりません。

イーサネットを使うべきかも？

ゲームプレイを見たいなら、この動画を見てください。

やはりネイティブポートを待ちます。でも、可能性がありますか？よかったら、このビデオを見てください。

N3　文法

[もの]

because

Used to state a reason or an excuse for something. You can also use it to express dissatisfaction with something.

V[Plain-Form] + （んだ）もの/もん
Noun + なんだもの/もん
いーadj + （んだ）もの/もん
なーadj + なんだもの/もん

Ex: 知ってるけど、教えてあげないもん。

　　(I know but I’m not going to tell you.)

Ex: やはり、そんな人は裏切者もんだった。

　　(I called it. That guy was the traitor.) 

Ex: 名人なら、そんな詰将棋は簡単だよ。努力して頭がいいんだもん。

　　(He’s the Meijin so a problem like this is easy. It’s because he put in the effort and he’s smart.)

Ex: 無愛想な人が嫌いなんだものだ。

　　(That’s why I don’t like unsociable people.) 

[ものだ]

To do something, In general

You can use this to describe a feeling, express something that occurred in the past or just to state a fact. Use ものだ or もんだ to affirm what you are saying. Use ものじゃない to negate what your saying.

V[Plain-Past-Form] + ものだ/もんだ
V[Plain-Form] + ものだ/もんだ
いーadj + ものだ/もんだ
なーadj + ものだ/もんだ

Ex: 彼はその本で必要な漢字を暗記したもんだ。

　　(He memorized all the important kanji with that book.)

Ex: どんな問題にも解ける方法がたくさんあるものだ。

　　(For any problem, there are many ways to solve them.) 

Ex: 日本語でポケモンをやりたいなら、これのは初心者向けですが、中級者なら、ゲームの図鑑がいいもんだ。

　　(If you want to play Pokemon in Japanese, then this one is aimed at beginners but if you are intermediate, then the Pokedex is a great resource.)

Ex: 彼女の質問が僕の勉強ただの邪魔ものだ。

　　(Her questions are just getting in the way of my studies.) 

N3　動詞／N3 VERBS

転ぶ
ころぶ
to fall down; to fall over

転 = revolve, turn around, change

Not much you can really pull from the meaning of the kanji but… another reading for this kanji is くるり which can be the adverb “suddenly” or “abruptly”. Falling is quite the abrupt thing. It’s also the first kanji in the verb 転倒（てんとう）する which also means falling down. It’s also good to note that trip is another way to express this verb.

からだのバランスを失って倒れる。

This verb is used when someone loses balance and suddenly falls.

This is the Plain うーVerb 転ぶ which unlike るーVerbs is a bit more complex when it comes to conjugation. As you can see from the pictures above, てーForm is 転んで, Conditional Form is 転んだら (Bonus Past Plain form is 転んだ), and Negative Plain Form 転ばない.

始まりのライブで転んだみおのように転びたくないなら、足元に注意ください。

If you don’t want to fall like Mio at her first concert, watch your step.

対話／DIALGOUE

Two friends are at a ramen shop. Let’s see what they ordered.

[変なセンス]

A: あ、おいしそう。何かける？あげるよ。

B: サンキュー、じゃ、チーズ取ってくれ。

A: チーズ？マジかよ？！

B: うん、ずっと前に食べるよ。気付かなかった？

A: えー、ない。それおいしいのか？

B: うん、組み合わせやすい、だから、ピッタリのコンビだよ。

A: じゃ、少し食べてみる。あー　本当だ。味が意外にうまい。

B: だろう。「意外に」別、けど。

A: 他の変な食べ方がある？

B: えっと、実は、セリアルボールにつぐ前に、ミルクに注ぐ。

A: やはり、変な奴だなあ。

[Strange taste in food]

A: This looks good. What do use for toppings? I’ll get it for you.

B: Thanks, could you pass the cheese.

A: Cheese? Are you serious?!

B: Yeah, been eating it since forever. You didn’t notice?

A: Really, I didn’t. Is it good?

B: Yeah, it compliments the ramen. A perfect combination.

A: Then I’ll try a little bit. Oh your right, it’s unexpectedly good.

B: Right. Well, except for the “unexpected” part.

A: Got any other weird ways to eat stuff?

B: Uh, actually I put the milk in the bowl before the cereal.

A: Yep, you’re a weirdo.

記事を読もう／LET’S READ

【ココイチ】「カレーのトッピング」人気ランキングNo.1が決定！　第3位は「豚しゃぶ」

There is a popular curry chain store called Curry House CoCo Ichibanya. They have spread stores all over the country and from the time they were established in 1978 to now, have garnered many fans. What makes them special there abundant toppings, so you can customize your order to your taste.

And with that, the research team at Netorabo created a survey from January 18th to the 24th that asked a question: “What is your favorite topping from Kokoichi?”.

This survey brought in 1257 entries. Thanks for the great response! Now, let’s take a look at the results.

3rd Place: Pork Shabu (*thinly sliced pork)

See the source image

In third place, we have thin-sliced pork with 82 votes. With a refreshing flavor you can eat these thin pork slices without getting tired of it. No doubt that they are quite addictive. It makes for a great combination with other toppings which adds to its charm.

2nd Place: Crispy Chicken

See the source image

Coming in second, we have crispy chicken with 92 votes. As the name suggests, this topping is chicken fried to a delicious crisp. Not only the texture but the juiciness of the chicken is enjoyable. Spinach and pork are some recommendation to go with this topping.

1st Place: Cheese

See the source image

And in first place, cheese is the winner with 103 votes. Not only does cheese make the curry’s spiciness milder, it has a rich flavor enhances the whole dish making it a go-to choice for toppings. You can choose how spicy your curry is at Kokoichi Curry’s, so its perfect for those who want to try out a more spicy than usual curry. It’s selling point is that you can enjoy combing it with other toppings.

Here are some comments.

ooz: It’s great to have some curry that’s not all that good. Sometimes I just want to eat some just because. Squid curry topped with sauce is irresistible.

nvp: Sirloin Curry is mostly what I go for. Or Spinach with cheese on a whim. It’s fun to see other’s reasons on there favorites.

tts: To a salaryman, even if I put toppings on it’s not enough so they order a side of rice to put in the curry. On top of that they get more sides. It ends passing the 1000 yen (10 bucks) mark though.

However, it’s not the best tasting.

To be honest, it’s not good on the wallet either.

m.t.a: CocoIchi is expensive so I just go there every now and then, but I usually top my curry with eggplant.

I like it when it’s a little deep fried.

And I like how it compliments the chicken.

I recommend the crispy chicken and mix it with eggplant.

That’s the best.

But what makes CoCoIchi great is that you are free to choose the toppings, spiciness, and customize it.

Makes me want to eat there.

Interesting. I really should try curry but I’m pretty sure there’s no good curry places in this small town I live in. If I ever do some traveling I wouldn’t mind trying this because it looks good.

Considering I did K-ON! last week, カレーのちライス (Curry Before Rice) would have been a perfect fit.

実況から勉強する：キングダムハーツ
LEARN FROM LET’S PLAYS: KINGDOM HEARTS

Speaking of spice let’s get into one last fiery battle with Maleficent.
We’re done with Maleficent but she’s not done with the boys (Thanks to Riku(?)).
Sora Donald and Goofy need a warm-up before the real fight anyway.

 ①助けてほしいか？

　あれはーー

  • Do you want my help?
    • EN: Do you need some help?
  • That’s a…
    • EN: Is that–

※ The てーForm+ほしい grammar. This is used to express that you want someone to do something. But you can also use it as a question to see if someone wants you to do something.

🎮Geez Maleficent walking around like she’s having a “heart” attack or something. Good thing Riku(?) is there to help out the old hag XD.

②そう　キーブレードだ。

　おまえのキーブレードとは異（こと）なりこれは人（ひと）の心（こころ）の扉（とびら）を開（ひら）く。

  • Yes, it is a Keyblade. 
    • EN: Yes. A Keyblade.
  • Unlike yours this Keyblade opens people’s hearts.
    • EN: But unlike yours, this Keyblade holds the power to unlock people’s hearts.

※ The word 異なり means unlike. You can used this compare/contrast something to another thing. Like how Riku(?) is comparing/contrasting his own Keyblade to Sora’s.

③心を開放（かいほう）された人間（にんげん）はーーこうなる！

　 なっーー

  • It can set free a humans heart… like this!
    • EN: Allow me to demonstrate… Behold!
  •  What…!
    • EN: Wha– 

🎮Maleficent didn’t see that coming. Now her Kokoro is Brokoro… moving on.

④心の扉を開け放ち（あけはなち）闇（やみ）に心を明け渡せ（あけわたせ）！

　 おまえは闇そのものになるのだ！

  • Open your heart and surrender it to darkness!
    • EN: Now, open your heart, surrender it to the darkness!
  • Become darkness itself!

※ This verb 開け放ち comes from 開け放つ which means “to throw/leave open”. 明け渡せ comes is the imperative form of the verb 明け渡す which means to “to give up” or “to surrender”.

⑤おお　これだよ　この力（ちから）さ！

　闇　真（しん）の暗闇（くらやみ）ーー

  • Oh this power!
    • EN: This is it! This power!
  • This is the true power of darkness!
    • EN: Darkness… the true darkness!

🎮It’s kinda weird that she turns into a dragon here as if it is her first time. In fact, she already has experienced this form before in Birth By Sleep. So… retcon? Nonetheless it’s time to show this lizard whose boss.

⑥癒（いや）しを、風（かぜ）を、どうだ、いけ。守（まも）りを。

　ヴォルテックスをおぼえた。

  • Heal, Wind, How’s that, Let’s Go, Defend.
    • EN: Heal/This will help, Wind, Come on, Defend.
  • Learned Vortex.

※ Those are just a few things Sora says during the fight and when he uses spells. This video is kind of lacking in dialogue so I wanted to give some translations to what we’ve been hearing during fights all this time.

⑦役立たずめーー　

　 しょせんハートレスのあやつり人形（にんぎょう）か？

  • So useless…
    • EN: How ironic.
  • You’re the one who ended up being the Heartless’ puppet, huh?
    • EN: She was just another puppet after all.

🎮This is a call back to when Maleficent told Riku to be careful using the darkness because it can overpower him. The か at the end there kinda seeps with “you told me that but now look at you” vibe. It’s like when someone tells you to watch your step but their the ones who end up tripping XD. On another note, kinda wish Paradigm Shifter used the same strategy that Stickman Sham used:

⑧なんだって！？

　マレフィセントは最初（さいしょ）からハートレスに利用（りよう）されていたのだ。

  • What’d you mean?!
    • EN: What?
  • What I mean is that the Heartless were using Maleficent from the start. 
    • EN: The Heartless were using Maleficent from the beginning.

🎮Isn’t that the same case for Riku though? Then again Riku’s not really himself at the moment.

⑨そのため心の闇がふくれあがり身（み）を滅（ほろ）ぼした。

　愚か者（おろかもの）がたどる末路（まつろ）だな。

　 炎（ほのお）かがやきを手に入れた（てにいれた）！

  • For that reason the darkness swelled up and destroyed her.
    • EN: She failed to notice the darkness in her heart eating away at her.
  • She went down such a foolish path and met her end. 
    • EN: A fitting end for such a fool.
  • Obtained the Brilliant Flame!
    • EN: Obtained Fireglow.

※ The verb ふくれあがり means to swell up. The past tense verb 滅ぼした come from the verb 滅ぼす. 末路 in this context means “one’s fate”. It literally can mean End（末） of the road（路）.

And this will be the end of the road for this entry. Come back next week to see how Sora deals with Riku one last time.

ヒトリゴト／JUST TALKING

タイトルを見る／WHAT’S IN A TITLE

「風の音さえ聞こえない」

「」

These brackets are used for song titles but I wanted to give some other examples of how they are used. So I found this useful picture.

Image

風（かぜ）の

Wind + Posessive particle

The possesive particle is acting upon the word for wind and making it “wind’s”. The next word after the の is what being talked about next.

音（おと）さえ

Sound + even/only/as long as

So it is the “Wind’s sound” but what is this さえ. さえ is a particle that means “Even”. Like “Addition? Even a child can do that.” = 「たす？そんなことは子供さえできる。」

聞（き）こえない

Can’t hear/Unable to hear

聞こえない is the negative potential verb of 聞く which means to hear. So if put this in the potential form it becomes 聞こえる making it “to be able to hear” or “can hear”. Then change that to the negative form it becomes 聞こえない making it “to not be able to hear” or “can’t hear”.

“Sound of the Wind that Can’t Even Be Heard” or “The Voice of the Wind that Can’t Even be Heard” would be more of a literal translation, but I think I’ll go with something shorter.

“Silent Wind” or “Silent Voice of Wind” would be better.

This song title comes from the anime 錆喰いビスコ or Rust Eater Bisco which is airing this Winter 2022. The show is very bizarre but I’ll attempt to talk about it here. Japan has become a desert wasteland and the people suffer from a disease that causes them to rust. Little does the public know or want to believe is that mushrooms can solve their problems.

The “to believe” part comes in to play because mushrooms are criminalized. Plus there’s a criminal by the name Bisco going around shooting arrows that make these mushrooms sprout of nowhere. He comes to a city that has an excellent doctor named Milo. wants him to heal his mentor. After watching the third episode it seems they are on a quest to find the panacea of mushrooms to cure Bisco’s mentor and Milo’s sister who are both infected with the rusting disease.

In short, this is a wild world, where mushrooms can save them from ruin. How wild is it? Well:

You can see more in the PV:

レイの日記

パソコンでレッドとグリマスゲットして、ポケモンセンターでチームを回復しに行った。ここから北にマサラタウンだ。21海水路でメノクラゲ掴んだ。フリクリ名付けた。

イナズマ水タイプをたくさん倒れた。水泳の人大丈夫かなあ。

っていうか、ハゲでバイカーっぽい男ここに泳いた。なにこれ？！釣り人俺に勝負をしてきた。コイキングばっかりだけどな。イナズマ疲れそうだからチョウムの出番だ。

ついにふるさと到着。うちで少し休んだ。冒険中後に、母ちゃん何してるかなあ。この辺ポケモンが弱すぎ。チームの強くなったが素晴らしいなあ。

REI’S JOURNAL

I got Reddo and Grimasu from the PC and healed my team at the Pokemon Center. Oh, Pallet Town is North from here. Caught a Tentacool on Sea Route 21. Named it Furikuri.

Inazuma took out a bunch of water type Pokemon. Hope that the swimmers are alright.

Speaking of swimmers, there’s a bald biker looking guy swimming out here. What the heck?! A fisherman challenged me to a Pokemon battle but he had nothing but Magikarp. Inazuma looks tuckered out so Choumu can handle this.

Finally made it back home. Rested a bit. Wonder what Mom’s been up to since I’ve been gone. Geez the Pokemon are so weak here. It’s amazing to see how much my team has grown.

If I recall correctly, Viridian City has a Gym. It was closed last time I was there. Is it even open? Wonder who the Gym leader is. Guess I’ll head there next.

In conclusion, I hope that this series is helpful with your journey to learning Japanese and/or taking an interest in the country’s culture. Until then… また来週！

Learning 日本語 with K-ON! Songs

日本語の練習 第114週

Japanese Practice Week 114

2022年01月30日「日」第114週 

Hello everyone! Back to teach you Japanese and show what I find interesting about Japan. Starting out with learning pitch from K-ON! songs. If you are interested in finding songs from your favorite anime just type in the shows name with 歌詞付き or 歌詞あり and you might find something. With that being said, let’s continue.

日本語のイベント／EVENT IN JAPANESE

先月、日本語で「けいおん！」というアニメを見ました。それで、知らない歌を発見して。声優たちは歌がたくさんありますから、少し驚いました。もちろんアニメから歌も聞きます。特に「五月雨２０ラブ」を聴きすぎましたかもしれない（笑）。そのベースがすごい。

映画けいおん！からです。

最近、この歌とほかの歌などを聴きながら、発音を勉強しました。すっごく楽しかったです。それに、漢字を読み方も高低アクセントも勉強できます。

けいおん！の音楽がいいと思います。

ユーチューブでギターソロも発見しました。

　

N3　文法

[まるで]

as if, as though, like

If you like metaphors, this great for you. Used to describe something or someone by giving an example of another thing. You can use it to say that something appears a certain way or someone is pretending to do or pretend to be someone else.

You can also use みたい instead of よう.

まるで + V[Casual] + よう
まるで + N + のよう

Ex: なんか怪しい。まるで隠すようだ。

　　(You’re being suspicious. As if you’re hiding something.)

Ex: N3の試験を合格すれば、それはまるで夢のようだ。

　　(If I pass the N3 exam, that would be like a dream.) 

Ex: このアニメはまるでPS2ゲームのようだ。

　　(This anime looks like a PS2 game.)

Ex: 彼は自分の人生をまるでゲームをするかのように生きている。

　　(He is living his life as if he was playing game.)

[めったに～ない]

hardly, rarely, seldom

Used to express that something usually doesn’t occur.

Both the kanji（滅多に） and the hiragana of this grammar are used.

めったに + V[ないーForm]
Nは + めったにない

Ex: もういいから。これは好きな飲み物でしょう。しかもめったに飲められないよ。

　　(Oh, come on. This is your favorite drink, right. Plus you rarely get to drink it.)

Ex: 言語の勉強はいい機会めったにないでしょ。

　　(Learning a new language is a rare and wonderful opportunity.) 

N3　動詞／N3 VERBS

期待する
きたいする
expectation; anticipation; hope

期 = period, time, date, term
In this context = opportunity, chance

待 = wait, depend on

So if we go in reverse, we have “depend on chance” or “depend on opportunity”. In other words relying on an opportunity or a chance that comes up for you. Kind of like how Sakura was expecting Kero to explain the Clow Cards.

対話／DIALGOUE

Haruka visits a instrument shop with her friend Akari.

[けいおん！のファン]

A: ね、あかりちゃん、どんな楽器買いたいの？

B: えっと、多分ギータ。

A: ギータなら、あ、あった、そこあるよ。

B: わーきれい。

A: あ、唯ちゃんのギータだ！

B: え、誰？

A: 「けいおん！」って観たことある？

B: ない。

A: その楽器に似てる。

B: アニメ？ハルカ、アニメ観るんだ？

A: アニメ観ないの。「けいおん！」が唯一見るアニメ。平沢唯ちゃんが弾いてるギターに似てる。

B: え～。これ？わかんない。。。

[A K-On! Fan]

A: Hey Akari, what kind of instrument you want to buy?

B: Uh, maybe a guitar.

A: If you’re looking for a guitar… oh, there they are.

B: Wow, they’re pretty.

A: Ah, Yui’s guitar!

B: Uh, who?

A: Have you watched “K-On!” ?

B: No.

A: That instrument looks just like hers.

B: Is that an anime? Do you watch anime, Haruka?

A: No, I don’t watch it. K-On! is the only I’ve ever watched. That’s the guitar that Yui Hirasawa plays.

B: Oh… yep don’t have a clue.

実況から勉強する：キングダムハーツ
LEARN FROM LET’S PLAYS: KINGDOM HEARTS

And the boys are back and ready to explore Hollow Bastion.
Let’s see who they stumble into this time.

①「トロッコ乗場（のりば）」への通路（つうろ）

　 「正門（せいもん）」への通路

  • Passage to the Tram.
    • EN: Lift Stop
  • Passage to the Main Gate.
    • EN: Castle Gates

※ The word トロッコ can mean train, tram or rail car.

🎮The flying Heartless around this are used to be so annoying. You have to take them all out so you can use the crystal transporter things. Plus, I recall falling off the ledge trying to fight them sometimes. And this was back when I thought magic was stupid to use XD.

🎮These wizard Heartless were a pain, too. Teleporting and their thunder magic protected them. めちゃイライラしてた。

②「大紋壁（だいもんかべ）」への通路

　「高楼（こうろう）」への通路

  • Passage to the Great Crest Wall 
    • EN: Great Crest
  • Passage to the High Tower
    • EN: High Tower

※ That Great Crest Wall may be referring to the huge heart emblem on the wall once you enter this passage. I could’ve went with skyscraper to translate 高楼, but I thought that making the kanji separate words here would be better. Same thought process behind Great (大) Crest (紋) Wall (壁).

🎮@3:40 Yeah… nope XD.

③礼拝堂（れいはいどう）への通路

　あれがプリンセスたちの『力（ちから）』の結晶（けっしょう）か。

  • Passage to the Chapel
    • EN: Castle Chapel
  • So that is the manifestation of the princesses’ combined “power” huh?  
    • EN: So, I see that the path has emerged at last.

※ The noun 礼拝 by itself means “worship” while 堂 can mean temple shrine or chapel. A place of worship = Chapel House or just Chapel. At first I thought to read the どう （堂）as the どう（道）from 道場 dojo, but I’m glad I looked this up.

※ The noun 結晶 here means crystallization or fruits of someone’s labor or union of power.

🎮Maleficent… you’re not going to comment on why Riku voice sounds deeper? Maleficent: Why would I? Surely the boy is just going through puberty?
-_-…Alrighty then

④そうさ　闇（やみ）へと通（つう）じる鍵穴（かぎあな）さ。

　 あれを開（ひら）けば　全世界（ぜんせかい）にハートレスがあふれるぞ？

  • Yes. The Keyhole is just passed the darkness.
    • EN: Yes. The Keyhole to the darkness.
  • If we open it, then the whole world will be overflowing with Heartless, correct?
    • EN: Unlock it and the Heartless will overrun this world.

※ The verb 通じる is acting upon the word for Keyhole. So it would be best to describe the Keyhole as a way to the darkness.

⑤かもうものか　私（わたし）は闇にのまれたりしないよ。

　闇の力を利用（りよう）して　世界を支配（しはい）してやる。

  • As if I care. I won’t be swallowed up by the darkness.
    • EN: What do I care? The darkness hold no power over me.
  • I’ll use the power of darkness and rule the world. 
    • EN: Rather, I will use its power to rule all worlds.

※ This particle ものか is usually used by men. It means “As if” (you might see a certain someone say this in the English version of Kingdom Hearts II). It can also mean “like hell I will”. It gives off an expression that something won’t happen. The かまう part comes from the verb to care 構（かま）う.

⑥たいした自信（じしん）だ。

　おおーー　なんということだ！？プリンセスはそろったいうのに！？

  • How confident.
    • EN: Such confidence.
  • Oh… What is the meaning of this?! We’ve gathered the princesses and yet the keyhole has not appeared!
    • EN: Oh! Impossible! The princesses of heart are all here!

※ The word 大（たい）した means “great” or “considerable”. Thought it’d be a good idea to have Dark Riku to sound a bit cheeky here.

⑦あの娘（むすめ）のせいか！

　心（こころ）を失（うしな）っていてはプリンセスの力も消（き）えたままだな。

  • Is it because of that girl?!
    • EN: It must be her.
  • When she lost her heart she lost the power of the princess along with it.
    • EN: Without her heart, she will never be able to release her power.

⑧王（おう）の手先（てさき）が来（き）たようだねーー

　 私が始末（始末）してやるよ。

  • It appears the King’s pawns have arrived.
    • EN: The king’s fools are here.
  • I’ll go and take care of them once and for all. 
    • EN: I’ll deal with them myself.

※ The 来たよう part takes the past tense verb “to come” 来（く）る and puts it with よう which means “to seem”. Had the urge to translate this to “Looks like we have company”, but I refrained. The verb 始末する means “to handle” or “to deal with”. 手先 could also mean stooge but I wanted to go with a chess theme.

⑨おまえはここでプリンセスを見張（みは）っておいで。

来（く）るのが少（すこ）し遅（おそ）かったようだね。

  • You stay here and guard the princesses.
  • It seems you have come too late. 
    • EN: I’m afraid you’re too late.

※ The てーForm verb 見張って comes from the verb 見張る which means “to stand guard”. You might remember it from our time in Neverland.

🎮That may be true but they are just in time to kick your keister all over this Chapel.

⑩最後（さいご）の鍵穴が姿（すがた）を現（あらわ）し　世界はもうすぐ闇に覆（おお）われる。

　もう誰（だれ）にもーー

  • The last keyhole is going to appear and soon the world will be covered in darkness.
    • EN: Any moment now, the final Keyhole will be unsealed. This world will be plunged into darkness.
  • No one can sto-
    • EN: It is unstoppable.

⑪止（と）めてやる！

　鍵穴も　この世界もーー　おまえの思いどおりにはさせない！

  • We’ll stop it!
  • The Keyhole this world… we won’t let it go the way you plan! 
    • EN: After coming this far, there’s no way we’re gonna let that happen!

⑫この哀（あは）れな愚か者（おろかもの）勝（か）てる思うのか私に

　悪（あく）の魔女（まじょ）の私に！

  • You pitiful fools think you can defeat me?
    • EN: You poor, simple fools. You think can defeat me?
  • Me, the Mistress of all Evil!

※ The なーAdj 哀れ means pity in this context. 愚か者 means fools. Sounds like バカ with extra steps but hey Maleficent has some well-versed vocabulary. Maleficent says “the Witch of Evil” here but I wanted to go with an alias that I know of. And after seeing the official translation, I’m glad I went with that.

※ Couldn’t really make out what she was saying during the fight. Something about stars （星（ほし）を） when she started hitting them with constellations. When she does that in the English version Maleficent says “Meteor of heaven grant me divine fury”.

🎮Maleficent can’t believe was she’s hearing. It’s as if she’s saying “Are you saying you can beat me”. To that Sora should say…

See the source image
YES I AM!

🎮This boss fights not too bad. Bring the rock down, stay on the rock and keep swinging. Aeroga would’ve helped out quite a bit in this fight, but I’m not sure if that secret boss is open just yet. So, Aerora had to suffice here. That constellation magic is a pain though and it seems she enjoyed spamming it here.

⑬ドナルドは✨召喚（しょうかん）MPアップを手（て）にいれた！

　アンセムレポート４を手にいれた！

  • Donald learned ✨Summon MP Up!
    • EN: Donald learned ✨Cheer.
  • Obtained Ansem Report 4! 
    • EN: Obtained Ansem’s Report 5.

And now that Maleficent has been dealt with,
what lies ahead for Sora, Donald, and Goofy?
Perhaps they should go through that gate and finish Maleficent off for good.
We’ll find out on the next Let’s Play!

ヒトリゴト／JUST TALKING

タイトルを見る／WHAT’S IN A TITLE

特別番外編みんなのその後

特別(とくべつ)

This means “special”. The kanji respectively means special and distinction. So this chapter is a special chapter. Or an extra to go with the rest of the manga.

番外編(ばんがいへん)

Speaking of extra 番外 has the kanji for number and outside. Manga usually have chapter numbers so you can think of it coming from that. The 編 just means part. I would translate this as just Extra. However I think I’ll change it up and put it together with 特別 and make something like “Special Chapter”.

みんなの

みんな means everyone. The の particle being used here is the possessive kind so it would be best to translate this to “Everyone’s”.

その後(ご)

その can mean that or the depending on which makes more sense translating. 後 can mean afterwards or later. その後 is a word all on it’s own, but the definition is these two words combined: after that. This title is starting to sound like an epilogue of some sort so I think I’ll take some liberties here and go with “After Story”. Put this together with みんなの and you get “Everyone’s After Story”.

So altogether we have:

Special Chapter: Everyone’s After Story

This extra chapter’s title comes from the manga アメのフリ. Due to being a manga that got axed and it being a special chapter, it didn’t get translated by the Shonen Jump app. The manga was decent. Getting powers from candy is kinda like the devil fruit powers (without the not being able to swim part).

Here is a quote describing the show from MAL Rewrite:

Tsumugi Minase is an ordinary schoolgirl with a major sweet tooth. She also happens to be a Sweets User—someone who ingested a candy created by ToyToy Candy and subsequently gained the ability to conjure sweets out of thin air. Despite its potency, no two Sweets Users can have the same capabilities. Tsumugi is able to wield a giant lollipop but does her best to hide such a skill to maintain her normal life.

These powers are what brought Tokyo to ruin five years ago, decimated by a mysterious lollipop-wielding Sweets User who has yet to be identified and is still at large. Prior to the city’s destruction, Tsumugi caught a glimpse of the perpetrator and was shocked to discover that they shared the same ability.

The catastrophic event is what gave birth to the Recette—a specialized police force that tackles the spike in criminal activity led by Sweets Users. When Tsumugi saves her classmate and Recette agent Misaki Midori, he immediately suspects her to be the wanted lollipop criminal despite her insistence otherwise. Determined to clear her name and find the true culprit, Tsumugi resolves to join Recette to aid their investigation.

Ame no furu mal rewrite

The premise was interesting but somewhere down the line a new character arrives and steals the spotlight from our two supposed main characters. She gets a backstory, a quirk here and there, and her power is pretty cool ;).

If you are interested in checking it out, you can find it on Viz or the Shonen Jump App. Subscription for a lot of manga is $2.

レイの日記

よし、カツラと戦うの時間だ。すげー、オヤジだ。キリヤマの出番だ。３匹だけいるが、キュウコン強そう。イッコケセイに取り替えて、バブルこうせんアイツ倒れた。

ソレイユのじしんでギャロップ倒れたが、カツラ最後のポケモン繰り出した。ウィンディというポケモン。ガーディの進化らしい。頑張ったのに、コイツのかえんほうしゃとだいもんじでソレイユとシコックハがやられた。

イナズマはかげぶんしんたくさん使って、簡単にコイツの攻撃外れた。それで、かみなりでコイツ倒れた。もう終わってよかったが。。。ソレイユとシコックハもうなくなってしまった。ごめん。今までありがとう。

クリムゾンバッジと技マシン３８「だいもんじ」手にいれた。よし、もう１つだ。後で、ポケモンリーグ。さ。。。チームは２残りだ。仲間になるポケモンは誰かなあ。

REI’S JOURNAL

Alright time to take on Blaine. It’s your turn Kiriyama. He only has 3 Pokemon but this Ninetales looks strong. Switched to Ikkokesei and her Bubblebeam took care of it.

Soreiyu’s Earthquake took down Rapidash, but then Blaine sent out his Arcanine. Looks like the evolved form of Growlithe. They did their best but, Soreiyu and Shikokkuha were taken down by Arcanine’s Flamethrower and Fire Blast.

Inazuma used Double Team a bunch and dodged those fire moves with ease. Then took it down with Thunder. It’s great that it’s over but… Soreiyu and Shikokkuha are gone. Sorry guys. Thanks for all you’ve done.

Got the Volcano badge and TM 38 “Fire Blast”. Alright just one more badge. And then the Pokemon League. Now… who should join the team?

In conclusion, I hope that this series is helpful with your journey to learning Japanese and/or taking an interest in the country’s culture. Until then… また来週！

Translation: Humans VS Machines

日本語の練習 第113週

Japanese Practice Week 113

2022年01月23日「日」第113週 

Hello everyone! Kyuusei here to teach you Japanese and show what I find interesting about Japan. With that being said, let’s continue.

Table of Contents

EVENT IN JAPANESELEARN FROM LET’S PLAYS: KINGDOM HEARTS
N3 GRAMMARJUST TALKING
N3 VERBSWHAT’S IN A TITLE
DIALGOUEREI’S JOURNAL

日本語のイベント／EVENT IN JAPANESE

マシン翻訳はすこし上手くになりましたね。翻訳者の仕事のことが少し不安だと思います。翻訳コンパニーの会長は「翻訳者がここにあるよ」と言えば、僕の返事は「あるって？「いる」でしょう？」。それで、あの人はコンピューターに指を指します。「なにこれ？！」と言わせてしまいましたね。きっとマシン翻訳があまりよくないですね。あとで、この動画を見ました。

この技術は英語と日本語などを翻訳できます。日本語と英語が翻訳できますけど、ほとんどだけ翻訳できそうみたいです。まるでたぶん６５％とか７０％。グーグル翻訳よりこの技術の方がいいと思います。DeepLはどうかなあ？

N3　文法

[くせに]

even though, and yet, in spite of the fact that

Similar to のに with expressing that regardless of an occurrence or something you have done, you are frustrated that it didn’t work out. The only difference between the two is that くせに is used to express stronger sense of regret than のに.  

V[Casual-Form] + くせに
N + のくせに
なーAdj + なくせに
いーAdj + くせに

Ex: もう～　ダメと話したくせに、君がやってしまった。

　　(Geez… even though I told you not to, you did it anyway.)

Ex: 唯のくせに、ケーキを食べたくない？

　　(You don’t want to eat cake? Even though your you (Yui)?) 

Ex: 真面目なくせに、彼女はまだ俺の気持ちをわからなかった。

　　(In spite of taking it seriously, she still doesn’t understand how I feel about her.)

Ex: サイズを調べておくくせに、靴を買ってしまった。新しいくせに、足が痛くて、歩きにくいです。

　　(Even though I looked up the size, I ended up buying these shoes. Even though they are new, my feet hurt and its hard to walk.) 

[まま]

as it is

You can use this grammar to express something as it is or to express a lack of change in something. This can be used in a negative or positive way.

V[たーForm] + まま
V[ないーform] + まま
なーAdj + +な + まま
いーAdj + い + まま
N + のまま

Ex: お茶はめちゃ暑いので、飲んだままじゃ、舌を焼けてしまう。

　　(The tea is really hot, so if I drink it as it is, my tongue will get burned.)

Ex: 勉強しないままでは、合格してできない。

　　(If you don’t keep studying, you won’t pass.) 

Ex: この仕事は担当しているので、半端なままにしてはいけない。

　　(You’re in charge of this job so you can’t keep doing it half-way it.)

Ex: 品の値段が高いままでは、面倒になりそうです。

　　(If the prices stay as high as they are, it’s going to get rough.) 

Ex: 友達に会いに行った。３年ぶり会わなかったけど、昔のまま変わっていない。

　　(I went to go see my friend. Haven’t seen them 3 years but, they haven’t changed a bit [stayed just the way they as I remembered].) 

N3　動詞／N3 VERBS

記入する
きにゅうする
entry; filling in; filling out

記 = scribe, account, narrative

From the fist kanji, we can tell that it has something to do with writing something down. Like in a journal or a form. In this context 記 means to leave a record of something by writing it down.

入 = enter, insert

The second kanji means something that you can enter or input. Or in other words, fill out.

Altogether, it has a meaning to write down a specific info in a specific place. Like in a job application. Or like Light writing names in the Death Note.


対話／DIALGOUE

Hibiki is back to check up on Rei’s adventure in Kanto.

[ヒビキとレイ２]

A: よ、レイ、久しぶり。

B: お、ヒビキじゃねか。よ。

A: 冒険はどうだ。カント慣れた。

B: うん、いくつか間違えたが、チームと一緒に進む。

A: キョウまだ出会った。

B: あ、出会ったよ。あいつはずるいのやつだった。以外に強かったが、勝った。

A: さすが、あのおっさん。気にしないでよ。アキにあったら、「よ」言ってくれ。

B: あ。それじゃ。またね。

[Hibiki and Rei 2]

A: Hey, Rei, long time no see.

B: Oh, if it isn’t Hibiki. Heya.

A: How’s your adventure. Gotten used to Kanto?

B: Yeah, had some slip-ups here and there but I’m still moving forward with my team.

A: Have you met Koga yet?

B: Yeah, I met ’em. That guy was crafty. Wasn’t expecting him to be strong but, I won.

A: That’s the old geezer for ya. Don’t worry about it. If you see Aki, tell ’em I said “Hey”.

B: Yeah will do. See ya.

記事を読もう／LET’S READ

ONE PIECE: 5 Lies Ussop Told That Became True
“Oda is Amazing!”

Unbelievable how many lies have come true…

The boastful master of lies and bluffs Ussop (Voiced by Kappei Yamaguchi). Just to mix things up in casual conversation with his boasting, Nami (Voiced by Akemi Okamura) and Zoro (Voiced by Kazuya Nakai) were quick to quip from the very beginning of their friendship. However, there are quite a few of Ussop’s tall tales that have become true. The “Lies that Ussop Told that Became true” will be introduced in this article. Even on SNS Ussop’s lies have gained praises such as “A good amount of them have come to reality” and “Oda’s amazing”.

※ “Big trouble, everyone!!! The Pirates are coming!!!”

Before he became apart of Luffy’s crew, Ussop lived in a small village called Syrup Village. To the annoyance of the villagers, everyday he used to scream “Big trouble, everyone!!! The pirates are coming!!!”. The villagers threw pots and chased him with mops.

On that day, Ussop found out that Captain of the Kuroneko (Black Cats), Klaw was targeting his friend Kaya (Voiced by: Mariko Kouda). He tried to warn the villagers, and desperately yelled “Big trouble, everyone!!! The pirates are coming!!!” as went around the village. But the villagers didn’t listen to him.

As a result, the Kuroneko Pirates actually attacked the village, and Ussop’s lie ended up becoming true. Ussop had his reason for lying everyday but, he lied too much and no one believed him. So, Ussop’s courage to protect the village was understood very well in this episode.

※”I was shocked to see that long and huge poop! I was sure that it was a continent so I ended up landing on it!”

Before Ussop joined the Straw Hat Crew and on the very same village, he used to go to a sickly rich girl named Kaya’s house. To lift her spirits he went there everyday and tell stories about his adventures filled with white lies. On one of his tales he told her about the time he “fought a huge gold fish that lived in the South Sea.”.

According to Ussop, That gold fish was so big “it wouldn’t be able to fit in the water tank in her mansion”. Of course he said this as a tall tale, but, that huge gold fish, the “Island Eater” appeared when the crew arrived at Little Garden. As he was taken aback, he said “A g-giant gold fish…? Where have I heard that before…” as he appeared to be reminded of something.

Many islands were formed by the gigantic Island Eater’s big poops. Due to the size it would be mistaken for a deserted island. Long ago an Elbaf warrior Dorry (Voiced by Daisuke Gori) mistook it as an island as well and landed there. At that very moment, another one of Ussop’s tall tales ended up being true.

※”It’s Cerberus! Chase it away!”

When Ussop was a child, he also told lies that were actually true. When he was still a child, he formed the Ussop Pirates in the village and went on several adventures. One of their adventures was them chasing off a beastly dog from Greek mythology, Cerberus.

Later on, Ussop encountered Cerberus (Voiced by Takahiro Fujimoto) at the ghost island called Thriller Bark. Cerberus that is called “Hell’s Watchdog”, is a monster with three heads. Ussop used a smokescreen that somehow shrouded Luffy and his crew. Ussop wore a necklace made of garlic and carried a “Spirits Begone” Flag on his back. He ended up having another encounter with one of his tall tales becoming reality.

Furthermore, they had another run in with Cerebrus at Enies Lobby. The judge Baskerville (Voiced by Mahito Oba, Keiichi Sonobe, and Koji Haramaki) looked quite like Cerebrus which brought back the gag in a subtle way.

※”I’m the talk of the town! I have a 30 million bounty on my head!”

This is Usopp’s line when he appeared in the manga. Usopp showed Vivi Nefertari (Voiced by Misa Watanabe), who had just joined crew, Luffy’s Wanted poster as if the bounty was actually on his head. It certainly has Usopp in the photo as well but, you can only see the back of his head.

And later on that lie became true as his alias Sogeking got the 30 million bounty. To rescue Nico Robin (Voiced by Yuriko Yamaguchi), he supported Luffy and the crew as Sogeking. By shooting down the World Government flag, it was clear that he was making an enemy out of the government. And so, that is how his bounty got to 30 million.

His bounty increasing yet again in Dressorosa. During the Dressorosa Arc, Usopp took down one of the Donquixote pirates elite named Sugar (Voiced by Rie Kugimiya) and the released Tontatta Tribe revered him as a “God”. As “God Usopp”, his bounty went up to 200 million Berries. Don Flamingo also offered a 500 million Berry award on him, so perhaps that has something to do with Usopp’s bounty skyrocketing as it did.

※”That shaking just now was my “Haki”!!”

During the Dressrosa Arc, a fight broke out between Law, Don Flamingo and Issho (Alias: Fujitora/ Voiced by Ikuya Sawaki) that was so fierce, that even the underground Tontatta Kingdom felt the tremors. The shaking caused Usopp to panic but, Usopp lied as if it was his “Haki that caused the shaking” so they wouldn’t catch on that he was panicking.

Afterwards, while Luffy and Traflgar Law were after Don Quixote Pirate’s Sugar. To protect them Usopp, felt extreme pressure as he attempted to snipe Sugar. At that moment, he sensed Luffy, Law and Sugar and was able to see a light from far away. Due to that, Usopp was successful at taking the shot.

This is ability is what Usopp’s Haki. The kind of Haki that can be said to be able to sense someone “Observation” Haki, specifically the Haki that allows the user to see another person’s power. On another hand, the lie he told the Tontatta tribe is interpreted as the “Conqueror” Haki. At any rate, as he improves his Observation Haki he may be able to use the Conqueror Haki as well.

***

Usopp’s mere “outbursts” became true time and time again. He might not be a liar, and actually be a prophet without even realizing it. On the cover for chapter 796, Usopp’s swimsuit gives profound message: “Lies Turn Into Reality”. Depending on future developments in the story, there may be more “lies that are actually true” coming up. With 100 volumes and passing 1000 episodes in the anime, ONE PIECE is getting more and more exciting, so it’ll be hard to look away from what will happen next.

It’s been a while, so let’s look at some comments.

ait: The foreshadowing, the way the story is handled, the use of the cover are all great. There are plenty of side stories that can be just as interesting as the main one though. I love this kind of thing so, please do more like that.

ein: Usopp’s dad is a sniper in the Redhead Pirates. I don’t know if they will fight one day but, it definitely has to be an important fight and reunion. Usopp said that his dad is the “World’s Best Sniper” so I’m looking forward to Usopp surpassing his dad Yasopp.

yos: The “I have over 8000 subordinates” lie came to fruition when the Tontatta tribe joined.

muu: In the ONE PIECE world Usopp is charming. Among all the characters, it’s clear that he’s the most relatable to a human in our world, so it’s easy to empathize with him and cheer him on. It would be natural for a person to get scared and get beaten up by these enemies in reality. Even though that’s the case, the way he courageously fights is so cool. When his bounty went up, I was really happy. I hope makes more appearances in the future.

Took me a long time to realize this but after looking it up I feel kind of dumb XD. CV stands for Character Voice.

Usopp is definitely quite the character. To be honest, he’s probably my favorite Straw Hat besides Chopper. Never really thought about him meeting his father one day. Considering Luffy is facing off with the Emperors now, I’m certain we’ll run into them eventually.

I just started the manga, so I’m not sure about the recent happenings there, but seeing Usopp duke it out with his father would be cool. Plus, Usopp will get some closure for his dad not being there when his mom died. On another note, Shanks is rarely seen in the show and yet he’s still very integral to the plot. Wonder if Luffy and his crew will be able to take them on one day. That’ll definitely be epic.

I can’t wait to see what will happen after the Wano arc is over. They usually do a “everyone finds out what crazy crap Luffy’s crew has been up to” thing after an arc has ended. And speaking of all the friends (and enemies) they have made along the way, I wonder what happened at the Reverie (like what’s up with that huge straw hat and what happened to Sabo and the Revolutionary Army).

実況から勉強する：キングダムハーツ
LEARN FROM LET’S PLAYS: KINGDOM HEARTS

The Boy and the Beast are still chilling together.
But what will happen when they reach the castle?
Let’s find out in this week’s Learn from Let’s Plays: Kingdom Hearts!

 ①さあ　プリンセスたちよ！鍵穴（かぎあな）を呼び出して（よびだして）おくれ！

　ここから先（さき）は　やつらの手（て）の内（うち）だ。覚悟（かくご）はいいか？

  • Now princesses! Summon the Keyhole!
    • EN: O purest of hearts! Reveal to me the Keyhole!
  • From here on we are in their stronghold. Are you prepared?
    • EN: Be on your guard. They’re close. I can feel it. Are you ready for them?

※ For the 手の内だ part, Beast is technically saying “in their hands” or “in their clutches” here. However I thought it’d be best to go with something else.

🎮There’s only six lights shooting out. and Kairi’s in the middle. Hmm…could she be…? Well… their team-up didn’t last that long. Poor Sora’s all alone now.

②なぜ帰（かえ）らなかった。

　俺（おれ）はカイリに会（あ）いに来（き）たんだ。

  • Why didn’t you go back? 
    • EN: Quit while you can.
  • I’ve come to see Kairi.
    • EN: No. Not without Kairi.

※ The いーForm of a Verb and words like 行く and 来る, are put in play together it means to go/to come to do something. For instance 買いに行く (Go to buy) or 勉強しに来る (Come to study).

🎮Plus, Donald has the keys to the Gummi Ship. And you have my Keyblade so I can’t use the Keyblade to take control of the Gummi Ship.

③闇（やみ）の力（ちから）で　消（け）されたいのか。

　俺の体（からだ）は　消（き）えるかもしれない。でも　心（こころ）は消えない。

  • Do you want to be erased by the darkness?
    • EN: The darkness will destroy you.
  • My body might get erased. But my heart won’t. 
    • EN: You’re wrong, Riku. The darkness may destroy my body, but it can’t touch my heart.

※ There are two verbs here that have the kanji 消 but they are read differently. 消す is a transitive verb meaning that you are doing the erasing. In this context Riku is threatening to erase Sora.

※On the other hand, 消える is the intransitive verb meaning that something is done to you that is out of your control. And in this case, since Riku is threatening to erase him, Sora has no choice in the matter. But, Sora goes onto say that even if his body is erased (against his will) his heart won’t be erased.

🎮Riku’s reply is basically “So you have chosen death”.

④俺の心は　仲間（なかま）とみんなとつながってるんだ！

　それなら　俺がためしてやる！

  • My heart is connected to my friends and everyone else!
    • EN: My heart will stay with my friends. It’ll never die!
  • Then I’ll test that out!
    • EN: Really… Well, we’ll just see about that!

⑤ソラが消えるなんて　いやだよ。

　王（おう）の命令（めいれい）を忘（わす）れたのか

  • I’m not gonna let Sora disappear.
    • EN: Sora ain’t gonna go anywhere!
  • Did you forget your King’s order? 
    • EN: You’d betray your king?

🎮Goofy’s got speed.

⑥忘れてないよ。でもーー　僕（ぼく）　ソラといっしょに旅（たび）したいんだ。

　だって　大事（だいじ）なともだちだもんね。

  • I didn’t forget. But… I want to journey with Sora.
    • EN: Not on your life! But I’m not gonna betray Sora, either,
  • Because he’s an irreplaceable friend.
    • EN: ’cause he’s become one of my best buddies after all we’ve been through together!

※ The grammar だもん that Goofy uses here can be used to explain a reason or give an excuse.

🎮And this is one reason why I like Goofy over Donald.

⑦ごめんね　ドナルド。今度（こんど）王様（さま）にあやまっといてよ。

　待（ま）て　グーフィー！いっしょにあやまろう！

  • Sorry Donald. Tell the King that I’m sorry.
    • EN: See ya later, Donald. Could ya tell the king I’m really sorry?
  • Hold on Goofy! We can apologize together!
    • EN: Hold on, Goofy! We’ll tell him together.

⑧まあ　その　トモダチだしね。

　さっきはごめんね　ソラ。

  • Well, we are friends, after all.
    • EN: Well, you know… All for one and one for all.
  • Sorry about earlier, Sora. 
    • EN: I guess you’re stuck with us, Sora.

⑨ありがとうーー　ドナルド　グーフィー。

　 武器（ぶき）も持（も）たずに戦（たたか）う気（き）か？

  • Thanks… Donald Goofy.
    • EN: Thanks a lot… Donald, Goofy.
  •  So you’re gonna fight me unarmed?
    • EN: How will you fight without a weapon?

⑩俺の武器は　キーブレードじゃない。

　ほんとうの武器は　心なんだ。

  • My weapon isn’t the Keyblade.
    • EN: I know now that I don’t need the Keyblade.
  • My real weapon is my heart.
    • EN: I’ve got a better weapon. My heart.

⑪心？　そんなもろいもの　なんの役に立つ（やくにたつ）！

　ああ　もろいかもな。

  • Your heart? You think that weak thing is going to help?!
    • EN: Your heart? What good will that weak little thing do for you?
  • Yeah, it might be weak. 
    • EN: Although my heart may be weak, it’s not alone.

※ The word もろい can mean weak, fragile, frail, or brittle.

⑫でも　俺の心はみんなとつながってる大切（たいせつ）な人（ひと）と　大切なともだちと！

　誰（だれ）かが俺のことを思（おも）っていてくれたら

  • But my heart is connected to others: precious people, precious friends!
    • EN: It’s grown with each new experience, and it’s found a home with all the friends I’ve made. I’ve become a part of their heart just as they’ve become a part of mine.
  • If there is someone who thinks of me,
    • EN: And if they think of me now and then…

⑬たったひとりでも忘れずにいてくれたらーー

　俺の心は消えない。つながる心が　俺の力だ！

　 ダメージアスピルをおぼえた

  • If there is just one person that won’t forget me…
    • EN: if they don’t forget me…
  • My heart won’t be erased. The ties to my heart are my power!
    • EN: then our hearts will be one. I don’t need a weapon. My friends are my power!
  • Learned Damage Aspir
    • EN: Learned MP Rage

※ This skill has shown up before for Donald. アスピル doesn’t really have an English translation.

🎮Says he doesn’t need a weapon and yet he pulls out the wooden sword… okay.

🎮Who says Talk-no-Jutsu can’t help. Sora just won over the Keyblade from its true owner. And now that Donald and Goofy are back, its time to kick Riku’s ass. Been a while since then. I find it kinda funny that Sora defeated Riku when Goofy was just waking back up and Donald still knocked out.

🎮アスピル is a Final Fantasy spell like Fira and Curaga. The spell allows you to take MP from enemies but this one has damage in it’s name. Which means the damage you take will be added to your MP gauge. Goofy has skills that use magic but I don’t MP Rage is that important for Goofy.

⑭おまえの心が通（つう）じたようだな。

　白（しろ）のトリニティを覚えた！

　「書庫（しょこ）」への扉（とびら）

  • Your heart seems to have broken through.
    • EN: So, your heart won this battle.
  • Learned the White Trinity!
    • EN: Learned White Trinity.
  • Door to the library
    • EN: Library

⑮カャマの書（しょ）８巻（かん）を手にいれた！

　 本（ほん）は５０音順に整理（せいり）されているようだ。

　 ここは『カ行（かぎょう）』のたなだ。「カャマの書８巻」を入（い）れてみよう！

  • Obtained Kyama Vol. 8!
    • EN: Obtained Khama vol. 8.
  •  The books seem to be sorted in alphabetical order.
    • EN: The books seem to be arranged alphabetically.
  • This is the “Ka column” shelf. Let’s try putting Kyama Vol. 8 here!
    • EN: This is the K shelf. Put Khama vol. 8 on the shelf.

※ The５０音順 or 五十音順 is like the alphabetical order for Japanese. They sort things in a あいうえお order. Like in this chart here:

See the source image

⑯タオンの書６巻を手にいれた！

　 マブァの書６巻を手にいれた！

　 扉のロックが解放（かいほう）された！

  • Obtained Taon Vol. 6!
    • EN: Obtained Theon vol. 6.
  • Obtained Mabua Vol. 6!
    • EN: Obtained Mava vol. 6.
  • The door unlocked!
    • EN: The door has been unlocked.

※ I’ll just be adding the first run through of putting the book on the shelf. Sora can go to the Ta Column 「タ行」and the Ma Column「マ行」. But since the door is unlocked Paradigm Shift is heading out the door. Kinda butchered the names but I guess that’s fine.

⑰「エントランス」上部（じょうぶ）への扉

　エンブレムを手にいれた！（４回）

  • The Door to the Upstairs Entrance.
    • EN: Entrance Hall
  •  Obtained Emblem! x 4
    • EN: Obtained Emblem Piece.

🎮Another rare but necessary opening of a chest.

⑱なぜだ　俺のものだ　俺の

　真（しん）に強（つよ）い心の持ち主（もちぬし）がキーブレードを手に入（い）れるのだ。

　心？　俺の心がアイツより弱（よわ）いっていうのか？

  • Why? It was mine from the start.
    • EN: Why? It was mine.
  • The owner of the Keyblade must have a truly strong heart to wield the Keyblade. 
    • EN: Know this. The heart that is strong and true shall win the Keyblade.
  • Are you saying that my heart is weaker than his?
    • EN: What? You’re saying my heart’s weaker than his?

※ The なーAdj 真 means things like truth and genuine. 持ち主 means owner. It comes from the verb to hold (持つ) and noun 主 which in this case I’d go with master for this. The deep voice guy is just saying that Sora is the owner of the Keyblade.

🎮Yes Riku. That is exactly what this disembodied voice is saying.

⑲あの瞬間（しゅんかん）では。だが　人は強くなれる。

　闇を怖（おそ）れることなく　扉の奥（おく）へ進（すす）んだおまえには勇気（ゆうき）がある。

　さらに深（ふか）い闇へ空（あ）き進むほど　おまえの心は強くなる。

  • At that moment, yes. But, people can become stronger.
    • EN: For that instant, it was. However, you can become stronger.
  • If you can go through the door to darkness without fear. You have courage.  
    • EN: You showed no fear in stepping through the door to darkness. It held no terror for you.
  • Furthermore, as you go deeper into it’s depths your heart will become stronger.
    • EN: Plunge deeper into the darkness, and your heart will grow even stronger.

⑳どうすればいいんだーー

　闇に心を開（ひら）くのだ。それだけでいい。

　 おまえの心そのものが　すべてをのみこむ闇になるのだーー

  • How do I do that?
    • EN: What should I do?
  • All you have to do is open your heart to darkness. 
    • EN: It’s really quite simple. Open yourself to the darkness. That is all.
  • Your very heart will be completely swallowed by the darkness…
    • EN: Let your heart, your being, become darkness itself.

※ The expression, どうすればいい means “what should I do”, but I wanted to go with something else. By putting a Noun with そのもの you can express “the very (noun)” or “the (noun) itself”.

🎮Okay I’ll believe you shady character. Geez Riku’s being stupid again. Good thing he didn’t sink his darkness talk into Sora when he was on the island.

Sora’s heading to the light and Riku is heading to the darkness.
Light vs. Dark, Yin and Yang: What will win in the end?
Find out next Let’s Play Kingdom Hearts!

ヒトリゴト／JUST TALKING

タイトルを見る／WHAT’S IN A TITLE

自分とは真逆の世界で生きている人

自分（じぶん）

This used as a pronoun. It can mean “myself” or “yourself” It can also mean I or me.

とは

This is used to define the previous word 自分. It can mean “to think that”. As if to be amazed by a fact that something is true. Not sure how I can work that in, but I’ll give it a go.

真逆（まぎゃく）の

The first kanji 真 means true or genuine. The second kanji 逆 means “the opposite” of something. Together this word means “exact opposite”. Considering の is placed after it, 真逆 is being nominalized.

Also exact opposite seems too stiff so, I think I’ll go with “totally different” instead.

世界（せかい）で

世界 means world. The で that comes after it is used to indicate a location (which is world here) of an action.

生（い）きている人（ひと）

The progressive verb 生きている comes from the verb 生きる which means “to live”. A progressive verb is used to talk about what is happening now and still happening. The progressive verb form just adds an “ing” to the end of the verb. In other words, it becomes “living”. But it can also mean just “lives”.

So far we have:

Living in a Totally Different World from Me

This would suggest that someone is starting new life or has been isekai’d.

But that only holds if that was the end of this sentence. This verb is being used to describe what a person (人) is doing in this world that is opposite from someone else.

A Person Living in a Totally Different World from Me

Great translation.

This anime title comes from the first episode of そのビスケドールは恋をする which roughly means The Bisque Doll Falls in Love. The official English translation/localization is My Dress-Up Darling.

It’s airing this Winter and the second episode aired yesterday on Funimation. This one of the few anime that I wanted to watch for this season.

It is about a guy named Wakana Goujo who is a Hina doll maker. He can’t make dolls as great as his grandfather yet but he excels very well at making clothes for them.

He kind of reminds me of Kanji from Persona 4. Minus the tough guy facade though. They both do supposedly girly things like sewing. Due to that Wakana is ostracized from others. Even his childhood friend stopped talking to him when they were little because of his hobby. So, he’s been friendless since then.

Until… the popular girl in his class, Marin Kitagawa, finds out he can sew that is. And in turn he discovers that she is a cosplayer.

Tese two from supposed different worlds come together.

If you are interested, here is a PV:

レイの日記

トレーナを倒す後で、あのトレーナはジムリーダのカツラのトレーナになるの理由と伝えた。彼が山登りで遭難したときくらい山道を照らして火の鳥ポケモンが飛んでった。そのおかげでカツラは無事山をおりることできた。すげえな話。いつかあのポケモンを見えるかなあ。氷の鳥もう見てたから、可能性があるなあ。

問題はなんか難しいけど、通ってできる。最後の問題は「技マシン２８」とは「しねしねこうせん」であるって。。。ばかばかしい。ありえないだろ。やはり、正解。当たり前だろ。だが、そのトレーナと勝負したいけど。彼は「炎の弱点はエイチツーオーと言われてる」と伝えた。。。あ、そうそう。じゃあ、それをキリヤマのなみのりで試してやる。

カツラの向こうへ来たが、とりあえず、ポケモンを回復しないと。この街のフレンドリィショップであなぬけのヒモを買いたいが、ないだ。あのジムが長すぎだから、歩きで出かけたくないんだ。まいいか。やりしかない。

REI’S JOURNAL

After beating a trainer, he told me why the gym leader, Blaine, became a Pokemon trainer. He was lost in the mountains. Then a fiery bird Pokemon was flying in the sky. The light from this Pokemon guided him down the mountain. That’s cool. I wonder if I’ll get to see it. Already saw an ice one so it’s possible.

Some of the questions were tough but I made it through. Last question! “TM 28 is Tomb Stoner”… that sounds stupid. There’s no way there is a TM that is called that. I got it right. I’m still gonna fight the trainer though. He told me that “fire type Pokemon are weak against H2O”… you don’t say. Let’s experiment with Kiriyama’s Surf and see if it’s true.

Made it to Blaine but I’ll go heal my Pokemon first. Wanted to buy an escape rope at the Mart but, they didn’t have any. Really don’t want to walk out of this place again. Oh well. I gotta do it.

In conclusion, I hope that this series is helpful with your journey to learning Japanese and/or taking an interest in the country’s culture. Until then… また来週！

Where to Watch Anime with Japanese Subtitles? Introducing Animelon!

日本語の練習 第112週

Japanese Practice Week 112

2022年01月16日「日」第112週 

Hello everyone! Kyuusei here to teach you Japanese and show what I find interesting about Japan. With that being said, let’s continue.

日本語のイベント／EVENT IN JAPANESE

最近、日本語でアニメを見てできるサイトを発見しました。もちろん、CrunchyrollとかFunimation日本語でアニメを見てできるが、こんなサイトは日本語字幕がありません。Animelonで日本語字幕を使いながら、アニメを見てできます。

今、一番好きのアニメ３月のライオンを見ました。

３月のライオン　２話

こんなサイトを発見して嬉しいです。ほかの好きなアニメ「けいおん！」がまだありませんが、それでいいです。ほかのアニメいっぱいありますから。　

色んな機能があるから、気になったら、このビデオを見てください。もちろん、この動画は英語で。

N3　文法

[ことはない]

there is no need to, never happens

Used to make someone stop worrying about something by telling them that something is very unlikely to happen. Or just telling them not to worry about directly.

※ In spoken Japanese, the は is usually dropped.

V[Dict-Form] + ことはない

Ex: 失敗しても心配することはないよ。
　　(Even if you fail, there’s no need to worry.)

Ex: 尊敬語を使うことはないよ。友達だろ？
　　(There’s no need to be polite (to use polite speech). We’re friends, right?) 

Ex: 彼はただの友達だよ。何も心配することないだもん。
　　(He’s just a friend. So there’s nothing to worry about.)

彼女が僕に何も心配することないと言った男：

See the source image

Ex: 進撃の巨人もう終わりだよ。そんなにびっくりすることはないでしょう。
　　(Attack on Titan is almost over. There’s no need to be surprised by that, right?) 

[くらい]

to the extent that, so… that

This one has two uses:

  1. Used to represent an approximate amount or degree of something.
  2. Used to express the degree of an action or state of something.

V[Casual-Form] + くらい／ぐらい
いーAdj + くらい／ぐらい
N + くらい／ぐらい

Ex: 彼女の声は聞けないぐらい小さい。
　　(Her voice is so small, that I couldn’t barely hear it.)

Ex: 初心者として、この本はわかりにくいくらい、読んでできなそうです。
　　(This book is a little hard to understand for beginners, so it doesn’t look like they can read it.) 

Ex: 日本語ができないといっても、ひらがなとカタカナくらいが読めるから、フリガナがあるマンガを読んでできますよ。
　　(Even though I say I’m not good at Japanese, I can at least read hiragana and katana, so I can read manga with furigana.)

Ex: マンガってば、このマンガはいくらぐらいしたの？値段がないので、少し気になる。
　　(Speaking of manga, about how much is this one. It doesn’t have a price, so I’m kinda curious.) 

N3　動詞／N3 VERBS

気に入る
きにいる
to like; to take a liking to

気 = spirit, mind, air, atmosphere, mood

入 = enter, insert

With this in mind you could see it as entering a mood. but let’s take it a step further. The word 気 (which can also mean energy) can be used in many ways.

For example, やる気 (Energy to do something) which means motivation to do something.

The verb 入る can mean to get into. So with that in mind 気に入る would mean something you put energy into. And what do you willingly(and hopefully usually) put your energy into? Something you like.

Unfortunately, I can’t say the same about Aunt Akiko’s jam. What’s that? Well…

対話／DIALGOUE

After playing Mario Kart, a big brother starts to play a certain video game.
Will his little sister know what it is?

[俺の妹はこんなゲームを知ってるわけではない]

A: あ、もう～！ルイージのバカ。くそトゲゾーこうらめ！

B: はっはっは、問題ない。また今度であいつをやれる。まだやってのか？

A: ううん、もういいよ。やりたくない。

B: いいよ、じゃ、これをやってる。

A: それは何だ。ドラゴンクエストじゃないの？

B: おいおい。ファイナルファンタジー７だよ。

A: 何で体がそんなに。。。

B: １９９６に発表したよ。（ファイナルファンタジー７の大ファンと言ったら、やばいかも。）

A: ふむ。。。げー　こいつはあたしにウインクしてる。キモイ～

B: うわぁ、本当だ。グリッチかもしれない。じゃあ、女装してるクラウド見ない？

A: え？！いや、それは結構です。

[There’s No Way My Little Sister Doesn’t Know These Kinds of Games]

A: Geez! That stupid Luigi. Damn that Blue Shell!

B: Haha. Don’t worry about it. You’ll get him next time. Wanna play again?

A: No, I’m done. I don’t want to play.

B: Alright, then I’ll play this.

A: What’s this? Is this Dragon Quest?

B: Hey, hold up. This is Final Fantasy 7.

A: Why are there bodies…

B: Came out in 1996. (“If she said that to a big fan of Final Fantasy 7, it probably wouldn’t end well.”)

A: Hmmm… ugh, that guy’s winking at me. Gross.

B: Oh shoot your right. Might be a glitch. Hey, do you want to see Cloud cross dress?

A: Eh?! No, I’m good.

実況から勉強する：キングダムハーツ
LEARN FROM LET’S PLAYS: KINGDOM HEARTS

As expected, we are heading off to the new world!
What awaits the boys when they land?
Let’s find out when they reach Hallow Bastion!

After this long gummi ship ride of course
ends at 2:47

 ①ねえ、見（み）て見て！

　 俺（おれ）、ここ知（し）ってる。。。

  • Hey, look at that!
    • EN: Gawrsh, look at that!
  • I know this place.
    • EN: I know this place…

※ Wasn’t sure if I should have kept the pause there, but I guess it was a good idea.

🎮Finally made to where Riku ended up. Really goes to show how OP they try to make Riku look. The Heartless are way stronger compared to other worlds.

②あれ？変（へん）だねえ。

　知ってるはずないんだけどな。

  • Huh? That sure is strange. 
    • EN: Hmm, that’s strange.
  • I shouldn’t know this place though.
    • EN: I wonder why…

※ The grammar はずない expresses that something should be impossible. So Sora is confused on how he knows a place that he’s never been to. Then again this has been foreshadowed back in Deep Jungle (Tarzan’s world) when Sora saw one of the slides. Still unsure how they got a slide from a different world but… okay?

③胸（むね）の、このあたりが　あったくなってさ。。。

　おなかが空（す）いてるんだよ。

  • It’s just that I feel warm right here in my heart.
    • EN: I feel this warmth inside, right here.
  • You’re just hungry.
    • EN: Aw, you’re just hungry.

※ I was tempted to go with “you just got heartburn or something, Sora” for a moment there.

※ The expression [Body part + このあたりが] is great when you want to say that something hurts (or in this case is warm) around a certain area. For example, you go snowball fighting and you get hit in the face with a snowball. You could say 「顔のこのあたりが寒くて痛いです。」= My face feels cold and it hurts around here. It also helps to point to the region as well.

🎮Really find it strange that they write off Sora’s weird experiences as something else. Is it fair to say that Donald is gaslighting Sora here XD.

④あのなあ！

　行（い）ってみよう！

  • Hey, I’m being serious here!
    • EN: Hey, I’m serious!
  • Let’s go take a look!
    • EN: Let’s go!

※ Sora literally only says “Hey” or “Um” here but adding なあ kind of expresses his frustration with Donald’s statement. So, I wanted to reflect that in my translation and it looks it paid off.

🎮I know it is probably magic but I’m really impressed on how these ice platforms were made. Kind of pain to wait for the elevator one, but eh… what can ya do?

🎮Also Sora has mastered walking on water. All thanks to watching Naruto I assume.

⑤船（ふね）もなく　ハートレスの力（ちから）も借（か）りず　どうやって来（き）たんだ。

　私（わたし）は信（しん）じた　ただそれだけだ。

  • How’d you get here without a ship or borrowing the Heartless’ power?
    • EN: No vessel, no help from the Heartless… So tell me, how’d you get here?
  • I only believed that I could. That’s all.
    • EN: I simply believed. Nothing more to it.

※ N+もなく is a good grammar point to know. It lets you express “even without…”.

🎮And Beast has finally made his appearance. Would’ve been kinda epic for the male protagonists from each world to come save their respective princess. But meh… this isn’t the Avengers.

⑥私たちの世界（せかい）が闇（やみ）にのまれた　あの時（とき）ーー

　さらわれた ベルのもとへ　私も行くと誓（ちか）った。

  • When our world was swallowed by the darkness…
    • EN: When our world fell in to darkness,
  • I vowed that I’d take back Bell from those who took her.
    • EN: Belle was taken from me. I vowed I would find her again no matter what the cost.

※ The verb 誓った means to swear or to vow. I’m assuming the verb さらわれた here is the verb 攫う which has a meaning of “to abduct”. So Beast is literally saying he’s going to take back the kidnapped Bell (攫われたベル). On another note, I should have used a comma here to break up the sentence instead of ellipsis.

🎮I’m kinda curious how the rest of these princesses got kidnapped. We only know about Alice and Jasmine at this point. Also why wasn’t Ariel considered one in this game is beyond me. Would’ve added another layer of interesting to the story. Or perhaps complexity so maybe that’s why.

⑦そして私はここにいる。ここに必（かなら）ずベルがいると　信じている。

　ベルを貸（か）してもらうぞ！

  • And now I’m here. If Bell is here without a doubt, then I’ll believe.
    • EN: I believed I would find her. So, here I am. She must be here.
  • I’m taking Bell back!
    • EN: I will have her back!

※ Beast is technically saying “I’ll have you give Bell back” here. When you add てーForm verb with もらう it means that the speaker is receiving something from the person they are talking about.

⑧力ずくで奪（うば）ってみろ！

　やめろ　リクッ！

  • I’d like to see you try!
    • EN: Take her if you can.
  • Stop it, Riku!
    • EN: Stop!

※ The expression 力ずくで means “by force”. The もろ at then end comes from the てみる grammar which means “try to”. So literally Riku is saying “Try to take (Bell back) by force” here.

🎮Riku has been training at Hollow Bastion, one of the most high levelled worlds. So Beast didn’t stand a chance… I guess.

⑨ソラ　遅（おそ）かったな。待（ま）ってたんだ　おまえを。

　俺たちはいつも何（なに）かを取り合ってた（とりあってた）。おまえは俺のものを　俺はおまえのものを。

  • Your sure are late, Sora. I’ve been waiting for you.
    • EN: So, you finally made it. About time. I’ve been waiting for you.
  • We always used to fight each over something. Whether it was something of mine or something of yours.
    • EN: We’ve always been rivals , haven’t we? You always pushed me as I’ve always pushed you.

※ The てーForm verb 取り合って comes from the verb 取り合う which can mean a few things: “to join hands”, “to fight for” or “to scramble for”. I just put it in a way to make it seem like they were always duking it out and trying to one-up each other. But, the translator did a great job on this line.

⑩でも　もう終わりにしようぜ。勇者（ゆうしゃ）は二人（ふたり）要（い）らないんだ。

　 何が言（い）いたいんだ　リク。

  • But let’s end that now. There’s no need for two heroes.
    • EN: But it all ends here. There can’t be two Keyblade masters.
  • What are you trying to saying, Riku?
    • EN: What are you talking about, Riku?

🎮Hehe… you’re about to find out Sora.

⑪キーブレードが答（こた）えてくれる。

　 本当（ほんとう）の勇者が誰（だれ）か！

  • Let the Keyblade answer…
    • EN: Let the Keyblade choose…
  • whose the real hero!
    • EN: its true master.

⑫あっ！？　ウソ！？　ええっ！？

　マレフィセントの言ったとおりだーー

  • Ah?! No way?! What?!
    • EN: Huh? What!?
  • It’s just what Maleficent said…
    • EN: Maleficent was right.

※ Strange they didn’t ad the extra exclamation from Sora it seems.

🎮I think the order of that exclamation was Sora, Donald then Goofy. Yep Riku can control the Keyblade. Kinda makes sense. Especially given his attire matches the Kingdom Key. Then again Sora’s shoes matches it too. But hey you get the gist.

⑬おまえにカイリを救（すく）うことは出来（でき）ない。

　秘密（ひみつ）の扉（とびら）を開（ひら）き

  • You can’t save Kairi.
    • EN: You don’t have what it takes to save Kairi.
  • I’ll open the secret door.
    • EN: It’s up to me.

⑭世界を変（か）える事（こと）が出来る。本当の勇者だけがキーブレードを使（つか）いこなせる。

　それが　おまえだって言うのかーー？

  • I can change the world. There can only be one true hero who can master the Keyblade.
    • EN: Only the Keyblade master can open the secret door… and change the world.
  • And that’s supposed to be you?
    • EN: But that’s impossible. How did this happen?

※The potential verb 使いこなせる means “to master a tool”. So in a way that sums up to mean Keyblade Master or literally, To master the Keyblade.

⑮俺は今（いま）までそのキーブレードで戦（たたか）ってきたんだ。

　俺に会（あ）うまでの暇（ひま）つぶしだったのさ。

  • I fought to using the Keyblade up until now to get here.
    • EN: I’m the one who fought my way here with the Keyblade!
  • It was just killing time until it reached me.
    • EN: You were just the delivery boy.

※ The verb 暇つぶし means to kill time or to waste time. まで means until. Riku is technically saying “The Keyblade was just killing time until it met him”. But I thought something like “reached me” would make more sense here. I do love the translation they went with though. So unapologetically brutal.

⑯ソラ　おまえの出番（でばん）はもうない。このおもちゃで勇者ごっこがお似合（にあ）いだ。

　グーフィー　行（い）こう。王様（おうさま）の命令（めいれい）だろ！

　 あっ！　そりゃ鍵（かぎ）を持（も）ってるのはリクだけどーー

  • Sora, your turn is over. This’ll be suitable for you to play hero with.
    • EN: Sorry, your part’s over now. Here, go play hero with this.
  • Let’s go, Goofy. It’s the King’s order, remember!
    • EN: Goofy. Let’s go. We have to remember our mission.
  • Ah! That’s right Riku does have the Keyblade but…
    • EN: Oh! Well, I know the king told us to follow the key and all… But…

※ Noun + ごっこ can be used to say playing as something. The noun is usually a profession or something people can be. For instance 探偵ごっこ (playing detective). It’s can also be used to undermine someone’s ability or treat them as if what they are doing is well… child’s play.

🎮Yep Riku can be very crude. Sora needs a Phoenix Down after these blows to the heart he’s taking.

⑰ソラ　ごめん！

　 動（うご）いちゃダメだ　そんなケガでーー

　 おまえは　何（なん）のためにここに来た。

  • Sora, I’m sorry!
    • EN: Sora, sorry.
  • Don’t move with those wounds.
    • EN: Hey, don’t move. You’re hurt.
  • What did you come here for?
    • EN: Why… Why did you…you come here?

※ The grammar ちゃダメ is similar to the てーForm Verb + ダメ. It expresses to the person it is spoken that they shouldn’t do something. The て / で depending on the verb you are conjugating is changed to ちゃ. I think of it as a more colloquial way of saying the same thing.

🎮Alright forget the Phoenix Down. There’s no one to give him that anymore. Wonder if Paradigm Shift has the ability “Once More” equipped.

⑱私は戦うために来た。

　たったひとりでもできることは　ある。私はそのために　ここへ来た。

　俺はーー　カイリにーー　たいせつな人（ひと）に会いに来たんだ。

  • I came to fight.
    • EN: I came to fight for Belle.
  • Even though I’m on my own, I can do it. That is why I came here.
    • EN: And though I am on my own, I will fight. I won’t leave without her. That’s why I’m here.
  • I… came to see Kairi… someone who is very dear to me.
    • EN: Me too. I’m not gonna give up now. I came here to find someone very important to me.

🎮Beast doesn’t really make the best of travelling partners. At least he can smash through walls. Then again… nothing a red trinity couldn’t have fixed. Too bad it’s not there… along with Donald and Goofy.

⑲「正門（せいもん）」への見えざる道（みち）

　かいじょする

  • Unseeable path to the Main Gate
    • EN: Castle Gates
  • Release lock.
    • EN: Release.

※ It’s in hiragana here but, it would make sense for this verb to be 解除する which has a meaning of “to release (a lock)”.

🎮Wonder if you wouldn’t have to use the buttons to unlock things if you had the Keyblade during this time.

⑳扉が開（ひら）く音（おと）がした。城門（じょうもん）の所（ところ）に戻（もど）ってみよう。

  • Sounded like a door opened. Let’s head back to the castle gates.
    • EN: It sounds like a door has opened. Head back to the castle gates.

※ The grammar がする（がした up above） can come in handy when you want to say that you hear something（音がした）or taste something（味がした）or smell something （においがした）. In other words, it is only used for these senses.

🎮When I first played this game I rarely used magic, so my frustration fighting with this wooden sword was doubled. I have seen the errors of my ways and know that magic can break the game if you use it the right way. On that note I wonder why Paradigm shift didn’t use Gravira here. Would’ve flattened that shield Heartless.

And it looks like we’ll be picking this back up next week!
Look forward to the next one!

あのリクめが倒したい！

ヒトリゴト／JUST TALKING

タイトルを見る／WHAT’S IN A TITLE

５３話から主人公の日比野カフカ

滾る怒りを決意に変えてー。。。

滾（たぎ）る

The most common meaning of this verb would be “to boil” or “to seethe”. There is also another for conveying emotion: “to well up”.

Another interesting definition of this word is to “overflow (with fighting spirit (aka motivation))”. We’ll hold off on choosing which to use after looking at the rest of the sentence.

怒（いか）りを

This kanji means “angry” or “be offended”. You might recognize this kanji from the verb 怒る which means “to get angry”. By changing the る to り this verb can be changed into a noun.

By looking at the definition of 怒り, it means things like “anger”, “rage” or “wrath”. So it would be a good idea to go with the second meaning for 滾る: to well up. However, I think I’ll go with something like “Seething rage” for now. Gives it a more dramatic feel than “With rage welling up” or “welling up with rage”.

Considering there is a object indicator particle を here a verb will act on this later on.

決意（けつい）

決 can mean “decision” or “vote”. 意 can means thing like “feelings”, “thoughts” or “meaning”. If I take decision and meaning, these can be lined up to deduce this word. The meaning behind a decision. Or better known as a motive.

What motivates someone to make a decision. It’s a stretch but I’d answer with “Determination”. This word can be translated to this but it has two other definitions: decision and resolution. But I’ll be going with “Determination” on this one. It just sounds more impactful and since this is a Shonen manga something with more impact would be better.

に変（か）えて

The prepositional particle に would probably best to translate to well… “to”. Now the てーForm verb 変えて. It comes from it’s base verb 変える or “to change”. Since it is put together with に here it is best to use “turn into”.

The character in this is manga seems quite angry and from the monologue he seems to be determined to take someone down. So I think I’ll go with a final translation that mirrors something like advice to the character or cheering him on.

Turn your seething rage into determination

Main Character Kafka Hibino from Ch. 53

There isn’t a translation of this in the official Shonen Jump, but I’ll break down some of the words here.

The character, Kafka, in this manga is saying

「必（かな）ず俺（おれ）が9号（ごう）（あいつ）をぶちのめす！！」

Kafka is putting on emphasis on himself by using が instead of は. It is kind of like saying “I’m” going to do this. The next part is the number nine and the kanji 号, which just means number or No. in case of this manga.

If you look closer there is furigana beside the kanji ９号, アイツ, which can be translated to “that person” or “that guy”. It’s a impolite way of addressing someone but considering the next word, looks like there’s no need to respect the person he is referring to.

The verb at the end ぶちのめす means “to beat someone up”. But not just beat them up. This means to injure them beyond recovery.

All in all, I really like how David Evelyn, the translator for this manga Kaiju No. 8. did this line. And I like the use of dramatic pauses.

So, yeah, this manga is called 怪獣8号 or Kaiju No. 8. It is a relatively new manga that started in July 2020. Since Shonen Jump axes quite a few manga every year, I waited until September to get into it. And I can gladly say that Kaiju No. 8 is here to stay. In fact, I would like for it to get an anime one day.

The story starts off with a 32 year old man (what? not a teenager in high school?!) who dreamed of joining an organization that exterminates kaiju (human’s fighting big monsters?!). However, his dream doesn’t come to fruition (relatable). He ends up doing clean up duty after that same organization eliminates the threat of the Kaiju to the city. But one day, after being hospitalized he becomes a host of a certain Kaiju and becomes…

Kaiju No 8.jpg
Yep that’s Kafka

With this new founded power, Kafka chooses to live out his dream and keep the promise he made with a childhood friend, who is now one of the best of the organization. While keeping the fact of his new found Kaiju powers under wraps of course.

Here’s a Japanese PV:

レイの日記

館に出かけた。研究者たちまだ研究してるらしいだ。危険だろ？それに、ポケモン研究所があるさ。そういえば、博士にこうらの化石をあげた。生き返らせてもらった。お月山のやつ今どこにいるかなあ。カブトというポケモンが手に入れた。名前はキリヤマ。こいつはいわとみずタイプな。なみのりとふぶきを覚えさせた。

目が４個があるらしい

秘密のカギで鍵を開けた。ちょっと。。。人々がいるのかよ？ドアをノックしてなのに、誰もドアに来なかった。冷たいやつら。もちろん、アキヒトはもういたけど、どうやって。ジムリーダーを負けたの時、あの館に行ったか？

ともかく、このジムはクイズがある。正解すると、ドアが開いて次へ進める。一方で、間違えたら、扉の前にいるトレーナーと戦いしかない。いいぞ。

この場所はほのおタイプのジムだから、ソレイユやイッコケセイや多分キリヤマに頼むぞ。正解したが、やはり、トレーナーを全部倒したい。理科系の男と元泥棒がいっぱいいる。このジムリーダどんな人なんだ。

REI’S JOURNAL

Left the mansion. It seems they still do experiments in there. Isn’t that dangerous? Besides, they have a Pokemon Lab. Speaking of that, gave the Dome Fossil to a scientist. They’re going to bring it back to life. Wonder where that guy from Mt. Moon is now. Got a Pokemon named Kabuto. I’ll name it Kiriyama. It’s a rock and a water type. Taught it Surf and Blizzard.

Looks like it has 4 eyes.

Unlocked the Gym with the Secret Key. Wait… there are people in here? And no one answered the door… so I had to find the key. And of course Akihito has been here. This Gym has quizzes. Get it right, the gate opens and I don’t have to fight the trainer. Get it wrong and I have to fight the trainer to open the gate. Okay.

This is a fire gym, so I’ll be counting on Soreiyu, Ikkokesei, and maybe Kiriyama. I got the quiz question right but I want to fight this trainer. There sure are a bunch of nerds and thieves in here. What kind of person is the Gym Leader, anyway?

In conclusion, I hope that this series is helpful with your journey to learning Japanese and/or taking an interest in the country’s culture. Until then… また来週！

What is 成人の日? The Web & Camping

日本語の練習 第111週
Japanese Practice Week 111

2022年01月09日「日」第111週 

Hello everyone! Kyuusei here to teach you Japanese and show what I find interesting about Japan. With that being said, let’s continue.

日本語のイベント／EVENT IN JAPANESE

明日は成人の日です。英語だと「Coming of Age Day」ですかな？２０歳になった人たちが大人になったことをお祝います。人たちも成人式に参加します。去年の４月2日～今年の4月1日（２０２１年4月2日～２０２２年4月1日）の間に２０歳になる人は成人式に参加してできます。日本では２０歳になったら、酒飲めるようになるし、タバコ吸えるようになるし、選挙権が持てます。成人式で女性はきれいな着物を着ます。一方で、男性はスーツとか袴を着ます。

気になったら、このビデオを見てください。

この式はいいですが、今年は４月から１８歳で成人になります。なんか、アメリカらしいです。アメリカで、１８歳になったら、大人になりますけど、酒を飲めませんし、タバコが吸えません。新し大人になる歳のおかげで、何を変わるどうかなあ？

N3　文法

[そんなに]

how…! what…!

A way to say to express how or what something is. I think it’s best to show you rather than describe for this one. To make it seem more exaggerated, you can use なんと.

V[Casual-Form] + ことか
N + であることか
いーAdj + ことか
なーAdj + なことかか

Ex: なんとこのゲームをたくさんプレイしたことか。懐かしい。

　　(How many times I’ve played this game. Good times.)

Ex: なんと寒い日であることか！

　　(What a cold day!) 

Ex: 僕たちは小さい頃、楽しいことか。

　　(What fun when we had when we were little.)

Ex: 夕べに出かけることが好き。なんと静かなことか。

　　(I like to go out in the evening. How quiet it is.) 

[それでも]

unusually, especially

Used to emphasize feelings or emotion on a verb or adjective.

V[Casual-Form] + ことに
いーAdj + ことに
なーAdj + なことに

Ex: 驚いたことに、ラスボスは全員をやられたことに！

　　(To my surprise, the last boss killed everyone!)

Ex: いいことに、レベルアップしました。

　　(Good thing was that I leveled up.) 

Ex: 幸いなことに、今度でフェニックスの尾を買っておいて、ラスボスを倒られた。

　　(Fortunately, I bought some Phoenix Downs and defeated the last boss later.)

N3　動詞／N3 VERBS

記念（する）
きねん（する）
commemoration; celebration; honoring the memory of something

The kanji 記 can mean “record” or “history” while the second kanji can mean “record” or “transcript”. The second kanji 念 can mean things like wish, idea, or attention. I like to think of this as paying “attention” to something in “history”. Such as an anniversary (記念日（きねんび）). Kind of how Araragi is making the day of his first date with Senjougahara memorable.

対話／DIALGOUE

Roommate walks and sees his best friend watching a cartoon for kids in Japanese? What is going on?

[イマージョンは最高]

A: げ。。。何を見てる？

B: え、知らないの？ペッパーピッグだよ。

A: 知ってるが、なんで見てる。

B: 友達のおすすめなんだった。日本能力を試したいから。

A: あ、そうか。どうだ。

B: 大部分がわかってる。

A: じゃ、今晩、エバンゲリオン3.0+1.0を見ない？

B: いいだけど、そんな映画さっぱりわかない。

A: レベル高いけど、新言葉があるので、勉強になるよ。

B: いや、誤解だよ。英語で見ても、エバンゲリオンの話まださっぱりわかない。

[Immersion is the Best]

A: Ugh… what’re watching?

B: You don’t know about this show? It’s Peppa Pig.

A: I know that but… why are you watching it?

B: A friend recommend it to me. Wanna test out my Japanese.

A: Oh, okay. How is it?

B: I understand majority of it.

A: You want to watch Evangelion 3.0+1.0 tonight?

B: It’s good, but I won’t understand a thing.

A: The level is high, but you can pick up some new words.

B: I think you’re not understanding me here. I’ve seen it in English, but I still have no idea what Evangelion is about.

記事を読もう／LET’S READ

インターネットを使う人は世界で49億人　とても多くなった

According to the ITU, the amount of people using the internet was about 4.9 billion in 2021. Compared to before the Corona Virus spread in 2019, it rose to 8 billion.

The amount of people using the internet increased especially in 2020. ITU presumes that due to not being able to go out much because of the Corona Virus, increase in internet usage happened due to things like looking up info on the virus and online shopping.

However, according to ITU, there are 2.9 billion people who don’t use the internet much. Due to difficulties connecting to the internet seems to be the reason for people not being able to use it that much. ITU has stated that it is necessary for everyone to be able to use the internet.

実況から勉強する：キングダムハーツ
LEARN FROM LET’S PLAYS: KINGDOM HEARTS

Time to head back to Traverse Town!

 ①ナビグミのかけらも見（み）つかったし一度（いちど）タウンにもどろうよ。

　 シドのところに持（も）っていって　グミショップにセットしなきゃな。

  • We found a navigation gummi so let’s go back to Town.
    • EN: Well, we found the Navi-Gummi piece. Let’s go back to town.
  • We should bring it to Cid’s place so he can install it at the Gummi Shop.
    • EN: Cid’ll install it on the ship once we bring it to him.

※The word セット means set but I think it was best to say install here.

※ Donald just says town here but since it is clear that Traverse Town is the only place that they go for the navi-g gummis to be installed it is left off here.

②オリンポスコロシアムで大会（たいかい）が開（ひら）かれるらしいよ。

　 勝ち抜く（かちぬく）と、すごいものがもらえるらしいよ！

  •  Looks like a new tournament opened up at Olympus Coliseum.
    • EN: There’s a tournament being held at the Coliseum.
  • If you win the tournament, you’ll get something good!
    • EN: I hear there’s a great reward for the winner.

※ The verb 勝ち抜く means to win without being defeated. The と after this verb that Dale is using suggests a hypothetical. If they win the whole tournament… then…

🎮Thanks for the info Chip and Dale but we’re warping to Traverse Town.

③おう、さっそく来（き）やがったな！
　 見ての通（とお）り、オレの本業（ほんぎょう）はグミブロック屋（や）ってわけだ。

  • Oh, so ya got here quick!
    • EN: Hey, now that was quick!
  • As you can see, my main gig is a Gummi Block Shopkeeper.
    • EN: Now you know. I’m in the gummi block business.

※ Cid is usually a rough sounding individual so him using やがった here makes sense. When this is put with a verb it means “to have the nerve to…”. Considering he’s doing the gummi installation, I don’t think Cid means to be rude, so I didn’t translate this literally.

※ The word 本業 means “main business”. As in this is what Cid does for a living.

※ Another interesting here is 屋. When you put this with something like 花(flowers), it can mean two things: A flower shop or flower shopkeeper. To differentiate between the two, I usually hear people add a さん at the end, if they are talking about the shopkeeper. Ex:花屋さん＝Flower Shopkeeper, パン屋さん = Bakery Shopkeeper (or just Baker), グミショップ屋さん= Gummi Shopkeeper.

④おまえらのグミショップをいじってたら、なんかこう、ウズウズしてきてな。

　 ま、おまえらには特別（とくべつ）にまけとくから、よろしくたのむぜ！

  • I’ve been wanting to work on your gummi ship for a while now.
    • EN: Workin’ on your gummi ship sure was great.
  • Well, I’ll make it a special discount for you guys so, let me take care of your ship from here on out!
    • EN: Come again and I’ll give you a big discount.

※ The てーForm verb いじって comes from the verb 弄（いじ）る, which means “to tinker (with)” or “to dabble in”. There is a similar verb to this but it is spelled differently. It is 弄（いじく）る. This 弄る just means “to finger” or “to tamper (with)”.

※ The word ウズウズ can be used to express eagerness to do something.

※ Almost got confused here. The word 負け can mean defeat. But in this situation the definition for a “discount” makes more sense.

⑤コメットグミをもらった！

　なに、えんりょはいらねえぜ。開店（かいてん）記念（きねん）の景気づくってやつだ。

  • Received Comet Gummi!
    • EN: Obtained Comet-G.
  • What? You don’t have to be so reserved. This is to celebrate the re-opening and put some life back into the business.
    • EN: Go ahead, take it. It’s a special giveaway.

※ The noun 景気づけ means “putting life into” or “animating”. It can also mean “cheering up”.

⑥お！おまえら、またナビゲーショングミを持ってるな？

　 もちろん、セットするだろ？

  • Oh! You guys got another navigation gummi, huh?
    • EN: Hey, got another navigation gummi there, eh?
  • You want me to install it, right?
    • EN: I’ll bet you want it installed.

🎮I guess Paradigm Shifter never went to see Cid. Didn’t get the dialogue where he says we have to get the mate to the other navigation gummi block here.

⑦ああ、たのむ。

　よし、ちょいと待（ま）ってな。チャチャッと取り付け（とりつけ）てくるぜ。

  • Yeah, please do.
    • EN: Yeah, please.
  • Alright, wait a bit. I’ll install it for ya in a jiffy.
    • EN: Okay, wait here. I’ll get it installed right now.

※ The adverb チャチャッと means quickly but I since Cid is kinda old, I thought I’d go with something that mirrors that. It just means that Cid is going to install it fast for them. ASAP (As soon as possible) could’ve worked too.

⑧最初（さいしょ）の約束（やくそく）を忘（わす）れたのかい。

　怖（こわ）い顔（かお）やさみしい顔はダメだってば。

  • Did you forget our very first promise?
    • EN: Now, just remember what Donald said to ya:
  • “No grim faces, no sad faces”.
    • EN: no frowning, no sad faces.

※ The expression 怖い顔 means grim face or an angry look. I like that they changed it to frowning here and when they first met.

⑨ドナルドは　不安（ふあん）じゃないのか？王様（おうさま）の手（て）がかりも見つからないしーー心配（しんぱい）だろ？

　ううん　全然（ぜんぜん）

  • Aren’t you worried, Donald? We haven’t found a lead on where the King is… you gotta be worried, right?
    • EN: How can you be so cheerful? There’s still no sign of your king. Aren’t you worried.
  • Nope, not one bit.
    • EN: Aw, phooey.

※ The word 手がかり means lead or clue. Basically, something that will lead you solving a problem. Or in this case finding information that could tell where someone is at. Not sure about that “Aw, phooey” translation but I guess Donald is saying that he doesn’t care.

🎮Donald and Goofy are kinda used to Mickey going off and doing his own thing at this point.

⑩王様は『鍵（かぎ）を持つ者（もの）と一緒（いっしょ）に行動（こうどう）せよ』って言ったんだ。

　だからソラと一緒に行けば　かならず王様に会（あ）える！

  • Because the king told us “to stick with the person who has the key”.
    • EN: The king told us to go out and find the key bearer, and we found you.
  • So, if travel together with you, then I’m sure we’ll see the King!
    • EN: So as long as we stick together, it’ll all work out okay.

🎮So… Sora’s basically some beacon for Mickey… funny.

⑪そう信（しん）じてるから　だいじょうぶさ。

　信じる　かーー

  • Believe in that, and it’ll be fine.
    • EN: Ya just gotta believe in yourself, that’s all.
  • Just believe, huh…
    • EN: Just believe…

⑫うん、信じてる

　ここはーー？

  • Yeah, I believe.
    • EN: I believe in you.
  • Where is this?
    • EN: Where am I?

⑬昔々　世界中（せかいちゅう）の人（ひと）は　あたたかい光（ひかり）に　照（て）らされて　平和（へいわ）に暮（く）らしていた。

　 みんな光が大好（だいす）きだったんだよ。

  • Long ago, people all over the world lived in peace with the warm light shining on them.
    • EN: Long ago, people lived in peace, bathed in the warmth of light.
  • Everyone loved the light.

🎮I know it’s a memory but I kinda wish they voiced this scene. On top of that, is this Kairi’s grandma or something?

⑭ところが　みんなが光をほしがってやがて争（あらそ）いが始（はじ）まった。

　すると　みんなの心（こころ）に闇（やみ）が生（う）まれたんだ。

  • However, everyone started to desire the light and in the end, they fought over it.
    • EN: Then people began to fight over it. They wanted to keep it for themselves.
  • That was when darkness was born in everyone’s hearts.
    • EN: And darkness was born in their hearts.

※ The adverb やがて is used to say in the end or before long. It expresses the inevitable of an event that has happened or will happen. The word 争い means to fight or quarrel.

🎮Geez grandma took things to a dark tone quickly. This woman is never introduced or seen after this. So I kinda wonder what happens to her.

⑮闇ははどんどん広（ひろ）がって　たくさんの心と光を飲（の）み込（こ）んだのさ。

　世界は闇に覆（おお）われてーー　消（き）えてしまったんだ。　

  • The darkness gradually spread and swallowed up many hearts and light.
    • EN: The darkness spread, swallowing the light and many people’s hearts.
  • The world was covered in darkness… and disappeared.
    • EN: It covered everything, and the world disappeared.

※ The てーForm + passive verb 覆われて comes from the verb 覆う which means “to cover”.

⑯けれど　小（ちい）さな光のかけらが残（のこ）っていたのさ。

　子供（こども）たちの　心の中（なか）にね。

  • But small fragments of light remained.
    • EN: But small fragments of light survived…
  • In the hearts of children.

※ I like the usage of the ellipsis (…) here. Nice dramatic pause.

⑰子供たちは　光のかけらの力（ちから）で消えてしまった世界を作り直し（つくりなおし）たんだ。

　それが私（わたし）たちの世界なんだよ。

  • With the power of the light in the children rebuilt the disappearing world.
    • EN: With these fragments of light, children rebuilt the lost world.
  • That is our world.
    • EN: It’s the world we live in now.

※ The verb 作り直す means to rebuild or to remake. Also for the second line, she’s telling Kairi that the world she is talking about is the very world they live in right now. Just wanted to make that clear because I wasn’t sure if I got it across with the translation.

🎮Somewhat of a spoiler.
So the world that’s basically filled with Final Fantasy characters was where this all happened. I think this gets reconned later in Kingdom Hearts X but I’m not sure.

⑱でも　本当（ほんとう）の光はまだ闇の奥（おく）で眠（ねむ）っていてね。

　だから世界はひとつにつながることができずに。

  • But the true light is still sleeping in the depths of darkness.
    • EN: But the true light sleeps, deep within the darkness.
  • And that is why each world is unable to connect with one another.
    • EN: That’s why the worlds are still scattered,

※ The expression ことができず comes from ことができる (able to do). However the ずーForm gives the verb a negative form. So ことができず unable to do.

⑲いくつもの小さな世界に別れてしまった。

　だけど　いつの日かきっと　闇の奥につづく扉（とびら）が開（ひら）いて。光が帰（かえ）ってくるはずさ。

  • Many small worlds ended up splitting up from one another.
    • EN: divided from each other.
  • But, one day the door to the deep depths of darkness will surely open and the light will return.
    • EN: But someday, a door to the innermost darkness will open. And the true light will return.

※ The expression いつの日か means “one of these days”.

🎮I get that grandma is old but is this a story that was passed down or did she live in that time during “that” event?

⑳いいかい　もし闇に飲みこまれても　

　 闇の奥には　かならず光があっておまえを助（たす）けてくれるんだ。

  • Remember Even if it is swallowed up by the darkness.
    • EN: So, listen, child. Even in the deepest darkness,
  • There is light inside of the darkness and it will save you.
    • EN: there will always be a light to guide you.

㉑だから闇に負（ま）けてはいけないよ。闇の奥の光を信じていれば。

　おまえの心が　闇を照らす光になって　みんなを幸（しあわ）せにしてあげられるんだよ。

  • So you don’t let the darkness beat you. As long as you believe in the light inside of the darkness.
    • EN: Believe in the light, and the darkness will never defeat you.
  • Your heart will become the light that will shine through the darkness and everyone will be happy.
    • EN: Your heart will shine with its power and push the darkness away.

㉒わかったね　カイリ。

　あれ？

  • Do you understand, Kairi? 
  • Huh?

㉓どうしたの？

　ううん　なんでもない。カイリ　俺（おれ）を呼（よ）んだのか？

  • What’s the matter? 
  • It’s nothing. Is Kairi calling out to me?
    • EN: Um, nothing. Kairi… did you call me?

㉔ナビゲーショングミは取り付けてといたぜ。　。。。でもよ。

　あそこはもう、ハートレスのすみかになってるはずだ。

　行くなとは言わねえが、気をつけてな。

  • I installed the Navigation Gummi for ya. But…
    • EN: I installed that navigation gummi. But, ya know?
  • That place has gotta be where the Heartless are coming from.
    • EN: That place is crawling with Heartless.
  • This goes without saying but, be careful.
    • EN: Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

㉕。。。？

　それと、これもってけ。

　チェンジグミを手にいれた！

  • …?
    • EN: ?
  • Take this with you, too.
    • EN: Here, take this along.
  • Obtained Change Gummi!
    • EN: Obtained Transform-G.

㉖「世界の扉」

　よーし！新（あたら）しい世界にのりこむぞっ！

　あせっちゃダメだよ、ドナルド。もしものことがあったら、どうするの？

  • World’s Door
    • EN: World Exit
  • Alright! Let’s go to the new world!
    • EN: All right! Let’s head on to the new world!
  • Don’t rush, Donald! If we get into an emergency then what will you do?
    • EN: Hold on, Donald. We don’t know what’s out there.

㉗ほかのワールドをしらべてからでもおそくないと思うな。

　まだ見つけてないアイテムもあるかもしれないよ。

  • I think we should check out the other worlds first.
    • EN: Why don’t we revisit other worlds first.
  • There might be items that we haven’t found yet.
    • EN: I’m sure we’ll find some new items.

※ Goofy is acutally saying it is not too late （おそくない） to go back and look at other worlds (aka worlds we’ve been to) here.

I think Paridigm Shifter is on the same mindset as Donald.
And after that long talk with no action, I have to agree.
Let’s head to the next world!

ヒトリゴト／JUST TALKING

I can’t believe I ended up skipping this one. Look forward to the next subtitled video. It’ll be fun… probably.

タイトルを見る／WHAT’S IN A TITLE

旅のおともにカレーめん

旅（たび）

This word is like the one from one of the first タイトルを見る that I did on the show 魔女の旅々 or Journey of a Witch. Also known as a Wandering Witch Elaina. So our first word is “journey” or “travel”.

のおともに

The おともに part means that something goes well with something else. Or is a companion of something. Considering の is connecting おともに with 旅 we can say that something is a companion to travel.

In other words something or someone that is good take take on a trip. And that is… カレーめん. But what is that?

カレーめん

The first part カレー is “curry”. The last part めん（麺） means noodles. At first I thought that it was some slang for Curry Ramen. And in a way that might be right. I thought it went something like this:

カレー＋ラーメン＝カレーめん

But no, it’s just Curry Noodles.

So in all it means something like…

Curry Noodles Makes a Good Travel Companion.

I like the show a lot so, I’ll be doing a double feature on this one.

大間々岬の冬

大間々（おおまま）

This is a place in Japan. Specifically in the Gunma Prefecture. It is pronounced Omama or Ohmama (getting Johnny Bravo vibes here).

岬（さき）の

The word 岬 means “cape” or “small peninsula”. Considering I already know about this place after a bit of looking around, when it combined with 大間々, it is translated simply as Cape Ōmama.

This place is well known for it’s sunsets. It is also found in one of the 5 lakes (known as Mt. Fuji Five Lakes) Yamanakako （山中湖）which appears in this very episode that the girls go camping.

冬（ふゆ）

And lastly we have an ever so fitting with the season, 冬, which simply means winter. I understand that there is a の particle here, showing possessiveness but I rather avoid that kind of translation here. Cape Ōmama’s Winter would be correct here but since someone is travelling to this place, I think it is best to go with something that better suits that.

Here are some typical things that come to mind when it is winter in Japan:

Winter
From Japandict.com

So altogether we get…

Winter at Cape Ōmama

I like that Crunchyroll had the same mindset here with this.

These titles come from the second season (hence the ２第) of Yuru Camp. It is a slice of life show about girls that usually go camping in the cold season. With how cold it is these days, this warm and cozy show is a great watch. It gives a sense of adventure and may have sparked some inspiration in others to go camping. I know that it has added more reasons why I would like to go to Japan.

Here is a PV:

And they brung back the singer from the first season, Eri Sasaki to the ED. I like the OP sung by Asaka whose also back for Season 2, but there’s just something so calming about Eri’s songs.

レイの日記

あれ？ポケモンジムの石像を見つけた。そういえば、イッコケセイみたいだな。あ、秘密スイチがある。二つのゲートが互い違いに開くんだ。このゲートはシルフカンパニーのゲートみたいな。研究所と戦った。彼は俺に「ここはかつて私の先生が住んでいた」と言った。日記も見つけた。南アメリカのギアナジャングルの奥地で信州のポケモンを発見して、ミュウと呼んだ階

２階で飛び出した。ここは地下室らしい。別の日記見っけ。ミュウツーというポケモン？あのポケモンはそんなにやってたか。研究者はゲートに困ったみたいだから、スイチを押して、解放させた。あ、困ったなかった。彼はここはいい場所と思いそうだ。

変なブロッブでメタモンというポケモンを見つけた。え？！そ、そいつはソレイユに変身してた？！それで、このコラッタとラッタどもなんだよ！強えー。ひみつの鍵ゲット。これはジムのカギだろ？いったい何を？こんな場所でカギを落ちてるいったい誰だ。

REI’S JOURNAL

Huh? Found a Gym statue. Now that I think about it, it looks kinda like Ikkokesei. Oh, there’s a switch. It opened a gate and closed another one. These gates looks like the ones from Silph Co. Fought a Scientist. He said his mentor lived here. Found some journals, too. They discovered a new Pokemon in a South American jungle in Guiana and named it Mew.

I jumped off a ledge. Look like I’m in the basement. Found another journal. A Pokemon named Mewtwo. Did that Pokemon do this? A scientist was trapped by a gate so I pressed the switch to let him out. Oh, it seems he wasn’t trapped. He likes being here.

Found this strange blob of a Pokemon named Ditto. I-it transformed into Soreiyu?! And what’s with these Ratatta and Raticate? They’re freaking strong. I found a key. Is this the Gym’s Key? What is going on here? Who left this here?

In conclusion, I hope that this series is helpful with your journey to learning Japanese and/or taking an interest in the country’s culture. Until then… また来週！

How to Read Web Novels in Japanese

日本語の練習 第110週

Japanese Practice Week 110

2022年01月02日「日」第110週 

Hello everyone and Happy New Year!
Back to teach some Japanese and show what I find interesting about Japan.
With that being said, I’ll start the year off with two web novel sites
Syosetsu and Kakuyomu.

日本語のイベント／EVENT IN JAPANESE

明けましておめでとうございます！新しい年、新しいチャレンジ、新しい旅ですね。
今週はウェブノベルのことを話します。去年、ウェブノベルを発見しました。
一番最高ことはこんなノベルは無理です。

See the source image

小説家になろうは 理不尽な孫の手の「無職転生」があります。
アニメを見たけど、読みたいと思います。

Kinpatsunoseijosamagaorenomaededakekiseiwohassurunndagadousurebaii (Kimikisebunko) (Japanese Edition) by [KUJYO REN, MIYABIZUKA]

それでアマゾンでこの本を見つけたけどほかのウェブノベルサイトで読んでできます。九条蓮の「金髪の聖女様が俺の前でだけ奇声を発するんだがどうすればいい？」。長いタイトルです。まるでライトノベルみたいですね。今年、読み終わりたいと思います。アマゾンの本は安いけど、カクヨムで読めます。

漢字はときどき読みにくいなら、おすすめがあります。

ウエブアドオンIPA フリガナとりかいーくんです。
IPAフリガナで漢字の読み方が読めます。りかいーくんは辞書です。
オフラインで使ってできます。

スマホとかタブレットで読むことが好きなら、Kiwi Browserを使ったほうがいいです。このアプリでウェブアドオンを使ってできます。

N3　文法

[ことだ]

should

This is used to to give others advice or make a suggestion about something someone should or shouldn’t do. I think of it as another way to say ほうがいい.

Verb[Dict-Form] + ことだ
Verb[ない-Form] + ことだ

Ex: ガチャゲームをプレイしないことだ。

　　(You shouldn’t play gacha games.)

Ex: 日本語はときどき厳しいだけど、少し楽しむことだ。

　　(Japanese can be rough, but you should have a little fun with it.) 

[ことがある]

there are times when

The meaning reminds me of when Professor Oak says “there’s time a time and place for everything! But not now” when you try to ride your bike. This grammar is used to express when an action has occurred before. You can also use it to express that something happens sometimes.

Verb[Casual-Form] + ことがある

Ex: 仕事中でボッとすることがある。

　　(There are times when I space out while working.)

Ex: 彼は彼女ができた時、友達を無視することがある。

　　(Whenever he gets a girlfriend, he sometimes ignores his friends.)

N3　動詞／N3 VERBS

開始する
かいしする
start; commencement; beginning; initiation​

First kanji 開 means open, unfold, or unseal. 始 means commence or begin. So this verb means something is starting to unfold. In other words, you are going to begin doing something. Or something is about to start like Houkago Tea Time’s performance.

対話／DIALGOUE

It’s New Year’s Day and Nao is trying to wake up her senior.
Will they be able to see the first sunrise in time?

[間に合うかな]

A: ね、ヒカリ先輩、起きて。

B: ママ、あと5分。。。

A: ママって。おい、起きてよ。初日に見よう。約束したんだもん。

B: フワ～。。。あ！忘れてた。ごめんね、ナオちゃん。天気はどう？

A: 寒いだけど、いい天気みたい。さ、早く起きるよ。

B: 待て。カメラを持ってくるから。

A: コートを着なきゃ。カメラは？

B: カメラ、カメラ、あ、あった。よし、いくよ。

A: さ、これ。寒いだから、コートが必要でしょ。あ、お汁粉を作っておいた。先輩の分にあげる。

B: わ～暖かい～。ナオちゃん大～好き。結婚してくれる？

A: はい、はい、さあ、行こうよ、先輩。３０分残りよ。

[Will we make it in time?]

A: Hey Hikari, wake up.

B: 5 more minutes, Mama…

A: “Mama”? Hey, get up. Let’s go see the first sunrise. You promised.

B: *yawn* … Ah! I forgot. Sorry Nao. How’s the weather?

A: It’s cold but it is nice out. Hurry and get up.

B: Hold on. I’ll bring my camera.

A: I gotta put on my coat. Where’s your camera?

B: Camera, camera, oh, there it is. alright let’s go.

A: Oh, and here. It’s cold, so it’s best to take your coat. Oh and I made Shiruko. Here’s yours.

B: Wow it’s so warm. I love ya, Nao. Marry me, will ya?

A: Yeah, Yeah. Now let’s go. We only got 30 minutes left.

実況から勉強する：キングダムハーツ
LEARN FROM LET’S PLAYS: KINGDOM HEARTS

Time for Sora and the boys to face off with his shadow.
And then we’ll never see something like this again.
Let’s see what they have in store for us this year!

20th anniversary is in march

 ①待（ま）てよ　リクッ！

　パルメットクロウを手（て）にいれた！

  • Riku, wait!
  • Obtained Palmette Claw!
    • EN: Obtained Raven’s Claw.

🎮Well Riku has definitely let the darkness in rent-free. Anyways, Paradigm Shifter had little to no trouble facing off with Shadow Sora. The darn thing is so annoying. Making literal Shadow clones and hiding on the floor. Makes me wonder why Riku didn’t use himself as the model for the shadow. That would’ve been cool.

②うるさい　邪魔（じゃま）をするな！

　ソラ　悪（わる）いけど僕（ぼく）はここまでだ。ウェンディを逃（に）がさないと。

  • Quiet, don’t get in the way! 
    • EN: Come on, Tink! Not now!
  • Sorry Sora but this is it. I’ve gotta get Wendy outta here.
    • EN: Well this is as far as I can go. I’ve gotta help Wendy.

※ They translated it better than I did (as per usual). It keeps the same sense of urgency. I do like how we both went with gotta instead got to or have to.

③小僧（こぞう）の親友（しんゆう）は冷（つめ）たいやつだな。お嬢（じょう）さんを連（つ）れてさっさと消（き）えちまった。

　どこだ！　リクはどこに行（い）った！

  • That friend of yours sure is cold hearted. He took the girl and left.
    • EN: Quite a codfish, that Riku– running off with that girl without even saying goodbye.
  • Where?! Where did he go?!
    • EN: Run off where? Tell me, where did he go?

※ The adverb さっさ means immediately. I usually see with と after it.

④廃墟（はいきょ）ホロウバスティオン。今（いま）は魔女（まじょ）マレフィセントの城（しろ）さ。

　ま　おまえたちにはたどりつけないがね。

  • To the ruins of Hollow Bastion. Maleficent is probably at the her castle right now.
    • EN: To the ruins of Hollow Bastion, where Maleficent resides.
  • But you won’t be going there.

※ The potential verb たどりつけない means “won’t be able to reach”. Hook’s telling him that they won’t be reaching Hallow Bastion to face off with Maleficent.

🎮I guess Hook doesn’t care about telling them. It’s not like they are going to survive this.

⑤それともこのちっこいのを見捨（みす）てて　後（あと）を追（お）いかけるかね。

　キーブレードを差（さ）しだすなら命（いのち）は助（たす）けよう。

  • Unless you are fine with abandoning this little one and chasing after them.
    • EN: Unless you intend to leave your little pixie friend behind?
  • Hand over the Keyblade and I’ll spare your life.
    • EN: Hand over the Keyblade and I’ll spare your lives.

※ The verb 差しだす means to present. I figured I’d go with something like “hand over” for this situation. Darn so close, should’ve went with lives there.

🎮Sora could’ve just gave him the Keyblade. It’ll just pop back up in his hand. But that’s not necessarily shown in this game. No one else but Riku has got to hold onto it.

⑥俺（おれ）はハートレスと違（ちが）って情け深い（なさけぶかい）人間（にんげん）だからな。

　さあ　どっちを選（えら）ぶかね？キーブレードがーー板か。

  • After all, unlike the Heartless I’m a human with compassion.
    • EN: Be glad I’m merciful, unlike the Heartless.
  • So what will it be? The Keyblade… or the plank?
    • EN: So, which will it be? The Keyblade, or the plank?

※ The いーAdjective 情け深い means compassionate, tender-hearted, or charitable. I don’t see kindness in making a kid choose between death or giving you a sword but okay, Hook.

⑦俺の左手（ひだりて）を食（く）った　あのワニだーー！

　まだ俺を狙（ねら）ってやがる　冗談（じょうだん）じゃない。こんなところにいられるかーー。

  • It’s that crocodile that ate me left hand!
    • EN: It’s him! The crocodile that took me hand!
  • It’s still after me. You’ve gotta be kidding me. For it to show up out here.
    • EN: Oh, Smee! He’s after me other hand! I can’t stay here!

⑧ス　スミー　後はおまえたちでやっておけ！くるな　あっち行け！

　飛（と）べ　ソラ！　信（しん）じるんだ　君は飛べる！

  • S-Smee take care of them! Don’t you come any closer! Stay away!
    • EN: Go away! Oh, I can’t stand the sight of him! Smee, you take care of them!
  • Fly Sora! Just believe and you can fly!
    • EN: Fly, Sora! Just believe, and you can do it!

※ The expression あっち行け means “stay away from me”. The imperative form is used on くるな which means tell someone not to come any closer. On another note, I find it interesting that they switched the lines around. Then again, it does make sense to give an order after panicking I guess.

⑨君はティンクのこと　見捨てなかった。その君を見捨てるわけにはいかにだろ？

　 癒（いや）しの力を手にいれた！ケアルはケアルラにパワーアップ！

  • You didn’t abandon Tink. So there’s no way I’d abandon you, right?
    • EN: Hey, don’t mention it. You didn’t think I’d leave you and Tink behind, did you?
  • Learned the Power of Healing! Cure powered up to Cura!
    • EN: Attained the power of healing. Cure has been upgraded to Cura.

Time to wrap up Neverland with this Double Feature!

Time for Captain Hook to take a swim.

 ①ピーターパンが仲間（なかま）にいる時（とき）、ソラたちは空を飛ぶことができます。

ジャンプ中（ちゅう）にⓍを押（お）すと空を飛べます。飛行（ひこう）中Ⓧを押すと上昇（じょうしょう）し、🔳を押すと下降（かこう）します。

  • When Peter Pan is a part of the party, Sora and others can fly in the sky.
    • EN: In Neverland, Sora and his friends can fly.
  • If you press Ⓧ while jumping, you can fly. While flying, you can fly up if you push Ⓧ and down if you push 🔳
    • EN: While jumping, press ◎ to fly. Then press ◎ to rise and 🔳to descend.

🎮Still find it strange that the button mapping here is different. It has similar controls to the Atlantica so that’s nice.

②ひとり残（のか）らずやっつけてやる！

　スミーか？　ガキどもを始末（しまつ）したのか？

  • Let’s take them all down! 
    • EN: You’re all going down!
  • Is that you Smee? Have you dealt with those brats?
    • EN: Is that you, Smee? Did you finish them off?

※ The word ひとり残らず is an expression that means “not leaving a single one”.

③はい船長（せんちょう）　全員（ぜんいん）海（うみ）に投げ込んで（なげこんで）やりました。

　ピ　ピーターパン！貴様ーー！

  • Yes, Captain. Threw them all into the sea.
    • EN: Aye, Captain. They walked the plank, every last one of them.
  • P-peter Pan! Why you!
    • EN: P-Peter Pa– blast you!

🎮Want to do a Smee impression. Just plug your nose. Oh and random note: Humming means 鼻歌（はなうた）in Japanese. Why? Well, have you ever tried humming while plugging your nose. On another note, Captain Hook probably has new hole back there XD.

④全員海に投げ込みましたよ。船長残るはフック船長　おまえだけだ！

　ソラは✨ラストアルカナムを手にいれた！ 　

  • Hey everyone did get thrown off. Everyone besides you!
    • EN: Ready to make a splash, you codfish? Now it’s your turn to walk the plank!
  • Sora obtained Last Arcanum.
    • EN: Sora learned ✨Ars Arcanum.

※ I went with this translation to express Peter’s cheekiness about not lying that everyone got thrown off. Hook just didn’t expect for it to mean all the Heartless were the ones that were thrown off. I do like how they rewrote this whole line though.

🎮Hook was quite the annoying boss with his quick slashes and then the pirate ship Heartless flying around didn’t help at all. It us fun to see him lose it when he falls off his ship though. Having Aero for this fight really helps.

⑤アンセムレポート８を手にいれた！

　ねえ　カイリの目（め）が覚（さ）めなかったのは心（こころ）がもうーー

  • Obtained Ansem Report 8!
    • EN: Obtained Ansem’s Report 9.
  • Say uh, Kairi didn’t wake up so maybe her heart’s already-
    • EN: Uh, Kairi couldn’t wake up, so maybe she’s really lost her–

⑥俺（おれ）　空を飛んだ。

　 すごいよな　空を飛んだんだ！カイリに話（はな）したら信（しん）じてくれるかな？

  • I flew.
    • EN: I still can’t believe it.
  • I actually flew! Wonder if Kairi would believe if I told her?
    • EN: I really flew. Wait ’til I tell Kairi. I wonder if she’ll believe me. Probably not.

⑦もう一度（いちいどう）ネバーランドにこいよ。今度（こんど）はふたりで飛ぶのさ。

　 信じることができれば空だって飛べるんだ。

  • Come to Neverland again. We can fly together then.
    • EN: You can bring her to Neverland sometime. Then she can try it herself.
  • If you can believe, you can fly even in the sky.
    • EN: If you believe, you can do anything, right?

⑧俺　信じてる　絶対（ぜったい）カイリに会（あ）える。

　空を飛んだことがだけじゃない。島（しま）を出（で）てからのこと　ぜんぶ話せるって。

  • I’ll keep believing that I’ll see Kairi.
    • EN: I’ll find Kairi. I know I will.
  • Not just about flying in the sky. I can tell her about everything since I left the island.
    • EN: There’s so much I want to tell her– about flying, the pirates, and everything else that’s happened.

⑨ティンク　大時計（おおどけい）？　大時計に何（なに）かあるのか？

　そう、カイリには会えなかったのね。。。でもあきらめないでね、ソラ。

  • Tink. A big clock? What about it?
    • EN: What’s that, Tink? What about the clock tower? You say there’s something there?
  • Oh, you didn’t get to see Kairi… don’t give up, Sora.
    • EN: You’ll find her, Sora. Just don’t give up.

🎮 I really enjoyed flying around in this world. Really heightened the experience of the game. And Keybeam time! The keyholes in between the II and III. Nice to think of it as a hint about Kingdom Hearts 2.5 Remix XD. On another note, where are the boys that were in the movie with Wendy?

⑩ナビグミのかけらを手にいれた！

　 なあ　ソラ。

  • Obtained Navi-Gummi!
    • EN: Obtained Navi-G Piece.
  • Hey, Sora.

🎮Oh flashback of a flashback time. I can see why translator’s like things like this showing up in anime and games. They can just copy and paste and or change what they said back then a bit.

⑪ん？

　 おれ　もっと強（つよ）くなる。そしたらいっしょにこの島（しま）から外（そと）へ出（で）よう。

  • Yeah?
    • EN: Hm?
  • I’ll get even stronger. Then let’s leave the island and explore the world.
    • EN: When we grow up, let’s get off this island.

⑫こんなちっぽけな冒険（ぼうけん）じゃない。本当（ほんとう）の冒険しよう。

　 うん　それもいいけどさあ。今すぐ面白いことないのかなあ。

  • Not these boring kiddie adventures but an actual one.
    • EN: We’ll go on real adventures, not this kid stuff!
  • Yeah, sure. But I wonder if there’s something fun we can do.
    • EN: Sure. But isn’t there anything fun to do now?

⑬そういえばさ。このあいだから村長（そんちょう）さんちに女の子（おんな　の　こ）がいるだろ？

　あの子ってさ　あの流星雨（りゅうせいう）の夜（よる）に

  • That reminds me. A girl started living in the mayor’s house the other day, right?
    • EN: Hey, you know the new girl at the mayor’s house?
  • She showed up on that night we had that meteor shower.
    • EN: She arrived on the night of the meteor shower!

🎮Ah, that’s right. It’s the Keyhole to their world. Still a shame that we didn’t get to see what was behind that door until fragmentary passage though.

⑭船も使（つか）わずに　あの子を連れてくるとは無茶（むちゃ）をしたね。

　闇（やみ）の力に頼（たよ）りすぎると　心を闇に喰（く）われてしまうよ。

  • It was rash of you to bring that girl without using a ship.
    • EN: It was reckless to bring her here without at least using a vessel.
  • If you depend on the power of darkness too much it will consume your heart.
    • EN: Remember, relying too heavily on the dark powers could cost you your heart.

※ The ずーForm of the verb 使う ー＞使わず means “without using”. Riku used the power of darkness to teleport Kairi and him back. On top of that, he could’ve just used the ship or something to get back.

🎮That was a beasty shout. Wonder who that could be.

⑮生き残りさ。住（す）んでいた世界（せかい）が消（き）えても心を失（うし）わない者（もの）もいる。

　 プリンセスを追い求める（おいもとめる）心の力でここまでたどりついたようだね。

  • It’s just a survivor from another world. There are those who lost their world but don’t lose their hearts.
    • EN: A castaway. Though his world perished, his heart did not.
  • It seems he has come all this way to take back the princess.
    • EN: When we took the princess from his castle, he apparently followed her here through sheer force of will.

※ The word 生き残り means survivor. Also when you pair a verb with よう it can mean it seems someone is doing an action.

⑯でも安心おし。しょせん　おまえの敵（てき）じゃない。

　おまえには　力があるんだ。

  • But worry not. He’s no threat to us whatsoever.
    • EN: But fear not. No harm will come to you.
  • You have power.
    • EN: He is no match for you power.

※ The adverb しょせん means not at all, in the end, or cannot possibly. It expresses that something is not the case no matter how it looks. Maleficent is basically saying that this character is not an enemy (敵) so Riku can stay calm and not worry about the roaring he just heard.

⑰力ーー

　 そう　おまえ自身（じしん）が気（き）づいていない力。

  • Power?
    • EN: My power?
  • Why yes. You have a power that you haven’t even noticed.
    • EN: Yes, the untapped power that lies within you.

🎮Gee I wonder what that could be…? 😉

⑱さあ　リク　教（おし）えてあげるよ。おまえの本当（ほんとう）の力をーー

　ピーター ーー　ネバーランドに帰（かえ）ってしまうの？

  • Now Riku, I’ll unlock your true power.
    • EN: Now, child, it’s time you awakened that power and realized your full potential.
  • Peter… are you going back to Neverland?
    • EN: Peter, are you really going back to Neverland?

⑲でもねウェンディ。僕らはいつでも会える。

　君がネバーランドを忘（わす）れない限（かぎ）りね。

　ティンクのやつ　またへそを曲げたな。

  • We can meet anytime, Wendy.
    • EN: Afraid so. But we can see each other any time.
  • As long as you don’t forget Neverland.
    • EN: As long you don’t forget about Neverland, that is.
  • Tink is getting angry again.
    • EN: Oh, boy. She’s gettin’ steamed again.

🎮Donald shutting his own beak after Tinkerbell gave him that look was priceless.

⑳しかたない　ソラしばらく面倒を見てやってよ。

　ええ？

　 召喚（しょうかん）魔法（まほう）ティンクを覚えた！

　 ソラは🗝フェアリーハープを手にいれた！

　共有アビリティ　✨グライドを手にいれた！

  • Oh well. Sora, look after her for a bit.
    • EN: Do me a favor. Look after her for me, will ya?
  • Huh?
    • EN: What?
  • Learned Summoning Magic Tinkerbell!
    • EN: Learned summon spell Tinker Bell.
  • Sora obtained 🗝Fairy Harp!
  • Obtained Shared Ability ✨Glide!
    • EN: Learned shared ability ✨Glide.

※ The verb 面倒を見る means to look after or to care for someone.

🎮Wow Peter. Way to get Tinkerbell out of your hair for a while. She is a very useful summon though. She heals every few seconds so that comes in handy as a regen during boss fights.

This ends the boys adventure in Neverland.
We got a bunch of stuff and got to learn how to fly.
Plus Tinkerbell will be joining them on their journey.

ヒトリゴト／JUST TALKING

タイトルを見る／WHAT’S IN A TITLE

政宗くんのリベンジ：特別編レンタル彼氏政宗くん

政宗（まさ・むね）くんの
There is an honorific suffix “-kun” here, so this is a name. It is read as Masamune. I thought the eytomology of his name is interesting so I’ll go into that. The first kanji 政 means government or politics while the second kanji 宗’s むね reading means things like principle, main purpose, or pillar.

Considering this story is about him taking some kind of revenge, I like to think of his name being a great fit. When people think of government some may think of justice being served. And that is Masamune’s “aim” (another reading for 宗) in this story. Well in the main story. I’ll get into that later. The の is acting as a possessive here so his name will take on an apostrophe s.

リベンジ

This is in katakana so we know that this is most likely a foreign word to Japan. It simply means “Revenge”.

So far we have “Masamune-kun’s Revenge”.

特別編（とくべつへん）

Now this “part” is “special”. 特別 means well… special or particular. While the 編 means part. It’s best to go with something like “Special Edition” or “Extra”. Or just leave it out for a clearer meaning.

レンタル彼氏（かれし）

As said before about katakana words. Must be a foreign word. It means “Rental”. As for the word 彼氏, it means boyfriend. We can break that down as well.

彼 by itself is usually used as the pronoun he. The reading for 氏（し）can mean several things. Usually used as a honorific suffix like Mr. Ms. etc. It can also be used a counter for people. Another reading of this kanji even gives it a meaning of surname, clan (family), family name.

Considering men keep there surname when married it is said they carry on the family name. Just taking a shot in the dark here, so perhaps I should reserch this a bit more. And this is what I found.

かれし

彼氏

According to Shogakukan’s 国語大辞典こくごだいじてん (KDJ) entry here, 彼氏 initially meant just “that person”, derived as 彼かれ + honorific person suffix 氏し. Apparently the honorific was used a bit ironically, and the term was actually intended as a slight pejorative. If the entry is anything to go by, it appears in texts starting from 1929, in one of 徳川とくがわ無声むせい‘s works.

A bit later in 1934 in a piece by 永井ながい荷風かふう, we see usage in the sense of “boyfriend, male lover”. This appears to be a straightforward extension of the meaning “fellow, guy” in usage patterns like “she’s got a guy, that’s her fellow“, where the “boyfriend” sense arises out of context. Compare German usage, where Mann literally just means “man”, but in the context of talking about a woman’s relationships, it also means “husband”. (The English term man is also used the same way, albeit in a more informal speech register.)

Quote from Ringi on stack exchange

So I guess that is one way to tie it back to a relationship word such as boyfriend. Interesting.

However, this isn’t your normal kind of boyfriend. Together this means “Rental Boyfriend”. Yes there is such a thing where you can hire people to be a significant other. I thoroughly enjoyed a show last year that went into this concept. It was called 彼女、お借りします or Rent-A-Girlfriend.

政宗くん

And lastly the character’s name. However since we know that he’s being someone’s rental boyfriend we can put his name together with his “profession”.

So altogether we have:

Masamune-kun’s Revenge: Rental Boyfriend Masamune-kun.

It doesn’t have an official translation but I found an unofficial one that went with an even simpler title translation:

Masamune-kun’s Revenge: Rental Boyfriend

This title comes from a one-shot that I bought last week. It takes place after the main story. I’ve only watched the anime, so I might get spoiled. But that’s fine. The OVA kinda did that a bit. Still curious how it ends. I might pick up the manga someday.

The story is about this guy named Masamune who had a crush on this girl. But he ended up being turned down by her. Instead feeling down and picking his broken heart off the ground, he decides to do the rational thing: get in shape, study hard, and make that girl fall in love with him so he can return the favor.

Yeah, totally rational. It has an anime that came out a few years ago. Now that I’m reading this one-shot (which I totally shouldn’t be doing since it’s after several events in the manga), I want to give this series manga I try.

If you are interested you can find the main manga on Book☆Walker in English and 日本語. If you get it in Japanese they have it on sale till the January 5th. Plus you get a lot of coin back. On top of that, you can read the first two manga volumes for free till January 5th.

Here’s a PV of the anime:

レイの日記

シルバースプレー買って、双子島に戻った。やはり、岩が便利だった。新しい空洞に行った。この道でグレン島に行けるらしい。トレーナーと勝負したとき、グレン島の情報集まった。研究所がある。火山もある。それでポケモンは廃墟の屋敷に住んでいる。なんか怪しい島だね。

グレン島に来たら、ポケモンを休ませられた。ジムがあるが、ドアが開けない。ジムリーダーどこに？あ、あの噂の屋敷だな。全焼した。いったい何を起こった？ベトベターを捕まった。名前はグリマス（あのグリマス、ベトベターに似てるだろ）。

なぜ泥棒ここにいる？宝物があるか？

REI’S JOURNAL

Bought more super repels and returned to Seafoam Islands. As I expected, the boulders were useful. Made it to a new cave. Looks like I can get to Cinnabar Island through this path. Fought some trainers and gathered info about Cinnabar Island. They have a lab. It has a volcano, and Pokemon have taken over an abandoned mansion. Sounds like a sketchy island.

Let my Pokemon rest a bit once we arrived at Cinnabar Island. They have gym here but the door is locked. Where’s the Gym Leader? So this is the mansion they were talking about. Look like it burned down. What happened here? Caught a Grimer and named it Grimasu (Don’t they look similar).

Why are there burglars in here? Is there something valuable?

In conclusion, I hope that this series is helpful with your journey to learning Japanese and/or taking an interest in the country’s culture. Until then… また来週！

僕のクリスマス＋Progress Report & Winter 2022 Goals

日本語の練習 第109週

Japanese Practice Week 109

2021年12月26日「日」第109週 

Hello everyone! Back to teach Japanese and show what I find interesting about Japan. This will be the last one for this year. But I will return in 2022.
So, let’s wrap this year up.

日本語のイベント／EVENT IN JAPANESE

みんな、いい休みですね。昨日はクリスマスだけど、メリークリスマス！

昨日はプレゼントをもらいました。服やギフトカードやマンガでした。もちろん、ワンピースの一巻。本当にうれしかったです。来年、ワンピースを読み始めます。

そして、ニンテンドースイチをもらいました。やった！日本語でゲームをしたいから、このゲーム機がいいだと思います。ゲーム言語のおかげで、こんなゲームをプレイしてできる。よかったら、この動画をごらんなさい。

N3　文法

[こそ]

Just/Very…

This grammar is used to emphasize the word before it.

Another tip here is that you can use からこそ to emphasize cause and reason of something. The only difference is that it seems you have to use a past tense verb.

N ＋こそ
V[Past-Form] ＋こそ

Ex: 今度こそあの試験を合格できます。

　　(I will pass the test for sure next time.) 

Ex: 今の能力は運じゃない。努力したからこそ、成功したんだ。

　　(My current ability was attained because of effort not luck.)

[こと]

should do, shouldn’t do

Used to express that someone should/shouldn’t do something. Kinda sounds like a parent or a teacher would talk like this.

V[Dict-form] + こと
V[ない-form] + こと

Ex: 学生として、しっかり勉強すること。

　　(As a student you must take your studies seriously.)

Ex: テレビのボリュームを大きすぎないこと。

　　(You mustn’t turn the TV volume up too loud.) 

Ex: もちろん、アニメのことが好きわかりますが、「ツンデレ」にはふりだけでもしないことね。

　　(Of course I get that you like anime, just don’t act like a tsundere.)

Ex: 「大声だせないこと」と言いたいんですが、君なら、無理だって。

　　(I want to say “don’t speak in a loud voice” but that’s impossible for you.) 

N3　動詞／N3 VERBS

会合する
かいごうする
meeting; assembly; gathering; association

The first kanji 会 can mean things like meeting, association or join. Now the second kanji 合 seems similar to the first. They also have similar meaning join in common. The other meanings it has is fit and suit. So it makes since when these two kanji are put together it means something like joining together.

プログレス・リポート／PROGRESS REPORT

Since the last report, I’ve done gotten some things accomplished.

BOOKS

Read some more manga. Re:Zero Chapter 1 was pretty good. Had some hard phrases here and there but with Takoboto, it wasn’t impossible. The easiest manga I read during the Fall would have to be あしたはどうようび. I also wrapped up the final chapters of IDOLY PRIDE in this season. Started some more web manga, too. I’ll probably talk about those in the near future.

Finished my second book Kaitou Red. I think this kind of genre is more to my liking than the first book I read. Phantom Thieves on their first heist? Count me in! According to my Kaitou Red Volume 1 list of words on Takoboto, I listed 404 words from this book. Unlike “Here Comes The Black Witch” it was more grounded in reality and more of an easy read to me. Will be reading more from this series.

GAMES

Finished Pokemon Y. Haven’t played it in 4 or 5 years, so I barely remembered anything. It was kind of tough getting through the city. Regardless, it was an overall fun game to play.

Finished Dragon Quest VI wasn’t as fun. Maybe if I played it in English on one device while playing in Japanese on another would’ve been a good idea. But I rather not waste time doing that. There were some plot points I’m still lost on. Like Millie and Terrie’s past. Or Barbara disappearing at the end and then showing back up at the castle to see an egg hatch. Maybe the answers will be revealed in the post game.

There’s supposed to be some true ending in the post game if you beat a boss under 20 turns. Wasn’t going to be finished in time to grind enough so I can beat that boss so I’ll be playing the rest next year.

Tried playing Yakuza 0 in Japanese… and quickly realized I was over my head. Luckily they have the Japanese voice so I can work on my listening.

Started playing Pokemon Alpha Sapphire this month. I remember the story quite a bit so maybe that will help with this playthrough. All those time I played it on the GBA has finally come back to help me. To make things interesting I started doing a Nuzlocke.

Speaking of Pokemon Nuzlockes, after I’m done with Rei’s journey through Kanto, I’ll be picking up the daunting task of Johto with a new nuzlocke. Probably will start that next year. So look forward to it.

ANIME

Still watching Naruto. I’m in the Chuunin Arc at the moment. Understanding majority of it and commenting on every episode in English and Japanese.

Picked up another nostalgic anime Yu-Gi-Oh. Since I read the manga I’m was ready to charge in headfirst into this series. I’m on the Duelist Kingdom Arc at the moment and am enjoying spotting differences from the manga and the 4Kids version.

JLPT & RANK

I barely passed the JLPT with a 96 a few months ago. Unfortunately, I still have a long ways to go with my reading. Find it strange that my grammar/vocabulary and listening are fine but I’m struggling in reading comprehension. Just have to keep pushing.

Didn’t get in the top 400 before Autumn ended. But at least I am now brown belt (N3) on JA Sensei. At this rate I’m sure I’ll be able to get to the top 400 (and then some) next year.

RECAP & WINTER 2022 GOALS

So that’s about it for my progress. I had goals that I wanted to accomplish in the Fall. Let’s take a look at where I failed (✕) and where I succeeded (◎)

  • Finish N3 Vocabulary　✕
    • Only 20 words left but there’s a bug in the app that won’t let me learn them.
  • Finish N3 Kanji　◎
  • Finish all General Radicals　◎
  • Top 400 Rank on JA Sensei　✕
    • I guess I shot too high. My current rank is
  • Take N3 Mock Exam -> Get a higher score 　✕
    • Earned an 87. My weakest point is the reading section. Need to read more.
  • Finish 2nd novel　◎
  • Finish Dragon Quest VI by end of year　◎
    • There’s some post-game stuff but I’d like to clear that once I’m at a higher level.
  • Finish Pokemon Y by end of year　◎
    • For a game I haven’t played in 4 or 5 years, I’m impressed to have finished it.

Winter 2022 Goals

  • Earn A Higher Score On JLPT N3 Mock Exam
  • Get In Top 400 On JA Sensei
  • Finish 2 Anime On Animelon
  • Finish Pokemon Alpha Sapphire
  • Read At Least 2 Articles A Day
  • Read 2 Books
  • Finish 3 Manga

These are my goals and I hope I can complete them all. I have 8 anime that I want to check out this winter (please be on Funimation or Crunchyroll), but I think that I can get these all done this time.

対話／DIALGOUE

[日本はスペリングビーがある？]

A: ね、ハルカ。

B: なんだ、フランキー。

A: アメリカでスペリングビーがあるが、日本は同じものがあるの？

B: ううん。ないよ。でも、漢字検定がある。

A: 漢字検定?　あの漢字テストだっけ。

B: うん、あれの。やってみる。

A: 今の僕は無理だと思う。漢字が難しいだから。一方で、話す力のほうが上手だ。

B: フランキーなら、レベル８を合格と思うよ。

A: じゃあ、考え直しておくね。

[Does Japan Have Spelling Bees?]

A: Hey, Haruka.

B: What is it, Frankie?

A: America has spelling bees. Does Japan have the same thing?

B: Nope. Not really. But there is the Kanji Kentei.

A: Kanji Kentei? Are you talking about that kanji exam.

B: Yep, that’s the one. One give it a shot?

A: I think that’s impossible for me right now. Kanji’s hard. On the other hand, my speaking is much better.

B: I think you could pass the level 8 exam.

A: Then, I’ll think it over.

記事を読もう／LET’S READ AN ARTICLE

Manga Selected By Tokyo University Student That Help With Studies
More Than Simply Obtaining Knowledge Lies Within Its Pages

After two years of unsuccessful attempts, Nishioka Issei went from earning a score of 35 points to passing the exam to get into Todai (Tokyo University). He wrote about what he did to turn this situation around. The series became a best-seller with 380,000 copies sold. As for current Todai student and popular author, Nishioka, receives many teacher’s and student’s worries and gives consultation in schools all over the country. His advice to students in their perspective have been well received by teachers and parents. He has even provided consulting on educational guidance. And now right before the new year’s holiday, he is here to discuss 3 manga that are helpful with students studies.

Lately, I feel as though educational manga have been on the rise. When it comes to manga, people may think it’s all pop with no educational substance, but that isn’t the case.

Nowadays, manga that make people think and are helpful with studies have increased. Even for Todai students, there are many disputes on the impression of reading manga. I would like to take the time to introduce 3 “educational” manga that are useful for your studies.

A Manga that Teaches Science with the Approach of Research

The first manga, “Science Fell in Love, so I Tried to Prove it” (Flex Comics – COMIC Meteor). As the title suggests, the manga is about love being deemed as unscientific to some science graduate students and they make every effort to prove that is the case.

There’s a lot to learn from this manga. The manga depicts the characters thinking scientifically and approaching problems, like how to prove them and thinking of a way to reach a solution. So, there are many chances to obtain knowledge.

Above all else, the manga isn’t just educational. It shows how to approach learning. This manga has scenes where professors press students on “what is this research useful for”. Professors scold students who don’t think about why they are studying this and how it can be useful.

We truly are prone to falling for this trap. For example, “traveling salesman problem” that will show up during your studies in the sciences and mathematics is in this manga. It is useful for figuring out a way to ride the most rides at Disneyland.

Learning is way to resolve issues and find solutions to the minor problems that the world has.

Just as the title says, “Love” and “Science” join together in this manga. Some may try to rush through this manga, but that’s not a good idea. That’s the way learning is and always will be. We are free to learn and research but we just set the bar too high for ourselves.

For lowering that bar and learning how to approach studying, I can’t recommend this manga enough.

Recommended manga for those who regret “Not being able to make the effort”

Next is “March Comes in Like a Lion” (Hakusensha Young Animal Comics). I think this manga should be read by anyone who regret not being able to make an effort. When I was studying for my exams, I was read it over and over and was encouraged countless times.

This is a story about a Shogi professional but, a Shogi pro makes ten-fold more effort than the ordinary person. They keep going and going, and they keep fighting to win regardless if they think its not enough or even if they win. And they do it all over again in the next match.

Continuing to make an effort can be tough. You may not be rewarded for your efforts, and may think that putting in the effort is pointless. May even feel disappointed in yourself, or come to the conclusion that nothing can be done and it end up being all pointless.

In this manga, the characters fight that hopelessness eagerly and desperately hold on for dear life. Everyone isn’t rewarded for that effort in Shogi. However, there is something to be gained and a world to be seen past the struggle when you keep pushing. It may not be rewarding, but certainly is a relief. It may seem absurd to others, but it does have it’s meaning. And That’s what this manga teaches us.

Young people that aren’t doing there best is on the rise. I’m on that side of the scale as well, so I can completely understand. But when I read this manga I think things like “making an efforts not bad” and “There might not be a reward, but I guess I’ll keep going at it”.

A Worthwhile Read Of The Abundant History from the Sengoku Era to Edo Era

Lastly, “Hyouge Mono” (Kodansha Morning KC).

This manga follows what Furuta Oribe, a commander, sees during the Warring States Era. Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, Sen no Rikyu, Tokugawa Ieyasu… and many other characters are drawn in this manga in a charming and comical fashion. Even more interesting, the manga helps understand things during this time period. Such as why is tea ceremonies are in style and how “culture” was formed. It is rare for a manga to worthwhile read while going over a lot of history.

Incidentally, when I introduce a manga like this, I think there are some who may say “Is it accurate”. Before I go further, this manga is based severely on an interpretation of what is barely portrayed in history. Sen no Rikyu having a big stature is historically accurate. He was so muscular and strong that the average samurai could not best him in combat.

You probably are thinking “is that so?!” and I think that’s fine. Some of it may be dramatized and you might think “you gotta be kidding me” but if you become interested in that then you’ll get interested in history, too.

So what do you think? These are the manga that I can recommended with confidence. It’s not about shying away and read it “because its manga”. If everyone can read it “because they are manga”, I’d be happy.

This one was a doozy. But it was great to translate this. The writer makes very good points. Things like manga and anime are looked down upon. Sure there probably some good reasons to harbor those feelings. However, with every thesis, there is an anti-thesis. If anything, this article faced the manga scrutiny very well. I’ve seen the anime from both the 1st and 2nd manga he recommended.

To be frank 3-gatsu no Lion is one of my favorite anime (even so much that I decided to do Japanese immersion with the first season this winter.). They do indeed have their charm and as a lover of science and shogi, I’d like to read the original material on Book Walker one day.

実況から勉強する：キングダムハーツ
LEARN FROM LET’S PLAYS: KINGDOM HEARTS

Alright! One last gummi ship adventure before the year is over.
The boys are heading for a land they’ve never seen before: Neverland!
What awaits them when they land? Let’s find out.

DIALOGUE STARTS AT 2:30

 ①ねえ、後（うし）ろから何（なに）かくるよ。とっても大（おお）きな船（ふね）だ。

　 のんびり見（み）てる場合（ばあい）じゃないよ！あれは海賊船（かいぞくせん）だぞ！

  • Say, uh, there’s something coming from behind us. It’s a big ship.
    • EN: Uh, a big ship is catching up to us.
  • There’s no time to be looking! That’s a pirate ship!
    • EN: Quit gawking! That’s a pirate ship!

※ The word のんびり means a lax kind of attitude. Donald is telling them this is no time with 見てる場合じゃない. 場合 means case or situation. So Donald is literally saying this isn’t a situation to idly looking.

②こっちにぶつける気（き）だ！みんなしっかりつかまって！

　おまえから来（き）てくれるとは思（おも）わなかったよ。

  • It’s going to crash into us! Hold on, everyone! 
    • EN: It’s going to ram us! Hold on tight!
  • Didn’t think you’d come here.
    • EN: I didn’t think you’d come, Sora.

③また会（あ）えて良（よ）かった。

　ドナルドとグーフィーはどうしたんだ？

  • It’s good that we can meet again.
    • EN: Good to see you again.
  • What happened to Donald and Goofy?
    • EN: Where are Donald and Goofy?

※ When you put a てーForm Verb together with 良かった it means “it’s good that…(verb)”.

④まだそんなことを言（い）っているのか。

　そんなに仲間（なかま）がたいせつか。

  • Still going on about them, huh?
    • EN: Are they that important to you?
  • Are they really that important to you?
    • EN: More important than old friends?

※ Riku is using まだ (which means still) here which expresses his cheekiness towards Sora being buddy buddy with Donald and Goofy.

⑤おまえが捜（さが）しているのはあのふたりか？ それともーー

　 見（み）ろ　おまえが遊（あそ）んでいる間（あいだ）に俺（おれ）はカイリを見つけたぞ。

  • You’re looking for those two or…
    • EN: Instead of worrying about them, you should be asking…
  • See. While your were playing around I found her.
    • EN: about her. That’s right. While you were off goofing around, I finally found her.

※ I like how the translators handles these lines here. Riku just trails off in the Japanese version and shows Kairi and then goes into the next line. On the other hand, the English version goes on and says something about Kairi.

🎮Wasn’t necessarily goofing around. Besides, Sora did try to get you to join him.

⑥おっと　俺の船で勝手（かって）な行動（こうどう）は慎（つつし）んでくれ。

　リク　おまえなんでこんな奴（やつ）らと一緒（いっしょ）にいるんだ！

  • Woah there. Take it easy. Can’t have you doing whatever you like on my ship.
    • EN: Not so fast. No shenanigans aboard my vessel, boy.
  • Riku! Why are you with these guys?!
    • EN: Riku, why are you siding with the Heartless?

※ The verb 慎む means in this case to refrain from doing something. It can also mean to be careful.

⑦俺はハートレスを操（あやつ）る力（ちから）手に入れた。もう怒（おこ）れるものは何もない。

　ハートレスは危険（きけん）な力だ。心（こころ）を吞（の）みこまれるぞ！

  • I have the power to control the Heartless. I don’t have no reason to be afraid anymore.
    • EN: The Heartless obey me now, Sora. Now I have nothing to fear.
  • That power’s dangerous. They’ll swallow up your heart!
    • EN: You’re stupid. Sooner or later they’ll swallow your heart.

※The verb 操る means to control. On another note, I really like that put that “You’re stupid” line in there.

🎮Sora’s right. Riku’s being really stupid right now. Doesn’t know what he’s truly dealing with when it comes to this power. I mean he’s seen plenty of people fall because of this power. Plus Kairi is in this state because of the dark powers that be. And yet…

⑧それは心が弱（よわ）いヤツだけさ。

　 リクーー

　この力でいろんなことができるようになった。

  • That’s only happens if your weak.
    • EN: Not a chance. My heart’s too strong.
  • Riku
    • EN: Riku…
  • I can do a lot more with this power.
    • EN: I’ve picked up a few of other tricks as well.

※ Riku is using “だけ” to say that “only” people with weak hearts are effected here. Also if you are ever interested in translating the — that you see after some sentences usually mean a pause in speech or it’s being continued in the next line.

⑨こんなこともな。

　大切な仲間に合（あ）わせてやるよ

  • Like this.
    • EN: Like this, for instance.
  • I’ll let you see your dear friends.
    • EN: You can go see your friends now.

※ The てーForm + やる here is the more impolite way to say “I’ll do something for you” or “I’ll give you something”.

🎮Pulling out your friend’s shadow. Way to be edgy Riku. Then you use a trap door. Way to be a rent-a-villain Riku.

⑩船はまだ出せないのか？

　向（む）こうへ着く（つ）まで、そらをカイリに近づけさせるなよ。

  • Is the ship still not ready to go?
    • EN: Let’s get under way, already.
  • Don’t let Sora nowhere Kairi till we land.
    • EN: And keep Sora away from Kairi until we’re ready to land.

※ This verb conjugation させる keeps coming up so I’ll explain it.

“to make/let someone do something”

This grammar point can mean two different things. One, it can mean to make or let someone do something. Two, it can mean to make something happen.

It changes depending on the type of verb so here’s a chart with the rules. I explained as well in the grammar section here.

⑪フン　あんなガキがこの俺に命令（めいれい）とは！

　どうします　フック船長（せんちょう）？

  • Hmph I’m not taking orders from that brat!
    • EN: That scurvy brat thinks he can order me around!
  • What’ll we do, Captain Hook?
    • EN: What shall we do, Captain Hook?

🎮Hook doesn’t like children to begin with so for Riku to be talking down to him like he’s some lowly grunt really stings his pride.

⑫放（ほう）っておけ！どうせ船の中にはハートレスがウヨウヨしとる。

　 やつらにでも見張（みは）らせとけ

  • Ignore him! The ship’s crawling with Heartless anyway.
    • EN: Nothing! The hold is crawling with Heartless.
  • Let them guard the ship.
    • EN: Let them keep an eye on the brats.

※ I really like how Japanese has a bunch of words like this. The repeating kind of words. ウヨウヨ means “crawling with” or “swarming”. The verb 見張らせ means “to stand guard/watch” over something and/or someone.

⑬でも船長　あそこにはあいつもーー

　シッ！今（いま）音（おと）がしなかったか？あのおそろしいーー

  • But Captain, they are also-
    • EN: But, Captain, you-know-who is also down–
  • Hush! Did you hear that just now? That terrifying sound.
    • EN: Shh… Did you hear that, Smee? Oh, that dreadful sound!

⑭いえ　何も。

　 本当（ほんとう）に本当？気のせいか？　ああいやだいやだーー

  • Nope not a thing.
    • EN: No, Captain.
  • Are you sure you’re sure? Is it just my imagination? Ah, this isn’t good…
    • EN: Are you quite sure? Did I imagine it? Oh, my poor nerves…

⑮カイリが？

　 うん　たしかにカイリだった。ようやく会えたんだ。

  • Kairi’s here?
    • EN: You don’t say?
  • Yeah, that was definitely her. I finally go to see her.
    • EN: Yeah, it was definitely Kairi. I’ve finally found her.

※ Find it funny we kinda reversed the order of Kairi and her here.

⑯そうかあ　それじゃもう一度（いちいどう）会いに行こう！

　ああ。

　 賛成（さんせい）立（た）ち上（あ）がろう。早く立って！

  • Then let’s go see her again!
    • EN: All right! Then let’s go up and talk to her.
  • Yeah.
    • EN: Yeah!
  • Agreed. No get up! Hurry and get up!
    • EN: Sounds great. Okay, but first… how about getting off!

🎮At least Donald and Goofy were able to break Sora’s fall from the trap door. I do wonder why they don’t have them tied up though.

⑰あ　わりい

　ゴホン！　ここから出るんだろ　手伝（てつだ）ってやろうか？

　 誰（だれ）だい？

  • Ah, my bad.
    • EN: Oh, sorry.
  • Ahem! I can help you get out of here.
    • EN: Ahem! How ya doin’ there? Looking for a way out?
  • Who’re you?
    • EN: Who are you?

※ The word わりい is a colloquial word that means something like, my bad or sorry about that.

⑱君（きみ）らだけじゃ　まず無理（むり）だろうね。

　そうかい　じゃ　どうぞご自由（じゆう）に。

　 そう言う自分（じぶん）も捕（つか）まったんじゃないの？

  • It’ll be impossible to do on your own.
    • EN: I’m the answer to you prayers.
  • Oh okay then be my guest (get out on your own).
    • EN: Okay, then. Fine. Have it your way.
  • You say that but weren’t you captured, too?
    • EN: But you’re stuck in here too, aren’t you?

※ The word どうぞ is a phrase that means “help yourself” or “here you go”. Peter even uses some keigo （ご自由）here. They he does it comes off as sarcastic though.

⑲僕（ぼく）は待（ま）ってるだけさ。

　 誰を？

　遅（おそ）かったじゃないか　ティンカーベル。

  • I’m just waiting.
    • EN: No. I’m just waiting for someone.
  • For who?
    • EN: Who?
  • Well aren’t you late Tinker Bell.
    • EN: Tinker Bell, what took you so long?

⑳そうか　そこにウィンディがいるんだな？

　もうひとり？もうひとり女の子（おんな・の・こ）がいるのかい？

　何言ってるんだ　だめだよ。ウィンディはたいせつな人なんだから。

  • Oh, so Wendy’s there?
    • EN: Great job. So you found Wendy?
  • Another person? There’s another girl in there?
    • EN: Hold on. There was another girl there, too?
  • What are you saying? No way we’re leaving Wendy. She’s important.
    • EN: Are you crazy? There is no way I’m gonna leave Wendy there!

※ The sentence 何言ってるんだ could be implied as someone suggesting something stupid or in this case crazy.

🎮Dang. Don’t know what Tinkerbell is saying but she really doesn’t like when another girl gets close to Peter. Nobody wants this man-child, Tinkerbell. So chill. Also, I wonder how the Tinkerbell in those movies where she’s the main character meets Peter.

㉑ハハァ　やきもちやいてるな。

　 お　おいティンク　扉（扉）を開（あ）けてくれよ！

　 ゴホン。

　 僕はピーターパン。

  • Oh, so you’re jealous.
    • EN: Aha. She must be pretty jealous.
  • He-hey Tink, open the door!
    • EN: Come on, Tink! Open up the door!
  • Ahem!
    • EN: Ahem!
  • I’m Peter Pan.

※ Really like how Sora is throwing that Ahem back in Peter’s face. That ahem was like Sora saying “so you were saying”). Left out Sora introducing himself because it’s kinda implied here.

㉒いいか　一緒に行くのはウェンディを助（たす）けるまでだ。

　ねえ　どうして空（そら）を飛（と）べるの？

　誰だって飛べるさ。　試（ため）してみるかい。

  • Listen up. I’ll go with you until I save Wendy.
    • EN: Okay, we’re in this together, but only ’til we find Wendy.
  • Say, how are you flyin’?
    • EN: So, uh, how come you can fly?
  • Any one can fly. Wanna try it out?
    • EN: Anyone can fly. You wanna try?

㉓ティンク　そろそろ機嫌なおせよ。

　妖精（ようせい）の粉（こ）をかけるんだ。

　 さ　これで飛べるはずだ。

  • Ah. Cheer up Tink.
    • EN: Aw, haven’t you cooled off yet, Tink?
  • Sprinkle some fairy dust.
    • EN: Just a little bit of pixie dust.
  • Now you’ll be able to fly.
    • EN: There. Now you can fly.

※ The word 機嫌 can mean humor but in this context it means mood. なおせ comes from the verb 直（なお）す which means to mend or to heal. So Peter is pretty much telling Tinker Bell to fix her mood or attitude here.

🎮Donald the DUCK everybody. The character that can’t fly. He gets to fly in the House of Mouse though.

㉔すると何か？ウェンディはプリンセスじゃないってのか。

　マレフィセントから聞（き）いただろう。

　選（えら）ばれた７人（にん）だけがプリンセスなんだ。　　

  • So what? Wendy’s not a princess?
    • EN: What? So Wendy’s not one of the chosen ones?
  • That what I heard heard from Maleficent.
    • EN: There are seven, supposedly,
  • There’s only 7 Chosen Princesses.
    • EN: and Maleficent says she’s not one of them.

㉕船の整備（せいび）が終（おわ）わり次第（じだい）出発（しゅっぱつ）する。

　関係（かんけい）のは置（お）いていく。

　せっかくつかまえたってのに！

  • Once the ship’s repairs are done, we’re heading out.
    • EN: Hoist anchor as soon as possible.
  • Leave behind the stow-aways.
    • EN: Leave all the dead weight behind, including her.
  • After going through the trouble of capturing them?!
    • EN: After the trouble of capturing her?

㉖なんでその７人なんだ？

    マレフィセントは何をしようってんだ？

　俺はカイリの心を取り戻す（とり・もどす）方法（ほうほう）さえ見つかればそれでいい。

  • Why 7 anyway?
    • EN: And why those seven?
  • What is Maleficent planning?
    • EN: What is Maleficent planning, anyway?
  • As long as it’s a way to get Kairi’s heart back, I don’t care.
    • EN: Who knows. As long as it means getting Kairi’s heart back, I couldn’t care less.

🎮Good questions there Hook but hold up… you teamed up with Maleficent without knowing her end game. Okay~ that was smart. What is his motivation for joining anyway?

㉗フン！ごくろうなこった！

　あの娘（むすめ）の心はハートレスに喰（く）われちまったんだ。

　 心を取り戻すなんて　無理だろう。

  • Hmph! Well, gee thanks for all your hard work!
    • EN: You’re wasting your time!
  • That girl’s heart has already been eaten by the Heartless.
    • EN: The Heartless have devoured that girl’s heart.
  • “Getting her heart back” isn’t possible.
    • EN: I’ll stake me other hand it’s lost forever.

※ The expression ごくろう means “thanks for your hard work”. As you can see Hook is using it quite sarcastically here.

㉘カイリの心は食われたりしていない！

    フック船長。

　 なんだ。

  • Kairi’s heart wasn’t eaten!
    • EN: I will find it no matter what.
  • Captain Hook.
    • EN: Uh, Captain…
  • What is it?
    • What?

㉙やつらやっぱり逃げ出しました。ピーターパンのやつも一緒です。

　 ピーターパンめ！いいかスミー人質（ひとじち）を船長室（しつ）に連（つれ）れてこい　今すぐにだ！

　どうした　ティンク？

  • As I thought, they escaped and Peter is with them.
    • EN: The prisoners have escaped. What’s more, Peter Pan is with them.
  • That blasted Peter! Listen Smee, take the hostages to the Captain’s Cabin now!
    • EN: Blast that Peter Pan! All right, then! Bring the hostage to me cabin, Smee! Hop to it!
  • What’s the matter, Tink?
    • EN: What is it, Tink?

㉚ピーター？ピーターパンなの？

　 急（いそ）いで！海賊（かいぞく）たちが部屋（へや）の外（そと）に！

　 何（なん）だって！？よしすぐ行くから待ってて！

  • Peter? Is that you, Peter Pan?
    • EN: Peter? Peter Pan?
  • Hurry! The pirates are taking us out of the room!
    • EN: Please hurry! The pirates are coming!
  • What?! Alright, we’ll be there soon so wait for me!
    • EN: What! I’ll be right up there! Just hold on!

㉛誰？

　そこに　もうひとり女の子がいる？

　え？ええ。だけど全然（ぜんぜん）目（め）を覚（さ）まさないの。

  • Who are you?
    • EN: Yes?
  • Is there another girl up there?
    • EN: Is there another girl in there with you?
  • Huh? Yes. But she hasn’t woken up.
    • EN: Oh, why, yes. But she seems to be alseep.

🎮With her eye’s open? Creepy~

🎮しまった！カイリが壊れちゃった！(Oh no! Kairi’s broken!)

㉜ずっと眠（ねむ）っているみたいにーー

　 ウェンディ！？ソラ上（えう）だ！

  • Looks like she’s sleeping for quite a while.
    • EN: She hasn’t budged an inch.
  • Wendy?! Sora let’s go up!
    • EN: Wendy! Hey, let’s get up there!

🎮How the heck did Wendy get that chest drawer in front of the door? Looks heavy.

🎮On top of that, Peter could’ve flew up there, right? Third time Paradigm has used a trinity. Wonder if there’ll be a chest opening soon.

Looks like Goofy’s raring to go up the ladder. But we’ll close off the year with this.
The boys will be back again to take on what may come there way next year.
So look forward to it!

ヒトリゴトだけ／JUST TALKING

タイトルを見る／WHAT’S IN A TITLE

ドラゴンクエストVI
幻の大地

ドラゴンクエスト

This may look like it is combined but it is actually two words. They are in katakana, which tells us that it may be from a foreign language. It means Dragon Quest.

幻(まぼろし)

This kanji can mean things like phantasm, illusion, or dream. Since this is a fantasy kind of RPG I’ll go with something that will fit that: illusion.

の

Usually seen as a possessive particle but, in a title like this, I think it is safe to go with “of”.

大地(だいち)

The first kanji means big or large. While the second kanji means ground or earth. So big ground? It could even mean the Earth itself. So a vast piece of land. Or maybe just “land” would be better. Then again, I know land can be vast but surely there’s a better word than land while keeping a sense of fantasy and vastness. Maybe “world”. Put that together and you get

Dragon Quest VI
The World of Illusions

Let’s take a look at the official English translation.

Definitely gives off a fantasy appeal. Especially the realm part. I am curious how they came up with revelation though. This title comes from a video game that I played this year.

My first time playing a game from this series and I decided to play it in Japanese of all things. Took me 85 hours to finish the main story XD. I think I’ll just play Pokemon Alpha Sapphire for this Winter. Here’s a short video on how my journey went:

レイの日記

１９番水道ですごい釣り竿を作って、スーパーボールでヒトデマンを捕まった。よしゃ。なみのり覚えてできる。君の名はシュリケンだ。よろしく。

よろしく！

ビーチハウスに行ったとき、イナズマは少しだけサーフィンした。よし、休憩終わりだ。出発ぞ。

surfing pikachu pokemon yellow に対する画像結果

なぜおまえらは海で泳ぐのか。危険だろ。ドククラゲで冒されるとか。そんなことを俺に起こったら、やばい。泳げないんだ。イナズマの１０万ボルト使いすぎたが、役に立ったぞ。イナズマは⚡かみなりを覚えた。

島がある。グレン島らしくねぇ。合図によって、この島は双子島という。洞窟には入って、クラブ見っけ。スーパーボールで捕まった。名はレッド。またねレッド。

パソコンに行ってくれ！

今度でこの場所に行かないと。岩石にその穴を動いたら、急速な流れを止まってできるそうだ。やりしかない。この道は唯一のチャンスだから、とりあえず、準備しないと。

REI’S JOURNAL

Welcome to the team!

On Sea Route 19, I used a super rod and caught a Staryu with a Great Ball. Nice. It can learn Surf. Named it Shuriken.

Went to a beach house and Inazuma surfed on a surfboard for a bit.

surfing pikachu pokemon yellow に対する画像結果

Alright breaks over let’s get to Cinnabar Island.

Why are there people swimming out in the sea. Isn’t that dangerous. They could get attacked by a Tentacruel or something. If that happened to me I’d be in trouble since I can’t swim. Inazuma used a bunch of thunderbolts and learned Thunder.

In the PC you go!

There some islands here. Doesn’t look like Cinnabar Island. The sign says Seafoam Islands. I went into a cave where a Krabby appeared. I caught it with a Great Ball. I’ll name it Red.

I’ll have to come back to this place later. Looks like I have to move boulders down these holes to stop the fast current. This my only way to go to Cinnabar Island, so I need to prepare first.

In conclusion, I hope that this series is helpful with your journey to learning Japanese and/or taking an interest in the country’s culture. Until then… また来年！良いお年を！

Shogi on Twitch + SPYⅹFAMILY

日本語の練習 第108週

Japanese Practice Week 108

2021年12月19日「日」第108週 

Hello everyone! Kyuusei here to teach you Japanese and show what I find interesting about Japan. With that being said, let’s continue.

日本語のイベント

また将棋のことを書きましたけど、今度、日本語で書きたいと思います。英語で将棋のことを書きましたポストはここです。

先週ユーチューバーのTheAnimeManは将棋プロで将棋を勉強し始めた。このポストで将棋プロのカロリーナ・ステチェンスカのことを話しました。彼女はナルトを読んで将棋に興味を持ちました。この感じわかります。３月のライオンのおかげで、将棋のことをすごく気になりました。

今年は日本語など手いっぱいで、時間がないので、将棋を集中しませんでした。

でも、来年、また将棋を勉強して続けます。将棋を興味あるなら、カロリーナはTwitchチャネルがある。将棋の勉強旅を始まりたいなら、ほかのおすすめがある。HIDETCHIのユーチューブチャネルです。もう初心者なら、この本はおすすめ、詰将棋の本です。Amazonで買いました。

N3　文法

[切れない]

too much to finish

Ever have so much to do but too little time to do it? Ever left something unfinished? Then this is great grammar point to pick up. It is the opposite of what was covered last week. This is used to express that there so much to do that it can’t be done.

Verb[drop ます] + 切れない

Ex: ケーキバイキングに行ったとき、ケーキをもっと食べたかったが、食べきれなかった。

　　(When I went to a cake buffet, I wanted to eat more but, I couldn’t finish eating it all.)

Ex: 時間がない。この安吾を解ききれない。 

　　(I don’t have time. I can’t finish solving this code.) 

[きり]

only, just, since

Expresses a limited amount. Think of it as another meaning for だけ. It can also describe that nothing has changed. It’s just the same as it was before or after something.

V[past-form] + きり/っきり
N + きり/っきり

Ex: クリスマスにあったきり女と過ごした。

　　(I spent my Christmas with a girl I just met.)

Ex: 謎を解くまで、彼女は出かけたきり戻てこなかった。

　　(She left and didn’t come back until she solved the mystery.) 

Ex: 彼は役１年寝たきりだった。まだ全然思い出せなかった。

　　(He was bedridden for a year. He still doesn’t remember anything.)

Ex: 家族がいっぱいいる女はひとりきりで暮らすの寂しいのでいやそうですね。

　　(The woman with a big family seems to not want to live alone because she’d be lonely.) 

N3　動詞

邪魔する　

じゃま（する）

hindrance, disturbance

This verb can be used in a couple of ways.

One is the common expression お邪魔します. You use this when you are about to enter someone’s house. It means “sorry for the disturbance”. It literally means “I’m going to disturb you”. When you leave the person’s house you can say お邪魔しました (“thank you for having me over”) which literally means “I have disturbed you”.

Another way you can use this is when someone or something is being an obstacle whether figuratively or literally. Like getting in your way when you are walking down a street. Or that pesky rival that doesn’t know when to back down.

対話

Two sisters are at home alone. And there are Christmas presents under the tree. Can’t open them so all they can do is deduce what’s inside.

[プレゼントを推理する]

A: 母はどこに行ったの？

B: さ、たぶん父と買いに行くと思う。

A: やった！一緒にプレゼントを見ない？

B: いいけれど、プレゼントのことなんとか知ってるよ。

A: え？ほんとう？どうやって？

B: ほら、プレゼントを二つ見て。ゲームケースみたいじゃない？

A: あ、そうだ。これのタッグは私の名前が書いた。

B: そうそう。ほかのはあたしの名前が書いたでしょう。

A: そうみたいね。

B: じゃあ、あたしたちはどんな同じゲーム機があるの？

A: ないでしょう。あ、このケースの形は。。。

B: そうよ。ニンテンドスイチのケース。それじゃ。。。

A: ニンテンドスイチももらった。頭がいいじゃん、お姉ちゃん。

B: いや、簡単でしょう。

[Let’s try eating it]

A: Where’s mom?

B: Not sure, probably with Dad shopping.

A: Yay! You wanna take a look at the presents?

B: Sure but I kinda know what they are already.

A: Huh? Really? How did you find out?

B: See those two presents there. They look like game cases don’t they?

A: Oh they do. This one has my name on it.

B: Right. And the other has my name on it, right?

A: Looks like it.

B: So, do both of us have the same game console?

A: No. Ah, the shape of the case…

B: Right. A Nintendo Switch case. So that means…

A: We’re both getting Nintendo Switches. Your smart, sis.

B: Nah, it was simple.

実況から勉強する：キングダムハーツ

Now that the boys have taken care of the brats, it’s time to take on the bag of bugs, Boogie! What awaits the boys in this boss fight? Find out now as we finish up Halloween Town!

 ①「ブギーの拷問室（ごう・もん・しつ）」への扉（とびら）

  • Door to Boogie’s Torture Chamber
    • EN: Torture Chamber

②ブギー、心（こころ）を返（かえ）せ！

  • Give back the heart, Boogie!
    • EN: Oogie Boogie, give me back the heart!

③ざーんねん。ちょうど俺（おれ）のお食事（しょくじ）タイムだ。

  • Too bad. It’s almost time for dinner.  
    • EN: You want it? Well, then come on over and get it!

🎮Welp guess the boys are going to kali ma Boogie.

※ The adverb ちょうど is used for time frames (dates, time on a clock, meal times, etc.). It means exactly. For example ちょうど午前9時アップします。(I upload at exactly 9:00 am.)

④さあ　このブギー様（さま）の元（もと）に集（あつ）まれ　ハートレスよ！

  • Now come to me Heartless!
    • EN: Now, let’s see if I can get their attention. Oh, Heartless!

※ The word 元 can mean origin but in this context it means “(someone’s) side”. I could’ve went with gather （集まれ）but went with come to me instead.

🎮えー２匹だけ？！弱すぎるブギーｗ。

⑤これだけ！？このブギー様をコケにするつもりかあ！

  • This is it?! Are you trying to make a fool of me?!
    • EN: This is it? Nobody disrespects me! Nobody!

🎮Not even yourself Boogie? Because this is your fault.

※ The expression コケにする means “to make a fool of (someone)”. As you can see from the 様 Boogie thinks very highly of himself. He can only control two Heartless really hits ego.

🎮This boss fight was so annoying. All these cheap tricks are really up Boogie’s ally. I do like how the devs added the roulette and the dice to the game though. Since Boogie is so weak and all he needs to stoop down to such tactics. He even has a device that can heal him. I wonder if there’s a way to cast thunder on him.

⑥博士（はかせ）の心はまた失敗作（しっぱいさく）だったのか。。。

  • So the doctor’s heart was another dud, huh.
    • EN: So, that heart was a failure after all.

⑦セイクリッドを手（て）にいれた！

  • Obtained Sacred!
    • EN: Obtained Holy Circlet.

⑧アンセムレポート６を手にいれた！

  • Obtained Ansem Report 6!
    • EN: Obtained Ansem Report 7.

🎮Somewhat surprised they let Boogie hold onto an Ansem Report. Wonder if they decided to let the strongest of the league of villains only have the most important reports. And of course that isn’t the end of it. If you thought that room was torture then get ready for the real annoyance of the Boogie boss fight. I guess Boogie Manor has two meanings now.

⑨ぅわっ！？なんであんなに大きくなったんだ！？

  • Wha-?! How’d he get that big?!
    • EN: Whoa! How did he get so big?

※ There are quite a few あそどこ words and あんな fits this pattern. Theis んなに・んな kind of words describe the extent of something. So Sora is wondering how Boogie got “that big”.

🎮Boogie has fused with his house. Only Kingdom Hearts can get this nutty.

⑩ソラ、見て見て！闇（やみ）の力（ちから）があふれてる！

  • Sora, look! It’s overflowing with the power of darkness!
    • EN: Look! It’s brimming with the power of darkness!

※The verb 溢（あふ）れる means “to overflow”, “to brim over”, or “to flood”. By adding ている it makes the verb turn add an -ing (overflowing, brimming over, flooding). Another thing about ている. To be more casual you can take out the い like Jack(?) did here.

⑪ブギーは、あの影（かげ）のかたまりから闇の力を吸（す）いとってるんだ！

  • Those clusters of shadows are absorbing the darkness!
    • EN: Oogie Boogie is drawing power from those dark globs!

⑫じゃあ、あれを全部（ぜんぶ）ぶっこわせばいいんだな！

  • We just gotta smash them all then!
    • EN: So we just have to destroy those thing, right?

※ The ぶっ at the beginning means to strongly or quickly do something. It is usually put with words like 飛ばす、殺す、and as you can see here 壊（こわ）す.

🎮With all the weird camera angles locking onto them really helps. Glide might have been a good thing to have during this fight. That reminds me. This world wasn’t in the manga. Then again I kinda see why. It’d be a pain to draw this house and the fight that takes place.

⑬ドローをおぼえた

  • Learned Draw
    • EN: Learned Treasure Magnet

🎮Down goes the house and Key Beam time.

⑭星（ほし）の力を手にいれた！

  • Obtained the power of the stars!
    • EN: Attained the power of stars.

⑮グラビデはグラビラにパワーアップ！

  • Gravity power-up’d to Gravira!
    • EN: Gravity upgraded to Gavira.

⑯僕（ぼく）はハロウィンの王（おう）失格（しっかく）だ。

  • I’m not fit to be called the King of Halloween.
    • EN: Sally, why didn’t I listen to you?

※ The word 失格 means being a failure in a role or not being a good fit for it.

⑰気（き）を落（お）とさないで　ジャック。

  • Don’t be so down, Jack.
    • EN: Don’t feel bad, Jack.

⑱また新（あたら）しいハロウィンを考（かんが）えましょう？

  • Let’s come up with a new Halloween celebration, okay?
    • EN: We’ll come up with another plan for Halloween.

⑲今度（こんど）は　私も一緒（いっしょ）にーー

  • Together this time.
    • EN: Next time, we’ll do it together.

⑳しかたない。。。『ハートレスとすごすハロウィン』は中止（ちゅうし）だ。

  • Can’t be helped… The “Halloween Heartless Extravaganza” will be cancelled.
    • EN: I guess we have no choice. We’ll have to cancel the Heartless Halloween festival for now.

※ The word 中止 means to cancel or stop something. The verb すごす means “to spend time”. So technically, the literal translation of this would be “Spend time with Heartless Halloween” but I went with something shorter.

㉑せめてもの記念（きねん）に、これを。。。

  • I’ll at least let you have this as a memento.
    • EN: Here, I want you to have this.

㉒ソラは🗝パンプキンヘッドを手にいれた！

  • Sora obtained 🗝Pumpkin Head!
    • EN: Sora obtained 🗝Pumpkinhead.

㉓ソラ、またいつでもハロウィンタウンに来（き）てくれ。

  • Come to Halloween Town whenever you like, Sora.
    • EN: Visit us any time, Sora.

㉔今度こそすばらしく恐（おそ）ろしいハロウィンをお見せするよ。

  • I’ll show you a wonderful frightening Halloween for sure next time.
    • EN: Next Halloween will be the scariest ever!

㉕”感情（かんじょう）”も、”記憶（きおく）”も。。。

  • Emotions and Memory.
    • EN: Emotion, memory…

㉖必要（ひつよう）なものは全部入（い）れたのに。。。

  • We had everything that was needed and yet…
    • EN: We put in all the necessary ingredients.

㉗じゃあ心には何があればいいんじゃ！？

  • what else did we need?!
    • EN: What else do you need to make a heart?

㉘心ってのは何なんだ！？

  • What is a heart?!
    • EN: What is a heart, anyway?

※The 何なんだ part adds more emphasis to “what”. I think the way they put “anyway” here gets the point across quite nicely.

㉙わしにさっぱりわからん！

  • I don’t have the slightest clue!
    • EN: I can’t figure it out.

Neither do I Doc. But then again philosophy seems to be out of your expertise. The boys’ adventure in Halloween Town is over. This world kind of reminded me of Thriller Bark Arc in One Piece. Now if only it had pirates.

ヒトリゴト

タイトルを見る

休み明け行楽背比べ！

休み明け(やすみ・あけ)

休み means rest or break. But it is combined with 明け which can mean the end of something. It also can mean beginning of a new year, month, etc. Like the phrase 明けましておめでとう (Happy New Year).

When combined this becomes a new word that can be translated to “end of break”. It is an expression that means “the day after a holiday/break”.

From the panel it seems as though a girl is going back to school. So this indicates that they are back in school from a vacation. I’m think “first day back” would fit here.

行楽(こう・らく)

The first kanji comes from the verb “to go” or 行く. By itself it mean things like going, journey or carry out. The next kanji comes from the word (fun) 楽しい. With that in mind, when you combine these two kanji you get something like “Going out having fun”. And that’s not to far off from the actual definition: “outing”, “excursion”, or “pleasure trip”. I’ll be going with something similar “vacation”.

背比べ(せい・くらべ)

背 means height while 比べ means to compare. I like to think it is a common thing where you compare your height to someone else. But in this situation we are not talking about comparing height. It is more so about one-upping each other in this situation. I’ll keep it simple and translate it as “Comparing” instead of “One-upping” (even though that’s what she’s doing).

I think that this would fit for this:

“Comparing Vacations on the First Day Back”

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like they translated that part in the official Shonen Jump English version. I also couldn’t find a scanlation where they tried to translate it since the app came out I’m pretty sure they are just copying without translating at this point XD. So I guess what I put is fine.

This manga chapter comes from SPYⅹFAMILY. I gave a reference to it in my Itasha post here. It came up in the 対話 (Dialogue section)

It is a manga about a spy, Lloyd (codenamed Twilight), who has to blend in on his next big mission. He’s a man of disguise so it is no big deal. Until he finds out he has to start a family for this new mission.

So who does he pick to be apart of the perfectly named Forger family? A girl with esper abilities, Anya and the neighborhood hitwoman, Yor. This story all starts with a “lie triangle” but slowly but surely I think that this family can become the truth. At least I hope.

If you want to read it, I recommend subscribing to the Shonen Jump app or you can read it here on Viz. You can read the first and last 3 chapters but if you subscribe for $2, you can get this and much more (One Piece, My Hero Academia, Yozakura Family, etc.)

If you are a Japanese learner like myself, then you can check out the latest chapters of SPYⅹFAMILY and possibly other manga series on the Shonen Jump+ website.

Here’s a manga trailer that Viz put out:

Plus this manga is finally getting a well deserved anime next April on Crunchyroll. Here’s a PV of that:

Honestly, this is the first time I saw this PV. They didn’t give the CV yet but I’m pretty sure that one of my favorite voice actors Saori Hayami is voicing Yor in this one. It’s being done by Wit Studio and CloverWorks, so I’d like to think it is in good hands.

Since Wit Studio is no longer doing Attack on Titan and will be able to put there whole attention on this and CloverWorks not messing with another adaptation (they’re doing Akebi-chan next Winter *fingers crossed*), I’m looking forward to this anime. Plus, it is getting 2 cours, so it will be going into the Summer 2022 lineup as well.

レイの日記

ポケモンを回復してキズグスリを書いたとき、キョウをぶっ飛ばして行った。ちなみ、マスターボールを買ってみたが、０円売ってできた。結構だ。さすが、忍者の子孫だ。こいつのポケモンはソレイユを寝られさせたがキョウショクが毒入れた。もっとなんでもなおしを買ったよかった。それに、こいつはプラスパワーを使いすぎた。ともかく、コンパン一体何なんだ？最後のはモルフォンだ。

そのポケモンより厄介だなあ。かげぶんしんを使ったから、攻撃がミスだった。どくどくも使う。果てはこいつはプラスパワーを使う。さすが、タヌキオヤジ。なんでもなおし毎回使って、こいつはどくどくしやがって。

キョウショクは。。。毒のせいで、死んだ。

モルフォンのサイコキネシスの攻撃はハヤカッタを殺した。

ソレイユをじしんの技を使ってよかった。ミス二回で、ほぼ死んだが、ソレイユのホネこんぼうであの化け物を倒した。ゴールドバッジとわざマシン０６「どくどく」をもらった。

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キョウショクを殺して面倒な技。。。わい～このタヌキオヤジめ。あばよキョウショク。。。ハヤッタカ。ありがとうな。

残りのポケモンを回復をして、パソコンでシコックハがゲットだった。ソレイユは「かいりき」のひでんわざを教えた。必要だから。グレン島に行かないとが、キョウショクもうないので、できない。なみのりの技を覚えてできるポケモンを掴まないとかなあ。

REI’S JOURNAL

After healing my Pokemon and buying more potions, I went to the Gym to beat Koga. By the way, tried selling the master ball. I could sell it for 0 yen. Koga sure is a strategist. He put Soreiyu to sleep and poisoned Kyoushoku. Good thing I bought more full heals. He goes overboard with X Attack. And what’s with all the Venonat. His last Pokemon is a Venomoth.

It’s more annoying than the others. It used Double Team so my attacks miss. It uses Toxic to poison my Pokemon. On top of that, Koga uses X Attack on it. Truly a strategist. Every time I used a full heal, this guy would poison them again.

Kyoushoku died from the poison.

Then Venomoth killed Hayakatta with powerful Psychic attack.

Luckily Soreiyu could use Earthquake. Missed a couple of times and almost died but, the Bone Club took that monster down.

I received the Soul Badge and TM 06 Toxic. Gee… the move that killed Kyoushoku and was a pain to deal with… thanks.

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Goodbye Kyoushoku and Hayattaka. And thank you.

Healed my remaining team and got Shikokkuha from the PC. Taught Strength to Soreiyu. He’ll need that. Have to get to Cinnabar Island but I can’t without Kyoushoku’s Surf. Guess I better catch a Pokemon.

In conclusion, I hope that this series is helpful with your journey to learning Japanese and/or taking an interest in the country’s culture. Until then… また来週！

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