Why Japanese people, WHY?!

It's so cold in Japan!! I heard that we'll have snow tomorrow. Agh, I need to hug my fluffy friend...

Hello, my fluffy friend!

By the way, I found a nice Podcast for learning English. The title is <American Hot Topics>. As you see, they introduce some hot, trending topics mainly in English, sometimes in Japanese. Maybe it's also good for upper intermediate Japanese learners.

Here's <American Hot Topics> Facebook page!


I was listening their latest show this morning, and I came to know a funny comedian in Japan, who's from America. See the video below! I like it!! XD

You got it?


*Japanese Word of the Day*
Today I'm going to tell you some Kanji which is shown in the comedy video.

大　― big
太　― fat, chubby
犬　― a dog

一、二、三、四　― 1,2,3,4
触　― to touch / 角　― a horn, an antenna + 虫　― an insect, a bug, a worm
始　― to start  / 女　― a woman + 台　― a stage, a platform, a rack,

憂鬱　― depression, gloom, to feel miserable
※ Most Japanese people can't write its Kanji! It's too hard. Me? Of course not!!



Well, my friend will arrive in Japan tomorrow. Our special tour's gonna start the day after tomorrow. :) Next week, I'll write about it. I hope it won't snow heavily!

Enjoy It Fully!!

I'm going to go back to Japan tomorrow!! Yay! XD

My Taiwanese friend's coming to my hometown, so I'll show her around. I hope she'll enjoy her stay in Japan. I'll write about our tour maybe next time, as much detail as possible, so that you can plan your sightseeing in Kanazawa.

Here's my previous posts written about my hometown, Kanazawa:

→ About My Hometown

→ My Holiday in Japan

*Japanese Word of the Day*

ニッポンを、遊（あそ）びつくせ！

/nippon wo, asobi tsukuse!/

Enjoy Japan fully!

*ニッポン（にっぽん）/nippon/ = にほん/nihon/ Japan

*遊（あそ）びつくす/asobi tsukusu/ to have fun as much as possible, to fully enjoy

遊（あそ）ぶ/asobu/ to have fun, to play, to enjoy

つくす/tsukusu/ to do everything, to use up, to do one's best

つくす is often used with verbs, like 食べつくす(to eat up), 話しつくす(to talk about everything), 出しつくす(to give all you can), 燃やしつくす(to burn out), etc.

遊びつくせ is the imperative form of 遊びつくす.

Well, 書きつくしたかな？ Have I written all I need to?

Kenroku-en, one of the most famous garden in Japan

Stay tuned! ；）

Flip Book Animation

Have you made a flip book before? I have. I used to draw a picture in the corner of a notebook during a class. (Sorry teacher!) Math textbooks were best for flipping. That's why I wasn't good at Mathematics, I guess.

I found an interesting video on Youtube. It's a flip book animation made by a Japanese comedian (is he still working as a comedian? I'm not sure..).

During the New Year's holidays, I went to see this movie ―Big Hero 6.
Just so you know, it actually isn't a flip book animation movie, but it's the latest film from Disney. You know, the story is set in a fictional town which is a mash-up of San Francisco and Tokyo, and the protagonist is a Japanese boy. But don't worry, they all speak perfect English, not Japanese. haha

It was much more exciting than I expected. I love this movie.

If you're interested in the music of it, this Youtube video (click here!) would be helpful for you to know its lyrics and its English translations. This song also has a English version.

*Japanese Word of the Day*

休（やす）みのあいだ、勉強(べんきょう）サボってた。

/yasumi no aida, benkyou sabotteta/

I was slacking off on study during the holidays.

*休（やす）み /yasumi/ day-off, holidays

*～のあいだ /...no aida/ between, during, among

*勉強（べんきょう） /benkyou/ study, work

*サボる /saboru/ to slack off, to goof off, to bunk off

―サボった /sabotta/ is the past tense of the verb サボる.

:P

HAPPY HAPPY NEW YEAR

Year of the Horse (2014) was over, and now Year of the Sheep (2015) has started. :D
Sheep is the 8th animal in 12 zodiac signs. Well, I'll write more about it later. ；）

I went to see fireworks in Taipei on New Year's Eve. It was fabulous!


*Japanese of the Day*
あけまして　おめでとう　ございます
/akemashite omedetou gozaimasu/
Happy New Year!

Wish you all a fantastic and fun filled New Year!! XD