A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. The way this works: Follow the link and watch the video. It will introduce you to the hiragana and strengthen your ability to recognise them. Watch it twice on day one if you need to. Complete the work sheet. Either print off the sheet and fill it in or write your hiragana on a pad. Post your work. Show off your skills, receive feedback and get motivation from us sharing together. https://www.skool.com/japanese/classroom/78718867?md=8a1224ebed734ec3b4f72665da5e3ec0 Please try your best (ganbatte kudasai)!!! Joe Sensei. @Leonardo Adoccimo @Ricardo Solomons @Kev Hear @Julia Stanley @Harry Lewis @Serdar San @Lydia Cox P.S. Bonus Challenge. Which of today's hiragana can you see in the attached image of a Japanese menu? Tip: お is not あ. Be careful!

After an incredible tournament filled with tough matchups and passionate votes… 👑 ひつまぶし (Hitsumabushi) is officially our Japanese Language Learners’ Favourite Japanese Food! 👑🍚 From the very beginning, hitsumabushi stood out with its rich flavour, unique eating style, and deep tradition—and in the end, it claimed the crown. 🥩 Huge respect to ジンギスカン (Jingisukan) for making it all the way to the final! Thank you to everyone who voted, debated, and shared their love of Japanese food 🙌

Ocha and Chat is our weekly live call for using our Japanese and for social study. 🗓️ Topic: Where you do things (で) For this week’s Ocha & Chat, we’ll practise talking about where you do things in Japanese. This is super useful for everyday conversation: - where you eat - where you study - where you relax 🧠 Mini Lesson: で (Place of Action) We use で to show where an action happens. Pattern: Place + で + Verb Examples カフェでコーヒーを飲みます。Kafe de kōhī o nomimasu.I drink coffee at a café. 図書館で本を読みます。Toshokan de hon o yomimasu.I read a book at the library. 学校で日本語を勉強します。Gakkō de Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.I study Japanese at school. 📍 Common Places カフェ — kafe — café レストラン — resutoran — restaurant 学校 — gakkō — school 図書館 — toshokan — library 公園 — kōen — park 家 — ie — home 会社 — kaisha — company / office 海 — umi — sea ショッピングセンター — shoppingu sentā — shopping centre 🗣️ Practice Questions どこで勉強しますか。Doko de benkyō shimasu ka? Where do you study? どこでごはんを食べますか。Doko de gohan o tabemasu ka? Where do you eat? 🫵 Before the Call Write one sentence: ＿＿＿で＿＿＿ます。 Example:カフェで勉強します。 We’ll practise speaking these together during Ocha & Chat ☕🇯🇵 Can you join 10 am, Sunday Sydney time?

We’ve reached the end of the tournament. After weeks of voting and many delicious battles, only two dishes remain. Now it all comes down to this… 🥇 THE GRAND FINAL 🥇 🍚 Hitsumabushi vs 🥩 Jingisukan Refined Nagoya tradition versus bold northern barbeque. Only one will be crowned our community’s Favourite Japanese Food. 🍚 Hitsumabushi (ひつまぶし) A celebrated specialty from Nagoya, hitsumabushi features grilled unagi (eel) served over rice — but with a unique twist. You enjoy it in stages: First on its own, then with toppings like green onion and wasabi, finally with broth poured over to create a comforting ochazuke-style dish. Why it made the final: - Rich, smoky eel flavour - A multi-stage dining experience - Elegant and deeply traditional - A dish that feels special every time - This is layered Japanese culinary artistry. 🥩 Jingisukan (ジンギスカン) A proud specialty of Hokkaidō, jingisukan features lamb grilled on a distinctive dome-shaped metal plate. The meat cooks on top while vegetables below absorb the juices, creating a smoky, communal BBQ experience that’s perfect for sharing. Why it fought its way here: - Bold, unique lamb flavour - Social grilling experience - Strong regional identity - A dish built for gatherings This is northern Japan’s grilling pride. 🗳️ THE FINAL VOTE It all comes down to this. Which dish will be crowned Japanese Language Learners’ Favourite Japanese Food? - The elegant richness of hitsumabushi 🍚 - Or the smoky BBQ power of jingisukan 🥩 Cast your vote and make your case! Now we crown the champion. 🏆

Yesterday’s winner was… ひつまぶし (Hitsumabushi)! 🍚🔥Nagoya’s legendary eel dish swims into the Grand Final! That means one spot remains. Today’s battle will decide who faces Hitsumabushi in the championship match. 🔥 Japanese Food Tournament — FINAL FOUR 🔥 🍞 Shokupan vs 🥩 Jingisukan Cloud-soft comfort versus smoky northern BBQ. Only one reaches the Grand Final. 🍞 Shokupan (食パン) Soft, fluffy and gently sweet, shokupan is Japan’s beloved milk bread. Whether toasted thick with butter, turned into sandwiches or eaten fresh from the bakery, its cloud-like texture has made it a daily favourite across Japan. Why it’s still standing: - Ultra-soft, pillowy texture - Light sweetness from milk and butter - Perfect for sweet or savoury toppings - A comforting everyday staple This is simplicity perfected. 🥩 Jingisukan (ジンギスカン) A proud specialty of Hokkaidō, jingisukan is grilled lamb cooked on a distinctive dome-shaped metal plate. The meat cooks on top while vegetables absorb the juices below, creating a smoky, social BBQ experience. Why it’s a serious contender: - Unique lamb flavour - Interactive grilling experience - Strong regional identity - Perfect for gatherings with friends This is northern Japan’s grilling tradition. 🗳️ Time to Vote! Which dish will face Hitsumabushi in the Grand Final? - The cloud-soft comfort of shokupan? - Or the smoky BBQ power of jingisukan? Vote now and defend your favourite! 🍞🥩 Tomorrow… the Grand Final begins. 🏆