Introduce yourself and share a pic of something Japanese you own or something Japanese that you're interested in! Feel free to explain why you want to learn Japanese or what you like about Japan. Also, feel free to post any Japanese language questions you have. I'd be glad to answer them! As for me, I love learning Judo. Have you ever tried it? And I love Japanese literature, such as Kokoro by Natsume Soseki. Have you read any Japanese novels? I also really enjoyed Cowboy Bebop when it came out! Not the live action Netflix version! To start learning, I highly recommend Your 50 First Sentences Course: https://www.skool.com/japanese/classroom/fe1c2853?md=60ee3552d26e4ffcb910a86675e10f95 Arigatou, Joe Sensei.

Yesterday's winner was.... Assassination Classroom!!! 👨‍🎓🙂 Today’s battle: 🩸 Jujutsu Kaisen vs 🚀 Cowboy Bebop Modern spectacle versus timeless style. Only one can move on. 🩸 Jujutsu Kaisen (呪術廻戦) Dark, intense, and visually stunning, Jujutsu Kaisen is one of the defining anime of the modern era. Following Yuji Itadori and a cast of powerful sorcerers, the series blends horror, action and tragedy into a relentless ride. Why it’s worthy: Some of the best fight animation in recent anime history A darker tone with real consequences and emotional weight Iconic characters like Gojo who instantly entered anime legend A fresh, brutal take on the shōnen formula This is anime at full throttle—stylish, violent, and unforgettable. 🚀 Cowboy Bebop (カウボーイビバップ) Cool. Effortless. Eternal. Cowboy Bebop is a genre-defying masterpiece that mixes sci-fi, jazz, noir, and western influences into something completely unique. Why it’s worthy: Timeless storytelling that still feels modern decades later Iconic soundtrack that defines the show’s identity Deep, melancholic themes of loneliness, regret, and moving on One of the most respected anime ever made—inside and outside Japan This is anime as art. Smooth, reflective, and endlessly rewatchable. 🗳️ Your Turn! Which one gets your vote? The raw power and modern intensity of Jujutsu Kaisen? Or the timeless cool and emotional depth of Cowboy Bebop? 💬 Vote in the poll and share your thoughts—defend your favourite with respect! さて…どっちだ？ (So… which one?) 🔥

Japanese speakers use a lot of onomatopoeia expressions. A lot! @Elizabeth Bowen asked about the most common ones. So, here are 10 of the most common and widely used Japanese onomatopoeia, the kind learners encounter early and hear constantly in daily life. 1. ドキドキ (dokidoki) Heartbeat / nervous excitement Used for anxiety, love, anticipation. 👉 試験の前はドキドキする。 (Before exams, my heart pounds.) 2. ワクワク (wakuwaku) Excited anticipation Positive excitement about something coming. 👉 旅行がワクワクする。 (I’m excited about the trip.) 3. ペラペラ (perapera) Fluent / smoothly Often used for languages or thin things. 👉 彼は日本語がペラペラだ。 (He’s fluent in Japanese.) 4. ぐっすり (gussuri) Sleeping deeply Very common in daily conversation. 👉 昨夜はぐっすり寝た。 (I slept soundly last night.) 5. ぺこぺこ (pekopeko) Very hungry Literally “empty and floppy.” 👉 お腹がぺこぺこだ。 (I’m starving.) 6. しーん (shiin) Complete silence Often used for awkward or sudden quiet. 👉 教室がしーんとなった。 (The classroom went silent.) 7. キラキラ (kirakira) Sparkling / glittering Used for lights, eyes, dreams. 👉 星がキラキラしている。 (The stars are sparkling.) 8. ふらふら (furafura) Unsteady / dizzy / wandering Physical or mental instability. 👉 寝不足でふらふらだ。 (I’m dizzy from lack of sleep.) 9. べたべた (betabeta) Sticky / clingy Physical stickiness or emotional clinginess. 👉 このテーブル、べたべたする。 (This table is sticky.) 10. さっぱり (sappari) Refreshed / clean / not at all Very versatile and very Japanese. 👉 シャワーを浴びてさっぱりした。 (I feel refreshed after a shower.) Which ones have your heard? Which would you like to try to use?

Konnichiwa, Genki desu ka? (How are you) If you have any questions about Japanese language or culture, feel free to post them here. Anyone can chime in with an answer and I'll throw in my 2 cents also. We can learn from each other's questions. Let's get stronger at Japanese as a community!! Ganbatte kudasai! Joe Sensei.

One thing every strong Japanese speaker has in common is regular speaking practice. So let’s make that opportunity for us and make it simple, supportive and consistent. Introducing: Paired Speaking Practice! 🔹 How it works Each week I’ll post: - A conversation topic - A short practice dialogue - Audio to model natural pronunciation 🔹 What you do 1. Reply to the weekly post to let me know you’re in 2. I’ll create random pairings for the week 3. Contact your practice partner and organise a 5–10 minute speaking session 4. When you’re done, report back in the thread ✅ That’s it. 🔹 Why this matters If you commit to this weekly: - Your confidence will grow - Your listening and response speed will improve - By the end of the year, those 5–10 minute chats can naturally become 30 to 40 minute conversations (or more!!) No pressure to be perfect. The goal is showing up and speaking. 👉 Comment below if you’d like to join the Paired Speaking Practice! I’ll get the first topic ready once we have our initial group.