This week’s fact is about one of Japan’s most famous footballers. ⚽ Yuto Nagatomo: The Player Who Never Gave Up When people think of Japanese football legends, one name always comes up: ⚽ Yuto Nagatomo Today, Nagatomo is known for representing Japan at multiple World Cups and playing for some of the biggest clubs in the world. But his journey almost never happened. 🏃 Not the Biggest. Not the Strongest. As a teenager, Nagatomo wasn't considered a future star. He was overlooked by many top schools and wasn't viewed as an elite prospect. Instead of giving up, he kept training. He focused on what he could control: • fitness • work ethic • determination Step by step, he improved. 🌍 From Japan to Europe Nagatomo eventually earned a move to Europe and joined Inter Milan, one of the world's most famous football clubs. For a Japanese player, this was a huge achievement. He became known for his incredible stamina and relentless energy. Fans nicknamed him the "endless runner." 🇯🇵 A World Cup Veteran Nagatomo went on to represent Japan National Football Team at four World Cups. Few players have had such a long international career. Even in his late 30s, he continued competing at the highest level. 🧠 Why This Matters Nagatomo's story reflects a value that is deeply respected in Japan: 努力 (どりょく / doryoku) — effort. He wasn't famous because he was the most naturally gifted. He became famous because he refused to stop improving. 🧠 Language Lesson ⚽ サッカーがすきです。 Sakkā ga suki desu. I like football. ⚽ れんしゅうします。 Renshū shimasu. I practise. ⚽ どりょくはたいせつです。 Doryoku wa taisetsu desu. Effort is important. 🫵 Your Turn What do you think matters more? ⚽ Talent 🔥 Hard work 🧠 Good coaching Answer in English or Japanese 😊 See you next Friday for another Japan Fact Friday 🇯🇵✨

Konnichiwa!! Let's talk Japanese music! 🪭🎸🌸 Last month we had so many good recommendations. Let's keep it going! One of the top songs of 2026 in Japan is Vivarium by Ado. Ado is a young pop star who never shows her face. Do you think this adds to her mystery and appeal? What Japanese music are you listening to? It can be from any era or genre - we'd love to hear about it!! Arigatou, Joe.

This week’s fact is about one of Japan’s most famous symbols of perseverance. 🔴 Daruma Dolls A Daruma (だるま) is a traditional Japanese doll that represents: • perseverance • determination • never giving up The doll is based on Bodhidharma, the monk associated with the origins of Zen Buddhism. Its round shape is symbolic too. If you knock a daruma over… it rolls back upright. This connects to a famous Japanese phrase: 七転び八起き Nanakorobi yaoki “Fall seven times, stand up eight.” 👁️ Why Daruma Have Blank Eyes When people buy a daruma, one eye is usually left blank. First, you make a goal or wish. Then you paint in one eye. The daruma watches over your effort and determination. When the goal is finally achieved… …you paint in the second eye. Only then is the daruma complete. ⛩️ When Are Daruma Used? People often use daruma for: 📚 passing exams 💼 business goals 🏃 fitness goals 🎯 personal challenges At the end of the year, many people return old daruma dolls to temples to be respectfully burned in ceremonies. 🔴 My Daruma Goal I recently bought a daruma of my own. It is the one in the photo. Right now, both eyes are blank and I'm about to fill in one eye to start the journey toward my goal. My goal is to make Japanese Language Learners as useful and engaging as possible so we can grow this group to 1000 members. When our group reaches 1000 members, I’ll paint in the second eye. 👁️✨ So every new member brings us one step closer to completing the daruma together. 🧠 Language Lesson 🔴 だるまをかいました。 Daruma o kaimashita. I bought a daruma. 🔴 もくひょうがあります。 Mokuhyō ga arimasu. I have a goal. 🔴 がんばります。 Ganbarimasu. I will do my best. 🫵 Your Turn If you had a daruma, what goal would you use it for? 日本語の目標ですか？ 😊 Also, please let me know what you would like to see in our group to help it be as useful as possible for you and for our 1000 potential members. See you next Friday for another Japan Fact Friday 🇯🇵✨

I've been a little sick the last couple of days so felt inspired to write about phrases for sickness in Japanese. Everyone needs this vocabulary at some point! 🤧 Common Phrases かぜをひきました。 Kaze o hikimashita. I caught a cold. インフルエンザにかかりました。 Infuruenza ni kakarimashita. I got the flu. ねつがあります。 Netsu ga arimasu. I have a fever. のどがいたいです。 Nodo ga itai desu. My throat hurts. あたまがいたいです。 Atama ga itai desu. I have a headache. せきがでます。 Seki ga demasu. I have a cough. はながでます。 Hana ga demasu. I have a runny nose. 🗣️ Useful Sentences 今日はちょっと具合が悪いです。 Kyō wa chotto guai ga warui desu. I feel a bit unwell today. 今日は休みます。 Kyō wa yasumimasu. I will take a day off today. 🫵 Your Turn Try writing one sentence: ＿＿＿がいたいです。 ＿＿＿があります。 Example: あたまがいたいです。

Konnichiwa, What's your favourite Japanese word or saying? Mine is 儚い - hakanai. Hakanai means evanescent, fleeting, ephemeral. It suggests the passing nature of moments, beauty and life. The delicate cherry blossoms blooming and shortly falling are hakanai. The crimson sky and the setting sun moments before night falls are hakanai. Each day spent with loved ones are hakanai. We must appreciate the beauty of these experiences that will come and go and cherish them all the more for it. The special things in life are hakanai and that's why it is my favourite Japanese word. What is your favourite Japanese word or saying? Arigatou, Joe Sensei.