Ohayou gozaimasu. Good morning. Sumimasen, kyou Ocha and chat dekimasen. Sorry, I can't do Ocha and Chat this morning. I'm not feeling well. Mata raishuu! See you next week! Joe Sensei.

This week’s fact is about something simple that carries deep meaning in Japan: chopstick etiquette. At first glance, chopstick manners might look just like “rules”… But in Japan, they’re really about respect, memory and relationships. 🥢 Japan Fact Friday — Chopsticks & Meaning Chopsticks (箸・はし) are everyday tools in Japan, but how you use them matters just as much as what you eat. Here are a few common manners — and what they truly mean: ❌ Sticking chopsticks upright in rice This is only done at funerals as an offering to the dead. Doing this at the table reminds people of death — so it’s deeply uncomfortable. ❌ Passing food from chopsticks to chopsticks This mirrors a funeral ritual where bones are passed after cremation. Even if the intention is kind, the association is very strong. ❌ Pointing with chopsticks This can feel aggressive or rude — like pointing a finger at someone. ❌ Digging through dishes to “search” for foodCalled saguri-bashi, it suggests impatience or selfishness. ✅ Placing chopsticks neatly when not eatingThis shows care, calmness, and consideration for others. 🧠 The Deeper Meaning These manners aren’t about being strict or formal — they reflect core Japanese values: • respect for others• awareness of shared space• remembering ancestors and tradition• harmony at the table Even small actions communicate who you are. ✨ Why This Matters for Learners Understanding manners helps you understand the culture — not just the language. And honestly? Japanese people don’t expect perfection… they appreciate awareness. 🫵 Your Turn Which chopstick rule surprised you the most? Have you ever worried about making a chopstick mistake in Japan? Can you use chopsticks? Answer in English or Japanese 😊

✏️ Goal: Write a short diary entry in Japanese 🧠 Mini Lesson: 〜たい (want to do) This week’s theme: Plans & Things I Want to Do 🧠 Mini Lesson: 〜たい Use 〜たい to say what you want to do. How to make it: 👉 Verb (ます-form) → drop ます → add たい Drop masu → add tai 見ます → 見たい mitai (want to see) 作ります → 作りたい tsukuritai (want to make) You can end politely with です: 見たいです。 作りたいです。 ✏️ Weekly Diary (Example) 今週、妻と相撲を見たいです。 Konshū, tsuma to sumō o mitai desu. This week, I want to watch Sumo with my wife. 家の家具を組み立てたいです。 Ie no kagu o kumitatetai desu. I want to assemble furniture for our home. 時間があったら、漫画を読みたいです。 Jikan ga attara, manga o yomitai desu. If I have time, I want to read manga. 📘 Useful Vocabulary 今週 konshū this week 妻 tsuma wife 相撲 sumō sumo 家具 kagu furniture 作る tsukuru to make 見る miru to watch 時間 jikan time 🫵 Your Turn! Write 2–3 sentences using 〜たいです. You can start with: 今週、＿＿＿をしたいです。 Konshuu, _____ o shitai desu. ＿＿＿と＿＿＿を見たいです。 _______ to ______ o mitai desu. Example: 今週、映画を見たいです。 Konshuu, eiga o mitai desu. Short is okay! 😃 Post below and I’ll give feedback!

I recommended to @Isla Ramsay to learn the 50 most common verbs. I think this is a great way to start learning any language. But what are the 50 most common verbs? Here is the list! These are the verbs you’ll use every day in polite Japanese. If you know these, you can already handle most beginner conversations (N5–N4). 🔹 Everyday Actions 行きます（いきます）ikimasu – go 来ます（きます）kimasu – come 帰ります（かえります）kaerimasu – return 見ます（みます）mimasu – see / watch 聞きます（ききます）kikimasu – listen / ask 話します（はなします）hanashimasu – speak 言います（いいます）iimasu – say 食べます（たべます）tabemasu – eat 飲みます（のみます）nomimasu – drink 買います（かいます）kaimasu – buy 🔹 Daily Life 起きます（おきます）okimasu – wake up 寝ます（ねます）nemasu – sleep 休みます（やすみます）yasumimasu – rest 働きます（はたらきます）hatarakimasu – work 勉強します（べんきょうします）benkyō shimasu – study 作ります（つくります）tsukurimasu – make 使います（つかいます）tsukaimasu – use 洗います（あらいます）araimasu – wash 入ります（はいります）hairimasu – enter 出ます（でます）demasu – leave 🔹 Movement & Position 歩きます（あるきます）arukimasu – walk 走ります（はしります）hashirimasu – run 座ります（すわります）suwarimasu – sit 立ちます（たちます）tachimasu – stand 泊まります（とまります）tomarimasu – stay overnight 🔹 Thinking & Knowing 思います（おもいます）omoimasu – think 知ります（しります）shirimasu – know 分かります（わかります）wakarimasu – understand 覚えます（おぼえます）oboemasu – remember 忘れます（わすれます）wasuremasu – forget 🔹 Communication 会います（あいます）aimasu – meet 呼びます（よびます）yobimasu – call 教えます（おしえます）oshiemasu – teach 聞きます（ききます）kikimasu – ask 答えます（こたえます）kotaemasu – answer 🔹 Ability, Change & Continuation できます dekimasu – can / be able to なります narimasu – become 始まります（はじまります）hajimarimasu – begin 終わります（おわります）owarimasu – finish 続けます（つづけます）tsuzukemasu – continue 🔹 Very Useful Extras 持ちます（もちます）mochimasu – have / hold 置きます（おきます）okimasu – put 開けます（あけます）akemasu – open 閉めます（しめます）shimemasu – close 取ります（とります）torimasu – take 使います（つかいます）tsukaimasu – use 住みます（すみます）sumimasu – live 遊びます（あそびます）asobimasu – play 旅行します（りょこうします）ryokō shimasu – travel 頑張ります（がんばります）ganbarimasu – do one’s best 🫵 How to Practise Pick 3 verbs and make sentences:

Japan is world famous for its good culture! Whether it is street food yakisoba or high-end restaurant sashimi, Japan provides a wide variety of delicious delicacies. So, which is our favourite Japanese food? There is only one way to decide!!!! A Japanese Food Tournament!!! In order to find out the ultimate Japanese food, we will pit our suggestions against each other in a battle to the death in which only one can survive. Please make your suggestions below. There are no wrong answers! There is only your favourite foods or meals from Japan! Let the battle begin!!! Joe Sensei.