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. 🏆

Before our next Ocha & Chat, let’s practice something very useful in Japanese: Negative verbs — saying what you don’t do. In Japanese, the negative form often ends with 〜ません (masen). Examples: 📖 本を読みます Hon o yomimasu I read a book 📖 本を読みません Hon o yomimasen I don’t read a book Here are some useful examples: 🍣 すしを食べます Sushi o tabemasu I eat sushi 🍣 すしを食べません Sushi o tabemasen I don’t eat sushi ☕ コーヒーを飲みます Koohii o nomimasu I drink coffee ☕ コーヒーを飲みません Koohii o nomimasen I don’t drink coffee 🎮 ゲームをします Geemu o shimasu I play games 🎮 ゲームをしません Geemu o shimasen I don’t play games Your Turn Try answering these: 1️⃣ 朝ごはんを食べますか。 Asa gohan o tabemasu ka? Do you eat breakfast? 👉 Example answers: はい、食べます。 Hai, tabemasu. Yes, I do. いいえ、食べません。 Iie, tabemasen. No, I don’t. 2️⃣ コーヒーを飲みますか。 Koohii o nomimasu ka? 3️⃣ 日本の音楽を聞きますか。 Nihon no ongaku o kikimasu ka? You can answer in Japanese or English. Let’s warm up our Japanese before Ocha & Chat 🍵 がんばりましょう！ Can you make Ocha and Chat?

This week marks 15 years since one of the most powerful natural disasters in Japanese history. 🌊 Japan Fact Friday — The Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami On March 11, 2011, a massive 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan. It is known as the 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake and Tsunami. The earthquake triggered a devastating tsunami that struck the Tōhoku region, with waves reaching heights of over 40 metres in some places. Entire towns were destroyed within minutes. More than 18,000 people lost their lives, and hundreds of thousands were forced to evacuate their homes. The disaster also caused the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, creating one of the most serious nuclear incidents in modern history. 🧠 A Moment That Shaped Modern Japan But the world also saw something remarkable in the aftermath. Across Japan, people showed extraordinary calmness, discipline and cooperation. There was little panic. Communities organised quickly. Volunteers from across the country came to help rebuild. The disaster became known not only for its tragedy, but also for the spirit of kizuna (絆) — the bonds that connect people. 🌸 Remembering Every year on March 11, many people in Japan pause at 2:46 PM, the moment the earthquake struck, to remember those who were lost. It is a day of reflection, resilience and respect. 🫵 Your Turn Do you remember hearing about the Tōhoku earthquake in 2011? Answer in English or Japanese if you’d like. See you next Friday for another Japan Fact Friday 🇯🇵

Yesterday’s winner was… 食パン (Shokupan)! 🍞🔥 The cloud-soft bakery favourite rises into the Final Four! Now we have a battle of bold flavours… 🔥 Japanese Food Tournament — Round 3 (Final 8) 🔥 🍗 Karaage vs 🥩 Jingisukan Crispy fried chicken versus smoky northern barbecue. Only one reaches the Final Four. 🍗 Karaage (唐揚げ) Juicy chicken marinated in soy sauce, garlic and ginger, then fried to crispy perfection — karaage is one of Japan’s most beloved comfort foods. From bento boxes to izakaya plates to festival stalls, it’s the kind of dish people never get tired of. Why it’s strong this round: Crispy outside, juicy inside Bold savoury flavour Easy to snack on and share A universal crowd favourite This is addictive comfort food. 🥩 Jingisukan (ジンギスカン) A specialty of Hokkaidō, jingisukan is grilled lamb cooked on a distinctive dome-shaped metal plate. The meat cooks on top while vegetables below soak up the flavour, creating a smoky, communal barbecue experience. Why it’s a serious contender: Unique lamb flavour Social, interactive cooking Strong regional identity Perfect for gatherings This is northern Japan’s BBQ pride. 🗳️ Time to Vote! Which one reaches the Final Four? The crispy fried favourite karaage? Or the smoky Hokkaidō grill jingisukan? Cast your vote and defend your favourite! 🍗🥩 The Final Four is about to be decided… 🔥

They all end with 曜日（ようび / youbi）, which means day of the week. Here they are: 日曜日 にちようび nichiyōbi Sunday 月曜日 げつようび getsuyōbi Monday 火曜日 かようび kayōbi Tuesday 水曜日 すいようび suiyōbi Wednesday 木曜日 もくようび mokuyōbi Thursday 金曜日 きんようび kinyōbi Friday 土曜日 どようび doyōbi Saturday 🧠 Quick Tip Each day is connected to a natural element: 日 – Sun 月 – Moon 火 – Fire 水 – Water 木 – Wood 金 – Gold / Metal 土 – Earth This makes them easier to remember! 🫵 Your Turn Write one sentence: 今日は何曜日ですか。 Kyou wa nan'yōbi desu ka? What day is it today? Example answer: 今日は月曜日です。 Kyou wa getsuyōbi desu. Post your answer below! 🇯🇵 Thanks, @Lydia Cox for the question!!