ようこそ！🙇‍♂️ Welcome to all our new members this week! This is a place for us to learn Japanese together, step by step. There’s a lot to learn, but with consistency and support, we’ll get there. ❓ This Week’s Question 🌸 桜か紅葉か？ 🍁 さくらかこうようか？ sakura ka kouyou ka? Cherry blossoms or Autumn leaves? Spring beauty or autumn colours — which do you prefer? 🫵 Your Turn Answer in English or Japanese 😊 Examples: 桜が好きです。 Sakura ga suki desu. I like cherry blossoms. 紅葉が好きです。 Kouyou ga suki desu. I like autumn leaves. Bonus points if you tell us why! Looking forward to your answers 👇 Joe Sensei Welcome: @Trevon Augustin @Sarvesh Chaudhary @Ma Ri @Monique Francis @Sana Jazaery @Ronny Stein @Nichollas Hermann Fernandes Diélle @Abel da Silva @Julie Legrand @Riku Fujishima @Yanyan Liu @Michelle Momodu

This week’s fact is about one of the most famous travel experiences in Japan. I once boarded the Shinkansen for the first time. I expected noise — announcements, chatter, phones ringing. Instead… it was quiet. Not silent, but calm. People sat neatly. Some were eating beautifully arranged 駅弁 (えきべん / ekiben) — train bento boxes. Others looked out the window, or rested. No loud phone calls. No music playing out loud. No one speaking across the aisle. Even when the train was full, it felt… peaceful. 🚄 The Unwritten Rules On the Shinkansen, there are a few important manners: 📱 Phone calls are avoided If you must take one, you step into the space between carriages. 🔇 Keep your voice low Conversations are quiet and respectful. 🍱 Eating is okay — even encouraged But it’s done neatly and without strong smells. 🧳 Be aware of space Luggage is placed carefully so others are comfortable. 🧠 Why This Matters This reflects something deeply Japanese: • awareness of others • shared responsibility for comfort • respect for public space Everyone helps create the atmosphere. That’s why even a high-speed train can feel so calm. 🧠 Language Lesson — On the Train 🚄 しずかにします。Shizuka ni shimasu. I will be quiet. 🚄 でんしゃでたべます。Densha de tabemasu. I eat on the train. 🚄 でんわをしません。Denwa o shimasen. I don’t make phone calls. 🫵 Your Turn What do you prefer on public transport? 🔇 quiet and calm🎶 lively and social And could you follow these rules easily? Answer in English or Japanese 😊 See you next Friday for another Japan Fact Friday

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.

#JapaneseTopicTuesday What made you first interested in Japan/Japanese? In the photo, I'm the one between Batman and Robin. This is from kindergarten and I was wearing a Japanese happi from Edogawa and a kamikaze headband bought in Japan. I had a little sword too and thought I looked like a cool samurai. 😅 To be honest, I was borrowing them from my brother. He had been to Japan to play football (soccer) against Japanese high school boys his age. My brother got souvenirs and gifts from Japan and I thought they were so cool and fascinating. Everything from Japanese Coke bottles with cool writing on them and coins (with holes in them!), to toys like spinning tops and kendama. Then, we were lucky enough to host two Japanese boys from Japan as they visited Australia to play against my brother's team here. It was amazing to meet these kids from another country and culture. We couldn't speak much together not knowing each other's language, but we found a way to communicate and had so much fun, always laughing! That experience sparked my interest in Japan. It wasn't until university that I formally studied the language, but from meeting those Japanese boys and experiencing the generosity and kindness of their families too, I knew I always wanted to visit Japan. That was how I got interested in Japan and Japanese. How about you? Let me know in the comments!

Share your favourite food or restaurant! It's time for our next community call-out! Last time we shared our favourite Japanese songs and now let's talk about something delicious: Japanese Food Culture! 💬 Tell Us Your Food Story! Have you ever tried making sushi, slurpable ramen or maybe some classic onigiri? We want to hear about your favourite Japanese dish, snack or restaurant experience! What is your absolute favourite Japanese food? (e.g., Ramen, Takoyaki, Curry Rice, etc.) Do you have a favourite restaurant in your area that serves authentic Japanese food? Have you tried making a Japanese dish yourself? What was it, and how did it turn out? (Photos welcome!) 📝 You Can Use Some Japanese! If you're feeling brave, try to answer using some of the Japanese words you know! 私の好きな食べ物は [Your Food] です。 Watashi no suki na tabemono wa ____ desu. (A food I like is...) [Your Food] が一番好きです。 ________ ga ichiban suki desu. ([Your Food] is my favorite/number one.) {美味しい！} (Oishii! - Delicious!) Let's share our gastronomic adventures! Post your answer below! 👇