#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!

Thank you again for taking the time to create those lessons, much appreciated 😊

After an incredible tournament filled with tough matchups and passionate votes… 👑 ひつまぶし (Hitsumabushi) is officially our Japanese Language Learners’ Favourite Japanese Food! 👑🍚 From the very beginning, hitsumabushi stood out with its rich flavour, unique eating style, and deep tradition—and in the end, it claimed the crown. 🥩 Huge respect to ジンギスカン (Jingisukan) for making it all the way to the final! Thank you to everyone who voted, debated, and shared their love of Japanese food 🙌

AFC Women's Asian Cup Final. Its on right now. Live. Who do you think will win?

We’ve reached the end of the tournament. After weeks of voting and many delicious battles, only two dishes remain. Now it all comes down to this… 🥇 THE GRAND FINAL 🥇 🍚 Hitsumabushi vs 🥩 Jingisukan Refined Nagoya tradition versus bold northern barbeque. Only one will be crowned our community’s Favourite Japanese Food. 🍚 Hitsumabushi (ひつまぶし) A celebrated specialty from Nagoya, hitsumabushi features grilled unagi (eel) served over rice — but with a unique twist. You enjoy it in stages: First on its own, then with toppings like green onion and wasabi, finally with broth poured over to create a comforting ochazuke-style dish. Why it made the final: - Rich, smoky eel flavour - A multi-stage dining experience - Elegant and deeply traditional - A dish that feels special every time - This is layered Japanese culinary artistry. 🥩 Jingisukan (ジンギスカン) A proud specialty of Hokkaidō, jingisukan features lamb grilled on a distinctive dome-shaped metal plate. The meat cooks on top while vegetables below absorb the juices, creating a smoky, communal BBQ experience that’s perfect for sharing. Why it fought its way here: - Bold, unique lamb flavour - Social grilling experience - Strong regional identity - A dish built for gatherings This is northern Japan’s grilling pride. 🗳️ THE FINAL VOTE It all comes down to this. Which dish will be crowned Japanese Language Learners’ Favourite Japanese Food? - The elegant richness of hitsumabushi 🍚 - Or the smoky BBQ power of jingisukan 🥩 Cast your vote and make your case! Now we crown the champion. 🏆