Ocha and Chat is our weekly live call for using our Japanese and for social study. 🗓️ Topic: Where you do things (で) For this week’s Ocha & Chat, we’ll practise talking about where you do things in Japanese. This is super useful for everyday conversation: - where you eat - where you study - where you relax 🧠 Mini Lesson: で (Place of Action) We use で to show where an action happens. Pattern: Place + で + Verb Examples カフェでコーヒーを飲みます。Kafe de kōhī o nomimasu.I drink coffee at a café. 図書館で本を読みます。Toshokan de hon o yomimasu.I read a book at the library. 学校で日本語を勉強します。Gakkō de Nihongo o benkyō shimasu.I study Japanese at school. 📍 Common Places カフェ — kafe — café レストラン — resutoran — restaurant 学校 — gakkō — school 図書館 — toshokan — library 公園 — kōen — park 家 — ie — home 会社 — kaisha — company / office 海 — umi — sea ショッピングセンター — shoppingu sentā — shopping centre 🗣️ Practice Questions どこで勉強しますか。Doko de benkyō shimasu ka? Where do you study? どこでごはんを食べますか。Doko de gohan o tabemasu ka? Where do you eat? 🫵 Before the Call Write one sentence: ＿＿＿で＿＿＿ます。 Example:カフェで勉強します。 We’ll practise speaking these together during Ocha & Chat ☕🇯🇵 Can you join 10 am, Sunday Sydney time?

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. 🏆

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. 🏆

Yesterday’s winner was… ジンギスカン (Jingisukan)! 🥩 🔥Hokkaidō’s smoky grill storms into the Final Four! And now… the Final Four begins. Every dish left standing has survived multiple rounds. From here, every vote is huge. 🔥 Japanese Food Tournament — FINAL FOUR 🔥 🍤 Tempura vs 🍚 Hitsumabushi Crispy culinary craftsmanship versus rich Nagoya tradition. Only one reaches the Grand Final. 🍤 Tempura (天ぷら) Light, airy and perfectly crisp, tempura is one of Japan’s most famous dishes. Seafood and vegetables are coated in delicate batter and fried quickly so the natural flavours shine through. When done well, it’s crispy but never heavy. Why it’s a championship contender: - Golden, crunchy perfection - Elegant technique and balance - Loved both in Japan and around the world - Works with prawn, vegetables and seafood alike This is precision you can taste. 🍚 Hitsumabushi (ひつまぶし) A specialty from Nagoya, hitsumabushi is grilled unagi (eel) served over rice — but enjoyed in stages. First as-is. Then with toppings like green onion and wasabi. Finally with broth poured over to create a comforting tea-style finish. Why it’s still standing: - Rich, smoky grilled eel flavour - A multi-stage dining experience - Strong regional pride - Feels special and celebratory This is tradition layered with flavour. 🗳️ Time to Vote! Who reaches the Grand Final? - The golden crunch of tempura? - Or the rich Nagoya experience of hitsumabushi? Cast your vote and defend your favourite! 🍤🍚 The championship is getting close…

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… 🔥