Jumpstart your kanji.

It wasn't until my sophomore year at university that I took my first dedicated kanji class. The goal was to learn 50 kanji a week, 500 by the end of the quarter using the textbook Remembering the Kanji I by Heisig. While some people are actually able to learn with the Heisig method, I could not grasp the method of learning. Sure mnemonics are great, but what is the purpose of learning kanji if you're not able to read them... I was all about application, I needed to read my manga!

It wasn't until after I graduated and came to Japan that I found kanji textbooks that made sense to me. While browsing the aisles of Kinokuniya I noticed the name The Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies, and was immediately drawn to Kanji in Context. Being able to study and apply readings and "correct" meanings right from the start was the biggest point for me.

There are two workbooks and a reference book, and I would recommend getting all three at once. The text is divided into 6 levels, and starts off pretty easy. Because this text is recommended for mid-to-advanced learners, it gets difficult rather quickly.

You can check out one of the best reviews on this text at Nihongo Pera Pera, and we have all Kanji in Context books in our catalog.

To be honest, I have not completed the books, but it's at the top of my to-do list now (really!). And while over the years, I've gotten rid of numerous Japanese texts these are probably the only textbooks that have a permanent place on my bookshelf. So... I have the tools to study, now I just need to muster up the motivation, any suggestions?

The morning curry boom.

Curry is pretty much a staple here in Japan. However, in the past it has mostly been a lunch or dinner food. In more recent times, curry for breakfast has become more popular thanks to a TV interview with Seattle Mariner baseball star Ichiro Suzuki. Ichiro reported that he always eats curry for breakfast when he's "at home" in Seattle.

Although, the morning curry boom has died down somewhat as of lately, people are still going at it.

One curry shop interviewed reported that sales of their morning curry special have increased 5% compared to the year previous, while a small survey showed that people eat curry for breakfast about 2.1 times per week on average.

Because of the spices in curry, researchers interviews believe that eating curry for breakfast improves blood circulation providing a "wake-up" effect. At about 600 kcal, curry also provides the needed energy to start your day.

So how about it, would you consider foregoing a cup of coffee in the morning for a dish of spicy curry?

Sorry for my crappy photos, they were taken from Mezamashi TV with my iPhone this morning and edited in the Gimp ;-)

Japan returns to normal.

Monday nights at 10pm, were reserved for SMAPxSMAP in my household, until Tsuyoshi Kusanagi screwed everything up by going into a naked drunken rage. After a month of living in solitude, he quickly returned to the TV screen last week, much to the delight of all his fans.

After a month of old recaps, special features, and Kimutaku interviews... we finally got a taste of the old SMAPxSMAP show last night. While I could care less about the crappy singing of the group's "special live," it was nice to have Bistro Smap back on the air. I'm sure all the Hollywood stars that visit Japan will be happy too.

Kusanagi and Shingo lose the battle to Kimutaku and Goro.