Japanese Jungle

Have you ever watched "Spirited Away"?  It's a super cool movie about a girl named Chihiro who ends up in a weird and wonderful world. But guess what? This movie is not just about magic and strange creatures; it's also about stuff we deal with every day, like feeling lost or missing home. Stick with me, and I'll tell you all about it! Is this fun and easy to follow? If you're nodding yes, let's dive deeper into the magical world of Spirited Away! "Spirited Away" is like a magical roller coaster ride into a world of adventure. Imagine being Chihiro, who lands in a place nothing like she's ever seen before. This movie is a bit like a treasure map, showing us all about growing up, sticking with family, and finding out who we really are. Feeling Lost? You're Not Alone: In our everyday lives, things change super fast – new gadgets, moving to new places or even making new friends. Sometimes, it feels like standing alone in a huge, crowded room....

This sentence pattern (____ から ____ まで ) is used to indicate the beginning and end of a certain duration or length. For example: The summer holiday is from July 20th to September 5th. 夏休みは 7 月 20 日から 9 月 5 日までです。 (natsuyasumi wa shichigatsu hatsuka kara kugatsu ituka made desu.) The afternoon break is from 12:00 to 12:50. 昼休みは 12 時から 12 時 50 分までです。 (hiruyasumi wa jūniji kara jūniji gojuppun made desu.) The exam covers from lesson 1 to lesson 5. テストは 1 課から 5 課までです。 (tesuto wa ikka kara goka made desu.) Note: " から (kara)" indicates the starting point of time or movement. " まで (made)" expresses the ending point of time or movement. You do not always have to use both " から " and " まで " in a sentence. For example: The summer holiday is from July. 夏休みは 7 月からです。 (natsuyasumi wa shichigatsu kara desu.) I go to the station. ( 私は ) 駅まで行きます。 ((watashi wa) eki made ikimasu.) " まで (made)" serves the same purpose as ...

  Asking Dates: Nangatsu Nannichi (なんがつ なんにち) This phrase, "nangatsu nannichi," is used to inquire about dates. For example: A: When is your birthday? (anata no) tanjōbi wa nangatsu nannichi desu ka? (あなた の) たんじょうび は なんがつ なんにち です か。 (あなたの) 誕生日は何月何日ですか? In everyday conversations, "anata (あなた)" is often left out. B: My birthday is on July 14th. (watashinotanj tanjōbi wa) shichigatsu jūyokka desu. （わたしのたんじょうびは）しちがつじゅうよっかです。 （私の誕生日は）7月14日です。 Note: Pay attention to the readings for "shigatsu (April)," "shichigatsu (July)," and "kugatsu (September)."  Some specific days, like the 1st to 10th and the 20th, have unique readings. 1st: tsuitachi (ついたち) 2nd: futsuka (ふつか) 3rd: mikka (みっか) 4th: yokka (よっか) 5th: itsuka (いつか) 6th: muika (むいか) 7th: nanoka (なのか) 8th: yōka (ようか) 9th: kokonoka (ここのか) 10th: tōka (とうか) 20th: hatsuka (はつか) Asking Days of the Week: Nanyōbi (なんようび) This phrase, "nanyōbi," is used to inquire about the day of the week...

 31. Asking and Telling Time in Japanese  Do you wonder how to ask for the time in Japanese? The structure pattern "なんじ ですか" (nanji desu ka?) is your go-to for asking about the time, while the formula "(number) +時 (number)+分 です" is used to tell the time.  Asking the Time :
To ask someone for the time, you can use the phrase "なんじ ですか" (nanji desu ka?): 
いま なんじ です か (ima nanji desu ka?)。 - What time is it now?
 Telling the Time :
When it comes to telling time, follow this formula:
いま じゅうにじ ごじゅうごふん です(今12時55分です)。- It is twelve fifty-five now.
 しちじはんです (7時半です)。- It is half past seven.  よじ さんぷん まえ です(４時３分前です)。- It is three to four.
 くじ じゅうごふん すぎ です(9時15分すぎです)。- It is fifteen minutes past nine.
 Important Notes :
There are a few essential things to keep in mind when discussing time in Japanese: Clock Reading: Pay attention to the correct readings for specific hours.  
Incorrect: よん じ, なな じ, きゅう じ
 Correct: よ じ, しち じ, く じ Using "Sugi" and "Mae...

 The Origin of Sushi: From Fermented Fish to Modern Delicacy Sushi has a long history that traces back to a fermented food called "narezushi." People in Southeast Asia used this method around the 2nd century AD. Eventually, it reached Japan in the 8th century, and written records about it appeared in the 10th century. In the Lake Biwa area, "narezushi" became a staple family dish and an important source of protein. Families used rice and salt to ferment fish, preserving them in barrels for months or even years. The most common fish used in this area is the mudfish, known as “nigoribuna.” First, the fish scales are removed, and the entrails are taken out. Then it is salted and left to ferment for several months. Afterwards, it is mixed with rice to continue the fermentation process. The fermented fish can be preserved for months or even decades. In the past, people used to eat only fish and discard the fermented "smelly rice." But around the 1500s, they s...

  How Temperature Affects Our Feelings: A Simple Experiment Did you know that the temperature of what you hold in your hand can actually influence your feelings? Researchers at Yale University conducted an interesting experiment to explore this phenomenon. In the experiment, participants were asked to hold either a hot or iced coffee cup while riding an escalator to a lab. Once there, they were asked to read about a fictional character and share their impressions of them. Surprisingly, those who held the hot drink perceived the characters as warmer and friendlier. The researchers also investigated whether temperature affects people's behaviour towards others. They had participants hold either a frozen or heated therapeutic pad for a few minutes, and then offered them a drink for themselves or a voucher to give to a friend. Interestingly, those who held the warm pads were more likely to choose the voucher to give to a friend. These experiments suggest that people tend to be ki...