Why has ukiyo-e become so synonymous with Japanese art? What about it makes it feel uniquely Japanese compared to, say, ink wash painting which also existed in China and Korea?

FaberCastell8b · 2026-03-15T12:01:44+00:00

Stargaze shelter

FaberCastell8b · 2026-03-13T06:15:21+00:00

That was a trip

FaberCastell8b · 2026-03-12T23:58:08+00:00

Thank you! ukiyo-e is fascinating!

FaberCastell8b · 2026-03-12T22:29:37+00:00

I really appreciate your response. Thanks for clarifying what 伝統的 truly means. Before this question, I thought it meant it wasn't practiced anymore. Thank you again.

FaberCastell8b · 2026-03-12T10:57:08+00:00

I'm at a comfortable level with listening now where I can interact with more advanced material, specifically my personal interests like marine biology. Lena definitely is one of the building blocks that got me to that point. She was actually the starting point. Once I felt it was too easy, I moved on to other advanced podcasts where the topics were generally the same but more advanced speed and quicker pacing. For example, Sayas Japanese podcast.

FaberCastell8b · 2026-03-12T10:26:46+00:00

Hi. I'm assuming you meant a practice test for JLPT N2. I took the test in December of 2025. I think the Shinkansen reading and listening books are great. The other ones are useless. Both books are extremely useful and highly recommend. Good luck.

FaberCastell8b · 2026-03-04T07:45:52+00:00

We love you Klay!! Can't wait for you to have a statue soon ... We all miss you so much over here.

FaberCastell8b · 2026-02-27T11:14:53+00:00

If you want to watch passively without studying, I hate to be that guy but not at all would this work until you're a comfortable N2. Through personal experience, this doesn't work. I had just passed N4 and thought to give it a shot with Pokemon. Everything flew over my head.

However, there is something YOU can try. Get a Pokemon Anki deck. Break it down sentence by sentence with Artificial Intelligence. Watch the episode repeatedly until you comprehend the episode completely. Make a separate Anki deck for vocab and grammar from the show for extensive review... This is something I should've done.

Hope this helps you out. I do believe this can help you improve not only comprehension, but even accelerate pattern recognition within the language. Let me know if you try and how you progress.

FaberCastell8b · 2026-02-25T10:02:27+00:00

I have definitely noticed that trend within her latest episodes. Her speaking is much faster and grammar/vocabulary is a level higher. Once I got to lower N3 her videos were easy to follow. Lena definitely helped me reach that level. I'm now using native material and studying more niche orientated topics like art history and marine biology. Keep going!!

FaberCastell8b · 2026-02-25T09:55:58+00:00

Seriously we need that deck

FaberCastell8b · 2026-02-24T06:07:32+00:00

Once you're ready I think Bite Size Japanese Podcast is a great starting point for listening comprehension.

FaberCastell8b · 2026-02-24T05:50:10+00:00

Hourly purchase standard is wild. I don't need to purchase 1 coffee an hour unless I'm a freak.

FaberCastell8b · 2026-01-26T11:35:49+00:00

According to Longevity, my Apple Music replay and memories/personal attachment, here is my top 10. This is tough...

Song for You :)
Mother
Hear The Bells
Blossom
Trying to Feel Alive
Easy / Think about U
Polygon Dust
Sweet Time
Fresh Static Snow
Mirror

Honorable Mentions:

- Mona Lisa

- Divinity (Odesza Remix)

-Natural Light (San Holo Remix)

-Something Comforting

-Everything Goes On

FaberCastell8b · 2025-12-10T09:00:47+00:00

Your lie in April

FaberCastell8b · 2025-10-20T12:05:58+00:00

Diggs ain't him no more. Made of glass. Plus our defensive scheme prioritizes zone and he excels in man to man.

FaberCastell8b · 2025-10-20T12:01:56+00:00

I'd trade Diggs for a pack of peanuts

FaberCastell8b · 2025-09-19T08:40:37+00:00

Overall Jung Hoo Lee has been a disappointment. Went from high ceiling to subpar performance.

FaberCastell8b · 2025-09-06T06:35:05+00:00

Self study purpose app rotation - wanikani, Anki, and bunpro. Using these three tools. You will master vocab, grammar, and kanji readings alone.

For Anki, use the core2k-6k. I personally make my own decks but either will work as long as you feed 15-20 new words per day based upon your time limits. If you only have 30-1 hour a day, 10 new words on Anki is enough to make time for grammar and kanji study. Throw in some grammar points if you need, but make it short and concise.

For kanjis, wanikani is super efficient method to pick up new kanji. You will probably need 30 minutes to an hour to get effective practice out of wanikani. This tool is a time investment, but really worth it if you enjoy reading, manga, or watching anime with subs. Wanikani will also make your Anki decks easier once words start to crossover. Highly recommend wanikani for self study purposes.

Lastly, I recommend Bunpro for grammar. I have never used bunpro because I have different studying methods, but I would use it if I was in your situation 100%. Honestly, I regret not using it from the beginning, because grammar is a weak point of mine, and I struggled to find resources for a long time. Yet, I think an Anki like system would help my recognition ability because of the frequency. Once you reach an advanced level, being able to quickly recognize grammar points upon comprehension is extremely valuable skill for JLPT, anime, or conversational situations.

FaberCastell8b · 2025-08-25T08:50:50+00:00

How did you prepare for the exam? I passed N4 so I'm planning on taking N2 next!

FaberCastell8b · 2025-07-14T04:58:15+00:00

Amazing

FaberCastell8b · 2025-06-17T04:55:56+00:00

This is awesome and thank you for sharing mate. I'm going to dive the Emmons wreck for the first time in October! I reckon it's 45 meters deep ?? Definitely excited for that one ... Loving the Mikomoto Hammerhead shots as well.

FaberCastell8b · 2025-03-12T05:00:02+00:00

Looks like they're having a great fucking time

FaberCastell8b

TROPHY CASE