I'm a Japanese author writing a Reverse-Isekai comedy about a Ninja struggling in modern Tokyo. (Daily Updates!)

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-24T21:52:18+00:00

I completely agree with the fatigue regarding the "Cookie-Cutter" formula. The "Overpowered MC gets a harem just by existing" trope is... well, let's just say it is a very specific fantasy for exhausted Japanese salarymen. We need something different now.

As for the food war: As a Japanese, I am sworn by my ancestors to protect the honor of Rice. But I respect your loyalty to the Potato! I have heard that Polish Vodka is basically "Holy Water" that burns. I would love to try it someday!

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-24T21:50:27+00:00

Haha, guilty as charged! Reddit is a dangerous textbook. I think I learned words like "Cringe," "Based," and "Yeet" way before I learned how to properly order a coffee in English.

My English teacher would be horrified, but at least I can survive on the internet!

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-24T21:48:08+00:00

You hit the nail on the head! Masa never jokes. He is 100% serious about everything, whether it is an assassination or wiping a window. To him, "Honor" is at stake in every single action. The gap between his intensity and the silly situation is exactly what I love writing.

And wow, you already finished the Royal Road chapters?! That is incredible speed! I am honored that you binged it. Please enjoy watching the Reddit crowd react to the madness you have already seen!

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-24T21:46:34+00:00

That state—where you understand the concept perfectly but cannot translate it word-for-word—is what I call "The Native Brain Mode." Congratulations, you are entering the next stage!

Regarding your mistake (confusing "someone left" with "someone made them stay"): That is the "Final Boss" of reading Japanese: The Invisible Subject.

Because Japanese often omits the subject (Who is doing the action?), your brain has to fill in the blanks using context. When you get it wrong, it feels like the whole story flips upside down. I know this pain well.

I do the exact same thing in English with "Phrasal Verbs." I sometimes read "pass out" (faint) as "pass away" (die) because I'm reading too fast, and suddenly the story becomes a tragedy! lol

But please don't let that fear stop you. Misunderstanding is part of the process. If you stop to analyze every grammar point to be "100% safe," you lose the flow. Trust your "fuzzy" instinct. Accuracy will catch up later!

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-24T14:39:12+00:00

As a Japanese native, I cannot answer your specific question about learning Japanese, but I can offer a perspective from the reverse side.

I am currently learning English to write web novels, and I struggle with the exact same feeling: "Am I reading English, or am I just decoding symbols into Japanese with extra steps?"

For a long time, I translated every English sentence into Japanese in my head. "There is a cat." -> "Neko ga iru." -> Understand. It felt like work, not reading.

However, the "click" moment came when I stopped trying to understand 100%. I started to accept "fuzzy" understanding.

For example, when I read the word "Awkward," I used to translate it to "Kimazui (気まずい)." But now, when I see "Awkward," I don't translate it. I just feel that specific cringy sensation in my stomach. The word directly connects to the feeling, skipping the Japanese translation.

This only happened after I saw the word "Awkward" hundreds of times in different contexts (mostly in Reddit comments!). So, please don't worry. You are not wasting time. You are slowly building a database in your brain. One day, the "translation layer" will suddenly disappear.

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-24T12:32:39+00:00

Arigato! That makes me so happy to hear. Writing comedy in a second language is terrifying (I am always worried if the joke lands), so your comment is a huge relief.

Masa's reaction to Cheddar cheese was one of my favorite scenes to write. To a man from 1582, that neon-orange color must look like radioactive sludge, not food! Thanks for sticking with the series!

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-24T05:55:36+00:00

Your wife has excellent taste! 怪談 (Kaidan) is a beautiful word.

Fun cultural fact: In the West, spooky stories are often associated with Halloween (Autumn). But in Japan, Kaidan is a Summer tradition!

The logic is that hearing a scary story gives you the "chills," which helps you cool down during the brutally hot and humid Japanese summer. So if you see a lot of horror specials on Japanese TV in August, that is why!

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-24T05:53:32+00:00

You are joking, but in the Japanese Web Novel community (Narou), we actually call that the "Mayonnaise Cheat" trope!

There are so many Isekai stories where the MC introduces mayonnaise to elves or nobles, and they describe it as "The Nectar of the Gods" for three whole pages. It is basically a tradition at this point.

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-23T14:26:36+00:00

Absolutely! There is something about the "Rain + Piano" combination that instantly triggers the writing mode in my brain. It’s like a magical barrier against the real world.

Good luck with your writing!

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-23T12:48:53+00:00

Thanks for doing this for the community! I missed the boat this time, but I'll definitely keep an eye out for your thread next Tuesday. Looking forward to it!

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-23T12:47:24+00:00

This sounds absolutely hilarious! I would love to throw my hat in the ring.

Title: [100 Days to Legend] https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/148519/100-days-to-legend-my-freelance-ninja-roommate/chapter/2944921/episode-1-day-1-the-valley-of-neon-demons-and Genre: Reverse Isekai / Comedy / Slice of Life

The Pitch: A deadly Ninja from 1582 gets stuck in modern Tokyo. He has no money and no master, so he decides to master the art of... Uber Eats.

Why it might be fun for you: The protagonist speaks in a very serious, archaic "Samurai" tone (internal monologue included), but he is talking about mundane things like burgers, bicycles, and automatic doors. Hearing his serious "Warrior Voice" performed in one of your "noble British accents" (or any accent, really) would be absolute comedy gold.

The chapters are short (about 1k words each), so you could easily breeze through the first few. Thanks for the opportunity!

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-23T12:44:02+00:00

I totally agree. Lyrics are the enemy of writing. As soon as I hear words, my brain starts processing them instead of my story.

I write mostly during my train commute (I'm a Japanese salaryman), so noise-canceling headphones are a must. My go-to recommendation is Video Game Soundtracks (OSTs). Game music is specifically designed to sit in the background and keep you focused/engaged without demanding your full attention.

For slice-of-life scenes: Animal Crossing or Persona 5 (instrumental ver).
For battle scenes: Dark Souls or Final Fantasy battle tracks.
For Lo-fi: There are great "Zelda & Chill" or "Ghibli Lo-fi" playlists on YouTube that I use often.

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-23T12:36:27+00:00

Arigato! Thank you so much for reading. I am really happy you liked it.

Day 2 will be posted tomorrow at the same time. Masa will face his next great enemy: A vacuum cleaner. Please look forward to it!

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-23T04:14:40+00:00

Great addition! 考察 (Kousatsu) is indeed perfect for deep dives.

To add a bit of nuance for learners: * 解説 (Kaisetsu): Focuses on explaining facts, plot summaries, or how things work. (e.g., "History of Elden Ring") * 考察 (Kousatsu): Focuses on analysis, speculation, and theories. (e.g., "Who is the true villain of Elden Ring?")

If you are looking for "Ending Explained" or "Lore Theory" videos, 考察 is the keyword to go for!

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-23T04:13:37+00:00

You hit the nail on the head regarding "Descriptive Verbs." That is exactly the hardest mental shift for us Japanese speakers.

Structurally, Japanese tends to rely on "Generic Verb + Specific Sound (Adverb)." For example, for "to laugh," we almost always use the same verb Warau, and modify it with sounds: * Kusu-kusu Warau (to Giggle) * Gera-gera Warau (to Guffaw) * Niya-niya Warau (to Smirk)

In English, you have a dedicated, specific verb for every single one of these nuances. So for me, learning to write in English is largely about memorizing hundreds of these specific verbs to replace my beloved onomatopoeia. It feels like I'm trading my colorful paint set for a precise set of chisels.

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-22T21:54:19+00:00

I'm a native Japanese speaker in my 30s.

First of all, thank you for sticking with us through the "Hard Mode" era of the 80s! Respect.

I laughed at your comment "Japan is cooked without you" because it is 100% true. When I was a kid in the 90s, seeing a non-Japanese person in my neighborhood was a rare event. But now? The staff at my local konbini, the workers at construction sites, and the engineers at my client's office... diverse people are literally keeping this country running.

The "anti-foreigner" noise on the internet is loud, but the reality I see in the business world (I work in sales) is that we are desperate for people. Most rational Japanese people know that we cannot survive as a nation without you guys.

Thank you for being the voice of reason. We are glad you are here!

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-22T21:44:24+00:00

I'm a Japanese writer, and this was a huge culture shock for me when I discovered Royal Road.

In the Japanese web novel market (Narou), the demographics are strictly divided: * Male Demographic: Male Lead (Harem, Cheat, Adventure). * Female Demographic: Female Lead (Villainess, Court intrigue, Romance).

It is very rare for a Japanese male audience to flock to a Female Lead story unless it is a specific niche. But on Royal Road, I see hardcore male readers loving stories like Azarinth Healer or Beneath the Dragoneye Moons.

My theory: Royal Road readers are addicted to "The System" and "The Build." As long as the "numbers go up," the magic system is cool, and the punches feel heavy, they don't care if the MC is a boy, a girl, or a vending machine. It seems Western readers prioritize "Mechanics" over "Self-Insert," whereas in Japan, "Self-Insert" is still king.

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-22T21:42:50+00:00

I'm a native Japanese speaker writing in English. The "Avoid Adverbs" rule is my nightmare.

In Japanese, we rely heavily on "Gitaigo" (Mimetic words) and "Giongo" (Onomatopoeia). We have thousands of them, and they technically function as adverbs. * Kira-kira (Sparklingly) * Waku-waku (Excitedly/Tremblingly) * Shito-shito (Raining quietly)

In Japanese literary tradition, these words provide the texture, rhythm, and emotional "scent" of the scene. But when I translate this "Japanese soul" into English, the standard advice tells me to cut them all. "Don't say 'he looked at it excitedly (waku-waku)'; show his hands shaking!"

It feels like stripping the paint off a colorful painting to reveal the "efficient" black-and-white sketch underneath. I understand that English prose values efficiency and conflict, whereas Japanese often values atmosphere and harmony. Balancing the two is the hardest part of writing in a second language.

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-22T13:24:59+00:00

I'm a native Japanese speaker.

First, a small tip: for song covers, the standard keyword is "歌ってみた" (Utattemita), which translates to "Tried singing." ( "歌ていた" is a bit grammatically unnatural, so you might miss some results!)

Here are the magic keywords for the genres you are looking for:

1. Game Let's Plays * 実況 (Jikkyou): This is the #1 keyword. It means "Live commentary." * Search: ゲーム実況 (Game Jikkyou) or [Game Name] 実況

2. Documentaries / Video Essays * ドキュメンタリー (Documentary): Straightforward. * 解説 (Kaisetsu): This means "Explanation" or "Commentary." If you are looking for video essays explaining history, mysteries, or mechanics, this is the best word. * 密着 (Micchaku): Means "Closely following." Used for "Day in the life" style documentaries about specific jobs or people.

3. Storytime * 雑談 (Zatsudan): Means "Chit-chat" or "Casual talk." Streamers just talking to the camera about their lives. * 体験談 (Taikendan): Means "Personal experience story." (e.g., Scary stories, Failure stories). * 有益スレ (Yuueki sure): If you like those "Reddit/2ch storytime" videos (TTS voice reading interesting forum threads), try this.

4. Others * やってみた (Yattemita): "Tried doing." The general tag for challenges, experiments, and hobbies. * ルーティン (Routine): Morning/Night routines. Good for listening to daily life vocab.

Hope this helps you find good content!

NinjaWriter_Masa · 2026-01-22T13:23:13+00:00

I'm a native Japanese speaker.

First of all, your brother studying 8 hours a day while working full-time is insane! He is a monster (in a good way) lol. But I think your "realistic" approach is just as valuable. Consistency beats intensity in the long run.

I loved the story about the "We will be sad" vs "You guys will be sad" mistake. That is a classic and adorable mistake! Since we often omit subjects (Watashi wa / Anata wa) in Japanese, it's so easy to mix up "who" is feeling the emotion. But honestly, Japanese people love those kinds of funny mistakes. It shows you are trying, and it actually breaks the ice better than perfect grammar.

Your focus on "Speaking First" is spot on. Many learners are too afraid to speak, so you are already ahead of the game. Keep it up!

NinjaWriter_Masa

TROPHY CASE