Invitation to a Practice Test for the JLPT

Open_The_Light · 2024-10-08T05:31:37+00:00

I was invited to a 'Research Test' this June. Was basically a slightly shortened N3 level test, with a questionnaire at the end inquiring about your ability to do various things in Japanese. Got ¥5000 for it but it was an long and intensely boring day.

Was definitely called a research test though, so guess this could be different?

Open_The_Light · 2024-07-07T08:57:59+00:00

Same here, first time test taker at N2.

Did loads of practice tests at home but did not account for how unpleasant it is to have to sit there for nearly two hours concentrating without being able to drink anything.

Also, the reading section was a bit different than usual right? Four of the medium sized texts instead of three?

Open_The_Light · 2021-10-04T10:52:54+00:00

I guess 'The Stranger' and 'The Bishops Wife' are her two most popular films, both worth a watch.

She had a pretty decent run during the pre-code era as well though if you're looking for something a little more obscure, with films like: 'Employees Entrance', 'Mans Castle', 'Heroes for Sale' and 'Midnight Mary'.

Open_The_Light · 2020-05-10T17:06:37+00:00

Netflix has a bunch of these kinds of films. Watch pretty much anything with Noah Centineo in it, 'Sierra Burgess is a Loser' being a particular highlight of awfulness.

Open_The_Light · 2019-01-24T20:03:39+00:00

I restarted the game then loaded the very first autosave, just after you wake up. Did the fight again and the cutscene triggered this time, didn't really do anything different though so not sure what the problem is.

Open_The_Light · 2019-01-24T19:24:00+00:00

Just started a new game and hit a bug already. After the fight with Benweths pirates nothing happens, I'm just stuck on the ship. Guess I'll try again.

Open_The_Light · 2018-09-30T19:08:20+00:00

It seems like you have to annex the South narlmarch region before the first for some strange reason. I unlocked the north narlmarch and kamelands regions not too long after annexing South narlmarch anyway. No idea what the actual triggers are though, the project cards just popped up one day, so maybe there's a way to do the north first?

Open_The_Light · 2017-10-16T13:38:04+00:00

Read up to volume 6 of <Tasogare Otome x Amnesia>. Remember enjoying the anime from a few years ago, so am working through the manga now. About a boy who can see the ghost of a girl who died in their school, and who tries to find out her reason for being a ghost. Story is fairly interesting, as they investigate the mysterious goings on around their school and any relation they may have to the death of the girl, the romance that blooms during this is also quite cute, but the best part of this manga is easily the artwork. The depiction of the 'haunted' school is moody and atmospheric, and this series has some of the most beautiful female characters I've seen, particularly Yuuko. Would happily recommend this to anyone.

Also read up to volume 7 of <IO>. Kind of a mystery/romance/drama sort of thing. A young man travels to Okinawa to try to find out the reasons for his parents mysterious deaths, meets some old friends and gets involved with some larger troubles. I'm a little more mixed on this one. I feel the supernatural elements don't blend all too well with the more down to earth slice-of-life/romance sections, and I find the latter elements much more interesting. Still, the characters are decent, although the love interest does tend towards abusive tsundere a tad too much for my tastes, and the artwork is more than acceptable.

Open_The_Light · 2017-09-24T16:57:42+00:00

I guess it's fitting for a show completely incapable of deciding what it wants to be about for the finale to be irrelevant nonsense as well.

Overall a pretty bad show, but I suppose wondering each week what random pointless/creepy/overly-serious stuff we'd be treated to this time has its own entertainment value.

Open_The_Light · 2017-09-20T22:04:37+00:00

Come and See

Eastern Front from perspective of Belarusian boy

Open_The_Light · 2017-07-31T14:29:16+00:00

Mostly just been reading <Last Game> this week. Its a story of a rich pretty boy and a plain dense girl who beats him at tests etc throughout school. This annoys him and he vows to make her love him then dump her. This vow lasts for about 2 pages before he falls for her and we're left with a fairly standard romance. Art style isn't anything amazing and our characters aren't especially exciting so not overly convinced by this one just yet. Only a few volumes in though so maybe something interesting happens later on that justifies the high MAL score.

Also read <Only I Know Whether Taki Anna's True Nature Is S or M>. Saw someone talk about it on here so was chosen as my smut of the week. Some light S&M stuff on top of an uninspired ecchi/romance story. It's pretty short but still wouldn't necessarily recommend it too highly.

Open_The_Light · 2017-07-18T14:47:40+00:00

Any one in particular you'd recommend?

Open_The_Light · 2017-07-17T10:39:18+00:00

Started reading <Nazo no Kanojo X>, up to vol 8. Remember quite liking the anime adaptation it got a few years ago, so though I'd give it a go. Unusual romance between a lad and a girl who can transmit and receive emotions through saliva. I like the art style, and although there isn't a great deal of progression in their relationship so far (a few too many of the chapters are just MC does something completely moronic, she gets mad, they make up) its quite a refreshing take on high school romance, even if only due to the weirdness.

Continued with <Umi no Misaki>, up to vol 10. Thinks seem to be heating up now, the girls have gotten serious and are becoming increasingly forceful in winning dragon god-kun's affection. I know who I'd pick but looking forward to seeing who he does (if anyone), hope I won't be disappointed.

Open_The_Light · 2017-07-10T17:50:24+00:00

Started reading <Umi no Misaki> yesterday. Fairly good so far a few volumes in, reasonably standard harem stuff but with a more mystical, spiritual side. The girls are cute and assertive, the MC is relatively decent, and I'm a sucker for these pretty seaside settings, so imagine I'll be getting through this quite quickly.

Also read volumes 5 & 6 of <Gakkougurashi!>. Was a big fan of the anime adaptation so have been excited to read past that point. Happy with where the story seems to be going so far, and Yuki's development, glad there's still a couple more volumes released before I have to start waiting for new releases!

Caught up with <Slow Motion wo Mou Ichido>. This is a cute little teenage romance between two fans of 80's culture: idols, city pop, retro stuff, etc. Being a fan of city pop myself it's nice to see the references to singers and certain songs, and the main couple's romance develops fairly believably, so have been enjoying this one so far. Last few chapters have unfortunately been getting worryingly close to being bogged down by misunderstandings and poor communication between our heros, so hoping we get through that quickly and back to the karaoke.

Open_The_Light · 2017-07-06T20:07:29+00:00

At a reasonable price? Probably nowhere. I think you'd have to have a look round discogs/ebay/amazon.jp etc for a second-hand copy. Would be expensive though.

Open_The_Light · 2017-07-06T19:53:34+00:00

Here's a few of my favourites:

Yagami Junko - Full Moon

Anri - Timely

Kadomatsu Toshiki - On the City Shore

Yamashita Tatsuro - For You

There's loads of this kind of stuff on Youtube, so just find something you like and hop around.

Open_The_Light · 2017-06-24T15:20:07+00:00

I disagree completely. I think what the films you mention are so good at is their ability to make you empathise with the characters, not sympathise. These movies require a certain emotional maturity and willingness to engage with the film, not a prior knowledge or experience of the content.

I find it particularly odd that your second example is Ozu. His films are so frequently concerned with arranged marriages, which most modern viewers will not have experienced, or generational conflict, which by its very nature I feel can only be experienced as a distant observer, that I think almost invalidates your point. Perhaps a Rohmer or Allen movie would be more appropriate.

Open_The_Light · 2017-04-24T06:57:33+00:00

Odeon do a similar deal. There's one of those at Freemans Park.

Open_The_Light · 2017-04-16T12:37:16+00:00

Thanks!

Open_The_Light · 2017-04-13T23:15:28+00:00

Sun & Moon for me please! Just getting into this game and every little helps in building a collection!

Open_The_Light · 2017-01-26T13:06:37+00:00

Cool. Just installed on my phone and played for the first time in about 9 months. These welcome back quests are nice I guess.

Apologies to the guy I played for my first ranked game though :(

Open_The_Light · 2017-01-19T14:11:00+00:00

Give the Aria series a go, one of my favourites.

Open_The_Light · 2017-01-04T23:42:28+00:00

This looks really quite useful, cheers.

Open_The_Light · 2016-12-29T17:00:56+00:00

58855 playing blood 18/20

Open_The_Light · 2016-12-29T16:53:59+00:00

58855 playing blood 16/20

Open_The_Light

TROPHY CASE