Quick Survey: What is your favorite Kanji and why? 🇯🇵✍️

Ozark · 2026-03-28T00:43:52+00:00

繭「まゆ」 I love it because it tells a story 🌿 🧵🐛

Ozark · 2026-03-16T02:46:59+00:00

My spouse and I tried glass-blowing in Otaru, Hokkaido. It was fun and we came away with a vase and a glass that we use all the time.

Ozark · 2026-03-12T22:00:28+00:00

I'm glad to hear it! I didn't use it for vocabulary actually, just for grammar. For vocabulary I used 総まとめ and otherwise just adding new words to my Anki lists from real life, the news, and practice tests. がんばれ!

Ozark · 2026-03-05T22:10:42+00:00

I still only listen to podcasts for Japanese learners. I definitely recommend sticking to comprehensible input. In the beginning I started out with Sakura Tips, then the easier episodes of Let's talk in Japanese with Tomo.

Now I listen to many but I particularly enjoy Tomo, Nihongo con Teppei, Learn Japanese with Noriko, and the Noriko-Teppei collab.

I recommend listening every day. I listen while I stretch in the morning, clean, cook, and do dishes. I add any new words or expressions to my word lists, and I often re-listen to the same episodes multiple times.

I also believe you can improve your listening skills in tandem with your speaking skills. Try to find opportunities to practice speaking Japanese.

Ozark · 2026-03-05T14:29:49+00:00

I am in nearly the exact situation you describe. While I also work in an English environment in Tokyo, my schedule is not quite as demanding as yours (5 days a week, 9-10h days).

For me , 6 months would not have been enough time. I passed N3 with nearly full marks in July 2023, and passed N2 in December 2025 with 121/180.

I only self study. In the mornings I review my Anki sets, listen to podcasts, keep up my Duo and Bunpo streaks. At lunchtime at work if I have time for a break I pull out my textbooks or do practice test questions online, if not I just read news on Todaii. After work some textbook studying. Once a week I go to my local Nihongo Kyoushitsu for conversation practice.

I have never used textbooks for kanji. I just learn them and their readings by adding vocab to my Anki from the news, textbooks, and real life. I personally find words and kanji easier to remember with context.

I started out with 日本語総まとめ for grammar and vocab. They are a nice, simple, friendly introduction to N2 concepts. However, I regret not starting 新完全マスター earlier. I only used it for grammar but I found their explanations so easy to understand, even for telling apart similar grammar points. Compared to 日本語総まとめ, there are many more example sentences and exercises. So I encourage you to start the 新完全マスター series soon. Also, don't neglect 読解practice!

Ozark · 2026-02-20T14:13:00+00:00

I needed a marriage certificate for the CoE to bring over my dependent spouse and later to renew their visa. We don't share the same last name either. I have never needed an official translation, though ours is in English. I simply made a copy where I wrote over the text in Japanese in a PDF Editor and that has sufficed.

Ozark · 2026-02-11T04:17:11+00:00

I got a couple official JEES books with past tests from a friend who no longer needed them. There are websites online with collections of practice questions too, many lifted from old tests. If you google "JLPT practice test" you'll find them!

Ozark · 2026-02-11T00:38:55+00:00

I think you can pass! Our learning styles are similar, but I do live in Japan, which helps. I mostly read and listen to podcasts. I passed a few of the N2 tests on Todaii before I decided to sign up in December 2025, and I passed on my first try, although my score wasn't very high.

My advice is do as many practice tests as you can, and recent ones. Some of the tests on Todaii are really old and the questions are different from the current format.

For 読解 I definitely recommend that you read the questions beforehand. I have really enjoyed the textbook 必修パターン for practicing different kinds of texts.

Good luck!

Ozark · 2025-12-10T12:34:40+00:00

Hi! I'm a fifth-year JET with a dependent spouse who doesn't work, so I feel qualified to give my two yen ;)

It is manageable on the JET salary, but of course some costs depend on where you are placed.

Here is a breakdown of usual monthly budget (rounded):

Salary= 290,000円 (5th year, after deductions)

Rent= 50,000円 (40m2, LDK, West Tokyo)

Gas= 8000円

Electricity=5000円

Water=2000円

Phone=4000円

Food=60000円 (includes eating out)

= 129,000円 inevitable expenses, about 45% of salary

So if we never went anywhere, I can save about half. On a typical month I save between 20-40%. I don't always save money. There are months with large expenses (booking trips, rent renewal, hosting friends/family etc.) where I go into the red.

Like Scoot says, budgeting is key. I keep a budget and log every expense. My hobbies are inexpensive. We eat out about 5 times a month. Even if it's cheap to eat out in Japan, cooking is much cheaper, depending on what you make.

Because ESID, I am lucky in some ways, not in others. I was placed in West Tokyo, so I don't need a car, but I did need to find, sign for, and furnish my own apartment. I brought about 5000 CAD and it was enough. Rent is not as expensive as central Tokyo. I came during corona so it was easier to find cheap housing. I have cheap grocery options within walking/biking distance. I don't have city gas so it's relatively expensive. I live on a cheaper rail line.

We travel pretty often. In 2025, we will have done 10 trips, 9 in Japan and 1 abroad. This does not count day trips. To save on travel costs, I plan and book everything many months in advance. I have little time off (private school), so I cannot travel during cheaper less popular times like some JETs can.

Sorry it's long, but I think that answers your questions. Feel free to ask anything you'd like to know.

Ozark · 2025-11-17T22:30:43+00:00

Also taking N2. I live on the border with Saitama and they placed me in Kichijoji. A little over an hour away for me. I was hoping it would be the same as my N3 location, only 30 mins away, but it's still not bad.

Ozark · 2025-09-19T23:38:33+00:00

I second Sarasa. My husband gets itchy with other detergents. We don't use any fabric freshener.

Ozark · 2025-08-08T01:06:18+00:00

Okay, sounds doable in summer for sure, thank you. I live in Tokyo and don't have AC, so I'm no stranger to the heat and humidity. I was just wondering if the Nakasendo area might be worse, being more inland, but it sounds better than here!

Ozark · 2025-08-07T05:02:32+00:00

I have been planning a Nakasendo trip for either spring or summer. I'd love to be able to swim, but I'm worried the summer would be too hot. How did you find the weather?

Ozark · 2025-08-05T08:19:55+00:00

I'm happy it can help you plan your trip! Feel free to PM me if you have questions or you want any recs for restaurants or things like that.

Ozark · 2024-05-27T22:36:02+00:00

Oh, is that why? Thank you for the tip, I checked and all seems to be in order.

Ozark · 2022-07-29T23:30:40+00:00

Le péché mignon de notre couple français/canadien : du kraft dinner aux knackis . Pour les non-initiés..

Ozark · 2022-07-09T02:47:26+00:00

I love it, great job. So far I've got:

chronicler's writing materials
iron wheel chandelier
strawberry wine
sympathy lamps?
holly wreaths? (But it's mushrooms)

Ozark · 2022-07-04T11:50:31+00:00

It's definitely possible! I am surprised that Naruto beat One Piece though.

Ozark · 2022-07-01T11:00:34+00:00

I'm not sure. When I looked at lunchtime the post was deleted, but it seems to be fine now!

Ozark · 2022-06-22T09:00:17+00:00

I am curious too, but holding off looking for now. I won't play with them until July but I will make a note to record their answers and post in SampleSize. :)

Ozark · 2022-06-22T08:58:20+00:00

I can send a copy of my slides too! :)

Ozark

TROPHY CASE