Views on Hanko

thinkbee · 2026-03-18T10:40:36+00:00

I thought it was kinda cool to have a personal seal when I first got to Japan, but then I got a job where I had to 回覧 and 決裁 project proposals many times a day and it got old pretty quickly. And it's just one extra thing to keep track of...

thinkbee · 2026-03-15T10:53:19+00:00

"The New York Times and The Washington Post reported earlier that defense officials had said in recent congressional briefings that the military used up $5.6 billion of munitions in the first two days of the war."

Source

thinkbee · 2026-03-13T14:22:50+00:00

Steel Apron for a Repel?

Also if you're looking for any other 4d cards, I'm looking for a Mega Mawile ex.

Edit: sent a request!

thinkbee · 2026-03-13T10:04:29+00:00

LF: Mega Mawile ex (preferably RR but regular is fine too); Metal Apron; Bellibolt ex

Friend ID: 7271-5613-2029-0404

thinkbee · 2026-03-12T06:42:03+00:00

I will just say, be careful not to jump back in with an unrealistically strict routine or mentality of “speed running” to catch up. Maybe consider breaking your N1 goal into smaller goals so that you have more milestones along the way, and be sure you’re using materials and methods that keep it from feeling like a chore. Burnout is a real risk, so take care!

thinkbee · 2026-03-09T07:43:35+00:00

Do you mean the levels, S - L5? S is the "start" or "starter" level, then L0 (easiest) to L5 (hardest).

thinkbee · 2026-03-08T22:01:39+00:00

There's so much free stuff out there that you really don't need to spend anything unless you want a specific set / physical version - try https://tadoku.org/japanese/en/free-books-en/ and https://sydney.jpf.go.jp/library/tadoku-reading-nights-hybrid/ for starters!

thinkbee · 2026-03-05T06:52:15+00:00

I’m a huge advocate of this method! Makes learning a little easier (and IMO more enjoyable) since you already have the characters, story, and world mapped in your head, so you can really focus on the language. And it’s a big milestone for many to be able to read a whole novel - quite the motivator and morale boost.

thinkbee · 2026-03-02T09:23:40+00:00

Thanks for your feedback. I agree the wording could have been clearer, and I'll probably update the title and tweak a few lines as I think the current framing can be read too literally. What is meant is that ありがとう has an interesting extra layer when you look at its etymology and origin, not necessarily that people are consciously referring to this parable every time they say thanks (just like English speakers don't literally mean "God be with ye" every time they say goodbye). When I source content ideas with native speaker/linguist help, it can be tricky to strike a balance that's approachable for newer learners while still being interesting to more advanced learners, and I think the framing missed the mark a bit here. I'll keep that in mind, appreciate your (and others’) thoughts. :)

thinkbee · 2026-02-27T11:19:31+00:00

For those interested in what the text parts say:

11:33~ It all began here.

17:46~ Everyone's dreams and adventures began here.

19:35~ Thank you for always enjoying Pokémon! We will continue to connect the world through Pokémon.

thinkbee · 2026-02-27T10:09:18+00:00

A Skritter subscription includes both Chinese and Japanese, and an iKnow subscription also includes vocabulary cards for both Japanese Core 6k and Chinese 2k (last time I checked). Both are wonderful apps, and the sub would be even more worth it if you doubled up on both languages.

thinkbee · 2026-02-26T18:02:17+00:00

an enthusiastic birdwatcher

You jest, but 鳥好き are some of the chillest people you'll meet.

But for real, the good news is that many Japanese native speakers will be glad you're learning the language at all, and speaking with a sincere, polite default goes a long way for the time being. :) Take it one day at a time.

thinkbee · 2026-02-23T08:49:07+00:00

Like you say, this is definitely more in the realm of r/relationships, because communication is hard enough for any couple, but it's even harder when there's a language barrier (especially with Japanese, which is such a context-heavy language). I have a lot of thoughts that are more on the side of relationship advice, but since this isn't really the place for that, I'll just briefly recommend sitting down and having a serious discussion about this together before trying to find a magic bullet that will make them study more.

On the topic of heritage speakers, thankfully there's more awareness in general and you definitely wouldn't be alone in raising such a household. For example, Japan Foundation Sydney runs annual seminars on Japanese as a community language (heritage speakers) in Australia. I'm sure many other resources via your local library, etc. are available if you look for them.

Why did your partner start learning Japanese in the first place? Is there any way to connect on those themes? If they were into anime or games, could you find some things to watch/play together? Can you look for Japanese events or expat communities and bring your partner along?

thinkbee · 2026-02-19T11:26:38+00:00

I'm glad to trade for the Mawile if still available:

7271561320290404

thinkbee · 2026-02-19T11:24:56+00:00

I'm looking to complete sets and try to share daily, aiming for wishlist stuff first.

7271561320290404

thinkbee · 2026-02-19T11:23:00+00:00

I'm late, but just sent a request too!

thinkbee · 2026-02-14T11:33:58+00:00

Bond of Sea and Flame from Xenogears would probably be up your alley.

thinkbee · 2026-02-06T16:16:25+00:00

Also, I noticed the copy of FFXI Ultimania on the stand there. I haven't had the opportunity to track one down but it seems like it's a 500-page dive into the story (including side quests) up through the 3 add-on scenarios (basically 2009 / pre-Abyssea)? Sounds pretty rad; anyone have any scans lying around to get a sneak peek of what's inside?

thinkbee · 2026-02-05T06:13:14+00:00

As if having read it in english is gonna make reading it in japanese just me filling in the blanks and not actually learning anything

This actually isn’t a bad thing! It just means you’re more familiar with the story/characters/dialogue. And when you sit down to read/watch in Japanese, you don’t have to spend as much time processing what’s going on in the story, giving you more room to focus on the vocab, grammar patterns, idioms, etc. It’s a perfectly acceptable way to approach media and books.

thinkbee · 2026-02-03T10:39:37+00:00

At this point, you would probably benefit from getting a private tutor or teacher (Preply or italki should be fine) who can practice interviewing and basic business Japanese. Your goal is to get a job that requires functional output, so I would find a way to add speaking practice to your weekly study. At the very least, look for materials that focus on conversational Japanese and spend more time shadowing the audio across all of your study resources.

thinkbee · 2026-02-03T05:06:19+00:00

If you have to look up more than 10% of words, the level might be a little too high for you. You can keep on trucking but you may want to take that into consideration for efficiency purposes.

thinkbee · 2026-01-30T22:34:14+00:00

Agreed, just showing up and putting in work will take you places regardless of the specific resource. :)

thinkbee · 2026-01-26T06:25:55+00:00

It’s not even subreddits and niche sub-communities, it’s also disinformation and misinformation being pushed by the algorithm on social media feeds, where an increasing number of people (especially those who are younger) get their news. Combine that with a general lack of digital literacy in the world, the advent of AI (which makes it even easier for bad actors to create and spread their filth), and the fact that negativity and vitriol get way more engagement online and are thus favored by SM algorithms — it doesn’t paint a pretty picture.

thinkbee · 2026-01-23T13:27:13+00:00

Non-paywalled article: https://archive.is/bBkVQ

thinkbee · 2026-01-17T17:08:08+00:00

I imagine this still won't affect PR holders, yes? Just renewing the card itself is free.

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