My Nihongo Lessons

🎌 Japanese Study Challenge (June 17–30) is on!
Join our Duolingo group for daily practice & support 💛

🟢 Sign up: www.duolingo.com/classroom/vnwyrv
📚 Share what lesson you studied
🏆 Top 3 = free Patreon tier upgrade (or bonus lesson!)

More info:
🔗 www.patreon.com/posts/lets-d...

#JapaneseLanguage

Exploring the New Daiso in Olathe: A Fun Stop for Japanese Reading Practice Looking for a fun way to practice Japanese reading in real life? A visit to Daiso might surprise you! With labels written in kanji, hiragana, and katakana—plus plenty of classroom tools, calligraphy supplies, and cultural goodies—this Japanese store offers a great opportunity to strengthen your reading skills while exploring authentic products. I recently visited Daiso and found everything from play yen and maps for my fall classes to affordable calligraphy paper and fude pens. Whether you're a learner or a teacher, Daiso is full of creative possibilities for making Japanese more practical, personal, and fun.

🎌 New Daiso in Olathe = Language Learner’s Paradise! 🇯🇵
Explore how this Japanese store turns shopping into a fun reading practice session. Great for learners & teachers!
#DaisoOlathe #LanguageTips

🌞 New Summer Schedule starts Monday!
✨ Marugoto Goal videos (Mon)
✨ Can-Do guides (Fri)
✨ Kanji Training (Wed)
✨ Tier members get Rikai "Study With Me" (Tues/Thurs)
www.patreon.com/mynihongolessons
What's your summer study goal? Let me cheer you on 💛
#LearnJapanese #JapaneseStudy

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✨ New blog post! ✨
5 things I wish I knew before starting Japanese—from mindset to motivation. Whether you're a beginner or starting over, these reflections are for you. 💛
#LearnJapanese #JapaneseForBeginners…

https://mynihongolessons.com/2025/05/27/what-i-wish-i-knew-before-starting-japanese/

Boost Japanese Speaking Confidence with Role-Playing Practice Learn how role-playing helps you practice real Japanese, build fluency, and gain confidence in everyday conversations—even when studying solo.

“Scripts are helpful. But confidence comes from stepping into the scene and making it your own.”

New blog on role-play & speaking real Japanese:
mynihongolessons.com/2025/05/20/w...

#LearnJapanese #LanguageLearning #MyNihongoLessons

✨ 20+ years ago, I wrote my thesis on Shintoism after studying in Japan. I later updated it into an encyclopedia entry—and this week, it was cited in a scholarly paper. A quiet full-circle moment I’m grateful for.
#ShintoStudies #Sociolinguistics #AcademicLife

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Unlocking Advanced Japanese Learning: My Go-To Resources and Techniques for Self-Learning

truggling to find advanced Japanese learning materials? Discover how I use…

https://mynihongolessons.com/2025/03/25/unlocking-advanced-japanese-learning-my-go-to-resources-and-techniques-for-self-learning/

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Discover the fascinating evolution of kanji by delving into ancient bone oracles! In my latest blog post, I share my personal journey exploring these Shang Dynasty inscriptions…

https://mynihongolessons.com/2025/03/18/unlocking-the-secrets-of-kanji-learn-japanese-by-exploring-bone-oracle-origins/

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🚀 Overcome Doubts & Stay Motivated in Your Japanese Journey! 🇯🇵✨

Ever feel like learning Japanese is overwhelming? Meet Baku (獏)—a mythical creature that eats nightmares! Just like Baku devours…

https://mynihongolessons.com/2025/03/11/embracing-your-nihongo-dreams-overcoming-doubts-with-the-baku/

Coming Soon: My Ultimate Japanese Learning Resource List! Looking for the best tools to learn Japanese? 📚✨ Get a sneak peek at my ultimate resource list, featuring books, apps, and study tools to help you master kanji, grammar, and more! Stay tuned for the full list!

📢 Exciting News! 🚀
I’m putting together the ultimate Japanese learning resource list—packed with the best books, apps, and study tools to help you master kanji, grammar, and more! 🎌✨

What are YOUR favorite Japanese learning tools? Drop them in the comments—I might add them to the list! ⬇️😊

What's your Kanji journey like? Please share here

Resource Highlight: Mastering Kanji with Heisig Overwhelmed by Kanji? You’re Not Alone! If you’ve ever felt like kanji is an impossible mountain to climb, trust me—I’ve been there. With 2,134 joyo kanji (regular-use characters) to learn, it’s easy to feel lost. But what if I told you there’s a method that breaks kanji down into manageable, memorable chunks? My favorite kanji series of all time is…

🚀 Struggling with kanji? Make Heisig work for YOU!

My latest blog post shares tips on using mnemonics, avoiding burnout with SRS, and blending RTK with real-world practice. Plus, my own RTK journey—yes, I once threw the book! 😆

What’s YOUR kanji learning story? ⬇️ #KanjiTips #RTK

Revisiting a Favorite Language Discovery Method Exploring Japanese Through Random Searches Sometimes, I search a random Japanese word just to see what comes up. One day, I found Everyday is Sunday by Saburo Shiroyama, which led me to discover Japanese business novels—something I’d never explored before. Unexpected searches often lead to fascinating learning moments! Have you tried this?

🚀 Discover Japanese in Unexpected Ways! 🚀

Sometimes, a simple word search leads to fascinating discoveries! In this post, I share how a random search introduced me to Japanese business novels and new learning insights. Have you ever tried this method? 🤔✨

#JapaneseLearning #LanguageDiscovery

How to Build a Japanese Language Portfolio for Homeschoolers and adult students | Step-by-Step Guide Create a Japanese language portfolio for your homeschooler with this step-by-step guide. Learn how to document progress, showcase skills, and use Can-Do assignments from Marugoto A1 to build a powerfu...

📚✨ Showcase Your Japanese learning with a Personalized Portfolio! 🇯🇵
Track milestones, reflect on growth & showcase skills with my 3-part system! 🌟 Read more: mynihongolessons.com/2025/02/11/h...

🚀📖 #JapaneseLearning #MyNihongoLessons #LanguagePortfolio #Homeschool #JapaneseLessons

Are you learning Japanese or want to be a Japanese language teacher? Let's chat!

Post your questions here and let's discuss

How to Build a Japanese Language Portfolio Create a Japanese language portfolio that showcases your homeschooler’s progress, achievements, and cultural experiences. Learn how to structure it using the Passport, Biography, and Dossier sections to build confidence and open doors to future opportunities!

🚀 New Blog Post! 🚀 Want to create a Japanese Language Portfolio? Learn how the Passport, Biography, and Dossier sections track progress & showcase skills! 📖✨ #MyNihongoLessons

Good job! Duo is fine for practicing but I don't recommend it as your only source for learning Japanese. Having a tutor will make a huge different. I post free video lessons on my patreon using Marugoto textbooks. What textbook are you using or interested in using? Keep up the good work!

Are you studying the Japanese language? Help me create a list of topics you would like me to cover.

Why are you studying Japanese?
What do you have difficulty grasping with grammar?
What are your favorite learning resources?

Have you tried Tadoku? What books did you like?
If not, do you have other books you've tried to use? Let's chat about it

Resource Highlight: Learning to Read Japanese with Confidence and Fluency Learning to read Japanese can feel like climbing Mount Fuji—exciting yet overwhelming. With thousands of kanji, multiple scripts, and complex grammar, it’s easy to get lost. But fear not! The right resources can make all the difference. Today, we’ll explore my absolute favorite free tool for building reading confidence: Tadoku.org. Tadoku.org – The Best Graded Readers for Beginners Link:

Learning to read Japanese doesn't need to strike fear. Let me introduce you to Tadoku Graded Readers... they're free!