Japanese Language & Culture

Nami Ohara teaches Japanese language and culture to students in St. John's, NL and also around the world via Skype Lessons. This blog is designed to provide Japanese lessons, notes on Japanese culture and lots of other fun Japanese related stuff to enhance the learning experience of Japanese language students everywhere.
Japanese-na Nihongo (Facebook Group)

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Passwords for the Month of Feb., 2013

今月の合言葉(月) 
こんげつ の あいことば(がつ)

あいことば(Aikotoba/passwords) is a magical phrase (like "open sesame") to open the Japanese language classroom's door.

    

先生(せんせい)       生徒(せいと)


                               こんにちは。           こんにちは。xxxxxです。       

あいことば は なんですか。               xxxxxxxx

                                   どうぞ。





Kanji of the Month for Feb. 2013

今月の漢字(こんげつのかんじ)
2月(にがつ)



おに(Oni)








ふく(Fuku)




Song of the Month for Feb. 2013

今月の歌(こんげつのうた)
二月(にがつ)

豆まき (Mamemaki) 
Scattering Parched Beans (to drive out evil spirits)



Oni wa soto Fuku wa uchi
Para para para para mame no oto
Oni wa kossori nigete iku

Oniwa soto Fuku wa uchi
Para para para para mame no oto
Hayaku ohairi fuku no kami

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Oshaberi Report : Jan. 26, 2013

Osheberi (Chat) Club hosted on Jan. 26, 2013. Nine people attended this time. We had two Japanese guests from Japan via Skype.



We had special guests from Japan. 




Mega hit product in Japan 2012
#4 Maru-cahn Seimen

We tasted Maruchan Seimen, Miso flavor today. 



Sunday, January 20, 2013

Celebrating Five Years of Learning

エベリーナ スウィントンさん

Evelina Swinton

I have been learning Japanese for a little over 5 years, but it`s so hard to believe because it feels like my learning has only just begun. I really enjoy learning about the interesting language and culture of the Japanese. It intrigues me, and the more I learn, the further I want to dig deeper into it and know everything I can. Nami is a wonderful teacher, and she has taught me many things of which I hold near and dear to me. I hope to learn much more from her and have many more of these little things to cherish. I may not be able to learn everything about Japan, but I can promise to continue learning everything I can and do my very best to honour my sensei and keep all of her teachings close to my heart. Thank you, Nami!

Friday, January 18, 2013

Oshaberi Club: Sat., Jan. 26th, 2013

 Japanese Language & Culture Meetup Group

First Oshaberi Club (おしゃべりクラブ) of this year (2013) is coming soon!
I will invite a special guest from Japan.

What is the meaning of Oshaberi?
Oshaberi means “Chat” in Japanese. 

Participants will be able to enjoy using Japanese language and experiencing Japanese culture. This is also a great opportunity for you to expand your Japanese network in St. John’s.

Photos from the previous Oshaberi Club 
Last Month  March   June  (click each month)

Place: Nami's Place
Date:  Saturday, Jan. 26th, 2013
Time: Door Open 7 pm- Door Close 10 pm 
Fee: $10  (including free drink   and popcorn)
           Early bird fee by Sat., Jan. 19th $ 7 



Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Hoshigaki Taste Test 干し柿(ほしがき)

Have you eaten かき(柿, kaki, persimmon)?

It is not a common fruit in Newfoundland. Persimmon is an orange coloured fruit and harvested in the autumn. There are varieties that come in two distinct categories; either astringent (渋柿、しぶがき shibugaki) or regular (甘柿、あまがき amagaki).  
                                  あまがき (amagaki)       しぶがき (shibugaki)

Shibui (astringent) +Kaki (persimmon) = Shibugaki 

Amai (sweet) + Kaki (persimmon) = Amagaki


しぶがき that is not over-ripe cannot be eaten.  
How do Japanese people eat しぶがき?

ほしがき (干し柿, hoshigaki, dried persimmons) is the most common way it is eaten in Japan. We remove the skin and hang them on a string outside.


My students enjoyed ほしがき from Japan. This ほしがき was grown at one of my Japanese friend’s field and he dried them.

Most of the students enjoyed eating ほしがき very much.

ほしがき (hoshigaki)

Tiffany
 Oishikatta! (It was yummy. )

Brandon
It was very good! I really liked it the last time I had it and have been looking forward to it since then, it didn't disappoint!


Evelina
 It has a sort of refined sweet taste and is very chewy. There is a "secret" carrot-like taste. I think it is very good in and of itself.


Damien
 I really like the taste, it reminds me of a plum. 


 Jordan
It has a unique taste to it; not too sweet, but overall an intriguing taste to it.

Damien

Miranda



David
 It reminds me a little of a dried date. Umai desu (its delicious)!


Alyshia
 I really didn't like it. I wouldn't eat that again.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Learn Japanese Days of the Week

1週間(いっしゅうかん):One Week

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Kinako Mochi Taste Test

Students tried to eat きな粉餅(きなこもち) which is a rice cake covered with roasted soybean flour.

きな粉餅
きな粉 (Kinako Roasted Soybean Flour)
餅(Mochi: Rice Cake)


Students' Impressions and Comments


Alyshia

It wasn't like anything I've had before, but I'd definitely eat it again.

Zayd
 Unique, but very tasty!


Tiffany
Very powder-ie, but a sweet (not overpowering though). I enjoyed it.

Jordan
 It's definitely a peculiar taste, but I like it nonetheless.


Brandon
Very tasty! It was floury and sweet at the same time, but very sticky too!

Damien
It's not bad. It seems the more I eat it, the more I like it.

Evelina
It is a very strange and interesting sensation that I can probably get used to.


John

 It's surprisingly sweet. The kinako reminds me of a sweet breakfast cereal. The mochi reminds me of a very light touton. So it's like if you rolled something like a touton in sugar. 


 Miranda


Damien


David
It was chewy goodness! Like eating a chewy rice marshmallow.



Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Song of the Month for Jan. 2013

今月の歌(こんげつのうた)
お正月(おしょうがつ)