19 September 2010 @ 05:06 pm
[Japan]: My life = busy!  
Hello everybody!

I'm sorry that I'm not around much lately. Like I already mentioned in one of my previous entries, I'm busy. I'm fully back into study-mode and I think I even update my Japanese blog(s) more often :(
I hope you understand! Next week will also be extremely busy at work, so I don't know yet when I'll be able to post the next travel entry!

This is just a quick update to show you that I'm still alive and to inform you that I'm busy, so don't expect me to read all your entries / comments IMMEDIATELY
Thanks for understanding.

Random Fact#1:



I finally have a "pseudo"-coffee machine! XD
I got really good coffee as a present, but as I have no coffee machine I had to buy one of those drip-thingies and coffee filter. Works just fine!!
I'm not much of a coffee drinker anymore (although I've started to drink more again recently), so I don't really need a coffee machine anyways.


Random Fact#2:



It's THAT time again???
If I say "again", I'm lying, because that's actually the first time that I'll be counted since I came to Japan. I wonder how often they do this. I thought they do it every year, but I know that's not the truth now XD
What I'm talking about? I got this pamphlet and it says that they will soon come to every single household to count how many people there are (foreigners included).

Random Fact #3:
It's still extremely hot (~ 30°C) although it's mid-September!!!!!! I have to admit that it's cooling down quite a bit at night, though. I hope autumn is coming soon!!!!


JDramas:
Like promised, here's the dramas I'm currently watching (more or less):



Unubore Deka (うぬぼれ刑事):
Info: A 30-year-old single detective (Nagase Tomoya), who is under the illusion that he is popular with females is called 'Unubore' by friends. He is an ultra romantic and susceptible to conceitedness. He has such a strong desire to marry to the extent that he has bought an apartment for his newlywed life. He falls in love with female criminals at first sight each time. While the sheer desire to meet wraps around him, he will get proof that the female is the culprit. And so, he will thrust both the arrest warrant and marriage papers at her, proposing with the words, "If you marry me, I won’t arrest you." If that still does not work, he will hold out an engagement ring and his handcuffs. In the end, the criminal will choose to be arrested and his heart will be broken. He will cry as he puts the handcuffs on her... (source: DramaWiki)

Personal opinion:
Actually this was the drama I was looking forward to the most as it feat. 2 of my fav actors: Ikuta Toma and Nagase Tomoya!
To be honest, I was disappointed. Of course, it's very amusing and I like Nagase-kun when he's playing dorky characters, but ...... each and every episode is exactly the same and thus dull. It gets boring.
I still keep watching while doing housework and stuff, not looking at the screen (good listening practice ;P) - and saves me time, too!




Natsu no koi ha nijiiro ni kagayaku (夏の恋は虹色に輝く)

English Title: Summer Romance shines in rainbow color

Info: Taiga is a struggling second-generation actor who has developed a complex due to his father, a famous actor in his time. Taiga, only get to appear in variety shows, most of the time. One day when his friend bring him out for a skydiving, a big wind dragg him away from the dropping point and he got stuck in a tree. A beautiful woman, Shiori (Takeuchi Yuko), come to rescue him. Shiori is a cheerful woman who laughs away all worries she has. She's exactly the opposite of Taiga... (source: DramaWiki)



Personal opinion:
I really like this drama. The story itself might not be "that" special, but I was surprised at MatsuJun's acting. He got me blushing quite a few times. Apart from that I've ALWAYS been a huge fan of the female main actress Takeuchi Yuko!!
MatsuJun and older women - that just works out if you ask me!!!! One of the first jdramas I ever watched was "Kimi ha petto" anyways ;P
The story is still interesting enough for me, it's entertaining, exciting, heartwarming, so yah .. this is probably my #2 of this season's dramas :D



And I just love his dorky-cute smile (*_*)v





Nihonjin no shiranai nihongo (日本人の知らない日本語)

Info: Kano Haruko (Naka Riisa) is a charismatic shop assistant who has such excellent fashion sense that she has been featured in fashion magazines. However, she is unable to give up her dream of being a high school teacher. Haruko is asked by her former teacher to teach Japanese to foreigners for three months on the understanding that he would introduce her for the high school’s Japanese language teaching position. And so, she becomes a trainee teacher at a Japanese language school where she coaches nine foreign students with strong personalities, including an Italian anime enthusiast and a Swede who is in love with ninjas, according to her own convictions, while setting her sights on becoming a high school teacher. (source: DramaWiki)



Personal opinion:
There are some parts that are interesting even if you're Japanese is already quite good (that's why it's called "Japanese that even Japanese don't know"), but apart from that it's not a really good drama. The story (is there one?) is flat and dull and the characters suck (sorry!).
I don't know why they picked ugly foreigners and on top of that made freaks out of ALL of them!!!!! Yes, there are some freaks like shown in the drama out there, but don't throw us all in one pot, please! That makes me angry :(
*points at what's written in the subtitles* I think that is PARTLY true!! But then again, they don't like foreigners who act foreign either! :/ ......
What do you think?




Hammer Session (ハンマーセッション!)

Info: Two prisoners managed to escape after the police truck carrying them crashed. One of them ,is a gangster. The other called "Otowa YonKo" - our protagonist - is a con artist whose cheats money from criminals or terrorists. Accidentally, "Otowa Yonko" then becomes the new teacher for the nearby high school, under the new name "Hachisuka Goro", and according to a deal of "Hammer Session" with the headmaster. (source: DramaWiki)

Personal opinion:
Just one more of those "school dramas" like "Gokusen", "Gachibaka", "Dragonzakura" etc. etc. etc.
There are millions of these kind of dramas out there. I only started watching it because I was bored at that time and it's VERY easy to follow even without subtitles, so I can watch it while doing other things ;P (yeah, not watching this one with subs! XD)
Thus, not really recommended!!!




JOKER Yurusarezaru Sosakan (ジョーカー 許されざる捜査官)

Info: Date Kazuyoshi (Sakai) is a detective on the Kanagawa prefectural police force. During the day, he is known as a "Buddha" for his gentle personality, pouring all of his energy into resolving each case. At night, however, he transforms into a cruel punisher as his gentleness gives way to his anger towards the criminals. The series poses questions about what justice and evil truly are. (source: DramaWiki)

Personal opinion:
This is by far the most interesting and exciting drama this season - at least for me! Especially one episode (I think it was #6) made me soooooooo~ angry!!! It's basically a drama that makes you think about justice and what is right and wrong and the (Japanese) law system etc.
I've forgotten all about Ryo lately, but he's great in this drama, but the actual star here is not an ikemen, but Sakai Masato!! I already liked him in "Himitsu no Hanazono".
Highly recommended (but it gets bloody and cruel at times, so be aware of that!)




Beautiful Life (ビューティフルライフ )

Info: Kyoko, a young woman with an unhindered spirit despite being physically bound to a wheelchair due to illness, and Shuji, a stylish and popular fashion magazine hairstylist, are brought together in a fateful traffic incident. Despite their confrontational meeting, they soon find themselves falling in love, with Shuji drawn to her courage and enthusiasm and Kyoko attracted to his ability to look beyond her physical limitations and into her heart. However, Kyoko's protective older brother and her worsening condition begin to test the bounds of their love for each other and threaten to end their beautiful life together. (source: DramaWiki)

Personal opinion: This is not a drama of the current season. Actually it's quite old (broadcasted 10 years ago!). I really like the old KimuTaku dramas, so every once in a while I watch one (luckily there are more than enough out there XD). This is just a typical KimuTaku romatic drama - with the exception that his love interest is a person who sits in a wheelchair :) Only watched about half of it yet, but it's pretty nice so far. Definitely something a KimuTaku fan has to watch ;P



Request/Questions:
To help my studies a bit, I'm looking for Japanese online radios. I mean ACTUAL radio stations that you also could get via a normal radio not those pseudo English anime-related online channels, but where they actually speak Japanese, have news in Japanese etc.!
I don't have a radio here, so I can't access any local radio channels. I already googled the websites of my local radio stations, but it seems they don't offer any online channel at all! :(
If you know anything, please let me know!! (*_*) (P.S.: http://radiko.jp/ does NOT work in my area!! :( ...)
Also, I'm looking for interesting Japanese websites or blogs that I could read on a daily basis or at least weekly!!! If you know any, please let me know!! You all know in what I'm interested, I guess, but anything that has to do with Japan, Germany, language studying, cats, cute things, Johnnys, travelling, photos, .... would be awesome!!! SHARE AWAY!!!~

Poll:
Last, but not least I decided to make a short poll. As my time is limited I can't write about everything I want to.
I figured I could ask you guys what you'd rather read about here. Maybe that helps me figure out what to write about, too XD

[Poll #1620386]



But after all that talk about me and my journal, I actually want to know:
Who are YOU??
1200+ crazy people have added my journal. I'm not sure if all of them actually really read my journal, but I only know a handful of those people!
I want to use today's entry to get to know you guys better! Even if we have been friends for a long time and even if I comment on your entries often, I'm sure there are still things I don't know about you.
So, this is for ALL OF YOU!! If you feel like sharing anything about you, please feel free to do so! :)
If you know that we don't know each other well, please introduce yourself!! Let me know WHO you are!!! Anything is fine really. You can also tell me what your journal is about if you want to.
Of course, you don't have to do this. That's totally up to you guys!! ;)
All comments will be screened today. I'll unscreen them if there's no personal introduction at all. If you tell me something about yourself, please write at the end of your comment if I can unscreen your comment or not :3
Thanks so much!!!

P.S.: If I'm not updating for quite a while and you're wondering what's going on, you can always check out my Twitter!!! :D
 
 
[music]: Rihanna - Pon De RePlay
[mood]: crazy
 
 
Page 1 of 2
<<[1] [2] >>
( Post a new comment )
[identity profile] ex-ninchu.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 08:24 am (UTC)
1200 people? WOW! That's crazy xD
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 25th, 2010 01:11 am (UTC)
I know!!! And the funny thing is that a lot of them were already there before I went to Japan. Before I went to Japan I was active in a LOT of communities and shared graphics (screencaps, icons, bases) and Japanese study material etc. - so I guess that's why XD

Aber es ist auch ein bißchen scary XD
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
kurikuribebi[personal profile] kurikuribebi on September 19th, 2010 09:02 am (UTC)
Finally someone else who sees the issues I have with Nihonjin no shiranai nihongo. I watched like three episodes and couldn't handle any further. I'm sure I could learn a lot from it, but the dullness...I dunno.

You've commented on my blog here and there so I assume you know I'm alive and I'm not one of the random people you've never heard of..but in any case...screened or unscreened, I'll introduce myself.

I'm Zia, though my boyfriend calls me Kuri or Curry...hehe. I'm a girl. Love photography. Im the chick that spends half the year in Japan and half the year in the US.
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 25th, 2010 01:13 am (UTC)
I know that they tend to exaggerate in jdramas and stuff, but that was just too ... "%&"§$"§ -_-;
I also heard their budget was quite low, so they could only cast people like that :/

Yeah, of course I know you ^-^
The people I friended back, I usually know because I read their journals whenever I can :333
Anyways thanks a lot for the self-introduction :3
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] isamunee.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 10:09 am (UTC)
Wow, that's a lot of readers. I added you because your entries are cute, interesting and fun! Can you tell me where you get all those emotes?
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 08:38 am (UTC)
Yeah, I know. Kind of scary ;P
Sure, I posted a link collection for those emoticons years ago. You can find it here: http://chochajin.livejournal.com/66816.html
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
Jess[identity profile] frostedpopcorn.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 10:37 am (UTC)
My name is Jess and I just love everything about your journal, it's very interesting and I am glad that you not only write about the glamorous side of Japan (ie the fangirl vision) but how it is. I've been watching your journal for a while now and I love your colourful travel entries.

I'm British but was also born in Germany and I've been living in London for the last 4 years so I can definitely relate to some of your viewpoints and expectations (and how they are often not met XD)


.. and I love your food entries! OMG. Have you ever thought of joining tumblr? I know, it's more time spent online but the beautiful pictures..! <3

This can be unscreened, I don't mind. :)
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 08:40 am (UTC)
Thank you very much for your nice comment :D

Tumblr? I've heard of it, but to tell you the truth I already can't keep up with all my blogs and thingies online anymore, so I would be crazy to join yet another one ;P
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] nfr.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 10:41 am (UTC)
I introduced myself two or three posts ago, but I'll do it again because there're a lot of people friending you! ;D

My name is Núria, I'm 27 years old and I'm from Catalunya (Spain). I love all the japanese things: the culture, the food, anime, manga, jdramas, the language, etc. I have done a professional training of the family of Chemistry, but nowadays there's a lot of crisis in Spain and it's very hard to find a job. But althought that I'm trying my best! :D

Last summer I take Japanese classes and this year I want to work hard learning it. If I can ask, what books did you use when you started learning? Thank you very much! ^__^

Also, I've added you on Twitter, I hope you don't mind. My username is Nufiri.

Again, sorry for my English :/

And, of course, you can unscreen my comment! ;)
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 08:43 am (UTC)
Thank you very much for your nice self-introduction ^-^
Hm, what kind of books? I STARTED with??? To be honest I can't really remember. I started in 2002, so 8 years ago XD I think among the books was "Japanese for busy people" :)

Thanks a lot for adding me over at Twitter, too. Although my Twitter is quite boring. I can't post when not at home - and most of the time I'm at work where I can't use Twitter either XD *sigh*

Hm? Your English is gooooood!!! :D
And don't worry, I'm not a native speaker either! XD
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] darlingpoppet.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 10:42 am (UTC)
The only one of those dramas I've seen is the Nihonjin no Shiranai Nihongo and yeah, I pretty much had the same reaction as you XP which is really a shame because the manga it's based on is soooo funny and good! the only part i laughed at on the first episode was when she first meets her class and she starts talking to them in really slow, overly enunciated Japanese and then her reaction when the guy in the picture demonstrates his more than competent Japanese XD; Other than that and the mini Japanese lessons, yeah not too impressed :/

btw, i'm adding your japanese journal to my flist... just so you know, i hope you don't mind :)
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 08:46 am (UTC)
Yeah, exactly. One of those foreigners seems to be quite normal (I think his name in the drama is "Jack"), but I heard the budget for that drama was quite low which explains the horrible cast XD

Of course I don't mind ^-^
Thanks :3
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] bluemchenblatt.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 11:18 am (UTC)
I'm not really good with introductions. :(
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 08:46 am (UTC)
*lol* Okay XD I'm not forcing anybody ;)
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] hananaki.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 11:58 am (UTC)
Hello there!My name is Anna and I am from Greece!I've been studying japanese for about 2 years and I really enjoy reading your journal.I love Japan too and I adore your travelling pics.
I also like reading about your life and the problems you have to face in Japan.We all admire the country after all but living there can be really tough.
Changing the subject I adore Joker too.I can't wait for the subs of the last episode...I agree with everything you wrote about the dramas.I can't wait for the next season because it seems really promising.
Good luck with your life...
Oh and I don't mind if you unsceen this
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 08:49 am (UTC)
Wow, 2 years?? That's awesome ^-^
Do you study on your own? :)
Thank you very much for your nice comment :D
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
(no subject) - [identity profile] hananaki.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 09:02 am (UTC)
[identity profile] celestica.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 12:07 pm (UTC)
Well, first of all, let me tell you that I suck at introductions! Sadly X3. Anyway, here I go:

My name is Alexandra (I have a LOT of nicknames though...) and I love just about everything in your journal, it is fun, interesting and pretty different - I learn more in here than any other website, and learning about you as a person too.

I am Portuguese, but I live in London for the past 12/13 years (I'm not sure... Maths wasn't my strongest strength), am 20 years old and currently studying at London Metropolitan University - I've just enrolled online for my course Computer Animation BA and just waiting until next month where teaching starts. I just recently purchased a Kindle which I'm badly in love with cos I am a reader, throughout my whole life, reading is my number one passion, second it'd be manga and then anime. And I'm also waiting for my MacBook Pro 15 inch X3.

I am crazy about gadgets, Japanesey stuff and a lot of things really. My local sushi store called Wasabi will be opening tomorrow so my lunch will be filled with sushi sushi X3.

I want to learn Japanese - and I hope soon too. And, I &hearts your food entries! Love, love and love because I'm a food lover completely XDDD! Oh, I am jealous of your Japanese paintings that you buy on your journal! If you sell them, I'd buy defiantly!

Well, that's it? XDDDDDDDD;;

EDIT;; you can unscreen my comment X3

Edited 2010-09-19 12:09 pm (UTC)
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 08:51 am (UTC)
Thanks for your self-introduction!! I don't think you suck at it at all!! (*___*)
So cute!~❤

Where do you intend to learn/study Japanese? :)
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] melohneee.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 12:18 pm (UTC)
My names Melanie and I stumbled upon your journal on accident along while ago and I enjoy reading your journal xD I especially love the travel entries (*is studying tourism*) And the pictures! XD;;; Maybe I should have asked but I used some of your photos for my Heography project on Japan since they were such nice photos. And you covered all the citys I needed but I did say where I got them from <3 and it was just a power point but still lol thank you very much and yeah i dont know.

Oh myab eI should say where I'm from. D: I'm from the Us but Im currently living with my family in there country of origin which is Argentina sooo Si hablo español.
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 08:52 am (UTC)
Hello there!! :)
Wow tourism, huh? Sounds interesting ^^ I think that would be something for me, too :D
I don't mind, but yah maybe it would be better to ask beforehand next time, nee?! ^-^ I still feel flustered :D
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] kanefunnn.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 12:39 pm (UTC)
Everyone is busy the term now, so I don't care when you reply my comment! :) Take it easy~♪

国勢調査は5年に1回行われますが、あまり気にしなくてもいいですよ(笑)

Matsujun is so HOT! His smile is a knockout...❤ LOL

I often read these blog and site. This is a blog which introduces how to arrange one's hair.
http://binosusume.blog116.fc2.com/blog-category-23.html
Because I have long hair and like hair arrangement. :D

The second one has useful information on learning English. This site teaches how to express the Japanese culture in English.
http://haradakun.cool.ne.jp/nihonbunka/nihonbunka.html

If you want to learn Japanese, how about this site? There are lots of grammars in detail.
http://study.u-biq.org/


Now, I would like to introduce myself. ヽ('∀'*)ノ
I'm kanefunnn.
I'm a university student and I was born and raised in Osaka, Japan. I majored in comparison culture of Japan and Europe at my university.

I started LJ because I want to make friends all over the world.

I like manga and anime(include BL) very much! Also interested in fashion and J-pop☆
I absorb in reading Katekyo Hitman Reborn and some others Jump-comics. I read CLAMP comics, too. I often listen Utada Hikaru's song. Every her song is worth listening!!

I want to work at the hospital in the future, so I'm studying hard.

This can be unscreened, of course. ^_^

(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 08:57 am (UTC)
そう言われても、返事が遅くなって、ごめんなさい!(ノ◇≦。)

The other day 2 old ladies came and brought me the documents I have to fill out for the 国勢調査. I have yet to have a look at it. It's a little bit 面倒くさい! _(^^;)ゞ

Thank you very much for sharing these interesting websites!!! :33333

Comparing European and Japanese culture??!! Wow, that's EXACTLY what I was interested, too!!! うらやましいです!!!♪

How are your major and working in a hospital related to each other, though? ぜんぜん違う分野でしょうね。

Thanks so much for your nice self-introduction!! :3
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
(no subject) - [identity profile] kanefunnn.livejournal.com on September 28th, 2010 01:13 pm (UTC)
(no subject) - [identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 29th, 2010 12:52 am (UTC)
[identity profile] farron-eclair.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 12:59 pm (UTC)
1200 O_o' that's alot!
Well my old journal was gintoki_sama. Now I'm permanent with this one~

Hmm I've been meaning to watch some new j-dramas lately.
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 08:59 am (UTC)
Yeah, I know O__O; ... I wonder where all thos epeople came from XD
I remember your old username!! :D I added your "new" journal ^^
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
(no subject) - (Anonymous) on April 18th, 2017 06:56 am (UTC)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 09:00 am (UTC)
I was in the same boat as you when I was a university student! I barely had enough time to study Japanese at all :( That's why I enjoy it doing now all the more - although it means giving up my free time ;___;

Thanks a lot for the links ^-^
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] miraiklenta.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 01:41 pm (UTC)
Hm... I think I may have only responded once.

I actually don't post on LJ anymore though I keep it active so I can read this journal and a few other communities. My journal is actually at http://journal.klenta.com. I actually haven't posted in it for quite a while and I should do that soon...

I find it quite fascinating that you're a German who's teaching English in Japan.

As for me, I'm a 26 year old American who is illiterate (not that speaking is any better...) at Chinese. I've studied a lot of languages (German, Spanish, French, and Japanese), but only two really caught my interest--German and Japanese. Sadly, my ability in all the languages have deteriorated. Which is why I got a Livemocha account and always hunting in the foreign language book section for something to help refresh and teach myself.

Of course being raised Chinese hasn't helped me at all! Well... Not as much I would have liked. I don't speak Mandarin or Cantonese. I'd only survive in Shanghai if I was thrown into China.

I don't mind if this is unscreened.
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 09:03 am (UTC)
I know that it sounds quite confusing and sometimes it IS ... I mean being a German in Japan, but teaching English *lol*
Wow, Chinese?? Is it difficult?? Especially compared to the European languages you've studied so far?

Thanks a lot for your self-introduction and your comment ^^
P.S.: And it's been a while since I last saw a Prince of Tennis icon XD
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] kawarashii.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 01:55 pm (UTC)
I agree with the things you wrote about Nihonjin no shiranai nihongo , the foreigners are just creepy! and they have 0 skills in acting and they're accents are .. ugly =(

they could've picked a better cast , but to think of it , it had no story from the beginning xD
I'm just watching it for improving my 日本語=D

for the radio channels , I remember there was 2 ways : 1st the media player you can go the media guide tap up on the right there are many internet radios ! I remember listening to Aiba's recomen from there
2nd is PSP! &hearts there was that way I forgot how XD
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 09:04 am (UTC)
I think the drama is not really THAT good for improving our Japanese skills :(
Maybe the manga is better (o_O')

I'm looking for "real" radio stations, though, with "real" local news and everything, but thanks ;)
(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Link)
(no subject) - [identity profile] kawarashii.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 12:02 pm (UTC)
Dina[personal profile] redina on September 19th, 2010 02:48 pm (UTC)
Re: [Japan]: My life = busy!
RE: Unubore Deka

I enjoyed parts of it and many times Nagase and Toma, who is why I started watching the series, had me laughing, but I also found UD with 'meh' parts because of the redundancy. I've watched years/seasons of scifi series featuring 'monster of the week' episodes with story arcs to mix things up, but I still found my attention wandering with UD, so it's not necessarily the formula structure. Also, UD promo pic? I'm amused it's stock photos, not necessarily actual appearances from the series, photoshopped together. {chuckle}

As to introductions, I'm Dina and I'm 32 from Florida, US--walk outside and it's a hot sauna nine months out of the year. {g} I started reading your journal for the Toma-orientated entries, but I've also been enjoying your cultural posts and reading your experiences. :-) Like I said in your poll, it's your journal, post whatever topics float your fancy. {g} Good luck with work and studies!

Feel free to unscreen.
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 09:10 am (UTC)
Re: [Japan]: My life = busy!
Hey there!!!
I know you already - because I love your Toma-related entries. Sorry that I barely find time to ever comment, though ;o;
It's good to see somebody else that is in my age group. Doesn't make me feel THAT old ;P

Thanks for your self-introduction :D
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] kkuldanji.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 03:32 pm (UTC)
I don't have much to say, I really enjoy reading your blog.^^
I just want you to know that I think it's amazing that you live out there, you can cope with all the difficulties, and that you open your life up to us, so we can see how things are going. So I think that 1200+ is understandable :DD

You know this poll made me think, as I read 'Japanese studies' so many times, what is hard for me in Japanese is the grammar. And I don't know whether there are tips for grammar learning, or you just sit down and just read and practice-read and practice. Ok, it was a bit dumb, but I'm desperate XD
Other than that I'm Ella, Hungarian, 19. Just to be short :D

Good luck with your busy schedule~
(and ofc you can unscreen)
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 09:14 am (UTC)
Hello there!!
Super cute icon!! ^-^

Hm, I think I'm not the right person to ask about grammar as I used to struggle a lot with it, too, and still do. Lately I've been going through the 2kyuu Kanzen Master book for grammar. That definitely helped. I'm also working my way through the "Dictionary of Basic / Intermediate / Advanced Japanese Grammar" books :)
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] genlethu.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 03:58 pm (UTC)
oops, i made a mistake! My 'answer to ' interesting things you come across!! ^^' should be fore 'I would like to see/read more if this: (more than 1 answer is possible!)' hehehe
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 09:15 am (UTC)
Alright :D And thanks so much for taking part in the poll ^-^
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] kmakms.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 04:00 pm (UTC)
I'm Katrina, from England unfortunately
I'm the one who sometimes leaves long rambling comments.

I like your travel and life in Japan entries as well as the food and pictures and Icons etc.
I'm trying to teach myself Japanese but i've not been studying it for that long. I do it for fun, I doubt i'd ever leave my hometown let alone my country even though I really dislike it, i'm just not mature enough and would never survive in the big wide world on my own.

Jdramas:
I've been watching Unubore Dake actually i'm on episode two, but I had higher expectations, I'll continue with it though.
I dropped Nihongo no Shiranai Nihongo its too boring, I don't know if you've watched an anime called durarara!! but the black guy from this drama reminds me of th black guy from that anime, they both also have a similar job lol. They do seem to have the not so pretty looking foreigners I do admit not everyone in the world is pretty but these peopel are a bad representative of foreigners, I remember one epsiode they're asked why did htey come to Japan and they all gave stupid answers ¬.¬

I like Hammer Session, but I can understand what you mean about it, I'm only watching becaue of Mokomichi XD

Joker is really good !!! Deffinately one of my favourite if not my favourite drama this season.
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 26th, 2010 09:20 am (UTC)
Hello there :D
Thanks a lot for the self-introduction ^^

Really? Well, I really wanted to go to Japan no matter what. I also wasn't sure if I'd be mature enough, but it worked out quite well - mostly XD

It seems we have the same taste when it comes to jdramas :D
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] amvn.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 04:06 pm (UTC)
Smart solution about the "coffee maker" ;) I know I could not live without coffee, and the last few weeks I have probably overdosed since I had this big exam two days ago XDDD

Wow, 30 degrees?!! Well, I'm not that surprised since it's south in Japan, but we have actually had quite a warm September here in Tromsoe as well, especially considering how bad a summer we had.

It's a long time since I watched Beautiful Life, I only managed to watch a few episodes but it was quite good so I should probably finish it. Nihonjin no shiranai nihongo sounds really amusing! I need to watch doramas again (I started off so good this year, but after March or so when the workload go too huge I kind of...stopped) Now I have some more time on my hands to I should pick out a few to watch ;)

Just have to say that your journal is the blog I read the most, and I always love to see new updates from you :) I haven't been updating much lately, but I should get my ass back on LJ and make some new entries soon ;)
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 27th, 2010 02:00 am (UTC)
Really?
Well, when I was younger I couldn't live without coffee as well. Even when I was a university student it still went on. At some point I discovered Japanese green tea and from there I didn't consume any coffee anymore.
Lately I've been back in coffeeland, but only for a little bit ;P

It's FINALLY cooling down here :D
We're all afraid that we'll have an extremely cold winter, though :(

Wow, really? *blushes* ;o;
Thanks so much ;____;
*hugs* :3
Hope you're doing fine and are not too stressed! ;o;
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] nez.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 05:27 pm (UTC)
more than a thousand people 8O gosh you're popular! that's a good thing =3 Coffee in Japan isn't bad, but personally i find the tea really awful. Every time i visit Japan i get withdrawal :(

I'm inez from Singapore! I think I friended you back in 2007, when hana kimi was still airing and you shared a lot of beautiful icons on the ikemen_paradise comm. Also i was crazy over Bleach too, then. In Sep2008-Feb2009 I went an exchange programme to Hiroshima University (and there i met shiroirukaze!) and i think we once discussed the cold winter of remote Chuugoku ^^ right now i'm a fan of L'Arc~en~Ciel XD And (because i think you'll like this) for my graduation project i made... a radio documentary about BL, Yaoi and Slash Fiction \m/

i still love reading your blog, even though i'm still a shy commenter >///< i think you're very hardworking in writing down and sharing all your experiences and photographs with us despite falling sick/being busy, and your candid writing style makes us readers feel close to you. i love japan a lot, but these are things I love and admire about you and your blog in particular <3
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 27th, 2010 02:05 am (UTC)
HOMG! You icon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :33333333
Ahem~
I don't think that 1000+ actually read my journal. I think it's more like the 100 people that also took part in the poll. Many people might have added me in the past and then abandoned their journals XD

Thanks a lot for your self-introduction ^-^
Haha~ I see. Wow, your project sounds interesting!!! :3

Don't feel shy!! No need to (^-^)b
Thanks again for commenting, I really appreciate it :3
And thanks so much for the compliment!! *blushes*
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] mayracs.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 06:00 pm (UTC)
I think your posts are wonderful especially the ones about your travels. I love travel, to travel and to learn about travel and mainly Japan right now because it is out of my grasp considering it is really expensive to visit. I have been interested in Japan and there culture for a long time and I still know almost nothing about it because the only way to know it is to live it. Your posts let me vicariously visit hoping that one day I can go there myself. XDD That and your post are really cute looking, and this time interactive! \o/ XDD Thank you!
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 27th, 2010 02:08 am (UTC)
Thank you so much (^-^')
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] smilieshock.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 07:20 pm (UTC)
MENSCH! ich hab mich oben verlesen, statt dem "why do you read..." hab ich "what do you read.." gelesen :'c sorry!

ich muss allerdings gestehen, dass ich nicht alle deine einträge lese, je nach dem, wieviel zeit ich hab.

jetzt zum eintrag an sich:
ich will deine erdbeertasse ;__; so süß <3
und wegen der doramas hab ich jetzt lust welche zu schaun. dabei hab ich schon soviel begonnen und noch nicht fertig geschaut >3>
matsujun... ich hab ihn durch hana yori dango kennen gelernt, da mochte ich ihn nicht, hab jetzt kimi wa petto gestartet, da ist er mir schon mehr symaptischer und... dort oben sieht er richtig süß aus ;_;"" *kann nicht glauben das zu schreiben*
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 27th, 2010 02:10 am (UTC)
Haha XDDD Kein Problem ;P
ICH versteh am besten, dass Leute nicht immer Zeit haben, alles zu lesen ;P Geht mir ja leider genauso :(

Die Erdbeertasse hab ich im 100yen-shop gekauft *duck*
Haha XDDDD Ich hab ihn vor vielen vielen Jahren in Kimi ha petto, dann Gokusen etc. gesehen. Ich war schon immer großer Hana Yori Dango fan (manga) und als dann ein Drama rauskam und er auch noch eine der Hauptrollen hatte, war ich überglücklich XD
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] rakugo-report.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 07:40 pm (UTC)
I'm pretty sure we found eachother through eikaiwa... I think? Yeah. Anyway, lived in J-pan for 2 years, blah blah blah, now back home. You entries are pretty adorable, I have to say. I totally just followed you on twitter, btw; i'm "irritablevowel".
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 27th, 2010 02:12 am (UTC)
That's very much possible ;P
Thanks so much ^-^ - and I have to apologize for my boring Twitter account XD
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)
[identity profile] red-apple-meli.livejournal.com on September 19th, 2010 10:23 pm (UTC)
hi there!

I just wanna say that I'm sorry for not commenting a lot on your entries, because they are always so interesting and I would like to have something good to say to you, but your life is just sooo much more interesting than mine, I really don't know how to be helpful! (^_^)'

at the beginning I added you for your amazing graphics, but later I found out we had many more interests in common (first of all, Johnnies! XD), that's really good! thanks for always posting interesting things!

and about radio channels, I think you can also listen to them on "key hole tv"( http://xorsyst.com/japan/watch-japanese-tv-online/ ). I use the program to watch japanese tv from here (italy), but it works for radio channels, too. but wouldn't it be much much easier to buy a small, crappy radio to keep at home? they are so cheap nowadays... =P

good luck with the weather (I rememeber last year's october... couldn't believe autumn in Japan can be so HOT! (°_°)' )

melissa
(Reply) (Thread) (Link)
[identity profile] chochajin.livejournal.com on September 27th, 2010 02:17 am (UTC)
Hello there! Thanks so much for your comment and the link ^-^ Will have a look at it :D

It's finally getting cooler here, so yay!!^^
(Reply) (Parent) (Link)