beforebreakfast.net http://beforebreakfast.net/blog A Japanese-learning blog for intermediate to advanced learners of Japanese. Learn the Japanese language through poetry, riddles, games, stories, and other interesting diversions. Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:59:17 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 en Crouching Interpreter, Hidden Agenda http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=33 http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=33#comments Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:59:59 +0000 Nat http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=33 This isn’t entirely related to Japanese learning, but I think most of you Japanese learners/aspiring interpreters out there will appreciate it. This is a short film made by my translator and musician friend Mark, all about the dangers of letting someone with ulterior motives be your interpreter. It also features some pretty awesome ハナレグミ music. I present to you… Crouching Interpreter, Hidden Agenda. (more…)

]]> http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=33 Do you know your Japanese prefectures (県)? http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=32 http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=32#comments Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:42:34 +0000 Nat http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=32 I just discovered this on the internet and I thought I’d share. It’s a really cool game for remembering where the 県 are in Japan. Of course, you’ll need to be able to read the names first, and it can be a bit frustrating until you actually learn the locations of more of the 県 than 北海道 and 沖縄.

I’ll be putting this under a cut since it auto-plays music and I know you don’t want that messing up your LJ friends pages and whatnot. (more…)

]]> http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=32 Contest results! http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=31 http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=31#comments Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:40:24 +0000 Nat http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=31 All right, now it’s time to decide the winner of the 雪祭り Giveaway! There were 14 entrants in total, from all over the world! Everyone got the answer right, too: the characters in the picture were from the children’s program 『しましまとらのしまじろう』, which has recently achieved a little bit of notoriety for its special on going to the bathroom:

「うんくん、バイバイ！！」

Now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for: the winner of the contest! (I’m using this site to assist with the random decision, in case you’re wondering.) The winner of the 雪祭り Giveaway is… (more…)

]]> http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=31 Contest Time: It’s the 雪祭り Giveaway! http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=30 http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=30#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2008 15:46:35 +0000 Nat http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=30 Today, beforebreakfast.net will be holding its first-ever contest, where the prize is your choice of awesome Japanese-learning materials! Are you ready? よっしゅ、行くぞー！ (more…)

]]> http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?feed=rss2&p=30 Japanese Snowmen Attack! http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=29 http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=29#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:07:30 +0000 Nat http://beforebreakfast.net/blog/?p=29 When I went to Sapporo in 2004 for the 雪祭り (the Snow Festival), my friend Brian and I stumbled upon many unusual snow sculptures and artistic winter creations.

Perhaps the most daunting of all was the army of Japanese snowmen we encountered (click for biggie): (more…)

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