Happy Sunday Japanophiles, Herewith is the 50th special issue of the Hai Japan Newsletter — your Weekly Dose of Japan!

Before we go through some grammar, here are some extras…

Japanese Phrase of the Week:

✨ 十人十色 (じゅうにんといろ | Jūnin to iro) ✨

Meaning: "Ten people, ten colors" – Everyone has their own preferences, personalities, and ways of thinking. It’s a great phrase to express individuality and diversity!

Example Sentence:
👤 日本人だからといって、みんな同じ考えではないよ。十人十色だよ！
(Nihonjin dakara to itte, minna onaji kangae de wa nai yo. Jūnin to iro da yo!)
👉 "Just because someone is Japanese doesn’t mean they all think the same way. Everyone is different!"

Try using it this week! 😉

Anime News

‘Ranma ½’ Returns After 30 Years with Original Cast!

The beloved anime classic Ranma ½ is making a grand comeback after three decades, bringing back its signature blend of comedy, action, and romance.

Based on Rumiko Takahashi’s hit manga, the series follows Ranma Saotome, who transforms into a girl when splashed with cold water and back into a boy with hot water—leading to endless hijinks, martial arts mayhem, and heartwarming moments.

Excitingly, most of the original voice cast, including Kappei Yamaguchi (Ranma) and Noriko Hidaka (Akane), are reprising their roles, calling the revival a “miracle.”

Old and new fans can now enjoy the series on Netflix and other streaming platforms!

Read the full story here.

Culture News

Swedish Manga Artist Åsa Ekström on Her Love for Tokyo

Swedish cartoonist Åsa Ekström, known for her hit manga Nordic Girl Asa Discovers the Mysteries of Japan, has made Tokyo her home and embraces the city's vibrant pop culture. 

As a teenager, she was inspired by Sailor Moon and pursued her dream of becoming a manga artist in Japan. She captured the quirks of life as a foreigner in her work. 

From exploring Nakano Broadway’s anime shops to enjoying Tokyo’s hidden alleyway eateries, she finds joy in every detail.

Now balancing life between Japan and Sweden, she continues to explore cultural contrasts through her storytelling.

Read the full story here.

Grammar

Particle を (Direct Object Marker)

を marks the direct object of a sentence—the thing being affected by the verb. Think of it as marking "what gets verbed!"

Basic Usage

1. Noun + を (Direct Object Marker)

を follows nouns to show what the action is being done to:

• かなえはボールを打った。
  Kanae wa bōru wo utta.
  → Kanae hit the ball.

• まちこは梅酒を作った。
  Machiko wa umeshu wo tsukutta.
  → Machiko made plum wine.

Here, ボール (ball) and 梅酒 (plum wine) are the objects of the verbs 打つ (hit) and 作る (make).

2. を at the End of a Sentence (Omission of the Verb)

Sometimes, を appears at the end of a sentence when the verb is implied from context:

A. Clarifying the Object

かなえ「お腹が痛いわ〜 食べ過ぎちゃった。」
Kanae: "My stomach hurts… I ate too much."

マミ「何を？」
Mami: "Of what?"

かなえ「クラブケーキを！」
Kanae: "Crab cakes!"

Mami drops the verb 食べ過ぎた (ate too much) because it’s obvious from context.

B. Catchy & Attention-Grabbing

日本語教育に新しい風を！
A new wind into Japanese language education!

The omitted verb 吹かせる (to blow a new wind) makes it shorter and more impactful.

C. Set Phrases

良いお年を！
"Have a great year!" (Used around New Year's.)

This comes from 良いお年をお迎えください, which means "May you be met with a great new year!"

Beyond the Basics

3. を with Movement Verbs (Marking a Route)

Even though を is usually for objects, it also marks the path of movement:

• 公園を散歩する。
  Kōen wo sanpo suru.
  → To stroll through the park.

• 公園で散歩する。
  Kōen de sanpo suru.
  → To stroll in the park.

With を, the park is treated as a route. With で, it’s just a location.

を vs. で Example

ケンイチが厚板の上を歩かされた！
Kenichi was made to walk the plank! (He walked across the plank.)

ケンイチが厚板の上で歩かされた！
Kenichi was made to walk around on a plank.

The difference? を suggests movement along the whole plank, while で just means he walked on it.

4. を vs. から (Departure Verbs)

For verbs like 出る (leave) and 下りる (get off), を and から slightly change the nuance:

• マミが家を出た。
  Mami wa ie wo deta.
  → Mami left the house (the focus is on leaving).

• マミが家から出た。
  Mami wa ie kara deta.
  → Mami left from the house (emphasizes where she left from).

✅ から works better when specifying a destination:
❌ マミが家を庭に出た。 (Incorrect)
⭕ マミが家から庭に出た。 (Correct: Mami left the house into the garden.)

Abstract Departure

アニメを卒業しました。 → "I’ve moved on from anime." (My anime phase is over.)
アニメから卒業しました。 → "I’ve moved on from anime to something else."

Final Thoughts

• を marks the direct object of a verb.

• It can be used without a verb in conversations, marketing, and greetings.

• を with movement verbs marks a route or path.

• を vs. から for departure verbs affects the nuance.

Understanding を is essential for mastering Japanese sentence structure. Keep practicing! 😊

That’s all folks!

Let me know if you enjoyed this issue :)

Have a great Sunday!