Hello fellow Japanophiles, welcome to the second issue of the Hai Japan Newsletter — your Weekly Dose of Japan!

As usual, let’s begin with a fun fact to kickstart what I hope will be a great issue:

Did you know that Mount Fuji is actually a volcano?

Now you’ve got something to bring up randomly during conversation. Haha.

In today’s email:

• Ukraine-born model wins Miss Japan 2024 and sparks controversy.

• My Doraemon Method for learning Japanese.

• The anime/manga that I’m currently watching and want to watch.

• Cool pictures, grammar tidbits, and more!

This newsletter follows the K.A.W.A.I.I format which is a format I made up which you’ll figure out as you read. Thank you to Ølix F for your words and input! You’re all free to reply to this newsletter to share any thoughts or opinions you may have. Now without further ramblings, enjoy!😁 

— Oh! This is coming out soon by the way:

Now let’s start!

The phrase "日本の市民権を獲得するために必要な資料の量です" (Nihon no shiminken o kakutoku suru tame ni hitsuyōna shiryō no ryōdesu) can be broken down as follows:

1. "日本" (Nihon) - "Japan"

2. "の" (no) - A particle indicating possession or association, in this case, it connects "日本" (Japan) to "市民権" (citizenship), indicating that it's "Japanese citizenship."

3. "市民権" (shiminken) - "citizenship"

4. "を" (o) - A particle indicating the direct object of the verb, in this case, it marks "市民権" (citizenship) as the object of the verb "獲得する" (kakutoku suru), which means "to obtain."

5. "獲得する" (kakutoku suru) - "to obtain"

6. "ために" (tame ni) - A phrase meaning "for the purpose of" or "in order to."

7. "必要な" (hitsuyōna) - An adjective meaning "necessary" or "required."

8. "資料" (shiryō) - "documents" or "materials"

9. "の" (no) - A particle indicating possession or association, in this case, it connects "必要な資料" (necessary documents) to "量" (amount), indicating that it's the "amount of necessary documents."

10. "量です" (ryō desu) - A phrase meaning "amount is."

Putting it all together, the phrase means "the amount of documents necessary to obtain Japanese citizenship."

In Japanese, "the man who married a toilet" would be:

トイレと結婚した男 (toire to kekkon shita otoko)
Let's break down the grammar:

1. "トイレ" (toilet) means "toilet."

2. "と" (to) is a particle that indicates a connection or a means of doing something. In this case, it's used to indicate the entity with which the action of the verb is done.

3. "結婚した" (kekkon shita) is the past tense of the verb "結婚する" (kekkon suru), which means "to marry." The past tense form "結婚した" (kekkon shita) indicates that the action of marrying has already been completed.

4. "男" (otoko) means "man."

So, putting it all together, "トイレと結婚した男" (toire to kekkon shita otoko) literally means "the man who married a toilet."

In Japanese, "A Japanese woman visits New York" would be:

日本人の女性がニューヨークを訪れます。 (Nihonjin no josei ga Nyūyōku o otozuremasu)

Here's the breakdown:

• 日本人 (nihonjin) - "Japanese person" or "Japanese people"

• の (no) - a particle indicating possession or association

• 女性 (josei) - "woman" or "female"

• が (ga) - a particle indicating the subject of the sentence

• ニューヨーク (Nyūyōku) - "New York" (written in Katakana, the script used for foreign words)

• を (o) - a particle indicating the direct object of the verb

• 訪れます (otozuremasu) - "visits" (from the verb 訪れる, otozureru, meaning "to visit")

In this sentence, 日本人の女性 (nihonjin no josei) means "Japanese woman," with の (no) indicating possession or association between 日本人 (nihonjin) and 女性 (josei). The particle が (ga) marks 女性 (josei) as the subject of the sentence, and ニューヨーク (Nyūyōku) is the direct object of the verb 訪れます (otozuremasu), indicating the place being visited.

In Japanese, "The inside of a plane in the 1970s" would be:

1970年代の飛行機の内部 (Senkyūhyakunijūnendai no hikōki no naibu)

Here's the breakdown:

• 1970年代 (Senkyūhyakunijūnendai) - "1970s"

• の (no) - a particle indicating possession or association

• 飛行機 (hikōki) - "airplane" or "plane"

• の (no) - a particle indicating possession or association

• 内部 (naibu) - "inside" or "interior"

In this sentence, 1970年代の (Senkyūhyakunijūnendai no) modifies 飛行機 (hikōki) to mean "plane of the 1970s," with の (no) indicating possession or association. The phrase 飛行機の内部 (hikōki no naibu) means "inside of a plane," with の (no) again indicating possession or association.

Anime I am currently watching:

Mashle: Magic and Muscles:

Working out actually has some benefits.

Mash Burnedead knows. Our nonchalant protagonist works out (a lot) and cannot use magic in a world where magic is casually used by everyone. He’s just a chill dude who wants to live a quiet life with his family but one day, people start trying to kill him for his lack of magic ability. From there, he enrolls in Magic school concealing this one glaring detail!

For me this has filled the gigantic void left by One Punch Man — and maybe Harry Potter for some of you. The fights are certainly the highlight of this anime as well as the comedy. It’s actually insane how Mash fights against magic using only his brute strength, but don’t take my word for it. It’s a must-watch anime. Please watch it!

Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation:

A 34-year-old underachiever who gets run over by a truck getting reincarnated in a new world as an infant with all of his memories intact. This time he wants to make something of his new life.

Just finished episode 12. It’s pretty pretty pretty good.

Anime I want to watch:

Kaguya-sama: love is war: 

I’ve heard good things about this anime, but unfortunately my Crunchyroll account only has the Spanish version which is why I haven’t gotten around to it. I’m not a fan of illegitimate websites so I guess I should start brushing up on my Spanish.

Manga I want to read based on your recommendations:

Thank you for the recommendations!

5 Things you didn’t know you could rent in Japan…

From fluffy pets to rumbas to fake friends, there's a lot up for hire.

Japan is known for its unique rental culture, where you can rent anything from pets to entire islands. While some may see it as a sign of Japan's slide into a dystopian anti-social landscape, others view it as a reflection of the country's capacity to commoditize everything or as part of the rise of the sharing economy.

Here are five unexpected things you can rent in Japan:

1. Pets Beyond the concept of animal cafes where you can spend time with various animals while enjoying a drink, Japan offers pet rental services. Imagine taking a leisurely stroll in Yoyogi Park with a rented dog or even trying out a pet goat, which doubles as an eco-friendly weed killer.

2. Islands For those seeking a unique getaway, Japan has private islands available for rent through platforms like Airbnb. From beating the winter tourist slump on Sarushima in Kanagawa to exploring uninhabited islands, the options are diverse.

3. Wardrobe Thanks to services like AirCloset, you can rent an entire wardrobe rather than just individual pieces. This fashion rental service offers curated fashion boxes based on your preferences, allowing you to wear and return items as needed.

4. Christmas Even the holiday season is not exempt from Japan's rental offerings. From Christmas trees to Santa costumes, you can rent everything you need to create a festive atmosphere without the hassle of storage.

5. Middle-Aged Men In a truly unique twist, Japan offers ossan rental, allowing you to rent a middle-aged man for various purposes. Whether you seek a non-judgmental listener or someone to provide a unique perspective, this service offers an unconventional way to connect.

Japan's rental culture continues to expand, offering both practical and quirky rental options that cater to a wide range of interests and needs. With the ability to experience these offerings without long-term commitments, renting in Japan has become an intriguing aspect of the country's consumer landscape.

Ukrainian-born model winning Miss Japan re-ignites identity debate

Carolina Shiino, the 26-year-old model who was crowned Miss Japan on Monday, tearfully expressed the challenges she faced in being accepted as Japanese due to racial barriers. Born in Ukraine, Shiino moved to Japan at the age of five and was raised in Nagoya. Her victory as the first naturalized Japanese citizen to win the pageant reignited a debate on the definition of Japanese identity.

While some celebrated her win as a reflection of evolving times, others raised objections, suggesting that she does not fit the conventional image of a "Miss Japan." This response echoes the controversy surrounding Ariana Miyamoto, the first biracial woman to win Miss Japan in 2015, whose victory prompted discussions on the eligibility of mixed-race individuals in the competition.

Shiino's victory stirred further debate on social media, with some expressing dissatisfaction that a person with no Japanese parentage had won. Criticisms included assertions that her win sends the wrong message about Japanese beauty standards and questions about the potential political motivations behind her selection.

Despite the controversy, Ai Wada, the organizer of the Miss Japan Grand Prix pageant, stood by the decision, emphasizing Shiino's fluency in Japanese and her assimilation into Japanese culture. Shiino herself has addressed her identity, acknowledging that while she may not physically resemble the conventional image of a Japanese person, her upbringing in Japan has shaped her identity and mindset to align with Japanese values.

Accepting her trophy as Miss Japan 2024, Shiino expressed her gratitude for being recognized as Japanese, describing the achievement as a dream come true. Her win serves as a catalyst for ongoing discussions about diversity and inclusion in Japan's evolving cultural landscape.

Click here for the full story.

Music I’m listening to:

If you’re even remotely interested in Japanese music, you’re bound to have come across an artist named Ado.

Her captivating voice, poignant lyrics, and entrancing melodies have captivated audiences not just in Japan but around the world.

At the age of 17, Ado burst onto the scene with her debut digital single, "Usseewa (うっせわ)," a poignant anthem that challenges societal norms and embraces individuality. The song reflects Ado's disillusionment with the expectations of adulthood and her yearning for authenticity in a world she finds mundane. Its powerful message struck a chord with the youth in Japan, sparking conversations and challenging the status quo.

Some of my personal favorites are: Lucky Bruto, Backlight (From One Piece Film Red) and Ashura-chan. Play these songs while doing something cool and you’ll feel cooler. Here’s a great song to get you started:

Introducing the Doraemon Method: A Fun Way to Learn Japanese

I wanted to share an enjoyable approach to learning Japanese that I randomly named the Doraemon Method. I've named it after Doraemon, as I believe it's one of the best anime series for learning Japanese as beginner.

Here's how it works: start by watching a video, preferably with only Japanese subtitles. Doraemon is particularly effective because it features a lot of everyday Japanese vocabulary and exaggerated movements and expressions that help you understand meanings from context. Plus, you won't rely on English subtitles or romaji.

Curiosity is very powerful. And English subtitles remove all that if they’re readily available to you. While you may not understand everything at first, you’ll at least be more motivated to learn more words. So, challenge yourself!

If you have a secondary device, download the Google Translate application and change it to “Japanese to English”. Afterwards click on the camera icon and point your phone at the subtitles. You can do this only if you don’t have English subtitles readily available to you, and it’ll help you catch at least a general meaning of the subtitles. It’s a bit tedious to use, but that’s good so you won’t be trying to translate everything!

Now this is just an idea of course, so don’t hesitate to reject if it doesn’t feel productive or enjoyable to you. You can try watching this video:

I believe that English subtitles are somewhat overrated, even when used alongside Japanese subtitles. It's more beneficial to challenge yourself at first and actively engage your brain. This doesn't mean you need to fully understand the video right away. You can take the initiative to look up words you hear frequently or confirm words you may recognize.

Do this scene by scene to avoid overwhelming yourself. Watch an episode or a scene then watch it again (this time with English subtitles). Afterwards, watch it again to see how much you understood. It’s good to take down useful vocabulary during this period and try to use them later.

Kids shows are useful for this practice. I recommend “Dino Girl Gauko” for beginners which is available on Netflix. There are plenty of other good shows out there, but I like this one because episodes are under 9 minutes long and the stories are simple to understand.

Work is a waste of time (short passage)

Exercise: Can you tell which passage is formal and which one is informal (Without reading the English translations yet!)?

私にとって、仕事は時間の無駄です。人生は短いので仕事ばかりするのは勿体無い思います。それよりも私なら友達と一緒に時間を過ごしたいです。友達は私に怒鳴ったり、仕事をしろと言ったりしません。私は冗談を言うのが好きで、友達だと冗談を言っても大丈夫です。昨日、同僚に冗談を言ったら、報告されました。私にとってその冗談は面白かったけれど、もうその冗談を言うのは禁止されました。

Romaji: Watashi ni totte, shigoto wa jikan no muda desu. Jinsei wa mijikai node, shigoto bakari suru no wa mottainai to omoimasu. Sore yori mo watashi nara tomodachi to issho ni jikan o sugoshitai desu. Tomodachi wa watashi ni unagattari, shigoto shiro to ittari shimasen. Watashi wa jōdan o iu no ga suki de, tomodachi datara jōdan o itte mo zenzen daijōbu desu. Kinō, dōryō ni jōdan o ittara, hōkoku saremashita. Watashi ni totte sono jōdan wa omoshirokatta keredo, mō sono jōdan o iu no wa kinshi saremashita.

English Translation: For me, work is a waste of time. Life is short, so I think it's a waste to only work. I would rather spend time with friends. Friends don't yell at me or tell me to work. I like telling jokes, and it's totally okay to joke around with friends. Yesterday, when I told a joke to my colleague, I got reported. I thought that joke was funny, but I'm now prohibited from telling it again.

-仕事は時間の無駄と思う。人生は短いし、仕事だけしてるのは勿体無いと思う。それよりと、友達と過ごした方がいいと自分は思う。友達は怒鳴ったり、仕事しろって言ってこないし。あと、自分はジョークを言うのが好きで友達だったらジョークを言っても全然大丈夫。しかも昨日、職場の人にジョークを言ったら通報された。自分的には面白いと思ったけど、もう同じこと言えなくなっちゃった。

Romaji: Shigoto wa jikan no muda to omou. Jinsei wa mijikashi, shigoto dake shiteru no wa mottainai to omou. Sore yori, tomodachi to sugoshita hō ga ii to jibun wa omou. Tomodachi wa unagattari, shigoto shiro tte itte konai shi. Ato, jibun wa jōku o iu no ga suki de tomodachi datara jōku o itte mo zenzen daijōbu. Shikamo, kinō, shokuba no hito ni jōku o ittara tsūhō sareta. Jibun-teki ni wa omoshiroi to omotta kedo, mō onaji koto ienakunacchatta.

English Translation: I think work is a waste of time. Life is short, so I think it's a waste to only work. I think it's better to spend time with friends. Friends don't yell at me or tell me to work. Also, I like telling jokes, and it's totally okay to joke around with friends. Moreover, yesterday, when I told a joke to a colleague at work, I got reported. I thought it was funny, but now I can't say the same thing again.

Thank you so much for reading this far!

I hope this issue was entertaining and educational to you all. Enjoy your Sunday, and don’t miss our next week’s issue!

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