Here are the pairs for this week: @Elizabeth Bowen x @Anna Aguilar @Ev Ginguene x @Rebeca G. @Karen Claire Patdu x @Flo Ginguene @Nicholas Brisiel x @Izzat Suhaimi @J. Alexander Bennett x @Blaize Agena @Harry Lewis x @Fenny Kirmil @Sumitha Bk x @Psych Butterfly Please message your partner, set up a time that works for you both. Have a 10 minute conversation and level up together. Please comment below when you have completed your chat and let me us know which bits in the dialogue were easy, which were hard, etc. Try and have the conversation before next week. If your partner isn't available or something, let me know and I'll try to step in. If you are not able to log on and do the conversation for some reason, don't worry; you haven't let anyone down. Life happens! Just let us know and we'll reorganise. This is the first week we're trying this. I think it has the potential to be very useful to Japanese Language Learners of all levels. Please give it your best try. Ganbatte kudasai!! Thank you all for giving it a go!! Arigatou gozaimasu!!

Konnichiwa, Here is the first dialogue and first audio! Please listen, read along and try to say the words and phrases along with the audio. You will need to adapt it to be about yourself. Please ask below any questions you have about meanings and/or if you need a hand converting the dialogue to be about you. This is the last chance to get involved in the first Paired Speaking Practice, so if you are interested and haven't said so yet, please feel free to ask to join! The next post will let you know who your partner will be for this session! Thanks to these Learners who are already involved: @Sumitha Bk @Psych Butterfly @Harry Lewis @Fenny Kirmil @Nicholas Brisiel @Ev Ginguene @Flo Ginguene @Elizabeth Bowen @Blaize Agena @Izzat Suhaimi @Karen Claire Patdu @Rebeca G. Arigatou, Joe Sensei.

Konnichiwa, Genki desu ka? (How are you) If you have any questions about Japanese language or culture, feel free to post them here. Anyone can chime in with an answer and I'll throw in my 2 cents also. We can learn from each other's questions. Let's get stronger at Japanese as a community!! Ganbatte kudasai! Joe Sensei.

One thing every strong Japanese speaker has in common is regular speaking practice. So let’s make that opportunity for us and make it simple, supportive and consistent. Introducing: Paired Speaking Practice! 🔹 How it works Each week I’ll post: - A conversation topic - A short practice dialogue - Audio to model natural pronunciation 🔹 What you do 1. Reply to the weekly post to let me know you’re in 2. I’ll create random pairings for the week 3. Contact your practice partner and organise a 5–10 minute speaking session 4. When you’re done, report back in the thread ✅ That’s it. 🔹 Why this matters If you commit to this weekly: - Your confidence will grow - Your listening and response speed will improve - By the end of the year, those 5–10 minute chats can naturally become 30 to 40 minute conversations (or more!!) No pressure to be perfect. The goal is showing up and speaking. 👉 Comment below if you’d like to join the Paired Speaking Practice! I’ll get the first topic ready once we have our initial group.

Choose which you think is better, which you prefer or which seems like you want to try watching the most. 🔥 Anime Tournament – Round 1 Matchup 🔥 Today’s battle:🥊 Ashita no Joe vs 🐉 Dragon Ball Two legends. Two very different eras. Only one can move on. 🥊 Ashita no Joe (あしたのジョー) A true classic of Japanese anime and manga history. Ashita no Joe is more than a boxing story—it’s a raw, emotional exploration of struggle, pride and what it means to burn brightly, even if the cost is high. Why it’s worthy: - One of the most influential anime ever made in Japan - Deep, realistic storytelling focused on human emotion and perseverance - Iconic themes of grit, sacrifice, and finding meaning through struggle - Still referenced in Japanese pop culture decades later This is anime as literature. Heavy. Powerful. Unforgettable. If you have time, please watch the video essay on Ashita no Joe below. It really shows the impact of the manga and anime. 🐉 Dragon Ball (ドラゴンボール) The anime that shaped generations. Dragon Ball blends adventure, humour, martial arts and epic growth into a story that became a global phenomenon. Why it’s worthy: - Introduced many fans worldwide to anime for the first time - Legendary characters like Goku, Vegeta and Krillin (I like his hairstyle) - A perfect mix of fun, training arcs, friendship and escalating stakes - Laid the foundation for modern shōnen anime This is anime as pure energy and imagination—joyful, iconic and endlessly rewatchable. 🗳️ Your Turn! Which anime do you prefer? - Do you vote for the raw realism and emotional weight of Ashita no Joe? - Or the adventurous spirit and cultural impact of Dragon Ball? - 💬 Cast your vote in the poll and feel free to defend your choice in the comments—just remember to keep it respectful! 明日はどっちだ！？(Which one will survive tomorrow!?) 🔥