ようこそ！Youkoso!! 🙇‍♂️ Welcome to all our new members over the past week! This community is all about learning Japanese step by step — together. Keep practising, keep supporting each other, and you’ll keep improving! This week’s question is: 侍か忍者か？🥷🗡️ さむらいかにんじゃか？ samurai ka ninja ka? Samurai or ninja? Honour, discipline, and facing your opponent head-on… or Stealth, strategy, and striking from the shadows? This question is open to everyone! Bonus points: Answer in Japanese and give a reason 👇 👉 さむらいがすきです。かっこいいですから。 👉 にんじゃがすきです。はやいですから。 Looking forward to your answers! ありがとう、 Joe Sensei 🙏 Welcome: @Dr. Andrea Porter- Lee @Katerina Lavda @Heidi L. @Haley Clark @Krishna Das @Talan Butler @Junaid Ally

Japan is often called the land of festivals (祭り / まつり / matsuri). All across the country, you’ll find unique local traditions — and some are truly spectacular. 🔥 Ogiyama Fire Festival One of the most dramatic is the 扇山火祭り（おうぎやまひまつり / Ogiyama Himatsuri). This festival takes place in Yamanashi, where an entire mountainside is set ablaze with giant fire characters. Huge fires are lit on Mount Ogiyama, creating glowing shapes that can be seen from far away. 🧠 Why Fire? Fire festivals in Japan often have deep roots in Shinto and Buddhist traditions. They are used to: purify drive away evil spirits pray for good fortune and safety The sight of fire covering the mountain is both beautiful and powerful. 🈶 Mini Japanese 祭り（まつり） matsuri festival 火（ひ） hi fire 山（やま） yama mountain 🫵 Your Turn Would you like to see a fire festival like this? Or would you prefer something calmer like a cherry blossom festival? 🌸🔥

#JapaneseTopicTuesday What made you first interested in Japan/Japanese? In the photo, I'm the one between Batman and Robin. This is from kindergarten and I was wearing a Japanese happi from Edogawa and a kamikaze headband bought in Japan. I had a little sword too and thought I looked like a cool samurai. 😅 To be honest, I was borrowing them from my brother. He had been to Japan to play football (soccer) against Japanese high school boys his age. My brother got souvenirs and gifts from Japan and I thought they were so cool and fascinating. Everything from Japanese Coke bottles with cool writing on them and coins (with holes in them!), to toys like spinning tops and kendama. Then, we were lucky enough to host two Japanese boys from Japan as they visited Australia to play against my brother's team here. It was amazing to meet these kids from another country and culture. We couldn't speak much together not knowing each other's language, but we found a way to communicate and had so much fun, always laughing! That experience sparked my interest in Japan. It wasn't until university that I formally studied the language, but from meeting those Japanese boys and experiencing the generosity and kindness of their families too, I knew I always wanted to visit Japan. That was how I got interested in Japan and Japanese. How about you? Let me know in the comments!

A kamon is a traditional Japanese family crest. The word literally means: 家 (ie) — family 紋 (mon) — emblem / crest For hundreds of years, Japanese families used kamon to represent their lineage — similar to coats of arms in Europe. But unlike many European crests, kamon are usually: • simple • symmetrical • highly stylised • black and white They often feature natural imagery such as: 🌸 flowers (like cherry blossom or wisteria) 🍃 leaves 🐢 animals ☀️ celestial symbols Samurai families displayed their kamon on: • armour • helmets • banners • clothing It helped identify allies and signal loyalty during battle. Even today, kamon appear on: 👘 formal kimono 🏯 traditional architecture 🎎 festivals 📜 wedding garments Many modern companies even use kamon-inspired logos. The History of the Mitsubishi Logo: The famous three-diamond logo of Mitsubishi isn’t just a modern corporate design. It comes from samurai family crests (家紋・かもん). The name “Mitsubishi” (三菱) literally means: 三 (mitsu) — three 菱 (hishi / bishi) — water chestnut The water chestnut leaf is diamond-shaped — which is why the logo looks like three diamonds. But the design actually combines two family crests: • The crest of the founder’s family (Iwasaki family) — three stacked rhombuses • The crest of the Tosa clan, who were his feudal lords — three oak leaves arranged in a triangle When Iwasaki Yatarō founded Mitsubishi in 1870 as a shipping company, he merged these two crests into a single symbol. The result? Three diamonds forming a powerful triangular mark. JAL logo: The logo of Japan Airlines (JAL) features a red crane inside a circle. This crane is called the “Tsuru” (鶴). But it’s not just decorative. In Japanese culture, the crane symbolizes: • longevity • good fortune • loyalty • safe journeys For an airline, that symbolism is perfect. 🧠 Why This Matters Kamon reflect something deeply Japanese: identity connected to family and tradition. They’re minimalist — but meaningful.

After weeks of voting, debating, defending favourites and making some brutal choices… 👑 Dragon Ball is officially our community’s FAVOURITE ANIME 👑🐉 From the opening rounds to an unforgettable Grand Final, Dragon Ball proved why it stands above the rest. This wasn’t just a win. This was legacy. Why Dragon Ball earnt the crown: - It laid the foundation for modern shōnen anime - It inspired generations of creators and fans - Its characters are global icons - Its spirit of growth, training, rivalry and adventure still resonates today Even against a masterpiece like Fullmetal Alchemist, Dragon Ball reminded us where it all began. 💬 A huge thank you to everyone who voted, commented, debated respectfully, and shared their passion. This tournament worked because of you. Would Dragon Ball win again next time? Which anime deserves a rematch? There were plenty of anime that I didn't include. Which one do you think needs to be included next time? For the next tournament, I am thinking of doing Japanese food or places to visit in Japan. Drop your thoughts below 👇 そして…おめでとう、ドラゴンボール！(Congratulations, Dragon Ball!) 🐉🏆🔥