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!!

Big congratulations to Jordan（ジョウダン） — who has officially reached Daimyō level! 👏✨ Jordan has earned his place not just through effort, but by contributing to the spirit of learning together. He was one of the attendees at the first ever Ocha and Chat Weekly Live Call. 🗾🌊 Province Claimed: 伊豆（いず）— Izu Including the 伊豆七島（いずしちとう）— The Seven Isles of Izu Jordan has claimed Izu, a province known for: rugged coastlines volcanic islands hot springs and its deep connection to the sea By claiming Izu and the Seven Isles of Izu, Jordan becomes guardian of one of Japan’s most dramatic and beautiful regions — a place shaped by nature, resilience, and isolation. A strong and fitting choice. 🈶 Mini Japanese 大名（だいみょう） – Daimyō 伊豆（いず） – Izu 伊豆七島（いずしちとう） – The Seven Isles of Izu おめでとうございます！ – Congratulations! 👉 ジョウダンさん、大名レベル到達おめでとうございます！ 🌱 What This Represents Daimyō are not just learners — they are pillars of the community. Please join me in congratulating ジョウダンさん 🎉 @Jordan Keener Who will be the next Daimyō to rise? Which province would you claim? おめでとうございます！

メリークリスマス、みなさん！ (Merī Kurisumasu! — Merry Christmas!) I started this group with one simple goal: to help people learn Japanese. You are helping me to achieve that goal!!! Thanks to everyone who has joined, posted, spoken up and practised — you’ve turned this from just a study space into a real community. In Japanese, “Merry Christmas” is written in katakana like this: 🎄 メリークリスマス Merī Kurisumasu Feel free to reply with: メリークリスマス！ Or a message about how you’re spending Christmas 🎁 (even if you're working or you don't celebrate)! Thank you for being part of this journey. ありがとう！！ Let’s keep learning Japanese together into the new year 🇯🇵✨

Does anyone here have any experience with practicing Japanese in VR spaces? In Meta Worlds there is a area called Visit Japan that is a very well done Japanese structure that you can walk through and enjoy, and it is populated by both Japanese and non Japanese speakers who want to promote Japan tourism. It is a lovely area that you should check out if you have the means. It can be accessed with a Meta VR headset or from a computer.

Hey I’ve been watching the hiragana videos and have went through them all today and practiced it, I’ve actually been able to pick it up fast watching through day 11. When I’ve looked up words in Japan I’ve started picking up the sounds and how it’s supposed to sound but they seem to have hiragana with single and double strokes to make it sound different and also other letters I think that’s kanji. Is it worth learning kanji aswel and how would I go about learning the way hiragana is used when it’s pronounced different with the strokes Thanks