Youkoso!! Welcome to all our new members over the last week. This community is for us to learn Japanese together. There is a lot to master, but if we support each other in going step by step, we can do it! This week's question is: Maccha or ramune? Traditional brew, or Fizzy refreshment ? This question is open to all! Arigatou, Joe Sensei. Welcome: @Guzel Nur @Nicko Ryan Cabansag @Empathy And love @Miguel Alexis Vidal Vega @Lizbeth Mepong @Sophia Benjamin @Maria Eyad

Following on from something we talked about in Ocha and Chat, I made this mini lesson on sentence connectors that can really improve your ability to express your ideas in Japanese. Sentence connectors help you join ideas smoothly — like and, but, because, so in English. In Japanese, connectors often come at the end of a clause. 1️⃣ から — “because” から (kara) means because and gives a reason. Structure: Reason + から + Result Or: Reason + ですから、Result Examples: 雨ですから、行きません。 Ame desu kara, ikimasen. → Because it’s raining, I won’t go. 日本語が好きですから、毎日べんきょうします。 Nihongo ga suki desu kara, mainichi benkyō shimasu. → Because I like Japanese, I study every day. つかれましたから、ねます。 Tsukaremashita kara, nemasu. → Because I’m tired, I’ll sleep. Casual form: 雨だから、行かない。 Ame da kara, ikanai. → Because it’s raining, I’m not going. 2️⃣ そして — “and / and then” そして (soshite) adds information or continues a story. きのうスーパーへ行きました。そして、パンを買いました。 Kinō sūpā e ikimashita. Soshite, pan o kaimashita. → I went to the supermarket yesterday. And then I bought bread. 3️⃣ でも — “but” でも (demo) shows contrast and starts a new sentence. 日本語はむずかしいです。でも、おもしろいです。 Nihongo wa muzukashii desu. Demo, omoshiroi desu. Japanese is difficult. But it’s interesting. 4️⃣ それから — “after that / and then” それから (sorekara) shows sequence. 朝ごはんを食べました。それから、学校へ行きました。 Asagohan o tabemashita. Sorekara, gakkō e ikimashita. I ate breakfast. After that, I went to school. 5️⃣ だから — “so / therefore” だから (dakara) gives the result and starts a new sentence. 今日は雨です。だから、うちにいます。 Kyō wa ame desu. Dakara, uchi ni imasu. It’s raining today. So, I’ll stay home. 🔎 から vs だから から = attaches to the reason だから = starts the result sentence Example: 今日は雨ですから、うちにいます。 Kyō wa ame desu kara, uchi ni imasu. Because it’s raining today, I’ll stay home. 今日は雨です。だから、うちにいます。 Kyō wa ame desu. Dakara, uchi ni imasu. It’s raining today. So, I’ll stay home. Ganbatte kudasai! Joe Sensei.

Konncihwa, What's happening in Japan? The cherry blossoms are blooming earlier than every other year. Please have a watch and learn through reading the news! Arigatou, Joe sensei.

Ocha & Chat is our weekly live call in which we hang out, practise Japanese and build our learning community. Can you join this week? It is 10 am, Sydney time, Sunday. This week we’ll look at an Interactive Story about Asuka choosing which university club she wants to join. Through the story, we’ll practise: - expressing likes - dislikes - giving reasons Stories help you see grammar in action — not just memorise it. 🧠 Mini Lesson: Likes & Dislikes 👍 To say “I like ___” Pattern: Noun + が好きです - noun + ga suki desu. Examples: サッカーが好きです。Sakkā ga suki desu. I like soccer. 音楽が好きです。Ongaku ga suki desu. I like music. 👎 To say “I don’t like ___ very much” Pattern: Noun + はあまり好きじゃないです - noun + wa amari suki janai desu. Examples: スポーツはあまり好きじゃないです。Supōtsu wa amari suki ja nai desu. I don’t like sports very much. 辛い食べ物はあまり好きじゃないです。Karai tabemono wa amari suki ja nai desu. I don’t like spicy food very much. 💬 To ask someone 何が好きですか。Nani ga suki desu ka? What do you like? どんなクラブが好きですか。Donna kurabu ga suki desu ka? What kind of club do you like? 🫵 Before the Call Write one sentence: - ＿＿＿が好きです。 - ＿＿＿はあまり好きじゃないです。 Example: 音楽が好きです。 We’ll use these patterns during the Interactive Story. Looking forward to chatting with you ☕🇯🇵 Can you make Ocha & Chat this Sunday, 10 am (Sydney time)?

Learn Japanese from reading the news. あなたの国では物価は上がっていますか。 Anata no kuni de wa bukka wa agatte imasu ka? Are prices rising in your country? I hope the video is educational, Joe Sensei.