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Why you shouldn’t learn Japanese

May. 13, 2013 - 06:29AM JST ( 90 )

Anyone with an interest in Japan should learn a little Japanese, I really believe. Daily life is much better when you know a few key phrases: Hello. My name is. Please. May I? No really, please. Why not? Oh come on, please. You sure? Last chance.… Read

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Why you shouldn’t learn Japanese ( 90 )
My very brief fight with a yakuza ( 104 )
Does fluency matter? ( 46 )

How to bow like a Japanese

Opinions Nov. 15, 2012 - 06:33AM JST ( 23 Comments )

What could be more typically Japanese than bowing? Every other book about Japan has something to say on the subject, so it must be important, right? Certainly a lot of foreigners come to Japan and… Read

A Japanese suicide

Opinions Oct. 26, 2012 - 01:30PM JST ( 23 Comments )

I met Shun and Makiko one morning as I was standing in front of my apartment drinking coffee and wondering what the hell I was doing with my life, teaching English in Japan. When they… Read

Does fluency matter?

Opinions Oct. 19, 2012 - 05:50AM JST ( 46 Comments )

Fluency is the dream of many people studying Japanese. It seems that Japanese fluency has become such a coveted commodity that an entire industry has sprung up to deliver it fast and hot to your… Read

My very brief fight with a yakuza

Opinions Aug. 31, 2012 - 06:50AM JST ( 104 Comments )

This is the story I don’t want to tell, about my fight with a Japanese gangster, because it’s so horrible. But I’ve held onto it too long already, so I’ll just lay it out. The… Read

7 things all Japanese just gotta say

Opinions Aug. 19, 2012 - 06:01AM JST ( 67 Comments )

It was my very first week in Japan, and already I knew something funny was going on. I guess I’m a little astute like that. I had this epiphany on the second floor of a… Read

The grammar-translation method: Is it really all that bad?

Opinions May. 16, 2012 - 06:43AM JST ( 23 Comments )

When it comes to teaching languages, the grammar-translation method has become the child nobody loves or wants to acknowledge. But is it really hell on toast? No, it ain’t. There, I said it. Leave it… Read

Why are Japanese so bad at English?

Opinions May. 06, 2012 - 06:41AM JST ( 165 Comments )

Everyone knows Japanese people aren’t exactly Masters of the Universe when it comes to speaking English, despite receiving six years of English education. Six years? Are you kidding? You could build yourself a Great Pyramid… Read

Why you must learn kanji

Opinions May. 01, 2012 - 06:53AM JST ( 63 Comments )

For a lot of people, kanji is about on par with natto. A huge sticky mess, difficult to consume, and not nearly as tasty as it is troublesome. Anyway, me personally, I never wanted to… Read

The skill of speaking fluent Japanese

Opinions Apr. 17, 2012 - 06:03AM JST ( 51 Comments )

Speaking fluent Japanese is easy. You only need three things: 1. A bunch of words 2. A bit of grammar 3. To think in Japanese While the first two points get a lot of attention,… Read

Author Infomation

Ken Seeroi: I'm a professional writer, photographer, and occasional English teacher living in Japan. My writings are mostly humor mixed with social commentary, with the occasional foray into language education.; Website: http://www.japaneseruleof7.com

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