38 comments

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  Stacia

  2 years ago

  Hmm...it's definately getting there (to my expectations). I love Koichi's blogs because that is what hooked me on english.koichi and then tofugu.com. But, I also love the additional blogs/articles just as much. I look forward to the development on this site.
  
  Uh...and for suggestions....*shrug* Love the food stuffs, gives me things to try, and just random tidbits on Japan is always good. If I think of anything...I'll just comment again.
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  Kitsune

  2 years ago

  Oh, I love this site n.n I just found it through Youtube.. I think I'll probably come here at least once a day. =D
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  Josh

  2 years ago

  I love this site.And where do I ask questions about japanese?Beacause I have alot.
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  koichi

  2 years ago

  we're working on a forum, but I don't want to open it up until there is enough of a reader base to make it worth while. Soon, though, soon.
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  Nick

  2 years ago

  Yeh it's great keep up the good work!
  
  Things that i would like to see though:
  Current fashion (and recent fashion history). Less of the harajuku stuff but more of what u would find in a magazine like ウイズ. so not stuff that is too crazy, but a bit of that is good too! Also hair styles that are interesting or really good lookin.
  
  The religions in japan, maybe shintoism mostly. I dont know much about it so i'd like to know, and perhaps about why most of them are non-religious.
  
  Cool phrases in japanese, like things you cant translate directly. Such as we have 'don't count your eggs before they've hatched!'. I'm under the impression they dont have many but maybe u can correct me?
  
  hope its not too much of a tall order!! Just throwing some ideas out there
  
  Thanks
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  ジャーミー

  2 years ago

  I really enjoy your blogs and you videos. I come back checking everyday for new posts. I really think you guys are doing great, and I find each of your informative segments interesting. I would love to know more about social things in Japan..(i.e. how friends would talk to each other or family and such.) I guess that goes under politeness level...heh' (I guess I'm asking this because I can't find any real Japanese friends :(..)
  ~
  Well, I guess just keep up with your random segments...Forum sounds good.
  ~
  Thank you for your attention to the audience.
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  Erin

  2 years ago

  While I don't think we could do a completely comprehensive article on how teens in Japan talk, I do think we could help you out. Maybe an article about the use of なんか, one of my favorite words, would be good to start things off.
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  Erin

  2 years ago

  Guys fashion? I guess I could tell you the trends now that I think are cool. Some guys are so feminine in the way they dress, though, ew.
  
  Koichi likes to talk about Shinto, I'm sure he wouldn't mind doing a post on that. I might do a "Erin's 5 Most Favorite Temples" post, haha.
  
  Ooh, and Japanese proverbs (諺)! I really like those.
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  Ernie

  2 years ago

  Hey i was wondering about the education in japan for college and how important does it revole around them just like in America. Where you can barly even get a job with a diploma.
  
  
  p.s. Im thoughts of when or if i become a doctor i was thinking to Japan and if i could go to school there.{to live and work}
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  Erin

  2 years ago

  Well, Ernie, the simple, generic answer is, when Japanese kids are in high school, they study their butts off, and they try really hard to get into good colleges. When Japanese kids are in college, though, they pretty much cruise and their teachers don't care all that much (but perhaps this depends on the school, just like here). Generally, if you graduate from a "good" college, you can get a "good" job.
  
  I don't know how employment opportunities for 外人 doctors are in Japan, honestly. Unless you're Japanese. If you've got your heart set on working in Japan, you might want to stay in the US (or wherever you are) and then try to get a position in a hospital in Japan. Not too many foreigners work in positions like that in Japan, I think.
  
  Still, if you're fluent in Japanese, I don't see why you couldn't go to college there (maybe not to your first choice, but still). You might also want to look into English-speaking colleges (all that comes to mind right now is Beppu Daigaku).
  
  This is just the answer I'm coming up with at the time, but do a little bit of research and correct me if I'm wrong. Good luck~!
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  koichi

  2 years ago

  Yeah, pretty much going to college in japan means very little. Getting into it, like erin said, is the tough part. If you can get into a good university, it shows you're smart enough and hard working enough to get that far, and after that it's pretty lame compared to america. Don't get me wrong, though, japanese high school is far advanced from ours, but when it comes to college, Japan lags behind.
  
  Doctors are a funny bunch in Japan, and perhaps worthy of an article. First of all, they learn everything in German, which is already kind of weird. Then when you get into the culture of the doctors in regards to their patients, it gets even stranger. But like I said, a whole article can be devoted to something like that, and perhaps even a video.
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  Fred

  2 years ago

  This is a type of website I've been looking for. Haha. It's entertaining and informative. It's a rare combination. I think y'all are doing great so far. I wish y'all good luck with everything. Thanks for the hard work!
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  Erin

  2 years ago

  Thanks, Fred. You're sweet.
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  Fred

  2 years ago

  Here's one question! How do you subscribe? I click on "SUBSCRIBE" and then it takes me to a feeder page. I don't use feeds of any kind. I guess I'm less intelligent about the web then I thought? I already subscribed to the newsletter. How would I log in? Is that option available for everyone or just the web designers? Maybe it's just too late and I'm confused and sleepy.
  PS: You're welcome.
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  koichi

  2 years ago

  when you click on subscribe, usually there is an option that you can click to add it, which means in your bookmarks (or your feeder) you can quickly click and check to see if there are any new articles. It also depends on which browser you use, I think - I've only used firefox and safari, so I don't know how it would work on anything else.
  
  As per the log in, I think you can create a registration - all it does is streamline the commenting process (for now), though perhaps in the future it will do something else. Hard to say at this point.
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  Erin

  2 years ago

  I don’t know if I would say advanced.
  “Harder” seems like a good word, though, hahaha.
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  Kuristeru

  2 years ago

  Yeah, if your using Firefox, you don't really need to register or anything like that. (Maybe for the forums, when it's up) When your commenting, Firefox fills out the required information automatically. Although, I could be wrong. I haven't used any other browser besides Firefox in such a long time.
  
  Other than that ^^
  
  I love the site guys. So far everything I've read has caught my attention. I find all the videos very amusing, love that humor of yours Koichi. One of the things I would like to know are some things about yourselves. Mostly basic stuff, such as life-styles, backgrounds, likes, dislikes, etc. Other than that, everything is great. Oh and maybe a couple more things, lol "gomen". One of my favorite Japanese musicians is Hikaru Utada, if you guys listen to her at all, would you like to share some comments about her?
  
  And just for kicks, I would really like to know how Koichi feels about Morning Masume. I laughed soo0o0o hard on your little comment in your video, "Secret to Learning Japanese".
  
  Well it's pretty much late and my eyelids feel heavy. Kon bon wa. Ja nai.
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  Sexy Beam

  2 years ago

  I love Koichi's humor ... the site would just be bland and boring without it! =) It is kind of sarcastic though, which I've noticed Japanese often don't "get" in same sense of American-style humor, although there IS such a thing in Japan (皮肉).
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  Nick

  2 years ago

  ahhh thanks! yeh the guys do look feminine and its kinda confusing from the back bc they're not exactly built like men either haha! However, i did mean mainly girls/womans fashion, yes - i am a guy - i noticed that but i still find it interesting
  
  thank youuuuuuuuuu
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  Erin

  2 years ago

  Koichi prides himself on his sarcasm, haha.
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  Erin

  2 years ago

  Koichi really doesn't know who MoMu are, honestly. He's only seen a few of, what is it, Ayaka's Surprise English Lessons when I was watching them. He just uses them as an example of the over-cutesy way some girls speak Japanese.
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  Onimusha Nosferatu

  2 years ago

  who knows japanese besides koichi?
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  Erin

  2 years ago

  Hehe, me. And Viet, when he's under the influence.
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  Viet

  2 years ago

  Lies....
  
  
  
  
  :)
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  viet

  2 years ago

  College is pretty much a four year vacation. The reason why Japanese kids study so dang hard for entrance exams is that their society heavily emphasizes on the name of the university you attend, not your GPA, major or anything else. College level work is cakewalk compared to studying for the entrance exams. So in essence, the path of your life is determined by the name of the university. Employers don't really care what skills you have as they'll will provide the necessary training. I mean, the students already proven themselves by studying like maniacs to get into that prestigious university. An example: Todai students are almost guaranteed to get high-level job such as in the government (as bureaucrats, considered to be one of the highly honored positions) or upper managerial positions in the private industry.
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  ヨバナ

  2 years ago

  Hi! I'm just really curious to know about you. I don't mean anything too informative, but just something like where your are from, or specially something that I really wanna know is - how old are you ...?? (Koichi, Erin, Viet) ?
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  Erin

  2 years ago

  you? Hehe.
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  ヨバナ

  2 years ago

  (the three of you look sooo much younger - like 18 years old) haha! I'm 15. I'm from Mexico, but I live in US. Doesn't it sound kind of weird a Mexican in US trying to learn Japanese. haha!
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  ９no１

  2 years ago

  皆さん、今日は。くノ一でござうます。
  
  Hehe, well, I already posted in another section, but here I am just wanting to tell you guys how much I love this site (as well as koichiben.com).
  
  I came across Koichi's videos on YouTube like a month ago, but I didn't have the chance to check all of them until now, and let me tell you that I find them really interesting. With that special bend of sarcastic humour and informative remarks, plus an exquisite design, this website is just awesome.
  
  Kudos to you all :D
  また。
  
  
  ps. btw, who drew the header image? It's soooo cool :3
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  Erin

  2 years ago

  Thanks about the header :3 The tofugu is supposed to be covered in shoyu, but I don't know if I really got that across, haha.
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  Captain Spanish

  2 years ago

  Do you think you could write an article (or just tell me) about which Japanese music artists you like. I'm having trouble finding any in Britain. By the way I'm loving the sight.
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  Erin

  2 years ago

  Sure, look for an article in the next hour/day or so, haha.

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  Mayuko

  1 year ago

  I somehow found this website through Youtube.
  It's well funny and I loved it!
  I will check it out regular basis:)
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  Captain Spanish

  1 year ago

  Is it true that that the Ben in Koichi Ben means eloquent speaker? Also what does the koichi part mean if it has a meaning?
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  Erin

  1 year ago

  Captain Spanish:
  
  

  Koichi弁 is what he means (you can check out his all-Japanese site by that name). 弁 means dialect, pretty much. So Koichi弁 is "Koichi's Dialect" because he has his own way of speaking, haha. And Koichi is his name (kind of).

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  Captain Spanish

  1 year ago

  What does the word Onimusha mean? All I know is that it has something to do with demons. The articles just keep getting better guys. Keep it up.
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  Grant

  1 month ago

  If you still check this artical pleas make more videos I can not see well, but I like this site some times it is hard to read.
  
  ps pleas make an artical on pronunceation and when to drop the i or the u in words I don't get that
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  GJB995

  2 weeks ago

  post videos, PLEASE
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