🌦️ Sundrop's Refreshed Study Log 🌦️

[sundrop]

@mitrac

The community is so friendly!

It is!! I lurk a lot, these forums are such a positive place I hate being sick but it’s nice to relax and focus in the Japanese-learning community. I’m happy to find this place so much more positive + supportive than many other online forums/social media

@mitrac

I totally credit that with giving me a huge jump forward in my Japanese, helping me meet other folks here, and establishing a Japanese reading habit that remains to this day.

Ayy this is so inspiring to hear. I’ve been reading Japanese more often recently, but I’d love to make it a true habit. One of my major goals is immersion in reading this year, so I think it’s the perfect time for me to jump in.

Thank you for your tips!! I’d like to be more active in commenting on other folks’ study logs, they’re nice to read. I struggle with consistency (you might be able to tell from my level-up chart hahah) so I will likely be in and out of participation. But it feels nice to interact with folks : )

Also, thanks for the readathon link! This looks fun so I’ll check it out.

Thanks for your kind words and support on my log ^_^/

[mitrac]

Don’t feel like you always have to respond just a comment now and then, finding common interests, it goes a long way to building friendships here

[YandrosTheSane]

@sundrop

A question for fellow forum-users, if you see this: what ways/places to you like to be involved on the WK forums? Since deleting social media, I think it might feel kind of nice to be more involved here.

I love reading others study log, I track all of the ones I come across… (and comment when it’s open !) it’s been a staple of my weekly routine to maintain motivation and engagement. What I love on these forum in particular is the general benevolence of the user-base, we are all here and united around learning / practicing Japanese and it shows. It was something common in the 2000s internet communities that has mostly disappeared from other places and here feel a bit like a preserved (and blessed) space.

@sundrop

I’m hoping to get involved in the Read Every Day Challenge for Spring (it’s quite late to start the winter challenge). Have you participated in those before?

I’m a recent addition to the read-every-day challenge and it has helped me tremendously to find the little spark to do this extra bit of practice and it’s been worth every second.

For the spring readathon and let’s say that the motivation that ooze from the thread is infectious ! First time participant too !

[sundrop]

@YandrosTheSane

we are all here and united around learning / practicing Japanese and it shows. It was something common in the 2000s internet communities that has mostly disappeared from other places and here feel a bit like a preserved (and blessed) space.

This is so true! It’s so refreshing to find an internet community full of folks who are clearly rooted in positivity, encouragement, and learning. There’s absolutely some early internet nostalgia I feel here. And across all the Japanese-learning communities I’ve experienced, it has been so cool getting to know people from across the world with similar passions.

It’s encouraging to hear about your experiences with those threads, I’m going to give them a shot!

[sundrop]

3月10日2025年

Hi. Bleugh. I’m so sick. I have never been so physically sick like this since I had covid 3 years ago, and I haven’t been sick with this frequency maybe ever (twice in the past 2 months!!?). Such are the perils of working in an office. I am literally so tired of this!! At least, today, I can marathon my Japanese studies. I hope to god I’m recovered by tomorrow.

---

sundrop’s sick Japanese adventure marathon
a once in a lifetime (i hope) event bc I literally can barely leave my bed today

Objectives

• Anki
  • Finish reviews
  • Add 20 new cards
• Wanikani
  • 15 lessons
  • [7] Complete reviews
• Reading
  • Read some of 西の魔女が死んだ
• Watching
  • Watch some of 君に届け
• Listening
  • Listen to ep. 16 of 4989 American Life

---

❶ Let’s complete some stuff. I’ll log as I go to keep motivation up. I’ll try to make time for things outside of studying as well. I miss my not-sick life ;-;. cough cough

❷ I completed the most grueling part of my daily studies… Anki. Anki is my biggest challenge for a number of reasons, mainly being that I’m getting through the last few hundred work-specific vocabulary and they are words I am not even familiar with in English. I will now complain about three cards from today, and therefore will maybe remember them better.

• 制御放出 Controlled Release (of what? I don’t know yet)
• 環境負荷物質 Environmentally Hazardous Materials
• 平面形状測定 Planar Shape Measurements

Boooo. Well, at least the hard part is done. Now I can study fun stuff. 350 cards (9.53%) of my Anki deck left to go, and I’ll have added all my work vocabulary. When that’s done, I will expand the deck from my immersions + N2 references.

❸ I watched 君に届け! Watching TV is a genuinely fun way to study. I’m 5 episodes in, with 5 to go. I’m excited to do a write-up when I finish the season. For now, I shall say, it’s cute, but not completely capturing me (like 恋が続くよどこまでも did). I’d really like to watch The Naked Director, another recommendation from a Japanese friend, and a show I’ve seen several episodes of with English subtitles. Unfortunately, I think the language in that show is going to be a much more advanced leap (unfamiliar subject matter, rough language, vibrant narration).

I have been watching 君に届け with no Japanese subtitles, but sometimes (particularly in emotionally heavy scenes) I miss what’s happening. When I get lost, I rewatch with Japanese subtitles, and if that doesn’t help, I switch to English. Then I turn the subtitles off again and rewatch until I kind of pick up the flow of what they’re saying. I imagine this process would be much more time consuming with heavier subject matter. On I go!

❹ I had a fun time listening to a new podcast, 4989 American Life. I posted my thoughts on the club page here. Lol it’s fun to have time to participate. It will probably not be like this on a day where I am not deathly ill.

Just got a little bit of reading my novel to do, and I’ll have met (most) all of my Japanese goals for this sickly marathon.

❺ Hello. All right. It’s been about 4 hours and I have successfully completed all my Japanese Marathon goals but one: read my book a lil. Unfortunately, I also need to refresh my life a bit today so I can return to normal scheduling. Things are a mess in here from being glued to bed for days. Thus, sundrop’s Japanese study marathon transitions to

---

sundrop’s sick Japanese relaxing afternoon + life recovery
I need to continue recovering but also my house is a mess

Objectives

• Tidy
• Laundry
• Think about Schedules (bleh)
• Read book to relax (and learn 日本語)
• Last WK review at 7pm

---

❶ The accountability post above worked so effectively that I’m hoping this will take me through my last big tasks of the day. It literally takes so much energy to stand, but I gotta start getting my 健康 back, dammit.

[sundrop]

3月15日2025年

Hello. Bit of a slow, lazy, rainy day. Taking things at my own pace (very slow).

I did finish my Anki + Wanikani reviews, as well as 20 WK lessons before allowing myself to peruse the forum and post here. That limitation is fairly effective. If I can finish my review pile, I can post a pretty picture!

I started this (new version of my) study log just over a year ago when I had just made it to level 17. I’ve moved up about 10 levels since then, got a dream job as an interpreter, learned about 3000 new words on Anki, passed the N3, and started reading my first novel in Japanese. That’s pretty cool! In a few days, it will be my one year anniversary as an interpreter!

HOWEVER. I am sooooo tired of being terrible at reading. My lack of kanji knowledge has been a significant hindrance. And I’ve been at this Wanikani thing for years! This year, I want to make it more than 10 levels. In fact, if I can keep to a pace of 1 level/2 weeks or less, I should be able to make it to paradise/reality by the end of the year.

That, more than anything, is going to take discipline and consistency. I’m also going to have to find ways to keep myself motivated + interested (study log, pretty pictures, stats, charts). I am certain, CERTAIN, that as my life circumstances develop, I will experience fluctuations in my plan, discipline, and motivation. So I want to make my Wanikani tenets this year as simple + straightforward as possible. Here’s what I’m thinking:

• Do radicals upon level-up. At this point, I hardly have any trouble with new radicals, and there are not so many new ones in each level moving forward. I’m going to try doing them right away so I can unlock all the level’s kanji as soon as possible.
• 5 kanji per day. I’ve actually been quite enjoying Wanikani’s new algorithm mixing kanji, radicals, and vocab in lessons. It usually gives me 4 kanji per lesson set. However, I think I can handle 5 and this will get me through all the level’s kanji in about a week, making level-ups feel more tangible.
• Notice upcoming reviews and make life easier by doing them. I’ve been kind of doing this for the last week. My schedule can be all over the place, unfortunately, so my reviews are not yet falling at consistent times. However, when I visit Wanikani, I’ve been taking a look at the schedule and noticing when I’m going to get hit with a lot. I then plan to do more reviews around those times. If I keep up, at least 3x a day, it’s going to keep my apprentices down and my life easier.
• Trust your brain. There are times where I feel like I’m throwing too much at myself, and I should stop and really learn the lessons I’ve already completed before moving forward. I get hesitant about whether or not I am totally comfortable with the material and slow way down. But I want to try moving forward with new lessons even if I feel this way. I think I can do it.

Anyway, starting at level 29, I’m going to give these a shot. The periods of time where I felt like I was tangibly making progress on WK have been fantastic. More motivation, more excitement. A new level-up email has always brought me so much happiness. I want to make sure that no matter what, I keep moving forward, so I can feel the joy of clearing each level. Level 60 or bust!

[sundrop]

Okay. I’m about to do something I’m a little freaked about, so I’m making a post for the mental support.

BEGIN KANZEN MASTER N2 GRAMMAR

1. Why?

• I started with the Kanzen grammar volume for N4 and N3, and it set me up great. Learning new grammar points unlocks so much potential, so I like starting here.
• If I can get through this volume earlier in the year, I’ll be better equipped for N2 test prep in the second half.
• Besides vocabulary, which is simply a matter of exposure, grammar is where I struggle most on the JLPT. I find those questions so tricky! I want to get an early start so I will feel more comfortable.

2. But why am I afraid?

• This is the first time I’ll be using a grammar book with zero English explanations. This thing is entirely in Japanese. Simply looking at the first section has me intimidated. I’m worried it’s going to take significantly longer (at first) to cover + understand a grammar point.

Which is why I just have to do it and see. And for support, I will log my experience here. I’d like to find out 1) How long will a section take me? and 2) What study approach will work best?

For reference, here is what my N3 Kanzen Grammar study method looked like:

1. Manually enter each grammar point (Point, Structure, Example Sentences, English) on one of my custom grammar Anki cards.
2. Make sure I understand all the example sentences + how the point is functioning.
3. Complete the corresponding question section.
4. Complete the review section covering all the grammar points the next day.

Let’s see what N2 looks like. Checking in soon.

Okieeee. Finished the first section. I basically went through each point and recorded all the info in my Anki cards. I haven’t done the practice problems yet. I think for the sake of my brain having time to process the information, I’m going to work on those tomorrow.

My thoughts! It was a significant jump in difficulty from the N3 book. Kanzen does a difficult but ultimately helpful thing where they group similar grammar points in one section to help differentiate between minute differences. Because the nuances were explained in minimal English sentences in N3, it was easy for me to look across several points and compare information quickly. For N2, I can read and understand what the explanations are saying (very cool!), but it takes me longer and is fuzzier than English.

So, while I was able to read and understand all the example sentences just fine, I don’t think I have a clear grasp on exactly what makes them distinct yet. That was also the main challenge in N3, but the difficulty is certainly up.

Overall, I’m glad I read through the first section and interested to try the practice problems tomorrow. Hopefully the book will get quicker as I move through.

My starting idea for how to tackle this book:

• Day 1

1. Go through the grammar points and record the information in Anki.
2. Map out the usage nuances/differences between points in my notebook .

• Day 2

1. Complete the practice problems.
2. Check the answers.
3. Note any particularly difficult points for practice during tutoring.

That’s all for now! Gonna have the rest of my day.

[GolyBidoof]

That’s a really ambitious idea and I wonder how far will you be able to go ^^

If it ends up working though, it could bump you up to an exponential proficiency, so it might be worth a shot, so fingers crossed that you’ll be able to pull this through ^^

[Malinkal]

I’m also just about starting 新完全マスターN2 Grammar right about now (having been through Try! N2 recently), it definitely feels a bit intimidating having only Japanese grammar explanations to rely on. I’ve been trying to slowly switch to exclusively Japanese grammar explanations before this for a while, though, and it’s definitely a good thing in the long term! We got this

[sundrop]

Thank you! We’ll see how it goes. Today I’m enacting phase 2 to go through the practice problems. I soooo do not feel motivated. But I gotta try. I’ll def keep this log updated!

[sundrop]

O hey glad to hear from someone who’s starting Kanzen N2 around the same time as me! Yes, in the long run I think this will be fantastic for comprehension. Even though, at the very beginning, this is gonna take me longer than usual.

Let’s go!

[sundrop]

3月18日2025年

Good morning, it’s Sunday, and I’ve had a fairly productive Japanese-studying morning so far. Here’s what I’ve done:

Morning WK reviews
Read until p. 100 of 西の魔女が死んだ
Mid-day WK reviews
20 WK lessons (5 new kanji)

Not bad, all things considered. There are 3 final things I want to do when it comes to Japanese studies today.

Anki reviews
Map Kanzen N2 grammar (1)
Kanzen N2 1 Practice Questions

All of these three, I’m like, eughhh I don’t wanna do it. I wanna be fun and fancy free! But I’ve got so much time on my hands, it’d be a shame not to. Gonna take a little break in which I shall relax, freshen up, etc. Then I’ll dive in and see if I can get these done within 2 hours.

(Also, reaching 100 pages today was a huge milestone! I read 100 pages of a novel in Japanese, and actually know + care about what’s going on! Yayy! To the end or bust.)

Back later with updates, probably.

UPDATE

First I created a little map of each grammar point to emphasize some of the finer rules and nuances. Looking at this map, it was easy to feel pretty confused. A lot of the grammar points had similar functions and overlapping use cases. HOWEVER. When I went back and read through different example sentences, the feeling of each distinct grammar point became more clear (even if I couldn’t verbalize it exactly).

I then went through and did all the practice problems. I checked each corresponding grammar point before completing the questions for that section. Weirdly? I got 24/25.

What?! Even in Kanzen N3, I struggled with the grammar questions and regularly got at least 5-6 wrong. What was different this time? Maybe it’s a fluke, but it could potentially be attributed to these things:

• I was not rushing and went through the grammar points carefully before doing the questions.
• I’ve been reading a novel, so my reading comprehension might have gone up.
• I mapped out and thought about the point differences and similarities before completing the questions.

Anyway, it took some time, but was not as hard as anticipated. In fact, I feel super happy about how well I performed on the practice problems! That’s maybe the best I’ve done on them. I gotta keep it up.

~~

That’s all for today, perhaps I’ll return next weekend when I have free time again. Next weekend is also the readathon, and I hope to make significant progress in my novel. All right, signing off with my study goals for the week ahead:

• +10 Anki terms/day
• +5 WK kanji lessons/day
• Keep up with WK reviews
• Kanzen N2 Grammar sections 2 and 3
• Read my lil book

[sundrop]

᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ˚ ⚘ ᠂ ⚘ ᠃
study timeline
how I learned Japanese (so far)
᠃ ⚘᠂ ⚘ ˚ ⚘ ᠂ ⚘ ᠃

2016
・
I teach myself Hiragana and Katakana.
I take my first semester of Elementary Japanese.
I start Genki 1.
・
2017
・
冬
A music group is looking for folks who can give speeches in Japanese.
I can’t speak Japanese, but I took one semester.
I apply to give speeches about my culture in Japan.
I visit Japan for the first time ever (for free!).
I recite my speech to many audiences, though I cannot really understand it.
春
I return and take my second semester of Japanese.
I finish Genki 1.
夏
I apply to study abroad in Japan.
I am accepted!
秋・冬
I study abroad for 5 months.
I make friends and learn tea ceremony
・
2018
・
I take a break from Japanese classes because I need to get my degree
・
2019
・
冬
I download Wanikani but am insanely busy + have no life consistency, so I barely do two levels.
Some of my Japanese friends study at my school.
秋
I take my 3rd semester of Japanese.
I start Genki 2.
I apply for the JET Programme.
・
2020
・
I get into the JET Programme!
I start my 4th semester of Japanese.
We all get sent home because コロナ
The JET program is delayed.
I am lost in a slump for months.
I feel very guilty about not studying Japanese when I am moving to Japan.
I sign up for a lesson with an online tutor (Italki) to try and get some outside motivation.
I start going to conversation practice sessions once a week.
My tutor and I start going through the free intermediate Japanese course that comes with the Jet Programme.
・
2021
・
冬
The JET Programme is still delayed. I am sad!
春
I continue lessons with my tutor.
I restart Wanikani with seriousness.
秋
I get my assignment and date of departure to Japan.
I move to Japan!
冬
I live in Japan!
I start adjusting to life and take a break from tutoring while I figure things out.
Tutoring has helped significantly. From the first day I can chat with regular folks at a bar.
・
2022
・
冬
I decide it feels ridiculous that I’ve ‘studied Japanese’ for 6 years and don’t feel like I could pass the N4. I sign up for the N4 and get serious about studying with my tutor.
I complete Genki 2.
I complete Kanzen Master N4 Grammar, Reading, and Vocabulary.
I start going on weekend trips once a month where only Japanese is spoken.
夏
I take the JLPT N4 (I pass!).
秋
I continue with 2 tutors on Italki.
I start to understand what my friends are saying on the monthly trips.
・
2023
・
冬
I decide to move back home for various reasons.
I travel, have fun, and pack up.
I still have tutoring every week.
春
I move back home.
I am lost!
I study Japanese for fun, with less ferocity.
夏
I work a temporary job in film and decide it is not my cup of tea.
I am applying to many jobs.
‘Conversational Japanese’ is on my resume.
Many Japanese recruiters find me and we have phone interviews in Japanese.
I want to work in a creative field so there’s not much they have for me, but they keep my name.
冬
I get a job in the service industry to make ends meet.
I decide I want to get real good at Japanese, so maybe one day I can work in interpretation.
I look up language school, it’s $$$.
I decide to study on my own while I work minimum wage for a while.
・
2024
・
冬
I decide to take the N3 in December.
I have not stopped weekly sessions with my tutor.
A Japanese recruiter calls me, a job has opened up in my area.
I send in my resume.
They call me in for an interview.
I am scared!
I prepare with my tutor and my bff in Japan.
I have one interview (entirely in Japanese).
I leave and expect nothing.
I am called for a second interview (entirely in Japanese).
I leave and expect nothing.
The company calls. They like me but I can’t read! They are thinking about their options.
I expect nothing and keep studying.
春
I go on vacation.
I get a call on vacation. I got the job! I start at once.
I am so scared. I come up with a deeply serious study plan so I can do my coworkers justice.
I start seriously with Anki.
I continue seriously with Wanikani.
夏
I start JLPT N3 prep.
I go through Kanzen Master N3 Grammar, Reading, Vocabulary.
I listen to a lot of podcasts.
Tutoring never stops.
I speak mostly Japanese at work.
冬
I take the JLPT N3 (I pass!)
・
2025
・
冬
Weekly tutoring sessions still going strong.
I continue with Wanikani and Anki.
I start reading my first novel in Japanese.
I start Kanzen N2 Grammar.

[sundrop]

Ok I thought it’d be interesting to make a timeline post so I can easily reference my journey and keep track of how things have gone here. I will absolutely be making formatting and wording tweaks soon when I have more time. Just wanted to get a little base down to keep my motivation flowin’!

[YandrosTheSane]

I’d never thought that reading a timeline would make me feel that invested in your success in so few lines. I legit cheered on

@sundrop

I got the job!

[sundrop]

Omg! That’s so kind of you! My heart is genuinely warmed from your support It was fun to write, I recommend it. I think it will be an easy way to keep progress updated. I’d love to read yours if you ever post one!

[GolyBidoof]

I don’t want to project too much, but I have a feeling that our timelines are pretty similar: and maybe the knowledge of Japanese language too ^^

I started on December 31st, 2016, and it’s been a while since ^^
It’s funny how the motivation to study comes in waves, you can’t just hope to binge everything in a single sitting, but it’s those ebbs and flows that ultimately make you succeed, so here’s for the N2 grind: I hope you’ll follow through and you’ll be able to make it!

[mitrac]

@YandrosTheSane

I’d never thought that reading a timeline would make me feel that invested in your success in so few lines. I legit cheered on

@sundrop

I got the job!

yyes, so much this!! Your timeline is so inspiring and interesting, thank you for sharing! Amazing journey

[Akashelia]

I really enjoyed reading your adventure, thank you so for sharing it! Very impressed by your journey. Good luck and keep going

[sundrop]

It’s so great to hear from another person around the same place as me :). 2016 feels so recent and yet so far… my language acquisition has definitely developed in waves over the years, and it’s cool to be at a point where I finally feel comfortable with native material. Let’s go for N2! 頑張りましょう！