(Photo from my Kanji workbook, where I practice writing the Kanji I’m learning/get wrong in reviews.)
I’ve never written a study log before.
Background: I studied Japanese through my school days, over a decade ago. I can speak well enough to live in Japan, but my reading skills remain rather poor. With google translate and a phone camera, I’ve been able to get by without many issues.
However! I’ve had enough of being illiterate! 2025 is the year I learn Kanji!
(Side note: I left my Wanikani account alone for so long when I opened it at the start of this year the crabigator had to defrost my account and there were like 800 items to review )
I also use this site (https://kaku-navi.com) to look up how to write the kanji - you can only look up one kanji at a time (so can’t put in vocab, gotta do the kanji 1 by 1) - but it isn’t covered with ads and it has the stroke order + guide for how it should fit into a square. It’s also really helpful!
(Photo of kanji note booth with practice kanji written down)
What do people normally write here…
Word of the day: 展覧会（てんらんかい）Exhibition
Runner up: 大統領 （だいとうりょう）President
展覧会, because “CLAMP展” was such a wonderful experience for me… After showcasing in Tokyo, and Osaka, the next venue is Fukuoka! If you are a CLAMP fan this is a must visit exhibition!
大統領, because I keep forgetting it in Bunpro reviews… still just trying out Bunpro! not sure if it’s the best study method for me.
I have started using a new pen (same model, different colour), because the existing one has started to lose its tip.
The Word of the Day is 税金（ぜいきん）Tax!!
Runner up: 失望（しつぼう）Disappointment
税金, because I have to organise my Taxes, and 失望, because it’s a new word that I learnt… and it reminds me of ぜつぼう (despair)… …which aptly describes the feeling when you have to organise your taxes…
I actually tried BunPro a while back, but wasn’t huge fan of it just because it’s not my study style, though I do remember it being really useful. If you want a more traditional grammar study resource, I’d recommend IMABI. I’ve been using it after trying BunPro, then reading Tai Kim’s guide to grammar for a bit, but finally landing on IMABI for it’s in-depth and extensive explanations. It definitely reads more like a text book, but it’s very organized. The amount of lessons presented might look intimidating, but don’t let that stop you!
Also, I literally just saw your newest post about taxes. Same here!! I’m preparing mine too. Thankfully we have a friend’s mom doing them, so it’s a relief to know I can just ask her questions freely…
Ooooo That looks really interesting, thank you! I’ll give IMABI a try too!
I thought I would like BunPro because I like WaniKani, but studying grammar is different from studying Kanji and vocabulary (it’s not exactly straight memorisation after all haha…)
Hahaha, Tax buddies!! We got this, it’ll all work out somehow
(What do you do on the missing days Mish?? I don’t slack off on WaniKani - well at least, I haven’t done so yet this year… …but I do slack off on writing practice No picture = no Study Log! I also bought some different pen colours to try, you can see the many Sakura I wrote while testing them out. )
Kanji of the day: 練（れん）Practice!
Runner up: 旧正月（きゅうしょうがつ）Lunar New Year!
And I have just gotten off a plane to visit family for the new year… it’s hot and gross, let me go back to Japan!! So tired I mixed up 約 and 練 in my reviews Practice more so you don’t make these kind of mistakes!
I’m currently in the thick of New Years celebrations (that means going to visit relatives you’ve never seen before and don’t know how to call) so haven’t had so much time to practice writing.
However I opened the Japanese book I’m reading - context, I bought a light novel at BookOff and have been highlighting the kanji/words (basically all of them) I don’t know as I go then going back and writing the reading/meaning in later - and saw that one of my highlights was 囲む. I just learnt 囲む! So now I can read it without having to look up the reading/meaning!! What a great feeling! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و
Finally back in Japan!! Ah Japan… you are so cold (right now) and so nice, and you have toilets with toilet lids and dry floors and also showers with water pressure and I don’t have to worry about mosquitoes all the time and I don’t have to eat giant dinners with distant relatives every night…
At some point I hit level 17, and it looks like I can make it to 18 next week
٩(｡•̀ᴗ-)人(-ᴗ´•｡)۶
I soooo appreciate the water pressure when I get back from a trip. I almost don’t feel clean when showering under the trickle that is the shower at my mum’s house.
)
But if it is, then I REALLY want one! Your writing is beautiful.
We got this, it’ll all work out somehow 
)