I’m about 80% done with 黄金仮面 now, still chugging along right on track to finish out my books for the year 
Wooo congrats! 
Day 37 Progress:
お隣の天使様 四冊 - 50.92% → 57.47%
Horrid day for reading. Stumbled over a lot of basic things I thought I knew, and also the book was just awful. Closest I’ve ever gotten to wanting to drop it, or at least take a break.
Hopefully better and less painful reading session tomorrow.
Word of the Day:
December 16 
Home Post
I’ve made it through the semester, but I was still pretty busy with social things so just finished up the chapter of ブルーロック I was on. But now I’m free! and just in time for BU$TAFELLOWS to start, I’ll have to look into that 
December 16th (Home Post Link)
Read:
- NHK News Web Easy:東京都 新しい家に太陽光パネルをつける決まりができる - nice. after my brain literally disconnected while reading yesterday things seem to be clicking more for the complicated sentences. Right-branching syntax finally starting to make sense…maybe. (is it right branching? i seem to remember reading that term somewhere but it’s hazy. I’ll have to check my jp linguistics book tomorrow…)
- ホリミヤ ch 27 - ねんど味
Good Words
NHK
量「りょう」ー quantity, amount
知事「ちじ」ー governor
ずつ ー apiece
ホリミヤ
疲れた「つかれた」ー worn-out (as opposed to sleepy)
跡取り「あととり」ー heir, successor
グレる ー to go off the rails, to stray from the right path
いちじく ー fig
ザクロ ー pomegranate
男爵「だんしゃく」ー baron (was this the same word they used in 耳をすませば? i seem to remember them just using バロン or something)
December 17th!
Today I finished Volume 9 of Teasing Master Takagi-san. As there are currently 18 volumes, that marks the half way point 
Though I’m sure another volume or two will come out before I reach the end!
Dec 17, Sat of Week 12 of Fall 2022 
- 史記 (latter half of Ch.1)
Great Wall of China, and 逆らう者.
- うたわれるもの (1 hour)
Yesterday was trickery, and now mask? Noble-acting, and masked guy speak difficult-to-understand all of sudden.
Not counting that the title of first of trilogy says there is a fake mask?
Interesting words
- ツケ = bill, payment. Kanji form is 付け.
- たてつく = to disobey. Kanji form is 盾突く (piercing the shield).
- はいずる = to crawl. Kanji form is 這いずる, probably crawl and graze (擦る).
- おおぶろしき = large furoshiki; big talk. Kanji form is 大風呂敷 = large (大きい) + bath (風呂) + spread (敷く).
- りこう = smart. A Kanji form is 利口.
- かたどる = to model after. A Kanji is 象る, and of course 形取る.
- べっぴん = beautiful woman. A Kanji version is indeed 別品, that is, different level of good stuff. (Normally, 別嬪)
- しゃば = this world. Kanji form is 娑婆.
- 未練 = lingering. Also in 未練がましい.
- ～風情 = the likes of
- 援護 = backing; supporting
- 密集 = clustering together (formation)
- 逐電 = running away
- 砂丘 = sand dune
- 突如 = suddenly. A phrase is 突如異変
- 去勢 = castration; neutering
- 宦官 = eunuch. Employed in Chinese palace…
- 側近 = close aide
- 根城 = stronghold
- 巡行 = patrol
- 大層 = extremely
- 無頼 = villainous
- 臭気 = stinking smelling; stench
- 覇王 = supreme ruler. Probably 制覇の王. Also the one from Shaman King.
- 刻限 = appointed time
- 出土 = archeological evacuation
- 埋葬 = burial
- 殉死 = dying with the master. First Kanji is of martyrdom.
- 朴念仁 = quiet unsociable person
- 抜剣 = drawing one’s sword
- 腹芸 = force of personality
- 囮 = lure
- 粗野 = vulgar; rude
- 慇懃 = courteous. Also, without Furigana.
- 遂行 = execution; carrying out
- 双璧 = two matchless things. Second Kanji from 完璧.
- 某 = I; me (archaic).
- 疾駆 = driving a horse fast
- 酷薄 = cruel; inhuman. Sounds very much like 告白.
- 認める = to write a letter
- 護る. Alternate Kanji for 守る.
- 気兼ね = getting restrained
- 率いる = to lead
- 切れ者 = sharp and able person.
- 横たわる = to stretch across
- 峰打ち = striking with back of the sword. First Kanji is 峰.
- 折から = at that time. I think of 時折 + から. (Though it is more of 柄)
- 引き受ける = to assume responsibility
- いっその事 = preferably. Also, いっそ.
- 腹わた = guts. In dictionary as 腸
- かくの如く = thus / this way
- やけ酒 = drowning in desperation
- 種明かし = revealing of how trick is done. 種 is just like ネタ – Inverted words.
- 虫けら = insignificant worms…
- 大概にする = to stay within bounds
- 燕雀安んぞ鴻鵠の志を知らんや
- 燕雀 = swallow (燕) + sparrow (雀). Both compounded and standalone versions can be found in context.
- 安んぞ = 「いずくにぞ」の音変化 = 何ぞ. Why so?
- 鴻鵠の志 = the ambition (志) of Chinese phoenix? (鴻) + swan (鵠)
- Two lines, so actually 燕雀安んぞ ・ 鴻鵠の志を知らんや
- 頭が上がらない = to be no match for
- 人聞きの悪い = disgraceful
- 骨肉相食む = to fight between family members. Also, 骨肉相食, or just the first part 骨肉の争い.
- 成るように成る = whatever will be, will be; things happen the way they happen
- 鬨の声 = battle cry. Somehow sounds like cries of time (時の声).
- 一蓮托生 = being the same boat
- 袋にする = to gang up and beat someone
- 罵詈雑言 = all kinds of verbal abuse. Also without Furigana. Personally, no idea about the second Kanji; there appears to be a single word… 罵詈. The first is just 罵る.
SFX
- ホイホイ = recklessly
Kanji
Rather than listing various possible readings, meanings, or representative vocabularies, start to matter more.
- 苛
- 苛む, 苛つく, 苛める.
- 融
- Melting
- 雪融け
- 臭
- 臭気
- 臭い
- 臭い
- 俑
- Terracotta figure
- 兵馬俑
- 囮
- 囮
20221217 - 吾輩は狸である progress: 97.52% 
It’s amusing reading these guys predictions of the future from 100 years ago, they somewhat feel exactly the same as people’s predictions these days aka: “oh no we be doomed I tell you, society ain’t what it used to be”
Japanese found under the leaves
Meowords
勇猛精進「ゆうみょうしょうじん」ー Someone who practices asceticism and has a dauntless spirit; brave and diligent hero
翕然「きゅうぜん」ー Coming together as one; unanimously
December 17th
Card Captor Sakura volume 2 – progress report
Yesterday: Read up to page 376, finished chapter 20 and Aria: the masterpiece volume 2.
Today: Started reading Card Captor Sakura volume 2, read up to page 37, finished chapter 6.
My anxiety has passed (for now) and I could read without the intent of distracting myself from it again. I’ll stick to Card Captor Sakura during this and the next week, perhaps even until the end of the month. No idea, how far I’ll get until the 31st but it would be nice if I could finish at least volume 3 by then.
Word or expression of the day:
複雑 - (ふくざつ) - complicated, intricate, mixed feelings
Honourable mention(s):
運動神経 - (うんどうしんけい) - reflexes
発掘 - (はっくつ) - (archaeological) excavation, discovery (e.g. a new talent)
December 17
Home Post
Swedish holiday traditions (in Swedish) 
Holiday short story (in English)
Yeah, I know neither of those said Japanese. But that is just how it is sometimes. 
I did spend a lot of time on Japanese-ish related things. Just not reading. ^^
December 17th (Home Post Link)
Read:
-
NHK News Web Easy: 沖縄の海にジュゴンがいるかもしれない - This was the first time i’ve seen 草 actually mean grass in a hot minute and got a little confused for a second
- ホリミヤ ch 28
Good Words
NHK
将来「しょうらい」ー future prospects
いなくなるー to disappear (of people and animals), to no longer exist 
録音「ろくおん」ー audio recording
ふんー feces (esp. animal) (kanji 糞)
記録「きろく」ー record, document
ホリミヤ
写メ「しゃめ」ー abbreviation 写メール, mobile message with picture attached (wonder if that’s dated)
叫ぶ「さけぶ」ー to shout
逆「ぎゃく」ー reverse, opposite
皆無「かいむ」ー nonexistent, nil
Home 
December 17
人間椅子 -
ジョジョの奇妙な冒険57 
Start - 115
I finished the whole arc but didn’t want to start the next one because it’s Notorious B I G and I didn’t want it to show up in my dreams lmao. BIG is up there as one of the creepiest stands in my opinion
I read HQ vol 36. This series is so damn good, for real. I’m kind of sad I’ve only got 9 volumes left.
Some vocab of note:
引っ込み思案 (ひっこみじあん) [noun, な-adj., の-adj.] reserved; introverted; reticent; shy; withdrawn
咲う (わらう) [自ア五] to laugh; to smile. I’ve seen 嗤う before, specifically for derisive laughter, but I wonder what nuance using “bloom” for “laugh/smile” has. I mean, I know what I think of (like a beatific smile or something), but considering the context this was used in, I’m not sure it fits. (Although, Kei’s smile after his successful block a few pages later… maybe it does.)
仇になる (あだになる) [expression, ラ五] to backfire; to have a harmful result
December 17 Home Post
I didn’t start reading until late so just a chapter of ブルーロック today, more than I expected to do when I started though so 
I’ll take it!
Quite a successful day for a change.
17/12 21 pages Spy Family (whole mission), 27 pages シャドーハウス (both chapters for this week), 3 pages 夜カフェ (finished last week’s chapter), 8 pages Cells at Work
Ps this was yesterday - power was out when I went to bed
Day 38 Progress:
お隣の天使様 四冊 - 57.47% → 64.08%
Managed to get over the hump of the frustrating portion from yesterday, at least. Still a bit of a frustrating read but a bit better. (Also oh boy, 5 AM!)
Word of the Day:
December 18th
Card Captor Sakura volume 2 – progress report
Yesterday: Started reading Card Captor Sakura volume 2, read up to page 37, finished chapter 6.
Today: Finished chapter 7, continued up to page 86.
Unfortunately I didn’t understand half of what Sonomi (Tomoyo’s mother) said but I still got the gist of the chapter (partly thanks to my memory of events too).
At least the 7th chapter also cleared one thing up which confused me upon re-reading the 1st volume. It was Tomoyo blushing when looking at Toya because I remembered her being in love with Sakura. This chapter explained her reactions and that the only reason she was blushing was the fact that Toya’s ears resemble Sakura’s.
I can’t help but feel bad for Tomoyo because her love is a one-sided one, though she still has a wonderful friend in Sakura. I also respect Tomoyo a lot because she actively helps Sakura pursue her love interests because she’s not entitled to Sakura’s reciprocation of her love – Tomoyo sure is the wing(wo)man we don’t deserve. 
And speaking of painful, I sure felt the pain when the next chapter immediately implied the feelings between Rika and the Terada-sensei. Don’t mind me, I’m just going to fetch my bag over there. 
Sigh, okay I can’t let this slide, I have to rant a little bit: CLAMP and their stories have always been a hit and miss for me. There are admittedly only a few works which I could stomach from the one’s I’ve read and know about in a general sense.
While there is plenty to like in Sakura and their other manga, there are always some things that just put me off quite a bit. And a big one of them are CLAMP’s couples or ‘soul mates’, so to say, because holy cr*** are there a lot of them that – in my opinion – should never have existed such Rika and the teacher, for example. 
Word or expression of the day:
貯める - (ためる) - to save up (money)
Honourable mention(s):
避難 - (ひなん) - taking refuge, finding shelter, evacuation
20221218 - 吾輩は狸である progress: 98.01% 
The conversation continues.
But it looks like it might end soon.
Japanese found under the leaves
Meowords
困憊「こんばい」ー Exhaustion; fatigue
呵責「かしゃく」ー Blame; accusation; torture; maltreatment
Dec 18, Sun of Week 12 of Fall 2022
- 史記 (first half of Ch.2)
Farmer’s revolt.
A little of うたわれるもの, and also vocabularies also from Tate-Yuusha anime sub.
Interesting words
- おとしめる = to look down on. The Kanji form is 貶める, although this probably matters more for Kanji meaning.
- とりわけ = especially. Kanji form is 取り分け.
- さながら = just like. Kanji form is 宛ら.
- ひるがえる = to flutter in the wind; to have the mind changed. Kanji form is 翻る.
- あいついで = one after another. Kanji form is 相次いで.
- あわよくば = if chance favors. Probably 会う + 良く.
- 一介 = merely a …
- 林立 = standing close together
- 首謀者 = ringleader
- 暴君 = despot; tyrant
- 蜂起 = uprising. First Kanji is bee, from 蜜蜂 or スズメ蜂.
- 乱世 = turbulent times. Short 世 in context, although official version is probably 乱世.
- 勃発 = sudden outbreak
- 反乱 = rebellion
- 要衝 = strategic position. The second Kanji is from 衝突 or 衝撃.
- 閣下 = Your Excellency
- 近衛 = Imperial Guards
- 武勇 = bravery
- 義挙 = heroic deed
- 魂胆 = ulterior motives. Daring of the spirits?
- 野望 = ambition
- 出来した = Well done! The base vocabulary is 出来す.
- ～の威光 = through power/influence of (a big person)
- 不服 = disapproval; dissatisfaction
- 血祭り = blood offering (before the battle starts)
- 即刻 = immediately; instantly
- 比例 = proportional
- 分際 = social position; one’s place. Similarly to 身分 or perhaps 立場.
- 相殺 = cancelling out
- 采配 = commands; directions
- 無官 = lacking a title. See also 無位無官.
- 俊敏 = quick-witted
- 発注 = placing an order
- 武士 = warrior
- 驕らず = not haughty. The verb is 驕る (proud) / 傲る (conceited), where JJ makes different entry from 奢る (luxurious).
- 刻む = to engrave; to carve / to chop up; to mince
- 動勢 = movements; states. A similar one is 動静, but the first one is probably more about armies. (I am not exactly sure about JMdict for this one.)
- 必要に応じて助勢に向かうために、軍隊の後方に控えている武士たち。
- 食い止める = to hold (enemy) at bay
- 消え失せろ = Get out of sight!
- 積年の怨み = long standing grudges
- 水をさす = to estrange; to hamper. Can be 水を差す or 水を注す. (I think more of latter, but JJ likes the first.)
- 罪を着せる = to pin a crime on. Probably similar to 冤罪.
- 先んずれば人を制す = early bird gets the worm. There also appears to be an opposite 急いては事を仕損じる, and so I noticed I forgot 仕損じる from yesterday.
- 波紋を投げかける = to cause a stir. 波紋 is also Hamon from JoJo. I also saw another 波紋 today – 波紋を呼ぶ.
- 農民一揆 = farmer’s uprising. An equivalent is 百姓一揆.
- 猫も杓子も = anyone without distinction. The phrase refers to cats and ladles, though.
- 我が物にする = to appropriate for oneself
- 並々ならぬ = uncommon. 並 is just an ordinary thing.
- 感慨深い = deeply emotive; moving
- 勝るとも劣らない = not inferior to; equal or better
- 公明正大 = fair and upright
SFX
- がりがり = skinny / scratchy, crunchy / desperately, wholeheartedly
Kanji
- 驕
- 驕る
- 驕奢, 驕慢
- 傲
- 傲慢
December 18th!
Today I read the second half of Chapter 4 of God Bless the Mistaken.
Struggled a bit with it this week, but I’ve had a pretty long (but fun!) weekend and I’m reading quite late at night, so I’m probably just tired.
I am reading Chapter 4 of 青ブタ11 and I am in “Chore Mode” where I am getting enough to get by but my mindset is more on finishing than enjoying it. I am literally about to be done, its interesting, but its just longer than the more recent volumes so the small details of what train station he is at or what food they want to eat is becoming quite the grind.
I have an hour and a half left. I can and probably will finish today. But I am gonna need a break from the series until my vacation.