📚📚 Read every day challenge - Winter 2022 ☃❄

[Natsuha]

Once again I forgot to post the last few days. In that time I finished reading Yamada kun and the Seven Vol.3, started and read the whole first volume of Rental Girlfriend.
Rental Girlfriend is probably one of the funniest manga I ever read.

I read every day a little bit of the Monobeno visual novel. Some parts were a little harder the ones they talk about gods and shintoism but it’s still manageable. Somehow I already reached chapter five, so there is a good chance I will finish it this year. Someone asked for pictures?

[Burnannator]

Today, I read about these things, Tarigerades. Very cute.

[BadWeather]

Summary post

February 21 update:
Read just a couple pages of きまぐれロボット today. This story is promising to be quite fun, but I barely managed to squeeze in even this much reading, so the rest will have to wait until tomorrow

[Daisoujou]

@Natsuha

Someone asked for pictures?

I love the addition of pictures! That looks like a pretty nice style.

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Summary post

Today was fun! New best, ~4100 characters and ~340 lines. Improvement for sure. There was even a rather sweet moment with 紬, as the game briefly toed around getting more serious, touching on but quickly backing away from the protagonist’s and her background. On that note, I have a couple images that brought to mind something I like about Japanese

Pictures, collapsed for size

Basically, as soon as serious things came up, both parties brushed it off with いろいろあります. And I’ve noticed this happening elsewhere when listening to Japanese people talk! It seems like a very elegant way to be like “yeah, there’s a history, some things happened, but I don’t want to talk more specifically here and now.” You know how often I get pressed for details in English and I wish I could just go throw an 色々 at them? Haha.

While I had a great time, this VN despite having no outright sexual content, does kinda dip into fan service images, which is part of why I haven’t really been posting that many CGs. Would prefer if it didn’t but I can brush it off.

On the Zoo 2 front, at the halfway point I reached a new story and wow this is hard all of the sudden! What are all these words? When did he start structuring sentences like this? I’m struggling with comprehension and probably going to slow down a lot (also because Elden Ring is about to come out too, heh).

All the same, I’ve been excited about thinking about what’s next, so I have a question to pose. I’ve never been much of an audiobook person, but I especially know absolutely nothing about getting them in Japanese. This is partly from @pocketcat 's nice advice on working on my listening comprehension. Would anyone knowledgeable be willing to point me to where/how they get Japanese audiobooks? No clue what I’m looking to read next, but I’m about to need to weigh my options.

Today’s word of the day is 育む (はぐくむ), to raise/cultivate/nurture etc, entirely because I want to glare at it for that reading. It truly is every day that I add a few words with totally new (to me) readings to Anki.

[sycamore]

@Daisoujou

Would anyone knowledgeable be willing to point me to where/how they get Japanese audiobooks? No clue what I’m looking to read next, but I’m about to need to weigh my options.

I tend to get mine from audiobook.jp! They seem to have a good selection and also have an app that you can use to listen to them (though also you can just download the files) I was also able to just register with my UK details, didn’t need a fake Japanese address or anything like that. Of the things I have read/am reading, 鏡の孤城 & 世界から猫が消えたなら both have really good audiobooks, would definitely recommend.

[Redglare]

Summary post

February 21

笑わない数学者
Progress: 66% → 67%

So busy these days, is like Autumn challenge all over again - tiny read challenge.

[pocketcat]

@Daisoujou

Would anyone knowledgeable be willing to point me to where/how they get Japanese audiobooks? No clue what I’m looking to read next, but I’m about to need to weigh my options.

@sycamore

I tend to get mine from audiobook.jp!

++ To this recc. I love audiobook.jp - just getting the raws files is soooo convenient. I sometimes have to use Audible (some things are only on there) but I prefer not to although there are ways to convert those into plain files too…
I also strongly recc スマホを落としただけなのに (natively, audiobook.jp, honto, bookwalker) as an audiobook that is mostly faithful to the text, not boring (except the conversations about Facebook ), and very approachable from a grammar standpoint. It is kind of mindless fluff in the thriller genre, though, which I know you’ve said you’re not keen on
Or several Aozora stories have free youtube readings if you want to test out the method first and see if you even like it before committing to purchases. Ex: 人間椅子 - this one is probably something you’ll enjoy (short story), but it is challenging read due to old grammar + extensive vocab. 雪女 is much more approachable and a fun folktale (also short story), but I dunno if it’s actually representative of a 22 or not - I rated it as similar to 記憶の森の魔女 which is 25 and that sounds more realistic to me.

Also I’m so glad you’ve found something that helps your migraines! I meant to reply this morning, but morning-brain plum forgot!

[Daisoujou]

@sycamore

Of the things I have read/am reading, 鏡の孤城 & 世界から猫が消えたなら both have really good audiobooks, would definitely recommend.

Much appreciate the source and recommendations – 鏡の孤城 is something I’ve been a little curious about because the overall reaction to it on this site seemed to be so positive. Not familiar with the latter but I love that concept…

@pocketcat

I also strongly recc スマホを落としただけなのに (natively, audiobook.jp, honto, bookwalker) as an audiobook that is mostly faithful to the text, not boring (except the conversations about Facebook ), and very approachable from a grammar standpoint. It is kind of mindless fluff in the thriller genre, though, which I know you’ve said you’re not keen on

For real, anything but Facebook, haha. I was mostly talking about in movies where I get particularly picky! And a lot of that comes from the filming style and aesthetics that tend to come along on video more than the plots themselves. I think I’d be interested in the book, from the sound of it.

You know I already wanted to read Ranpo, and 人間椅子, back in English long before I started learning Japanese, but never got around to it. I’m not very confident in my reading that while I’m struggling a bit with part of Zoo at the moment, but it certainly tempts me. 雪女, while I haven’t directly read it, is a cool tale I’m familiar with from seeing it in the excellent film Kwaidan, so that seems to be a good idea as well…

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Basically, two comments in and I have too many good options, assuming I can actually handle them, haha.

[valkow]

Home post

Day 51:

日本語: I read a lot of ミステリークロック. Really enjoying the setup for the title story (now that I’m getting a handle on everyone’s names).

中国語

中国語: I read an intermediate entry on Mandarin Bean, one page of 擅长捉弄的高木同学, and a bit of 孩子最爱读的中国民间故事 (phew).

[windupbird]

Summary post

Day 52: February 21st

365日にっぽんのいろ図鑑
Time spent: 15 min
Today’s color: 菜の花色 (なのはないろ) - a bright pretty yellow

Named for the color of rapeseed flowers (菜の花).

Good words

• 密着 (みっちゃく) - relating closely (to); having relevance (to)
• 入り日 (いりひ) - setting sun; evening sun
• 朧月夜 (おぼろづきよ) - misty, moonlit night; (spring) night with a hazy moon
• 辺り一面 (あたりいちめん) - whole area; surrounding area; all around; everywhere; all over the place
• 凝縮 (ぎょうしゅく) - condensation (of ideas, emotions, etc.)
• 荏胡麻 (えごま) - wild sesame
• 田園風景 (でんえんふうけい) - rural landscape
• 包容力 (ほうようりょく) - tolerance; broad-mindedness

まいにち暦生活 日本の暮らしを楽しむ365のコツ
Time spent: 4 min

Today’s reading was about the difference between 霞 (かすみ) and 霧 (きり), which I thought was interesting. Technically, 霧 is just water vapor, but 霞 also has dust mixed in. Both have specific seasonal associations: 霞 is for the spring, while 霧 is for the fall.

What else did I read?
海のどうぶつが可愛すぎて!
Amount read: 13 pages
Time spent: 35 min

I finished off this manga today - it ended with a description of how fish and marine mammals swim differently, and then a little afterword. I love how much the author loves orcas lol, honestly it reminds me of how I was as a kid I had at least 3 stuffed orcas They’re just so cute D: I really enjoyed this manga a lot ^^ I love sea creatures and I learned some interesting fun facts from this. This is the type of book young me would have adored (and adult me still enjoys :3)

Good words

• ぶっちゃけ - frankly; honestly speaking; to tell the truth; to put it bluntly​
• 甲殻類 (こうかくるい) - crustacean
• ずばり - decisively; decidedly; boldly; once and for all; unreservedly; frankly​; precisely; exactly​
• 縦向き (たてむき) - portrait orientation; vertical orientation
• 横向き (よこむき) - turning sideways; landscape orientation
• 着眼点 (ちゃくがんてん) - focus of one’s attention; what one is looking for; point of view; viewpoint
• ネコザメ - bullhead shark
• 微動 (びどう) - slight movement; slight tremor; quiver
• だに - even
• ザラザラ - rough (touch, voice, etc.); coarse; gritty; sandy; granular​
• 鮫肌 (さめはだ) - rough skin (like that of a shark)
• 楯鱗 (じゅんりん) - placoid scale
• 尖る (とがる) - to taper to a point; to become pointed; to become sharp
• トンデモ - unthinkable; unexpected; outrageous; offensive
• 実寸 (じっすん) - actual size; exact size

@basilsauce

verb stem + にくい is a grammar point, and you can use it with other verbs to mean “hard to ~~~”

Wow, I think I either…forgot? Or didn’t know/realize? I know I’ve seen the やすい ending, but にくい…did not register in my brain as the same type of thing somehow In any case, thanks for the link! I can always use more grammar stuff ^^

[natarin]

February 21 Home Post

Yay more than bare minimum day!! I’ve still been kind of busy so I didn’t do a whole lot; I read some 風(かぜ)つよ between classes, and then played some 999. (no pictures today rip, it was kinda spoiler-heavy today haha. also サンタ didn’t talk much which is probably a contributing factor ) But it was pretty wild, 八代(やしろ) is very much concerned for her well-being only and 一宮(いちみや)… I wasn’t prepared for that whole situation, I’m really not gonna get to know him much this playthrough huh also where’s ニルス??? I like him a lot and hope he’s okay but like also sketchy, as of now my theory is that either he or 紫(むらさき) (or maybe both idk) is somehow working with ゼロ, but who knows

I’m very much at the point where I have to make myself stop playing because I’m invested but also I have work in the morning It’s really cool having that with something in Japanese though!

Words of the day

寝(ね)そべる - to sprawl
音(ね)を上(あ)げる - to give up, to throw in the towel
横(よこ)やり - interruption, interference
仲裁(ちゅうさい) - arbitration, mediation
則(のっと)る - to conform to, to follow (rule)
もろ手(て)を挙(あ)げて - wholeheartedly, unconditionally
なす術(すべ)もない - having no choice, at a loss for what to do
死(し)の床(とこ) - deathbed

[Coyoteclaw11]

Home Post

Day 6 - February 20
Yotsubato vol.2 pg 68-69

Day 7 - February 21
Yotsubato vol.2 pg 70-117

I read an entire chapter and then some! Chapter 11 was pretty easy, though. There was a lot I could guess from context… although it was mostly Yotsuba talking. I’d read more, but Jumbo talking to Fuuka just got too complicated lmao It’s definitely easier to read stuff focusing on the kids. Any time two characters older than 10 talk to each other, it’s a struggle lol

[fustian_garb]

@Sunstorm

I read something something about pollen in Tokyo from the Japanese Cedar,

Just looked up the article - they say that if you have hayfever and are infected with covid, you could spread covid in your sneezes so please wear a mask and use a hankerchief.

I have really bad tree pollen allergy so I’m going to be interested to see if wearing a mask helps this year.

@windupbird

oday’s reading was about the difference between 霞 (かすみ) and 霧 (きり)

I have both of these in my flashcards and confuse them CONSTANTLY so I’m hoping that yesterday’s reading might help me with this in the future!

[sycamore]

I continue to be bad at updating due to my habit of reading 鏡の孤城 last thing at night and staying up too late reading it until I am exhausted . I’m 71% through the first volume now, and since I got past the halfway point it’s felt a whole lot easier. There still tends to be a sentence or two each reading section that I have to read through a few times to get but mostly I will get there in the end and if not, the WK threads have proved useful as it’s often the same things others have already discussed. I think I’m actually only 3 weeks behind the bookclub now? At my current pace I should catch up soonish then will need to decide whether to follow at bookclub pace or just keep going

I also read chapter 6 of 魔女の宅急便. This book continues to be a slog to be honest. It was about the same page count (20ish) and time taken (hour and a half-2 hours) to read as my usual 鏡の孤城 readings but felt about five times longer.
From the WK threads it looks like it’s meant to pick up again for the last few chapters so I’ll maybe give the next chapter a chance and then make a decision but to be honest if I wasn’t reading this in a book club I would have already dropped it by now. So many people seem to love it but I think I might be too grumpy for it lol, many of the characters and decisions that are meant to be fun and whimsical I just find annoying and am like ‘but why are you doing that???’.

Last thing - the last part of my book order arrived today and is very pretty! It’s the ヴィオレット．エヴァ−ガ−デン light novel series (I just finished watching the Netflix series and movies with some friends and fell in love)

Pretty pictures

It has fold out colour illustrations at the start of the book and also very pretty black and white illustrations throughout

[pocketcat]

Today’s article is http://daihitsu66.com/syuppan/文章術/「一箇所」と「一ヶ所」はどう違うのか
It started out talking about North Korea firing missiles (there’s no date on the blog oddly) and then segues randomly into what they consider the best way to write いっかしょ（一か所・一ヶ所・一箇所・一個所).

I asked my tutor about the blog I’ve read a few times (Polyglotism) and while she said it was normal, natural Japanese, she also couldn’t really make out the point of what they were trying to say. I think I’ll drop them as a reading option since “communicating better in Japanese” doesn’t seem like something I’ll improve by reading vague posts.

[Zakarius]

Homepost - Tigerdate: 20220222

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Tanuki Scroll LIII: しじみの恩返し

Read today’s folktale, from Fukui prefecture, about helping out some magical talking clams.

As well as today being ultimate twosday, it’s also 猫の日, because 22.2 = 二ゃん二ゃん！二ゃー！

☆ Learnings ☆

New Words

恩返し「おんがえし」ー Repayment of a favour/obligation/kindness/etc.
しじみ「蜆」ー Freshwater clam
小川「おがわ」ー Stream; Brook; Creek
枕元「まくらもと」ー Bedside; Next to your pillow
コロコロ ー Lightly rolling; Pleasant high-pitched sound; Changing frequency; Roly-Poly; Chirp chirp; Ribbit or croak of frogs; Paint roller… (basically it means everything).
ザル「笊」ー Traditional draining basket, but can be used to mean a colander or sieve.

[Redglare]

Summary post

February 22

笑わない数学者
Progress: 67% → 72%

New kanji encounter the first kanji in both of the words:
竣工・しゅんこう・completion of construction
堆積・たいせき・accumulation, pile

I’m getting durtle withdrawals

[Natsuha]

Somehow once again I finished half a chapter of Monobeno.
After that I read 80 pages of The Town Where You Live.

Even though I read every day my reading skills don’t have improved that much.

[Beyond_Sleepy]

Home post

Day 46:

I read a page of よつばと！ again​:four_leaf_clover:

_{I just want to sleep now, good night}

[BadWeather]

Summary post

February 22 update:
Only managed to read a single page of きまぐれロボット today The story still looks very promising, but it’s using much more unfamiliar vocab than the previous stories in this book – which didn’t help in finishing it in the little time I had…