Uh well the past few days I mostly just played some more きみのまち ポルティア, but somewhere in there I also read xxxHOLiC③, and the last chapter and atogaki of 夜カフェ③. Yesterday I read 13 pages of この本を盗む者は, leaving off on pg 20.
21 Likes
February 17th
Card Captor Sakura volume 9 – progress report
Yesterday: Continued up to page 158, finished chapter 37.
Today: Read up to page 187, finished chapter 38, and with that volume 9. 
Began reading volume 10, read up to page 16.
Thanks to Toya’s intervention Yue and Yukito are still alive and kicking. Never mind that this plot point took like 4 volumes to get resolved… 
Back then and today I still don’t know what to make of the ‘you resemble Yukito a lot/in everything’ lines both Toya and Sakura say to Yue. Sure, they’re the same being but as far as I’m concerned Yukito is like a chill and friendly dog/cat whereas Yue comes off as grumpy cat’s cousin. 
Ah well, whatever. Let’s see if I can finish volume 10 during the weekend.
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Word or expression of the day:
不公平 (ふこうへい) - unfairness, injustice
22 Likes
February 17th (Day 48) 
1Q84 Book 1 前編 (73 - 82%)
I’ve read chapter 10 today, and damn… That was a long monologue. Interesting, but very exhausting to read. I really hope the next chapter is a little lighter. Only two more to go though! And let’s just ignore the fact that I’m already falling behind with my この本を盗む者は reading… (Not to mention I’ve completely forgotten about my Russian reading… 
23 Likes
Day 47
I felt sick the whole day just read some pages of Tsugumomo vol.5 and played Bloody Roar 3 in Japanese. In Bloody Roar 3 the text scrolls super fast its impossible for me to read that fast. 
3450 pages read
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February 17th!
Today I read Chapter 44 of Happiness. It was very tempting to read ahead to finish the volume… but I have house guests coming for the weekend so I did some cleaning instead…
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Home post // Feb 17 
・薬屋のひとりごと３ (56% → 62%)
Today I noticed that 揶揄 and 揶揄う have the same kanji. Just like 躊躇 and 躊躇う. I’m sure there are more examples, can’t recall from the top of my head.
Spoilery story/character comment: After reading the chapter where Maomao joins the emperor go through an emperor-selection-by-choosing-the-correct-door maze, I’m getting the sense that 任氏 might actually be the emperor’s younger hikikomori brother 
Emperor’s younger brother never participate in events due to being a shut-in and that’s a very convenient excuse, isn’t it? I hope I’m not misremembering anything about this “emperor’s younger brother” character, I literally can’t remember any scenes where he appeared other than being mentioned briefly for the sole reason of pointing out that he was not attending.
Yes! Those flavor words. They typically don’t have an entry in Jisho (or Takoboto, ie. JMdict), and google images often returns Chinese or irrelevant/obscure(?) results.
Example 1: 吊帯の長裙
吊帯 → google images: some kind of strap for fastening your guns/swords and for lifting horses? Also for climbing electric power line poles 
Epitome of “no sleeve” outfit, mhm 
長裙 → actual Chinese word for long skirt!? (disclaimer: did not consult any Chinese dictionaries)
Example 2: 爪紅 → flowers! 
22 Likes
That one is not Chinese While it’s not common in modern Japanese, it’s a thing. It follows the same pattern as 口紅 (but for the nails instead of the mouth; that’s the way I remembered the reading too!). The word can also point to a flower, but the reading is different (that’s つまくれない or つまぐれ instead)
But the skirt thing, though, yes. You get quickly used to it, since every series with a similar “ancient China” vibe uses it.
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Ah, so it turned out be a historical Japanese thing! I guess the flowers was a confounder, with the reading being different.
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At least, I thought it was different because that’s what my dictionary said, but looking at stuff about the flowers, the word is given the same reading 
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Home 
February 17th
ジョジョの奇妙な冒険9
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ルリドラゴン 1
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The JoJolands
55 pages
Not quite the whole chapter but most of it. My brain had to tap out. It’s a lot harder to read when you’re not already familiar with the plot and characters. I can’t figure out what one guy’s name is a reference to and searching in Japanese only returned results for the character. They’re always some sort of reference though. Someone’s gotta know.
20 Likes
２月１７日 (Home Post Link)
Read:
- 夜カフェ pg 107 → 120 (finished ch 9)
- 三ツ星カラーズ ch 15
Word of the Day:
乱入「らんにゅう」ー intrusion; bursting into; barging into; breaking into; forcing one’s way into
22 Likes
I didn’t realize I had gotten ahead at some point in S×F, so I had intended to read this past week’s and this coming week’s chapters, but I ended up reading this coming week’s and the next week’s lol whoops
I also got a slight head start (technically; it’s still Friday in my time zone) on 極主夫道 and read ch 91-92. It’s always so hard to put this series down, but I wanted to go on my friend-date with Albert in ポルティア, so I managed it.
And yeah I played a couple hours of きみのまち ポルティア. I got a quest where I need to place several large planters in the Eufaula Desert and plant poplar trees in them, but the only way to get one of the materials I need to make the planters is to trade the Church data disks for them, which I ain’t doing. But the quest ain’t timed so it ain’t disappearing, and now that I have the poplars in my possession, there are a bunch of indicators on the map where they’re supposed to go which also ain’t gonna be disappearing, arg. I wanna make 'em go away, but I don’t wanna give the Church squat, especially not Old World tech to destroy… Oh the dilemma.
…Now that I think of it, I also don’t know if this is a storyline quest or a side quest. Shoot.
Update: Actually, I’m pretty sure building the drill machine for Mint is the story quest, making this a side quest, so I’m good on that front. I still wanna get rid of those indicators on the map though and really don’t like the idea of having to give the Church tech to do it…
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February 17 Home Post
Got distracted by other things again so just counting my reading for class today, it’s all progress!
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闇祓 update!
Finished chapter 3, I’m at 66% now.
I have to say, this is one of the more scarier books I’ve read in Japanese. I didn’t like the first chapter, maybe because I don’t find vampires scary? And the chapter was a bit too 中二病 for my taste. But chapter 2 was really good, and chapter 3 was also quite scary. @omk3 Halloween candidate?
Chapter 3 was completely office setting, and at first the 課長 just seems to be an asshole, but you’re wondering why he is, because it seemed to be quite a sudden change. But he does some terrible things that are also quite creepy (not in a sexual way). I actually had goosebumps at the 3時間24分14秒 revelation. And then the classic „he hits someone“ (???) but of course he doesn’t get fired or anything, Japanese companies have a position for everyone. He just gets 異動‘d. Someone else becomes 課長 and suddenly the main character has some complaints about the new 課長. And then it somehow becomes even more creepy. ジンさん seems to be the common denominator in these 課長s becoming rude towards him, and he‘s acting sketchy. I waited for him to turn into some kind of monster, eating MC, but that didn’t happen. The chapter ended quite abrupt, I would have loved to see more of ジンさん‘s „I‘m so nice but I turn everyone into bad people (and maybe I’m aware of it?)“ spiel.
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18th feb
90% sure i’ve got covid (thanks dad ) so my brain is just not with it today. just read a doujin (that was actually probably longer than a normal manga chapter oops) and i’ll go on granblue later.
22 Likes
The Tanuki Kotatsu Reading Den
February 18th
新書太閣記 progress: 10.72% // Volume II: 22.92% 
Words found under the kotatsu
勝手元「かってもと」ー In and about the kitchen; family circumstances
渋団扇「しぶうちわ」ー Fan varnished with persimmon juice
談論風発「だんろんふうはつ」ー Spirited discussion
阿鼻叫喚「あびきょうかん」ー Agonizing cries; pandemonium; two of Buddhism’s hells
Character Name List
Probably some spoilers, but this is a historic novel, so can spoilers really exist for things that have (for the most part) actually happened
Volume I: 1535 - 1555
日吉「ひよし」- Hideyoshi (as child)
Nicknames: 猿「さる」/ 針売り「はりうり」
Name serving Nobunaga: 木下 藤吉郎「きのした とうきちろう」
Family
木下弥右衛門「きのした やえもん」- Father
– – 乙若「おとわか」- Old friend (serves under 織田)
筑阿弥「ちくあみ」ー Step-father
大政所「おおまんどころ」// also お奈加「おなか」ー Mother
おつみ - Older sister
小竹「こちく」- Baby brother
加藤清正「かとう きよまさ」// also 弾正「だんじょう」- Ojisan (only distantly related (before marriage))
– Married to: おえつ (sister of お奈加)
Friends & Acquaintances
仁王「におう」- Big kid friend
於福「おふく」(Nickname - full name: 福太郎「ふくたろ」) // 楊景福「ようけいふく」(Chinese name/birth name) - Timid kid friend (older than Hideyoshi)
– 五郎大夫 「ごろ だゆう」// 祥瑞「しょうずい」(Chinese name) - Father
– 梨琴「りきん」- Mother
捨次郎「すてじろう」- Previous servant to 五郎, later the adoptive father of 於福, and owner of a tea ware shop - and employer of, and master to, Hideyoshi
Hachisuka Clan
蜂須賀小六「はちすか ころく」(also 正勝 「まさかつ」) - Head of the Hachisuka clan
– 七内「なない」- Younger brother
– Married to 松波「まつなみ」
– – 亀一「かめいち」- Son
Retainers:
稲田大炊助「いなだ おおいのすけ]
青山新七「あおやま しんしち」
長井半之丞「ながい はんのじょう」
松原内匠「まつばら たくみ」
Others:
国吉「くによし」- Gunsmith/blacksmith
渡辺天蔵「わたなべ てんぞう」- Deserter - Nobushi (Nephew to Koroku)
難波内記「なんば ないき」- Spy disguised as a Komuso
仁田彦十「にった ひこじゅう」- Subordinate
(蜂須賀正利「はちすか まさとし」- previous head of the Hachisuka clan)
Saito Clan
((questionable) Alliance with the Hachisuka clan)
斎藤 道三「さいとう どうさん」- Head of the Saito clan
– 斎藤義龍「さいとう よしたつ」(also: 高政「たかまさ」) - Son
明智 光秀「あけち みつひで」(common name: 十兵衛「じゅうべい」) - serves under Dosan
– 又市「またいち」- Underling / foot soldier
堀田 道空「ほった どうくう」- Chief retainer
弥平治光春「やへいじ みつはら」- Retainer (cousin to Jyubei)
– 明智光安「あけち みつやす」- Father
春日丹後「かすが たんご」- Military commander
Oda Clan
織田 信長「おだ のぶなが」- Leader of the Oda clan (Married to the daughter of Saito Dosan)
– 卯月「うづき」- Nobunaga’s faithful, old horse 
– 織田信秀「おだ のぶひで」- Father and previous leader of the Oda clan
– – 織田与三郎「おだ よさぶろう」- Younger brother
– – 織田信行「おだ のぶかつ」(Other name: 信成「のぶなり」) - Son (half-brother to Nobunaga (different mother))
Retainers (Under Nobuhide rule):
平手 政秀「ひらて まさひで」
– 五郎左衛門「ごろうざえもん」(nickname: 五郎左「ごろうざ」) - First son
– 監物「けんもつ」- Second son
– 甚左衛門「じんざえもん」- Third son
– 雨宮勘解由「あめみや かげゆ」- Servant
林 秀貞「はやし ひでさだ」(common name: 新五郎「しんごろ」/ nickname: 佐渡「さどう」) (served under Nobunaga too)
– 美作守「みまさかのかみ」- Younger brother
青山 信昌「あおやま のぶまさ」(common name: 与三右衛門「よそうえもん」)
内藤 勝介「ないとう しょうすけ / かつすけ」
Retainers (Under Nobunaga rule):
柴田勝家「しばた かついえ」(Nickname: 権六「ごんろく」)
Others:
市川大介「いちかわ だいすけ」- Archery master/instructor
平田三位「ひらた さんみ」- Master of military strategy
浅野又右衛門「あさの またえもん」- Military commander
– 寧子「ねね」- Daughter
がんまく - Former worker/servant, friend of Hideyoshi
Shiba Clan
斯波義統「しば よしむね」- Head of the Shiba clan, at Kiyosu castle
– 斯波義銀「しば よしかね」- Son
Imagawa Clan
今川義元「いまがわ よしもと」- Daimyo
Retainers:
松下之綱「まつした ゆきつな」(common name: 加兵衛「かへい」)
飯尾豊前「いのお ぶぜん」
多賀能八郎「たがのう はしろう」(nickname: 能八「のうはち」)
Takeda Clan
太郎義信「たけだ よしのぶ」- Commander
(Married to the daughter of Imagawa Yoshimoto to tie the clans)
Non-affiliated
上泉 信綱「かみいずみ のぶつな」(also: 上泉 伊勢守「かみいずみ いせのかみ」) - Founder of the 新陰流「しんかげりゅう」school of Kenjutsu
– 疋田小伯「ひきた しょうはく」- Disciple
– 神後五六郎「かんご ごろくろう」- Disciple
塚原 卜伝「つかはら ぼくでん」- Kensei; legendary swordsman
Historical People
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阿倍仲麻呂「あべ の なかまろ」ー Japanese scholar & poet (700s)
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白楽天「はく きょい」ー Chinese poet (Bai Juyi / Bo Juyi) also known as: 白楽天「はく らくてん」in Japan. (Late 700s)
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道元「どうげん」(or 道元禅師「どうげん ぜんじ」ー Japanese Buddhist Priest, writer & poet (also known as 栄西禅師「えいさい ぜんじ」) (Early / mid 1200s)
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空海「くうかい」ー The one and only Kukai or Kobo Daishi - a Buddhist monk. Posthumously given the title of: 弘法大師「こうぼう だいし」born as: 佐伯 眞魚「さえき の まお」(late 700s / early 800s)
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源頼政「みなもと の よりまさ」ー Prominent poet and warrior (1100s)
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平 重盛「たいら の しげもり」ー Military commander and court noble, claimed to be an ancestor of Oda Nobunaga (Mid-1100s)
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桓武（天皇）「かんむ（てんのう）」ー 50th Emperor of Japan, claimed to be an ancestor of Taira no Shigemori, thus ancestor to Oda Nobunaga (Mid-Late 700s)
Volume II: 1555 - 15??
(currently 1556)
Oda Clan
織田 信長「おだ のぶなが」- Head of the Oda clan
– 織田 信広「おだ のぶひろ」- Older brother
– 織田 信行「おだ のぶゆき」(also: 信勝「のぶかつ」) - Younger brother
木下 藤吉郎「きのした とうきちろう」- Hideyoshi
– 木股 権三「きまた ごんぞう」(Nickname: ごんぞ) - Servant
浅野 又右衛門「あさの またえもん」- Military commander
– 寧子「ねね」- Daughter
柴田 勝家「しばた かついえ」(nickname: 権六「ごんろく」) - Military Commander
山淵 右近「やまぶち うこん」- Magistrate
– 山淵 義遠「やまぶち よしとお」- Father (Chief Vassal)
Maeda Clan
前田 利家「まえだ としいえ」(childhood name: 犬千代「いぬちよ」) - Military commander
Saito Clan
斎藤 義龍「さいとう よしさつ」(also: 高政「たかまさ」) - Military commander
– 孫四郎「まごしろう」- Brother
– 喜平次「きへいじ」- Brother
– 斎藤 道三「さいとう どうさん」- Father
Akechi Clan
明智 光秀「あけち みつひで」(common name: 十兵衛「じゅうべい」) - Military Commander
明智 光安「あけち みつやす」- Military Commander and adoptive father of Jyubei
– 明智 秀満「あけち ひでみつ」- Son, and retainer to Jyubei
Imagawa Clan
今川 義元「いまがわ よしもと」- Daimyo
Takeda Clan
武田 信玄「たけだ しんげん」- Daimyo
Asakura Clan
朝倉 義景「あさくら よしかげ」- Daimyo
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(Almost) double posting, but I started the fourth chapter of 闇祓 and the stories do seem to be connected after all!
In chapter 2, the child of MC goes to an elementary school that appears again in chapter 4. It’s the setting for this chapter. In chapter 4 there‘s a new 転校生 with the same last name (神原) as ジンさん from chapter 3. And in chapter 3 ジンさん‘s wife (the mother of the 転校生 in chapter 4?) dies because she fell from one of the top floors. In chapter 2 there‘s a mysterious suicide, someone fell from the building. Maybe that was ジンさん‘s wife? (According to chapter 2 lore, she fell because she was haunted / went crazy from living in that building / community).
If the mom of the 転校生 from chapter 4 ends up dying, I’m convinced that it’s the same person from chapter 3 and 2.
Now we only need to somehow tie chapter 1 into this…
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Figured today I wouldn’t be able to focus reading books so I read manga instead. Still listened to the audiobook of 夜は短し歩けよ乙女 but only what I’ve read already.
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シャドーハウス Volume 5 (45% ➨ 54%)
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February 18th
Card Captor Sakura volume 10 – progress report
Yesterday: Began reading volume 10, read up to page 16.
Today: Continued up to page 103, finished chapters 39 and 40.
Kudos to both Sakura and Yukito who handled the confession and rejection very nicely even though Sakura didn’t quite agree with Yukito’s comparison that her love towards him was just like the love towards her father.
Can I also give Yukito another heap of praise for rejecting a person much younger than himself in midst of all the (in my opinion) messed up relationship dynamics between minors and adults we’ve had so far? Good job, Yukito, good job! From the little bit I remember, the platonic relationship between Yukito and Sakura becomes purely wholesome from that point on which I liked quite a bit.
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Word or expression of the day:
寿命 - (じゅみょう) - life span
Honourable mention(s):
照れ屋 - (てれや) - shy, a very shy person
22 Likes