In todayโs story we go on a quest to find a treasure in the east tower of some castle. Lotโs of puzzles in there to get to the treasure. And of course thereโs a dragon.
We see them fight the dragon in this next story. Itโs structured like a turn-based battle, which is quite cute.
(@DrDru, at one point the health points of the dragon seem to be wrong, and also the magic user uses ice to nullify an attack which is supposed to be fire, but has the icon for claw attack)
Finished volume 2 of steel ball run. It was a good volume to take a break from since it ends with the first stage finish.
Just did the one sub chapter of Re:Zero since I am getting ready to be busy for the next week or so. Probably wonโt get much reading time starting in 2 days. But ใใใใใชใใ
Finally managed to surmount that lure-making chapter I mentioned that basically killed my motivation to read from the very beginning with its lengthy instructions and katakana spam, but I managed to hang in there a little bit at least.
Word of the Day: ๅไบฌ้ - padlock. The ๅไบฌ prefix struck me as very weird but apparently it was appended to a number of foreign or strange items during the Edo period!
and with chapter five thatโs the second volume of ่ฒๅธซ completed!! this chapter was a heavy one, ngl, but well worth the read. probably the easiest to read but most complex in terms of themes in this volume i think. definitely getting easier as i read more of it, even if the ๅพๆธ continues to be so, so difficult to parse (think i got there in the end). again the author included little notes about each chapter including this story (ใตใซใ) which was part of the inspiration for chapter one.
words that stuck out: ๅคงๅบ (ใใใ ใช, large shop. fun reading!)
cute drawing of some of the characters from each chapter from the ๅพๆธ
Perhaps I should get a reading comprehension workbook later, like So-matome. That would probably be better for reading speed and comprehension. (In particular, email and notice quick reads.)
This night, there is a party with loud noise for like 4 hours, so I would take a rest here.
ใฏใใใ็ดฐ่ Black Vol.3 Ch.11 (start volume)
There are 7 chapters in this volume for some reasons. Also, interesting scenarios as always.
Interesting words
ใใใใ = almost all. Kanji form is ็ฒๆน.
ใใชใผใ = polyp. Somehow the sound is prolonged.
ใตใใใฏใ = calf. A Kanji form is ่นใ่, where the latter Kanji is also read ่ = shin; lower leg. I have also seen an alternate Kanji = ่.
ๅใๅฃฒใ = echoing oneโs words. Sounds like accepting and selling in the same condition.
็ฃไฟฎ = editorial supervision
ๆต็จ = appropriation; misappropriation
ๆพๅ = exploitation / squeezing dry
ๅฏ้ = crowding together
ๆ ผๆฎต = dramatic; rapid; marked (changes)
ไบบ้ฃใ = cannibalism
ๅ็ = acute and serious; hyperacute. It would be easier for me if written in an alternative form = ๆฟ็. (While the former is preferred.)
ๆชๆง = malignant. Benign is ่ฏๆง.
้่ตท = protuberance; protrusion. First Kanji is in Level 39 (prosperity), but also has a meaning of protruding.
ๅขๆใ = assembling in full force
็พๅ = hundred million million = 100 x 1012 = 100 x (104)3 = 100 x (106)2
ๅ is one million million = trillion. Usually, this Kanji is about omen (ๅ ใ).
ๅบๅๅ ไธ = pointed carving knife (a kind of Japanese kitchen knives). For fish and meat.
้ก็ฒ refers to granules, and first Kanji takes reading from ๆๅฎ.
ๆ่ก็ = sepsis. Blood has suffered losing.
้้ชจไธ = subclavian. ้้ชจ is clavicle, and first Kanji is for chain (้).
็ต่ ธ = colon
Parts of ๅคง่ ธ are ็ฒ่ ธ, ย ย ็ต่ ธ and ็ด่ ธ.
ๅไบๆ่ ธ = duodenum. 12-inch bowel (Finger? Probably according to some western King. We call that an inch in Thai too.)
Parts of ๅฐ่ ธ are ๅไบๆ่ ธ, ย ย ็ฉบ่ ธ, ย ย ๅ่ ธ.
็ตจๆฏ = villus. First Kanji from ็ตจๆฏฏ = carpet.
่ก็ณๅค = blood glucose level. Straightforward when thinking about Kanji.
็ณๅ = sugar content
Kanji
้กใใ ใ
granule
ใซ
้ก็ฒ
้ก็ฒ็, ย ย ้ก็ฒๅฑค
ๅ ใใ (Level 37)
ๅ ใ, ย ย ๅ ใ
million million; trillion
ๅ
้ใ (Level 39)
protruding
้่ตท (in Wanikani)
้้ผป่ก
ๆพใ (Level 56)
ใตใฏ
ๆพๅ, ย ย ๆพไนณ, ย ย ๆพๆฒน
ๅงๆพ
ๆพใ
ๆพใๅใ
ไนณๆพใ
Thatโs Nanjing / Nanking of China, where I remembered most from Nanjing Incident (about Japan-to-China in World War II). I read that this word in Japanese can also be referred to as Chinese in general.
January 19th
ๆฐๆธๅคช้ฃ่จ progress: 02.74% // Volume I: 31.76%
I like how the chapter titles are pretty vague in this book. Currently reading The Three Kingdoms (in English) as bedtime reading and the chapters in that are the complete opposite. The chapter will end like - General Guy is suddenly ambushed by the enemy, he turns to flee but the enemy has set up behind him and begins to close in. Read on to the next chapter to find out what happensโฆ
โ turn the page โ
and youโre met with the chapter title of: General Guy is captured and executed.
Family
ๆจไธๅผฅๅณ่ก้ใใใฎใใ ใใใใใ- Father
็ญ้ฟๅผฅใใกใใใฟใใผ Step-father
ๅคงๆฟๆใใใใพใใฉใใใ// also ใๅฅๅ ใใใชใใใผ Mother
ใใคใฟ - Older sister
ๅฐ็ซนใใใกใใ- Baby brother
ๅ ่คๆธ ๆญฃใใใจใ ใใใพใใ// also ๅผพๆญฃใใ ใใใใใ- Ojisan (only distantly related (before marriage))
โ Married to: ใใใค (sister of ใๅฅๅ )
Friends & Acquaintances
ไป็ใใซใใใ- Big kid friend
ๆผ็ฆใใใตใใ(Nickname - full name: ็ฆๅคช้ใใตใใใใ) // ๆฅๆฏ็ฆใใใใใใตใใ(Chinese name/birth name) - Timid kid friend (older than Hideyoshi)
โ ไบ้ๅคงๅคซ ใใใ ใ ใใใ// ็ฅฅ็ใใใใใใใ(Chinese name) - Father
โ ๆขจ็ดใใใใใ- Mother
ๆจๆฌก้ใใใฆใใใใ- Previous servant to ไบ้, later the adoptive father of ๆผ็ฆ, and owner of a tea ware shop - and employer of, and master to, Hideyoshi
Others
็น็ฐไฟก็งใใใ ใฎใถใฒใงใ- Daimyo
โ ็น็ฐไธไธ้ใใใ ใใใถใใใ- Younger brother
ไปๅท็พฉๅ ใใใพใใ ใใใใจใ- Daimyo
ๆฏๆณข็พฉ็ตฑใใใฐ ใใใใญใ- Daimyo (head of the Shiba clan) at Kiyosu castle
ๆธก่พบๅคฉ่ตใใใใชใน ใฆใใใใ- Nobushi
้ฟๅไปฒ้บปๅใใใน ใฎ ใชใใพใใใผ Japanese scholar & poet (around 700AD)
็ฝๆฅฝๅคฉใใฏใ ใใใใใผ Late 700s Chinese poet (Bai Juyi / Bo Juyi) also known as: ็ฝๆฅฝๅคฉใใฏใ ใใใฆใใin Japan.
้ๅ ใใฉใใใใ(or ้ๅ ็ฆ ๅธซใใฉใใใ ใใใใใผ Japanese Buddhist Priest, writer & poet (Early to mid 1200s) (also known as ๆ ่ฅฟ็ฆ ๅธซใใใใใ ใใใใ)
็ฉบๆตทใใใใใใใผ The one and only Kukai or Kobo Daishi - a Buddhist monk. Posthumously given the title of: ๅผๆณๅคงๅธซใใใใผใ ใ ใใใborn as: ไฝไผฏ ็้ญใใใใ ใฎ ใพใใ(late 700s to early 800s)
ๆบ้ ผๆฟใใฟใชใใจ ใฎ ใใใพใใใผ Prominent poet and warrior (1100s)
Card Captor Sakura volume 7 โ progress report Yesterday: Continued up to page 189, finished chapter 26 and volume 6. Began reading volume 7, read up to page 20. Today: Continued up to page 38.
Prepare for trouble, make it double triple: Eriol and his โcompanionโ have entered the scene as he and Akazuki(?) (keep forgetting her name) have been introduced as the new primary school and high school exchange students. I assume Spinel will make an appearance in this chapter as well.
โโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโโ Word or expression of the day:
ใคใใ - (็ฉใใ) - intention, plan; conviction, belief
Honourable mention(s):
ๆฉใ - (ใชใใ) - to be worried, to be troubled
Day 18
Continued reading Bakemonogatari vol.3 Mayoi is actually a ghost in that case Araragi do whatever you want with Mayoi, you arenโt breaking any laws. But it somehow doesnโt make any sense how can you actually be bitten by a ghost? Itโs probably explained in the books.
Hmm I may run out of manga to read soon, but I still have lots of magazines, books, video games and visual novels to read. No chance I will run out of things to read in the near future.
Finished the epilogue, now just the short stories left
After thinking about ใใใใฎๅนธใใช็ตๅฉ, I want to read something with romance in it. Something dokidoki that makes you squeal and blush, you know? (uwu)
Will tonight be the night I finally sit down and read until I tire? I read up until the point work might get problematic, but I wasnโt exactly starting with a lot of time anyway (15-20min before pumpkin time?). Things are about to get more gory too. I feel like the level of violence and gore that was in Shonen Jump is pretty whack, but it doesnโt seem to influence Japanese kids too much.
Today I finished chapter 48 of Shadows House, and then read chapter 3 of Monthly Girlsโ Nozaki-kun., but I should be able to get back on track tomorrow.
Did some reading on my flight but also slept quite a bit. Now have a couple of lazy days in Bangkok. Will try to catch up a bit more. And continue with Age 22.
19/1 8 pages ใทใฃใใผใใฆใน (finished chapter 57), 18 pages Spy Family (short missions 1+2), 4 pages ใใฐใกใใใใกใฎใใใจใใ(finished story 11).
After struggling a lot yesterday and then trying to start reading today and still struggling, I decided my brain had earned a day off from trying hard. Instead of stressing out about stuff, i just watched ่ๆฌก้ใฎๅค, which had been on my list forever because ไน ็ณ่ญฒ (joe hisaishi) did the score.
spoilery thoughts
I went into it pretty blind other than knowing who did the score, and I donโt have a ton of exposure to japanese cinema, so I donโt have a super good base to judge from. Overall, I really liked it. It was a bit clumsy at times (and some of the comedy was probably pretty crude, even for 1999), but I think that was probably intentional? These characters have real, serious problems, most of which arenโt solvable at an individual level, and the movie doesnโt try to give in to easy answers or empty platitudes to face them. All it tries to do is show that even in the face of a brutally cruel and lonely world, we can still find some temporary reprieve in kindness (even if that kindness is sometimes a bit bumbling). There was some cool camera work, the score was (obviously) phenomenal, and it made me feel good.
Read:
ใใชใใค 87 - I realized that these last few chapters have been dealing with trying to get one of the characters to stop using ๆฌ่ช, so maybe thatโs why theyโve felt hard. Talking about personal distance and kind of indirectly about relationships and friendship and stuff. Iโll just go with that
I donโt think this contains any spoilers but i will spoiler it just in case, i donโt know how the structure of the novels/manga differ from the structure of the show:
Even in the series up to that point, youโve already seen how apparitions can definitely interact physically with people and with the world. They may be โghostsโ but they definitely arenโt just floating around aimlessly separated from the physical. I think thereโs a distinction between ๅใ็ฉ and ไบก้/ๅนฝ้? this hinative post seems to indicate thereโs a real difference there and that they arenโt quite synonyms. This distinction also tracks with how iโve seen it used generally, and how the show (iโve only watched the show up to the end of 2nd season + kizu, books too hard for me atm) treats this class of beings.
Here we encounter again words in katakana that have kanji equivalents like ใคใฎ (goat), ใชใชใซใ (wolf) and ใฑใฌ (injury). Thanks to @enbyboiwonder for the explanation. I guess Iโll just have to make do with accepting these as they are even with no valid reason
Words of note:
็ฉใใ [ใพใถใใ] uncomfortably bright, dazzling or radiant used in the context of when light is shining in your eyes and itโs way too bright that you need to shield your eyes from it
Read some more ใใใญใณใชใณใปใญใใฏใใใข! I think Iโm settling into it better, I read almost 30 pages which feels a bit more normal haha. But yes I finished off the first mystery; thatโs another thing thatโs a bit of a change, I havenโt read anything prose thatโs episodic like that, kinda nice for feeling progress! It continues to be fun, the mystery shenanigans are interesting, and the character voices are a good time, all on brand for me really
I did also go on an adventure looking at a bunch of the novels I have to see if there were any that I could just pick up and read without lookups for reading on campus and such, and while I probably could in theory, the conclusion I came to is that there are none that interest me enough that I could read to a standard Iโm happy with without looking things up sometimes. This isnโt shocking, my tolerance for not fully understanding something I really enjoy is much lower than my tolerance for lookups so I will continue as I am! Iโll get there one day
Finished chapter 1 of Re:Zero 16. It isnโt BEYOND my level of comprehension but it is quite the workout. I am happy to be reading through it and hope the gains from this experience will pay off, but I am right on that edge of struggle and enjoyment. x_x
I am almost finished with Japanese short stories for beginners 1 (only because I have re-read a few of the stories a few times and I also plan to go through it again sometime) but I just purchased 3 more graded readers on Amazon to be delivered tomorrow and I am hella excited. Part 2 of this one, Japanese Stories for language learners (green cover) and Japanese folktales. Will see how it goes.
The Tanuki Kotatsu Reading Den 
๏ผๆ๏ผ๏ผๆฅ 
so I will continue as I am! Iโll get there one day 