Fujiki Consulting Services
Keiichi Fujiki has an uncanny knack for seeing hidden connections, a talent he employs assisting the people who visit his mountainside shop seeking advice. But behind his ordinary appearance lies a secret identity that no other human has ever known -- until now.
Calling on a rich cast of characters from the Japanese mythological world -- gods and gremlins, shapeshifters and spirits -- this story is told in a series of chapters that each revolve around a central case that Fujiki helps solve.
If you're interested in reading stories or watching anime that take place in this world, this story provides excellent exposure to the type of cultural background and vocabulary you'll need. We've worked to tell the story in an accessible way, but the fantasy subject matter might make this series feel more challenging in places. (Readers who find this story too challenging are encouraged to start with Kiki-Mimi Radio, Kona's Big Adventure, and Oku-Nikkou and work up to this one.)
(Chapter 1: Introduction. 41 episodes)
Episode 1
A bounce in her step, Sayaka takes in the crisp air.
Notes: This episode contains notes on what might be new uses of familiar words like koko and maru de.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers |  |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 7012 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 1201 |
Episode 2
Sayaka continues to seek her destination.
Notes: This episode contains notes on combining numbers together to create short ranges, plus a cultural note about entering and leaving shrines and temples.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 2720 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 468 |
Pro
Episode 3
Sayaka hopes for a speedy resolution to a problem.
Notes: This episode contains notes on a pattern used when praying or hoping, a word that refers to the dignified sitting a statue does, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 1674 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 319 |
Pro
Episode 4
Sayaka recalls the events that led her to this temple.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the difference between two different characters used to write the word sagasu, plus one that explains a word that shrines and temples use to describe their specialties.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 1184 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 252 |
Pro
Episode 5
Sayaka happens upon an intriguing shop.
Notes: This episode contains several interesting vocabulary words and a cultural note about the cloth banners that hang in front of businesses.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 1055 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 238 |
Pro
Episode 6
The shopkeeper and Sayaka meet.
Notes: This episode contains several notes on words that might have unexpected meanings, such as saabisu and hyouban.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 1002 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 214 |
Pro
Episode 7
Fujiki gets to know Sayaka.
Notes: This episode contains notes explaining two different uses of the common word tokoro.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 941 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 205 |
Pro
Episode 8
Sayaka explains her problem.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the verb hasamu as well as one on the pattern to itte mo.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 893 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 193 |
Pro
Episode 9
Fujiki continues to gather information from Sayaka.
Notes: This episode contains a review of two related polite patterns, plus a note on a word that means "the area between the eyebrows" that is more useful than you might expect.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 879 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 190 |
Pro
Episode 10
The narrator explains Fujiki's background.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a special use of the verb "to work," one on a verb that means "to confuse; to mix up (two things)," and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 862 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 194 |
Pro
Episode 11
Fujiki's biography continues.
Notes: This episode contains extended notes explaining how the verb for "change" can mean "unusual" and how to understand a common sentence pattern with a missing ending.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 800 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 190 |
Pro
Episode 12
One of Mike's friends tells her something important.
Notes: This episode contains extended notes explaining several interesting patterns and expressions.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 773 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 186 |
Pro
Episode 13
Mike feels a strange sensation come over her.
Notes: This episode contains several interesting speech patterns, as well as notes that break them down.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 749 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 184 |
Pro
Episode 14
The man in the park responds to the mysterious woman.
Notes: This episode is full of interesting vocabulary and expressions, along with notes to explain them.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 731 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 182 |
Pro
Episode 15
The man's conversation with the woman takes an unexpected turn.
Notes: This episode is replete with notes that look at the suffix -komu, a mimetic word that means "quickly, silently, and without resistance," a casual way to create an imperative, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 729 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 186 |
Pro
Episode 16
The man finds himself in a nightmarish confrontation.
Notes: This episode contains notes on a simple way to say "no matter how much (verb happens)," another on the meaning of "making your eyes shine," and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 683 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 175 |
Pro
Episode 17
The woman from earlier appears again with some additional words for the man.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a word that means "to hold nearby," one on a tricky passive expression, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 665 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 171 |
Pro
Episode 18
As the woman promised, the man finds himself safely at home. Mike takes stock.
Notes: This episode contains a long discussion of an expression that means "to take revenge."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 660 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 165 |
Pro
Episode 19
Mike makes a new acquaintance.
Notes: This episode looks at a pattern for using mieru with a verb that describes a change in appearance to say that something appears a certain way.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 647 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 165 |
Pro
Episode 20
Shiro and Mike reach their destination, and Mike meets someone new.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a word that means "shatter" or "split," one on a dialect version of the musing na, one on the difference for two words that refer to Buddhist monks, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 630 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 159 |
Pro
Episode 21
Mike listens as the head monk explains her situation.
Notes: This episode contains notes on a dialect equivalent of iru, an expression that means "just because X, it doesn't mean that Y," and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 613 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 164 |
Pro
Episode 22
The head monk explains more about this world to a wide-eyed Mike.
Notes: This episode contains several notes about expressions the monk uses that differ slightly from modern Japanese, but which you might hear in period dramas or anime.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 606 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 152 |
Pro
Episode 23
The narrator returns to Sayaka and Fujiki.
Notes: This episode contains a note about a different use of the familiar word mamonaku, one on an expression that means "I'm beat!" and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 585 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 148 |
Pro
Episode 24
A newly energized Sayaka searches for Mike.
Notes: This episode contains notes on several interesting vocabulary words.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 595 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 142 |
Pro
Episode 25
At the edge of the pond, Sayaka looks for clues.
Notes: This episode contains a note comparing three different words that mean "shore; bank; water's edge," as well as one that reviews the ni that means "in addition to."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 572 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 140 |
Pro
Episode 26
Sayaka feels stuck in her search for Mike.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the familiar word giri-giri, another on a difference between two words that mean "to point," and one that means "to push one's way through."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 558 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 134 |
Pro
Episode 27
Sayaka searches the area the boy pointed out.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the useful expression (phrase) ue ni, plus another that breaks down a phrase that means "without even (verbing)."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 562 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 136 |
Pro
Episode 28
The mystery woman scolds the boy as a baffled Sayaka watches.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the word fuzakeru as well as one on a secondary use of the -te oku pattern.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 557 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 134 |
Pro
Episode 29
At long last, Sayaka finds her beloved Mike.
Notes: This episode contains a breakdown of a word that means "to have mercy," as well as a look at a pattern we've seen several times over the past few episodes that means "to only (verb)."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 540 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 131 |
Pro
Episode 30
The gang returns to the temple.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a pattern that means "only having (verb'd)," and another on a verb that means "to stop someone from proceeding."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 544 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 125 |
Pro
Episode 31
As Sayaka recovers from her watery fall, Fujiki considers how to let her in on what is happening.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a word that means "the end (of a street, hallway, etc.)", as well as a cultural note on room sizes.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 536 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 132 |
Pro
Episode 32
The head monk speaks to the boy.
Notes: This episode includes a note on how the name of a character is also a word to describe a mean-spirited person.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 532 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 130 |
Pro
Episode 33
Sayaka struggles to digest what she is seeing and hearing.
Notes: This episode contains a note on a useful expression that means "allowable range; tolerances," another on the word mohaya, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 523 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 126 |
Pro
Episode 34
Fujiki explains the world Sayaka has glimpsed.
Notes: This episode contains a note explaining a series of sentences that capture the kind of self-interruptions that people sometimes make when they are explaining something.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 531 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 123 |
Pro
Episode 35
Fujiki continues bringing Sayaka up to speed.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the "full form" of the to that means "and," a note on a word that means "friendly/amiable," and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 504 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 121 |
Pro
Episode 36
Fujiki explains one of the consequences of Mike's new situation.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the exclamation Sonna!, one on an expression that means "when it comes to..." and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 197 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 400 |
Pro
Episode 37
Mike shares her own thoughts on her next steps as the head monk reveals another surprise.
Notes: This touching episode also contains an interesting note about a special class of compound words made from ancient Japanese roots.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 526 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 89 |
Pro
Episode 38
The head monk lets Sayaka in on the meaning behind the temple's name.
Notes: This episode contains several notes on the head monk's dialect, plus one on how to talk about reading kanji a given way.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 506 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 92 |
Pro
Episode 39
Fujiki addresses the sensitive nature of what Sayaka has seen.
Notes: This episode contains notes on two useful expressions.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 492 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 90 |
Pro
Episode 40
Fujiki and the monk think about what to do as a perplexed Sayaka looks on.
Notes: This episode contains a note on an expression that indicates bewilderment over the meaning or purpose of something, and another one a word that means someone's manner or bearing.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 489 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 96 |
Pro
Episode 41
Sayaka settles into her new routine as a new client appears.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the word sekkaku, one on the word gurai, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| With Sound Effects | Unread | 484 | |
| Voice Only | Unread | 97 |