My Sweetie Is Japanese
Explores everyday Japanese culture as seen through the eyes of a foreigner married to a Japanese woman. (This series is an homage to the wonderful manga ダーリンは外国人, My Darling is a Foreigner.)
The narrator introduces his wife, a modern and cosmopolitan woman who is also very particular about certain traditional foods.
Notes: This article is written in an upbeat and polite style that feels like Japanese you might hear in a public speaking situation (for example, a TED talk). It features polite verbs and straightforward, well-formed sentences. Direct quotations of story characters reflect more casual speech.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers |  |
| Standard | Unread | 8666 |
Japanese families can be quite self-deprecating, which can sometimes lead to awkward moments.
Notes: Featuring well-formed sentences and straightforward grammar, this article contains useful vocabulary relating family life and marriage.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 4560 |
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The narrator is caught off-balance by his mother-in-law's comment, leading to an uneasy moment.
Notes: This article contains excellent vocabulary and expressions, such as "lines (that an actor might deliver)" and "making a (funny, angry, happy, etc) face."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 2107 |
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Getting to know your spouse's parents can always be a little nerve-wracking. But are you ready for some one-on-one naked time with your new father-in-law?
Notes: This article contains straightforward grammar plus a few useful cultural tidbits.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1521 |
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The narrator heads to the onsen with his wife's father.
Notes: This article contains lots of useful vocabulary, such as the words for imitating someone, soaking in a tub, and heading somewhere.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1291 |
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The narrator enjoys a quiet moment and reflects on his journey into Japanese culture.
Notes: This article should be mostly straightforward, but the last paragraph, with its reflection on lessons learned, might be slightly more challenging.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1152 |
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Our narrator discovers that while Japan is in some respects very modern, in other ways it can still be quite traditional.
Notes: This episode contains lots of useful vocabulary and grammar notes, such as ones about the word hazu, the pattern for "assisting" someone with a task, and a common way of saying you are confident in your abilities.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1176 |
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The narrator experiences the eye-popping volume of food that is a traditional Japanese breakfast.
Notes: This article contains lots of good vocabulary, including a breakdown of two similarly-named dish types, as well as a discussion of the gurai that means "just about only."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 1049 |
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The narrator is simultaneously nervous and excited about meeting the gang from his wife's former office.
Notes: This episode contains two extensive notes, one about different words that refer to polite language, and one about the "storytelling present."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 723 |
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The narrator learns an important lesson about speaking as peers for the evening.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the word sasuga, as well as a long breakdown of bureikou and some tips for partaking responsibly.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 635 |
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The narrator considers the reluctance of Japanese people to use English.
Notes: This episode contains notes on the use of wa after an amount, plus a breakdown of a very challenging sentence.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 682 |
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The narrator relates an experience that sheds light on his question.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the word sore-zore, plus a breakdown of a long sentence with two special uses of wa.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 566 |
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The narrator lays out his answer to the original question.
Notes: This episode contains a note that analyzes the essay to determine what the author's main point is.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 534 |
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The narrator marvels over food quality at various establishments.
Notes: This episode demonstrates a useful suffix that means "freshly-; just- (made, etc)."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 539 |
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The narrator arrives at an ideas about why Japanese restaurants are so good.
Notes: This episode contains a note that breaks down a long sentence, as well as one that takes up the pattern sono X, sono X and a derivative of it.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 479 |
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The narrator gets a lesson on an important part of the New Year's holiday.
Notes: This episode contains lots of interesting cultural notes.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 457 |
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The narrator grapples with what to think of this custom, but putting himself in the place of the kids helps him to come to terms with it.
Notes: This episode contains a great example of the word mon/mono being used in a special sense.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 427 |
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The narrator describes a surprise he experienced on his birthday.
Notes: This episode contains notes on an expression that means "to nearly (do something)" and a use of the word tonikaku for emphasis.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 498 |
The end of the year is not just a time for holidays, as narrator discovers.
Notes: This episode contains an expression that means "to involve an innocent bystander in a (usually tragic) event," and two long notes that look at sentences with omitted components.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 469 |
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The narrator relates the consequences of differing cultural expectations related to hosting and hospitality.
Notes: This episode contains several less-common vocabulary words, such as one that means "to entertain guests with food and drink" and another that means "to prepare food in advance."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 512 |
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The narrator and his wife meet in the middle.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the interesting expression nan nara, a way of avoiding being too direct.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 405 |
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The narrator strikes a nerve in his wife and learns a new expression.
Notes: This episode easily contains more references to poop than all other episodes across all other series combined.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 513 |
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The narrator dives more deeply into the topic by asking a friend for his take.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the word sasuga, as well as interesting vocabulary, as always.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 374 |
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Everyone knows that service in Japan is amazing...as long as you stay within the lines.
Notes: This episode contains two breakdowns of sentences that demonstrate "special effect" usages of wa.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 420 |
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The narrator wonders why the restaurant can't make a simple change...and gets a reasonable explanation from his wife.
Notes: This episode contains a very challenging sentence, accompanied by a detailed breakdown.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 363 |
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The narrator relates an experience at a restaurant near his hotel.
Notes: This episode contains a note on the use of the (volitional) to suru pattern and a discussion about differing definitions of "good customer service."
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 340 |
Pro
The narrator muses over his wife's oddly frequent trips to the store.
Notes: This episode contains notes on the word matomete, two instances of the -te oku pattern, and more.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 459 |
Pro
The narrator unwittingly proves his wife's point.
Notes: This episode contains fun vocabulary and some interesting cultural notes.
| Editions | Status | Total Readers | |
| Standard | Unread | 345 |