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Monday, May 4, 2026
Latest:
  • Kakuritsuki (確率機 – Crane Game with Probability Control): Part 1
  • Tazan no Ishi (他山の石 – Drawing a Lesson)
  • Kōkai Saki ni Tatazu (後悔先に立たず – Repentance Comes too Late)
  • Jinsei Yama Ari Tani Ari (人生山あり谷あり – Life Has Its Ups and Downs)
  • Neko wa Kotatsu de Maruku Naru (猫はこたつで丸くなる – Cats Curl up under the Kotatsu)

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CultureEssayJapanese traditionKanjiUncorrected
Toru Jun 28, 2015Jan 08, 2024 ciphers, enigmatic texts, Japanese culture, kanji, symbols

Japanese Young Girls’ Enigmatic Text

In Japan, young girls tend to use enigmatic texts like actual ciphers by combining various symbols or kanji. Today, I’d Read More
EssayFoodHealthJapanese traditionUncorrected
Toru Jun 27, 2015Jan 08, 2024 calcium oxalate, calories, devil's tongue, diet food, food crisis, health, Japanese food, konjac, konnyaku imo, nutrition, poison, processing steps, unique texture

Konjac

Konjac that’s also called devil’s tongue is a Japanese food. It is made from konnyaku imo that contains a deadly Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyLanguageUncorrected
Toru Jun 26, 2015Jan 08, 2024 bathroom, borrow, geography, hands, inspect, loo, restroom, toilet, verb, washroom

Can I borrow the toilet?

When we want to use a bathroom, we often say “トイレを借りてもいいですか?(Can I borrow the toilet?)” However, the verb “borrow” implies Read More
DiaryEssayEtymologyGeographyHistoryUncorrected
Toru Jun 25, 2015Jan 08, 2024 10th century, Erik the Red, etymologies, Greenland, Iceland

Greenland and Iceland

Today, I learned about etymologies of Greenland and Iceland. Both of them were named by Erik the Red in the Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyJapanese traditionUncorrected
Toru Jun 24, 2015Jan 08, 2024 celebrity, rich man, sarcasm, TV show, well-known

Celebrity

In Japan, the word ‘celebrity(セレブ) ‘ is commonly used, but the meaning is slightly different. We often use the word Read More
CultureEssayEtymologyLanguageUncorrected
Toru Jun 23, 2015Jan 08, 2024 #, hash key, igeta, Japanese people, number key, pound, sharp, ♯

‘#’ is not ‘sharp’

Most Japanese people regard ‘#’ as sharp, and call sharp. However, actual sharp is ‘♯.’ In Japan, the official name Read More
EssayEtymologyHistoryScienceUncorrected
Toru Jun 22, 2015Jan 08, 2024 CIPM, definition, error, general theory of relativity, invariance, length unit, light speed, meter, prototype meter

Definition of Meter

Today, I learned about a length unit ‘meter.’ In the past, the meter was defined as one ten-millionth of the Read More
CultureDiaryEssayIdiomSlangUncorrected
Toru Jun 21, 2015Jan 08, 2024 jk (just kidding), joshi kousei, joushikitekini kangaete, phrase, slang

JK

Today, I learned a slang phrase ‘jk (just kidding).’ In Japan, jk is also used as slang, and it has Read More
CultureEssayIdiomJapanese traditionSlangUncorrected
Toru Jun 20, 2015Jan 08, 2024 examine your zipper, pretty damn quick, window of society is open, xyz, xyzpdq, your fly is open, 社会の窓が開いているよ

XYZPDQ

Today, I learned a slang ‘xyzpdq.’ This means “examine your zipper, pretty damn quick.” Xyz can also be paraphrased something Read More
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Recent Posts

  • Kakuritsuki (確率機 – Crane Game with Probability Control): Part 1
  • Tazan no Ishi (他山の石 – Drawing a Lesson)
  • Kōkai Saki ni Tatazu (後悔先に立たず – Repentance Comes too Late)
  • Jinsei Yama Ari Tani Ari (人生山あり谷あり – Life Has Its Ups and Downs)
  • Neko wa Kotatsu de Maruku Naru (猫はこたつで丸くなる – Cats Curl up under the Kotatsu)

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