learn

Learn Japanese with trial of Oshio Manobu

Ok. This is in very bad taste. But, I am hoping to improve my listening abilities by following the lurid trial of Oshio Manobu, an attractive if arrogant actor accused of providing ecstacy to a Ginza hostess and then abandoning her when she had a heart attack.

This story has many important angles: the first famous “lay judge” or jury trial since it was recently introduced in Japan, a story about drug panic in Japan (love the visual at the beginning where hundreds of pills are flying across the screen), its location in a super expensive Roppongi apartment possibly owned by the Peaches John bra shop’s female owner, and so on. Here’s yesterday’s summary in English.

Verdict is on Friday!

What makes the story mesmerizing for me, and probably for many Japanese female viewers, is the combination of Oshio’s bad character and his many hot looks. Is it wrong to think sexual thoughts of a bad person? Can you learn Japanese while feeling conflicted? (I have posted twice previously last December and August).

What do you think?!

Google Translate is horrible!

Mount Fuji, Hiroshige

My father-in-law and some friends climbed Mount Fuji last night. Recently a few hikers have died, and I heard the weather last night was poor. Fortunately, Docomo allows constant contact. Unfortunately, I used Google Translate to interpret my mother-in-law’s text message. Google Translate is incredibly BAD.

I have caused you worry. It arrived safely to the summit of Mount Fuji now. I’m fine with everyone safe. M**K* only start in the rain, climbed last year, this year, left the car and stop it. I’ll bet I can run in the car. When the rain started just after the long-GO来光in the clouds, so you could not see shit! To prepare future, they are likely to go down a mountain. Please be assured. Also Contact. Worry a lot, thank you. Everyone頑張RIMASHITA good! Thank you, mother –

Maybe Google Translate just wants to encourage me to learn Japanese faster and rely less on their service?