iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

Watched the first episode of the new 薬屋(くすりや)のひとりごと kusuriya no hitorigoto season. Looks promising!

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Some of my fall decoration. I have so much fall decoration. Gotta start uh decorating :D

traditonal Japanese fall decoration. in the background, there is a tiny byoubu folding screen with Japanese maple leaves on golden background, and in the front a little well in the style of the ones you can find in front of shrines. There's also a small maple trea made of felt, and in front of the well, there are some colourful red, yellow and green leaves.

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

There are several ways in Japanese that do not indicate a specific gender. あの人 ano hito that person or the more polite version あの方 ano kata (or この kono and その sono depending on the situation). あいつ aitsu こいつ koitsu そいつ soitsu are kind of rude, but don't specify gender either.

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Sample pages of my book Reading Japanese for Beginners

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

One of the biggest problems people have when studying Japanese is to retain vocabulary and kanji. Heads up - forgetting vocabulary and kanji is an everyday occurence - it happens to the best of us (even to me). But that's not only a bad thing. It encourages you to take a closer look at what you

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

It's afternoon here in Japan. Peak time for doing office work and checking homework from my students (they get a video where I explain possible mistakes and how to improve their written Japanese). And kitty is always next to me. #japaneseteacher #japanesewithmanu #catsofinstagram #coworkingcat

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Here's the video explaining the words/kanji for fingers in Japanese Which ones did you know? I personally love kusuri-yubi (because I also love the anime kusuriya no hitorigoto - The Apothecary Diaries) #japaneselanguage #japaneselesson #kanji #japanesewithmanu #handsaredifficult

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Just drew a hand during art class! (Hands are hard!) thumb 親指 oya-yubi index finger 人差し指 hito-sashi-yubi middle finger 中指 naka-yubi ring finger 薬指 kusuri-yubi small finger 小指 ko-yubi Will also post a video explaining the kanji :) #japaneselanguage #japaneselesson #kanji #drawing #hand

the back of a right hand where the thumb is slightly stretched and the other 4 fingers are close together

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Digital Brain @yourdigitalbrain.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This tiny fix solves a problem you never realized you had, and once you see it, it makes perfect sense.

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 24/09/2026

All the places I have seen 彼岸花 higanbana

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This flower is called 彼岸花(ひがんばな) higan-bana, red spider lily It's blooming just around お彼岸 o-higan, a Buddhist custom to show appreciation for your ancestors. You might have seen it in anime, for example, Kimetsu No Yaiba, Demonslayer. Ohigan is one of the topics of my latest podcast episodes⬇️

Several bright red spider lilies with their spindly stamens

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

New podcast episode Silver Week is a rare occurance and refers to a period of 5 consecutive holidays. It started this Saturday and goes until September 23rd. In this episode, I talk about every single day, its origin and important vocabulary (including kanji) If you want the notes of this episode

Manu-sensei with several symbols referring to the Autumnal equinox day, the Respect of the Aged day and Ohigan, a buddhist period thanking your ancestors

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Every second day, I go to the gym. Like today. The coaches do heart rate check-ins. Depending on your heart rate and your age, you answer with a certain colour. For example, yellow. 黄(き)色(いろ)い - ki-iroi. But today, I ended up saying: 綺麗(きれい) kirei (beautiful) instead. I apologized profusely.

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Traditional garments for kids, but with a modern touch 😁

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Need some relaxing nature? This is what Japanese inaka 田舎 countryside looks and sounds like. Follow me for Japanese language lessons and Japanese culture #japaneselanguage #japaneselesson #japanesesummer #japan

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

We recently had heavy rain, resulting in flooding here in Fukui. Thankfully, things are back to normal now. 大雨(おおあめ) oo-ame kanji for big and rain - both are the Japanese pronunciation 洪水(こうずい) kou-zui kanji for flood and water, both are the Chinese pronunciation

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Fall and Halloween preparations are on us in Japan! Gonna prepare a podcast episode on Fall in Japan and Fall vocabulary.

秋の味覚
Aki no mikaku
Fall flavor

Fish/seafood that us especially eaten during Fall

All kinds of Halloween snacks in boxes on racks

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

One of my (German speaking) students took the JLPT N5 and passed it after taking my lessons for a little more than one year 🥳🥳🥳

A piece of paper saying Japanese Language Proficiency Test Results, July 2026

N5

Passed

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

みなさん、おやつみ (when you are kinda peckish, but it's sleeping time) Good night おやすみ plus Snack おやつ #pun #japaneselanguage

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

綺麗(きれい)ですね Kirei desu ne. Beautiful, isn't it? That's diamond dust, cold mist that will turn into snow crystals, for example, when it is exposed to small gusts of wind by blowing on it. They did all kinds of experiments at the museum!

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Ice and snow museum in Ishikawa prefecture. It was an interesting experience seeing water turn into ice in an instant or seeing snow crystals grow.

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Brought along some Austrian souvenirs. One of the most famous ones is definitely ザッハトルテ zahhatorute (Sachertorte). I got a very small version because the big one was a *bit* pricy (airport price was around 84 USD) Of course, I had to serve it with freshly whipped cream. ホイップクリーム (hoippu kuriimu)

A piece of Sacherwürfel on a blue plate with white dots and a dollop of whipped cream.

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Went to a nearby コメダ Komeda coffeehouse for a much needed sugary treat. They called it クロネージュ black snow (kuro = black and neeju comes from the French word for snow = neige, they love French becauseitsounds fancy) It's basically バームクーヘンbaumkuchen with ソフトクリームsoftcream. It hit the spot nicely.

A brown baumkuchen with softserve ice-cream and a glass cup of black tea with a lemon in the background

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 08/08/2026

I am currently back in my home country and participating at an anime/manga convention. I also offer some Japanese language workshops and sell my books. The nicest thing today was when someone who'd already ordered my book online brought it along to have it signed and have a personal message added 🥰

Me and of my students at the convention, holding two of my books. In the front, there's a a table with books and a small blackboard with workshop information

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

花火(はなび) fireworks - hanabi 花 flower - hana 火 fire - hi (here, it turns to bi due to hana) Fire that looks like a flower! Now tell me that kanji don't make sense 😎

Colorful fireworks on the night sky

There's also some light up in the garden below. Part of a house is visible.

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 30/07/2026

The price of my podcast provider has risen to nearly 400 %. I have 3 podcast channels there, meaning the rise is 300 dollars. The price change happens in 4 days, and even if I cancel, the fee I have already paid for my current subscription won't come back. Hopefully, I can find a better alternative.

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Also, I got all the important ingredients for cooking Japanese dishes XD Soy sauce 醤油(しょうゆ) shouyu Mirin (sweet rice wine for cooking) みりん mirin Japanese soup stock だし dashi Yesterday, I cooked teriyaki chicken (mine has lots of ginger), and people here were like, if I keep eating this kind of

Dashi pack, soy sauce, and mirin on a wooden table with a flowery table cloth)

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Demonslayer encounter during my holiday. Well, the "mini" version XD

A black bbq in its package saying "kamado mini"

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

When you have a cat and prepare for a trip. いつもこうなっちゃうんですよ！ It happens every time!

Cat in a suitcase, together with Tanabata decoration

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 12/07/2026

おはよう世界(せかい), ohayou sekai, good morning world! Today, I got up early for communal weeding! 市民一斉清掃(しみんいっせいせいそう) In around one hour the people of the local community (I think I saw around 40 peope) went around the streets and removed the weed. Everyone got 軍手(ぐんて) working gloves, a garbage bag, and

A pair of dirty cotton gloves after weeding

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Also, yesterday, I had a lesson with some of my advanced students. We did pronunciation exercises and I was kind of strict - but they enjoyed the lesson. I have to ask them today if they got tongue/mouth/belly 筋肉痛(きんにくつう) muscle pain XD The students from yesterday were in the European time zone,

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Currently writing study material for my current course. I needed some example sentences for というのは (explaining a concept or something else to someone who doesn't know the word) and I came up with this one: 味噌(みそ)ばあというのは、近所のよく知っている味噌が好きなおばあさんのことだね。 How much do you understand (without any help)?

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 11/07/2026

Started watching the anime Snowball Earth スノーボールアース and ofc I cried during the first episode 😭😅😆 I really seem to like the trope human befriends robot (or alien) Yukio is written in katakana, but the kanji version might be 雪男 snow-man. Tetsuo's kanji are 鉄男 iron-man. #anime #snowballearth #kanji

static.klipy.com

Snowball Earth Yukio

Alt: Snowball Earth Yukio and Tetsuo

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Are you interested in reading the Tanabata Star festival story with me in easy Japanese? Here's the final date: July 14, 9 am JST. Click the link to see it in your time zone Contact me at manu@japanesewithmanu.com if you want to join! www.worldtimebuddy.com/event?lid=18...

worldtimebuddy.com

Meeting Details - World Time Buddy

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

worldtimebuddy.com

Meeting Details - World Time Buddy

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Before covid, I used to do Japanese language workshops/lessons at anime conventions. The next one I will take part is back home in Austria. The Aninite will be held near Vienna in the middle of August (7-9). In case you are around, say hello! Do you have conventions you like going to?

me wearing a Assassination Classroom t-shirt while explaining Japanese characters on a screen

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

Last chance to tell me if you are interested!

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Some late night 紫陽花(あじさい) hydrangea pics

Pinkish hydrangea next to a lit up staircase

Purple hydrangea with Fukui skyline slightly visible

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

皆(みな)さん、お元気(げんき)ですか。 Soon, it's Tanabata in Japan - the starfestival. I'd love to a little reading lesson with you (for free). We'd read a short story that introduces you to the background of this traditional festival. First, we'd go through the necessary vocabulary and then we'd read the story.

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

It's already some time ago that I published my book "Reading Japanese for Beginners" Time to update it a little! I have gone through the book once more, with the help of some of my students. I added some more explanations/examples for even easier understanding. The next update adds downloadable

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 28/06/2026

A マンホール (manhooru) manhole in Fukui. Echizen (the old name of Fukui) crab 越前がに (echizen gani) is famous all over Japan.

A manhole with an outer green ring and a blue center featuring a crab and the kanji and hiragana of Fukui

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

先生は風邪をひいてしまいました。 Sensei wa kaze wo hiite shimaimashita. Sensei (I) unfortunately caught a cold. It's kind of strange, but not only kids refer to themselves in 3rd person, also teachers (for example tea ceremony teachers, also my old Japanese teacher) do that once in a while. It's about subtle

My tuxedo cat lying very comfortably on a white blanket

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

All over all, I have been living in Japan for around 8 years. I have been learning Japanese since 2004 and teaching Japanese since 2010. It hasn't always been easy, but choosing this path made me gain self-confidence, let me start a company with employees, and even brought me to a point where I

Manu-sensei is doing the Kamehameha pose

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Two years ago I published this book for advanced learners. It's the first installment of 48 short stories (4 for every month) I wrote together with this wonderful person next to me. This books includes the first 8 stories (January and February), including vocabulary lists, grammar explanations,

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

Watermelon is called 西瓜(すいか) sui-ka. The kanji are west (nishi, also the kanji for Spain) and melon (uri). But if you take a look at the hiragana, you might realize that they basically mean water (sui is the Chinese pronunciation of mizu 水 water) and the first kanji of fruit (果実ka-jitsu, the more

A half eaten watermelon on a white plate.

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Japanese with Manu @japanesewithmanu.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

It's getting hotter, so eating something cold is quite fitting. Have some 冷やっこ hiyayakko, cold tofu with condiments. I added 茗荷 myouga - Japanese ginger and 紫蘇 shiso - perilla I got the shiso from my garden! いただけます Itadakimasu #japaneselanguage #japanesefood

Tofu with cut perilla leaves and Japanese ginger, as well as soy sauce, on a white roundish shaped plate

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