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A Guide to Learning Japanese

Recently I’ve had a lot of people ask me questions on how I went about learning to speak Japanese. I’m always happy to help people so I thought I would write a small post on how I went about learning Japanese, and some recommendations I have for those who are just starting to learn, and those who want to take it a bit more seriously. 
You can also check out my ‘Life in Japan’ YouTube series for more info.

My Background


Like most people in the British school system I started by learning French. I then went on to learn Spanish for a short while, before I became interested in Japanese. I mention this as I think having a general interest and background in languages can be very beneficial when it comes to learning a new language. Of course you don’t need to have one, but it helps. I started teaching myself Japanese with phrase books and CDs. I learnt some simple kanji/voacbulary and was able to have short conversations about the weather and my likes/dislikes, which as you can imagine was incredibly useful…not. I then decided that I wanted to study either French or Japanese at university (as my tutors had told me Philosophy wasn’t taken seriously by employers) and I eventually chose Japanese as I believed it would give me an advantage. So I went to university to study Japanese, and when I arrived it was then that I learnt that I knew nothing. Sure my tutors were impressed that I could introduce myself correctly etc. but ultimately I was starting from scratch, like everyone else in my class. Even my tutor informed us all that “[you] will not finish this course fluent, and will never be fluent unless you live in Japan for the rest of your life”. Harsh, but true. I studied Japanese at university in England for 3 years, and studied at a university in Japan for 1 year. I am not fluent in the language but I am competent and confident in what I do know.

Hints & Tips for Learning Japanese

Find your own style of learning: This may seem like a bit of a cope out, but in the age of programs such as Rosetta Stone I think it’s a very important lesson to remember. Sure programs and set plans can be helpful, but if they don’t suit your style of learning then you’re not going to get very far. Which leads to…

Learn Your Strengths & Weaknesses: For example, I am more of a visual person so I watched Japanese TV dramas, which helped me pick up key words and phrases. My weakness is memorising the ton of kanji out there, so I worked with programs that would allow me to go over it and remembered them by creating links in my head (e.g.  Like/Love 好き is made up of woman and child, because a woman 女  loves her child 子). It’s different for everyone, but if you can figure out your strengths/weaknesses then learning the language will be a lot easier.

Don’t be scared of textbooks! Some people avoid textbooks as they only see them as utensils for students, and not for those who want to learn language as a hobby/on the side. Sure textbooks can seem quite intimidating but they can be your best friend too! Learning from a textbook from home means you’re not restricted to lesson plans and that you can take your time, and go over sections as many times as you want. In the same vein, you can create goals and plans for yourself using a textbook.

Do set yourself reasonable goals! Don’t expect too much from yourself: It’s easy to become your own worst enemy when learning a language. You can end up expecting too much of yourself, which can be detrimental to progressing. Remember that you can only do so much. Setting yourself goals is a great way of seeing your progress firsthand, and it also means you can pat yourself on the back every time you reach one. Go at your own speed, and realise that you can’t be an expert straightaway.

The Best Resources for Learning Japanese (according to me)


Minna no Nihongo Book 1 (Grammar) & Minna no Nihongo Book 1 (Exercises) [Japan Centre] This series of books are the ones that got me through university, and the first two in the series (that I have mentioned here) are my number one recommendation for those who are beginning to learn the Japanese language. I first worked with Genki, but then my university switched to these (also) as they’re used by most universities teaching the language. In my opinion these books explain the grammar in a way that most people will be able to understand and pick up easily, which other textbooks don’t. Each chapter in MnN gives you a new set of vocabulary and grammar to practise and remember. If you’re a beginner you will probably want to purchase both, so you can complete the exercises (answer booklet is included). They cost around £25 each, but are definitely worth investing in!

Basic Kanji Book Vol.1 [Japan Centre] This is another textbook but this one focuses purely on learning the Chinese characters that make up the Japanese language – kanji. It teaches you the stroke order of the kanji and it also acts as a vocabulary learning device too, as each kanji comes with a set of corresponding words for you to recall. It’s been said that you need to know around 1,000 kanji to be able to read a Japanese newspaper and get by in Japanese society. This book is my personal favourite for learning kanji, and is the one favoured by most UK universities, but don’t let that intimidate you as it is super easy to use. Again this one retails at around £20 but is all you need to get started on your kanji revision.

Anki [Download here] Now this isn’t a textbook, it’s actually a computer flashcard program. You can create your own ‘decks’ of flashcards or you can download someone else’s (there’s a lot out there) to help you revise. It has a great system in that it determines how often you need to revise a particular word or character by your response. For example, I used it to create my own decks from ‘Basic Kanji Book’ and would revise the stroke order and vocabulary. I would always get simple kanji such as 日 so after a while Anki decided that I didn’t need to revise that particular one for several months. More complicated kanji such as 織り I would have to do every day. This is a free program and is a great alternative to having 100s of paper flashcards scattered across your desk.

Tae Kim’s Learning Japanese Grammar App [iPhone or iPad/Android] Tae Kim has created a free app that is simple but incredibly helpful. It’s basically a mini textbook on your phone! It teaches you the basics of Japanese grammar, essential grammar, special expressions, advanced grammar and more! A lot of work has gone into this little app, and it may not look like much but it’s an amazing guide for anyone who is beginning to learn Japanese, or for someone who would like an alternative to their textbooks etc.

Imiwa? [iPhone/iPad only] Imiwa is a free Japanese dictionary available for iOS. You can search for words in English or Japanese and it will show you the corresponding results, along with their kanji (if applicable) and some example sentences. You can also practise your kanji on here, and it will show you the stroke order as well as the readings and example sentences. You can also use the app to search by radicals (these are broken down parts of the kanji) for a kanji that you may not know. This is incredibly helpful if you’re reading a magazine etc. and don’t know the reading of a kanji. This app also lists all of the vocabulary and kanji that you need for the JLPT (Japanese language proficiency test). You can save words, analyse them, make notes and even backup your lists. In my opinion this is best free Japanese language dictionary available on the app store, and even rivals some of the non-free dictionaries.

Japanese Language Buddy Unfortunately you can’t buy or download one of these, instead you’ll have to do some research of your own into pairing with a Japanese language buddy. Learning grammar and revising kanji is all well and good, but if you don’t have someone to converse with then it can seem a bit pointless. Some cities will have language group meet ups, such as the London Japanese Language Meetup. Private tutors (I hired one when I was living in Norwich) are also an option, but they can be expensive. It may be worth meeting with one once or twice a month if you can afford it though as most tutors are native speakers. However I think the best way to practise your Japanese is to make friends with someone and go from there. People often put up ads on the internet for Japanese language exchange with a native speaker (such as Gumtree) or vice versa, and you could even place your own. Remember it works both ways though, help your Japanese language buddy practise their English (if they’re not already fluent) too!

To conclude…

You never really stop learning a language, and there will always be room for improvement. Japanese is not an easy language to learn by yourself, but remember, you are not alone! There are tons of resources, books and people out there who want to help you! Just keep at it and do your best! 頑張ります！

If you have any questions or tips you think should be added to this post, please do feel free to leave a comment, send me an email or tweet me.
bloomzy /

A Blast from My Past: Japanese Gyaru Fashion & Life in Japan

A few weeks ago I went back to my parent’s house for a few days. Whilst I was there I decided to raid the attic, and see if I could find my old textbooks. I found myself knee-deep in university papers and old cuddly toys from my childhood. Amongst these were a few boxes of items from my time living (and studying) in Tokyo, Japan. Suddenly my objective was out the window and all I wanted to do was reminisce.
Japanese fashion has been a part of my life for over 10 years now. One fashion sub-culture in particular took up a decent amount of that time – gyaru. With hair high enough to reach the gods, and enough make-up to make an MUA weep, gyaru was an enigma wrapped in a mini skirt and fuzzy leg warmers. I was automatically drawn in, and spent most of my time reading magazines and blogs dedicated to the style. Gyaru is the reason behind me starting this blog in the first place! So you can imagine that finding these magazines and books was something quite special. Memories flooded back: Buying the Ranzuki Hair & Make-up Book in a small conbini in Kyoto. Adding points to my WC loyalty card as I bought everything and anything from the brand. Getting a ‘hair set’ (that has since created perpetual hair envy) with a friend for our joint birthday party. 
I met some amazing people because of gyaru, people who I can now call good friends.  So naturally it will always be a big part of my life and although I’m sure there were bad times, I can only remember the good. Recently I’ve missed my time living in Tokyo, but I do wonder if going back might tarnish those memories. It’s safe to say that things wouldn’t be the same now, but maybe that’s a good thing? Gyaru has faded from it’s origins and seems to be evolving into something all together different. So for now, I’m happy to keep my memories as just that. 
Interested in reading more about Japanese fashion and how my blog started?
Check out my Style Evolution post or browse my Japanese Fashion tag.
bloomzy /

The Secret of Avène Eau Thermale

On Thursday I was invited to breakfast with my favourite skincare brand – Avène.
They had cryptically told me that I would be finding out the secret behind their products.
As the brand has made such an impact on my skincare routine I couldn’t wait to find out.
Amongst the gorgeous bouquets of flowers and delicious food were some new products.
Avène is now releasing their ‘XeraCalm A.D’ range, which is aimed at those with eczema.
As someone who suffers from eczema from time to time, this came as a delightful surprise.
But wait, didn’t I mention a special little secret? Well luckily for you I’m going to share it.
So what is the secret of Avène?
The lovely representative told us that it is all down to nature. A long time ago, the founder of Avène found a spring that had special healing properties. The locals also knew about it and used it to bathe in and to help ease their skin conditions. It sounds as though it could be something from a fairytale, right? At least that’s how I imagined it. 
Now, do you remember your geography children? Then you might recall how springs come about. Rain falls down into the soil and makes a magnificent journey through the earth before creating a spring. It is this process that allows Avène to gather their eau thermale, as it rises from a hot spring under the earth. The water in this spring takes all the minerals and a unique microflora ‘dolomiae’ from the earth and soil. This process takes over 50 years, so the eau thermale in all your Avène products really is special. It is a science that the Avène team have been working on, and perfecting, for many years. Luckily for us they are now sharing their secret, so we can all benefit!
So it’s no wonder why Avène’s products are soothing, anti-free radical and anti-irritating. It’s amazing to think that a spring discovered in 1736 is still helping us, and our skin woes today. Avène have put a lot of research, thought and care into their products and I love that about them. I also think it’s wonderful that the eau thermale in their products comes from a natural spring. How many people can say they use the water from a thermal spring in their skincare routine? Their products aren’t only for those with eczema or sensitive-skin, anyone can use them. If you want to be converted, like I was, then you need to try out Avène. 
You can purchase Avène’s new range from selected Boots stores, from April 2014.
bloomzy /

5 Lifestyle Instagrams You Should Be Following

Yes, the ‘Instagram 5 Series‘ series is back, and better than ever! I’ve picked out 5 of my favourite Instagram accounts where you can find some lovely lifestyle inspiration.

Who? @parkncube
Why? I thought I’d start off with a well known little lady by the name of Shini Park – author of the blog Park & Cube. Luckily for us she also posts daily photos on Instagram, and if you’re like me, then her photos are probably why you fell in love with her blog in the first place. She documents her travels, and general day-to-day life in the form of some beautifully composed photos that could easily have come out of Vogue or Harper’s Bazaar.

Why? I only recently started following Hannah on Instagram, but it was love at first sight when I saw her photos. They’re clean, crisp and beyond classy, which is probably down to her design/textile background. I don’t think there is one photo of hers that has popped up on my timeline that I haven’t liked. It also helps that she’s a very sweet lady.

Why? Michiko Yamawaki is a Japanese stylist who I recently came upon as she styled a shoot for a Japanese model I also follow. I loved her photos as she made normal everyday things (like putting your shoes on, yes you did hear me correctly) look good. Her images are colourful and enticing yet still simplistic. 


Why? I love Yishyene, she’s such a bubbly and fun little lady. Her instagram is basically everything inside her colourful head (no hair colour pun intended) spewed out in the form of a photo. Sometimes simple and monochrome can be nice, but I also love an injection of colour, and that’s exactly what her photos bring.

Why? Van Anh is a fellow blogger with a love for food…need I say more? Ok you got me, it’s not the only reason I love her Instagram. This lovely lady knows how to use a camera and it comes across in her photos because each one looks as though she has put so much thought into the composition of it. I may enjoy her food photos but I love seeing anything she posts.
I often post lifestyle photos of my own, and you can follow me @bloomzy
Source: Please see individual Instagram accounts listed above.
bloomzy /

How I Fight My Eczema – Eczema Remedies

Korres Fig Showergel & Fig Body Butter, and Avène Rich Skin Recovery Cream
I suffered from eczema a lot as a child. 
It would often cause me a lot of pain and discomfort, and I would usually bleed due to the severity of it. I remember my parents trying all sorts of remedies to get rid of it, but nothing really worked, until one day…it just disappeared. 
I had pretty much forgotten about it until September 2011, when I saw my eczema return, with a vengeance. I had returned from my holiday to Provence and suddenly my whole stomach, leg and breast area was covered in dry, sore, itchy spots. I visited the doctor and they confirmed it was eczema. I was given an emollient cream to help, but it didn’t work. I was then given a steroid cream that I could only use for 2 weeks. My eczema disappeared…then it came back a week or so later. The doctor didn’t know what to do and told me to relax (as it can be caused by stress) and continue using a moisturiser and the original cream. I would have a shower and then look down at my body and burst into tears. I felt embarrassed and grossed out by my own skin. My fiancé tried to console me time after time but it had worn me down. I’d had enough. None of the medications worked well enough to solve the problem so I decided to try out something a little more natural and sensitive. Surprisingly they worked a lot better and even got rid of most of my eczema.
My eczema remedies are:

Korres’s Fig Showergel (90.4% natural content) & Fig Body Butter (93.5% natural content).
These products have been my saviour and I 100% believe they are the reason for the eczema on my stomach, legs and breasts disappearing. I had heard from a friend that these were great at combatting eczema and even psoriasis! She wasn’t wrong because I now use these daily to help keep my skin hydrated and to combat my eczema. I first used these until I ran out, then my eczema came back and Anna bought me some more. Now it’s slowly going away again. 
I swear by these products.

Avène Rich Skin Recovery Cream.
You all know I am a big Avène fan and use it in my daily skincare routine. Well when my eczema started appearing on my face for the first time I didn’t know what to do. It actually coincided with my trip to Chamonix, so I figured that since I was in France I’d try out a cream by one of my favourite French skincare brands – since they recommend it for those with eczema. I used it for a week on my face, and by the end of my holiday my eczema had cleared up. This is free of parabens, fragrance and colouring agents – and they’ve used as few ingredients as possible, making it perfect for sensitive skin. 
This is now my daily moisturiser for face & neck.

Eczema can be a very uncomfortable, painful and sometimes embarrassing illness.
I don’t want anyone else to suffer so I’m hoping these remedies might help others also.
Let me know your own personal remedies in the comments!
bloomzy /

Let’s Talk About…Boobs & Bras

I recently bought a couple of new bras after suspecting that my bra size had changed and thought it might be a good idea to chat a little bit about bras and finding the right size etc. on here. 
It turned out I was correct and after a fitting I left with two new very comfortable bras. I am just over the average end of the bra spectrum at a 34E and have had back trouble in the past because of poor fitting bras. These new ones felt so comfortable that it was almost odd. I soon realised I’d been wearing the wrong size for about half a year, which is worrying. It’s not that I didn’t care, in fact I’d been meaning to get fitted for a new bra for more than half of that time, it’s just that life and work took over. How silly is that? The majority of women wear a bra everyday, so it’s pretty important that we are wearing the right one. 

Now how about some horror stories to prove my point?
When I was 13 years old I actually had a member of a very well known, established high-street store tell me that wearing underwire bras can cause cancer. Yes that actually happened, and I was a very impressionable teenager at the time. I was so worried I tried to find non-underwire bras, and stopped wearing the ones that I had. Obviously I soon found out that this wasn’t true after I told my mum a few months later. Several years on and I finally went back to the same store to be fitted for a new bra. The woman looked at me, and without measuring me, told me I was a 32C. Up to this point I’d been wearing a 32E so I knew this wasn’t true. I tried to tell her this but she refused to believe me and told me to try on the C cup bras she had brought me. I was quite upset but tried them anyway, because “Hey, this is her job so she must be able to do it properly, right?” Wrong. The bras were painfully uncomfortable and I left the store very annoyed and with no new bra. 
I haven’t been back since.
My point here is that there are a lot of myths and silliness concerning bras and your size, so it’s important that you know what is best for you, and that you get the best fit. If I had let these people leave a long-term impression I would be wearing the completely wrong bra for me, and I’d also probably have long-term back problems. There are a lot of things to take into consideration when buying a bra such as the size, fit and style of the bra – not all styles will fit in your particular size or offer you the support you need. That’s why I think it’s important to be fitted, because you can discuss sizes and styles with the assistant. They’ll tell you which will fit you best and which ones to stay away from. Alternatively you can try finding out your bra size yourself at home. This method can be flawed, but is helpful for those who aren’t comfortable with doing it in a store.
I have since been to several other high-street stores that have offered great bra fittings, which I would highly recommend. These are House of Fraser, Ann Summers and Boux Avenue. All 3 stores offer something different but have impressed me with their services. I buy my regular t-shirt bras from Boux Avenue (sizes A-G) and at only £18 each, they are a bargain! I have a couple of lacey bras from House of Fraser, which are a little more expensive but offer great quality. Finally if I fancy something a bit sexier I go to Ann Summers, who have some gorgeous bras for larger busted women – something that is not always easy to find. 
So here’s to finding the perfect bra for you – good luck!
bloomzy /

When Nail Art Becomes…Art

Nail art has only become popular in recent years and it’s still evolving. Still, you’re more likely to see polka dots, leopard print or hearts than Pablo Picasso. Nail technicians like Disco Nail & Britney Tokyo are blurring the lines between the two though. There’s one lady in particular who is the perfect example of this trend.

Susi Kenna is an art enthusiast who just so happens to also love nail art. Thankfully she also likes to share the mini works of art with others via Instagram. She has had nail artists adorn her fingers with various well known artists works, such as: Pablo Picasso, Yayoi Kusama, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Bridget Riley and many more.

As someone with a false set of nails depicting Frida Kahlo, I love it! I’ve always been an art lover, and so it’s only natural I’d love nail art. At the end of the day it’s all about expressing yourself isn’t it?

Would you wear a mini piece of art on your nails?
 
Source; 1