Learn Japanese Today

Alright loyal readers, I have some big news for you. Your boy Todd is taking a trip to America’s next best thing to the land of the rising sun, San Francisco. I’m taking a much needed break from freelance writing and reporting and I’m going to actually have some real summer.

You know, tossing a frisbee on the beach, catching some waves, and of course, seeing all the best Japanese stuff the Golden Gate city has to offer. Now I’m not stupid, I know the influence in San Francisco is predominately Chinese and Seattle is a much better place to visit for Japanese culture, but San Fran just has to be better than Chicago, and I aim to prove it.

You should all feel proud of yourselves. I’m taking a vacation, but I’m taking you with me. And there will be pictures.

But.

I need your help. The last time I was in San Francisco I was 7 years old, and I barely remember it. Does anyone know any cool Japan-related stuff I should check out there? I’d love to do a field report.

Let me know.

So I’ve been noticing for the past couple of days that I’ve been getting a couple hits here and there from a site called cloudedsky.net . I originally chalked it up as being just some sort of link compilation ad webpage (you know, the kind that puts a whole bunch of links on a page and then gets traffic from people following backlinks), but today I finally discovered that it was the blog of one of my former senpai from Japanese class.

Geez Cory, thanks for leaving me a comment or anything.

Anyways, he’s currently getting ready to embark on a (year-long?) study abroad trip to Japan, which he will chronicle diligently on his blog . His blog will probably lean more towards adventures and antecdotes rather than the ramblings mine is prone to, and I always love to hear about how fellow student react to being in Japan. He’s spent a summer in Japan before, so you won’t hear the stereotypical touristy stuff from him (OMG there are like, sooooo many people in TOKYO!!! :{}), but you will get a good idea of the challenges and percs of being a student in Japan.

From Cory’s blog, I discover the blog of ANOTHER one of my classmates who will also be going to study abroad in Japan next year. You guys need to keep me posted, seriously. His situation is much the same as Cory’s, except for one crucial addition. A moustache. You can read his blog here.

Send these guys some love, it’s hard out there for a Japan blogger.

Okay so maybe you’ve been reading the blog and you want me to review something, either something you like, hate, or are unsure about.

Well now you can tell me all about it with the all new Request a Review Form!

It’s really simple. All I ask is that when you submit something you leave me your name, e-mail, and URL if you have one. I’m not going to publish the e-mail, I just want it so I can send you a mail if I have any questions.

Then you should also give me the name of what you want me to review and the type of thing it is (podcast, radio station, book). Also leave a couple reasons why you’re recommending it as well as a URL where I can read more about it.

If you recommend something good that I end up reviewing, I’ll mention you in the review along with a link to your site. I’m glad to send you the traffic, so recommend some good stuff!

From now on, whenever you feel the need, just click on the tab at the top and request away!

Click on that picture up there.

Do you know what that is? Those are my StumbleUpon hits for the past month.

Today I want to send a shout-out to Tokyo Tom , who Stumbled one of my posts earlier today (yesterday in Japan). I’m not quite sure how it happened, but his Stumble started an avalanche that ended up with me getting 423 hits and counting from StumbleUpon alone, which is 42.3 times more than all the hits I’ve ever gotten off StumbleUpon put together (10 for you math kids). I now know that StumbleUpon can work in mysterious ways, and that has inspired me to put out the following offer:

FOR EVERY POST OF MINE YOU STUMBLE, I WILL STUMBLE ONE OF YOURS.

If I don’t know who you are, you may also want to leave a comment on the post you Stumble if you want me to find your blog (Tom, Lina, Contamination and Billy, you guys are fine), but most importantly to let me know you’ve Stumbled. I’ve already Stumbled all of Tom’s blogs today, so I hope he sees the same or better traffic flux that I got.

If you don’t have StumbleUpon yet, get it here.

C’mon. Let’s help each other out.