やっと私のLearning Japanese Podのマグカップが届きました！（嬉しい顔）もっといっぱい注文して、友達にプレゼントとしてあげたいと思います！ リカルドというとても尊敬する友達が、Learn Japanese Podファンの皆さんのためだけに、デザインしてくれました。さーて、日本語勉強しながら、このマグカップで何飲もうかな？

At last, my new Learn Japanese Pod mug has arrived. (Happy face) I was pretty happy with the results so I want to buy more as presents for my friends. This cute logo was done my friend Ricardo who is made of pure win and awesome when it comes to design. So the next question is, what shall I drink with this new mug while studying Japanese?

日本のハチマキには大抵気合いを入れる言葉が使われていて、外国人の観光客の間では大変人気です。ハチマキには「必勝」とか「合格」とか「闘魂」など伝統的なものが書いてあるけど、逆に最近の不景気を反映するフレーズをハチマキに入れたらどうかな～ってふと思った。たとえば、「絶望」とか「諦める」とか「凹む」とか「もうええねん」とか。。。

In Japan, Hachimaki (headbands) are usually worn with words symbolizing effort or perseverance printed on them. They tend to be quite popular with tourists. Traditionally words such as “victory”, “success”, “fighting spirit” are written on them. However, as a reflection of these hard economic times I thought it might be interesting to make some new ones with words such as “Hopelessness”, “I give up”, “I’m down” and “I’ve had it!”.

典型的なハチマキの言葉

Typical words written on Hachimaki

闘魂 - tōkon – Fighting spirit

必勝 - Hisshō – Victory

神風 – Kamikaze – Divine wind

一番 – Ichiban – Number one

日本 – Nippon – Japan

合格 – Gōkaku – Success

禅 – Zen – Zen

忍者 – Ninja – Ninja

祭 – Matsuri – Festival / Celebration

万歳 – Banzai – Cheering / hurray ! (lit.1000 years)

祝福 – Shukufuku – Welcoming in good luck

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There have been several changes happening at Learn Japanese Pod, so I decided to record a podcast with some of the latest updates. Karamoon came by to help me record.

One of the points is our T-shirt competition. Please send us a photo you wearing a Learn Japanese Pod t-shirt and we will post it on the site. People will vote for their favorite picture and the winner will get a prize. Stay tuned for more information on this.

After a few days of pulling out my hair and battling with the website, I have managed to fix the Learn Japanese Pod Newsletter. Hooray! That’s the good news. The bad news is if you subscribed before you’ll have to do it again. ごめんなさい。Sorry!

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