On Deck

Coming Next: Essay 1025 on 宴 (party; banquet)

Here's what you can expect next on Joy o' Kanji:

July 11: Essay 1025 on 宴 (party; banquet)

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What's New

Now Out: Essay 1828 on 盆 (tray; basin; Bon)

The 578th essay has posted! Essay 1828 on 盆 (tray; basin; Bon) is now available for purchase. Here's a preview:

Learn about everything related to 盆, ranging from bonsai to the Bon Festival, mixing in a study...
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What's New

Now Out: June 2025 Newsletter, "Hopelessly Devoted"

The June newsletter "Hopelessly Devoted" is now out! It presents 3 essays, 2 Thematic Bundles, a not-to-be-missed interview with the well-known translator Juliet Carpenter, contest results, and more! The newsletter includes these images, among others:

...

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JOK Notebook

Interview with Juliet Carpenter: Translating "The Great Passage"

Part 1: Coming Out of the Dark

Let's do a Quick Quiz of sorts! If you read the following description in a book translated from Japanese, which kanji would you think the author meant:

The definition used the word waza, which could mean "occupation or job" but also went far deeper; it was closer to "a calling." ... The...

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What's New

Now Out: Five Revisions

Essay 1828 on 盆 (tray; basin; Bon) will not be available for another few days, but these revisions have just posted:

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